03/11/19 GATES, WHAT GATES

03/11/19 GATES, WHAT GATES
 
The gates of Gaza were imposing, until SAMSON showed up.
The GATES of HELL are imposing, until the CHURCH shows up.

GATES, WHAT GATES

"Gates" are not only the "doors" to a city, the "gates of the city" was also the place people gathered for socializing, business, governing. The "gates of the city" was where men of power met to plan civil, economic and political actions and implement military strategy against threatening foes. As long as the city gates stood, the city was safe. The collapse of the city gates (physical or metaphorical) indicated the collapse of the city. Destroy the wealth, wisdom, military, government of a city and you destroy the city.

Remember, God promised His people that they would possess the gates of their enemies. Possessing the "gates," included the entrance to a city, but it also meant more than just the physical entrance to a city. Possessing the "gates" was symbolic of conquering and taking charge of a city.

The Philistines were the oppressors of the tribe of Dan in the days of the Judges of Israel. Gaza was a main stronghold and center of the Philistines. It represented the oppressive rule of the Philistines to the Danites.

One of the exploits of Samson was when he lifted and carried the gates of Gaza away. Samson was showing the enemies of Dan that God would give him victory over them. Even in Samson's less than perfect life, he does exemplify the Divine power exercised by faithful believers. Unlike Samson, all New Testament believers can have a constant and consistently victorious life over the oppression of Satan.

In the New Testament, Jesus set the standard of His people, His Church, having power over the powers (gates) of hell. Even before He founded and inaugurated His Church, Jesus promised victory to His Church, over the wickedness, wisdom and wiles of Satan's dark kingdom.
Matthew 16:18-19
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Individual Christians have power over Satan's plan to destroy their souls in hell. However, it takes the concerted effort of the Church, the gathered believers, to overcome the power of Satan. When the people of God band together then they are able to conquer the god of this world and his destruction. But when the church has been depleted to a very small band of believers, then they are not able to overthrow Satan's grip on society.

In the Revelation account of Jesus' letter to the Church at Laodicea we see a church reduced to a small number who open their hearts to Christ. As a result, the form of churchianity replaces the power of the true church.

Still, we as Christians must take up the call and the sword of God, charging into the devils camp, remembering that greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world, and therefore, THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST US.