Recently, during a time of worship at our church, I heard the Lord say, "Fathers are gatekeepers." I felt an urgency in my spirit as the significance of men stepping into this place was highlighted to me.
You may be familiar with teachings on fathers being providers for their families, or fathers being priests in their homes, but you may not have heard a message on fathers being gatekeepers. I am very blessed and thankful to have married a man who has done a great job being a gatekeeper for our family. He doesn't strive in the role, but he takes it seriously, seeking God's wisdom all along the way.
The Heart of a True Gatekeeper
To understand a gatekeeper's role, it is helpful to study how a gatekeeper would have functioned during Biblical times. In doing my own study, the Lord brought Mordecai from the book of Esther to mind as an incredible example and picture of the heart of a true gatekeeper.
We often hear of Esther, and many love the story of how God used the obedience and gifts of this beautiful young woman to help rescue a nation. But Mordecai is often an uncelebrated part of the story of Esther. I would venture to say that Esther would not have been prepared to be Esther had it not been for Mordecai, her uncle, who took her in and raised her after her parent's death. A closer look at Mordecai's life reveals to us prophetic keys that serve as a guide for modern-day fathers who aspire to be gatekeepers. Before we look at these keys, let's look at the role of a gatekeeper in Biblical times.
Gatekeepers are mentioned many times throughout Scripture and were an important part of maintaining order. Gatekeepers were used for protection at three primary types of gates: city gates, palace gates, and temple gates. One would expect a gatekeeper to be trustworthy, alert, and responsible. You would only station your best at the gate, because the safety of everyone else depended on them doing their job well. Gatekeepers often had charge of keys, and it would be their job to open and shut the gate, determining who had the right to enter.
Now, let's examine the keys.
4 Keys from Mordecai's Life for Gatekeeper Fathers
1. Gatekeepers take responsibility.
Looking at the life of Mordecai, we find that he was not a gatekeeper in an official capacity, but he took on the role of gatekeeper in the spirit realm, which is just as important, if not more. When Esther's parents died, Mordecai stepped up and took responsibility to raise her. This would have involved not only her education, but her spiritual development and training. We can see later in the story of Esther that she walked in a great degree of favor. This may well be because she had been well trained to honor God and respect leadership and those in authority over her. (Photo Snappy Goat)
Leaning into the voice of the Spirit, powerful gatekeeper fathers don't wait to be asked but look for ways to advance the wellbeing of those entrusted to them. They are proactive and intentional to add their strength to the progress and development of those they love.
2. Gatekeepers are protectors.
When Esther was taken into King Xerxes' harem, we find Mordecai's influence and position to have been a strategic one. To protect her from whatever prejudice or mistreatment she could have experienced, Mordecai instructed Esther not to share her nationality or family background. Daily, Mordecai paced back and forth near the courtyard of the palace, where the harem stayed, so that he could see or hear how Esther was and what was happening to her. Though Esther had been taken from her home, Mordecai continued standing in his place as her protector.
Later, Mordecai stepped into a gatekeeper protector role for the Jewish people when he heard of Haman's plot to annihilate all the Jews in Xerxes' kingdom. Mordecai, using these well-loved words, challenged Esther to use her favor and authority to approach the king, begging for mercy for the Jews: "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14 NIV).
We know that Mordecai's relationship and influence with Esther caused her to shift from remaining silent to a place of realizing she was sovereignly positioned to help bring deliverance to her people. Esther's decision then shifted the course and history of a nation.
3. Gatekeeper fathers step into the courage God has given them, allowing the fierceness God has placed within them to arise.
The fierceness of these fathers is against anything that would threaten those whom God has placed under their care. A realm that modern-day gatekeepers must consider is the media and internet. There are many intruders entering homes daily through these platforms, and gatekeeper fathers are needed to step into their God-given role to sound the alarm, helping their families navigate the potential landmines planted by the enemy. (Photo via Piqsels)
I read that Barna Group did a recent study showing 54% of Christians consume some pornography. Pornography providers plot to ensnare youth and even children at an early age so that they have the potential to be customers for life. Those participating are opening wide the door to sexual perversion in their families. This is exactly what the enemy wants, and a big part of why sexual perversion is rampant in our nation. The enemy invades where he has legal ground to do so. The gatekeepers must rise up, seeing the consequences for their families, and shut the gates to pornography.
That fierce and righteous anger against what the enemy wants to do is a key for entrapped individuals to overcome their own addictions, as well as free others in their care. In cases where pornography addiction is already an issue, confession and repentance must come first, and then the righteous anger against what the enemy has stolen (or plans to steal), along with spiritual accountability, will help to keep the gates shut.
4. Gatekeepers are trustworthy and honor authority.
It stands to reason that a gatekeeper must be trustworthy and someone who honors the authority of those who place them at the gate. In Mordecai's world, it is evident that he honored the authority of His God, so much so that he was willing to risk his own life and reputation to do what was right. In Esther 3 we see Mordecai unwilling to kneel and give honor to the wicked Haman. Of course, this so enraged Haman that an evil plot was set in motion not just to kill Mordecai, but to annihilate all the Jews in the kingdom. But Mordecai's loyalty to His God positioned him for unusual favor, and Esther followed his example. Gatekeeper fathers model trustworthiness and honor for God and authorities by how they live their own lives. Your family sees and observes your life and will often follow the pattern you have set.
A Prayer for the Gatekeeper Fathers
Fathers, as gatekeepers for your families, you often hold the keys, deciding on what can come and go through the gate to your family. As you step up into your role as a gatekeeper for your family, I pray that your dependence would not be on your own strength but that you would fully surrender to God's voice and leadership in your life.
We need you, fathers! May you feel the Spirit calling you to fully step into your place as gatekeepers that take responsibility, that protect those entrusted to you, and who are trustworthy and honoring of God and the authorities in your life. Our God who calls you will be faithful to pour out His grace, empowering you with all you need to obey.
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Sylvia Neusch
True Life | The Hundredfold Woman Ministry
Email:Â click here
Websites:Â www.sylvianeusch.comÂ
Sylvia Neusch is a wife, mother, pastor, author, prophetic voice, and prophetic blogger. Sylvia operates with an anointing to sense the times and seasons and encourages the Body of Christ in stewarding the current and coming move of God. Through her writing and teaching, Sylvia has a passion to encourage and equip people to discover their true God-given identity, to mature in Christ, and to walk in their God-given destiny. Sylvia and her husband, Richard, are the apostolic founding leaders and elders at True Life, a non-denominational church in Round Rock, Texas. Sylvia recently started a prophetic mentoring ministry for women called The Hundredfold Woman. Sylvia is the author of two books: Rags to Royalty, and Abba's Song: A 49 Day Journey with the Father into Healing, Identity, and Destiny.
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