Boundaries - We All Need Them - 3

Subject - Recognizing The Importance of the Gates

by Rick Welborne

Proverbs 22:28 (NKJV) 

28 Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set. 

–The last couple of weeks we have looked at the importance of having fences, boundaries, or walls in our lives to keep us safe and to keep the enemy out.

–When we stay within the boundaries Jesus has set for us in the Word we are actually declaring two things...We are not trespassing (sinning) and ownership...We belong to Him!

–We looked at Nehemiah and his compassion for the people of Jerusalem because their walls had been broken down and their gates had been burned.

–We saw how he went before the king which was like us going before King Jesus and the King saying...What do you request?

–Nehemiah wanted to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and the gates so that the people could again live in safety and protection within the walls.

–The point was that we have to care enough to go before the Lord and petition Him for those who are outside the set boundaries God has for them.

–We left off in Nehemiah with the families standing together with their spears, swords, and bows rebuilding the walls...the enemy saw their plot had come to nothing.

–Not for today’s message but chp. 5 Nehemiah found that there was much abuse among the Jewish people with each other and that had to be corrected...repentance happened.

–At the beginning of chp.6 we see the walls are completed but the gates had not been restored as of yet...gates are so important in God’s economy.

Nehemiah 6:13 (NKJV) 

1 Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it (though at that time I had not hung the doors in the gates), 

2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me harm. 

3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?" 

1. The unfinished gates represent an opening for the enemy to gain entrance and to do harm to us.

–Many of us believe we are safe once the walls are built but the enemy is always looking for any access into our lives...we must be diligent to keep him out.

Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) 

27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 

–Give no place to the devil...don’t let him get his foot in the door because once he has access and because of his strength, he will get in.

–We all need fences and boundaries in our marriages...why over half are ending in divorce. Any gate left open is an opportunity for falling and destroying your family.

–Listen to your spouse if they are warning you about someone who may have wrong intentions...God has given them intuition to protect you and your marriage.

–I am not speaking of obsessive jealousy because that is an open door or gate because it pushes the people away that you should be loving.

–Every direction I turn people are dealing with serious addictions...most of which are prescription drugs...Oh, Pastor, I just need enough to take the edge off!  Right!

–You try to take the edge off by living close to the edge...you fall off...you get hurt...you cross the fence and you end up paying consequences you never thought of.

–I can handle this...famous last words before someone messes up royally. The people speaking into your life are not your enemy...they love you more than you love yourself.

–There will always be a Sanballat or Tobiah who want to negotiate with you and give you all the reasons to come down from the wall and talk it out.

–Why negotiate with those who have your destruction in mind...It would be like the US negotiating with Iran...oh, we did do that...We won’t build nukes...you won’t be addicted. 

–Sometimes I do not think we understand what spiritual adultery is...it is saying, Lord, I love you but running around with the world the whole time...time to shut the gate.

–Years ago a man came to see me who was addicted to drugs and to alcohol...He had been in law enforcement...lost his job, lost his marriage, lost custody of his children.

–He lost his house and could not pay his bills...I said you need to come back into the safety of the boundaries God has set up for you...No, I am a self made man...I told him I agreed!

–Look what leaving those gates open for you has done...look at what you have made for yourself...unemployed, divorced, lost your children, broke, busted, and disgusted.

–If Nehemiah would have left with the walls up but the gates unfinished...it would not have taken long until the city was re-conquered...the walls would have come down quickly again!

2. We must realize that for the believer and the body of Christ, Jesus is the gate.

–Pastor Juan is always telling people he ministers to that they are either one or two decisions away from greatness or one or two decisions away from disaster.

–Why is it that we know Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life yet we keep choosing another gate or another door or another way?

–We have convinced ourselves or the devil has that God is holding out on us.

–If I choose my own path or my own gate then I will find happiness and fulfillment...it is always fool’s gold and the person is left hurt, disappointed, and lost.

–Many blame God, the church, the preacher, their spouse, the world but the truth is they have chosen the wrong gate to go thru.  God’s Word is our boundary and our fence.

John 10:110 (NIV) 

1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 

2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 

3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 

5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 

6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 

7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 

8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 

–Jesus says...I tell you the truth...He knows you are getting misinformation and out right lies from the enemy and sometimes from those who are supposed to care.

–You see, those of us who follow Jesus, He knows our names, we follow Him and we know and hear His voice...what a safe fortress it is to hear God’s voice and obey.

–They will never follow a stranger...why do we follow those who lead us contrary to Jesus teaching? Why do we follow the voice of lust, of loneliness, of greed?

–Why do we follow them and then are so surprised when we end up broken and hurting?  There is a way that seems right to a person but the end is destruction.

–Why do we just run away...run to Jesus?  We think we know what is best for us but like the party animal having so much fun now...we do not see the addiction down the road.

–Can we take Him at His Word...Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.”

–Jesus is saying to you today...I am the Way, I am the gate, I am your answer, I am that safe place, I am the One that has your future in mind.  I am your refuge and fortress.

–Oh, Pastor Rick, I know what I am doing is wrong but it feels so good right now...that is the key...it feels good now but pay day is coming.

Hebrews 11:2426 (NLT) 

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 

25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 

26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.  

–Look at Moses exercise his will...he refused, he chose, and he thought...sadly there is very little refusing of our flesh, choosing to serve God, or thinking of the future.

–If you will succeed eternally it will be because you choose the only true gate of the sheep...Jesus.

3. The answer to staying within the boundaries, walls, or fences is to open up the gates and let the King of Glory come in.

–Let’s face it...if you invite Jesus into your world...into your life on a daily basis...if you hang out with others who do the same...you will dwell in that safe place.

–When we invite those who pretend to be Christian, when we invite those who are not Christian at all, when we invite things that we know bring bondage...asking for trouble.

Psalm 24:110 (NLT) 

1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. 

2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths. 

3 Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 

4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. 

5 They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. 

6 Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. 

7 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 

8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle. 

9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 

10 Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory. 

–I guess it comes down to ownership...who is your master...who do you belong to...The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. 

–You belong to Him so why have you become the slave to another person or to an addiction that you can’t beat on your own.

Romans 6:16 (NLT) 

16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 

–God wants you to approach Him so you can live in that safe place...approach Him with hands and hearts that are pure...don’t go after imitations...don’t lie.  His promise:  

Psalm 24:5-6 (NLT) 

5 They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. 

6 Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. 

–Who does not want God’s blessing and a right relationship with their Savior!  What’s the key?

Psalm 24:710 (NLT) 

7 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 

8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle. 

9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 

10 Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory. 

Revelation 3:20 (NLT) 

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.