I've been in some aspect of ministry (pastoring, counseling, education, etc.) now for more than 30 years, and I know how much Satan hates it when we break in upon his territory.
In Matthew 16:18 (New King James Version), Jesus says, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
Offensive Gates?
Just this past week, I heard a TV preacher talk about the "gates of hell" as if they were offensive weapons.
I cannot tell you the number of times I've heard preachers/teachers teach that "the gates of hell" are offensive weapons. But, wait a second, think of it: In football, the offense moves against and into the territory of the defense.
Gates are the "defensive line." When's the last time you saw a set of gates jump off their hinges and chase someone down the street?
Defensive Gates!
I think that Jesus is saying that we are to be on the offensive; we have the ball, i.e., the gospel, and we are to kick down the gates of hell and go into Satan's territory: his gates that try to keep us out shall not prevail against Christ's Church when she is on the march. We are to go through the defensive line and go into the devil's territory to preach the gospel to the lost (i.e., score points) and win souls.
In short, we have the ball, and the gates of hell (defensive linemen, i.e., Satan and his imps) shall not keep us out!
Entrenchment Mentality
Too many well-meaning pastors and Christian leaders have an entrenchment mentality; they just sit, and wait, and hold on. I believe God would have us take the ball (gospel) and run into the devil's territory and score points for Christ.
When we do this, we will certainly be in a fight . . . but the best defense against the devil is a strong, committed, unremitting offense.
As a youngster, I used to box. I noted that if my opponent was getting in some good punches, my best plan of attack was not to attempt to simply back up and counterpunch but to move into his space and punch. If I kept backing away worrying about getting hit, I always got hit, and since I was already backing up, the momentum of my backward motion only allowed his punch to push me back farther. But, if I dodged his punches (or sometimes took it on the chin) and moved forward and returned fire, I (a) surprised him, and (b) often prevailed. One time I boxed a kid three years older than I was, and he was about a foot taller. He won the match, but after the match, I realize that his age, size, experience, and reach had scared me; he had me coving up and backing up almost the entire time. I was the gate—just trying to defend myself—and he was the battering ram smashing into my gate. My coach, who knew me well, told me that I lost the fight only slightly; if I had boxed offensively, I would likely have won. A hard lesson to learn, but learn I did.
Greater is He
1 John 4:4 (New King James Version) says: "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
Never stop moving forward. Kick down the gates of hell and go on in, and make some “touchdowns” in whatever field and ministry God has called you to.
I pray that all pastors and Christian leaders will go on the spiritual offensive, in prayer and in action, and kick down the gates of hell (they shall not prevail!), move into the devil's territory, preach the gospel, and snatch people from the jaws of eternal death.
