“The Dung Gate Message 7”
The Spiritual Application of the Gates
Nehemiah 3:13-14 Monte T. Brown
September 7, 2014 Sunday Morning
Stapp Zoe Baptist
Prelude
Each day that passes, we see more and more of the Word of God unveiling before us.
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.
Because of the awesome power of God and His holy scriptures turn to Nehemiah 3:13-14 and please stand in honor of the Word of God and follow along with me as I read from God’s anointed Word.
Scripture
The valley gate repaired Han’un, and the inhabitants of Za-no’ah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
But the dung gate repaired Mal-chi’ah the son of Re’chab, the ruler of part of Beth-hac’ce-rem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
Nehemiah 3:13-14 (KJV)
Prayer
Introduction
“The Dung Gate” is the seventh gate in our series of messages regarding the twelve gates of Jerusalem.
“The Dung Gate” its name at first can seem repulsive until one understands the importance of the gate.
“The Dung Gate” has a powerful message for all. It represents the need for cleansing physically and spiritually.
The naming of this gate had to do with the removal of rubbish from the city or cleansed the city from defilement.
Out of respect for the holiness of the city, rubbish was never allowed to accumulate.
It was removed through “The Dung Gate” allow the city to be kept clean and holy.
We could all benefit from knowing and using “The Dung Gate” in our lives.
Where all Filth Goes
“The Dung Gate” is Where all Filth Goes, it is the smallest of all the gates. It has the lowest archway.
It is located in the Old City Wall. It faces south in the direction of the Valley of Hinnom, known as Gahanna or Hell.
Gahanna was the city dump which burned twenty four seven, it was full of worms and stitch.
Gahanna was a picture of Hell, which is but a small picture of the reality of Hell.
The city of Jerusalem during the holy days would see upwards of 15,000 sheep sacrificed and have an extra 125,000 guest in the city. This alone would produce an astronomical amount of waste.
“The Dung Gate” was where all the city waste was carried out of such as garbage, dead bodies, the remnants of hundreds of thousands of sacrificial offerings, and human waste.
Valley of Hinnom, known as Gahanna or Hell represents the final resting place of those that reject the Son of God.
Washes all Filth Away
The Son of God, Jesus Christ is the only one that can wash all the filth away.
“The Dung Gate” faces the Pool of Shiloach; this was the pool that Jesus sent the blind man to wash his eyes in John 9:7.
Through this act of washing, the man’s affliction was removed.
The waters of this pool were used by the High Priest to immerse himself in the pool in Temple times for purification.
During Rosh Hashanah (The Ten Days of repentance leading up to Yom Kippur) Jews crowd around this water source to recite Tashich which has to do with casting way sins.
In the ceremony some follow the practice of shaking out one’s pockets and the folds in their clothing three times to symbolize the heart’s intention to cast away sin and be completely cleansed. Nehemiah 5:13
Sometimes bread is cast upon the waters representing their sins so they can see them taken away.
All of these practices were foreshadows of the one who could truly wash away all of our sins.
Removal of that which Hinders
Sometimes we allow things to enter into our lives and rob us of the joy of worshipping God almighty.
Anything that comes between you and God becomes a false God.
That’s when you need to take it to “The Dung Gate” and leave it there.
“The Dung Gate” leads to the Valley of Hinnom, known as Gahanna or Hell.
King Asa burned his grandmother’s pagan Asherah pole. I Kings 15:13
It was also the dumping grounds for destroyed pagan items. 2 Chronicles 29:16, 30:14
The Modern Day “Dung Gate”
“The Dung Gate” symbolizes the work of cleansing God wants to do in our lives to restore us.
He wants us to cast away our sins upon the waters to be carried away.
He wants us to shake out our pockets of our secrete sins and idols so they can be destroyed in the valley or sent to the depths of the sea.
As the city needed to have this removal of rubbish on a regular bases to keep it holy and undefiled, so scripture points those who trust in God to seek inner cleansing,
“If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:8, 9
The word “cleanses” in this passage means, “to free from filth or pollution.” (Strongs, 2511)
This kind of regular spiritual upkeep restores and heals the believer.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin John16:8 and apply the cleansing work of God in us, “According to his mercy he saved us (made us whole), by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5
Conclusion/Invitation
The Modern Day “Dung Gate” is the alter in our churches, because it is there we come to lay down physical and spiritual rubbish in our lives.
We are to remove the physical rubbish but the spiritual rubbish.
This will lead to God visiting and restoring or healing the land, “If my people who are called by my name will turn from their wicked ways and seek My face, I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14, 15
Confessing the sins in our lives results in the restoration and the healing of our lives!
Confessing the sins of our churches results in the restoration and the healing of our churches!
Confessing the sins of our cities results in the restoration and healing of our land!
When our hearts are cleansed of defilement and we confess the sins of our cities, God promises to open “The Dung Gate” and remove and restore the city.
He is waiting for us to cast our sins upon the water of His word.
We are being called to empty out our pockets of secret sins and dump out the folds our of our minds until all sin is out of our lives.
He will carry them away to the depths of the sea.
