The Old Gate Series

“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.