Tabernacle and Temple Gates

     The Wilderness Tabernacle had only one gate.   Solomon's Temple was much larger and had five gates.  Our bodies have five ways that outside influences can enter into our bodies to defile.  The eyes are an avenue that Satan can use to get us to sin.  Job said he had made a covenant with his eyes that he not look on a maiden.  He was not going to look twice at a woman, so temptation wouldn't get the best of him.   Our nose can cause us to smell something that will take us back to an incident that happened many years ago.  Perfume is a powerful scent that attracts us.  Be careful that we be led astray by our senses.  The mouth is a powerful tool for good or bad.  We can build up or destroy.  A woman can lure a man through her deceitful speech.   A tongue can be as powerful as a weapon used in the wrong way.  Ears can hear good or evil.  What you hear can keep you awake at night, bring terror, or bring lovely music to your soul.   Satan uses music to persuade our youth to betray  their parents.  Our feet are gates to our soul.  We can use them to the house of worship or to the bars to drink.  Let's use our senses to inspire us to draw near to God.

    The Priest in the Old Testament opened the gates and kept watch over them that no enemy be allowed to enter.  God has made us as body of Christ to be priest.  We are to keep a diligent watch over these bodies that God has loaned us for awhile.  If evil came into the gates of the Temple there were severe consequences.  The Priest was dishonored.  He was stripped naked and beaten.  There are severe consequences for us letting sin into our bodies.  Every negative thought brings death to some part of us.  Positive thoughts brings life, light, and peace.  Sin reigning in our bodies brings spiritual death. 

     Let's possess our bodies with God's honor in mind.   Close the gates of your body to keep the enemy of our souls out.

     Keep ourselves unspotted from the world.  When, He comes we won't shrink back and be ashamed.