The Dung Gate

Neh 3:14

Intro:

1. Gates - openings in the walls of a city - places of entrance

2. Gates - moveable structures that guard the openings - obstruct

entrance

3. Strategically placed to be both:

a. Easily accessible

b. Easily defendable

4. New Jerusalem - 12 gates - 3 per side

a. No moveable structures for defense

5. The Gates were the main places of attack

a. 2 Sam 11:20-24 (Don’t attack the walls!!)

The Dung Gate - Represents Our Sanctification - vs 14

It was used for the disposal of rubbish and dung and led out to the

Valley of Hinnom (their landfill)

1. Neh 4:1-2, 10 - rubbish oir trash is not necessailrly wrong, but useless

and clutters up the place.

2. God’s People too busy to serve..

a. Personal Cleansing - Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are

compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside

every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us

run with patience the race that is set before us,

1. Removal of Weights

a. 1Co 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all

things are not expedient: all things are lawful for

me, but all things edify not.

b. Expedient - fit or suitable for the purpose; Not

useful; profitable.

c. Edify not - To build To instruct and improve the

mind in knowledge

2. Removal of Sin

a. 1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we

should not be judged.

b. Ps 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and

mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my

transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest

the iniquity of my sin.

b. Church Cleansing (Jesus cleansed the Temple)

1. Removal of Weights - things not wrong that take up

your time and energy.

a. Three Fold Mission

1. Evangelize - Mr 16:15 And he said unto

them, Go ye into all the world, and preach

the gospel to every creature.

2. Edify - Mt 28:19-20 Go ye therefore,

and teach all nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father, and of the Son, and of

the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe

all things whatsoever I have commanded

you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto

the end of the world. Amen.

3. Ehort - Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the

assembling of ourselves together, as the

manner of some is; but exhorting one

another: and so much the more, as ye see the

day approaching.

3. Social Activities Can Be Weights

a. We are not an entertainment

center

4. Sports Activities Can Be Weights

a. We are not a physical therapy

center

5. Structural Activities Can Be Weights

a. Unnecessary building!

2. Removal of Sin

a. 1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment

must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us,

what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of

God?

2. 1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep

company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator,

or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an

extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

The Result:

c. National Cleansing

1. 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and

turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

1. The Problem - Neh 4:1-3, 10

a. Rubbish

2. The Perspective - Phil 3:7-14

a. Dung

3. The Perogative - Luke 9:23-25

a. If