2008 — The Year of the Gate
January 8th, 2008 | Michael Q. Pink
“Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there: Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” Mt 7:13-14
Last week I shared with you that I believed the Lord spoke to my heart back in November the phrase, Through the Gate in 2008. I kept it hidden in my heart until I heard my pastor share that God had spoken that same phrase to him in December. It has since been confirmed through a host of other witnesses. But what does it mean?
I discovered over the weekend that in Hebrew, the number eight is rendered by the letter CHET, which is depicted in the form of a GATE. The number eight has long been considered to represent new beginnings and going through a gate can certainly represent that. Here is what I want you to prayerfully consider with me… I believe we are all going to pass through a gate in 2008. The question is: which gate? Will it be the narrow gate leading to life or the wide gate leading to destruction?
The wide gate is the popular gate, where the masses walk through giving little thought to the fact they are passing through a gate and onto destruction. The narrow gate requires striving just to get through (Luke 13:24) and many will not be able to. Those who press through the narrow gate will be spared destruction and experience life. Do not take this year for granted my brothers and sisters. Choose your gate wisely.
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January 8th, 2008 at 10:19 am
How exciting!! May each one of us look to our Father for guidance through the narrow gate!
Praise Him!
January 8th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Michael,
I agree that 2008 is a defining year; not that every other year is not. However, this is the time we are living in. We cannot change the past and the decisions we make now will have an eternal impact.
I was inspired recently by a young woman in her 20’s who decided to give the years of her 20’s to the Lord to seek Him hard. She’s 8 years or so into the process. At the outset she said at the end of the 10 years ,if she wasn’t satisfied she’d go in another direction. I believe she knew starting out that she would not go in another direction. She said that she is so glad she did it.
I would add a challenge, as I have been challenged…what are we going to do with the next 5-10 years of our lives? What will we seek? How about this year as Michael has said? What concrete plans/choices can we make to draw near to God? I believe in God being sovereign; I also believe He wants my response. I am seeking to shake myself awake so that God will not have to do it…but if He does, better now than in eternity. I know I need help to be spurred on to love and good works…I hope I can spur on others as well.
Blessings in Christ,
Dennis
January 8th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Not sure I follow the “narrow gate” analogy here. I do see this shaping up as a year for new beginnings, but I’m following the Shepherd. If we are truly His sheep, doesn’t He choose the gate? And, isn’t it necessarily the narrow gate?
January 8th, 2008 at 11:12 am
There were 10 gates into Jerusalem, when Nehemiah came back to restore the walls he started at the gates. The first gate was the sheep gate, I heard John Hagee say that Jesus entered this gate every time he entered Jerusalem except when Jesus entered the eastern gate (Mesiah gate).
Gates are significant because that is where we the sheep will enter. The gates are to be watched by Gate keepers who take responsibilities for what and who enteres the kingdom.
I share this because I am looking at Nehemiah and the restoration he did, because I feel in my heart that we are at a time of restoration and that we need to build up the gates and walls of America and the church in America so that God will bless us and we can be in a place of blessing where His Kingdom will rule and reign.
Peace
Guy
January 8th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Brother Michael, I to believe we will be walking in through a gate and I believe we will have to live Holy and obedient to our Lord. I want to thank you for each mail you send out I beleive
you are a true man of God. I thank you and if you will and can send out more on how to prepare to walk into the gate I for one want to learn and do what God wants us to.
Sister in Christ Jesus
Jo Good
January 8th, 2008 at 11:45 am
The Gates of Commerce are still dominated by those heading for and now experiencing destruction. They hid this from us but soon it will no longer be something they can spin. We have a window of preparation - that’s what I think 2008 is about.
Thanks Michael!
Eric
January 8th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Michael - Confirmation! God showed me a door in heaven that is about to be opened. And when it is open, a giant, massive waterfall of His Spirit will be poured out and it will fill the earth. The breeze will be like rain. This is the rain coming from heaven that Elijah saw. He was so happy to see the rain coming that he outrun the kings horses! This is the year of the beginning of the harvest. Are you ready? Prepare for a harvest, be sure that you have planned to be able to expand like a balloon in a very short time. The harvest time will only be a certain time. Arrange for working in shifts, day and night, as no one will be able to work all the time. Prepare!
January 8th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Thank you for your encouraging and challenging words! I love teachings about “Gates” as they represent the seat of authority. God gave me a teaching one time entitled “Turn The Battle To The Gate” text taken from
Isaiah 28:5-7 (K JV)
5In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
6And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
7But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
Interesting that whatever may intoxicate us err’s our vision and judgement and may ultimately cost us the battle!
Anyway, I love how Matthewt 7:13-14 is read in the following translations:
Matthew 7:13-14 (Amplified Bible)
13Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
14But the gate is narrow (contracted [a]by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.(A)
(My personal favorite)
Matthew 7:13-14 (The Message)
Being and Doing
13-14″Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
May full truth and grace be multiplied in peace to you!
Harolene
January 8th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
This is an awesome time ….this 2008…a time of “new beginnings”…and a time to expereience the harvest The Lord has for us.The Lord gave us His Covenant, His Commandment, and His Completeness..No one said it was going to be a bed of roses entering that “narrow gate”….His mercy endureth forever, His Grace is beautiful..As I have been tried, tested, pruned, plucked, I BELIEVE in HIM …it has been very very painful, yet I know He loves me and coming out of that “gate” I’m truly a NEW CREATION in HIM…I’m more in love with Him today than ever.
Blessings and stay the Course to all
In His Magnificient Love
January 8th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Russ;
As I understand Luke 13, it is up to us to choose whether we will choose the wide gate that leads to destruction or the narrow gate that leads to life. What does the narrow gate look like? Seek Him to know for sure as Dennis encourages us to do this year, but I believe it will be the path less traveled. Blessings, Michael
January 8th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Lift up your heads oh ye gates, and be ye lifted up ye ever lasting doors and the king of glory shall come in.
Open gates and Open doors mean passage of the king.
January 8th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Thank you brother Michael for the prophetic words and teaching you send out. I also believe we are walking the straight and narrow road and will be going through the gate. I believe that it is going to take putting on the whole amor of God and pressing into. I pray God will give you more to send out on presevering and being ready.
God bless you a person that will stand up and tell what God gives you to say. thank you.
sister in Christ Jesus Jo G
January 8th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
The unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace is a precious gift.( Ephesians 4:3-6) God is so faithful to speak to His Church and us as individual members of it.
My family and I have been through a number of very difficult trials over the past 7 years as I have shared before.
Just the other day God impressed the familiar verses from Isaiah 43:18 & 19 on my heart nad again Isaiah 42:9.
I have been hoping and trusting and praying for a new beginning and God has challenged me to step out in faith into the new things which He will bring about. He also reminded me that this will require courage and trust because these will be beginnings (Gates) which I have not previously passed through before.
We must accept His change and move forward.
God Bless.
In His love,
Dave White
January 8th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
YES! THIS IS THE YEAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS. THE LORD HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO ME ABOUT MY WALK WITH HIM. MY HUSBAND AND I FIND OURSEVES HAVING TO MAKE CHANGES IN OUR WALK, OUR WORK AND HOW WE REPRESENT OUR LORD. CHOSE NOW WHO YOU WILL SERVE.
January 8th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
TO PASS THROUGH THE NARROW GATE REQUIRES THAT WE LET GO OF THE SIN THAT SO EASILY BESETS ,HINDERS AND ENTANGLES US AND PRESS INTO THE GLORY THAT IS BEING REVEALED IN US AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF YOD HEY VAV HEY ( OUR FATHER,S PERSONAL NAME)LET US REFUSE TO FEAR BECAUSE FEAR HAS TORMENT AND HE IS PERFECT LOVE AND PERFECTED LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR.FLUSH OUT THE FEAR !!( THE LITERAL GREEK MEANING OF ” TO CAST OUT FEAR”.THE GREATER ONE LIVES IN US ! LET,S PRAY THROUGH TO OUR BREAKTHROUGH AND LAUGH,REJOICE AND RUN INTO THE LIMITLESS BLESSINGS THAT FATHER HAS PROVIDED FOR HIS BELOVED CHILDREN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.LET,S RUN IN HIS GARDEN AS LITTLE CHILDREN ! FATHER IS A FAMILY MAN WHO SIMPLY WANTS HIS CHILDREN TO COME HOME AND ENJOY ALL THAT HE HAS FOR US.BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES HOME TO THE FATHER,S HOUSE TO MEET ABBA ,FATHER.HE WILL IN NO WAY REJECT YOU.THE WHOLE EARTH GROANS IN ANTICIPATION FOR THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD TO BE REVEALED IN HIS GLORY FOR SCRIPTURES SAYS HE HAS CROWNED US WITH HIS GLORY AND HONOR JUST AS ADAM AND EVE WERE CROWNED WITH THE SHEKINAH GLORY AT THEIR CREATION.FATHER SPOKE LIFE AND THE BLESSING INTO ADAM JESUS BEING THE SECOND AND FINAL ADAM HAS RESTORED THE BLESSING BACK TO US:)
SHALOM,
JOE SCHIMNOWSKI
January 8th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Hello Micheal,
I truly believe what you are saying is true, and I certainly sense the seriousness of the hour and day we live. Please let me know more concerning this, especially how Christians can be better prepared for and make certain the narrow gate.
Jim
January 9th, 2008 at 3:59 am
If I am the only one who pray over my food in a busy Restaurant,
If I am the only who pray in tears,
If I am the only one who talk about Jesus,
If I am the only one who intercede for the lost while others are not,
Don’t you think I am entering through the narrow gate?
Think of the cross that I have to carry too.
Morini
January 9th, 2008 at 6:01 am
Michael,
I pray that His grace abound that we may be able to enter that unfamiliar gate(Narrow Gate) with zeal and might of His Spirit! We shall prevail by God’s grace and mercy for we are more than conquerors! We can’t afford to take the path of compromise in that wide gate. God bless us.
January 9th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
How narrow is the gate? I hope the letter below reminds us how narrow the gate is.
Kern
Urgent prayer request from World Relief regarding Kenya
Dear brothers and sisters,
Greetings to you and Happy New Year. It seems ironic to wish you a New Year’s greeting when so many in Kenya are suffering right now. Tragedy is not something we often plan for and the situation in Kenya is a reminder of this. In describing the scene of violence in Kenya’s western city of Eldoret, a Red Cross official said “It was one of the worst scenes in my life. Seeing women and children who have sought safety in the house of God getting killed is just as bad as it gets.”
You have probably heard about the situation in Kenya by now (If you haven’t, you’ll want to visit BBC News’ story here. Hundreds have died and tens of thousands have been displaced by violence following the December 30 election results. Mwai Kibaki, the current president, was declared to have won another term after a controversial three-day vote count.
After the opposition declared the voting rigged, violent gangs took to the streets in protest. Burning churches, homes, businesses and cars, the raging mobs are leaving incredible destruction in their wake. In the Rift Valley region alone, more than 70,000 have already fled their homes. Hundreds have crossed into neighboring Uganda seeking safe haven.
Churches across the country have opened their doors to provide a safe haven to those fleeing violence. One church in Eldoret, Western Kenya, was burned to the ground by rioters, killing at least 35 of those seeking haven inside.
Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, has called for a peaceful rally to take place on Thursday. Many fear this will lead to violence and further destabilize the situation.
Pauline Nasenya, a young woman in Nairobi says, “We are living in fear. All we hope for, all we pray for is peace. Please join with us and the people in Kenya as we pray for peace in Kenya.
January 9th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Currently, people are dying in Kenya. People are living in fear. The situation threatens to spiral out of control, but in the midst of this chaos, you can help. Please pray, give and engage today:
* Pray: for church leaders and congregations to be strong and not take place in the violence going on; for churches to be sanctuaries and for attacks like those on the church in Eldoret to not take place again; for our World Relief staff on the ground that they would continue to remain safe and be able to encourage the local church as prayer rallies are formed and care is given to those in need;
* Give: Our disaster response ministries in Kenya could use a vital boost financially as we minister in this time of turmoil. Please prayerfully consider giving to our response to the violence in Kenya.
Ih Him,
Kern
* Engage: Download a map of Kenya so that you can be informed of where cities in Kenya are and pray for them specifically as you hear about them in the news.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
This is confirmation! New Beginnings and the gate! Thanks.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I believe you are right….something in my spirit stirred when I read your words….It would be good to offer a study to those of us who want to pass through the narrow gate….some of us desire the ways of the Lord, but don’t know how to see the sign posts leading to the narrow gate….
It would also be good to offer a study to those who may not catch this wave of the spirit, the tribulation saints….something left behind, telling them how to proceed through the dark days….God has put this on my heart strongly….there will be many who will need this information….
January 14th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
People;
The narrow gate Jesus is talking about has to do with salvation, not making money.
Here is an exposition by A. W. Pink
Here is “Enter ye in at the strait gate.” It is not enough to listen to preaching about this “gate,” nor to study its structure or admire the wisdom of its appointment: it must be entered. Sermons on repentance and faith in Christ avail us nothing unless they move our hearts to comply therewith. The Greek word here rendered “strait” signifies restrained, cramped, or better “narrow” as it is rendered in the R.V. And what is meant by this strait or narrow gate? A “gate” serves two purposes: it lets in and shuts out. This gate is the only avenue of admittance to that “way” which leads unto life, and all who enter not by it are eternally barred from the presence of God and the realm of ineffable bliss. The second use of this “gate” is solemnly illustrated at the close of the parable of the virgins. The foolish ones lacked the necessary “oil” (the work of the Spirit in the heart), and when they sought to obtain it the Bridegroom came and “the door was shut” (Matthew 25:10), and though they besought Him to open it unto them, He answered “I know you not.”