Sometime in the early 80's, I came across several tapes by a good friend of mine, Kelley Varner, titled, "The Twelve Gates of The Holy City." As I begin to listen to each of these 16 tapes, I was astounded at the meaning of each of these gates that we must go through and experience in order to become mature in the Lord and as clear as crystal or a diamond. As I studied each of the 12 experiences that we are put through in order to mature in Christ, I was astonished to learn that the Holy Spirit had led me through most of the Gates without me being aware of it.

 

You would be most satisfied if you would take the time to study these Twelve Gates and allow the Lord to lead you through each of them. In this journey with the Holy Spirit, you will discover what one of these Spiritual Tribes you feel the most comfortable with because that is where the Lord has placed you and you will be fulfilled ministering there. Go to my website at www.rejoicinglifeministries.com and scroll down to The Twelve Gates of the Holy City.

 

This week I want to share with you a portion of the Gate of Simeon which is very important to us in the age that we are now in:

 

Simeon was the second son born to Jacob and Leah. His name means `hearing'. In a broader sense it means, `He who hears and obeys what he hears'. There is an experience that will help you to hear what the Spirit is saying. That experience is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Simeon was given the ability of God to hear, not just with his ears but he has a spiritual ear to hear the voice of the Lord. There came a time in God's plan for Simeon that he was bound in the land of Egypt by his then unrecognized brother, Joseph. There may come times in God's plan for you that it seems as though you can hear nothing from Him. Be encouraged in times like these because He has everything in control and is just molding your faith and character.

The heart and understanding the voice of the Lord by Simeon joins with the praise of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to drive out the forces seen and unseen that would withstand God's people from inheriting the promises of the Lord. As the forever unfolding plan of the Lord continues, we shall understand more clearly how these two tribes complement each other.

Those of the Tribe of Simeon not only have the baptism of the Holy Spirit but they have, by much discipline, learned to discern the voice of the Lord. As a result, they recognize the messengers of the Lord and quickly carry out the instructions of the Lord that was sent to them. They will not follow everyone that has a national ministry but will follow only the voice of the Lord.

The name Simeon was on the fifth stone of the breastplate. The stone was a sapphire stone. The Song of Solomon 5:14 says,

"His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: His belly is as bright ivory overlaid with (hearing) Sapphires"

Jesus said in John 7:38,

"He that believeth on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

The inner most being of Jesus was set on just one thing; hearing what the Father had to say. Exodus 24:10 says,

"And they saw the God of Israel; and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, (hearing) and as it were the body of heaven in His clearness."

Ezekiel 1:26 says,

"And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone..."

Only those who can hear are going to rule!

Isaiah 54:11 says,

"O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest and not comforted, behold I will lay thy stones with fair colors and thy foundations with sapphires."

This is speaking of the Church as She is being restored, and the very foundation of this restoration is the fact that this Bride can hear what the Spirit is saying to Her generation.

Lamentations 4:7 says,

"Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were ruddier in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire."

God is going to give His Church pastors after His own heart who shall feed His people with knowledge and understanding. He is now polishing them, and this word literally means to cut off or divide. He is doing a work of purification, and I encourage you to present your bodies a living sacrifice and let Him polish you like a sapphire stone. Faith comes by hearing, and when you really start to hear, He will start to polish.

The Second Foundation of the Wall around the Holy City is also Sapphire. This sapphire is different from the present-day stone that we call a sapphire. This sapphire is a clear blue gem known as lapis-lazuli. This stone is second in hardness only to the diamond. For the first two foundations of this wall there had to be stones that were extremely hard.

We have seen that the first foundation of this wall is a jasper stone and that the jasper stone is a diamond. The name of the apostle written on this jasper stone was the Apostle Peter. We also learned that the first foundation is repentance.

The second foundation is the other side of the first foundation. Just as with the coins we used every day they have two sides. The flip side of the first foundation is FAITH! Faith is something also that will never be out of your life. A careful study of the scriptures will reveal to you the name of the apostle that was written on the second stone. The apostle John is the name written on the second foundation stone.

What two foundations must you have to qualify you to partake of the Passover? Repentance and faith!

Simeon was the second son born to Jacob but was inscribed on the fifth stone of the breastplate. Five is the number of grace.

Jesus said in Mark 4:24-25,

"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you;and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them." "

We must learn to guard the deposit of the Word that God has placed in you, for there is more to be added. Fresh revelation is at hand. Even now, a fresh Word is being quickened to your spirit. Meditate upon it and you will find yourself released from cycles of confinement and lifted up to a new level. Let God's word take root, and you will have clarity of discernment and decision-making. You will know what to do. God's word in you will make a way where there was no way. You will mark a path for others who will hear you and come behind you. Steward the hunger. Stay hungry and thirsty. It will lead you to the banqueting table of power that God has prepared for you, even spread in the Presence of your enemies.

Jesus said in Matt. 5:6,

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled"

You are advancing! There is more ground for you. Not everyone is willing to expand their capacity to take it, but you will because you have been given a rare invitation. As Jesus told the disciples in Matt. 13:11-12, so He tells you:

 

"It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."

 

This is an important point. To him who "has," more shall be given. If you don't have it, you lose what you've got. So, what is it? Whatever it is, it's a priceless commodity. It is the secret to supernatural increase. Jesus gives a clue in Matthew 13:9: "To him who has ears to hear let him hear." It has to do with hearing what the Spirit says. It is understanding by revelation.

 

If you have the ability to hear what the Spirit says, you have the gift given to Solomon of a hearing heart. The Spirit and the Word agree. Get ready. Learn to scan the Bible with a hungry heart. Your born-again spirit will pick up on what the Holy Spirit is speaking. God's Spirit communicates with your spirit, which conveys understanding to your head. That spiritual understanding is called a "revelation" or a "rhema."

Rhema is the revealed word of God.

 

Romans 8:14:16 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. . . .The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit." If you have ears to hear, you'll have a feast to eat. God will take you on a journey from book to book and reveal connections to you that will literally rewire your mind to think with the mind of Christ.

 

To live this way, you will need to put to death every competing desire, addiction, and distraction. You'll have to reprioritize what's important. You'll have to overcome the persecution and tribulation that comes "because of the Word," but you will have a fresh revival as the Spirit and the Word come alive in you and through you.