Gatekeepers - Part 2

I am continuing from 2 days ago - a study on being gatekeepers. All worship ministers need to walk in the ministry of a gatekeeper. We are intercessors on behalf of the people of God, and we are gatekeepers of God's presence.

There Are Three Gates In Scripture

These gates are not necessarily physical gates or a particular place of entry. They represent the spiritual entrance to our cities, churches and the presence of our King.

1. City Gates: Gen. 19:1; Ruth 4:1; Ps. 87:2; Ps. 122:2

2. Temple/Church Gates: 2 Chr. 31:2; Ps. 100:4; Jer. 7:2

3. King’s Gates: Esth. 2:19; Ps. 24:7; Dan. 2:49

Gatekeepers were also watchmen upon the walls. (They were intercessors)

1. The city gatekeepers were to be loyal and trustworthy. They were responsible for:

            • The safety of the city.

            • To admit or refuse entrance. (2 Ki. 7:10)

            When Jerusalem fell to Babylon, three gatekeepers were symbolically slain.

Jer. 29:7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

Jer. 29:7 And seek (inquire for, require, and request) the peace and welfare of the city to which I have caused you to be carried away captive; and pray to the Lord for it, for in the welfare of [the city in which you live] you will have welfare.  (AMP)

Jer. 29:7  “Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare. “Pray for Babylon’s well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you.”  (Message)

2. The Temple Gatekeepers:

            • Were to be from the Tribe of Levi. (1 Chron. 9:26; 15:23; 23:5)

            • Cared for the temple. (2 Ki. 23:4)

            • Watched temple entrances. (1 Chron. 9:23-27; 2 Chron 23:19)

2Chr. 23:19   And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in. 

               Helped perform service of purification. (Neh. 12:25)

3. The King's Gatekeepers (Es. 2:21; 6:2)

            Prov. 8:34   Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my

            gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

"hears"  shâma  (Strongs # 8085)  To hear intelligently, give attention, attentively call or gather together, consider, be content, declare, diligently discern, give ear, make a noise, proclaim, publish, report, show forth, tell, understand.

"watching"  shâqad  (Strongs # 8245)  To be alert, fix attention to, sleepless, to be on the look out (whether for good or ill), hasten, remain awake, watch for, to guard the threshold.

"waiting"  shâmar  (Strongs # 8104)  To hedge about, to guard, protect, attend to, to take heed of, to keep, save, lay wait for, watch for.

Worshipers - We are gatekeepers over our cities, churches and before the courts of the King. Just as the Queen has soldiers who guard her presence - so we stand in the gate of our King and watch. We have the privilege of listening to the sounds of heaven ad declaring what He is saying in all the earth. We also get to watch intently as He prepares layers of glory for His people and we are guardians of His presence day and night. This doesn't mean that the Lord is unable to defend Himself - it just means that we are those who watch over His presence as sons, His Bride, His friends and His servants.       



Part One: HERE

Gatekeepers - Part One

All worshipers are called to be gatekeepers - (more on this tomorrow). Today, I just want to look at the actual gates...

Ps. 84:10b

" . . . I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

"They said to me, 'Those who survived the exile and are back in the province

are in great affliction (trouble) and reproach (disgrace).

The wall of Jerusalem is broken down,

and its gates have been burned with fire.'"

Neh. 1:3

These gates have two doors:

…You shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.”  Is. 60:18b

“Open to me the gates of righteousness.

I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD”   

Ps. 118:19

Praise and Righteousness are often linked in scripture. It is through these two doors that the Glory of the Lord will shine in the last days. When we, (the city - Zion, with walls of salvation) have these two doors, or gates functioning in our lives, there will be established a pathway for the glory of the Lord to cover the earth as the 'waters cover the sea'. It is through a righteous and praising church that this prophecy will be fulfilled: Isa. 61:3, 11

Not only are we gatekeepers of God's presence...we are also called to possess the gates of our enemies. In Biblical times, if you held the gate of a city, you pretty much would be in a position of power over the whole city. The term “to possess the gate” (Gen. 22:17) meant that one had gained a position of power and wealth over the enemy.

Possess:

            • To cause to possess or inherit

            • To cause others to possess or inherit

            • To dispossess

            • To destroy or bring to ruin

            • To seize – dispossess

            • To take possession

            • To occupy

When we are people of praise and righteousness, we will have authority over the enemy and will possess the gate(s) where he thinks he an rule and control the earth.

Part Two: HERE