Becoming Doorkeepers for the King 2014
Nehemiah 7:1
New King James Version (NKJV)
7 Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the
singers, and the Levites had been appointed,
In the Biblical account of Nehemiah we can learn many great things about leadership in
the Kingdom of God. God has used this story to minister to Kendra and me many times. I
usually find myself looking in Nehemiah for answers when I am uncertain of the direction God
desires for my life. In fact God used this story to lead us into the ministry we are now in, so it
only seemed natural when I found myself seeking God’s clearer vision for this church that I
found myself in the book of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah is about rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. Rebuilding the walls can
have many applications in our lives. As I read the story I am find encouragement for my own
life as I see that despite opposition the people were able to complete the task in less time than
expected with God’s help and teamwork. These scriptures in Nehemiah can give all people
great encouragement when they set out on a God given task in their life.
When asking God for a clearer vision in this part of my life and in this ministry of this
church I had to ask if the walls were done, thinking maybe God would show me what to do
next. I had to ask some questions about this body of believers.
1. Like the people in Nehemiah do we act as one united force helping each other
accomplish the task at hand?
2. Are there enough people who believe that God can do a good work through us if
we unite?
3. Is it a worthy task we have set out on?
I would have to say a large enough of us have said yes to these questions. How then do
we maintain the walls once they are established?
1. Worship of Jesus in our everyday life must be our #1 focus
2. Shared Vision (hopefully after today we see a little better what this vision is)
3. Teamwork (we work together to accomplish this shared vision)
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New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Annual Meeting 2014 Vision Statement
Becoming Doorkeepers for the King 2014
So that brings us to the question of where are we headed as a church body? What is the
vision God would have us focus on? I think it would be easier to think of a few programs we
could try out, change the way our services flow a little, or mimic another successful ministry
than what I believe God is asking us to do.
How many would agree that hard or not, it is God’s will that we want to live out here at
New Beginnings? If we say yes then what does that look like?
Well what I am about to share is an easy concept to grasp, easy to remember, but very
deep in its application in our lives. It is not a redirection or a rebuke, but instead I believe God
has given us a visual aid to help us understand more fully His call on our life.
The verse we read in Nehemiah God used to show me the heart and approach of what
He is calling us as Christians on earth to live like and especially this particular part of the larger
body of Christ gathered here today. God would ask that we would live as gatekeepers among
the people. David writes;
Psalm 84:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
The King James Version translates original word into the English word “porter” which
can be a gatekeeper or a doorkeeper as my good friend Dan pointed out. God is asking us to
be a worship minded body who act like porters for Jesus. I probably will use both gatekeeper
and doorkeeper interchangeably as I talk today, just so you know this beforehand and do not
get confused.
What is a biblical gatekeeper? Before I had a chance to dig into my study on
gatekeepers very far I felt the Lord impressing this definition on my heart. “A gatekeeper
would allow people into the presence of God and encourage them to stay there.” This is kind
of like the concept I have mentioned before that we use at camp to effectively minister to the
youth we try to keep them in the presence and allow God to do His thing.
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New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Annual Meeting 2014 Vision Statement
Becoming Doorkeepers for the King 2014
That is pretty good but I wanted to research it out a little bit just to give you a head start
in what the scripture says about this position so we can get an idea of what we see them doing
in the Bible. So this will not be an all-inclusive study on what porters did in the Bible but more
on the lines of what God wants us to learn from them so we can apply it to our ministry and
our daily lives.
This verse teaches us that we are a kingdom of Priest thanks to what Jesus has done for us;
Revelations 1:6 NASB
and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and
the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
This is important that we remember as we read our first passage on biblical
gatekeepers.
Ezekiel 44:11 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, as gatekeepers of the house and ministers of
the house; they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall
stand before them to minister to them.
Here we see that gatekeepers coming alongside the people as priest, to walk with them
and help the people with their offerings and sacrifices. As modern day gatekeepers we would
walk beside people as they learn to worship, love, serve and receive healing from God.
Gatekeepers help others experience God and place priority on the experience of others more
than themselves.
As they stand before the people they are ministering to the needs of those around
them. I know this for sure; that through helping others engage in their Christian walk of Pray
Live Tell Serve and Give, we too receive the love of one another and the ministry we need
from each other. Each part of the body does its own part.
The next verse I want to look at show a slightly different look at the job of these priestly
gatekeepers.
1 Chronicles 15:23-24
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New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Annual Meeting 2014 Vision Statement
Becoming Doorkeepers for the King 2014
23 Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark; 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel,
Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark
of God; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark.
These gatekeepers opened the doors to allow the ark to be brought in. In the Old
Testament the Ark would represent the presence of God here on earth. So what does that
mean for us to be gatekeepers for God’s presence? We open the doors for God’s presence.
It starts by us continuing to focus on heart felt worship in our services that are focused
on loving Jesus in His presence.
In order to invite others into God’s presence we must first make it a priority in our own
personal life. This is where the effort from us comes in.
Who will set aside the comforts of church as usual to seek more genuine experiences
with God? Who will spend time in prayer before the doors open seeking God on behalf of the
people? Who will worship God in order to create an atmosphere of worship in our sanctuary
faithfully so that God is honored and established strongly in our hearts before any other
person even sets foot through those doors?
The Gate keepers will! These are the ones God will use to usher in what others need.
By ensuring that you are connected to God and focused on Him, others will feel His manifest
presence in their lives while here among us.
Jesus speaks of door keepers in the New Testament as well, listen to what this verse has
to say.
John 10:2-3 New King James Version (NKJV)
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens,
and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
The door keeper in this verse is responsible for opening the door for the shepherd to
speak to the sheep. As gatekeepers or doorkeepers we open opportunities for others to meet
Jesus. We invite them into His presence and facilitate an environment that they can hear
Jesus calling them out. That is pretty cool when you think about it because the gatekeeper is
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New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Annual Meeting 2014 Vision Statement
Becoming Doorkeepers for the King 2014
not responsible to change the person or fix the problem, but they are to be faithful to open
the door for others to hear what Jesus is saying.
We are called to be a people who make it easy and exciting to meet Jesus whether you
are in this church or any other. Though it is not us that do the actual work of transformation in
a person’s life, there are many things that we can work on to become better at facilitating a
place people feel comfortable in. They must first feel comfortable and welcome in order to
open up to what God wants to show them. It’s almost like they must feel the love of God
coming from us before they really will approach God and receive the love first hand.
Many times this is a position that requires us to spend life outside of the church with
people, enjoying them and ensuring them of the plan God has for them. We may say this
“once a doorkeeper, always a doorkeeper” as the duty of a doorkeeper extends far beyond the
doors of the church. We live 24/7 looking for opportunities to open up and allow Jesus to
speak through us to others.
Mark 13:34 New King James Version (NKJV)
34
It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants,
and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
Doorkeepers are also to watch over the servants of the house.
2 Kings 7:11 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 And the gatekeepers called out, and they told it to the king’s household inside.
We need to be awake in order to do that. I am not talking about being an alarmist, but
we must be aware of the times and surrounding we are living in so we can inform others of
dangers in our culture, our surrounding, and even their own lives.
Most of us have a tendency to ask how it is going. (Or how’s she going? If you are close
to Butte) How many of us ask the second or third question we need to really find out how
others are doing?
1. How’s your week?
2. What’s God been doing in your life?
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New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Annual Meeting 2014 Vision Statement
Becoming Doorkeepers for the King 2014
3. Tell me more about that and why?
4. Can I help you in any way?
5. Can I pray for you?
As I read through some of these things and God spoke to my heart I could start to see
what that looks like inside our church community if we were faithful porters. I saw a lot of the
great benefits we would experience from refining some of the things we do with a little clearer
focus. And I realized how noble the call truly was.
What a great thing we have before us as God would trust us to keep the doors and gates
of His kingdom. This is such a noble cause and for such a loving God. It is no wonder that
David cried out that Psalm;
Psalm 84:10 New King James Version (NKJV)
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
What a true honor in the kingdom to have such a position of great humility. God is
faithful and promises to exalt the humble. If we could just apply this picture of a servant
opening the door for others to experience God, to usher in God’s presence by being a Spirit
bearer
Most of you remember what it was like back in the day when men opened the doors for
ladies and each other. After you, no after you, no I insist after you. This is a good visual to
keep us focused on what God call some of His dearest most humble of servants.
Vote instead of an alter call
All those who agree with David’s life vision is good for us too, all those opposed?
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New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Annual Meeting 2014 Vision Statement