THE REBUILT LIFE: “God’s Blueprint” pt2
STRIKE THE ORIGINAL MATCH
Chuck Swindoll
Marriage is like a construction project.
-It always cost more than you plan
-It always takes longer than you plan
-It is always a lot messier than you plan
1. Consult the Architect
2. The Project: Let’s Consider the Cost
3. Let’s Repair the Foundation
4. In Defense of Monogamy
5. Bricks That Build a Marriage
Philippians 1:3-6
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
THE REBUILT LIFE: Under Construction
1. THE SHEEP GATE v1
2. THE FISH GATE v3
3. THE OLD GATE v6
4. THE VALLEY GATE v13
5. THE DUNG GATE v14
6. THE FOUNTAIN GATE v15
7. THE WATER GATE v26
8. THE HORSE GATE v28
9. THE EAST GATE v29
10. THE JUDGMENT GATE v31
map of the gates of Jerusalem
7. THE WATER GATE v26
Nehemiah 8:1-4 NKJV
“Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose…”
Nehemiah 8:5-6 NKJV
“..And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”
Ephesians 5:26-27 NKJV
“…sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NIV
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
8. THE HORSE GATE v28
Nehemiah 3:28 NKJV
“Beyond the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house.”
Psalms 33:16-21 NKJV
“No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.”
Psalms 20:7 NKJV
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”
Revelation 19:11 NKJV
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True..”
9. THE EAST GATE v29
Nehemiah 3:29 NKJV
“After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs.”
Ezekiel 43:1-2 NKJV
“Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.”
Ezekiel 44:1-2 NKJV
“Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.”
Zechariah 14:1-4 NKJV
“Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.”
Zechariah 14:8-9
“On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter. The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.”
10. THE JUDGMENT GATE v31
Nehemiah 3:31 NKJV
“After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the Nethinim and of the merchants, in front of the Miphkad Gate, and as far as the upper room at the corner.”
Miphkad: Judgment
Joel 3:2 NKJV
“I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there…”
II Timothy 4:1 NKJV
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:”
II Corinthians 5:10-11 NKJV
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”
Matthew 25:31-40 NKJV
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”
Matthew 25:41-46 NKJV
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””
11. THE SHEEP GATE v32
Nehemiah 3:32 NKJV
“And between the upper room at the corner, as far as the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.”
John 10
I AM THE GATE….
Revelation 22:12-13, 20-21 NKJV
And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
THE REBUILT LIFE: Under Construction
1. THE SHEEP GATE v1
2. THE FISH GATE v3
3. THE OLD GATE v6
4. THE VALLEY GATE v13
5. THE DUNG GATE v14
6. THE FOUNTAIN GATE v15
7. THE WATER GATE v26
8. THE HORSE GATE v28
9. THE EAST GATE v29
10. THE JUDGEMENT GATE v31
11. THE SHEEP GATE v32