Today’s 333 Devotional: “Hell Shall Not Prevail”

Jesus told His disciples that persecution was coming their way (Matthew 10:16-23), and they should expect nothing less because all of Hell was out to get them.

“A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)

And while tribulation is what we are to expect, we can have peace in Jesus because He has overcome the world (John 16:33), and that through Him the church can advance, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail (Matthew 16:18).

And so, while it might be Hell out there, we need to confront it, not run from it.

Jesus said there was no one greater than John the Baptist, and that whoever is the least in God’s kingdom will be greater than him (Matthew 11:11).

Jesus said, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)

Michael Green interprets this verse saying, “From the days of John’s preaching until now, the kingdom had been forcefully advancing, and forceful men were laying hold of it.”

JB Phillips said, “Perhaps if we believed what they believed we would achieve what they achieved.”

I don’t think we truly understand the battle that’s before us, nor do we understand the power we have at our disposal. And while we may say the words, “Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4) we don’t really believe what we’re saying.

We need to get out of our civilized faith and comfy lifestyles and start taking back what the Lord has given through His promises, and what these men and women of faith fought so hard to attain.

We need to be fully committed and fully believe if we’re ever going to fully achieve.

To Peter Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)