Possessing the Gates
(week 49/05)
Olubi Johnson
Genesis 22:17 NKJV: blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
Here, we are told that we as the seed of Abraham through Jesus (Gal. 3.29) are to possess the gates of our enemies.
What are the gates of our enemies?
In the Old Testament, the gates of a city were the entry points into and out of the cities: whoever controlled the gates controlled the cities. Also the gates were the places of where the elders (Ruth. 4.1-2. Pr. 31.23) met to make decisions: the seat of government and control.
Spiritually, in the new testament the gates are the entry points to our 5 physical senses and their connection to the air and our souls and spirits.
In other words, spiritual power and information enter into our souls: mind, will and emotions through the gates of our physical senses from the air.
Your soul and spirit is likened to a city:
Proverbs 25:28 NKJV: Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.
He who controls the gates of the physical senses by spiritual power from the air controls the conduct of the man.
So, to posses the gates of our enemies is to control by the power of the Holy Spirit through the air, the entry points of our physical senses and so control what goes on in our souls and bodies.
Ordinarily, these gates are controlled by Satan in men that are not born-again: however when we get born-again we are to dispossess Satan and his principalities and powers, our enemies, by the force of spiritual arms:
Ephesians 2:2-3 NKJV: in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind,
Ephesians 6:11-19 NKJV: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
So by daily putting on the whole armour of God: the armour of love since God is love and praying in the spirit with all types of prayer we can possess the gates of the enemy.
This is why Jesus said:
Matthew 16:18 NKJV: And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Also we read in
Psalms 24:7-8 NKJV: Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.
Furthermore, we maintain the control of the ‘gates’ by always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus (2 Cor. 4.10, 11) by diligently bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10.4-5). We do this by saying regularly in our thoughts:
“I am obedient unto death by the Spirit using joy, peace and longsuffering to endure self-denial to do the will of God.”
As we do these things diligently as a daily habit, we will possess the gates of our enemies.
