The Redeemed Christian Church of God

Excellent Achievers Parish, RIS Degel 1, Kaduna State.

Digging Deep & Word Encounter Service
Topic: Strategies to Possessing the Gates of 2022!
Text: Text: Genesis 24:60
Approach: Discussion/Intelligent Interaction
Overture
Part of the blessing given to Abraham was that his seed would possess the gates of their enemy
(Genesis 22:17). From scriptural historicity, Gates provided access into towns and villages, temples
and houses. Gates serve both to allow and to limit access. Gates provided a physical barrier. Gates
were for protection. Watchmen were placed high up on the walls by the gate in order to give
alarm when danger approached (2 Sam 18:24). Gates were made of wood, sometimes covered with
metal (bronze) with iron bars. Gates like this were seen as indestructible. Gates were places where
judgement was spoken People would go to the gates when a determination was to be made
regarding right and wrong. It was at the gate that government and law was decided on and
communicated to the people. Here judicial decisions were made. The king often had a seat or
throne in the gate for these purposes.  (2 Sam 19:8; 1 Kin 22:10) Elders gathered in the gates to
make rulings and decisions. (Is 29:20-21; Amos 5:10; Deut 21:18-19).

Key decisions were made in the gates; A good example is found in Ruth 4:1-2. Here Boaz went to
the elders in the gate as Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. This is explained in Deut 25:7, Joshua 20:4. The
gate was also a general meeting place; Gateways were the social fiber of the community – here
norms and values were determined. Friendships and social connections were made. Proverbs
31:23Proverbs 31:31Psalm 69:11–12. The gateway was the market place the economy was controlled
in the gateway-2 Kings 7:1. From the foregoing a gateway in ancient context had a major influence
over the lives of the people within the gates. So, whoever controlled the gateway controlled the
lives of the people.
Let Us See Some Strategies to possessing the Gates of 2021
 Build or reinforce your altar- Gen. 28: 12-17
 Engage the Anointing- Isaiah 10:27
 Invest in Knowledge- Hosea 4:6, Isaiah 5:13
 Worship & Thanksgiving: Psalm 107:15–16, Isaiah 45:2
 Engage Prayer & Fasting - Matthew 17:21-23
 Positioning ourselves; Taking the rightful position and approach. Luke 5:5
 Changing the equation; The Spirit must precede the carnal. Gal 3:3
 Target and keeping focused; in our pursuit, our target must be clear and not blurred.
Remember that possessing is a journey, not an event.

Conclusion
We can conclude that gateways are places of dominion. By “dominion” we mean a territory or
sphere of influence or control. Gateways can be very personal. We individually have spiritual, soul
and bodily gateways.