In our last post on this, we spoke some of the Gates of Hell within. Just by way of review, it is important to consider a statement in James.
Jas 3:6 KJV And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.When coupled with a quote from Jesus it becomes a strong statement that must be considered seriously.
Mat 15:19-20 KJV For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (20) These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.(Mark 7:21)
Mat 12:34 KJV O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.(Luke 6:45)When brought together with our opening scripture there is grounds for saying the one interpretation of the passage is that hell can be in the heart.
This brings us to a point of recognition that the Gates of Hell can be internal as well. This makes it essential to consider an assault on this stronghold within. It brings new understanding to Paul's comments in 2 Cor 10:4-5
2Co 10:4-5 KJV (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;While pondering this, I also want to consider a balance in the battle.
In the external world there is also an application of this that comes out of an awakening in my experience. I believe the Word of God is the final authority. When it says the "gates of hell" will not prevail against the Church, it is clear that gates do not move. That means the Church must be moving.
This begs a question: What do these gates look like?
Some have looked for some physical place or expression that is clearly an expression of satan's work. Gates are entrances or doorways into cities, forts, or strongholds. There are those who would argue that it is all the things that religious men and women call "sin". There is a sense in which that can be true in a life or situation. But in looking at that I think we may miss the deeper meaning.
In both our understanding of heaven and of hell, we think of physical places, limiting ourselves and allowing places for the enemy of our souls to hide. I am not saying that there is not a literal heaven or a literal hell, I believe in both, but often believing in the literal blinds us to the spiritual, when both are true. It is not either or, as much of the church has taught. Truth lays in a balance between the two.
If the first thing the Lord did, after he made man, was relate to them through walking with them in the garden, then that relating sets the context for understanding all things spiritual. Because of the fall, we were turned inside out. That which originally was predominate, the spiritual, became the least priority. That which was the least priority before the fall, became predominate, that is the visible.
Jesus came to restore us to the original position and then take us on into the fullness of God. The vision of this journey must be seen first, before we can give ourselves to taking the journey.
When Lucifer fell from heaven, and deceived man, he became the prince of the power of the air. The route to the heavenlies goes through what is currently the devil's territory. This means that is some sense, we go through hell on our way to heaven, just as Jesus did when He descended into hell and got the keys of hell and death. The gates of hell are blockages in our lives to a life of true holiness and abundant life. (There will be more on life and holiness later, but holiness is an internal condition, not external.)
The church has spoken of the saving of sinners. From inside the church they try to fulfill the great commission and wonder why they only see limited results. Others go out into the streets and do witnessing and that also brings a measure of results.
Yet God is looking for a group of men and women who will allow Him to train them with such precision that nothing can stop them as they assault either the external manifestations of the gates of hell or the internal manifestations.
Selah
