We have spoken before of the great importance of the wall and the gates of Jerusalem. The wall represents the separation between the Church and the world and the resistance against all sin and rebellion. The impenetrable jasper wall of separation is being created now in the personalities of God's victorious saints.

The gates are the saints in whose hearts are the glorious highways to Zion (Psalms 84:5). There are as many gates to God as there are members of the Body of Christ. The members of the Body possess the keys of the Kingdom of God.

When the saint is abiding in the Spirit of God, whatever he looses on the earth is loosed in the heavens and whatever the saint binds is bound in the heavens. All Divine judgment has been given to Christ who, in turn, administrates the judgment through the members of His Body (John 20:22,23; I Corinthians 6:2,3).

When a city has no walls, gates are of no importance whatever. But when a city is surrounded by an impregnable wall, gates become of supreme importance to every person who has a reason to enter the city.

The Glory of God in the earth has been unwalled. The churches do not appear to know the difference between the spirit of the world and the Holy Spirit of God. Therefore it does not matter what is bound or what is loosed for all is bound by sin and rebellion against the Lord.

But when the wall of separation is constructed such that all those on the outside are in darkness and death, and can see and understand they indeed are abiding in darkness and death, then those who control the gates are holding the power of life and light. Those who are dwelling within the wall can recognize and appreciate the value of their position in Christ.

The third chapter of the Book of Nehemiah lists the gates of Jerusalem that were being rebuilt. Each of these gates is symbolic of an aspect of the Kingdom of God that has been restored since the time of the Reformers, or else is being or yet will be restored.

The Sheep Gate

The Sheep Gate is the first gate to be restored.

It is of supreme importance, in view of God's plan, that the "sheep gate," the saints, be built up in wisdom and strength during this crucial hour of history.

Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. (Nehemiah 3:1)

The first aspect of the work of restoration is the nourishing and protecting of God's sheep and lambs. Until the members of God's household are built up in the holy faith, nothing else can be accomplished.

One of the chief reasons for the sin and rebellion in the churches is the neglect of the Lord's sheep.

When the Christian ministry becomes occupied with its own wealth, its own prestige, the serving of its own interests, the Lord's sheep will suffer and be scattered. This is not pleasing to the Lord.

To be continued.