Gates are the 1st line of defense. They control entrance and exit. Gates can allow a “window” of opportunity or an “open door” for the enemy.
Nehemiah 2:17 Then said Nehemiah unto them, You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we are no more a reproach. (NKJ)
How does sickness, evil thoughts or temptations, or the wrong spirit enter into a person? It must come through one of the gates. These gates are known as the eye-gate, ear-gate, mouth-gate, touch-gate, nose-gate. These 5 gates are the guardians of the body and sometimes referred to as doors or windows.
Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. (AMP)
The Word of God is our ONLY source designed to strengthen our soul for defense. Wrong believing = wrong actions. Listening to the wrong voice will produce unbelief.
Matthew 15:10-19 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Know you that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16 And Jesus said, Are you also yet without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand, that whatsoever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the drain? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (NKJ)
The mouth only speaks what has been allowed entry into the soul, but it also seals the deal of what we receive.
Matthew 12:34-37 O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned. (NKJ)
What you say matters. You should not expect to be victorious while speaking opposing things.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death. (NKJ)
We learn things by seeing and hearing, but a good teacher will also have us speaking what is being taught.
Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (NKJ)
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (NKJ)
Romans 10:6-10 But the righteousness which is of faith speaks thus, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what says it? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (NKJ)
The enemy attacks us through our thoughts. The problem is not a thought coming in, but us taking that thought. How do we take a thought?
Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed? (NKJ)
How do we release our faith?
Mark 11:32 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he said shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he said. (NKJ)
Mark 5:28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. (NKJ)
