Gates: Sheep Gate

Nehemiah 2:11–17 CSB

11 After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days, 12 I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the one I was riding. 13 I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’s Well and the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. 15 So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gate and returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work. 17 So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”

Intro

Jerusalem was in ruins

Nehemiah had a burden to go back and rebuild what was destroyed

He gets the Kings blessing to leave his duty as cupbearer to go

Significance of Gates

Gates serve the purpose of access points

Jerusalem was God’s chosen city

It represents his kingdom in the old testament, just like we as the Church represent his kingdom today

The problem is the access points have been destroyed

each gate carries significant spiritual meaning

we see here that Nehemiah is inspecting the gates only to find them in ruins

He realizes that the only way for the Jerusalem to be stable and safe these gates must be in place

Gates determine what can come in and out of a city

What we give access to determines the quality of life in the city

this is the same today for the church

What we allow in the walls of this building, the capital “C” church and the walls of our hearts, determines the life that goes on inside.

Quite frankly we have some rebuilding and repairs to do ourselves.

The Sheep Gate

Represents Salvation and repentance

this is the gate that brought sheep in to be prepared for sacrifice in the temple

This sacrifice was the sacrifice for sins

It was the first gate

being the first, it symbolizes the priority of repentance and salvation

without this gate, we can never access the kingdom of God

Repentance

means to turn away from

we turn from sin, towards God

For repentance to take effect, something has to die

in our case it is our old way of life.

Galatians 5:24 “24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Repentance is crucial

It is so important that in Nehemiah 1, before he ever asked God for anything, he confessed his sins.

We would rather justify our sins than confess our sins and be forgiven

Proverbs 28:13 “13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Our sins keep our prayers from being heard

John 9:31 “31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.”

Salvation

The Sheep Gate had no bars or locks on it suggesting that it had open access to all the people

Romans 10:13 “13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.””

John 3:16 “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

We know that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for sins

He is the Lamb that was slain for us all

Jesus is the Sheep Gate

It is through this gate that we can experience true salvation and repentance

Hebrews 10:11–14 “11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

We enter into the Kingdom by the blood of Jesus and his taking away our sins through repentance.

Conclusion

Without this Gate, none of the others matter or are even possible