POSSESS THE GATES
Part 1
“As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:4-5).
Why is it a blessing to have a quiver full of children? Why will parents not be ashamed who have many children? They are training their children to know how to fight enemies. They are preparing them for war. And what is more powerful than swords and spears? Words! Words of truth!
We don’t have children just for the sake of having children. We have a purpose to raise children who know how to combat the enemies of darkness and who know how to contend for their faith. We raise children who know the truth, who will stand for truth, and who will keep on standing for truth even when everyone is trying to knock them down! We teach them to not only know the truth, but to speak the truth knowledgably and articulately.
1. SPEAK IN THE GATES
Where will our children speak? Some will speak one to one and others will speak crowds, but all must be prepared to speak in the gates. What are the gates? In biblical times they were the most important part of the city where the elders sat to administer judicial matters and kings met with their subjects. The judges and officers judged the daily matters of the people and the prophets proclaimed warnings from God. Today, it relates to the city councils, the state capitals and the White House in Washington DC where decisions and laws are made. Are we preparing children who will know how to speak with legislators and governors?
The Bible has a lot more to say about the gates of our cities and nations. Not only are we to train children to speak in the gates, but to also…
2. POSSESS THE GATES
Who are to possess the gates? Not the enemies of righteousness, but God’s people! The word “possess” in the Hebrew means “to seize, take possession of, to occupy.” In the Bible, to “possess the gates” means to take authority over the entire city. Don’t you think it is time the righteous occupied the gates of our cities and nation? We can’t have righteous laws without righteous men in government. We can’t have peace in the land unless the godly rule.
Why do we languish in mediocrity when we are meant to be possessing? “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 13:34). Also read Proverbs 11:10-11 and 29:2.
God promised Abraham that “thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies” (Genesis 22:17). Because we are the children of Abraham by faith, it should be our vision, and the vision for our children, to possess the gates of our enemies. Rebekah’s family had this vision when they gave the blessing to her as they sent her forth to be Isaac’s bride, “Be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them” (Genesis 24:60).
3. PROCLAIM WISDOM IN THE GATES
We are not to hide the wisdom of God’s truth behind closed doors, or even in the church. We must proclaim wisdom in the chief places of the city. Proverbs 1:20-21 says, “Wisdom cries in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she utters her words” (Proverbs 8:1-7 and 8:1-3). The wise will speak in the gates, the fool will be too afraid to speak in the gates (Proverbs 24:7).
4. ESTABLISH JUSTICE IN THE GATES
The prophet cried out in Amos 5:15, “Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.” It is because we have tolerance in the gates, that our nation is declining and the light of God is dimming more and more.
As God’s people we are to hate evil, not tolerate it. We are to abhor what is an abomination in God’s sight, not trifle with it. We must hate it enough that it will cause us to take action and establish justice in our courts and in our land. We must loathe it enough that we will pray and intercede. Ezekiel 9:4-6 states that God told Ezekiel to “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst.” They were the only people who escaped judgment. Are you one who sighs and cries for the evil in the land?
Love from Nancy Campbell
http://www.aboverubies.org
PRAYER:
“Oh God, please save me from assimilating into this world system and help me to intercede on the behalf of my nation. Strengthen me to raise children who are ingrained in your Word and who will be bold to speak your truth, even in the face of opposition. Amen.”
AFFIRMATION:
I am preparing children to speak in the gates!
What is an abomination to God?
Leviticus 18:22-30; 20:13; Deuteronomy 7:25-26; 18:9-13; 27:15; 1 Kings 14:24; 2 Kings 16:3; 21:2; 23:7, 24; Proverbs 3:32; 6:16-19; 11:1, 20; 12:22; 15: 9, 26; 16:5, 12; 17:15; 20:10, 23; 24:9; Jeremiah 4:1; 13:27; 44:22; Ezekiel 7:3-9; 11:21; Luke 16:15; Romans 1:25-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-11 and Revelation 21:8, 27.
Some Scriptures about the Gates of the City for you to study:
Genesis 19:1; Deuteronomy 16:18; 17:2-5; 21:19-21; 22:15; 25:7-8; 28:52; Joshua 20:4; Judges 16:1-3; Ruth 4:1, 11; II Samuel 15:2; 19:8; I kings 22:10; I Chronicles 9:19-23; 26:13; II Chronicles 8:5; 14:7; 32:6; 35:15; Nehemiah 3:1-32; 8:1-3; Esther 2:19-21; 3:2; Psalm 87:2; 147:13; Proverbs 1:21; 8:1-3; 31:31; Isaiah 29:21; Jeremiah 17:19-20; 38:7; Ezekiel 44:1-3; 48:31-34; Daniel 2:49; Amos 5:10-15; Acts 3:1-10; Revelation 21:12-21 and 22:14.