The sheep gate was the place where sheep and lamb were brought into the city and taken to the temple to be used in the temple sacrifices. This gate symbolizes the place where Jesus, as the sacrificial lamb, comes into our hearts and homes.
This gate must be repaired and restored because it means we are establishing this one prevailing truth for our families; Jesus Christ is our ONLY savior and Lord. He must be welcomed into our hearts and homes to cleanse us and deliver us. We must accept the truth that Jesus is the only salvation of our lives. If this gate is broken down, we will believe that there is some other way to find deliverance, freedom and success.
No President, Governor or Mayor can deliver us. The business community cannot deliver us. Education is beneficial, but it is not the thing that will deliver us. This gate has been destroyed in many hearts and homes and most people do not see Jesus Christ as the answer for themselves or their family. But today, we restore the sheep gate. Jesus is the answer for our families and communities.
Next week, we’ll continue our journey around the wall and begin making repairs to other gates that surround our lives. Every gate that has been destroyed means that we have been allowing things that are the opposite of what God intended for us. We have been open to concepts and ideas that are against God and His ways. We have believed lies and followed philosophies that have led us to destruction. So let’s get these gates repaired as we gather in prayer each week.
We close this email with prayer for you and your family:
Father God, we thank you for giving us this opportunity to rebuild, restore and renew these vital gates to our hearts and homes. For some of us, this will be the first time the gates will ever be established. For others, it will be the first time, in many generations, that these gates will be set in place. No matter how long it has been, or if it has never been, we are just thankful that in our lifetime, these gates will be set in place in our hearts and homes.
Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. *Nehemiah 4: 7-9
Even though there is opposition to the rebuilding of these walls and the closing of these gaps, we will do the same thing that Nehemiah did in their time. We will pray to our God and set a watch day and night.
In the authority and name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
