The
Gate
| Many
have experienced uncomfortable things that we need to go through in order to gain
liberty and freedom. For example, we have
to face an audience when we are going to do a presentation. We get a little apprehensive, fearful, uncertain, but we still do
the presentation. Once it's over, we are
in peace and find that people really enjoyed it. We come into the "liberty and freedom." Other things such as facing a person you need
to in order to clear up a misunderstanding. Facing a fear that you have like flying, dentists, or traveling.
Whatever the issue is you need to "go through" will be somewhat
uncomfortable.
I
recognize this uncomfortable feeling as the Gate. The scripture that will be used in the teaching is Matthew 8:13-14.
"Enter ye at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the
way that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in therat: because strait
is the gate, and narrow is the way, which lead unto life, and few there be that
find it."
People
shy away from discomfort and unfortunately don't realize they are losing a blessing.
The gate that is straight and wide are individuals who choose the easier more
comfortable way. However, don't know that
they are putting themselves more and more in bondage to whatever they are shying
from. Fear is the main reason people don't
enter the narrow gate. The narrow gate
only has enough room for you to go through. If we are carrying unforgiveness,
bitterness, hurts, that we can't seem to let go of, we won't be able to "fit"
through the narrow gate. And if we do attempt to go through the gate, we start feeling uncomfortable.
That uncomfortable feeling is God pulling away the chaff from you, which can be
painful, so you can "fit" through the straight gate and narrow way.
But many, when they start to feel any discomfort or "emotional"
pain, they turn back and stay in that "wide" area.
Now
that you know what is happening as you begin to face something you don't want
to face, first of all recognize that fear is very present working at preventing
you from entering that straight gate! So
now you can! Realize that the pain you
will experience is emotional pain in doing something that you may "feel"
uncomfortable about. Then with eyes facing
forward, holding onto the Word of God that He is with you "through"
the fire, and plowing on ahead taking that "thing" head on.
Holding onto the legs of your kitchen table if you have to so that you
don't turn back. You will experience the discomfort for a brief
second, then you will pass on through that gate, and enter into "freedom
and liberty."
Yes,
it's that simple. The hard part is not
knowing what is happening you to as these feelings start to emerse. But now that you know, it's God wanting to
pull off the "stuff" that is hindering your walk, you can now go through
with courage and boldness. (Hebrews 4:16)
As
you face each thing in your life with this kind of insight, you will become freer
and freer. Trusting and believing God will grow and grow
as you see how he helped you through each thing and brought you to a place flowing
with milk and honey. You will gain confidence
in God, peace, and able to help others find their "gate." Many
of whom I teach this to have said that is a "squeezy point" for them. They actually "feel" the squeezing
through the gate. That it's not fun, but
when committed to going through and then allowing that pressure to hit, but NOT
running away, but letting God do a work, it's been a tremendous release for them.
I
know that this will be true for each of you who decide to conquer your fears. Take the Word with you and face each situation.
Sure, it may not be a pleasant experience at the time, but the wonderful
thing about it, is that once you have gone through that specific gate, you never
have to go through it again. You will
be facing another gate, but an entirely different issue.
And each gate you pass through brings you into more peace and freedom.
Realize
that a door was opened to the "fearful" thing or situation in the first
place. It could have been something in your childhood,
something from your ancestors passed onto you, something of a current nature.
But there was always a door, which we could look to as the "wide gate." It came in to you through a gate, and it will
have to leave through the SAME gate. So
if you had a little emotional pain, etc. when it entered, then it is for certain
you'll have the same emotional pain when it leaves. Let me share a story about my husband.
He
was in Vietnam and had experienced shell fire.
Some of the metal from the bombs penetrated into his body.
Upon coming back to the U.S. he still carried this shrapnel in his body. From time to time, a piece would start to work
it's way back out of his skin. He would see something protruding out of his arm
and not sure what it was, at first. So
would try to put ointment on it to get it to go away. But it only got bigger and bigger. Until one day he went to the Dr. and found
that a piece of metal was trying to come out.
It was trying to come out the same place it went in. So the doctor removed it. By
then, it was all pussy, festering, and hurt a bit as it was being removed and
stitches were added to cover the hole. The Lord used this as an example of what I'm sharing here.
That
door - the place where the shrapnel went it, was painful for Tom. Same as a hurt, issue, fear that enters our heart. Sometimes we felt it sometimes we didn't. But it's there nonetheless. But then, as the shrapnel in Tom's body was
coming out, it came out with a little puss, festering, and some pain. Same as with what we are being purged from.
The pain may come, a little crying, a little pain, but once it's out, it's
OUT! It is no longer in you to hurt you or cause you discomfort any longer.
Then God can mend the hurt and pain of your heart from that situation,
just as the Dr. stitched up the hole in Tom's arm from the shrapnel.
This
is a tremendous revelation teaching and I pray that you receive this with complete
understanding. Understanding why things hurt so much, why
things are happening to you that you don't understand. It's that God's whole purpose is to get you
through those "door points" (Gate) to get rid of those things that are
weighing you down and preventing you from living the life He destines you to live!
(Hebrews 12:1)
As
we read on in Hebrews 12:2, this is a perfect example of Jesus entering an uncomfortable
place (the Gate), but if He didn't we would never be saved!
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
In
this scripture, Jesus saw the other side of that "squeezy point". He
saw the joy that was set before Him, but also knew in order to get there he would
have to "suffer." He "endured"
the cross, despising shame (which was the gate), and is now sitting at
God's side, which is the liberty and freedom He attained because he "went
through."
We
are no greater than our master, what He went through, it is certain we'll get
to experience the same things. (Matthew
10:24; Hebrews 4:15)
Be
at peace when "fiery trials" come your way, they are there for you to
exercise your patience, faith, trust and hope in God.
(I Peter 4:12).
TESTS Trials will come to all - this is a promise! But these tests and trials are for good, they work the truth in us and work the junk out of us. When a situation arises and you get bent out of shape, that shows you what you are truly made of. WE want to get to the place that when things happen, we stay in peace! 1 Peter 4:12: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strnage thing happened unto you; but rejoice inasamach as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy." The trying of your faith works patience.... patience produces peace. (James 1) Isn't that what we all want? More peace? Medically proven - when we are at peace our bodies work at full optimum!
Prayer
for you to pray to Our Father in Heaven:
"Father
I have to admit that I have turned from some of the things I need to go through
or need to face. When I start to get uncomfortable, and fearful, I turn away. I ask you to help me face these things Lord,
not turn away, but "go through". I
know you are with me, let me not fear the emotional pain that I may experience.
Or fear you cutting away stuff that I need cut away from my life. I give
you full permission to get rid of anything that hinders my walk, causes me to
stay in the wilderness. I want to live in the joy of the Lord. Your rest and the abundance you have promised.
I know that I have prevented good things from coming into my own life,
and now I'm ready to get with the program. Now
that I know that when I have to face something I don't want to, it's your way
of telling me you are doing a work in me. I know that by facing it and going through
any discomfort will bring me out to the other side, full of liberty and freedom. I choose life Father. Give me strength and boldness to "endure"
as Jesus endured and now is sitting next to you. Let me sit with Jesus in Heavenly places.
Help me to go through "fiery trials" knowing that I'll come out
as gold on the other side. Forgive me
for any fear I have had, fear of pain, fear of what others will think, fear of
failure, or whatever the fear is. Release
me from all fear and fill me with your love and truth.
Cleanse me from all the dross that is weighing me down and as you begin
working in me, help me to remember the principal of "the gate" so that
I won't run away from what I need to go through. I want to be on that straight path with you Lord. I give you all the glory and praise for what
you are doing in my life. In Jesus name,
Amen." |