Then Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, He took them to the geographical location where a great darkened cave on the mountainside loomed behind them. In the culture of that day, there were many fearful stories that were passed down from generation to generation concerning this cave. It was known to the locals as being the very gates of hell, where demon spirits would come and go. It was no accident Jesus chose this very location to inform His followers that He was about to build His church and that not even the gates of hell and all of its demonic power would be able to prevent its eternal purpose! That’s because Jesus would build His church on a foundational truth that would be impossible to collapse! The revelation that He was the Son of God! When we believe in Jesus and understand the power and authority, He has given His church to enforce the defeat of the devil and advance the kingdom of God on the earth – we become unstoppable! Jesus went on to tell the disciples that He has given every believer the keys of the kingdom! The very thing that will unlock and access everything that is in heaven, while we are here on the earth, has been handed to us! This is what those keys are:” …whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you lose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19). When we understand that there is no sickness, lack, poverty, strife, or destruction in heaven, we have been given the right to open our mouths and declare these things unlawful and not permitted in our own lives. In the same manner, we are authorized to declare anything that is found lawful and permitted in heaven – lawful and permitted here on earth too! God’s church on earth was never meant to be silent, but intentionally vocal concerning what is and is not permitted here. When we take a stand in faith and declare what Jesus has authorized us to declare – all the demonic power of hell itself cannot prevail against us. It’s time to make our stand and then stand our ground against the enemy, enforcing his defeat by declaring the Word of God with boldness – because we are the powerful church!