POSSESSING THE GATES OF THE ENEMY 

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Gates in Scripture are places of power, authority, defence, splendour and safety. 

Whoever holds them or sits in them is in control of everything. 

Sadly, the unseen demonic world controls most of them today and they do so chiefly to resist the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This concept is rooted in the Bible and teaches us how to not only withstand the attacks of the enemy but also take authority over them. 

1. Understanding the Gates of the Enemy:

In the ancient world, cities were fortified with gates, serving as the main points of entry and exit. 

Symbolically, the gates represent the strategic positions the enemy uses to gain access to our lives, relationships, and communities. 

We find references to the gates in Psalm 24:7-10 and Matthew 16:18. 

The enemy seeks to infiltrate these gates with lies, deception, and destruction. 

But as believers, we are called to take possession of these gates and stand against his schemes.

EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO POSSES THE GATES OF THEIR ENEMY IN THE SCRIPTURES. 

1. Joshua – In Joshua 6, Joshua and the Israelites followed God’s instructions to conquer the city of Jericho. 

By marching around the city for seven days and blowing trumpets, the walls of Jericho fell down, and they possessed the gates of their enemy.

2. David – In 2 Samuel 5, David led his army to capture the stronghold of Jerusalem, which was occupied by the Jebusites. 

By climbing up through a water shaft to surprise the enemy, they possessed the gates of the city and it became known as the City of David.

3. Gideon – In Judges 7, Gideon and his small army defeated the Midianites through God’s guidance. By breaking pitchers containing torches and blowing trumpets, they confused the enemy and seized control of their camp’s gates.

4. Hezekiah – In 2 Kings 18-19, Hezekiah faced the threat of the Assyrian king, Sennacherib. 

Through prayer and seeking God’s guidance, Hezekiah trusted in God’s deliverance. 

Ultimately, the angel of the Lord struck down the Assyrian army, and Hezekiah possessed the gates of his enemy, secure in God’s protection.

5. Esther – In the book of Esther, Queen Esther risked her own life to intercede for her people, the Jews, against the evil plot of Haman. 

Through her courage and God’s intervention, the Jews were spared from destruction, and they possessed the gates of their enemy.

6. Elijah – In 1 Kings 18, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

 Through God’s power, Elijah called down fire from heaven, demonstrating the superiority of the one true God.

 As a result, the people turned away from idolatry, and Elijah possessed the gates of the enemy’s false religion.

7. Jehoshaphat – In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat faced a vast enemy coalition. 

Instead of relying on his own strength, he sought the Lord and led his people in prayer and fasting. 

God answered their cry, causing confusion amongst their enemies. Jehoshaphat’s army possessed the gates of their enemies without even lifting a sword.

8. Paul and Silas – In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi after casting out a spirit of divination. 

Despite their chains, they praised God in the middle of the night.

 An earthquake shook the prison, causing the doors to open and their chains to fall off. 

They possessed the gates of their incarceration and eventually led the jailer and his family to faith in Christ.

9. Daniel – In Daniel 6, Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for his faith in God.

 Despite the odds, God protected Daniel, shutting the mouths of the lions. 

Daniel possessed the gates of death, emerging unharmed, and his adversaries faced God’s judgment instead.

10. Jesus Christ – Above all, Jesus Christ possesses the ultimate victory over the gates of the enemy. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated sin, Satan, and death itself. He conquered the gates of hell and extends that victory to all who believe in Him, ensuring eternal life with God.

10 REASONS MANY COULDN’T POSSESS THE GATES OF THEIR ENEMY .

1. Lack of Faith: Numbers 13:30-33 – The Israelite spies lacked faith in God’s promise to give them victory in Canaan, causing them to fear the giants in the land.

2. Disobedience: 1 Samuel 28:18 – Saul’s disobedience to God’s command led to his downfall and inability to possess the gates of his enemies, including the Philistines.

3. Idolatry: Judges 10:6 – The Israelites turned to the worship of false gods, causing them to be oppressed by the Ammonites and unable to possess their gates.

4. Ignoring God’s Instructions: 2 Kings 10:30 – King Jehu carried out God’s command to eliminate the house of Ahab but did not fully follow the law, resulting in his failure to possess the gates of his enemies.

5. Fear: 1 Samuel 17:11 – King Saul and the Israelite army were paralyzed by fear when confronted with Goliath, preventing them from possessing the gates of the Philistines.

6. Lack of Unity: Genesis 11:1-9 – The people of Babel were unable to possess the gates of their enemies because their unity was focused on rebellion against God, resulting in confusion and dispersion.

7. Pride: Obadiah 1:3-4 – The Edomites’ pride and arrogance caused them to dwell in the clefts of the rocks, unable to possess the gates of their enemies.

8. Lack of Obedience to God’s Law: Deuteronomy 28:15, 25 – When the Israelites did not obey God’s commandments, they experienced defeat and were unable to possess the gates of their enemies.

9. External Alliances: 2 Chronicles 20:35-37 – King Jehoshaphat formed an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, resulting in the destruction of his fleet and his inability to possess the gates of his enemies.

10. Lack of Spiritual Warfare: Ephesians 6:12 – Without engaging in spiritual warfare and putting on the full armour of God, individuals or groups may struggle to possess the gates of their enemies, both physically and spiritually.

HOW TO POSSES THE GATES OF THE ENEMY. 

Certainly! Here are ten ways to possess the gates of the enemy and relevant Scriptures that support each point:

1. Put your trust in God: Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

2. Seek God’s guidance and wisdom: James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

3. Walk in faith and not by sight: 2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we live by faith, not by sight.

4. Pray and seek God’s intervention: Luke 18:1 – Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

5. Declare God’s promises over your life: Proverbs 18:21 – The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

6. Engage in spiritual warfare: 2 Corinthians 10:4 – The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

7. Walk in obedience to God’s commands: Deuteronomy 28:1 – If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.

8. Stay rooted in God’s Word: Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

9. Surround yourself with godly counsel: Proverbs 11:14 – For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

10. Trust in God’s strength, not your own: Philippians 4:13 – I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

By implementing these strategies and aligning with God’s Word, individuals and groups can position themselves to possess the gates of their enemies.