The Sheep Gate
The first gate that speaks about the christian life is the sheep gate. The sheep gate represents Jesus and salvation. Jesus said at John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep (lost sinners). To become a christian you must first trust Jesus to save you. Jesus said at John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.
Nehemiah 3:1 speaks about the sheep gate and says Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. Notice that the high priest Eliashib built the sheep gate for salvation. The high priest of our profession is Jesus Christ who offers salvation. Hebrews 3:1 says Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Consider our high priest forever (Jesus), who is the only one that offers eternal salvation. Acts 4:12 says Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
There Are No Locks Or Bars On The Sheep Gate
Most Of Nehemiah's Other Gates Have Locks and Bars
Salvation With Jesus Is Free And Open To Everyone At The Sheep Gate
The sheep gate is the only gate listed by Nehemiah that has no locks or bars. Most of Nehemiah's other gates have locks and bars. The way of salvation is free and open to everyone at the sheep gate who calls upon the name of Jesus. I'm glad that the sheep gate isn't locked and doesn't bar salvation with Jesus. Romans 10:13 says For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord (Jesus) shall be saved. Revelation 22:17 says And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Jesus said at John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Your salvation with Jesus is not determined by your social position, economic status, or your family background. Jesus Christ offers salvation to everyone. 2 Peter 3:9 says The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Jesus offers salvation to rich, poor, male, female, black, and white. Red, yellow, black, and white. They're all precious in His sight. Galatians 3:28 says There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
The People That Built The Sheep Gate Were Doers
And Not Just Hearers About Salvation
Don't Just Say You'll Get Saved Tomorrow
Get Saved Today And Be A Doer Of God's Word
The people that built the sheep gate didn't just say they would build the sheep gate. These people rose up and built the sheep gate. First people just said they would build the sheep gate at Nehemiah 2:17: Then said I (Nehemiah) unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then the people were blessed and rose up and built the sheep gate. Nehemiah 3:1 says Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
Be like Eliashib and the people that built the sheep gate. Keep your word and get saved while you always work for Jesus and offer salvation everywhere. Psalm 15:4 says when a person keeps his word he will never be moved. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not shall never be moved. Take time to read Psalm 15 and keep your word, get saved, and witness Jesus everywhere.
Psalm 15 says Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned (despised); but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not his money to usury nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Jesus Isn't Looking For Professors; Jesus Is Looking For Possessors
Who Keep Their Word And Get Saved And Witness Jesus Everywhere
Jesus spoke a parable about two sons' promises to work in a vineyard for their father. The first son said he would not work but then did work. The second son said he would work but then did not work. Jesus said that the first son who eventually worked after repentance did the will of the Father and got blessed. The second son who was all talk and no work did not do the will of the Father and was not blessed. A lot of people talk and do nothing for Jesus. Instead repent and work for Jesus because only what we do for Jesus (and not just say for Jesus) matters.
Jesus spoke the parable of the two sons at Matthew 21:28: But what think ye? A certain man had two sons (pictured above); and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of the father? They say unto Him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you (chief priests and elders) in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Don't just say that you will get saved tomorrow. Keep your word and get saved today. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says For He (Jesus) saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. And after you get saved be a doer of God's Word and daily live for Jesus denying sin. James 1:23 says For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty (God's Word), and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer. but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Proverbs 28:13 says He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
The Sheep Gate Is The Only Gate That Is Sanctified
Nehemiah's Other Gates Were Not Sanctified
After Salvation At The Sheep Gate Comes Sanctification
The sheep gate is the only gate that is sanctified. Nehemiah's other gates were not sanctified. Nehemiah 3:1 says Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. After salvation at the sheep gate with Jesus comes sanctification where saved saints are set apart from the world to live holy for Jesus. Hebrews 10:10 says By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1 Corinthians 6:11 says And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Jesus is our sanctification according to 1 Corinthians 1:30: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
After salvation saved saints become sanctified strangers and pilgrims in this world. 1 Peter 2:11 says Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against your soul. This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through, My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue, The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Note that the sheep gate was sanctified from the tower of Meah unto the tower of Hananeel. The Hebrew meanings for Meah and Hananeel are hundredfold and God's favour and mercifulness. Therefore after salvation with Jesus at the sheep gate, saved saints receive a hundredfold blessing because of God's favour and mercifulness. Also note the Hebrew meaning for Eliashib who built the sheep gate is God restores. Therefore after salvation with Jesus at the sheep gate, the Lord Jesus will restore saved saints and strengthen them to witness Jesus everywhere on this earth.
Be Like The People Of Jericho
Be Willing To Press To Jesus For Salvation
And Overcome This Troubled World
Be like the people of Jericho. Jericho is 18 miles from Jerusalem. Jericho is 3500 feet lower than Jerusalem. Therefore one has to make an 18 mile uphill climb to travel from Jericho to Jerusalem. The people of Jericho were willing to walk 18 miles uphill from Jericho to Jerusalem to help build the sheep gate and get saved. Nehemiah 3:2 says And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri. Salvation with Jesus is the best gift anyone can receive in this life. It's worth sacrificing everything to receive salvation with Jesus like the people of Jericho.
Be willing to press to Jesus for salvation like the people of Jericho and overcome this troubled world. Note that the Jericho road is barren, desolate, and dangerous with thieves. Luke 10:30 says And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho (proving that Jericho is 3500 feet lower than Jerusalem), and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment (clothing), and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. A priest and a Levite refused to help this man. But a good Samaritan had compassion on this man. The good Samaritan took care of this man and paid the host of an inn to provide shelter for this man.
The people of Jericho pressed to Jesus for salvation over the barren, desolate, uphill, and dangerous Jericho road to help build the sheep gate and get saved with Jesus. Philippians 3:13 says Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Like the people of Jericho, it's worth pressing to Jesus for salvation. Jesus is better than anything in this world. Like Paul, after salvation with Jesus you'll rejoice and say Philippians 3:8: Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.
Note that salvation with Jesus at the sheep gate reached outside of Jerusalem to the people of Jericho. Jesus wants us to offer salvation to Jerusalem, Jericho, and everywhere on this earth. Jesus said at Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Mark 16:15 says And He (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Finally note that Zaccur the son of Imri helped build the sheep gate. The Hebrew meaning for Zaccur is mindful and remembered. The Hebrew meaning for Imri is eloquent words that are spoken. Therefore Zaccur was blessed to help build the sheep gate and get saved with Jesus when he was mindful and remembered the eloquent words spoken by his father Imri about the Lord Jesus.
Be like Zaccur and receive the perfect peace of Jesus with your mind stayed on Jesus. Isaiah 26:3 says Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee (the Lord Jesus): because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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