The Gates Of Hell Won't Prevail by Pastor Philip Olubakin: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

I Will Build My Church

Matthew 16:18

Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." He takes personal responsibility for his church. SLC is not the pastor's church. The moment you say it is your church, you carry responsibility that only Jesus can carry. The gates of hell would overwhelm any man — only Jesus can face them.

1 Corinthians 3:9

"We are laborers together with God. You are God's building." We are co-workers — but we are God's building. The church is not the walls around you. The church is you and me: lively stones with which God builds his house.

1 Peter 2:5

"Ye are lively stones, built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood." You are uniquely made — God designed you for a specific place in his house. There is somewhere in the body of Christ where you fit in perfectly, without needing to be shaped or cut down.

Exodus 20:25

"If you build me an altar of stone, do not use hewn stones. If you lift a tool upon it, you have polluted it." Use only natural, uncut stones. God wants you as you are — your peculiarity is not a defect, it is your design. You are beautifully, fearfully, and complicatedly made. Not everybody has to like you, and that is fine.

1 Kings 6:7

The stones used in Solomon's temple were finished at the quarry — there was no sound of hammer or axe at the building site. God picks you where he prepared you and finds the place in his house where you perfectly fit.

Understanding the Gates of Hell

The Greek word for "build" here carries a military nuance — it is building like siege towers, constructing to take ground. The church is not some passive institution. The word "church" — ekklesia — means a political, governing assembly. It is a called-out military unit, an embassy of a foreign kingdom.

The gates are not an attacking weapon — a gate is a defensive structure. Satan is not the one encroaching. It is the church that is advancing, the church that is breaking through his defenses. Hell is on defense. Satan is the thief trying to keep what he has stolen. The church is moving toward him.

The word "prevail" means to overpower. The gates of hell will not overpower the church. The light shines in darkness and darkness cannot comprehend it.

The Church Is Built for Combat

We are at war. Not against flesh and blood — against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.

2 Timothy 2:3

"Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." The church is a military training ground. It is a place to master discipline — discipline over appetite for sleep, food, sex, entertainment.

Say to your neighbour: you are a soldier in the army of the Lord.

The Church Is on the Offensive

The gospel of Christ is offensive. You cannot be in ministry without offending people. When you choose Jesus, some will not understand — family members, friends, employers. You are going to hurt people's expectations. Paul said, "If I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Galatians 1:10

Our lives should make sinners uncomfortable in their sin. When Peter encountered Jesus, he said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." There is something about your life that should make a sinner know they cannot keep living the way they are. Stand up and leave when ungodliness enters the room. Do not allow your presence to become a platform for sin.

Jeremiah 1:9-10

God told Jeremiah: "I have put my words in your mouth. I have this day set you over nations and kingdoms — to root out, to pull down, to destroy, to throw down, and then to build and to plant." Before you can plant, something must be uprooted. The gospel will destroy things that are ungodly, things in our society and generation that are not right.

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Gates That Must Be Taken

1. The Secular Gates

   Entertainment, politics, justice, government, academia — these are gates that darkness has overrun because light retreated. Anywhere light leaves, darkness takes over. A generation ago, there was no music that adults could not sing with their children present. No movies requiring you to cover a child's eyes. Then the gate was abandoned — and look at what has filled it. The church must go back to the secular gates.

   When the righteous rule, the people rejoice. When the wicked bear rule, the people mourn.

   Proverbs 29:2

   Look around at the pain in the nation. That is the fruit of the unrighteous ruling. The church cannot keep complaining from the sidelines while staying back. We must go to the gates of politics, of economics, of entertainment — and take them.

2. The Gate of Sexual Perversion

   This generation is under assault. The church cannot be silent. Speak the truth in love — but speak it.

3. The Gate of False Worship

4. The Gate of Financial Bondage

Three Weapons for the Battle

1. The Word of God

   John 17:17 — "Sanctify them by your word; your word is truth." The word of God is the foundation of every engagement. What does the word say? Not what do I feel, not what does tradition say — what does the word say? We do not have personal opinions on subjects where God has spoken.

2. The Wisdom of God

   The enemy has dark wisdom and intelligence. The body of Christ cannot be aloof or low in intellectual engagement. Wisdom as it relates to governance, economics, technology, marriage — we must build the capacity to combat at the level with which the world is combating. Wisdom is a weapon.

3. The Wealth of God

   Money is critical in advancing the kingdom. Someone invested billions into making pornography free and accessible to destroy souls. The church must be wealthy enough to counter that. Believe God for financial miracles. Up your giving. The gospel must go farther — and it costs.

   Do not listen to anyone who says money is not important. The entire resurrection narrative was nearly buried because soldiers were bribed. Money matters. Make up your mind — you will not be poor. The Lord will bless you with resources and you will push God's agenda.