There are many realms of being gatekeepers, but in one dimension we are all called to be gatekeepers of our own soul and mind as well as gatekeepers of His presence.
A. Gatekeepers of Our Minds
1. In the book of Nehemiah, part of building the walls was the gates being put in place. So symbolically it is also true with building the walls around our own soul. Isaiah 60:18...but you will call your walls salvation and your gates praise.
2. The Hebrew word for "gates" is to: think, render a decision.
3. Proverbs 23:7 As you think, so you are. Your quality of life is governed by what goes on in your mind. To be in a place of seating in the city gates of your own soul, then one must control his thoughts taking every thought captive to Christ Jesus (see II Corinthians 10:3-5).B. From the Soul to the Spirit
We are to welcome into the gates of our soul, both individually and corporately the mind of Christ. Then in the pattern of the rewards for faithfulness, if you are faithful in the little you will be given much. God rewards faithfulness with increase. You will gradually graduate! You will go from the "soul" to the "spirit". Do you want to be a "spirit bearer" for the Lord? Then be faithful and watch him and by His grace reward your cooperation.
C. The Call Released
In our day, the Holy Spirit is looking for modern day Simeons and Annas who will minister in the temple and welcome the manifested presence of Jesus. "If they wait He will come" is a word that must be heard! The call for gatekeepers of His presence is going forth. Do you hear it? Will you be one?
The Brilliance of His Presence!
D. Primary Text – Exodus 33:13-23
Exodus 33:13-23 If You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You. Remember that this nation is Your people." The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Then Moses said, "Now show Me your glory." And the Lord said, "I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live."
Then the Lord said, "There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen."
E. My Personal Testimony – An Invitation
One time when I was "resting" in the Lord's presence, the Holy Spirit said, "I want to teach you to release the highest weapon of spiritual warfare." I continued to listen as I knew there must be more. I was eager to hear what He had to say on this subject as I had studied it for years. He continued, "I will teach you to release the brilliance of My presence." In a moment, it seemed all theological debate on the issues of spiritual warfare were answered. What is the highest weapon? Why He is! He is the highest weapon of spiritual warfare. He wants us to be gatekeepers so we can release the brilliance of His great presence!
F. A Day In Your Courts
Yes, once you have truly tasted the goodness of the Lord's presence, nothing else will satisfy you! You are ruined for the rest of your life! It is true! Oh how I have found it to be true! A day is better than the best this world could ever offer! Tell the Lord now that you want to be a gatekeeper – a gatekeeper of His presence.
Psalm 84:10-12 Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
G. Have Faith and put everything you have read into practice and action.
Replies
I love it when God gives me an assignment, words of encouragement or one of His special talks we have so often, and He comes right along, and have it confirmed. My God. He has given me an assignment and it is dealing with the mind-set of His people. And as I am reading this message it is talking about “gatekeepers of the mind. That is truly something, but that is one way how God works. If we are going to be true and real gatekeepers for Christ; our mind-set has to shift in making a sound decision to follow God, all the way. As did the Disciples came to a point to follow Jesus instead of tables. My God in the Kingdom. I am about to shout. Are we true gatekeepers of our mind, not allowing all the junk, mess, deceitfulness, fables, disobedience, our noncompliance to float in and corrupt our mindset? Brings me to this scripture; Philippians 4:8 NKJV
[Meditate on These Things ] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law, he meditates day and night. We have to get things in order in the mind, in order for it to line up with God on the outer. We allow the no name to take us out of the meditation of the word, causes sleepiness, drowsiness, business, all types of things, because he knows that is part of our ammunition our tools, and equipment. “Your quality of life is governed by what goes on in your mind. My God in the Kingdom,
AMEN thank you Jesus for allowing us to be gatekeepers for you. For so as a man thinks so is he.
Syllabus Notes
There are many realms of being gatekeepers, but in one dimension we are all called to be gatekeepers of our own soul and mind as well as gatekeepers of His presence.
2. The Hebrew word for "gates" is to: think, render a decision.
3. Proverbs 23:7 As you think, so you are. Your quality of life is governed by what goes on in your mind. To be in a place of seating in the city gates of your own soul, then one must control his thoughts taking every thought captive to Christ Jesus (see II Corinthians 10:3-5).
Exodus 33:13-23 If You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You. Remember that this nation is Your people." The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Then Moses said, "Now show Me your glory." And the Lord said, "I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live."
Then the Lord said, "There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen."
Psalm 84:10-12 Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Thank you LORD for showing and teaching me to be a gatekeeper of my mind my spirit and my soul. AMEN.
Amen the lord presence is the best thing i ever did that i ever went he dose make u want to stay
Amen Pastor Napper I agree...closeness, confirmation, center of attention, and compliance.
Pastor Robert Napper said:
Lord thank You for allowing me to host your presence. The wall is my salvation and the gates my praise.
The Call To Be Gatekeepers Part 1
As a gatekeepers of my Mind I will call my wall salvation and my gate praise.
I love this concept. The glory of God is what we all need in our lives so that we can become like Him in by being in :
1 Closeness 1 Samuel 3:1-6,
2 Confirmation 1 Samuel 3:7-9,
3 Center of attention 1 Samuel 3:10-15, and finally:
4Compliance 1 Samuel 3:16-20.
With theses four things it will put us right in His presence.
As David said in the Psalms 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. I rather sat at the door to the House of God than to be with those outside that has no desire to be in the presence of God. This position is better than being a farmer and seeking a harvest for this is an eternal place where nothing can remove me.