The Gates Must Be Opened Series

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).