What does this scripture from Matt 16:17 mean to you? It says, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. Whenever I think of those words, my heart is enlightened and enlarged. THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST THE CHURCH! God is all about seeing His family prevail against the works of the wicked one. God wants to see the church continue, prevail, prosper, accomplish the task set before the “house”, and see that it becomes truly a place fit for a king.
We call the church the “House of God”. We call our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit. Awesome isn’t it? We know that as Jacob said in the book of Genesis that truly the place where He lay his head was an awesome place… it was God’s house. What can we say about the “house” where we are connected?
Is it a house or a church …
that reflects His nature, His love and His character?
makes His name glorious, and proclaims His goodness, His splendor and His majesty?
that beats with His heartbeat, and serves through our hands and our feet?
that is beautiful beyond description that reflects His creativity?
that lives and moves and breathes because of Him?
empowered with authority from on high?
where the Spirit of God is welcome and celebrated?
marked with compassion that effectively draws the lost into her embrace?
of healing for body, soul and spirit?
of prayer for all people and nations around the globe?
of victory over death, hell and the grave?
that is kissed by heaven and truly is awesome?
where people see what heaven looks like?
My prayer is that the answer to every question would be yes, yes and AMEN! The house of God is an amazing place. God instituted it for a purpose; as a place for His people to worship, to pray, to embrace, to learn, to grow, to connect, to rejoice, and to hear His Word taught so that faith can grow in our hearts.