“The Old Gate Message 3”
The Spiritual Application of the Gates
Notes taken from Pastor Jim May’s study; Notes from Thompson Chain Reference Bible; Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible; Monte Brown’s personal translation (MB)
Nehemiah 3:6 Monte T. Brown
August 17, 2014 Sunday Morning
Stapp Zoe Baptist
Prelude
In light of the events unfolding in the Middle East and the fact that we are living in end times I see it is important that we understand the importance of the Promise Land and that city called “The City of God.”
“The City of God” is Jerusalem and it has been in the headlines of history for thousands of years.
Part of the uniqueness of this city is the wall that surrounds the city. Within the wall are the gates that outline the premature of the city.
Each one of these gate sends us a message that applies to us today.
The book of Nehemiah list ten of the twelve gates that needed repaired.
I would like us to look at all twelve gates and gleam insight from each of these gates.
Each one of the gates is unique and gives us a specific message about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
These messages are vivid and clear in our day just as they were in 445 BC and prior.
God uses these gates to reveal the coming Messiah to the Jews of that day and today.
They reveal Him from His first coming sacrifice to His Second Coming and the final judgment.
It is fascinating how God finds many different ways to tell the message of Christ, the good news. This is one more.
Praise be to God the Father who desires salvation for all. 1 Timothy 2:4 MB
There is so much spiritual applications within these gates, their positions in the wall of the city, the order in which they were rebuilt and the purpose of each gate.
Each gate speaks to us of the different experiences in our Christian walk that each of us will face.
Their order and position is very specific and give us insight into the journey that God takes each of His children on.
Introduction
After the construction was completed on The Fish Gate, the next gate they came to was The Old Gate (also called the Jeshanah Gate)
From The Fish Gate we then continue down the wall, building and repairing until we come to The Old Gate.
Nehemiah 3:6, "Moreover The Old Gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof."
Represents something very special to each of us who has entered through The Sheep Gate and passed by The Fish Gate.
The Old Gate brings us to the place where we must learn of the old ways of truth.
In The Old Gate the elders of the city would meet to discuss matters of community importance and issue judgment on disputes.
In the Book of Joshua, when the cities of refuge were established, it was to The Old Gate that those running for their lives were to report before they could enter the city.
Joshua 20:4, "And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them."
The Old Gate was also where Boaz went to redeem Ruth as her kinsman.
Ruth 4:11, "And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:"
A young Christian having been washed in the Blood of the Perfect Lamb at The Sheep Gate, and then experiencing the evangelistic fervor at The Fish Gate, must soon be discipled and taught the established ways of living for the Lord.
In order to learn those lessons, his next stop will be The Old Gate.
Younger converts will soon realize that they must seek out the wisdom and guidance of the church elders, those people who have a track record and who have learned through commitment what it takes to remain faithful to God.
They learn that they must learn the old ways of truth that never change. While there may be fads, and some things may change with the cultures and the times, there are some things about the gospel that cannot be compromised.
A life of holiness and sanctification cannot be compromised.
Belief and acceptance in Jesus as Lord and Savior cannot be compromised, true heartfelt repentance cannot be compromised.
The Word of God cannot be changed or compromised.
Jeremiah 6:16 says, ‘Thus says the Lord, Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.’
Many of our churches today are in trouble because they don’t want to pass through The Old Gate.
All too many Christians cast away our traditions and throw aside the heritage that brought the gospel to them, and quickly embrace only the new things that tend to water down the gospel and ignore the warnings of the Word of God.
I think that we need to keep passing through The Old Gate time and again, lest we forget that this is the path into the New Jerusalem.
The third gate is “The Jeshanah Gate” in the Hebrew literally means “The Old Gate.”
The Old Gate
It was located at the Northwest corner of the city in Nehemiah’s time near the location of the present day Church of the Holy Sepulcher; Catholics believe that this is the location of the tomb Christ.
According to tradition, the death and resurrection of Christ occurred near this gate. This could well be called “The Gate of His Resurrection.”
This gate represents God’s Covenant Promises and foundational truths, which are the basis of Judaism and Christianity.
Ultimately, the war in the Middle East is a war against God’s Covenant promises to Israel and the Christian Church since Christians are heirs with Israel to the promises made to Abraham. (And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29 KJV)
The Prophet Jeremiah writes about standing in the Old Ways as a condition for blessing, “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jeremiah 6:16 KJV
Isaiah expands on this need to rise up the old foundations and to repair the breaches in truth, “Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall rise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” Isaiah 58:12 KJV
Foundations of Truth
1. God’s Covenant
Christ's Death and Resurrection: Point to the cost of establishing a covenant relationship with man.
This gate is a call to remember God’s Covenant promises both to Israel and to the Church.
Covenant Promises:
• God gave the land of Canaan (Palestine) to Israel. (I Chronicles 16:15,16) The land for peace efforts in Palestine today violates this covenant made by God.
• God promises to show those who fear him his covenant. (Pslams 25:14)
• His Covenant promises for salvation are sealed with the blood of Christ. (Hebrews 8:10, 11; 9:12,14)
• Christians are included in the promises made to Abraham. (Galatians 3:29)
2. The Truth of His Resurrection
The Basis of Preaching Christ:
This Gate could well be called “The Gate of the Resurrection” because it points to the tomb of Christ.
The truth of His resurrection is the basis of preaching Christ, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10
The Basis of Salvation:
Confession of our belief in His resurrection is the basis of our salvation, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9
The Basis of our being born again:
We identify with His death and resurrection at Baptism, not that Baptism saves us, but that it testifies of our commitment to Christ.
We declare that we are born into His kingdom when we commit our lives to Christ and we proclaim His death and the power of His resurrection.
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
God’s Covenant Promise of Blessing for Israel:
Each Gate still has a prophetic word waiting to be fulfilled or completed. Here is a prophetic word for this Old Gate regarding God’s promise of blessing:
The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
12If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.
13For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
14This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
15I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. Psalms 132:11-16 KJV
A Prayer for the release of inheritance in this Old Gate called Jeshanah: (Based on Psalms 132)
“Almighty God of heaven and earth, we bring The Old Gate before your face asking you to release the inheritance it represents.
We invite you to rest in Jerusalem and as the Prince of Peace bring a fresh revelation of your salvation and deliverance.
We ask you to remember your covenant with your servant David to bless his descendants.
We pray that the foundations of truth you laid for this city and nation will be raised up and released anew for the blessing of all believers.
Lord, we pray the prayer of David, ‘Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy.’ Psalms 132:7,8
We pray,“We know the Lord is great and our Lord is above all gods. Bless the Lord, O house of Israel! Bless the Lord O house of Aaron! Bless the Lord O house of Levi! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem’!” Psalms 135
We ask, O Lord, that you would remember this promise as the enemies of Israel are plotting against her,
‘Though I walk in the mist of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands’. Amen! Psalms 138:7
