The 4th of Av

We've all heard of the 9th of Av (Tish'a B'av), which is a day of curses that was brought about by the refusal of the people of Israel to enter into the land of promise after hearing the "bad" report of the ten spies. They rebelled against God and decided that they would return to Egypt - the place of their captivity.
 

But today (July 27) is the 4th of Av. “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers, the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel” (Nehemiah 3:1).  Today is the day that Nehemiah's work begins on rebuilding the gates and walls of Jerusalem. The very first gate mentioned is the sheep gate. It was called the sheep gate because this was the gate which the sheep and lambs used in the sacrifice were bought through.  The sheep gate is not mentioned anywhere else in the Scriptures.  It was constructed by the High Priest Eliashib.  

But there was a problem!  Read the first few verses of Nehemiah 13.

"On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. So when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel. Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, had prepared a large room for him, where formerly they put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils and the tithes of grain, wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. But during all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king, and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. It was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense" (Nehemiah 13:1-9).

This high priest gave quarters in the House of God to the very man who was a part of the trio of enemies that sought to destroy Nehemiah's plans.

The Lord has been strongly revealing to me that a new gate is needed.  On this morning's prayer call with the Texas Apostolic Prayer Network, He prompted me to declare that this new spiritual gate in our nation needed to be erected as a prophetic act from the Prophet State of Texas.  This sheep gate which represents a place of entry and preparation of sacrificial lambs, needs to be constructed with the pure hearts of the Lord's priests.  It can no longer be an entry point for those who have designs of evil.  

This is a gate meant for redemption.  I have no Biblical proof, but I do have a strong sensing in my spirit, that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was brought through this gate when He was transported from Caiaphas' house to the Roman fortress. The sheep gate then speaks to us of the cross and the sacrifice that was made for our sins. It is the starting point of everything! Lord, let this gate be erected today, on the 4th of Av, as a sign of God's desire to release redemption, life, hope and reformation into the nation.  As a Prophet State, we declare that the King of Glory, the Lamb of God, will come in.  Who is this King Glory - the Lord - strong and mighty.

Years ago I wrote the following declaration.  Let it be declared again today!

OPEN THE GATES

“Lift up your heads, O you gates!

And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

The LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Lift up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The LORD of hosts,

He is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:7-10).

Rejoice in the Lord!  It is the day of new beginnings.  The gates are open. 

I decree as a keeper of keys that the gates are open to the King of Glory.

I decree the opening of the gates of minds and hearts to the kingdom of our God.

I decree the opening of our minds and hearts to the wisdom and revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be opened to the Spirit of the living God – the Holy One.

Be opened to salvation, life, hope, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Let the waves of the Lord’s love and mercy be released into each of us.

I decree the opening of our homes and businesses to the King of Glory.

I decree the opening of the gates of our cities to the King of Righteousness.

Join me in flinging wide the gates of Arlington, Texas or wherever you live.

We invite the Lord of hosts!

We invite the fullness of His kingdom and His will to be manifested in our midst.

I decree the opening of the gates of Texas.

I remind the Lord of the places where we stood before Him and welcomed Him.

I decree the shores of the Gulf Coast open.

I decree the mountains of West Texas open.

I decree the sprawling lands of the Valley and the high plains of the Panhandle open.

I decree the Piney Woods and the Rolling Plains open.

I decree the farmlands of central Texas and the Hill Country open.

I decree the rivers open to the King of Glory.

I decree the cities and towns to be open to the King.

I decree the government, the educational systems, the families, the media, the arts and entertainment arenas, the businesses and the churches of Texas open to

the Lord God Almighty – the everlasting One.

I take the keys of the kingdom and open Texas and our surrounding covenant States 

to the presence of King Jesus.

His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I decree the blowing of His wind across the land. 

I decree the river of God to rise.

I decree the floodgates of heaven to open.

I decree the structures opposed to the Kingdom of God to crumble and fall in the name of Jesus!

On this day, I cry to the Lord of heaven and earth and 

decree open the gates of Washington DC and the United States.

Let the gates of righteousness and of God’s kingdom be opened in the Spirit.

Flood the land, O Lord, with Your presence.

The King of Glory shall come in!