The Miphkad Gate

Here we arrive at the gate of gathering. The appointed meeting place. Again this gate was not in the walls of Jerusalem, but in the walls of the courtyards of the temple.

Nehemiah 3:31

31. After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.

Looking at the Hebrew word, Miphkad means an appointment, mandate, designated spot, commandment or numbering.
What was the temple the appointed place for? Meeting God, and meeting together as a people. In the same way today, the local church is the place appointed by God for meeting together to worship him, and fellowship together. In that I mean the place and the people. While the local church, is the people, the people cannot meet without a physical location to meet. In this instance the to go together.
For us, as we consider the Miphkad Gate, it reminds us of the fellowship we should have together as a local church, and the role the local church plays in the life of the believer.

Here are three keys to understanding biblical fellowship.

Philippians 2:1-6

1. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2. Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

1. Fellowship involves sharing everything.
2. Fellowship is maintained by practicing biblical characteristics.
3. Fellowship must be based on a relationship with Christ.

It is only when we are seeking after Christ, and growing in our relationship with him that we gain the mind of Christ, and in doing so automatically drawn closer in fellowship with each other.

In today's world our social life is increasingly more virtual using phones and Internet. Although this is a valid way of staying in touch, it is not possible to have true biblical fellowship in a virtual manner.
Much has been taught in recent years, by pastors encouraging churches to work together as people. Based on Paul’s teaching in Corinthians, and other similar passages the battle is waged against those who see the church as a pile of bricks.
This is true, however as society fragments it is important to remember that that pile of bricks is important also. The church is both the people but also the appointed place (Miphkad) where they meet, otherwise they could not meet at all. We must be careful not to forsake true fellowship in an increasingly virtual world.