“The Horse Gate Message 10”
The Spiritual Application of the Gates
Nehemiah 3:28 Monte T. Brown
September 21, 2014 Sunday Morning
Stapp Zoe Baptist
Prelude
As I have said before the Word of God is ever living and ever speaking to us through each word on these pages.
Each day that passes, we see more and more of the Word of God unveiling before us.
Jesus spoke to us through parables and object teaching, therefore every bit of the Word of God is ever speaking words of wisdom to us.
Looking at 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 and to his people 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.
Scripture
From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house. Nehemiah 3:28 (KJV)
Prayer
The Importance of The Horse Gate
The Horse Gate was located between the Water Gate and the Sheep Gate (Stephen’s Gate).
The Horse Gate was on the east side of the city, overlooking the Kidron Valley.
The Kidron Valley is between the Temple and the Garden of Gethsemane;
• it is where King Asa burned all the idols
• it is where Hezekiah destroyed all the idols
• it is where Absalom accidently hanged himself
• is where Judas hung himself
• it is where the more than 250,000 lambs blood flowed from the alter on Passover
• But most of all Jesus passed through it on his way to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he was betrayed.
The Kidron Valley represents sin, and idolatry against God and Jesus passed through it.
The Horse Gate approached and to the left the palace of Solomon, leading to Solomon’s stables where the royal horses were kept.
The Horse Gate lay north of the temple which was located nearby and the dwellings for the Priests.
The Horse Gate was where the king’s chariot would pass in coming to the palace.
What does The Horse Gate signify then and for us today?
Horses were never abundant in Jerusalem, and generally where used in the Biblical times being symbolic of war.
The exiting of horses through The Horse Gate would indicate a time of battle.
This would be necessary for the restoring of holiness. Psalms 21:31 refers to the necessity of horses and the purpose. “The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but safety is in the Lord.” Psalms 21:31
The Horse Gate spiritual speaks of us today that we are to be aware that whether we know it or not, we are all engaged in warfare, spiritual warfare!
Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
As Christians we can struggle if we allow our fleshly desires to control our lives.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says that though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
We must be reminded that we are not of this world as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12 (KJV)
The Fulfillment of The Horse Gate
The prophet Jeremiah looked forward to a time when God would restore Israel’ purpose and inheritance in Jeremiah 31:38-40.
“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that the city shall be built for the Lord from the Tower of Hananeel to the corner (horse) gate.
The surveyor’s line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb); then it shall turn toward Goath.
And the whole valley of the dead bodies (those sacrificed to idols).. All the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate shall be holy to the Lord. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever.”
When this time of restoration and holiness is restored this declaration will go forth, “They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its Cities, when I bring back their captivity, ‘The Lord bless you, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness! Jeremiah 31:23, 24
God has brought his people back to Jerusalem from captivity by establishing the State of Israel.
Spiritually today it is our responsibility to be like the guards of old, who guarded the king’s horse gate, knowing that the king’s chariot would soon pass their way, we too look for a special visitation and arrival of our King!
The surveyor’s line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb); then it shall turn toward Goath.
And the whole valley of the dead bodies (those sacrificed to idols).. All the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate shall be holy to the Lord. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever.”
When this time of restoration and holiness is restored this declaration will go forth, “They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its Cities, when I bring back their captivity, ‘The Lord bless you, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness! Jeremiah 31:23, 24
God is restoring back Israel as he has promised that means to us that He is coming again!
We are living between the Water Gate (God’s Word) and the Sheep Gate (Declarations of truth).
We must assure ourselves that we are in the Word of God and that we embrace the declarations of truth.
Our Action/Invitation
“Lord, we long to see you establish holiness and justice in Jerusalem so that it is a ‘Mountain of Holiness’. Jeremiah 31:23, 24
Genesis 12:3 tells us that there is a blessing to those that support Israel. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:3 (KJV)
Psalms 122:6 tells us that we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Psalms 122:6 (KJV)
Our Prayer should be something like this:
May the holy land become holy again!
We petition you to visit Israel and the cities of our nations with your measuring line.
Give us a hunger and thirst for your righteousness.
Open the Horse Gate in Jerusalem, our cities, and our homes.
Evict all the wickedness from our lives and worship centers that we may seek you with clean hands and pure hearts.
Father, establish your son on the thrones of our hearts and the seats of authority in our communities.
We pray welcoming your holy chariot through each Horse Gate represented in all our cities. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Are you ready for his return?
