July 10, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional :-  GATES OF HELL

July 10, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional :-  GATES OF HELL

Read previous CAC Living Water Devotional here

CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH

THE LIVING WATER {July ~ Dec., 2020}

DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Friday, July 10, 2020

TOPIC: GATES OF HELL

Read Matthew 16:13-18

[13]When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?[14]And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.[15]He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?[16]And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.[17]And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.[18]And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

MEMORISE: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21)

EXPOSITION

A “gate” is defined to be “…a large door or passage-way in the wall of a city. Figuratively, it is a means, or way of entrance, or exit.”

Everyman/woman is a city, consisting of many things: life, properties, treasures, investments, etc. In all, human life is paramount. Entrance to these things involves certain things, or measures, either to possess, or destroy.

The Bible speaks of several things that are indirectly gates of hell. For example, fruit of the knowledge of good and evil brought death to humanity (gate of death) Genesis 2:15-17, fallen spirits called demons (Gen. 6:1-7) as gate of pollution. Also, graven images, witches and wizards, false prophets, evil cults, palm readers/star gazers, necromancers, etc. (cf. Exodus 20:1-5, 22:18; Leviticus 18:21, 20:1-6; Isaiah 8:19).

The most potent of all these gates, not yet mentioned is our tongues and sexual organs (Prov. 7:24-27; 18:21; cf. Jas. 3:1-6). The way we use these tools, or instruments, or members according to Paul, have a great impact on us, individually and the Church of God as a whole (cf. Mt. 16:16ff; 1 Cor. 5:1-8).

Another gate is the gate of righteousness through which we have entered the Kingdom of God. It must be intact and prevented from all forms of intrusion (cf. Isa. 26:3; Psa. 24:7-10). Christians as members of the body of Christ are built on, Christ, the rock, such that the gate of hell can never prevail.

If the gate of hell will not prevail over and against you, then, you need to become a member of the Church, the body of Christ, not just of a local church, but becoming a member of the true Church by giving your life to Jesus and living in His holiness by His Holy Spirit. He who doesn’t align with Christ’s body isn’t under the covenant of not being overcome by the gates of hell, which is for the Church built on the Rock of Ages.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Help me, Lord Jesus, not to let down my guard of holiness.

2. Help the Church of God, O Lord, to keep the gates of righteousness compact from intrusion of any gate of hell and hade, in Jesus’ name.

3. O Lord, deliver our church leaders and leaders in other sphere of life who are already in the net of the devil.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Ezra 4 – 6; Titus 2

Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE

Remain blessed!

Leave a Reply