NEHEMIAH- The Twelve Gates
February 26, 2005
NEHEMIAH- The Twelve Gates
Preached by: Carolyn Sissom
PART 1 – WE MADE OUR PRAYER TO OUR GOD
Today, I am starting with chapter 4 and close with chapter 3.
Chapter 3 is the chapter on the gates of the city and unless we study the
Prophetic meaning, it is one of those boring list of names. However, each
Gate and each name have a prophetic NOW meaning to the Gospel Church.
One of the reasons I felt the Holy Ghost to lead me to start with Chapter 4
Is this is the chapter of opposition to the rebuilding from without. Sanballat attacks in two ways: The Lion from Without (Nehemiah 4 – compare with Acts 4). The Serpent – from within ( Nehemiah 5 – compare with Acts 5)
Anger, indignation, mockery, and disdain toward the work were countered by Nehemiah’s confident prayer in the realization that their enemies had provoked their anger of God. A conspiracy to hinder the work was met by the prayer of Nehemiah as he watched against THE ENEMY. The threatening by surprise
Attack was me by organizing defense, and trust in God. Chapter 4:4: “Hear O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head and give them for a prey in the lad of captivity: and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have provoked you to anger before the builders. So we built the wall; and all the wall was jointed together to the half thereof for the people had a mind to work. ….Verse 9: Nevertheless we made out prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night because of them.”
Chapter 4: 1-6 – The open attack was with a barrage of words. It is the enemy’s oldest weapon, and in the form of ridicule it needs no factual ammunition. So first was mockery. The problem of ridicule was met by prayer, and persistence.
4:7-9: By Conspiracy…The problem of infiltration was met by prayer, prevention, and preparedness.
4: 10-23: By discouragement. The problem of defeatism and exhaustion was met by focal civil defense (armed guards on the w all; a battle cry “Remember the Lord!” no exemptions: armed workers: an alarm system; security was strengthened during the night; the leadership was on the premises).
Sanballat’s tactic primarily was to created doubt in five dimensions:
- About our Ability – feeble weak . This is the way the ministers and ministries view me as a Pastor and the smallness of our church. I have been astounded at the number of “takeover spirits” that just thought they would march in here and
“Takeover this ministry. I knew it had to do with me being a 65-year-old woman, and that Don has not been well for the past year. Also, location, location, location as compared to wealthy ministries. This is the scripture that explains
This mentality. These ministers believe that we do not have the ABILITY TO CARRY THE ANOINTING FOR A MOVE OF GOD.” Bingo!!!!
#2 is about our Destiny.(Satan accuses of rebellion) #3 About Peace(unencumbered worship)#4 about our Timing (slowness – we only move when God says move. We are not ambitions. #5 about our completion Saran tries to speak hopelessness.
The answer to these four questions is “YES” We will fortify ourselves! We will
Transform ourselves (by exposing ourselves to the Glory of God). We will enrich ourselves 9by giving) we deliver ourselves by (by learning how to talk). We extend ourselves (by looking with a progressive vision). We will SACRIFICE! We will end Man’s Day, and be part of the Lord’s Day!
Chapter 4:3, “Now Tobias the Ammonite was by him, and he said, even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.”
We will revive the stones. Tobiah is lacking in originality , but the carnal mind says they the wall isn’t durable (it won’t last). We are not talking about a wall here. We are talking about a revival that will help to usher in the Harvest of the Earth and Reveal the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Sons of God being revealed as the Church Triumphant finally broken through.
Sanballat and company are dwarfed by the FAITH of verse 6. “So built we the wall, and all the wall was joined together to the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work”. Jesus is after a Bride and a family” All the Wall was joined together”. At this point the truths of the Feast of Pentecost were restored, and the breaches began to be stopped. Pentecost is not the fullness, but is the FIRSTFRUITS (earnest) of the SPIRIT.
THE CONSPIRACY 4:7-9: THE ASHDODITES (Philistines from the WEST) JOINED IN. The braches began to be stopped. These enemies CONSPIRED
All of them together (corporate son of Satan) to come and to fight against Jerusalem, land to HINDER IT. NEVERTHELESS WE MADE OUR PRAYER UNTO OUR GOD AND SET A WATCH AGAINST THEM DAY AND NIGHT.’
THIS IS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE ‘WILES’ PLAN OF THE EVIL ONE. (Eph. 6:20-28) 2Cor. 2:11; Jas.4:7)
-3-
PART 11, THE TWELVE GATES OF Nehemiah
In the people joining together to rebuild the walls, we see some 40 men, 8 vocations, 6 cities, 7 rulers, a man and his daughters, many different family relationships, professional groups, different age groups. This reveals the principle of the UNITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. Believers are God’s chosen people are placed in a local Church to have their minds renewed by His Word. There is a veil of the flesh in the Holy Place keeping the Lordship of Christ hidden. The Lordship of Christ is in the Holiest of All or Most Holy Place and requires labor to enter into. This labor involves sharing in the sufferings of Christ that we might come forth in His Glory. HEB.4:11 SAYS, “LET US LABOR THEREFORE TO ENTER INTO THAT REST.” A true local church is a living stone. Each stone that is out of place brings a reproach because it gives the enemy access through a hole in the wall to oppress the people. Whenever one member is oppressed, the body needs to collectively put the enemy out. The job could not be completed in segments – it took all of them! Thus are revealed the principles of interrelationship and mutual submission (including good manners, protection, consideration, respect, sensitivity, sensibility). We are members one of another.
This remarkable task was performed by all-volunteer labor. Nehemiah’s secret of success – Harness the strength of the family unity. We are workers together with God. There were priests, and their people, rulers and their officer’s merchants and their men, farmers and their families, goldsmith, people from every walk of life. We are informed that some built walls, some towers, while others made gates, beams, bars, locks, doors, etc. There was work for carpenters, masons, and metal workers. Some gave money and some gave labor. Others took oversight, but there was a work for all and a place for everyone. Each man had his place. God is a God of order. Each worked in harmony with his neighbor for his right and to his left. Otherwise a breach in the wall would allow the enemy to enter.
There are 42 work groups working on the WHOLE PERIMETER OF THE WALL. Thus the number 42, or 6 x7, reveals Humanity perfected (New Man0 we could also parallel this with the 42nd generation of Matt 1. It is interesting to me that George W. Bush is the 42nd President of the United States. These 42 groups of works is that Man that Ezekiel sought for! (Ezek. 22:30) the CORPORATE MAN. It is that interlocking chain of new humanity in Rev. 20: 1-3 that binds Satan (Sanballat)! The Twelve gates restored reveal a balanced divine order (twelve is a Governmental, Kingdom number).
Chapter 3: 1-2: The Sheep Gate – The sheep for temple sacrifice were brought in here. This is the principle of CONVERSION. The men of Jericho (fragrance) assisted along with Zaccur (remembered). This gate was the Alpha and the Omega of the wall! Everything will begin and end with the High Priest (Jesus Christ)
-4 THE TWELVE GATES OF NEHEMIAH
We enter the door and become part of His flock. This gate includes divine healing. It was near Bethesda (house of Mercy). There was no locks or bars on this gate: the mercy of God is ever available to us.
3:3-5: THE FISH GATE; The principle of Evangelism, Outreach, Soul Winning. This is fishing for men with a world-side vision. The merchants from Tyre probably brought fish to sell at the market nearby. “But their nobles put not their necks (their will) to work of their Lord.” They did not want to do the work of an Evangelist, for they were double-minded. Like some today who despise the day of small things, these wanted to build in another part of the wall.
3:6-12: THE OLD GATE; The principle of Restoration of foundational Truths. This was possibly the Corner Gate of Jer. 31:38. God has been bringing back truth after truth since Luther.
THE VALLEY GATE 3:13: THE PRINCIPLE OF Humility, basement and Brokenness. This is the secret of promotion. The Mind of Christ is the mind of humility. Suffering with Him is a vital part of our sonship.