Prevail definition: prove more powerful than opposing forces; victory to reign, to conquer, to win in the end. Success or triumph.
Those of us who read the Bible are familiar with Jesus’ use of that word. He used it after asking a very revealing question of the hearts of His disciples. He wanted to know what they thought about Him, yes the people were speculating, but what did they, His inner circle, believe about Him. We must understand this one sticking point in our walk with Jesus. To be a successful Church/Christian, we must know who He is. To be ignorant in that area spells death to a church. Deception only happens when we don’t know what we believe, don’t know who we are and don’t have a clear understanding of the Word (Jesus) and who He is.
Our Biblical knowledge in no way compares to a revelation of the Christ. If all we know is what others are saying, then we haven’t received a revelation. How do we know that we have been born again? Very simple answer from John the apostle, and the apostle Paul.
“For all who obey His commands find their lives joined in union with Him, and He lives and flourishes in them. We know and have proof that He constantly lives and flourishes in us, by the Spirit that He has given us.”
1 John 3:24 TPT
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”
Romans 8:16 NKJV
Something happens spiritually not physically. There’s an inner witness to what has taken place in us. That’s why we may still look the same outwardly, but what flows from and through us gives witness to a prevailing presence that has transformed us from the inside out. Jesus made a bold statement concerning His Church. A Church not built on man’s perception or ideology. A church built strictly on the revelation of who He is. Let’s read together.
“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (hell) shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:13-18 NKJV
I have taught in messages before that Jesus wasn’t declaring that Peter was the rock on which the Church was built, but rather the Church was built purely on the revelation of who Jesus is. If the Church was built on Peter, who promptly denied Him hours later, there would be no Church. So we could read Jesus’ statement this way: Simon, I’m going to change your name to a stone.The word Peter in Greek is petros, which means "a piece of rock; a stone; a single stone; movable, insecure, shifting, or rolling." The word rock that Jesus was referring to is petra, which means "a rock; a cliff; a projecting rock; huge mass; solid formation; fixed; immovable; enduring." Jesus continues: So based on the revelation My Father has given you about Me, that I Am the Christ, His Son, on this Rock (the revelation) I will build My Church (not Peter’s church) and here’s the promise: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!
The prevailing Church is a Church built on the revelation of who Jesus is. The Church that cannot be prevailed against will never compromise the Word of God for popularity or mammon. The prevailing Church needs to only do one thing: Preach Jesus Christ! All our fancy programs and entertainment may draw a crowd, their names may even draw a crowd. But I’ll share something the Lord told Pastor Demola two years before he died, “your name may draw them, but it’s My glory that will keep them.” Meaning; they’ll come but they won’t stay without His glory. Drop the 🎤. I watched the church emptying out -I thought I’d missed the rapture. Who do you say that He is Church?
We cannot come up with enough programs and gimmicks to attract real saints. It’s Jesus only for those of us who have received a revelation from the Father. How many churches have gone under since Covid? What happened? The gates of hell prevailed. They had built on a pebble instead of the Rock. Chicken dinners and fish fry may fill bellies temporarily , but only Jesus the true Bread satisfies. Jesus didn’t make a false claim, any Church built on Him cannot be prevailed against. The Churches that are thriving in spite of a raging pandemic and economic woes have one thing in common: They have a revelation of Jesus Christ and The Church is built on Him, Christ Jesus alone. That’s their message and they’re standing on it.
Jesus the Rock, the Firm Foundation and Chief Cornerstone. The impenetrable force against hell, the Prevailing Wall of the Church is the Word of the Living God and a revelation of who He is. Thou art the Christ! The Son of the Living God! Is that what our services are built upon? Is that what our lives are built upon? Then we can be confident that the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. This is why persecution grows instead of diminishing the Church. Just ask world leaders who try to silence the True Church of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t work. Read the Acts of the apostles, the more the Church was scattered through persecution, the more the gospel spread. Why? The gates of hell cannot prevail against us. We prevail! We overcome! We triumph! We have certain victory! We win! We are the prevailing Church! Glory to God!
If your preacher is teaching woe is us, Run for your life. The gates of hell are prevailing. If the Word is being replaced by opinions, Run for your life! The gates of hell are prevailing. Mark the vibrant Church. I’m not speaking of a packed church with a modern sound. I’m talking about a Church where the Bible comes alive, where miracles are taking place, people are being born again full of the Holy Spirit. Where communities are being impacted by the love of Jesus emanating from the Body of Christ. Where the fruit of the Spirit is evident in individual lives. Something powerful is happening in that building/that body of believers. They’re criticized and maligned by religious folks. Mark that Church. The gates of hell are not prevailing.
I’ve come to the conclusion that persecution is born out of two things: Fear and jealousy. Don’t believe me-Read your Bible. See Morning Messages June 16, 2021 Fear Not! Any decision made in fear is a disaster waiting to happen. Communism thrives on fear, power and control thrives on fear. Any church built on dependence on man will fail. That’s why I know that Jesus didn’t say He was building His Church on Peter. Man cannot sustain a prevailing church, only Jesus Christ can. The name on the building means nothing, it’s what’s taking place on the inside that matters. Is The Rock invited to our Sunday services? No, I’m not talking about Dwayne Johnson, he’s a pebble. Is His glory on display? Not only will He draw a crowd, He will keep the crowd. Dictators, atheism, progressives, Islamists, Hinduism, deniers, whoever and whatever’s, will never be able to prevail against the Church that is built upon the revelation of Jesus Christ. It’s been tried for centuries and it’s failed because the Word of God never fails.
Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail, why gates? Gates implies being locked in or kept out, kept behind or away from something. We cannot be stopped, Church of Christ Jesus! We’re backed by the Rock. We cannot fail. We are the prevailing Church! Do you believe that? Then it’s time we came out from the shadows! Morning Messages August 25, 2020. We prevail in the midst of chaos and confusion. It’s time to step up and out. We can no longer hide who we are. If the Church remains silent in the face of all that is happening in the world, our neighborhoods, our cities and states, hell’s gates will prevail. We cannot allow that to happen, not when we have a promise and a mandate from our Commander in Chief. The gates of hell shall not prevail against us, so GO into all the world and preach the Gospel’s Good News! Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God! And He’s offering a better way of living. He’s forgiveness, He’s Hope, He’s Love, He’s Joy and Peace like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Yes! He’s the Rock on which we’re built! WE ARE HIS PREVAILING CHURCH!
The Prevailing Church cannot be shuttered, cannot be silenced, cannot be sequestered. We’re not a building, we’re a people, we are the body of Christ, the Church of the Living God!
Every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world. So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5 TPT
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
November 11, 2021
I speak rest, and a peaceful Veterans Day to all the military personnel in my audience today. Thank you for your sacrifice and service to our nation. We appreciate you!🙏♥️ God bless you, and God bless America 🇺🇸