Open Gates of Opportunity

Those “gates of hell” that once confined Peter did not prevail against the mission for which Peter was called.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked Peter a question that rings through the corridors of the centuries, “But who do you say that I am?” We all have to answer that question. Our eternity hangs on the answer. Peter acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus was the One that was promised from the Fall.

At that point Jesus blessed Peter and then promised that on this rock, on this truth, I will build My church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. This promise was fulfilled in a tangible way in Peter’s lifetime. This is also a promise to us as we live and move in acknowledgement that Jesus is the Lord. How so?

In Acts 12 we learn that Herod arrested Peter and locked him behind bars. He has the intention of executing Peter. As the people of God prayed, an angel visited the prison. The celestial visitor woke Peter, lit up the room, had Peter stand, removed his chains, allowed him to dress, walked him by two guard posts, then led him out through the iron gates that held him. The gates opened of their own accord. It seems Jesus was fulfilling His promise that those confining gates, those “gates of hell” would not prevail against Peter and the mission for which Peter was called.

The Lord is still capable of opening gates that evil shuts. Jesus is able to help us overcome whatever are our biggest life-challenges. All so we can make a radical Kingdom impact. See how a small step can make a big difference. Login at missionnext.org

Picture of Nelson Malwitz, Founder, Chief Innovation Officer

Nelson Malwitz, Founder, Chief Innovation Officer

Nelson is the generic Evangelical baby-boomer. Born in 1946, raised in the C&MA, he attended Urbana ’67 in college. He holds an MS degree in Chemical Engineering and worked in R&D positions in American industry for 33 years. Nelson is an inventor with formal training in methods of creative problem-solving. He was a founding elder at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, CT (1982) and served in many leadership capacities of what is now one of the largest Evangelical churches in New England. In 1998 Nelson founded the Finishers Project, now MissionNext. Locally he attends a Torah study and serves as chairman of the Sewer Commission in his community to be a witness among unchurched leaders.

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