Why Gates and Gatekeepers?

Because it is the mandate of Jesus to occupy the Gates (Matthew 16:17-18) and make disciples to disciple the nations (Matthew 28:19-20).

To restore Kingdom dominion

Jesus came to seek and save all that was lost and to restore His kingdom. Thy kingdom come. (Mt 18:11; Mt 6:10)

Men’s delegated dominion (Genesis 1:26-28) lost through the fall of Adam (Gen 2:16-17).

Jesus disarmed all principalities, delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us to the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:13-15; 1 Pet 2:9).

Made us Priests and Kings (Rev 1:5-6; 5:10), live in one world and represent another, as citizens, ambassadors and representatives of the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Paul spoke not about going to heaven someday but living as citizens of heaven today!

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 3:20)  

To declare the Kingdom of God in preaching, praying, seeking, and ministering

John the Baptist preached, “repent, the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mt 3:1-2)

Repentance is not complete until we are born again to see and enter the kingdom of heaven (Jn 3:3,5) Jesus preached on the kingdom of God before and after His resurrection. (Mt 4:17, 23; 7:21; 9:35; Acts 1:3)

Jesus’ Model Prayer: Your kingdom come… (Mt 6:9-13)

Jesus mandate is that we “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt 6:33)

Paul expounded and testified about the kingdom of God (Acts 28:23, 31) Church and Kingdom are not synonymous. Church is not the Kingdom because “the kingdom of God is within you” Lk 17:21.  The kingdom of God is meant to inhabit the entire earth and not the sanctuary. Heaven invaded earth with the kingdom of heaven. As ministers of the kingdom, we are to advance and extend the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  

To occupy the gates

God intends for all believers to occupy their personal gates and Promised Land and that our combined efforts, as an army of God to transform and disciple nations. (Mt 16:18-19; Gen 1:28; Exo 12:25)

God’s work of redemption and the advancement of His kingdom works from inside out; begins with the individual advancing His kingdom in every sphere or gates of society.

Christian apostleship and stewardship of the gates is vital for the life of our societies. Whoever takes responsibility for the gates will see the agenda for the health or destruction of society.

Our change from Chapters to Gates; Members to Gatekeepers is predicated on strong scriptural foundations.

Gatekeepers is predicated on strong scriptural foundations

1. Jesus is the Gate

John 10: 7-10
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

2. Elders sit at the Gates

Proverbs 31:23
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

Job 29:7.
When I went out to the gate by the city, when I took my seat in the open square.

3. We are mandated to occupy the Gates

Matthew 16:17-18.
Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter (gatekeeper) and on this rock (revelation truth) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

4. The King of Glory enters through the gates

Psalms 24:7
Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

5. Open the Gates for the Righteous to Enter

Isaiah 26:2.
Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.

Isaiah 62:10.
Go through, Go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; build up, Build up the highway! Take out the stones, Lift up a banner for the peoples!

Jeremiah 7:2.
Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the Lord.’

Psalm 100:4.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

6. The Anointed Open Doors and Un-shut Gates

Isaiah 45:1-2.
Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held…to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors, so that the gates will not be shut: I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.

Isaiah 60:11.
Therefore your gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day or night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, and their kings in procession.

Revelation 21:25-26.
Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.

7. Gates as the marketplace

2 Kings 7:1
Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ “

Nehemiah 3:1
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors.

8. Gates are strategic for the defence of the city

Ezekiel 26:10.
Because of the abundance of his horses, their dust will cover you; your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen, the wagons, and the chariots, when he enters your gates, as men enter a city that has been breached.

9. Gate as a meeting place

2 Samuel 15:2
Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.”

Ruth 4:1
Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down.

10. Gate as a centre of public life

1 Kings 22:10
The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

Nehemiah 8:1
Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel.

11. Gates as the tribunal and courts of justice

Deuteronomy 16:18
“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

12. Gates as the place where king holds audience

2 Samuel 19:8
Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.

1 Kings 22:10
The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.