PRAYER & SPIRITUAL WARFARE: POSSESSING THE GATES OF THE ENEMY

All over the world there is a quiet movement of the Spint of God that is causing churches to re-evaluate how effective they are in A serving their communities and making a difference. Churches are throwing out the older measures of success. It’s no longer about size, spiritual gifts, crowd, programmes and material B. wealth, but it’s about making a significant and sustainable difference in the lives of the people in our communities and in our cities.

The community surrounding the church is the immediate ministry area of the church. The church must make a strong difference that will lead to community transformation. The church in Africa must wake up to this. We must start to have compassion for our communities (Mark 6:34). We must stop condemning our communities and cites, (Jer. 29:7) and start to build bridges across to them (Matthew 5:13, 14).

Pastors must stop seeing themselves as only ministers in their congregation, but as spiritual leader over the community (Luke 19:41). One of the most foundational and effective tool for community transformation is processing the gates of enemy there.

A. Biblical Foundation (Matthew 16:18; Gen. 22:17; 24:60; Deut. 16:18; Ruth 4:1-2; Prov. 31:23.

Gates are very important to Old Testament cities and towns. It is where the elder’s seats, meets. discuss, deliberate and take decisions. It is the battle ground. Once the enemy can take over at the gate, they control the city. Psalm 24:8-9

In the New Testament, the gate has come to symbolize demonic authority and place of power (Acts 14:13). Their three point plan is to Deceive, Dominate and Destroy. These gates can be a round-about, junction, tree, river, mountain, market, entrance, strategic location, particular building, a high ranking elder or person of influence, male or female

B. Elders At The Gate (Acts 8:5-11; 13:7-12; Rev. 2:12-13):

Elders at the gate speaks about gathering of demonic powers ruling, deliberating and taking far reaching decisions regarding the gospel in their area of operation. Elders at the gate are demonic powers located in a community, militating against the health, growth, progress and expansion of the church.

The sacrifices, rituals, oblations, shrines, bale or chiefs houses, mystic and Indian temples, masquerade festivals and occultic practices are veritable avenue for elders at the gate to operate in the community.

C. Levels of Gates (Phil. 2:10; Acts 19:11-12)

1. Personal gate

Every life has a gate. Your mind, body, dream and mouth can be gates in which the enemy can come into dominate deceive and destroy you.

Individuals that are gate of the enemy usually cause lots of havoc in the community. i.e. witches, herbalists and demonized individuals, When the enemy has taken over the gate of someone’s then he can reign supreme.

2. Family Gate

A particular family can open their gate to the enemy through sinfulness, adultery. blood covenants incisions juju, and dedication and in the course of finding solution to a problem. A seemingly harmless art image brought in can be the open door for the enemy.

3. Church Gate (Matthew 6:18)

Every church has a gate The demons would love to take over the gate of the 7 church fighting, animosity, lukewarmness, cheating, incidents, wrong foundation and motives are some of the ways they come in their purpose is to render the church powerless from within.

4. Community Gate

The light of the gospel cannot shine bightly in a community if the enemy has taken over the gate. The founders of the community, the reason why it was found, anal was used to found it, and the founding god or idols will determine the prosperity or otherwise of the community The name also goes a long way. Unless 2 we evict the enemy at the gate, the church will only have a minimal presence there.

5. City Gate

In African cities much crime, poverty, sickness, injustice, violence and diseases are the sure sign of the enemy at the gate. The communities that make up the cities are demon-dominated and invariably, the city will be also. The church in the city must rise up to destroy the enemy and possess the gates, it is them the city can be transformed.

D. The Need to Possessing The Gates:

Without conscious and deliberate efforts in bracing these enemies at the gate, the church in The communities will continues to flounder and minimal growth. Here are salient points to consider:

Revival did not come to the Old Testament cities until idols were removed – II Kings 10:10-23
The church is not called take cover but to take over-(Rev. 2:7, 11)
The church holds the key to the liberation of people (II Cor 4.3.4)
The church is called to overcome, even in the seats of Satan-(Rev 2:12-13)
So that the light of the gospel can shine brightly in all communities
If we don’t do it, God will not do it for us -(Jam 4:7, Luke 10:19)
The Ephesians church was wiped out ostensibly because she neglects warfare (Acts 19.11-23, Eph. 6:10-18, Rev. 2:1-5)

Jesus has overcome them on the cross (Col 2:15), we only need to exercise the authority of Jesus over the power of the enemy. Pastor’s and Christians are the true spiritual gate-keepers of the community. We are the real people with the authority of Jesus. Satan’s power is counterfeit

E. Possessing The Gates:

Warfare must start from your personal life John 14:30
Overcome the enemy inside the church II Cor. 10:13-14
Battle for our communities-Rev. 13:6-12

Seek the leading of the Lord
Share your vision and insights
Gather prayer partners and pastors
Declare time of walling upon the Lord
Employ the best prayer strategy

Jericho warfare – Inside and around the church Street warfare-inside and around the church
House to house – praying in the streets of your community
Strategic warfare – Praying at specific locations
Dedication warfare – anointing the land, ground for rededication to the Lord
Community praise – joining together to lift up the banner of Jesus in the community.