(Written by Rudi Swanepoel)

The Lord spoke to Sharon and I about Gateways. Now we want to share it with you because we think it is a very powerful revelation that we all simply must hear. Our lives are filled with gateways to our heart and soul; entryways that gives access to our innermost being. They are like the gates of the temple that lead to a place of significance. These gateways allow people and information; character building or breaking stuff to enter into our lives.  

So let’s look at the significance of gates first:

In Bible times cities were walled and gated communities. Their walls and gates protected them. In fact whoever won the gates took the city. When the gates of a city fell the city surrendered. (Isaiah 3:26, 14:31, Jeremiah 14:2) It is interesting to note that one of the blessings the Lord spoke over Abraham’s descendents was that “they shall possess the gates of their enemies.” (Gen. 24:60) The promise is that they will overpower their enemies by taking control of the gateways and access points.

Next to the gates of the ancient cities were always open area market places where all the commerce of the cities took place. It was a gathering place for people to trade and interact.  Most people passed through the gates of their city every day. Farmers would sleep inside the city gates but work the fields outside the city during the day. The gates of a city were also the place of justice. The Bible refers to “the justice of the gates” (Gen. 23:10-18; Ruth 4:1-12; Deut. 16:18; 21:19; 25:6,7; Prov. 22:22; Amos 5:10,12,15) All public proclamations were made in the square near the gates. Kings would even have public audiences with the people near the gates. Executions took place just outside the city gates. (1Kings 21:13; Acts 7:58; Heb. 13:12) Prophets often delivered their messages at the gates.

Gatekeepers

The question today is: “Who won or own the gateways of your life?” He is in control of your life. He controls what flows in and out of you, and what influences you. The gatekeeper of your life has a huge responsibility and if he is flawed and weak your life is in peril. The gatekeeper decides what will be sold in the marketplaces of your soul. He determines justice in your life and your sense of what is right and wrong. He will publish your desires and needs as he sees fit. Some people take control of the gateways and access points themselves. They tend to trust only themselves with such an important task. Unfortunately the best of persons cannot keep all the bad out and the good in. We all make mistakes and experience moments of gateway breaches that effect, hurt and influence our lives. We need a flawless, perfect doorkeeper that can do better than self! One Who is perfect in vision and execution, Who is always right, never wrong, One who is not swayed emotionally or lacking morally. One we can fully trust to shape our lives according to the divine destiny we were called to.

There is only one such Person. His name is Jesus Christ! Not only is He the perfect doorkeeper, His is the perfect Door. When we surrender our lives to Him, He stations Himself in the gateways of our lives to monitor, direct, lead and guide what enters and exits our lives. He said: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) And in John 10:7 – 10 He said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

When we allow Jesus to be the Door at our access points He will insure that we experience life to the fullest. He’ll only allow our lives to be influenced by that which can build our character, shape our moral compass and fulfill His plans and purposes for our lives. He gives us a hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11) We’ll have what the Bible describes as “gates of righteousness” in Psalm 118:19. Amazingly Jesus said that “Upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” In other words, the power and influence of evil will never stand against the power of God released to and available through His church.

Gates of Significance

Let’s look at another profound statement from Jesus in Matt 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it” The greatest destiny opportunities are often not the ones that come with pomp and swagger and tremendous visibility. Many times they come to you by way of a narrow road and a small gate! We need to condition our lives to identify the gateways that lead to life and those that lead to destruction. Just recently we once again saw the amazing power of God in opening phenomenal ministry doors to God’s Glory Ministries. None came by way of the usual, formal channels and none were pursued by us personally, but the Lord orchestrated them all because God is the Gatekeeper of our lives and ministry.

 

Identifying Gateways and access points

There is a variety of access points and gateway into our lives. Let’s start with the obvious:

 

Eyes:

Your eyes are the windows of your soul. They illuminate and display the content of your heart. What you see will influence how you think. So many times the Lord asked the prophets of old: “What do you see?” Our focus is important to God. Images of life is captured through your eyes and stored in your soul. Watch what you see! Guard your eyes. Look at what is good. The Bible says: “Look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.” Ezekiel 40:4 says: “And the man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see."

 

Ears:

Along with your eyes, your ears act as a gateway to your soul. What you hear affects your life. Lend your ears to gossip and your heart will be filled with evil emotions. Listen to the word and voice of the Lord and you’ll know which way to go.  Scripture encourages us with “he who has ears let him hear what God says”.

 

Mouth:

Your mouth is also a gateway in your life. Although it is a one-way street with traffic flowing out instead of in, your words will not only affect your life but they are powerful in their working. The Bible says that Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:10) and that “life and death is in the power of the tongue”. Remember out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks so what is brewing in your heart because of the gateways of your eyes and ears often is shared through the gateway of your mouth with others.

I have dedicated a chapter in my book “Hearing God’s Voice Intelligently” on your spiritual senses.

Although the city of Jerusalem had several gates by which you could enter, the main feature of the city was the Temple. The house of God was central to the city and everyone who entered the city also made their way to the Temple to worship. That was where God’s presence was. The Temple was the spirit of the city, the heart of Jerusalem. It was the holiest, most exclusive site in the city. Specific gates gave people access to the Temple. You too have access ways to your most holy place, your spirit. There are gates that lead deep into your being to the very place where you can connect with God on a personal level and in a profound way. While the gates to the city was rather obvious the gates to the Temple was less so. The Eastern gate was an exclusive entrance reserved for God. Jesus will enter through this gate, that is sealed off at this time, when He returns in glory. Interestingly enough there was a gate in each direction, north, south, east and west. The Bible describes the dimension and particulars of each of these gates at least three times. Every gate, except the eastern gate was essentially similar, yet each is described in detail. I believe that each of us has access to God, no matter where you come from. There is a gate that will lead you to God through Jesus the door! Regardless of your background, affiliations, finances, creeds or race, God made a way for you to know Him personally. Hallelujah! Jesus is indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life! Some of these gates had special names like “The Beautiful” (Acts 3:2) or the “Sheep Gate” that near the pool of Bethesda, where all the Temple sacrifices were brought in.

Now let us look at some more obscure, but powerful spiritual gateways to your life:

Thanksgiving and Praise:

Psalm 100:4 says: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” A sure way to gain access to the presence of God is through thanksgiving and praise. The Hebrew word here is towdah and means “an extension of the hand, avowal, adoration, a choir of worshippers, confession, a sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving.” The root word is yadah that means “to hold out the hand or to throw”. The word for praise here is tehillaw and means “laudation; specifically a hymn or praise”. It comes from the word hallal that means “to be clear, to shine, to make a show, to rave, to boast, to celebrate, to glory”. Praise and thanksgiving leads you into God’s presence. It clears the way for you to encounter God in a powerful way. Many people rave about many things in life. They celebrate stuff, successes and ambition. Don’t you think it is time for Believers to truly celebrate Jesus? To rave about and boast in our God? To throw our hands up in the air, surrendering to and celebrating the King of kings and Lord of lords? We should worship in extravagance and live in demonstration of our adoration.

 

Faith:

Another access way to the heart of God through our lives is faith. Faith pleases God. (Hebrews 11:6) In fact this verse concludes with: “he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:8), so our faith gives us access to Heaven, to the Throne Room, to God Himself.

 

Obedience:

The Bible declares: “obedience is better than sacrifice.” (1Sam15:22) Obedience and submission goes hand in hand. When you obey the Lord you demonstrate your devotion and submission to His will, plans and purposes for your life. Obedience proves your trust. It fuses your relationship with God.

 

Prayer:

Prayer is a gateway to the heart of God. We read: “deep calls unto deep.” (Psalm 42:7) The Lord invites us to: “Call on me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” (Jer.33:3) As you communicate to the Lord through prayer, you establish a flow of information and revelation in and though your life. Prayer is never a monologue, coming from your heart and mouth alone. It is a dialogue, because through prayer you are strengthened and receive instruction from Him as well.

 

God’s word:

The word of God is a gateway to the heart of God. In it we discover God’s inspired will for our lives. It is a map for righteous living and unlocks the mysteries of Heaven. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. “ (Ps119:105)

 

Emotions:

Did you know that our emotions are gateways and access points into our soul. This can be very positive or very negative. Remember that God made you with emotions. You are an emotional being by design. Now, we know that there are good and bad emotions. Let’s look at an example of both: The Bible says: “Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Depression starts as a destructive emotion trying to gain access to your heart and soul. The enemy wants you down and out and he’ll pile guilt, shame, disappointment, bitterness, brokenness onto you to wear you down. Do not allow depression to gain access to your soul. Execute it outside of the gates of your life! On the other hand, the Bible says: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy is an emotion you need to flow into your life because it will strengthen you at your core. Do not keep joy out and depression in. Make the exchange! Let Jesus, through His word determine what emotions to cherish and what to shun.

In conclusion, it is important to monitor, guard and control the gates and access ways to our souls. With Jesus stationed as the doorkeeper we can yield to His instruction and rejoice in His guidance. We read in Psalm 24:7 and 9 “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.” We should position our lives that the gateways and access points of our lives are controlled and opened by our Lord and Savior. He’ll fill the market place of your heart with treasures and blessings from Heaven. He’ll bring justice and peace to your door and execute any and all unwanted trespassers (like envy, jealousy, pride, anger, unforgiveness, sin, bitterness, stress and the like) outside your gates, before they can get in and take root in your life.