INTRODUCING GATEKEEPERS
TEXT- II CHRONICLES 23:19 "And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in."
DEFINITION: Old Testament Gatekeepers were those men who were given the responsibility of guarding the gates of the Temple. God’s people were so serious about their worship that they would not permit people to enter the Temple who were not properly cleansed according to Old Testament Law.
NEHEMIAH 12:45 tells us about the Gatekeepers: "And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son."
Further, EZEKIEL 44:11 says "Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them."
GODLY MALE LEADERSHIP: Both the Old and New Testament emphasize the importance of godly male leadership in the home, the church and the community. Men are to set the example. Both single men and married men are to be an "example of the believer in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity." I Timothy 4:12.
That is why we are launching "GATEKEEPERS" as our local TRBC men’s ministry. We want to challenge our men to become spiritual leaders in their families, church and community.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT: "Strengthening the men of Central Virginia to guard their hearts, their minds, their families, their church and their nation against the Enemy."
Satan is the great Enemy of the souls of men and nations. He is determined to destroy the moral and spiritual fabric of our society.
I PETER 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
Our society is in serious trouble today. Over 27 million children (39% of children under the age of 18) live in homes apart from their fathers. The National Commission on Children found that nearly half of all American children in disrupted families have not seen their fathers at all in the past year.
A Little League outfielder missed the ball at a crucial moment in the game. Later, in the dugout, the coach asked him what happened. Blushing, the boy looked at the ground and admitted he wasn’t paying attention to the game. "I was looking in the stands," he said. "My Dad promised to come, but he wasn’t there."
Today, I want to encourage our men-- all our men, young and old, single and married, to take up the challenge to become SPIRITUAL LEADERS... in their schools, in their homes, on the job... and in the church.
We have everyone here today from middle school, high school, college and adults.... because we want to challenge each age group to become men of God and spiritual examples to others. You, young men, will become the adult men of tomorrow. You need to become leaders today, so you can make a difference tomorrow.
FIVE DUTIES OF GATEKEEPERS
(1) GUARD YOUR HEART.
Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
Matthew 12:34, Jesus said: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
The Bible uses the term "heart" to refer to the seat of our emotions. It is a symbol of the inner man.
What you are inwardly-- you are outwardly. And what you do outwardly indicates what you are inwardly. Guard your emotions-- anger, pride, lust, greed and desire can all get you in trouble.
Money, sex and power have often been the enemies of the souls of men. Guard your heart-- be careful who and what you allow into your heart. If you are going to be the GATEKEEPER in your home and ministry, be honest with your emotions. Deal with wrong desires. Let God control your heart.
(2) GUARD YOUR MIND.
Galatians 6:3 "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
As we think, so we are. That is why the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Guard your mind. Millions of men in America are hooked on pornography. Their minds are twisted by the constant pursuit of evil thoughts. Pornography has no place in the mind of a Christian man. Neither do most television shows and many movies. Christians are becoming increasingly careless about the things they watch on TV, videos and movies. Whatever you allow to control your mind will control your your life. Think on the right kinds of things.
(3) GUARD YOUR FAMILY.
Your family is a gift from God. He created male and female. God is the author of marriage and the family.
Genesis 2:21-24 "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; (2:22) And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (2:23) And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (2:24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
Matthew 19:6 "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Yesterday, in Detroit, in the Ginger Meyer Memorial Garden of Greenfield Village-- a part of the Ford Motor Company’s Museum area-- I conducted the marriage ceremony for Beth Amato and Matthew Thiess... both former Liberty University students. Matt is a youth pastor in the Detroit area. I read this verse in Matthew 19 ... among others... to them yesterday.
Marriage is a covenant commitment between a man and a woman. Malachi 2: 14 refers to the "wife of your covenant." ("Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.")
Ecclesiastes 9:9 "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun."
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;."
The family is important to God. It is the basic unit of society. That is why Ephesians 6:4 says: "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
FOUR WAYS FATHERS MUST LEAD THEIR FAMILIES:
(A) LOVE.
Remember, actions speak louder than words. God wants us to tell our wives, children and grandchildren that we love them and He wants us to show them our love by our actions. Spend time with them-- ball games, piano recitals, vacations, homework... all of it! Laugh with them... cry with them. Love them. Love God. Most important openly display your love towrd their mother. Be there for them.
(B) INSTRUCTION.
Teach your children the ways of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:7 "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
Don’t leave the teaching to your wife alone. She will certainly do more than her part. But you must also be a teacher to your children. Teach them to memorize Scripture. Teach them how to pray.
(C) DISCIPLINE.
Proper discipline opens channels of communication between father and child, Be fair but firm. Remember, you are building character and shaping a life for the future. Discipline instills godly principles which will become their foundation for life. It is our responsibility to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4.
(D) EXAMPLE.
The ultimate key to effective fathering is a godly lifestyle lived before your children. How you live your life will tell them how to live their lives. Your example is your testimony to your children about God, life, love, marriage, family, work and the church. Be a leader in every area of life and let your life speak to your kids.
(4) GUARD YOUR CHURCH.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Christ died for our sins and to establish His church upon this earth.
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Fathers need to be committed to a Bible-believing and Christ-exalting local church. The must lead the family to a similar commitment. Faithful attendance, participation, tithing and soul-winning should be the daily and weekly example of the godly father.
(5) GUARD YOUR NATION.
Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."
Proverbs 14:34 "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."
II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Every father is responsible before God to deliver to his children and grandchildren a more godly nation than was delivered to him.
How do we accomplish this?
By obeying the dual admonition of Matthew 5:13-16, which says: "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (5:14) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (5:15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Men, single and married, we must be both salt and light every day of our lives. We must be the conscience of the culture. We must preserve godly values in the society by standing up for truth and righteousness.
And, we must be faithful witnesses to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must lead each member of our family to Christ. We must lead others to Him on a regular basis.
OUR FIRST GATEKEEPER PROJECTS;
(1) FORTY DAYS WITH THE FATHER.
The men of TRBC will spend "Forty Days With The Father", together, as we read and pray in unison the devotional books we have given to all.
(2) "FIRST FRIDAY LUNCHEONS".
Beginning Friday, August 4, at Holiday Inn Select on Main Street at Sixth Street, the TRBC Gatekeepers will conduct a noon luncheon. The First Friday Luncheons will begin at 11:45 AM and will conclude promptly at 12:45 PM. (You may arrive as early as 11:30 AM and as late as you wish.)
Our ministry program will begin promptly at 12:15 PM and will last 30 minutes. There will be a song and a speaker each week. I plan to attend them all... but I will not be the speaker each time. Ken Karcher, head football coach at Liberty University, will be our first speaker on August 4. The meals will be buffet, excellent food, eat all you want.... for $5.00.
Most importantly, each TRBC Gatekeeper is urged to bring a male guest with him. First Friday Luncheons are designed to minister to the men of Central Virginia. We want this to be an evangelistic ministry of the TRBC Gatekeepers.