"Remove the Gates" with Jentezen Franklin

the following program is sponsored by friends and partners of Kingdom connection if you have your Bible you can open it anywhere you want to I'm going to preach out of it I don't have a particular scripture but we'll get through I'm starting in Genesis and going to Revelation I hope you had a good breakfast amen I'm kidding I want to talk to you for just a few moments you can turn to judges 16 we'll end there I did a study recently on the gates in the Bible and I saw something that I want to share the Bible said that one of the mighty miracles that was performed in the New Testament in Acts chapter 4 was when Peter and John won't by the gate called beautiful and there was a lame man and he was begging for arms and Jesus gave him legs come on and he was healed and he jumped up and he began to leap and dance but the fact that it was called the gate beautiful I believe is indicative of the way that God views gates God has a fondness in scripture for gates GA tes he loves gates so much so that there's an astounding verse Psalms 87 and - the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob he said in the Old Testament one of the promises to Abraham seed is you will possess the gates of your enemy over and over and over he said in another place turn the battle to the gates because God is always thinking about the gates the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than any other part of the temple and the tabernacle he loved it more than the holy place he loved the gates more than the the holy of holies he said I love those gates he loves the gates more than the foundations of Zion see there's a difference between a wall and a gate a wall keeps people out but a gate lets people in a gate swings open or shut it swings in either direction the hinge on the gate is an illustration of divine choice God has a fondness and he loves the idea listen carefully that someone can choose to stay or go agate doesn't just mean that you have here access to go in but it actually means you can choose to leave an exit if you want to and God says I love that I love the fact that there are people who choose me they don't have to they choose me they don't have to praise me they don't have to go to church they don't have to die they don't have to glorify me they don't have to be conscious and mindful of me but they choose to and I love the fact that they could choose not to but they choose me that's why Joshua 24 said choose this day who you will serve but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord does anybody made that decision you made that choice you made you made it a long time ago God loves the gates he loves the gates he loves the choice think about this for just a moment he created man he formed him in His image out of dirt he breathed the breath of life in demand he puts him in a garden he puts Eve in the garden with him and have you ever wondered why didn't he put the tree behind an electric fence the tree of good and evil of knowledge but he put it inside the garden where they had to choose if they would obey what God told them about that tree or disobey he could have put it behind the fence and had flaming angels with flaming swords saying you can't touch that but he said I want to give you the choice because I love the fact when you choose to do right and honor me above all it thrills my heart I love gates because gates represent choice God loves choice I thought about this he loves the fact that you have gathered in this amazing place today the Compaq Center and you're not worshiping by decree you're worshiping out of free will you're worshiping out of choice you could have stayed home you could have went out on the lake but here you are sitting in sure singing shouting clapping praising and God says you chose me today and I'm going to bless you all week long because you chose me we're not obligated to praise like the Angels we're not forced to do it we don't we're not like a you know program to worship we do it out of choice and God loves that especially when you're going through trials and especially when you've had a tough week and especially when things have gone wrong and you come into God's house and you raise your hands and you say I choose to steal praise you and say the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever and you got problems and struggles and you say I'll worship anyhow and I thought about numbers chapter 35 there's an amazing story about gates the Bible said that God spoke to Moses and said I want you to build me five cities and they're going to be called cities of refuge and these cities will be geographically established in Israel so that wherever people are if they if they hurt or accidentally kill someone or if they murder someone and they don't deserve it was an accident it was manslaughter maybe they were swinging an axe and axe head flew off and hit someone in the head well under the old law it was an eye for an eye and you had the right if you were blood kin to go kill that person even if it was an accident because they had done wrong to your blood if the person who would do that in the family was called the blood avenger this is all in in numbers chapter 35 but God said I want you to build cities of refuge so that if they've made a terrible mistake and they're under judgment if they will run as fast as they can to the city of refuge and enter in and by the way he said put big gates on the city and leave them unlocked 24 hours a day if they can just get to the City of Refuge and enter in by choice through the gates and live in the city of refuge the blood avenger not touch them there can you see someone who who has the danger the shame the condemnation the guilt I killed someone and they know the blood avenger is chasing them getting closer and closer every morning they wake up and wonder you know is this the morning a knife will be under my throat is this the morning I'll wake up and see my family slaughtered as the blood avenger is getting justice because that's what the system said but finally he runs and he runs with his family and he goes he chooses to go through the gates can you imagine how it felt all unprotected oh I'm safe oh I'm in this place of safety I'm in the city of refuge and the law said that the blood avenger could slide up to the gate you can hear his feet as they run up to the gate and slide in the sand but he could not come inside because you had entered into the city of refuge a place of safety a place of comfort a place of protection the children were safe there and the Bible said he that dwells in the secret place of the Most High God shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and he is my strength the name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run into it and they are saying the Bible said our God is a refuge he is a very present help in the time of trouble and so here we are in guilt and judgment and the law says we deserve to die we deserve judgment but if we will run to our city of refuge his name is Jesus Christ and you can choose him you can choose a life you can choose grace you can choose forgiveness you can choose a new life and if you would run to him he will in no wise cast you out he says I don't care what you've done I don't care what people have said I don't care how religion has told you you're too bad come on run into the city of refuge you're safe here I'll protect you I'll forgive you I'll restore you I'll say no weapon formed against you will prosper I'll say to your pass you have no authority here there in the city of refuge come into Christ come into the church come into the place of prayer come into his righteousness you enter in by choice into His Holiness you're in a refuge you're in a place of security you can hear the trampling feet of the blood avenger just outside he would love to get his hands on you again but he can't touch you that's what Christ did for you on the cross I'm saying to you today that it's an awesome thing but there was one disadvantage to the City of Refuge it still had a gate and at the front of that gate of the City of Refuge the same gate that you made the choice to enter in was the same gate that you could exit if you chose to and if you went outside the gate then you were no longer protected and you were no longer safe this is a real warning to us today in a good way that once you enter into Christ be careful that you don't slip back into the old life he brought you out on you're safe as long as you're in Christ you don't have to be perfect you don't have to have you know a perfect record but don't let sin get in your walk don't let it become a part you know stuff that you know is destroying your family your life your character your name your reputation everything you can't just go back into that casually without understanding the blood avenger was waiting outside it's an amazing story in in the Old Testament about a man named Abner Abner was one of the sons of David and in 2nd Samuel chapter 3 this is where you'll find this story the Bible said that he accidentally killed a man it was an accident he didn't mean to and the blood Avenger was Joab he was a mighty warrior and he chased and was almost able to kill Abner but Abner barely made it into the City of Refuge he chose to enter in and and Joab this mighty warrior he he stood outside the gate and the Bible said he spoke softly to Abner day outside the gate through the gate come on out I won't hurt you come on back we used to be like this come on Abner why why did you why have you started going to church now come on out come it's just a party it's just just gonna you know just going to do some things come on come on and he spoke softly to him he just seductively softly kept speaking to and the Bible said one day Abner walked out of the city of refuge notice Abner should have said no I'm not coming out there you come on in here see if you got let's put let's turn to peer pressure thing around let's make people weird who don't love Jesus let's make people strange who don't like to pray I'm not weird cuz I like the praise you're weird cuz you sit there I want that kind of peer pressure let's put some peer pressure to live right and honor your family love God that's the I'm not coming out there you come in here but the Bible said he softly spoke softly to it kindly seduced him and he stepped outside the City of Refuge and Abner the Bible said took his left hand and stuck it in him and killed him and David wept and said Abner died as a fool dies why because he didn't have to die if he'd have stayed in Christ in the City of Refuge here's my point in the news the other day you probably saw it there was a story of Cecil the lion in in Africa a beautiful beautiful lion that was living in an animal refuge and there was a hunter who hired a team and allegedly this team tied a deer on the back of their Jeep and the deer was dead and it was bleeding and they drug it on the bumper of that Jeep through the animal refuge that they knew this prized lion lived named Cecil and Cecil the lion picked up the scent of that bloody deer in his territory in his refuge where he was totally protected and no animal hunter no keno no hunter could touch him there as long as he stayed in the refuge but he got lured out and when he got lured out there was a hunter and he shot him with a bow and killed him but what was interesting was not just the fact that Cecil the lion was killed but they said something strange happened the next day Cecil had a brother lion by the name of Jericho all the people had named him Jericho and he lived in the animal refuge and they said on his own he started going outside the boundaries of the animal refuge every day and they found out and surmised and concluded that the reason that he was going outside was he was looking for his brother and what I'm saying to you is is once you get into Christ you need to remember that if you go out you may influence your brother you may influence your sister you may influence your best friend you may influence the rest of your family dad you may inputs you need to stay in Christ because you don't go along no man lives into himself no man dies them to itself but let's flip that around if I go into Christ I'm not going alone the influence that I have is I will be saved and my house my brother my wife my sister my brother they'll all come but be careful that the enemy once you enter into Christ doesn't lure you back out you have the choice you make your choices and your choices make you it doesn't matter how long you've lived in the City of Refuge you better stay in the city I'm 53 years old I thought that when I was 50 I would never have another temptation this doesn't get any easier the longer you serve the Lord it actually takes more grace the older you get but I've made up my mind that I'm going to live in Christ within the boundaries of his word this is where peace is this is where joy is this is where life is this is where healing is this is where favor is this is where blessing is and I'm never going back to what God brought me out of if you feel that way give him a shout of praise on a Sunday morning how many of you are saved and satisfied God so loved gates that he put gates on Hale the Bible teaches that hell is a real place but he said I'll build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it which means this if people go to hell it will not be because the loving God sent them there they chose to go they chose to trample the blood of the cross under their feet they chose to resist the Holy Spirit they chose to say no after the voice came and invited them to enter in nobody goes to hell scent it was not even made for human beings the Bible said it was made for the devil and his angels that's how loving your God is but he put a gate on it and he said the only way you get there is if you choose to go over the cross and the church and the gospel and my Savior and what he did and the death bearing on resurrection if you choose to go over that then you will end there he put gates on heaven twelve pearly gates according to Revelation 21 because no one makes it to heaven by accident it's by appointment and you choose Jesus Christ and you choose I'm not afraid to die I'm not afraid of death I'm not afraid of what the future holds because I have put my life and my future and my internally in Jesus Christ somebody praise Him that the fear of death is defeating today you may be you may be listening to me and the doctors giving up and they say you have a several months to die even then we're victorious we don't have to be afraid of death Oh death where is your grave oh oh oh death where is your sting I have victory because I serve the resurrected one you've got a choice and you've got to choose and I close with this hell has gates and heaven has gates can I throw one more out there his presence has gates and you can choose to come to church and sit like a like a replica of Mount Rushmore or he said in Psalms 100 inner into my presence enter into my gates with praise and into my courts with Thanksgiving and you choose you choose whether you get something out of this you know what they're there people on the same Road you're sitting on and some of them will get a blessing and some of them will get nothing and it's all up to you you have to choose to enter in if you choose the eddorian God says you can come here one way and leave the better you come into Presley joyful you come in down leave us we didn't come to church to be sad we didn't come this is our City of Refuge we're blessed we're blessed in the city we're blessed in the field Jesus has made a difference and we're celebrating kill somebody in the top balcony give Jesus a big praise right now Schuster praising on a Sunday morning given your personal praise so so now we're at the spiritual part where you can open your Bible and this is how on the end judges 16 in verse 3 the Bible said that Sampson made a decision he said you see these gates the Bible said he ripped the gates up of Gaza hinges and all ran to the top of the hill and held them up toward Hebron which was where Abner got killed because he went outside the gate he held them up and what he was saying was I am removing the gate forever I have entered into Christ and I'm not going back I'm ripping up the entrance I'm putting a wall where a gate used to be because as for me I have made my decision I'm never going back to who I used to be I'm never going back I'm better than that I don't have to give a boy my body to feel like I'm somebody I'm better than that I'm gonna live here where God has me because he has a mighty plan he has a beautiful beautiful steps enter lay down he knows what's best for me and I'm never going back I'll never leave again I'm ripping up the gates and here's the last point I want to make whatever it is that gives you entrance back into the lifestyle God delivered from you from I'm not going back everybody say that in closing I'm not going back say it again I'm not going back say I'm removing the gates I'm never going back to who I used to be I'm a new creation and I have a brand new life and I have intentions I'm not going back to the old crowd I'm not going back to that life there's a better way to do life and it's when you're in Christ watch this 31 times the Bible says the New Testament we're in Christ this represents you this finger that I'm holding up I'm holding up one finger and I'm taking my other hand and I'm completely covering that finger because this is you and when you enter into Jesus Christ when you choose Jesus Christ this is you you're in Christ and the father no longer sees you he sees you completely covered by the righteousness the holiness the purity the favor the blessing that Christ provided on the cover with the Covenant on the cross 31 times every day of your month you get up and it's a brand new day that you're in Christ you're in the city of refuge and I have removed the gates I have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus I have decided to follow Jesus no turning did you stand your feet all over this room no one moving please been an incredible audience I can't help but sense that God wants to just remove the entry points that Satan has used so subtly to cause you to sedative he said lay aside every weight but not so easily beset you there's little things that that may not be a weakness to other people they can handle it but you can't handle it what you have to do is remove that game by the grace of God he'll give you the power to do it if you're in this room today and you would say pastor Jensen I know that I'm far from God today I know I'm not we're all to be and what how how I want to be and I would love I would love to choose Jesus I would love to make Jesus by choice not because I'm forced to because I know a lot of people who in trouble they run into Christ but when the troubles over they go right back but I choose of my own free will to enter in to Christ I want to be covered I want God to no longer see me but see his son and his grace and his favor in my life and whatever the gate is that the enemies used to try to destroy your life I believe the grace of God is going to rip that gate up hinges and all and you're gonna leave this place today transformed by the power of Jesus Christ every head bowed every eye closed if you're in this room and you would say pastor Franklin pray for me I need to get right with God today and I choose Jesus if that's you boldly lift your hand right where you're standing I want to see it all over this room beautiful all over this room keep your hand high and unashamed don't be ashamed of my goodness this is incredible this is incredible there hands up all the way up in the top balcony lift them high everybody pray this prayer say Lord Jesus I choose you I surrender my life to you I give my heart to you I believe in what you did on the cross Lord of my influence let my choice influence others in Jesus name I remove the gate come on come on I remove the gate and I choose you for the rest of my life in Jesus name Amen and amen we have some choices to make and now more than ever the world is watching as Christians what will we say what will you do this is our time to stand up and stand out God has called us into a loving relationship we have to remember that life and death are in the choices that we make every day that's what we want you to have our brand new choose wisely series in this three DVD set jynson Franklin will teach you how to put God first and the choices that you make each and every day and prepare you to make tough choices when life's storm strikes we have to choose wisely choose our words wisely choose our positions wisely and choose our battles wisely when you put God first you will open the door to experience the best he has for you don't leave your future to chance the choices that you make today will determine more tomorrow call now with your gift of $30.00 or more and request your copy of choose wisely today at Kingdom connection we're excited to launch a brand new way to help the ministry through text to give it's convenient and a fast way to connect your gift support to us and it's as easy as using your mobile device to set it up simply text any amount with a keyword Casey two four five eight eight eight hit Send and you'll get a link to set up a payment method with your preferred debit or credit card don't worry this won't be charged to your phone bill and after a few quick steps giving from your device is as simple as sending a text for more information on how to set up more text to give today visit our website at Jensen franklin org slash gift thank you for your generous support of Kingdom connection each gift makes it possible for us to connect people to the message of Jesus impacting lives here at home as well as around the world life is real vivid alive beating breathing it happens behind closed doors and out in front there's joy there's laughter chaos lifelong friendships are forged love is found moments cherished and never forgotten life is a gift and together we are real family real friends real people experiencing real life is free chapel this program has been brought to you by the friends and partners of Jenson franklin media ministries for more information on this broadcast go online at Jenson Franklin Oh Archie

Channel: Jentezen Franklin

Views: 40,471

Rating: 4.8884664 out of 5

Keywords: Jentezen Franklin, Kingdom Connection, Free Chapel, TV, Ministry

Id: ixtMEPybbKk

Length: 28min 30sec (1710 seconds)

Published: Fri Oct 30 2015