Germany

GATEKEEPERS: Watching, Praying Germany

and Taking Action

There are several Scriptures in the Bible that refers to “Gates, Keys, and Gatekeepers.” In Book of Matthew Chapter16, Jesus said to Peter: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (emphasis mine, Matt. 16:18,19, NIV). Jesus reveals a reality that the believer and the church will face; the gates of Hades will seek to frustrate or thwart the purposes of God, for the believer, the church, our spheres of influence, and society at large. Jesus, however, reveals another reality that should empower the believer and the church to keep fighting the good fight of faith, and influencing lives and nations with the Good News of His Kingdom. Jesus said, “He will build His Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” As though, that prophetic and real promise was not enough, He said, “He will give the believer and the church the keys of the kingdom of heaven to overcome the gates of Hades. Wow! Now that is good news. It is good news because as we continue doing the good works, we were created for in the year 2020, He wants us to depend on HIM. He wants to build your life, your family, your profession, your community, and nation through you. He is the Architect and Builder of life (see Heb. 3:4, Heb. 11: 10). Hebrews 7: 25, reveals Jesus as our Intercessor. A priestly role He is carrying out as the Gatekeeper of our lives. Hebrews 7:25 says: “Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them” (emphasis mine, AMP). God is not only able to build His Church; He is also able to save us, and give righteous judgments on our behalf, against any accusation of the enemy in the courts of heaven. God has given us the keys of the kingdom of heaven so that we continue to take responsibility for our lives and our calling. When we take responsibility for our lives and calling, we are exercising our spiritual authority. As we possess the gates of 2020, God wants us to be

Eric N. Supen

Author and speaker, Nigeria and Germany

esupen@googlemail.com http://esupen.wix.com/kingdom-lifestlye

responsible as Gatekeepers who, WATCH, PRAY, and TAKE ACTION. Even though we have to the backing and support of the most powerful government in the universe, we have to use the keys He has given to us.

WATCHING

One of our responsibilities as believers and the Body of Christ is to keep watch over our lives, marriages, families, our homes, businesses, work environments, neighborhoods, cities, and nations. We are responsible for what we allow or permit to gain access and seek to influence our lives in godly or ungodly ways. The Amplified translation of Matthew 16: 19 says: “I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have [already] been loosed in heaven” (emphasis mine). Watching is one of the kingdom keys we can use to discern what to allow or disallow from hindering the purposes of God, from being fulfilled at a personal or corporate level. In 2020, the Lord is calling the believer and the church to KEEP WATCH.

 Habakkuk 2:1: “I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the tower; and I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, and what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved” (emphasis mine, AMP).

PRAYING

Prayer is one of the weapons of warfare God has given the believer and the church, to overcome the devil, and his dynasty. Through prayers, we are also able to destroy the works of the devil targeted against people or us. So, praying in 2020 should not be a luxury. It should be a necessity kingdom key for us to use as we depend on the Lord and overcome the gates of Hades. Jesus, foreseeing that His disciples were going to be tempted, said, “Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (emphasis mine, Matt. 26:41, AMP). In 2020, the Lord is calling the believer and the church to KEEP ACTIVELY WATCHING and PRAYING.

TAKING ACTION

Men and women who have left a kingdom legacy of real change and transformation were men and women of action. They did not only watch and pray, but they also acted out of obedience to the call of God upon their lives in courageous, righteous, and powerful ways. They took action for their personal lives but also for their calling as ambassadors of Christ, called to reconcile the world (Cosmos) to God, and His kingdom ways and purposes (see 2 Cor. 5: 18 – 19). Jesus told His followers to disciple the nations, and He is calling the believer and the church also to keep discipling the nations. Matthew 28: 18: “Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age” (emphasis mine, AMP). In 2020, God is calling the believer and the church to KEEP ACTIVELY WATCHING, PRAYING, and TAKING ACTION. As a child of God, keep living a holy, blameless, and righteous life as you watch and pray. As parents, keep parenting from the template of the kingdom of heaven as you watch and pray. As a business owner, CEO, leader, pastor, politician, educator, doctor, engineer, architect, student, policeman or policewoman, scientist, etc. keep impacting your sphere of influence with kingdom values and culture. Keep doing an excellent job through your calling as you watch and pray. ✽