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President's Perspective: Be a Gate-Crasher

President's Perspective: Be a Gate-Crasher

We find ourselves in the midst of a grand scheme—an elaborate web of lies that leaves us struggling to find the truth. The originator of the deception—the father of lies—has one purpose: to devour us as a roaring lion would his prey. Satan wants us to believe we are a defeated Church, void of power and no longer able to transform our world.

In blitzkrieg style, his deception—the alternate reality he is creating—is delivered via a steady barrage of cultural “truths” that are defacing our long-held values and eroding the very bedrock on which we have stood as a nation for over two centuries.

But none of what Satan proclaims as reality is true!

The real truth is found in Matthew 16:18 (ESV): “…I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Do you see it? The truth that sets us free. Do you see it? This is not the depiction of a defeated Church; it’s the revelation of a triumphant Church, a Church experiencing victory over Satan and his kingdom of darkness. It reveals a Church bringing restoration and wholeness to the lives of individuals who have been imprisoned behind the gates of hell.

Don’t get confused here as to who is on the defensive. Think about it: gates are not an offensive weapon. This scripture reveals that Satan, in a last-ditch effort, has erected gates around those he has imprisoned in darkness to keep them from being exposed to the good news of Jesus Christ. But the ineffectiveness of those gates is here declared: they shall not prevail; they cannot withstand the advance of the Church.

When the Church marches on the gates of hell, it will overpower them, setting free those Satan has enslaved.

So why does it appear the Church is in retreat? It is simple. The Church—the people of God—has stopped being the Church. They have stopped advancing on hell, because Satan’s menacing roar has convinced them they are on the losing side.

This is Satan’s only possible winning strategy. Defeated by the cross, he can only win if the Church doesn’t engage him in battle.

Too many Christians have believed his lies and are sitting on their hands. They see the gates of hell from where they sit, watching prisoners being dragged into a hellish prison. However, they do nothing. Not because they don’t care, but because they are convinced there’s nothing they can do.

But Matthew 16:18 is a call for action. It’s time to ignore the lies.

If you don’t want to settle for the lies of Satan; if you don’t want to settle for a life that is less than God’s best for you, then rise up and join us at WGM and become a gate-crasher. Rise up and join us in declaring God’s truth—the gates of hell shall not prevail against us!

Action Step

PRAY: Become a gate-crasher by joining the Luke 10:2 Challenge. Pray with us every day at 10:02—a.m. or p.m.—for more workers to join us in the Great Commission, declaring God’s truth to the nations.

Dr. Dan Schafer, President

The Call (March 2018)

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