Wednesday 8 June 2011

The Water Gate

We have seen how the water that springs up at the fountain gate entered the city up by the water gate, and it is a true picture of how the Holy Spirit wells up in our lives when we let Christ enter in.

Nehemiah 3:26-27

  1. Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
  2. After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.

Water and the Word of God are interlinked throughout scripture. for example, Jesus declared us already clean by the washing of the Word.

John 15:3

  1. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Two other pointers are seen in Nehemiah.
Firstly this gate did not need repairing. The Nethinims, that is the temple workers, repaired the walls around that area, but the gates needed no work. The Word of God never needs repair. It is pure and endures forever.
Secondly, this is where Nehemiah got together with Ezra to teach the people the Words of God in Nehemiah 8, sparking a revival.

The revival at the water gate is where we need to be, but sadly our experience is more akin to that of the churches addressed in Hebrews.

Hebrews 5:10-13

  1. Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
  2. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
  3. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
  4. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

God wants us to be those eating strong meat, not milk!
When God commissioned Joshua to lead the people of Israel into the promised land he gave him the formula for a successful life. We can follow the same formula by going through the Water Gate daily.

Joshua 1:8

  1. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

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