THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL!
Some weeks ago I had a brief but very disturbing dream. I saw a huge storm, bigger than anything I have ever seen. Next I heard the word Rephaim and immediately saw it superimposed in white letters upon the storm. I felt fear and woke up. Immediately I saw the Lord and heard, “Do not fear, no matter the storm or what is whispered in your ear.”
We are in some major storms in the natural and in the spirit, and there are many more coming, but Jesus already has the victory! Rephaim means giant. We cannot be as the 10 spies who were afraid of what they saw in the natural (the giants) and spoke doubt and unbelief about what God had promised! Jesus has already overcome all the power of the enemy, even death and hell. We do not need to fear, we have the final victory, and through Christ we can do all things. In these latter days, no matter the storm, we must stay strong and keep advancing the Kingdom! Keep looking to Jesus! Jesus said the gates of hell will NOT prevail against the Church!
"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 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. 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." (Mat 16:15-18 KJV)
Peter received revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and Jesus replied that upon that rock of revelation of Himself is what the church would be built on! Church is the Greek word Ekklesia, and the root means called-out ones! We are called out of the kingdom of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God by revelation of Him. The more revelation we have of Him, the stronger our foundation! Knowing Him, we will not be moved by what we see in the natural, for He is above all and has all authority and power!
What is significant about the word Rephaim in the dream of the storm is that Moses defeated King Og of Bashan, the last representation of the giants of Rephaim (Deut. 3:3, 11; Num. 21:33) at Mt. Hermon. Many scholars believe Mount Hermon was where the fallen angels first touched the earth when they were cast out of heaven (Biblehistory.com), and that it was the place where the transfiguration of Jesus took place! Caesarea Philippi is located at the base of Mt. Hermon; it is significant that Jesus chose this place to declare that the gates of hell would not prevail. Why?
Caesarea Philippi was a central place of pagan worship in both Old and New Testament times. It had many pagan statues and temples, and a cave believed to be the gate to hell, where the underworld and their gods (demons) presided. THIS is where Jesus took His disciples and asked them, “Who do you say I am?” THIS is where Peter received revelation and declared that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus chose this location on purpose! At what was perceived to be the gate of hell, Jesus declared that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church and gave the keys of the kingdom to His disciples; the authority to bind and loose!
Do not fear the giants; Jesus has the keys to death and hell (Rev. 1:8)! The enemy wants to keep you in fear so you will stop advancing the Kingdom of God! Do not believe the lies of the devil and his demons, they have no authority in your life except what you give them! Submit to God (let Jesus have governing authority in your life), resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7)! You are an overcomer because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4)! Speak to every mountain in faith and it will move (Matt. 17:20)! God has the final word - press into Him and speak His words – they will accomplish the purpose for which He sends them (Is. 55:11) and the angels are waiting to hear His words to perform them (Ps. 103:20)!
As I meditated on all these things, I heard the Lord say, “In Me alone you will have peace; in My Name there is release, from every foe, for they are already defeated; in Me you must perceive yourself seated. For the storms are coming, strong and fierce, the enemy desires your faith to be pierced and that you fail. Stay strong in Me and you will prevail. It shall come forth as foretold of old, be strong in My strength, courageous and bold. Speak My words, bind and loose in My Name, for I have many victories to obtain. Over Me the enemy has no power, he lies and taunts to see who he can devour. Stay strong in faith, listen and obey; I am with you and will show you the way.”
Alane Haynes 10/27/22
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