Bible Questions Answered:
“...we were discussing the verse in
Matthew “I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not
overpower it.” What is the point being made here?”
Roderick/ Bonn, Germany (North
Rhine-Westphalia)
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Matthew 16:18 KJV
“... I will build my church; and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The walk of a Christian is not just
walk of defense, but also of offense!
What does your faith, do in offense?
Defense: The resisting
(Defending an) attack, from an enemy.
Offense: The action, or actions
of attacking an enemy, or enemies.
What did Jesus do?
His faith was not only in word, but also in deeds.
He not only defended the faith, by He also attacked the works of the enemy!
He cast out demons, threw money
changers out of the temple, told Sadducee's, and Pharisees they were
hypocrites, etc. etc.
Much of what Jesus did, was in the
offense, driving out evil, and setting captives free!
And we are to follow His example!
I John 3:8 KJV (Offense)
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose The Son Of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
John 13:15 KJV
For I have given you an example,
that ye should do as I have done..."
I Peter 2:21 KJV
"... Christ also suffered for
us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:
The Word:
Psalm 44:5 KJV (Offense)
Through thee will we push down our
enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up
against us.
Luke 10:19 KJV (Offense)
Behold, I give unto you power...over
all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Romans 8:35,37-39 KJV
(Offense)
35 Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all these things we
are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
II Corinthians 10:4 KJV
(For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds;)
Jude 1:22,23 NLT (Offense)
22 And you must show mercy to those
whose faith is wavering.
23 Rescue others by snatching them
from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so
with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.
I John 4:4 KJV (Offense)
Ye are of God, little children, and
have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he
that is in the world.
1 John 5:4,5 KJV (Offense)
4 For whatsoever is born of God over
cometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world,
even our faith.
5 Who is he that over cometh the
world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son Of God?
Revelation 15:2 KJV (Offense)
And I saw as it were a sea of glass
mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the
beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of
his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
The Apostle Paul
gave the church a 7 point victory plan for success.
Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT (I
Thessalonians 5:8 KJV)
10 A final word: Be strong in The
Lord and in His mighty power.
11 Put on all of God’s armor
(Defense)
so that you will be able to stand firm against all
strategies of the devil.
12 For we are not fighting against
flesh-and-blood enemies, but against
evil rulers and
authorities of the unseen
world, against
mighty powers in this dark
world, and against
evil spirits in the heavenly
places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of
God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the
time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14 Stand your ground, putting on
the belt (Defense)
of truth
and the body armor
(Defense) of God’s righteousness.
15 For shoes
(Defense), put on the peace that comes from
the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of these, hold
up the shield (Defense)
of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
17 Put on salvation as
your helmet (Defense),
and take the sword of the Spirit(Offense),
which is
the word of God.
18 Pray (Offense)
in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be
persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
The Apostle Paul
mentions 7 items need by the Christian, 5 are for defense, and 2 are
for offense!
Using The Word Of
God, and Prayer, we may go against the works of the enemy!
II Corinthians
6:4,7 KJV
4 But in all things approving
ourselves as the ministers of God,in distresses..."
7 By The Word Of Truth, by the power
of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the
left,
II Timothy 2:3,4
KJV
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as
a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth
himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who
hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Hebrews 4:12 KJV
For The Word Of God (Sword
Of The Spirit) is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
Revelation 12:11
KJV
And they overcame him by The Blood
Of The Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..."
Luke 10:17-20
KJV
17 And the seventy returned again
with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through
thy name.
18 And He said unto them, I beheld
Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power
to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice
not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather
rejoice, because your names are written in heaven
The gates (Powers)
of hell shall not prevail against the church, because true Christian
people defend the faith, and offensively, attack the
enemy with the power of God!
Isaiah 58:6-9
KJV
6 Is not this the fast that I have
chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy
burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye
break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the
hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?
when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide
not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth
as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy
righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of The Lord shall be
thy reward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and The Lord
shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am..."
Romans 13:12 KJV
The night is far spent, the day is
at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us
put on the armor of light.
I Timothy 6:12
KJV
Fight the good fight of faith..."
Laurel wreaths, in
ancient times, (from the Laurel, a Mediterranean tree, its leaves.),
were given as a crown of honor to heroes, poets, and winners in
athletic contests. It was the trophy of its day.
And now the idiom
"Don't rest upon your laurels."
Meaning, do not
stop and simply rest upon yesterdays victories....press on!
And the Church of
Jesus Christ, is "not," to be resting upon its laurels!
Now is our finest
hour, defend the faith, yes, but not to over look attacking as a
good soldier of Jesus Christ, the enemy, loosing the captives,
driving out the enemy in Jesus name.
Our Savior promised
His church ….
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
"...for He hath said, I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
John 14:12-14
KJV
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in My
name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in The Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in My
name, I will do it.