Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Such words give an assumption — that the church is on the march, actively moving against the “gates of hell.” One would sit and protect the gates to one’s residence. In Christ’s description, the gates belong to the enemy. That means the church should be advancing against the forces of darkness.
In recent years I have actually heard preachers express the concern that the church can no longer effectively reach our modern culture. I have heard the concern that our secularized society has become too antagonistic to the gospel to be reached in large numbers, and that the best the church today can do is to “maintain” an effective witness, without necessarily seeing good results.
I do not buy that argument at all! I could not disagree more. These are great days to be alive and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Hearts are as hungry and spiritually needy today as ever. There is a young generation seeking truth — and there always has been. The gospel is as powerful and effective today as it has ever been. The Word of God is also as real today — Isaiah 40:8 — and as effective today — Hebrews 4:12 — as ever.
God can change lives and turn this generation to Himself, if believers will be faithful to Him and to His truth — Acts 26:18. I believe we are seeing evidence of this in the many churches which are staying true to the Word of God and which are growing in our current generation!
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