Pray For Israel :- Biblical Gates of Jerusalem : The Water Gate

The Water Gate was located next to the Fountain Gate and the Horse Gate. It is where the water was brought into the city from the various pools and wells. The Horse Gate represents the warfare necessary to pursue holiness. The Water Gate brings to view how God brings holiness and revival to His people.

The Water Gate represents: Revival
“Revival resulting from the washing of the Word of God.”
(Ephesians 5:25, 26; I Peter 1:23; Psalms 119:9, 10)

The word “revive” in the Hebrew is Chayah which means “to refresh, rebuild, recover, be well, make alive.” It comes from a right relationship with God. This life comes from God’s word, “This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has given me life.”
(Psalms 119:50)

The gathering of God’s people in front of the Water Gate after restoring the broken down wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s day explained in Nehemiah Chapters 8 & 9 gives us the greatest insight into the inheritance this gate represents both for Israel and for the Christian Church.

Nehemiah 8: 1-2: A hunger for the Word of God

Approximately 50,000 Israelites gathered in the open square in front of the water gate. By the way, this was the only gate that needed no repair. God’s word is always complete.

Revival always starts with a hunger to hear from God. The people requested that Ezra bring the Book of the Law and read to them. They didn’t just want to move back to Jerusalem, they wanted to come all the way back to God, hear from Him and obey His word. (verse 1)
Hunger intensifies. Ezra read the word from daybreak until mid-day, five to six hours. (verse 3) The people didn’t notice the time. Their “ears were attentive unto the book.” True revival brings an all consuming hunger for God’s word. Absence of the word brings spiritual darkness
The word produces an inner response of man’s spirit. Ezra became so overwhelmed by what he read he stopped “to bless the Lord.” (verse 6)
The Glory of God testifies to the power of His word to restore. The glory of God fell so powerfully everyone raised their hands and cried Amen! Amen! They bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. (verse 6) They humbled themselves before God in brokenness and repentance. After a while they stood up to experience more.

Note: This gathering didn’t include any exciting stories nor illustrations. There was no great music – just the power of God’s word being read. God wants us to hunger for the words of life He offers!

Repentance follows application of the word to the heart. As they understood the word and how it applied to their lives, they began to mourn for their sin. “All the people wept when they heard the words of the law.” (verse 9) Can you picture it? Fifty-thousand people laying scattered on the ground weeping before God for their sins. God’s word had broken down their walls of pride. They could be heard weeping for miles. This is true revival. God’s word so piercing that people fall on their knees and cry out, “God save me!”

Note: Before the turn of the last century Camp Meetings took place across America where people gathered for days to hear the word of God. The result was a revival that swept across America. In 1989 I attended a ten-day camp meeting where I assisted with juniors from age 9 to 12. After sharing Christ in interesting themes for a week, they were told during an extended worship time to each respond to whatever Christ was speaking to them. The presence of the Lord filled the room and young people begin to weep and seek God. One young man (age 11) went into the woods and prayed all night. He later reported that he had surrendered his life to God to become a pastor.

Water Gate revival is for the people of God, not for unbelievers. This kind of cleansing prepares the way for fountains of joy, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (verse 10) Heart cleansing opens the way to joy. Most Christians don’t associate joy with repentance, but repentance is the mother of joy.

How to revive a Church or Synagogue

Following an emotion-packed meeting, believers have sometimes said “We prayed down a revival today.” Revival doesn’t come by prayer alone. It comes in response to God’s word:
        A.      Hunger: The pastor and congregation must both hunger for the word.
        B.       Commitment: They both commit their lives to being obedient to the word.
        C.       Conviction: Repentance comes when we are convicted of our need for God and
                transformation that breaks down all pride, prejudices, and false religiosity.

Note: When David disobeyed, he lost the joy of the Lord so he prayed, “wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” (Psalms 51:12) Here is the problem in the modern church. There is much sin in the camp. It’s impossible to maintain the joy of the Lord if sin goes unchecked. How can the Holy Spirit pour out joy on a people who indulge in adultery, fornication, materialism, pornography, back-biting or the cursing of one another?

Rejoicing follows repentance and cleansing. (verse 12)

Ezra tells the crowd, “You’ve been excited about God’s word – allowing it to work in your hearts. You’ve repented, wept, and confessed. God is pleased. Now it’s time to rejoice. Take out your handkerchiefs, and wipe away the tears. Its time to rejoice.” The glory of God fell and they spent the next 7 days rejoicing. (verse 12) At times Israel put on a false joy to cover their sin. This happens in churches today. We see singing, dancing, praising – but those who love God’s word discern whether it’s true or false joy.

Come out of the world: In Chapter 9 God called them to separate themselves from the heathen practices. The word “Church” means “called out ones.” God told them “I have shown you mercy and you promised to obey me. It is time to act in love. I want you to separate completely from worldly influences that have crept into your homes while in captivity in Babylon. It is time to let go of your idols." Nehemiah says, “The seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins.” ( Neh.9:2)

How to maintain Joy:

We love God and hunger to obey Him and His word.
We walk in and love repentance.
We separate ourselves from worldly lust and influences that take our minds off the things of God. There must be a separation between the followers of God and the world.

The Apostle John writes these words of encouragement to believers who would seek to be devoted to God’s word: I John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Jesus-joy causes us to rejoice in the truth and demonstrate it to the world.

PROPHECY FOR ISRAEL – HEALING WATERS
“Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple to ward the east; the water was also flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. Then, the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand cubits; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand cubits; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand cubits than there was a river that I could not cross. He brought me to the bank of the river. They he said to me: ‘This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. Everything will live where the river goes.” (Ezekiel 47:1-12) Seas in prophetic language represent peoples and nations. (Rev. 17:15) This prophecy showing a release of a river of healing coming out of Israel is still waiting to be fulfilled! There remains a “Water Gate” in Israel whose release will bring healing to the nations. We need to pray this gate will open and this destiny for Israel will be released!

PRAYER APPLICATION OF THE WATER GATE

- “Father, we hunger for the words of life from Your book. Search our hearts O God, and free us from the love of the world, idolatry, the pride of life and all sin. We pray the prayer of King David ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from they presence; and take not they Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation.. and I will teach transgressors Your ways; and sinners shall be converted to You’.”

-“Father, with King David we acknowledge our sin before You. Grant to us a deeper spirit of repentance and a desire for purity, cleansing, and holiness. We cry out as did King David, ‘Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin’.”

- "Father, we pray for the restoration of the Water Gate in Israel and for the fulfillment of Your promise. We pray for a river to come forth out of Israel that will bring life to the nations wherever it flows. Restore to Israel and all who love Your Words of Life the JOY of your salvation.” Amen!