Open Up Those Gates

Psalms 24:7 - "Lift up your heads, you gates;

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in."

City gates played an important role in the culture of that day. The cities were walled in for protection; therefore, they needed gates to close. Yet, it played a much greater role than this. It is at the gate the officials and men of importance would sit (Genesis 19:1-9; 1 Samuel 4:10-18). Legal matters were settled at the gate (Deuteronomy 21:18-21; Ruth 4:1-11). Kings and judges would sit at the gate to render decisions (I Samuel 18:1-5; 19:1-8; Esther 2:5-8).

In light of this, the Lord showed me that as leaders of the church, we are these gates. We are responsible for the gates. We are the ones who are to protect the church. At the same time, we are the ones responsible for letting the King (Jesus Christ) of glory come in. As leaders of the local church, we are the ones who set the tone of the church. We are the ones who determine the level of God's working in our church. We are the ones responsible of giving Christ access.

We can let Christ come in or we can hinder Him from coming in. Most of us do not intentionally hinder the working of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we are often unknowingly a hindrance to the move of God. We become a hindrance when we don't take care of ourselves spiritually or have not gone to greater heights in Christ. We become a hindrance when it is all about us and our agenda. We become a hindrance when we lose our sensitivity to the the voice of the Holy Spirit. We become a hindrance when we become so comfortable with the familiar that we are unwilling to step out into that which is uncomfortable or the unknown when prodded by the Holy Spirit. We become a hindrance when love, faith, and hope have been brought low in us.

We as church leaders must open up that gate wide that the King of glory may come in.

I thank the Lord that even despite our failings and short comings, sometimes God chooses to storm the gates of the church and come in anyway. Yet, he will come much sooner if we open those gates. It is much more pleasant when we open the gates instead of God crashing through gates.O

His Banner Over Me Is Love

Song of Solomon 2:4
He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.

The most common use of banners was for military campaigns. A large signal-flag usually was erected on a hill or other high place; it served as a signal for the war-trumpets to be blown (Is. 5:26; 18:3; Jer. 4:6). When the Israelites fought the Amalekites at Rephidim, Moses held up his hand, thus becoming a living banner symbolizing God's presence to help His people win the victory (Ex. 17:8-16). After the battle, Moses built an altar and called it "Jehovah-nissi" (Ex. 17:15), (KJV; The Lord Is My Banner). A living banner lifting up hands to declare God's presence and victory over the enemies of our soul. Jehovah-nissi - The Lord is my banner! Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?

A banner usually carries a message. His banner over me is love. God is loudly proclaiming and boldly declaring His love to me. "For God so loved the world....He gave..." He declared His love.
He is declaring His love to those who are poor, those who are broken-hearted, those who are captives, those who are blind and those who are bruised (Luke 4:18-19). His proclamation is loud and clear; it is also deep calling unto deep. Only the Spirit can overcome the layers of pains and hurts, and reach unto the hurting soul deep within. No friends, no relatives and no doctors can do a better job than Jesus, the Lover of our soul!

He is proudly demonstrating His love, and His message is in BOLD! The cross! The crown of thorns! The hammer! The whip! The bruises! The pain! The agony! The rejection! The scorn! The shame! The blood! The love! Jesus didn't come down from the cross! He never came down! He went all the way to prove His love to us! He never stopped loving us! He has never forsaken us! He guards us like a hen over her chicks; like a Watchman over Israel. "He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:3-4).

God loves you too. You are also His beloved! He is also yours! He is also wanting to sing over you in joy and in love. He is calling you to come deeper! When we live on the surface, we are only aware of external circumstances. We respond to them as though they are all of reality. But God is more real than us! Before us, He is! After we were gone, He is still around! When we respond to the reality of our external forces, we become torn apart. Our personality, our view of life and our spirit become bruised and out of focus! When we respond to the reality of God within us, be still and know that He is God, love, joy and peace will be restored! Because Jesus lives within us, we live!

I am enjoying Christ this very moment - everything at the externals have not changed - but everything in the internals have changed! I know that my Redeemer lives and He shall stand victoriously at the latter day upon the earth (Job 19:25). I have read the end of the Book - He wins!