The Mystery of Gates
The Bible says, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in." (Psalm 24:7). But how can gates have heads? When you look closely at this scripture, you realize that although the Bible is speaking about gates, it's not just emphasizing the physical gates—it’s really speaking about people. After all, it's people who have heads, not gates.
Often, when people pray, they say, "Father, let my gates open." But how do these gates open? If we think about the ancient gates that physically protected cities, these gates were always opened by people. In the same way, the key to a door opening in your life often lies in the hands of a person.
Many people pray for their gates to open without realizing that when God opens those gates, He often uses people. In this way, people themselves can become the gate. The Bible tells us about a certain man who had been at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years. “When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’" (John 5:6). The man responded, “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” (John 5:7).
His issue wasn’t just his physical condition—it was the lack of a relationship with someone who had the capacity to help him. In 38 years, he could have formed a relationship, maybe with someone who had a different kind of disability, and together they could have found healing. But he didn’t realize that the key to his miracle lay in a relationship. Similarly, many people pray, but when God sends the right people into their lives—the key to their gates opening—they fail to build the connections or relationships that could bring them their breakthrough.
I remember teaching a young man who said, "Apostle, I’m about to close a major deal worth millions of dollars." I looked at him and said, "Even though you are lined up for this deal, you will not succeed because you don’t have the right people to help you." Any level you want to attain in life requires an invitation. I’m always teaching about how, when I was praying and asking God to show me secrets, He revealed the face of a certain man of God. At first, it frustrated me because I didn’t understand that any gate or door I wanted to open in my life would come through another person.
The problem many people face is that they don’t realize they need others to help them birth what God has placed in their hearts. Who is it that God has sent into your life to help you become that businesswoman, godly wife, businessman, pastor, or bishop? "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38). Even in realms of the prophetic, you are invited into them—nothing happens without an invitation. God always sends someone to help you enter the space you desire.
The important prayer we should be praying is, "Lord, give me the wisdom to recognize the people You are sending in each season of my life and destiny, so I can birth what You want me to birth." In Jesus' name, amen.
