Nathan Shaw: "Opening Up the Gateway Cities - Releases Profound Heavenly Blessings Into the Earth"

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

There are truly gateway cities in the nation and the nations of the world. Today we are posting words about opening up Gateway Cities and the importance of praying over our city gates.

There are extremely important cities that effect the nations of the earth... just like Brownsville and Pensacola did, just like Toronto did, just like Los Angeles did at Azusa Street revival, just like San Diego outpouring is doing now...and there's many more to come!

Nathan Shaw shares: A gateway city is a city that is destined to release profound heavenly blessing into the earth.

Read this word by Nathan about the importance of Gateway Cities and get ready to open up your Gateway City!

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Most people today have a revival mentality. Revivals come and go. But how do you strategically open a nation so that the glory of God abides there on a continual basis? Firstly, you have to discern and open the gateways. Cities are gateways. When heavenly gateways are open, Heaven floods through a city. When demonic gateways are open, perversion infiltrates and dominates a city.

Every city is assigned a specific authority in the earth. The level of this authority determines how much of Heaven or Hell overflows from it to impact other cities and nations. In one sense every city is a gateway city, and in another sense there are specific "prophetic destinies" on specific cities. It is in this second sense that I am using the term "gateway city". A gateway city is a city that is destined to release profound heavenly blessing into the earth.

Everyone wants to be part of a gateway city. However, it is important to realize that those who live in these cities are no more special than the people in other cities. It is simply a difference of function or level of authority. Everyone in God's Kingdom has a different function and different levels of authority. It is the same with cities and nations. When strategic gateways are open all the earth is blessed.

When a gateway opens everyone flocks to the gateway city to be blessed. But that is only one level of glory. When each gateway opens in a nation, there is an increased level of glory. If each gateway city is strategically opened in a nation, the whole nation can become a gateway. Gateway cities are strategic for other cities to be fully blessed. (Photo via Pixabay)

Two strategic gateway cities in the Bible are Hebron and Jerusalem.

Abraham and Hebron

Hebron is the place where Abraham dwelt after God told him to walk throughout the land of Canaan (Genesis 13:17-18). Genesis 13 tells us three significant things about Hebron:

1. It was a place of spiritual vision. "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered" (Genesis 13:14-16).

2. It was a place of faith. Abraham's dwelling in Hebron was a statement of faith that his descendants would occupy the entire land of Canaan.

3. It was a place of devotion. "...and [Abraham] built an altar there to the LORD" (Genesis 13:18).

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all lived in this region and were also buried there. The faith displayed by these three sons of covenant opened up a significant gate in the spirit. The enemy discerned the importance of this gate. When Jacob was 130 years old he and all his descendants left Hebron and went to live in Egypt. 400 years later God led the Israelites out of Egypt to conquer the Promised Land. At that time Hebron was occupied by the sons of Anak. (Photo via Wikipedia)

Giants in the Gate

The three sons of Anak were legendary warlords. Just the mention of them caused great fear in men's hearts. Anak is mentioned in the Bible, mostly in connection with his sons—in Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua and in Judges. His mention in these books reveals the legendary status of his sons in the world of the time.

Hebron was a gateway city. The enemy arranged for the strongest warlords to rule this city. Even one of the sons of Anak would have been enough to strike fear in the surrounding nations. Imagine the combined force of all three. The enemy wasn't taking any chances. The city was impregnable.

Consider the contrast between Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai—the sons of Anak.

• Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived in tents. The sons of Anak lived in a fortified city.
• Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were wandering sojourners. The sons of Anak were established warlords.
• Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were sons of covenant and sons of faith. They encountered the God of covenant and believed His promises. The sons of Anak were servants of the enemy who ruled by demonically empowered fear.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: Three sons of faith.
Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai: Three sons of fear.
This was a battle over a gateway.

Caleb and Hebron

The generation that God led out of Egypt to conquer the Promised Land died in the wilderness. They never entered the Promised Land because of their unbelief. Joshua and Caleb were the only two who survived to champion and lead the next generation. Caleb took Hebron from the sons of Anak at the age of 85! Because of the unbelief of the Israelites he was denied obtaining his inheritance for 45 years. He refused to let this discourage him. Hebron was the most formidable stronghold in Canaan. A younger warrior really should have been assigned to confront this stronghold. But Caleb insisted. Not only would he take Hebron, he would also become a model of faith to his and future generations. (Photo via flickr)

Hebron became the main city for the tribe of Judah. About 400 years later David ruled the tribe of Judah from this city. David's mighty men also lived in Hebron. The exploits of David and his mighty men were legendary. Consider the legendary nature of those who occupied this gateway:

• The sons of Anak were legendary. The surrounding nations lived in fear of them.
• Caleb was legendary. Every young Jewish boy wanted to be like Caleb.
• David and his mighty men were legendary. A whole chapter of the Bible is dedicated to their exploits (see 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11).

Caleb and David's mighty men displayed uncommon faith despite the odds. Under David's rule profound blessing flowed from Hebron into Judah and Israel. It was a gateway that Heaven moved through to bless God's covenant people.

Uncommon Faith

Who qualifies to display uncommon faith?

• Abram did by walking through an occupied land in obedience to God even although he was old and childless.
• Caleb did—even at 85 years of age.
• David's mighty men did—even though when they first came to David they were distressed, in debt and discontented (1 Samuel 22:2)!

What did they all have in common? They didn't give up despite impossible odds. God gave them promises and they believed that the promises were true. As the renown healing revivalist Smith Wigglesworth would often say, "God said it! I believe it! That settles it!"

Hebron was a gateway city. Uncommon faith opened the gateway. The battle between the sons of covenant and the "sons of Anak" continues today. In preparation for the great end-time battle we also must discover the importance of gateway cities. There are strategic gateway cities in many nations. Some strategic gateway cities are in the hands of powerful demonic strongholds. These gateways must be opened.

Those with spiritual vision will discern that these cities are gates. Those with faith and wholehearted devotion will conquer these demonic strongholds. "Sons of Anak" conquer through fear and intimidation. Sons of covenant conquer through wholehearted faith in God's promises.

The principle is the same today: Uncommon faith opens gateway cities.

Nathan Shaw
Heart of David Ministries
Email: fireanddestiny@slingshot.co.nz
Website: www.heartofdavidministries.org

Nathan Shaw helps bring individuals and churches into dynamic encounters with God's indescribable love. Nathan's passion is to equip churches so that they can move in the Spirit, access heavenly realms, encounter God's heart, and release His Kingdom on the earth. Over the last twenty years he has been instrumental in ushering in significant moves of the Spirit in over ten different nations. Many have experienced life-changing prophetic encounters and dramatic visitations from God. Nathan is the author of two books: Passion and Fire, which tells the story of a powerful move of the Spirit in Vanuatu during which the face of Jesus appeared on a dormitory wall; and Unto the Least of These, which is about God's incredible love for widows and the fatherless and the significant part they play in His end-time plans. Both books are acclaimed by respected leaders from across the Body of Christ. Nathan is senior pastor at Fire and Destiny Centre, Dunedin (www.fireanddestiny.org) and Celebration Church, Mosgiel (www.celebrationchurch.xyz).

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