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Today is Tuesday June 08, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Nehemiah chapters 7-8. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-june-8
Today's Message: Getting Through The Gate
A gate is a movable barrier to an entrance way, Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” - Matthew 7:13,14. Jesus is the gate, or movable barrier that gets us to God and into heaven. The word strait means a position of difficulty, hardships. The path to the strait gate is very narrow and difficult to get to, but it leads to Jesus who is life. Jesus is saying come to me, enter through my gate, it may be difficult, but it leads to eternal life with Me. The path to the wide gate is easy, it is big, smooth, and looks very appealing and inviting, but the wide gate leads to Satan. The word thereat means to enter in that place, meaning to enter a place of destruction or hell. Jesus is saying, many will enter through the wide gate because it is easier, but I will not be there and it will destroy you. The wide gate always leads to destruction and separation from God. Heaven is a huge place, full of streets of gold and mansions which Jesus is preparing for those whom have chosen the path to the strait gate, but sadly, only a few will be able to enter.
The walls surrounding Jerusalem were repaired, the city was huge and it still needed a lot of work, but very few people were in it. Armed guards stood at the only entrance into the city, the gates were open during the day, but once the gates were closed no one was allowed to go through the gates unless their names were found written in the register book. “Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,...These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. ” - Nehemiah 7:1-5,64. The register book was the Israelites only documentation that they were true Israelites that came from Babylon, anyone not found written in the book was considered an imposter and could not enter. Whether Jew or Gentile, unless a person is written in the Book of Life they can not enter the gates to heaven. Many people will go before Jesus and say they know Him, but will not be found in the registry book, therefore they will be put out from the Kingdom of God.
The ultimate purpose of God for His people was more than the restoration of His Temple and the walls of Jerusalem. These man-made structures were powerless to protect the Israelites from their enemies unless the people knew and obeyed the Word of God. The Hebrew language in which the Book of the Law was written was no longer the common language of the people. During their captivity, they spoke Aramaic, which was the international trade language used by the Aramaeans (Syrians), Persians, and Babylonians at that time. “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law....So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” - Nehemiah 8:1-3,8-10. Thousands of Jews assembled at sunrise in Jerusalem day after day to hear Ezra and the Levites read and explain the Book of the Law, naturally when they realized that they were not following God's commands they felt convicted and began to cry, but Ezra encouraged them not to cry, saying the joy of the Lord is your strength. God has forgiven you, go, be merry and rejoice.
The most pressing need today is for Christians to become seriously concerned about reading all of God's Word because God speaks to us through His Word and, as we read it, our various acts of disobedience, whether by ignorance, omission or commission, are brought to mind. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12. God's Word will lead to our conviction, confession, and cleansing. The guilt which results from sins we have committed should no longer remain after we have confessed and repented. We dare not dig up past confessed and forgiven sins of our own or of others; instead, we should rejoice in the merciful, forgiving love of God through Christ our Savior. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”- I John 5:10,11. Those who do not have their names written in the book will enter through the gate that leads to an eternity in the lake of fire. “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:14,15. Being a Jew does not save a person, living righteously does not save a person, only Jesus saves a person. Only those who believe in Jesus, and I mean the birth, death, burial, and resurrection, of our Savior, gets to go through the gate. The barrier is gone, they are written in the Book of Life and can enter into the Kingdom of God. “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:12,13. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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