Blessed to Be a Blessing-Possessing the Gates

Genesis 22:17-18 “Blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

 In the scriptures, gates often describe:

-The power of the city.
-The power of the people.
-The wealth of the city.
-The power of the church-gates of hell will not prevail against her. 

Iron gates protected the entrance and exit of a city. The Elders ruled at the gates and gave permission to strangers or entering and exiting. So possessing the gates meant something powerful in those doors. That's why God told Abraham that his descendants would possess the entrances and exits to the cities of their enemies. In other words, blessings would flow from the throne of God into their midst.

-Increase always comes to those possessing their gates.
Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Genesis 13:14-17  “And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "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. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you."

God’s first instruction to Abraham was, “Lift up your eyes and look!” Your blessing begins when you allow it to be birthed in your spirit and you begin to see it through your spiritual eyes and go and possess your gates.

-You dream it.
-You desire it.
-You discipline yourself to achieve it.
-You delight in birthing it and be a blessing from it.         

-God doesn’t want you to get focused  on just one resource!

Genesis 13:14-16 “And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are -northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see 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.”

-A generational blessing must flow from one generation to another

Genesis 13:15, 16 "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."

-The process to a blessed life begins with a journey.

Genesis 13:17 “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you."
Abraham took the first step in obedience to God and God did the rest. -Your descendants shall possess the gate!
Psalms 112:1-3 “Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. is descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures.”

 Psalms 103:17 “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,”

Proverbs 20:7 “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”

 Isaiah 65:23-24 “They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them. It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

You are blessed to be a blessing! Occupy your gates!

God is not looking for people to walk in blessings just to live a plush or lavish lifestyle.  He is looking for people with a giving spirit that He can channel blessings through.  He not only wants you to be blessed, but He wants others to be blessed through you.  The test of that blessed life is how much of the blessing you are willing to let flow through your life.