Nehemiah Part 4
Rebuilding
the Wall and Gates
Keep in mind that the “natural” speaks in
the “spiritual,” so this wall represents Jesus and the Anointed Word of God in
the spiritual. First the rubble must be removed so the wall can be built on a
firm foundation. Building a wall on rubble would make it unstable! The same is
true in our spiritual walk with Jesus. We must allow the Godhead to remove the
rubble in our lives and make Jesus our firm foundation. The Word of God who is
Jesus is our wall of protection. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 25:28 that
a man who has no control over his spirit is like a city broken into and without
walls. The prophet Isaiah said in 26:1-2, “He sets walls for security. Open
the gates that the righteous might enter, the one that remains faithful.” The
wall was for the security of God's people just as the Word is our boundary that
keeps us from falling for the enemy's traps that would bring His Church to
ruins. The gates were the entrance into God's dwelling place and city. It is my
hope that I can show you the spiritual journey to a deeper walk with Jesus
through these gates.
I spoke last week on the Sheep Gate which
is the first gate mentioned and repaired and the last gate dedicated. The gates
go full circle just as Jesus and the Word go full circle. The end is in the
beginning. Jesus is the Sheep Gate. He
said in John 10:7, “I am the gate/door of the sheep.” Jesus is also the
first and last – the beginning point and the finishing point. He is the full
circle of the Word of God.
After
the Sheep Gate is repaired by the High Priest and priest, the next gate to be
repaired is the Fish Gate.
Fish Gate
Jesus' first and last instruction to His
disciples was to bring others to Him for eternal life. First Jesus said “Come,
follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” His last directive to His
disciples was to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded you.” Mt. 28:19-20 We must first “come” to Jesus and let Him
teach us and then we can “go” and make disciples (students). A disciple
during the time of Jesus would attach to a teacher (rabbi) to learn from
him not only through his teachings but also his life example. The disciples
would leave their home, business and family to learn and identify with their
teacher. They left all to follow him. It was an honor to be chosen to follow a
Rabbi. Consider how much greater is the honor of following the Son of God. J esus
wants His character and Kingdom to expand throughout the earth now that He paid
the price for the sin of the world and poured out the Holy Spirit power. Jesus
wants us to attach to Him and learn of Him through His Word and His example.
When Jesus walked the earth the first time,
He was only in the small territory of Israel and its surrounding land, but
after His death, resurrection, ascension and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, “the
earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In
that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for ALL peoples; the nations
will rally to Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.” Isaiah 11:9-10 God did not want to confine His grace and
truth through His Son Jesus to just Israel. It was always His plan to include
the whole world. Jesus came through the Jews to fulfill scripture but now His
territory is expanded to the heavens and the whole earth.
All of the repairers and restorers of the
various gates and portion of the wall worked side by side whether Jew or
Gentile to bring the task to completion.
·
The
Sheep Gate was repaired by the High Priest and the priests. At the Sheep
Gate the blood of the lamb has been shed and we are called to the Shepherd as
His sheep. Jesus our Great High Priest and His fivefold ministry will build His
Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
·
The
Fish Gate was repaired by Jewish brothers and sons as well as some
gentiles. At the Fish Gate, believers are caught like fish from all nations!
All followers of Christ are brothers, sons and daughters, whether Jew or
Gentile. Jesus broke down the wall of partition and made us one wall of protection
around His temple in the hearts of those who love and follow Him.
Jesus
came to earth to save, restore and rebuild us just as Ezra, the High Priest and
teacher of the Word, and Nehemiah, the cup-bearer and ruler, did. Jesus is our
Great High Priest, the Word of God and Teacher from beginning to end. (Ezra)
Jesus drank the cup of suffering for all so all who believe in Him can come
before the presence of God. He is ruler over all of God's people who have
accepted His finished work on the cross. (Nehemiah) With Jesus leading,
teaching and guiding us, we will save, repair and restore all that is damaged
and in ruins.
Jesus was revealed first in the New
Testament as the “Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world.” Then He
told His first followers to follow Him and He would make them fishers of
men. This is the fulfillment of the
Sheep Gate and the Fish Gate.
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