Learn the importance of walls and gates in your life as the living city of God with Ps T.N Makhubu

1. “Building the gates and Repairing the Wall” for the year 2022
By Ps T. N Makhubu

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Acknowledgements
Hebrew Studies Vol. 57 (2016), pg 117-138, ‘Fortified City’ by Randall C. Bailey
Messianic Psalms, by Norbert Leith
Foundational Text:
Nehemiah 1:1-3, 2:17
Nehemiah 3:1,3,6,13,14,15,26,28,29,31
Introduction
Nehemiah ‘nacham’ means comforter
Depicts the Prophetic Ministry which : edifies, encourage and comfort
Nehemiah....‘Son of’ Hacaliah (Etymological meaning: One who waits for sustenance through
Insight)
Depicts the Apostolic Ministry which majors on bringing up of sons through insight from the law
of the creator.
 An accurate prophet is a son-submits and works under the Hacaliah Oversight
 Sons cultivated and sustained through insight will rebuild the walls!
 Sons will also repair the gates!
Importance of Walls and gates in the city:
Gates:
 Gates were legitimate points of entry; hence they represent legal Access into the city
 Gates were fortified and well designed, hence they represent protection and beauty of the
city. Eg Jericho
 Gates were seats of authority, hence represent a strategic position, a place of Influence in
the city_ Ruth 4:11
 Gates had keepers via whom one would pass when exiting or getting in, hence represent
accountability and responsibility!
 The Word was read at the gates, prophets proclaimed God’s message at the gates, hence
represent submission to the authority of the Word _ Nehemiah 8:2, Jeremiah 7:2
 At the gates, people would finalize business deals, hence represent an economic
advantage_ Genesis 23

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 Marriages were arranged at the gates, hence represent secured covenant relationships and
fruitfulness_ Ruth 4:13
 Judges and officers served at the gates settling disputes and administering justice_ Amos
5:10,12
Walls:
 Walls fortified a city, hence they represent strength and salvation. Even the weak or
feeble of the city could rest on the strength of the city walls and its fortified gates for
protection.
 Walls distinguished a city from the open village hence they represent honor/dignity and
peace
 Walls were built to be high and repelled the enemy, hence represent strong character and
virtue
 Walls were for defense against intruders, broken walls represent a wounded attitude, lack
of self-control _ Proverbs 25:28. A believer with a negative attitude and hot temper is as
defenseless as a city without walls
 Watchman of the city stood at the walls to survey the city and inspect against illegal
entities, and illegal practice, hence they represent advantage and control to ensure
compliance with the laws governing the city!
 A city’s walls also had writings engraved on it showing its traceable history and the
nature of the people that occupied the city and their gods, hence they represent identity
and devotion_ Acts 17
4 Important Principles on how the gates were repaired and the walls rebuilt:
1. The Principle of the corporate/ the ‘We will arise and build’ mentality _ Nehemiah 2:20
 If the walls and gates were to be rebuilt, then everyone would have to play their
part
2. The principle of involvement: everyone had something to offer
 Hananiah- A perfumer. He made repairs too, a perfumer, NOT AN
ARCHITECT, he was willing to get in there
3. Rebuilding often began at home_ Nehemiah 3: 20,23 & 30
 Principle: Home life is taken care of first before ministering or service to others
is undertaken
 Repairers of gates and walls begin at local church level then proceeds to
corporate church level
4. One hand worked, the other hand held a weapon! They built with the adversary in Mind
NB: A book of remembrance was written_ Malachi 3;16
The bible doesn’t just say ‘and lots of people made repairs to the wall. No, it specifically names
each person!

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The 10 GATES and their antitypes
1. The Sheep Gate (v1) _The Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death at the cross as the
lamb that takes away the sin of the world. John10:7
 Lambs for sacrifice were brought in through this gate
 Our basis for a life of rest and spiritual security lies on what Jesus did on the
cross!
 The basis is a foundation, without this gate, the church has no basis for
enjoyment of the benefits of redemption, we may be deprived of the life of rest
when this spiritual gate is destroyed in the church
2. The Fish Gate (v3) _The soul winning Ministry of the church who now is the fisher of
men_ Matthew 4:19
 Fish Merchants from Tyre of Galilee brought fish into the city through this gate to
the fish market. (Neh 13:16)
 Repairing this gate implies restoration of the evangelistic ministry in the church.
 When this gate is absent soul winning is only the pastor’s business, but when it is
fully repaired, everyone is actively engaged in carrying out the Great Commission
and the burden for world-ward ministry is shared abroad and stops being the
Pastor’s concern alone. Ubona ngefishi ingena nje ita nendvozana lesefundzisiwe
kutsi lidweba libanjwa njani kuze libuye nefishi! Skilled workman in the dividing
of the word who need not to the ashamed-2 Tim 2:15
3. The Old Gate (v6) _ Speaks of the ancient path, the ways of old that work_ Jeremiah
6:16
 So called because it is believed this was the main entrance into the old city of
Salem
 When the old gate is not repaired, the church is fascinated and carried away by
what is new all the time and abandon the ways of old that work! They become
Athen (Acts 17:21)! The ultimate representation of the ancient path, road or way
is the Highway, the way of Holiness which is a person the only road to rest, the
Lord Jesus Christ!
4. The Valley Gate (v13) _ Represents humility and our willingness to occupy lowly places
in the Lord’s service.
 The valley gate led to the lowly Tyropoeon valley.
 When the valley gate is destroyed believers are ashamed of doing menial jobs,
service in lowly less crowded places are an embarrassment to them, they want to
be served not to serve because they have not experienced the valley gate!
 The valley gate also depicts moments of shaking, discomfort that are a necessity
to experience in our walk with God_ ‘Consider it all Joy when you pass through
the valley gate’ James 1:2
5. The Dung/Refuse Gate (v14) _Suggests the need for constant cleansing. Speaks of
perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord_2 Corinthians 7:1
 The filth of the city was carried out through this gate.

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 When the dung gate is destroyed we harbor filth/refuse/debris within the city e.g
homosexuality, becomes a norm and marriages for same gender officiated without
any problem!
 Every unclean thing in the Church, OUT! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Let’s
repair the dung gate in our churches.
6. The Fountain Gate_ Alludes to the Holy Spirit _John 7:37-38
 Was northeast of the dung gate, near the pool of Siloam by the King’s garden, led
into the Kidron valley
 It derived its name from the location where the Siloam tunnel emerged from the
Gihon spring, the fountain of Jerusalem
 When the fountain gate is destroyed, although the church may be baptized in the
Holy Ghost, but they are not controlled by the Holy Ghost because there is a lack
of constant supply for the city! _Ephesians 5:18
 When this gate is repaired, the Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Nine fold Fruit of
the Spirit and spirit controlled service unto the Lord are seen in the city!
 Worth Noting: “The Spirit Filled life is not just for a special few; it is the
normal Christian life, and it affects everything, including how we live in
community and how we treat others at home.’’
7. The Water Gate (v26) _ Alludes to the Word of the Lord_ Ephesians 5:26
 It was so named because it led to the city’s main source of water, the Gihon
Spring. It apparently encompassed a large area, for the reading of the law took
place there. (Neh 8:1,3,16)
 The water gate is always adjacent to the fountain Gate!
 The balance between the Truth and the Spirit must never be lost in the city!
 When the water gate is destroyed and believers only maintain the fountain gate,
witchcraft, super and weird spirituality and unguided delinquents emerge!
 Likewise, when the water gate is repaired and the fountain gate left in reproach,
Pharisees, legalists, loveless theologians and philosophers emerge with
knowledge that puffs up and builds no one. The believer becomes like an Etrog
(upside down) in the feast of tabernacles and walks by the head instead of the
feet! The Lord help us to constantly experience the water gate which is next to the
fountain gate.
8. The Horse Gate (v28) _ Speaks of Speed and reminds us of the believer’s warfare _
Jeremiah 12:5, Ephesians 6:10-18
 It was the gate through which horses entered and exited the palace area, and the
horse stables were located near it.
 When the horse gate is destroyed the church is robbed of Speed. Sons are not
cultivated, equipped with the full armor and deployed in ministry.
 When this gate is repaired, the church is fully equipped to fight the good fight of
faith, sons are equipped, trained and deployed_ 2 Tim 4:7
9. The East Gate (v29) _ Reminds us of the second coming of the Lord

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 It was directly east of the temple area, located below the modern day Goldern gate
which opens towards the Mount of Olives.
 The consciousness of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ is not lost when this gate
is repaired in the city! 1 John 3:3
 This consciousness should lead us to purify ourselves through the water of
cleansing which is the Word of the Lord, the dabar (Word) of God
10. The Muster/ Miphkad /Inspection Gate (31) _Reminds us of the Judgement Seat of
Christ_ Hebrews6:2, 1 Corinthians 3:10-14
 The elders sat at this gate judging and rendering decisions in matters brought
before them.
 The works of every believer shall be inspected and tested by fire.
 That awareness should help us take heed of the material (Motivation, miracles,
recruiting to positions, fame, celebrity mentality) we are using to build upon the
foundation.
 When this gate is repaired, the church builds with quality material (sound
doctrine) which will stand the test of fire!
Conclusion
 Prayer for restoration of honor, beauty, watchfulness through prayer, strength and the
authority of the church. No more reporaoch!
 Jerusalem shall have high strong walls and fortified gates again!
 Prayer for sons accurately sustained through insight who will build the gates and repair
the walls!
The END