Last week, Wendy explored the transformative power of saying "yes" to God—embracing His will and experiencing the profound changes that follow. However, this affirmative response to God's call is not neutral. To say "yes" to God is to say "no" to something else. In this case, it is a decisive "no" to the kingdom of darkness. This dual stance places believers in the midst of an ongoing spiritual conflict, one that Jesus Himself warned us about.
Jesus did not merely call His followers into a personal relationship with Him; He called them into His kingdom, which is actively at war with the kingdom of darkness. In saying "yes" to God, we are also taking a stand against Satan and the forces that oppose God’s rule. As we will see, this means embracing our identity as citizens of heaven and participating in the divine mission to storm the very gates of hell.
Satan: The Prince of This World
Scripture is explicit about Satan’s influence over the present age. Jesus refers to him as "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). Paul calls him "the god of this age" who has blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). These descriptions highlight the reality that the world, in its fallen state, operates under the influence of a spiritual adversary.
This does not mean that Satan has ultimate authority, for all authority belongs to Christ (Matthew 28:18). However, until Christ’s return, Satan continues to wield significant influence, opposing God’s kingdom and seeking to keep people enslaved to sin, deception, and death.
For this reason, the call to follow Jesus is not just about personal transformation—it is about switching allegiances. It is about renouncing our former citizenship in the dominion of darkness and embracing our new identity in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13).
The Kingdom of God vs. The Kingdom of Darkness
The Bible presents a stark contrast between these two kingdoms. The Kingdom of God is one of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), while the kingdom of darkness is characterized by deception, chaos, and destruction (John 10:10).
When we say "yes" to God, we are not just making a private, spiritual decision; we are aligning ourselves with His mission in the world. This alignment makes us participants in an ongoing cosmic struggle. As Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
This means that spiritual warfare is not optional. To belong to Christ is to engage in battle, whether we acknowledge it or not. There are forces at play that actively seek to hinder our walk with God, to tempt us away from faithfulness, and to keep us ineffective in advancing His kingdom. But Jesus assures us that His kingdom is advancing, and nothing will stop it.
Citizens of Heaven: Storming the Gates of Hell
Jesus made a radical declaration to His disciples in Matthew 16:18: "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This is one of the most powerful statements about the role of God's people in the world. It suggests that the church is not a passive institution, but an advancing force.
Too often, Christians view spiritual warfare as defensive, as if our main task is to resist the attacks of the enemy. While resisting temptation is crucial (James 4:7), Jesus envisions something more: an offensive movement of God’s kingdom that actively pushes back darkness. The imagery of "the gates of hell" suggests that hell itself is under siege. Gates are not offensive weapons—they are defensive structures meant to keep something out.
If the gates of hell will not prevail, it means that the church—empowered by Christ—is storming those gates. We are not called to simply endure in this world until Christ returns; we are called to bring His kingdom to bear on the world around us. This happens every time we proclaim the gospel, act in love, pursue justice, and live in radical obedience to Jesus.
Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20 that "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." This is not just a future hope—it is a present reality. To be a citizen of heaven means that we live by heaven’s values now, even as we reside in a fallen world. It means we live under Christ’s lordship, not the dictates of a world under Satan’s influence.
The Reality of Opposition
This kind of kingdom living does not go unnoticed. Jesus was clear that following Him would come at a cost: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). When we say "yes" to God, we can expect opposition—not only from the world but from spiritual forces that seek to undermine God’s work.
Satan’s primary tactics are deception, temptation, and accusation. He seeks to distort God’s truth, lure us into sin, and paralyze us with shame and doubt. He did this in the garden with Eve (Genesis 3:1-5), in the wilderness with Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11), and he continues these tactics today.
Yet, as believers, we are not left defenseless. Paul exhorts us to put on the "whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11), equipping ourselves with truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. We are given everything we need to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy.
The Victory of Christ & Our Next Steps
Ultimately, the reason we can confidently say "yes" to God is because Christ has already secured the victory. "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus disarmed the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15), ensuring that their defeat is inevitable.
Satan may still prowl like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), but his fate is sealed. The kingdom of God is advancing, and we are invited to be part of it. When we say "yes" to God, we are saying "yes" to being part of that unstoppable movement.
As we continue forward, we will be diving into the Armor of God as our next series. This is not just an abstract concept—it is our tangible call as citizens and soldiers of this new kingdom. In the battles we face, God has given us everything we need to stand firm and walk in victory. The gates of hell will not prevail.
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