In Matthew 16:18 Jesus told the Apostle Peter, "I
will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against
it"
As we look at our local churches, it's pretty easy to see
that some are growing and others have been in decline for years.
What
makes the difference and is how is it related to the promise that Jesus made to
Peter that the 'gates of hell will not prevail against it'?
This word 'hell' that is translated in most of our modern
translations is actually the Greek word, "hades" and was the
temporary place for both the good and the evil. Jesus referred to this
place when he taught about the rich man and Lazarus.
The transition into hades or the gates of hades is
accomplished only by dying. Jesus tells us that true life only comes through
dying. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus said, "I tell you the truth,
unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single
seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." Jesus often talks about death of self and denying
Both physical death and 'death of self' have advanced the
Kingdom of God or the Church since its inception. The ancient Church as
well as the Church in many dangerous places in the world today is advanced by
the death of Her saints. We read of the early martyrs of the church who
were witnesses and evidence of this verse in Luke. Strongs
word G3144 "martus" is the same word as 'witness'.
When we 'die to self' we transfer our leadership and right to control the local church to the true head which is Jesus. He is the one that is building the Church. The Church is not a building or a denomination or even a non-denominational church. It is the living, breathing, and growing Ecclesia.
