The Strait Gate

King James Bible Study Daily Devotional
Message Title: The Strait Gate
Date: Wednesday June 08, 2011
Chapters: Nehemiah 7-8
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-june-8
Details of Today's Chapters: Jerusalem is put in charge of Hanani and Hananiah, the genealogy of the remnant that came back to Judah, the Book of the law is read and explained, and the Feast of Tabernacles is restored.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:“ - Luke 13:22-25.

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 gives life. Without Jesus no one gets through the gate, which leads to God and eternal life. Heaven is a huge place, full of streets of gold and mansions which Jesus is preparing for those whom have strive to enter the strait gate, but sadly, only a few will be able to get pass the doors into heaven.

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. 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 denied entrance.

“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,” - Nehemiah 7:3-5.

The same way in which a person can enter the gate in Jerusalem, is the same way a person can enter the Kingdom of God, our names must be written in the Book of life, otherwise we are denied entry. Not only will they be denied entry to heave they will be cast into hell. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 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 20:12-15.

The ultimate purpose God had for His people was more than just the restoration of the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem. These were man-made structures and powerless to protect the Israelites from their enemies unless they knew God and obeyed His Word. Unfortunately the book was written in Hebrew, which many of the new generation did not understand. However, 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.

“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... And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” - Nehemiah 8:1-3,5,6.

Until you receive Christ as your Savior God's Word is Greek to you, thousands of theologians study the word of God teaching false doctrine and have gone straight to hell because they were not saved. However, there is just enough knowledge given to the lost from the Word of God to help them understand how to be saved. Reading God's Word does not save you, only by confessing the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior saves you. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” - I John 5:11-13.

When the Jews began hearing what was written in the Book of the Law they realized that they were not following God's commands. They felt so convicted they began to cry, but Ezra encouraged them not to cry, reminding them that God has forgiven them.

“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. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.” - Nehemiah 8:10-13.

So many people are afraid to approach God because they feel ashamed and rejected by God over their current or past sins. We do not have to be afraid to come to God, it is good to feel convicted, it's the only way that God knows we realize that we are sinners. It is only through confession that we are forgiven, we must admit that we are sinners to be saved. As we humbly bow our heads, get on our knees, or even sit at our seats in prayer God will forgive the vilest of sin. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10. Praise God!

Remember, we only have to ask Jesus to save us once, He died once for us, that means He saves us once. With that in mind we still have to repent if we want to have a blessed relationship with God while here on earth. Accepting Christ as our Savior does more than save us from hell and get our names written in the Book of Life, His precious blood covers a multitude of sin. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” - James 5:19,20.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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