The Gates of the City ~ Nehemiah 3:

The Bible is filled with similitudes. A similitude is a "likeness" ~ a "representation." So, in other words, God has drawn us MANY picture in which we are to find similarities to situations within our own lives and in the world around us. Once we "get the picture" we, then, are to draw conclusions about our actions, behaviors, thoughts and beliefs and even about future events. In short, we are to make the effort to get the point and to apply it~ here and now.

The gates and walls of any city were meant to keep out invading armies and others intent upon evil and destruction. When the gates are down, they leave the city defenseless and open to defilement. With no sound gates or walls to stop them, the bad guys can get in and do what they do best ~ destroy. So the gates must be restored, rebuilt, maintained and kept strong.

When Nehemiah learned that the gates and walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed, he wept. He, then, organized people and resources to rebuild the gates, making it more important than anything else in his life and the lifes of those around him. The plan Nehemiah used provides us with a blueprint for how God wants us to rebuild and repair damage and destruction in our lives, our families, our churches, and our county.

• The Sheep Gate ~ The first gate is the Sheep Gate. This gate is pivotal to our Eternal Life. Sheep were for slaughter in the blood atonement. Jesus was the Lamb of God slain from the foundations of the world. The first step in each of our lives to to know Christ as our Lord and Savior. With Christ nothing is impossible. We are given eternal life and hope and confidence. Without Him, we would be destined to the never-ending agony and suffering of the pits of Hell.
• The Fish Gate The second gate is where we become fishers of men. God's top priority is the salvation of every single one of His children. Once we are saved, we MUST get the word to all who will receive it. We must evangelize. "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, he that wins souls is wise." ~ Proverbs 11:30. Soul winning changes our hearts by giving us a new and eternal purpose. It even comes with its own special reward ~ the soul winner's crown in heaven.
• The Old Gate The third gate to be made strong is the Old Gate. "Ask for the old paths, where the way is good and walk in it, then you will find rest for your soul." ~ Jeremiah 6:16. The "old" ways are the ways of the past, the ways of our ancestors, the ways that "cloud of witness" passed along to us through the saints of all ages, the prophets and the teachers. We are NOT smart enough to create every facet of our universe from scratch. And our lives here are not long enough to allow for the trial-and-error it would take to figure out "what works." We rely on the wisdom and sound teaching God provided for us. We rely on the "Old Paths."
• The Valley Gate The fourth gate is the one that shows us the way through the valley of despair. This is where we learn to follow God during the dark and lonely periods that come into all our lives. We learn sorrow, we learn hardship, and we learn that God WILL NOT fail us. When we walk "through the valley of the shadows of death" God is beside us. It is His rod and His staff that comforts us. It is He that prepares a table for us in the presense of our enemies. God doesn't just send someone to help us. He comes Himself and He NEVER leaves us.
• The Refuse Gate The fifth gate is about what we do NOT what in our lives. It is about what we REFUSE to allow in and about what we refuse to accept. Everything that defiles us must be thrown out. EVERYTHING that is not of God must go.
• The Fountain The sixth gate encourages us to seek God and only God for all of our needs and provisions. God is our fountain gushings with blessings, abundance, properity, joy, health, healing. He has only good gifts and He wants us to have life and to have it more abundantly.
• The Water Gate The seventh gate is the way to the Word of God. God's WORD is the living water. It is essential to life.
• The Horse Gate The eighth gate shows us to way to spiritual warfare. In ancient Jerusalem, the Horse gate was opened to sent forth the militar fources that defended Israel from her enemeis. As Christians, we are not "show horses." We are "war horses." "Have you given the horse strength? have you clothed his neck with thunder . . . he galllops into the clash of arms . . . he smells the battle from afar." ~ Job 39:19
• The East Gate The nineth gate reveals the mystery of Christ's imminent return to earth as King of Kings and Lord of lords. The East Gate in the Wall of Jerusalem is the Messiah's gate. Today it is sealed because the Arabs know that Christians and Jews believe the Messiah WILL come through that gate. We know that Jesus WILL becoming back very soon and NO ONE will stop Him from entering through the East gate.
• The Inspection Gate The final gate warns us to be prepared for Judgment Day. On that day "Each of us shall give an account of himself to God." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:10. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. . ."