The Triumphant Church ~ Dec 20th 2021 (RHAPSODY OF REALITIES EP 464)

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES MONDAY 20 DECEMBER 2021 PASTOR CHRIS TOPIC: THE TRIUMPHANT CHURCH KEY VERSE: "…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18)." The Church of Jesus Christ has grown! We’ve grown in understanding, in knowledge and in the exercise of our authority and dominion in Christ. It doesn’t matter that there’s an adversary who’s all out to oppose the Church and hinder the work of the Gospel; his efforts are futile. The Church is marching on, and Jesus said the “Gates of Hell” shall not prevail against it. Jesus gave us dominion over the dethroned princes of darkness, over principalities, powers and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. He put us in charge, to run things in the earth. In some countries, states and cities, some leaders are boasting against the Church; they’ve sworn themselves to be enemies of the Church. Well, they’ll take their place in history just like those before them. Referring to His Church, the Lord Jesus said, “Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Luke 20:18). When Saul of Tarsus spearheaded the persecution of Christians in the early Church, Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and made him realize that he (Saul) was on a futile endeavour. The Bible specifically described Saul as “...breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord...” (Acts 9:1). Then, the Bible says, “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do...” (Acts 9:3-6). Hallelujah! In Joshua 10:40, the Bible shows what happened to those who came against God’s people du