Through The Bible in a Year - July 20, 2026

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18

Jesus spoke these words at Caesarea Philippi—which was not only a center of pagan religious wickedness but was also believed in the ancient world to be literally the entrance to the underworld. The cave at Caesarea Philippi, called the "Gates of Hell," was thought to be a portal to Hades itself.

Jesus stood right there, at what the ancient world called the gates of hell, and declared: "My church will be built here, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."

He wasn't speaking theoretically. He was planting a flag in the enemy's front yard.

Though it’s been decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall, many will vividly remember what it looks like when a gate that seems impenetrable is finally breached. That wall—built with such evil intent, responsible for hundreds of deaths and the oppression of millions—fell. What seemed impossible to overcome could not prevail against the greater forces of freedom.

Jesus says: the gates of hell that seem to control your actions, captivate you soul, hold you prisoner to sin—they will not prevail against His advancing kingdom and the freedom from oppression that he provides.

The gates of hell take many forms. An abuser who controls through fear. An addiction that feels unbreakable. A family pattern passed down through generations that seems impossible to escape. A nation ruled by terror and totalitarianism. A culture of sexual exploitation. A prison camp in North Korea.

Amy Carmichael fought both Indian religious authority and English churches to rescue children from temple prostitution—because she believed the gates of hell would not prevail. Young women from our church’s seminary went into the brothels of Bangkok because they believed the gates of hell would not prevail. I think also of a brave Christian woman, name Kayla, who stayed behind in an ISIS prison cell to help other Syrian girls escape—because she believed – whether she lived or died – that the prison gates would not have the victory over her soul or her Savior’s witness.

Jesus isn't promising an absence of difficulty. He is promising ultimate victory. "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." The walls and wiles of the evil one will not prevail over the advances of Christ’s kingdom.

Respond: What gate of hell seems to be prevailing in your life right now? What feels impenetrable, impossible to overcome—in your own heart, in your family, in your community, in the world?

Jesus stood at the literal gates of hell and planted His flag. He said that his kingdom would advance and the gates would not, could not, stop it.

This week, identify the specific "gate of hell" that seems most immovable to you. Then pray with the confidence of Matthew 16:18: "Jesus declared that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. If you are a member of His church by faith in his ministry, then He will advance His Kingdom through you. The walls may resist for a time. They may not fall in accordance with your timing, but they will fall in Christ’s time and according to his plan. They cannot stand because the Kingdom of God is advancing in the power of Christ in you and for you. He is advancing. This gate of hell will not hold."

Pray with confidence in this reality: the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Kingdom of our God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You stood at the gates of hell and declared that they would not prevail against Your church. I believe You. But right now there something not right in my life that feels immovable. Sometimes, I feel like it's winning. Remind me that You've already planted Your flag at the enemy's front door. You are advancing. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Break down this gate. Build Your kingdom here. I will trust in Your victory, not in what I can see but in the promises of your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.