2 Corinthians 7:1, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

As we continue anti-clockwise around the Old City of Jerusalem, the fifth gate we come to is…

THE DUNG GATE (Nehemiah 3:14)

The dung gate was the gate through which they took all the garbage to be burnt or buried. Without the Dung Gate they could not keep the city clean.

Oh how important it is to have a Dung Gate in our homes – a place where we constantly throw out all the trash. Of course, we know that we have to keep doing this in the physical realm. If we do not throw out the trash each day, our homes will soon be filled with refuse and start to stink. The same applies in the spiritual realm. If we do not use the Dung Gate to constantly throw out all that grieves the Holy Spirit, the atmosphere will soon become smelly and putrid. The Dung Gate should be a well-used gate.

Is this trash gate in your home in constant use? Or has it not been used for some time? Start using it daily. And then, just as every now and then you do a spring clean in your home, throwing out junk from drawers, cupboards and forgotten places, so you also need to do this spiritually. Put aside some time and ask the Lord to show you anything in your home that needs to be thrown out. Ask Him about the attitudes and atmosphere in your home. As you listen to Him, He will show you what is spoiling the love, peace and unity in your family. As He reveals these things to you, deal with them and throw them out. Be ruthless. Don’t hang on to habits and attitudes that are festering in your marriage relationship and in your family. This is why you have a Dung Gate! You can’t do without this gate.

I know the Holy Spirit will be speaking to you personally about what He wants you to throw out, but there are some things that are specifically mentioned in Scripture. Let’s look at these:

THROW OUT THE BONDWOMAN (Genesis 21:9-10; Galatians 4:21-31)

This passage speaks about Hagar (the slave woman) and Sarah (the free woman). The bondwoman speaks to us of living under the law and unbelief. The free woman speaks of living under grace and the promises of God. The bondwoman speaks of slavery to legality. The free woman speaks of liberty in Christ. The amazing truth is that when we are born again into God’s family, we are no longer children of the slave-woman. We are children of the free and heirs of God and all His promises!

However, we do not always embrace this truth. We continue to live under the tyranny of the law. We gravitate to legalism. God does not want this. His Word is very strong to us Galatians 4:30 -31; 5:1, “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman… we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

We must throw out all legality from our homes. It cannot live with freedom in Christ. We must throw out all unbelief and trust in self. It cannot live together with a life of faith and trusting in the promises of God. Legalism will turn our children away from God. Grace will draw them. Legalism stinks of pride and self-inflicted rules. Liberty releases the presence of God in our midst. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Throw out the legal spirit. Take it right through your Dung Gate and dump it.

Next week we will look at some more things we need to throw out.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh God, please show me the things in my life that are garbage. Lord, please cleanse me with your precious blood and make me clean. Show me the things in our home that are refuse and need throwing out. Cleanse our home with your precious blood. Help me to keep a clean home that will be a place where you love to dwell. Give me courage and strength to throw out every tiny thing that grieves your Holy Spirit. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION: