SundaySermon - Prince

 Journeying towards Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the spiritual epicenter of the world. God dwells in Jerusalem. And Jesus while living on earth journeyed through life with his final destination - Jerusalem.

Some people have definite goals. Once they have goals, they mind is captured on reaching this goal. So there will be constant talk on how they are reaching this place. So it is with Jesus. Here are the different references to Jerusalem. 

Verse:Luke 9:51

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Verse: Luke 13:22

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

 Verse: Luke 17:11

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

Verse: Luke 18:31 

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

Verse: Luke 19:11

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

Verse: Luke 19:28 

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

In our journey of life, our final destination is the Spiritual Jerusalem.

Nehemiah and his journey to Jerusalem

There was another person who had Jerusalem on his mind - Nehemiah

Verse: Nehemiah 1:3‭-‬4 

3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

When Nehemiah realised the broken Spiritual condition, he wept, mourned, fasted, prayed..... and he also did this..... See verse below

Verse: Nehemiah 4:13

13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.

Nehemiah took no chances and fought hard to protect his family. He make sure that the exposed part of the walls were repaired. And this is how he did this

1. Build the Sheep Gate

2. Build the Fish Gate

3. Build the Old Gate

1. Build the sheep gate.

Nehemiah build gates

Verse: Nehemiah 3:1

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel.

This is the gate where the sacrificial animals were brought in. This represents blood of the Lamb - Jesus. 

We need to be sure of what Jesus did for us.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29 NIV

https://john.bible/john-1-29

2. Build the Fish Gate

Verse: Nehemiah 3:3 

The Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.

Jesus referred to Fish and here is the verse

Verse: Matthew 4:19

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

Psalms 42:4 NIV

3. Build the Old Gate

Verse: Nehemiah 3:6

The Old City Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid the beams, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.

The Word of God is ancient and we need to go back to the old treasures

Withstand Babylon

There are always external influences in our lives. In the case of Daniel, he was exposed to the Babylonian thinking.

Verse: Daniel 1:4

“Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.”

But Daniel chose for himself what was good for him and rejected harmful

Verse: Daniel 1:8

But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

Daniel was devoted to God even when he was forced by means of the law of the land.

Verse: Daniel 6:10

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

What does Babylon represent? The ideals from Babylon represents Mother of harlots

Verse: Revelation 17:5

5 A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.”

Our mother is not Babylon. Our mother is the Spiritual Jerusalem 

Verse: Galatians 4:26

But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother.

We need to differentiate from the different ideas. We need to hold on to God and resist the thoughts from the Mother of Harlots

Our final destination is Jerusalem. And Jerusalem is the Throne Room of God

Verse: Revelation 22:1‭-‬2

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 

2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Resist Babylon

Journey to toward Jerusalem

When looks at our Jerusalem, what will be Jesus reaction

Verse: Luke 19:41,44

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it

42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 

43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.

44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”