The Great Commission!
The effective gates of spiritual life of a believer!
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| The location of Fish gate during the times of Nehemiah |
In the Bible we see Nehemiah 3rd chapter consists of the plan of the construction of Jerusalem city walls and gates.The city exclusively consists of 10 gates which symbolizes the perfection of the life of a christian believer 10 various experiences in his life time on earth.These gates are the portion of 10 ways that God allows his children to walk through effective christian living to glorify Christ on earth.
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| The ruined gates and walls of Jerusalem |
Many say there are 10 gates in the old Jerusalem but there are 12 gates in the old and new Jerusalem in the Nehemiah’s time.The ten gates were mentioned in the Nehemiah chapter 3 and the 11th and 12th gates were mentioned in Nehemiah 12:39 about the Ephraim gate and the prison gate.
However the location of the Ephraim & Prison gate has no certainty to the actual locality.
We are going to study about the Fish agate out these ten gates which reflects the story of the gospel and the Christian life.
"That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation"(Psalm 9:14).
"The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob"(Psalm 87:2).
All these gates symbolizes us to praise God in the christian way of salvation to bless us.Even though these mentioning of gates are written in the Old testament they have a very spiritual meaning in the New testament life of a Christian believer.Moreover the Lord our God loves the gates of Zion means he loves our spiritual walk advancing in His grace and truth growing day by day our walk with Him.He loves us so much when we really walk worthy of all these spiritual experiences in our christian life.
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| The fish gate during Nehemiah's time |
“Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz made repairs. And next to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel made repairs. And next to him Zadok the son of Baana also made repairs. 5 Moreover, next to him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters” (Nehemiah 3:3-5).
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| Nehemiah supervising the work of the gates and walls |
Nehemiah 3:3-5 Fish Gate Re-Builder Group: The watchman uses Pink color cloth for this class group to rebuild their section of the walls (signifies blood of the Lamb; be fishers of souls – sharing the Gospel).
The names of the original builders are interesting and prophetic: Sons of Hassenaah (lifted up), people of Tekoa (more faithful & willing to do hard labor for God than their leaders; Prophet Amos ‘burden-bearer‘ is their country man), Meremoth (elevation), Meshullam (friend), Zadok (just).
Other mentions of the fish gate -
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| Tilapia the St.Peter fish from the sea of Galilee is famous fish |
"Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah."(2 Chron. 33:14).
"There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem"(Neh 13:16).
"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills. Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off"(Zeph 1:10-11).
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| Sea of Galilee |
The current location of this gate stands probably where the Damascus gate stands today. It is believed that through this way the Lord would have passed on His way to Calvary, the place of the skull.
The merchants used to catch the fish from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan and brought for sale in the open courtyard behind the Fish gate.
The Fish gate was located to the west of the Sheep Gate, and between the two stood the Tower of Hammeah ("the hundred") and the Tower of Hananeel (v. 1). These two towers were a part of the city’s defense system and were close to the citadel, where the soldiers guarded the temple and protected the northern approach to the city which was especially vulnerable.
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| Pray for everyone 1 Timothy 2:1-4. |
(Neh 3:3): Symbolizes God calling us to be the fishers of men (Matt 4:19).Jesus died as a lamb for us so that we live for Him and bring as many as other to his kingdom. Fish gate is the experience of the life of a believer praying with burden for the entire human race and lost souls for the kingdom of God.
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth".(I Tim 2:1-4).
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| God has commanded youto fullfill the Great Com-mission |
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."(Matt 28:19-20).
(To be continued……in The Fish Gate-Part 2 “The Fishers of Men”)
Selected Bibliography:
- http://www.prophecyinthenews.com/articledetail.asp?Article_ID=176
- http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/studies/online/nehem3.htm
- http://koti.phnet.fi/petripaavola/Jerusalemgatesspiritualmeaning.html
- http://www.bible-exposition.com/spiritual_truths_from_the_gates_of_jerusalem_by_n_patel.
- http://kzlam36.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/end-times-witnessing-rebuilding-your-fish-gate-why-are-men-made-like-fish-of-the-sea/
- “{What is reverse tithing” By Rick warren http://bigthink.com/ideas/3015
- “Witnessing” by late Colonel Rb Thiem jr.pg1, 3-6, 25,
- “The Divine outline of history Dispensations and the church” by late Colonel RB Thieme Jr Pg 75-76
- http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/References/OT/Historical/Nehemiah/Nehemiah03.1_32HopeGates.html
- Today Handbook of Bible Times and Customs by Willaim Coleman Page 13 of Bethany House publishers.
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