Preparation For The Kingdom
The spiritual gates of Jerusalem are significant and represent the whole counsel of God for our lives. Each gate is important. Like Nehemiah, these gates must be restored to the body of Christ.
Matthew 7:13 - "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
1. The sheep gate
Represents our spiritual foundation.
Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
2. The water gate
Represents the Word of God.
Ephesians 5:26 - That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word
3. The fountain gate
Represents the work of the Holy Spirit
John 4:10-14 - Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.
4. The fish gate
Represents the Christian witness.
Mark 1:17 - Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."
5. The old gate
Represents our old ways.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
6. The dung gate
Represents the works of the flesh that must be dealt with.
Galatians 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
7. The valley gate
Represents our spiritual growth with trails, temptations and testing.
Psalm 23:4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
8. The horse gate
Represents spiritual warfare.
Revelation 19:19 - And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
9. The inspection gate
Represents self-examination and growth.
Philippians 2:12-13 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
10. The east gate
Represents our hope of the return of Jesus.
Ezekiel 44:1-3 - Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east; and it was shut. And he said to me, "This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it; therefore it shall remain shut. Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way."
