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.
