“They blessed Rebekah and said to her, ‘May you, our sister, become thousands of ten thousands, and may your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them.’”
“Possess the gate” is a military term referring to the conquest of a city with walls. Rebekah was the bride of Isaac. Her descendants would “possess the gate of those who hate them.”
I am a spiritual descendant of Rebekah and, together with other members of the Body of Christ, I will “possess the gate” of my enemies.
The Church of Jesus Christ advances relentlessly toward the gate and city walls of hell to conquer Satan and crush his empire. Our position is offensive. We do not assume a defensive posture but rather “overwhelmingly conquer” (Romans 8.37 NASU). “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8.37 NIV). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” because “greater is He [Jesus] who is in [me] than he [the devil] who is in the world,” (Philippians 4.13; 1st John 4.4).
I crush the head of Satan, smash the gates of hell, and conquer the enemy of my soul. I have this confidence on good authority, the authority of God’s Word...
“So the LORD God said to the serpent,… ‘You will crawl on
your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will
put enmity between you and the woman, and between your
offspring and hers; he will crush your head,...’”
put enmity between you and the woman, and between your
offspring and hers; he will crush your head,...’”
The LORD, Genesis 3.14-15 NIV
“The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand
“The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’"
David, Psalm 110.1 NASU
“The God of peace will soon
David, Psalm 110.1 NASU
“The God of peace will soon
crush Satan under your feet.”
Paul, Romans 16.20 NLT
Paul, Romans 16.20 NLT
“…I will build My church and the gates
of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus, Matthew 16.18b NKJV
Jesus, Matthew 16.18b NKJV
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The amazing photo above entitled "Dante's Gates of Hell" is used by permission of Austin, Texas photographer Trey Ratcliff whose work you can view at his blog at http://www.stuckincustoms.com/. Trey explains, "This is Rodin's huge famous La Porte de l"Enfer, also known as the Gates of Hell. I found it off to the side of the Musee Rodin in Paris..."
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3 comments:
Again I have shared your post with those who still listen to me.
Thanks for being, you.
Larry
Thanks again Dave. I have always loved the story of how God brought Isaac and Rebekah together and how God immediately answered the prayers if Abraham's servant. (another great story about water at the well)
My journal entry for Tuesday:
"I've always struggled to understand this relationship between Jacob and Esau. Esau was born first in a day, age and culture when being the first born male was quite advantageous. And yet from the beginning we are told that "the older will serve the younger." Jacob proceeds to hold his older brother hostage and gets him to foolishly give up his birthright for a bowl of soup. Although this was not technically deceptive on Jacob's part, it was certainly manipulative. A few chapters later we find that Rebekah and Jacob conspire to deceive both Isaac and Esau. Now Esau is cheated out of his blessing as well.
Yet many years and a few chapters later, we read that Jacob and Esau meet up again and "Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept."
----Genesis ch 33, vs 4.
Call me crazy, but at this point I have to ask and answer a few basic questions:
1) Who acted more like Christ?
2) Who acted more honorably?
3) How would I rather spend my weekend, hunting in Eastern Oregon with Esau or hanging out in the kitchen and baking quiche with Jacob?
4) Who would I rather have a beer with and hang out with at Autzen Stadium?
The answer is obvious. Esau gets my vote each and every time. The funny thing is: 1) It's Jacob who is considered the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel. 2) It's Jacob who is given the greater importance from a biblical, historical and spiritual point of view. 3) In 1948 when the new Jewish state was created, it was named Jacob (Israel). 4) Today in Promiseland, there are lots of kids named Jacob, and no kids named Esau. If I ever had a son, (and the odds are certainly not in my favor) I would consider naming him Esau. And later in life, when he asked me why, I would simply respond that I'ts more important to be honorable than it is to be popular.
--CEDAR MILL (FLY IN THE OINTMENT) MADNESS.
Thank you One Sided and CMM for your comments. I really appreciate hearing from both of you.
God Bless,
Dave
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