East Gate, Inspection Gate

Nehemiah 2:17 ESV

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.”

Intro

The east gate opens and looks toward the Mount of Olives and we know that when Jesus returns He will return to this mount. (Zech 14:4). He will then enter Jerusalem by the east gate. The east gate then speaks of the return of Jesus Christ. For our Christian life it shows us of our need to live with this hope and to long for His return.

The Return of Christ

Jesus is coming back

Acts 1:11 “11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.””

There are 2 emotions that strike me with this reality

Hope

Fear

Hope

Romans 8:18 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

We can bear the life we live now, because of the life we look forward to later.

The return of Jesus is our reminder that the chaos of this world is not forever.

Even if we don’t stay on this earth long enough to witness the return we have the hope of heaven

Heaven is not just for the purpose of avoiding hell, Heaven is for being united with Jesus in his very presence`

I am not interested in just avoiding hell, I want to be with Jesus

There is a difference

If we are only interested in avoiding hell, our relationship with Jesus will lack

but if our desire is to be with him, our relationship with Jesus will thrive

Avoiding hell = bare minimum effort

Being with Jesus = all in

Fear (Inspection Gate)

1 Corinthians 4:4 CSB

For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me.

I know that I will stand before God

So I take my faith seriously

I know my loved ones will stand before God

I take the great commission seriously

Philippians 2:12 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Philippians 2:12 “… not only as in my presence but much more in my absence…”

What you do in private is more important than what you do in front of other people

Your private life reveals the true condition of your heart and soul

“fear” is referring to a a reverence toward God recognizing that we have to answer to him

Yes God is love, but he is also just, he will serve justice on judgement day based on the life we live here and now

In some cases I am convinced that demons fear and obey God better than we do.

whenever Jesus cast a demon out, they obeyed

When Jesus tells us to do something, how well do we obey?