..Battles are fought at the Gates – literally and spiritually.

…Gates are places of access and egress and in order to enter a walled city, compound, or tower you need to get through the gate.

People and goods coming in to a city are checked at the gates and armys “sally forth” through the gates to defend and to take territory.Gates are also a place of meeting where leaders take important decisions.

In Job 29:7, he talks about going out through the gate and preparing his seat in the street, speaking of leadership and governing.Judges 9 describes battles at gates and doors leading to death of Abimelek when a millstone was dropped on his head. Here are a few other examples:

• Happy is the man who has his bag full of arrows. They will not be defeated when they fight their enemies at the city gate. Psalms 127:5 (NCV)
• …indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. Gen 22:17
• He will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. Isaiah 28:6 NIV
• …And may your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them.” Gen 24:60

No gates or doors are guarded that are not attached to something valuable and important.When Abimelek was killed, he was in the process of trying to kill everyone inside, having just burned everyone alive in another city.This was a genuine battle at the gates for something important – survival.

Gold repositories are well guarded because the gold is valuable but for fallow fields the gates are left open.

Therefore, if you find yourself engaged in a battle in 2024 it is because it is worth something! Also, the scale of the battle defines the value of the territory!

Prophetically, gates are also places callings are weighed.We each have or create a “map” of our “territory” or the world we live in.When the Children of Israel sent spies into the promised land (territory) they brought back their “maps” – their description of the reality of the territory.The spies who saw with the natural eyes had created a “natural” map.They were not called realistic – they were called EVIL and were struck dead:

The men who brought the evil report of the land died by a plague before the Lord.But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the men who went to search the land, lived still.Moses told [the Lord’s] words to all the Israelites, and [they] mourned greatly. And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, Behold, we are here, and we intend to go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned…Then the Amalekites came down and the Canaanites who dwelt in that hill country and smote the Israelites.  (Numbers 14: 37- 40; 45).

They did not obey the word of God to go into the land due to fear and a fleshly mindset or map.Then later they went into the land and did not obey the word of God not to go!In both cases faith was missing and the operations were done in fear and in self-reliance.

They had the wrong maps – the maps we create have to be Kingdom maps based on the word, be faith filled and Kingdom oriented!This teaches us that our maps or world-views can be judged critically and we see this in the church.Jesus wants to transform us into His image (2 Cor. 3:18) so we can be good spies.

During the siege of the city in 2 Kings 7, Elisha gave a word:

Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: About this time tomorrow, a seah[a] of the finest flour will sell for a shekel[b] and two seahs[c] of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” 2 Kings 7 AMPC

Our response to a word from the Lord has to be met with faith and our “map” must include this in what we see and what we do.

…In this story the King’s right hand man responded to the prophet’s word with incredulity and a fixed natural mindset:

2 The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?”

“You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it!”

…Now the king had put the officer on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king came down to his house. 18 It happened as the man of God had said to the king: “About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.”

19 The officer had said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” The man of God had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!” 20 And that is exactly what happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died. 2 Kings 7 AMPC

How can this be?That really says it all, he heard the word and it did not match his map of human worldly strength and he could not engage with faith.No map, no word, and no faith.

We get a word from the Lord BUT we have to believe.It works like this:

WORD – we get a prophetic word from the man of God

FAITH – then there is a test – is their a correct map or do we remake our word-view to agree with the word or not?

No? If the answer is NO – then there is defeat at the gate

Yes? If the answer is YES – then there is victory at the gate

Looking back at Abimelek’s death, he did not even have a word.He was acting unlawfully- as a “pirate”, (https://www.the7000.com/post/kf-friday-session-pirate-christians-2-dec-2022 ) so he could not have any faith.

All he could operate in is hopeium (https://www.the7000.com/post/kingdom-finance-friday-session-hopeium-9-dec-2022)!Without a word from God and with no faith, he was defeated at the door and indeed the word declares that his death was the judgment of God.

In New Testament terms this is set out very clearly, as in Romans 10:17 we learn that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.Words that we receive require a response of faith from us and without faith we cannot please God (Heb 11:6).

Our eyes need to be open to the spirit realm realities and we need to seek Him as our vital and urgent necessity.Ideally, we have built a map of faith that includes the Word and spiritual reality of our lives in Kingdom.Here is a great example as Elisha prayed that his servant could see what Elisha already knew:

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17 ESV

Our vision – our reality – our MAP needs to include the Word – Faith and spiritual Kingdom vision:

…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:12

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:…That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2

…We have heard the description of the seven mountains of influence:

1. MEDIA / ENTERTAINMENT 2. GOVERNMENT 3. EDUCATION 4. ECONOMY 5. RELIGION 6. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 7. FAMILY The picture of these areas as mountains to be climbed is useful but also think of these seven mountains as the Gates of culture/influence.

We need to occupy and conquer these gates.Like Elijah we need to be the cultural architects, rebuilders of the altars of influence to shift nations.

We are not climbing the mountains, we do not want to get influence with Jezebel, Ahab and the prophets of baal.We want to build Kingdom and tranform culture.

Not just The 7000 (www.the7000.com) but all believers that want to be transformers.The battles are at the gates.

In Isaiah 61 we learn more about how this can happen.First the personal divine exchange that Jesus claimed for Himself (Luke 4:21):

61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] [a]and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

3 To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

4 And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Is 61:1-4 AMPC

Let’s be very clear, it is these transformed people who are qualified to be transformers.People can do a lot of good works, but to be Kingdom transformers you have to first be one of those who have been transformed in the name of Jesus.Otherwise, you may be “doing good” but with no Kingdom profit.

…Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.” ;

..1 Cor. 13:3

Using our picture of the seven gates we really need to think of it as 14 Gates!Seven on earth and a Kingdom 7 in the spiritual realm.

The spiritual map we are constructing needs to see the seven heavenly gates.These are the ones we are bringing to earth when we pray Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10).

When the Children of Israel attacked Jericho this illustrated the alignment.We had an ungodly gate and walls that needed to come down and this was the physical reality.

However, the Children of Israel had a heavenly strategy to walk around then blow trumpets.Like Elisha’s servant, they were engaging with the spiritual reality, acting on a word in faith and aligning the heavenly gate.

This always results in the earthly reality shifting – Heaven’s gates trump!When we get the alignment right personally in faith for the word God has given then this activates Kingdom power.

Veronika West, Prophet in Ireland spoke recently about the anointing of Shammah (https://www.hiskingdomprophecy.com/shammah-warriors-arise/) Shammah was one of David’s mighty men.2 Sam 23:12 describes him making a stand in a lentil field:

…But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

…Courage is contagious when we act on the word in relation to our calling and destiny acting in faith based on the vision God has given us: – Word – Faith – Vision – Action.Let us rise like Shammah!

..We are to be like Zerubbabel (Leader) and Joshua (High Priest) https://www.the7000.com/post/the-oily-ones Sons of Oil – Bridging the Heavenly realm.

…And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rev 1:6

In Zechariah 4:6, Zerubbabel had a WORD – A word from the Lord is shown to be a CEASELESS SUPPLY OF OIL :

…This addition of the bowl to the candlestick, causing it to yield a ceaseless supply of oil from the olive trees is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit of Whom the oil is a symbol, says the Lord of Hosts…

You have a Word, you stand as a priest and King on the earth and also in Heaven as we are part of a Heavenly Kingdom and are seated with Him in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

When our identity aligns with Kingdom identity it UNLEASHES THE WORD OF THE SPIRIT – NOT MIGHT, NOT POWER.

…For who are you, O great mountain [of human obstacles]? Before [the people with the word and calling ] …before him] you shall become a plain [a mere [a]molehill]! And he shall bring forth the finishing gable stone [of the new temple] with loud shoutings of the people, crying, Grace, grace to it! V7..

Physical obstacles are flattened before us in response to the oil of the word!Like the walls of Jericho we are aligning heaven’s reality to impact and transform our reality.We must have maps as Kingdom kings and priests aligned with the heavenly gates.

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this house; his hands shall also finish it. Then you shall know (recognize and understand) that the Lord of hosts has sent me [His messenger] to you. V9

Our Victory is really the testimony of the Lord – vindication by victory.

• Isaiah 66:9 Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God.
• Phil 1:6He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it…
• Isaiah 10:27On that day his burden will fall from your shoulders and his yoke from your neck; the yoke will be destroyed by your prosperity. CJB

What are these two olive branches?

These are the two sons of oil [Joshua and Zerubbabel/recipients of the word and calling], the two anointed ones who stand before the Lord of the whole earth as His anointed instruments. v11…

..Likewise, we are His workmanship, released from slavery to serve, service in works he has ordained for us to walk in.We are the oily ones or sons of oil, covered in His Glory and empowered with a never ending heavenly flow of oil that FLATTENS OBSTACLES ON THE EARTH THAT ARE IN OUR WAY.

We are indestructible, overcoming, anointed, empowered, Kingdom warriors standing as hinges of history.

We have standing in Heaven and on the earth.Let us tear up our old maps of fear and unbelief and contend at the gates of our destiny, aligning Heaven to earth to achieve victory that testifies of the greatness of our King.