Gate Keepers of His Presence- James Goll

 

Gate Keepers of His Presence- James Goll

The Importance of Gates

We will be looking at the subject of opening the gates in the realm of the spirit. In the natural, gates are used for two primary purposes:

• To keep things or persons out by being closed.
• To let things or persons in by being open.
  As it is in the natural, so it is as well in the spiritual.

1. From the Life of Abraham
   Gen. 22: 14-18 – Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.
   1. Gal. 3:16 – Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “and to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “and to your seed,” that is, Christ.
   2. It is through Christ that you are blessed. The power of the blessing will flow to such an extent that the power of the blessing will overpower the curse.
   3. Jesus is the seed (singular) who possessed the “gates” of the enemy. We also are to possess what Christ has redeemed for us.
   4. A “Gate” is a portal, passageway, doorway, threshold, entrances or opening. We are to possess, buy back or take back those gates the enemy has stolen and open up – through the battering ram of Jesus’ name – gates which have historically been closed.
2. The Victor Has Overcome
   Matt. 16:18 – And I also say to you that you are Peter (stone) and on this rock (petra) I (Jesus) will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it (Matt. 18; Rev. 1).
   1. We are called to possess the gates.
   2. Jesus is the victor who has overcome.
   3. Jesus has taken the keys of death and Hades away from the enemy.
   4. We have been given the keys of the enemy.
   5. Remember gates are to:
      1. Shut – To keep things in and keep things out.
      2. Open – Allow things in and allow things out.
   6. Little keys open big doors.
   7. Let’s learn to put in the keys to set the captives free and for God’s glory to be manifest.
3. Gates of the Heavenly
   Not only are there dark gates of the demonic worldly, but there are good gates of the heavenly world – God’s kingdom. Through attitudes and actions of thanksgiving, sacrifice and praise we can make entrance into our Lord’s presence.Ps. 100:4 – Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him, bless his name.
4. Jacob – And the Gate of Heaven
   Gen. 28:10-17 – Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” (NIV)
   1. Like in Jacob’s time, our dry, hard and rocky places can become places of visitation!
   2. We need the “eyes of the Lord” to get proper spiritual understanding of the place we dwell in and to see the gates of heaven.
   3. When we do – everything around us changes, we see through. God’s redemption lens and see His purposes, plans and destiny.
5. A Psalm of David
   Ps. 24:7-9 – Lift up your heads, O gates and be lifted up, Oh ancient doors that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates; and lift them up, Oh ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in (NIV).
   1. This is first of all, a Messianic prophecy concerning the historic moment when the King of Glory (Jesus Christ) would have the “keys” and would be welcomed into heaven.
   2. In like manner our prayer becomes – “Open be the way for a great visitation”
   3. Let there be gateways opened from heaven to earth for the power and the glory and of His presence and God’s angelic army be released to come to our aid.
6. The Elders Gate – Jesus Our Chief Elder
   Prov. 31:23 – Her husband is known (respected – NIV) in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
   1. It is my conviction that city church government will take on new understandings of being Gatekeepers of His Presence.
   2. Church and marketplace leaders who will know what to let in and what to forbid into a city will be recognized and work together.
   3. John 10:7-9 – Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture (NIV).
   4. Jesus will be honored as the Chief Gatekeeper in our midst and all other gatekeepers will honor and submit to his leadership.

How Do We Enter These Gates?

We enter through His gate through:

1. Praise
   Isa. 60:18b – But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.
2. Worship
   Heb. 12:28 – Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable serve with reverence and awe.
3. Sacrifice
   Ps. 51:17 – For the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
4. Thanksgiving
   Ps. 100:4 – Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise, give thanks to Him; bless his name.
5. Unity
   Ps. 133:1 – Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!
6. Death
   Luke 14:27 – Whosoever does not carry his cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple.

The Call to be Gatekeepers

There are many levels of being gatekeepers, but in one dimension we are all called to be gatekeepers of our own soul and mind as well as gatekeepers of His presence.

1. Gatekeepers of Our Minds
   1. In the book of Nehemiah, part of building the walls was the gates being put in place. So symbolically it is also true with building the walls around our own soul. Isa. 60:18 – … but you will call your walls salvation and your gates praise.
   2. The Hebrew word for ‘Gates’ is to: think, render a decision.
   3. Prov. 23:7 – As you think, so you are. Your quality of life is governed by what goes on in your mind. To be in a place of seating in the city gates of your own soul, then one must control his thoughts taking every thought captive to Christ Jesus (II Cor. 10:3-5).
2. From the Soul to the Spirit
   We are to welcome into the gates of our soul, both individually and corporately the mind of Christ. Then in the pattern of the rewards for faithfulness, if you are faithful in the little you will be given much. God rewards faithfulness with increase. You will gradually graduate! You will go from the “soul” to the “spirit”. Do you want to be a “spirit bearer” for the Lord? Then be faithful and watch him and by His grace reward your cooperation.
3. The Call Released
   In our day, the Holy Spirit is looking for modern day Simeons and Annas who will minister in the temple and welcome the manifested presence of Jesus. “If they wait He will come” is a word that must be heard! The call for gatekeepers of His presence is going forth. Do you hear it? Will you be one?

The Brilliance of His Presence!

1. Primary Text – Exodus 33: 13-23
   Ex 33:13-23 – If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
2. My Personal Testimony – An Invitation|
   One time when I was “resting” in the Lord’s presence, the Holy Spirit said, I want to teach you to release the highest weapon of spiritual warfare.” I continued to listen as I knew there must be more. I was eager to hear what He had to say on this subject as I had studied it for years. He continued, “I will teach you to release, the brilliance of My presence.”  In a moment, it seemed all theological debate on the issues of spiritual warfare were answered. What is the highest weapon? Why He is! He is the highest weapon of spiritual warfare. He wants us to be gatekeepers so we can release the brilliance of His great presence!
3. A Day in Your Courts
   Yes, once you have truly tasted the goodness of the Lord’s presence, nothing else will satisfy you! You are ruined for the rest of your life! It is true! Oh how I have found it be true! A day is better than the best this world could ever offer! Tell the Lord now that you want to be a gatekeeper – a gatekeeper of His presence.Ps 84:10-12 – Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.