The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Work of Restoration, #60

But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. (Nehemiah 3:14)

The "dung gate" is an important aspect of the wall the Holy Spirit is building in the day in which we are living.

The repairing of the "dung gate" portrays the development of the ability of the members of the Body of Christ to purge ourselves from the sins of the flesh and our self-will. We must learn how to wash our robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. We wash our robes by confessing and forsaking our sinful and rebellious practices, and then by drawing near to God and resisting the devil.

There must be no sin whatever in the Church of Christ. The Lord Jesus is the Consuming Fire, the Incarnation of the wrath of God against all sin and rebellion (Revelation 6:16). If we have been leading a careless life, not putting away our sins, we are heading toward suffering and tribulation. We can avoid much sorrow by being diligent now in putting sin far from us with the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

Let us at once repair the "dung gate" in our life, thus making ourselves ready for the great Day of Christ that is at hand. We should seek out a fervent body of believers and work with them, having as our collective goal the putting away of sin, and our mutual growth in Christ. It is highly desirable in the present hour to become part of a group of fervent disciples if it is at all possible.

In numerous instances conscientious disciples cannot find a group of Christians that truly are disciples. The church attenders are just that—attenders at "services." In actuality, they are not Christians at all. A Christian is a disciple of the Lord, a believer who has forsaken the world, taken up his personal cross, and is following the Master with total dedication.

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

"The disciples were called Christians."

Where are the Christian disciples today? They are scattered throughout the world. A believer is very fortunate if he can find a group of disciples of the Lord, if he can find a minister of the Gospel who is preaching the Word of God instead of lawless grace and the pre-tribulation "rapture."

To be continued.