Ready to Rebuild
Nehemiah
had a huge task laid out before him. He was the man in charge of overseeing the
operation of the rebuilding of the walls. He needed building materials, man
power, and most importantly the king’s permission to begin the project. After
asking God’s favor upon his efforts, Nehemiah made the request known to the
king upon King Artaxerxes inquiring about his downcast spirit. Nehemiah
2:4-5 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God
of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant
has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city of Judah where my
fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.” The king approved his
request and also made available for him to have safe passage and supplies
needed to begin the rebuilding.
The
Potter desires for His vessels to be completely whole. He does not want anyone
to be broken, cracked or compromised, so that the enemy can get in. There were
things that Nehemiah had to do in order to begin the work on the walls. The
Potter also prepares us for the rebuild in our lives, so when He is complete,
we will be planted firmly against the enemy who is sure to attempt an attack.
A.) The Inspection of the Walls
and Gates
Nehemiah had a lot of work to
do. He had to inspect the walls and gates in order to see the extent of damage
that had been done following the years of wear and tear after the raid of the
Babylonians. At first, he did not tell anyone what he was planning to do until after
his initial assessment. After he assessed everything, he was ready to begin
work. The Potter assesses His children as well to see what areas of our lives
our broken. Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind
to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”
(NIV) He will then repair what is broken if we allow Him and totally surrender
our will completely to Him. Luke 18:27 Jesus replied, “What is
impossible with men is possible with God.” (NIV) Let’s take an in-depth
look into the gates that needed to be repaired during Nehemiah’s time and how
they can be compared to our own broken gates.
Gates of Jerusalem
aa.) Sheep Gate – We are all God’s sheep and in
need of the Shepherd. As sheep, we do not always go in the right direction and
therefore, we need the leading of the Shepherd to guide us in all things. The
Shepherd keeps us from being led astray and scattering at the sight of wolves
who only come to steal, kill and destroy. We must listen intently to His voice
and in so doing, we can ensure His protection against the wiles of the enemy. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (NIV) Jesus gave
His life for us so that we wouldn’t be condemned to spend eternity without Him.
What we could never do on our own, He gave His life to make it possible.
bb.) Fish Gate – When we accept Jesus into our
hearts, we are to witness to others and become fishers of men. Mark
1:17-18 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
At once they left their nets and followed him. (NIV) We are all called to tell others
the good news about Jesus. As part of the great commission, we are to share
what we know about God to others and allow the Holy Spirit to usher them in
before the throne of God.
cc.) Old Gate – The Old Gate is the gate of
Truth. Many people are trying to update the Word of God to go along with the
times, but the Truth never needs to be modernized because it remains the same
and is constant in our lives. John 17:14-17 (14)“I have
given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the
world any more than I am of the world. (15)My prayer is not that you
take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (16)They
are not of the world even as I am not of it. (17)Sanctify them by
the truth; your word is truth.” (NIV) God’s word is Truth and we are to
stand at the Old Gate of Truth regardless of who comes in or leaves.
dd.) Valley Gate – There are times in our lives
when we are going to be in the valley. Some newer believers make the unknowing
mistake of thinking that just because you become a Christian, life will be all
ups with no lows. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case and every day will not
consist of one having a feeling of being on the mountain top. The devil is busy
and does what he can to place obstacles in our path. Nevertheless, the Psalmist
let us know that God is always with us even in life’s valleys and we can be
sure that He will bring us through. Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are
with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. (NIV)
ee.) Dung Gate – The Dung Gate represents the
waste that we have accumulated in our lives that needs removal. Many people are
hanging on the trash from their past and
present when they need to put it on the curb for the garbage man to pick up.
The waste in our lives can consist of unforgiveness, pride, selfishness, greed,
lust, idolatry, vengeance, anger and much more. This type of dung can never be
disposed up if we do not pack it, surrender it, and allow the Potter to dispose
of it. Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave
you. (NIV) Holding on to it will cause our inner being to have a stench
and that will not do in the Kingdom of God.
ff.) Fountain Gate – Jesus gave His life that we may
live with his Father forever in eternity. The ultimate sacrifice that He gave
was through the shedding of His own blood. Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law
requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the
shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. (NIV) Without His
sacrifice, there would be no hope for a future. We would be condemned to death
and lose out on the most precious gift of all, which is eternal life. His fountain
of blood still flows freely for all who wish to be saved and have a
relationship with Him. Psalm 36:9 For with you is the
fountain of life; in your light we see light. (NIV)
gg.) Water Gate – The human body is made up of
50-65% percent water. We need water to survive or else our body would shut down
from dehydration. Jesus is the Living Water that we need to be spiritually alive.
Without Him, our souls would begin to shut down, which would result in a
spiritual death. John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water
will be thirsty again but whoever drinks the water I give him will never
thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water
welling up to eternal life.” (NIV) No one can survive without water in
the natural or spiritual. Jesus gives us life by allowing us to drink freely
from Him. Within Him, there are the necessary minerals that we need to sustain
us where we can do the work that He has called for us to do.
hh.) Horse Gate – Horses have always been a sign
of strength and power. They were used during Biblical times and beyond as one
of the major necessities for war. To go without a horse to battle was like
going without a gun to war in today’s times. The chances for success would be
greatly minimized. Habakkuk 1:8 Their horses are swifter
than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong;
their horsemen come from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour.
(NIV) The Potter gives us the strength that we need in order to battle
against the enemy. He ensure that we have the necessities as well to war in the
spirit. We are not able to battle the enemy on our own accord. It is only
through the mighty hand of God that we can claim victory because the battle,
through Jesus Christ our Savior, has already been won. Proverbs 21:31 The horse
is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. (NIV)
ii.) East Gate – Jesus is one day returning to
this earth to take His children home. His life, death, and resurrection was all
for that glorious day when we could be united with Him. Matthew 24:27 For as
lightening that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the
coming of the Son of Man. (NIV) For some, His return will be long
awaited and embraced, but for others, they will flee from His sight.
Nevertheless, His return is soon and we are to await His coming with great
expectation and do Kingdom work with great diligence because His love made it
possible for us to one day live with Him. Psalm 103:11-12 For as high as the
heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as
far as the east is form the west, so far has he removed our transgression from
us. (NIV) Keep an eye out for the East Gate…His coming is soon.
jj.) Inspection Gate – Every day we are to examine
ourselves before the Potter. We must do this in order to allow Him to repair
all the walls and gates that may be broken in our lives. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine
yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not
realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, or course, you fail the test?
(NIV) In order to know the unveiled nature concerning our sinful
condition, we must be ready to be truthful with ourselves and not try to hide
our cracks before Him. Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his
sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
(NIV) The Potter already knows our flaws and weaknesses. He is the one person
with whom we can be totally honest with. The Potter knows what is in our hearts
and minds. There is nothing that can be hidden from Him. Psalm 26:2 Test me O lord,
and try me, examine my heart and my mind. (NIV) The Potter is the One
who will give us the final inspection to allow us entry into His kingdom. The
choice is up to us rather we will find our names written in the Book of Life
when our time on earth is done. Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will
ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only
those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (NIV)
NOTHING COMES EASY...THERE WILL BE OPPOSITION. JOIN US TOMORROW WHERE WE WILL DISCUSS THE OPPOSITION OF THE ENEMY.
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