THE GATES MUST BE OPENED
“When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him” (Acts 12:10)
We shall continue our series – EPHPHATHA, where we have already discussed two topics – “Spiritual deafness” and “Spiritual dumbness”. Jesus looked up to heaven; he sighed and said unto the deaf and mute man, EPHPHATHA, and immediately his ears were opened (Mark 7:34-35).
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There are Nine gates in a human body –EARS (2 gates), EYES(2 gates), NOSTRILS (2 gates), mouth (1 gate), GENITAL (1 gate), and RECTUM (1 gate). These gates are the entry and exit points of the body system. God has given us control over these gates so that we can present our body as a living sacrifice to God, holy and acceptable (Romans 12:1) and glorify God in His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are the gatekeepers of our body, and we shouldn’t allow any filthiness or impurity to pass through these gates. Our EAR GATES should be firmly secured against gossip, worldly music, evil words, and unhealthy talk.
However, our control ceases when the gates are blocked beyond the natural realm; when the gates couldn’t perform their duty again. In this regard, we need a superpower to open them up. Jesus exercised His great power, in the life of the mute man, as the commander in chief, and issued a command – EPHPHATHA - and the ear gates were opened.
There are many spiritual gates that need to be opened in our lives that will enable us to function maximally as a good child of God and proclaim the gospel to the world. When the gates are shut, it means that the enemy has already captured them. If these gates remain shut, it will limit our service to God and hinder our destiny fulfilment; but when these gates are opened, it will be a great miracle like that miracle that happened at the gate of Samaria, where a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel as well (2 Kings 7:18).
Below are some of the gates that need to be opened:
1. THE GATE OF SANCTIFICATION
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). No one has access to God except through Jesus Christ, who can purify and make us holy.
It is the will of God that the people whom he chose should be sanctified and set apart unto himself (Psalm 4:3). “He is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth (Job 23:13)
It was the will of God the Father, but it was carried out by the divine Son when he came into the world by laying down his own life, offering his own blood (Hebrews 9:14), and bore in his own body the curse, and in his own spirit enduring the wrath. He was able to effect the purpose of the everlasting Father in the purging of his people, in the setting of his chosen apart, and making them holy unto the Lord.
Now the Holy Ghost brings us this knowledge that Jesus Christ has sanctified us, set us apart, and made us acceptable with God; He brings us to see our need for cleansing and reconciliation to Christ.
This gate can only be opened when we repent of our sinful ways. Every sinner must pass through this gate of sanctification to be saved (John 10:9). Once we acknowledge Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, then we will be sanctified by God the Father (Jude 1) in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2) through the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:2).
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17)
2. THE GATE OF SERVICE
Jesus saved us to save others and to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). We are saved to serve Him, and reach others with His message of salvation. This gate of service must be opened to please God, and display God’s love to our neighbors (Mark 12:31) just the way God loved us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
God has a purpose for your life. He saved you and left you on earth to be His witness. Isaiah 43:10 says, “ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant, whom I have chosen”. You’re chosen and ordained by God as His able minister of the Gospel: “Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6).
As a minister of reconciliation, and a steward of the mysteries of Christ, you are required to be faithful to the Lord in sharing the Gospel and teaching others the mysteries of God’s Kingdom (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul said, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” That’s the principle - you’re a disciple, so you can disciple others; you’re to teach others the same truths of the Gospel that you’ve been taught, so that those you teach will in turn teach others.
Open your gate of service to God.
“Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
3. THE GATE OF FAITH
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written. “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
We can only do great exploit for God when the gate of faith is opened unto us. Great miracles are wrought through faith. Signs and wonders are done through faith. We can only be healed through faith. Our faith in God must be strong even when all odds are against us, so that we will not be regarded as men of little faith (Matthew 8:26).
Christians nowadays do not want to follow the old path that the ancients walked where they obtained a good report (Hebrews 11:2). If this gate of faith is shut in our lives as servants of God, we can’t please God.” But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him". (Hebrews 11:6)
Many Christians are looking for new ways to please God, but the only way is through the gate of faith. Human imagination cannot replace faith. This ancient gate which was opened in the life of Abraham, made him a father of many nations (Genesis 17:4).
God warns us that we shouldn’t neglect the old path that works.” 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)
4. THE GATE OF HUMILITY
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).
We may have attained a great height in Christendom, and even know all the verses in the Bible but if the gate of humility is shut in our lives, God will take us into the valley of wilderness to teach us.
Satan was cut down to the ground because he thought to exalt his throne above the stars of God and be like God. “ How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, on the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; (Isaiah 14:12-16)
Also, God humbled that great King of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar,” And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. “(Daniel 4:32)
Let us always open our gates of humility and recognize that God is high and exalted above all.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time (1Peter 5:6).
5. THE GATE OF REVIVAL
This gate must be constantly opened so that those that are without God and no hope (Ephesians 2:12) can get connected to the throne of grace. Many churches are worldly and lack spiritual power, and our prayer lives are not fervent as well. We need a revival.
It is good for us to draw near to God in prayer. Our minds are grieved to see so little attention given to united prayer by many churches. How can we expect a blessing if we are too idle to ask for it? How can we look for Pentecost, if we never meet with one another, in one place, to wait upon the Lord? Brethren, we shall never see much change for the better in our churches, until prayer meetings occupy a higher place in the esteem of Christians.
The Scriptures must be made the infallible foundation of all teachings; the ruin, redemption, and regeneration of mankind must be set forth in unmistakable terms. If we want the gate of revivals to remain open, we must revive our reverence for the word of God (Charles Spurgeon).
When we enter through the gate of revival, we will be taken to the place where we ought always to have been; we will be quickened and given a new life; the coals of our expiring fire will be stirred up, and heavenly breath will be put into our languid lungs.
The sickly soul which before was insensible, weak, and sorrowful, grows earnest, vigorous, and happy in the Lord. This is the immediate fruit of revival, and it becomes all of us who are believers to seek this blessing for backsliders, and for ourselves if we are declining in grace.
This gate of revival can only be opened through the Holy Spirit and not through the machinery of the professional revival- maker, who conduct revival programs to increase their finances. The true vital spark of heavenly flame comes from the Holy Ghost, and ministers of God must beware of strange fire.
When a minister obtains this revival, he preaches very differently from his former manner. It is extremely hard work to preach when the headaches and when the body is languid, but it is a much harder task when the soul is unfeeling and lifeless. It is sad, sad work if we can go on preaching and remain careless concerning the truths we preach, indifferent as to whether men are saved or lost!
May God deliver every minister from abiding in such a state!
Evangelists, Pastors, teachers, deacons, and elders need this gate to be opened unto them. Lukewarm church officers are of no more value to a church, than a crew of air host and pilot would be to an aircraft if they were all fainting. It is no wonder that our Lord said, "Because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth,"(Revelation 3:16) for when the earnest Christian's heart is full of fire, it is sickening to talk with lukewarm people. Church officers need to be revived.
When a Christian passes through the gate of revival. His family and friends will receive a share of the benefit; and he prays more fervently for sinners, which is one of the marks of a revival in the renewed heart. He will speak the truth and preach the gospel; he sows good seed which springs up in a glorious harvest.
If an ungodly man steps into a congregation where all the saints are revived, he does not go to sleep under the sermon. The minister will not let him do that; for the hearer perceives that the preacher feels what he is preaching, and has a right to be heard. The man listens with deep emotion; and the Holy Spirit's power comes upon the hearer's mind; he is convinced of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come; and Christians who are on the watch around him hasten to tell him of the Savior and point him to the redeeming blood of Jesus. What a great gain!
CONCLUSION
Those gates may be difficult to open by our ability and power. but there is a superpower who can command the gates to be opened, like the power of Jesus that opened the ears of that mute man (Mark 7:34-35).
The gates must open on their own accord, as it opened for Peter ( Acts 12:10). Let us seek Jesus and ask for help.
We must go to the cross and look up to the dying Savior, who has the key of David (Revelation 3:7) and expect that the Holy Spirit will renew our faith and quicken all our graces. We must feed anew by faith upon the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus, and so the Holy Ghost will recruit our strength and give us revival.
We need a work of the Holy Spirit of a supernatural kind, putting power into the preaching of the Word, inspiring all believers with heavenly energy, and solemnly affecting the hearts of the careless, so that they turn to God and live.
Our relationship with God will be so effective when these gates are opened in our lives, we will have direct access to the throne of grace, and to heavenly secrets and mysteries, which will guide our walk with God and our service as a servant in his vineyard. We will no longer live in the dark and can effectively take care of the pasture.
Our light will so shine before men (Matthew 5:16). Our ministry will grow exponentially. Our destiny will be fulfilled. Our communication channel with heaven will be great.
Brethren, let us seek revival this year so that we can close the year with great church growth (Acts 2:47), improvement in our church finances, and abundant showers of blessing.
EPHPHATHA to all these gates in our lives and church, “ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalm 24:9).
Heavenly Father, please command these gates to open on their own accord to us so that we can glorify your name on earth. Give us steadfast and immovable men that will open their ears to the small still voice and preach the truth to the church. Please send us a revival of consecrated strength, and heavenly energy! And the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church in Jesus Name, Amen.
Our gates will be opened continually (Isaiah 60:11) and will never be closed again (Revelation 2:25); then our mouth will be filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing (Psalm 126:2), the Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad (Psalm 126:3).
James Dina
james@mountzionblog.org
12th January 2022
https://mountzionblog.org/the-gates-must-be-opened/
REFERENCES
1. Perfect Sanctification by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
2. Saved to save others by saintofchrist
3. What is a revival? By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
4. The Kind of Revival We Need by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
