Nehemiah 4:14, “Do not be afraid of them, Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

We now come to the eighth gate, which is… 

THE HORSE GATE (Nehemiah 3:28)

The horse gate was the gate through which the soldiers marched out to battle and returned from battle. In the Word of God the horse always speaks of war and battle. Read the magnificent picture of the battle horse in Job 39:19-25. It is imperative that we keep our horse gate continually reinforced and repaired. We are in a war! We are in a battle against the enemy who seeks to creep into our homes with his subtle deceptions and evil connivings. He is the one who comes to “rob, kill and destroy” and his greatest joy is to destroy our marriage and family life. We cannot sit down. We must stand up and guard our homes.

John’s revelation of the heavenly city reveals that the twelve gates of the heavenly city are “guarded by twelve angels.” (Revelation 21:10-13,21) Wow, if each gate of our heavenly home is guarded, surely we need to guard the gates of our earthly home.

There are two aspects to motherhood. Firstly, motherhood is tender, caring, loving, comforting and nurturing. As we pour out these beautiful virtues to our family, we reveal the picture of God’s maternal heart which He has divinely placed within us. There is nothing more beautiful to behold than a mother tenderly nurturing her children.

However, there is another side to motherhood. It is the war-like, watch-dog, lion-like, horse-prancing spirit that roars at any enemy that would come to devour her marriage or her children! This woman is ready to fight. And she will fight hard to protect her family. She will not give up until the enemy is demolished. When God told the Israelites to fight their enemies, He told them to “drive out… destroy… dispossess… and desolate.” (Numbers 33:52-53) We should have this same vocabulary.

Balaam prophesied God’s purpose for His people, the Israelites. “These people rise up like a lioness: like a majestic lion they stand. They refuse to rest until they have feasted on prey, drinking the blood of the slaughtered.” (Numbers 23:24 NLT) We, as a child of God, and especially as a mother, should have the same anointed attitude against any attack against our marriage or family. We should see the enemy as a foe to be defeated and utterly routed. God calls His people “My battle axe and weapons of war.” (Jeremiah 51:20) We are sweet and gentle in our mothering, but a battle axe against the enemy.

God describes the bride in Song of Solomon 6:4 and10 as “terrible as an army with banners.” Other translations use the words, “formidable, awesome, frightening, majestic, utterly captivating and awe-inspiring! My husband says, “Don’t mess with this woman!” What an awe-inspiring sight to see an army of soldiers on horses, banners waving high in the air, marching home in victory. The people in the city wait to see this sight and how they cheer as the soldiers march through the horse gate in victory. 

Are you standing sentinel at your horse gate? Are your banners waving high? Or is the enemy laughing in your face because he has grabbed them from you? Don’t stay groveling in the dust. Come on, dear mother, get up again! You are the guardian of your home. Fight. Regain your banners. Hold high the banners of love, truth, righteousness, purity, faithfulness and commitment in your home. Banners are to wave high, not drag on the ground. Just as the men guard the city gates, God has placed you on duty at your home gate.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Lord, please help me to be sweet, tender and loving as I care for my family each day. But also help me to rise up and fight every evil force that attacks my home. Help me to roar like a lioness at my enemies, just as you roar at your enemies. Save me from lagging in the fight. Thank you that in the powerful, authoritative name of Jesus, I have power over all the power of the enemy. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Scriptures about God roaring at His enemies:

Psalm 24:7-10; Isaiah 42:13; Jeremiah 25:30; Hosea 11:10; 5:14; Joel 2:11; 3:16.

We should also roar at our enemies:

Genesis 49:9; Numbers 23:24; 24:9; Proverbs 28:1; Luke 10:19; Ephesians 4:27; 6:11; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9