GATES

"AND I ALSO SAY TO YOU THAT YOU ARE PETER, and on this rock I will build My church, AND THE GATES OF HADES SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT."
Matthew 16:18 (NKJV)

In the Bible days, Gates are the places where decisions are made on whatever to be done (Ruth 4:1-12). Disputes are meddled and settled at the Gates (Job 29:7; Ruth 4:1-12; Proverbs 31:23).
Symbolically and spiritually speaking, the mentioning of a Gate in the Bible has a spiritual significance.
When Jacob had an encounter, where he had a dream of ladder that was set up on the earth and the top reaches to heaven, and the angels were ascending and descending on it (Genesis 28:12).
When he awakened from the sleep, he said: "AND HE WAS AFRAID AND SAID, “HOW AWESOME IS THIS PLACE! THIS IS NONE OTHER THAN THE HOUSE OF GOD, AND THIS IS THE GATE OF HEAVEN!” (Genesis 28:17 NKJV)
In the book of Isaiah, the Gates of Sheol was also mentioned: "I SAID, “IN THE PRIME OF MY LIFE I SHALL GO TO THE GATES OF SHEOL; I am deprived of the remainder of my years" (Isaiah 38:10 NKJV).

Gates are symbolic and they have spiritual connotations. In the physical realm or world we could see in the Book of Ruth, how Boaz made the deal of marrying Ruth, a Moabitess, and acquired what belong to Elimelech at the Gate:
9 AND BOAZ SAID TO THE ELDERS AND ALL THE PEOPLE, “YOU ARE WITNESSES THIS DAY THAT I HAVE BOUGHT ALL THAT WAS ELIMELECH'S, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, FROM THE HAND OF NAOMI. 10 MOREOVER, RUTH THE MOABITESS, THE WIDOW OF MAHLON, I HAVE ACQUIRED AS MY WIFE, TO PERPETUATE THE NAME OF THE DEAD THROUGH HIS INHERITANCE, THAT THE NAME OF THE DEAD MAY NOT BE CUT OFF FROM AMONG HIS BRETHREN AND FROM HIS POSITION AT THE GATE. YOU ARE WITNESSES THIS DAY.” 11 AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THE GATE, AND THE ELDERS, SAID, “WE ARE WITNESSES. THE Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; AND MAY YOU PROSPER IN EPHRATHAH AND BE FAMOUS IN BETHLEHEM" (Ruth 4:9-11 NKJV).

As it is in the physical realm, so it is in the spiritual realm. Decisions are made at the Gates in the realm of the spirit:
"AND I TELL YOU, YOU ARE PETER [Greek, petros—a large piece of rock], AND ON THIS ROCK [Greek, petra—a huge rock like Gibraltar] I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HADES (the powers of the infernal region) SHALL NOT OVERPOWER IT [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]" (Matthew 16:18 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).
The decisions made at the Gates of hell, hades or sheol are usually carried out by the assigned demons, and the human agents of the devil, in the physical realm or world. Reports of whatever such demons did on the earth are taken to the Gates for further actions to be taken.
Jesus Christ however says the decisions of the Gates of hell or hades would not prevail over the church of Jesus Christ.

There are Gates in different strategic places in the world, but they might not be seen physically, It might be unseen or not visible. Jacob mentioned that the place where he slept and had the encounter of heavenly vision, was a Gate of heaven (Genesis 28:17). The place was called Luz, but he, Jacob, changed the name of the place and called it Bethel, the house of God (Genesis 28:18-22). Jacob did not know there was a Gate at the place. He was fagged out and wanted to sleep, but he never knew he was sleeping at a particular Gate. Although, God may have orchestrated it (Genesis 28:17).

Note:
As a minister and a leader, God's representative, you have the authority to frustrate whatever decision made at the Gates of hell or hades:
"I WILL GIVE YOU THE KEYS (authority) OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; AND WHATEVER YOU BIND [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] ON EARTH WILL HAVE [already] BEEN BOUND IN HEAVEN, AND WHATEVER YOU LOOSE [permit, declare lawful] ON EARTH WILL HAVE [already] BEEN LOOSED IN HEAVEN" (Matthew 16:19 Amps).
This verse was the statement Jesus made when He said the Gates of hell or hades would not prevail over the church (Matthew 16:18). You have the authority to foil or thwart, discomfit or frustrate, whatever decision made at the Gates of hell or hades concerning your life, family, and the people under your leadership (Luke 10:19).
Whatever altar that is raised against your work or ministry or life can be pulled down through prayer. And any negative pronouncement made at such an altar can be nullified through prayer, with the authority in the name of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:10).
Strongholds, arguments, and thoughts, are brought down through the Word of God and prayer (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Whatever stronghold built in the minds of the people you are assigned can be pulled down through the teaching or preaching of the Word of God, and prayer.

When you find yourself in an environment, or a community, even if the area is infested with demonic activities; you have the authority to take over, break the influence of the devil over the people there who had been taken captives by him—the devil.
Your presence in such a place as the light of the world and an extension of God's Kingdom is to occupy or take over the place and the people for God (Matthew 5:14)
Note: that being said, you may be required to pay a price for wanting to take the place for God: "OR HOW CAN ONE ENTER A STRONG MAN'S HOUSE AND PLUNDER HIS GOODS, UNLESS HE FIRST BINDS THE STRONG MAN? AND THEN HE WILL PLUNDER HIS HOUSE" (Matthew 12:29 NKJV).

To set those who are under the captives of the devil free, you bind him first. That is done through praying and fasting (Matthew 17:21), and the invading of the area with the preaching or teaching of the Word of God (Acts 19:9-12)
The preaching and teaching of the Word of God, coupled with prayers, would discomfit the devil and all his cohorts and their operations. Through these things, the minds of the people which are held captive, by the devil, would be opened and they would be liberated from his captivity (Isaiah 49:24,25)

As a minister of God, He has put you in that area to liberate those who are held captive by the devil. That could only be done through the preaching or teaching of the Word of God and prayer, with signs and wonders—the demonstration of the power of God (Acts 19:11,12).
When the Ephesians saw the demonstration of the power of God with attendant results, they renounced their evil powers and brought out their magical books and burned them (Acts 19:18,19). This happened as a result of the move of God, the demonstration of the power of God through the teaching of His Word, in Ephesus: "SO THE WORD OF THE LORD GREW MIGHTILY AND PREVAILED" (Acts 19:20 NKJV).
Peace!