1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,300 Speak to the children of Israel saying, opponent, out for you 2 00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:07,000 Cities of Refuge, where op, I spake unto you, by the hand of 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,900 Moses, that the Slater that killeth any person. 4 00:00:09,900 --> 00:00:13,600 Unawares and unwittingly May flee, thither, and they shall be 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:18,000 your Refuge from the Avenger of blood and when he had that and 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,800 when he that de flee unto one of those cities shall stand in the 7 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,100 entering of the Gate of the city and shall declare, his calls in 8 00:00:26,100 --> 00:00:29,800 the ears of the Elders of that City, they shall take him into 9 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,500 the The city under the him and give him a place that he may 10 00:00:32,500 --> 00:00:35,800 dwell among them. And if the Avenger of blood 11 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,800 pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the Slayer up 12 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,500 into his hands because he smote his neighbor's unwittingly and 13 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:47,400 hated him, not before time, and he shall dwell in that city 14 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,500 until he stand before the congregation for judgment. 15 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:53,300 And on, till the death of the high priest that shall be in 16 00:00:53,300 --> 00:00:57,200 those days, then shall the Slayer return and come under his 17 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,800 own City, and under his own house. 18 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,099 On to the city from whence, he fled and they appointed kadish 19 00:01:04,099 --> 00:01:08,200 of gout in Galilee and map, Nutella and cesium in Mount 20 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:13,600 Ephraim and carriage a Alba, which is Hebron in the mountain 21 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,000 of Judah. And on the other side, Jordan by 22 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,500 Jericho, they assigned Beezer in the wilderness upon the plane 23 00:01:21,700 --> 00:01:25,600 out of the tribe of Reuben. Andrei, mop in Gilead out of the 24 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,700 tribe of GAD and Golan and Bechamel out of the tribe. 25 00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:34,100 Of Manasseh and and the lord gave him rest. 26 00:01:36,700 --> 00:01:40,900 Excuse me, there are these were, the city is appointed for all 27 00:01:40,900 --> 00:01:43,200 the children of Israel and father, stranger that 28 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:45,700 sojourneth. Among them, that whosoever 29 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:49,900 killeth, any person at unawares might flee thither and not die 30 00:01:49,900 --> 00:01:54,200 by the hand of the Avenger of blood until he stood before the 31 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,800 congregation. Now this is a reading of a 32 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,200 historical account back in the Book of Joshua concerning the 33 00:02:00,300 --> 00:02:02,300 things we wish to speak about tonight. 34 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,500 And at this time, let us go to God In Prayer. 35 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,400 Old Testament that have future significance is are always 36 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:12,900 interesting when that long 40-year period was drawing to a 37 00:02:12,900 --> 00:02:17,400 close Moses began to prepare the children of Israel for the time 38 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,900 when they would cross over the river Jordan and settle down in 39 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:26,400 their promised land and peace. One of the things he told them 40 00:02:26,500 --> 00:02:30,200 was the arrangement that God would have for their protection 41 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:34,700 in the giving of these cities. Now when Moses finally climbed 42 00:02:34,700 --> 00:02:39,600 the mountain dial gave out his breath into the arms of God and 43 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:44,100 Joshua assumed the leadership. They came to the birds of the 44 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:46,900 Jordan River in Camp there for quite a while. 45 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,500 Just before Crossing on over Joshua renewed, this thing to 46 00:02:52,500 --> 00:02:55,900 the children of Israel. So it's very important. 47 00:02:55,900 --> 00:03:02,300 It's very, very important concerning their welfare and 48 00:03:02,300 --> 00:03:06,500 there were well, being in this future land now, he was going to 49 00:03:06,500 --> 00:03:11,400 give them some cities, he would distribute them appropriately 50 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:16,000 proportionally throughout the land so that it would be for 51 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,100 their protection. Now, the reason for this is 52 00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:23,700 under God system, anybody who slew someone the next of kin 53 00:03:23,700 --> 00:03:27,800 could slew him could slay him rather and that's the way God's 54 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,300 checks and balances went along. But now then to take care of the 55 00:03:33,100 --> 00:03:37,500 Situation. He also arranged for these 56 00:03:37,500 --> 00:03:41,700 cities to be built, so that a man who unwittingly a nun 57 00:03:41,700 --> 00:03:44,100 purposefully. In other words, accidentally 58 00:03:44,100 --> 00:03:48,100 slew a neighbor, a friend, a fellow worker or whatever. 59 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:53,100 He could flee to one of these cities and enter it and settle 60 00:03:53,100 --> 00:03:57,300 down there if he were accepted and there he would be freed from 61 00:03:57,300 --> 00:04:01,400 his pursuer. That's God's checks and balances 62 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,500 about this matter. We see here. 63 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:05,700 Now this was an interesting thing. 64 00:04:05,700 --> 00:04:09,400 Now this is a interesting just as it stands in the Old 65 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:13,700 Testament to read. That is extremely important and 66 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,700 informative. But not only is that the case, 67 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:23,900 but these cities also had a futuristic importance. 68 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:29,100 These cities look forward with prophetic fingers to the great 69 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:31,900 City of Refuge. That Jesus Christ would 70 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:35,000 establish a upon this earth called The Church. 71 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,700 And I think that's what town had in his eye. 72 00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:41,900 When he wrote what he did over here. 73 00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:47,600 We find our he says, who had fled for Refuge to lay hold upon 74 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,300 the hope that is set before you. That's what those people did and 75 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,400 Paul had reference to the great institution of God, the church. 76 00:04:54,400 --> 00:05:00,600 When he said that are in Jesus Christ, which is, of course, the 77 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,100 owner of the church. And the church is his body, his 78 00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:06,000 spiritual body. So then we can see how Uh, this 79 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:11,800 all ties in but not only is that the case but someone has helped 80 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,900 us to understand that each one of these cities each name, in 81 00:05:15,900 --> 00:05:23,100 other words, has a meaning that reflects some virtue principle. 82 00:05:23,300 --> 00:05:26,800 That is to guide the people within that church that we are 83 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,000 remember up tonight. Now when we look at it from that 84 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,200 standpoint we can see that this certainly is not an idle 85 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,000 research or study that we do. Do on this question. 86 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,900 So I would like to just go through this tonight and point 87 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:44,100 out some of the vital things that are very important to us 88 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,900 myth by these very names of the Cities. 89 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:53,300 So first, we're going to talk about K Dash, it was situated 90 00:05:53,500 --> 00:06:00,200 and the word I'm told means. Holy, holy Well certainly the 91 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:04,300 church is a holy institution and it certainly does picture the 92 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:08,900 church because the Apostle Peter said in First Peter 2 and 9 but 93 00:06:08,900 --> 00:06:14,200 ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation 94 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,200 so that's certainly pictures. The church A peculiar people, he 95 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,700 continues that you should show forth the Praises of him who 96 00:06:21,700 --> 00:06:24,700 hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous life. 97 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,400 So then has this word means holy it, pictures the fact that the 98 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:34,700 church Is a holy institution and we are overwhelmed to understand 99 00:06:34,700 --> 00:06:36,500 that. Now, the word holy itself 100 00:06:36,500 --> 00:06:39,700 suggests, the idea here are set apart. 101 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,900 Hold this right here does not refer to the fact that it is 102 00:06:42,900 --> 00:06:47,100 absolutely completely and wholly without seeing. 103 00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:51,000 That's there are not the idea conveyed right here, but right 104 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:55,000 here, it means set apart, which of course, would be without sin. 105 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,400 If you could live up to its standards, but the main reading 106 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:02,500 is The set it apart. Now, these cities were certainly 107 00:07:02,500 --> 00:07:05,700 set apart and they were set apart, so much. 108 00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:10,400 So till they were the ones that were ordained for people to find 109 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,100 protection in. Well, then the great City of 110 00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:17,300 Refuge which is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a holy 111 00:07:17,300 --> 00:07:22,000 nation and it is set apart to where the word holy does mean 112 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,700 that in 2nd Corinthians, 6 and 12, the Apostle. 113 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:28,700 Paul conveying this idea right here says, wherefore come out 114 00:07:28,707 --> 00:07:32,200 from From among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and 115 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,100 touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. 116 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:39,600 Now, there's an idea of the people of the church coming out 117 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,700 from along somebody, coming out from along the worldly, people 118 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,600 from the people of seeing the people of of degradation, and 119 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:51,200 ruin come out from among them. And, of course, that's what the 120 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:55,600 word Church in this original language means, I'm told our 121 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,600 accuracy are as the modern used Scholars. 122 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,100 Now, Days and our young preachers likes to call it 123 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:03,600 Ecclesia. So, however, you want a picture, 124 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,800 it is okay with me, that's the meaning of it and, of course, 125 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:11,300 that means called out called out. 126 00:08:11,300 --> 00:08:13,500 That's what the word church itself. 127 00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:18,100 Even means even apart from the word Holiness, which is to be 128 00:08:18,100 --> 00:08:21,800 separate because we read in Colossians 1, 13, and 14. 129 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:25,200 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated 130 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,600 us into the kingdom of his dear son. 131 00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:31,000 So Leah. We in the church today are 132 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:35,500 supposed to be just like those people were back there called 133 00:08:35,500 --> 00:08:39,400 out our separate people apart from other people. 134 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:43,799 I distinct people. Now some folks don't like that 135 00:08:43,799 --> 00:08:46,700 idea and don't like that concept of God's people today. 136 00:08:46,700 --> 00:08:50,300 They think we're isolationist as you would be as you would 137 00:08:50,300 --> 00:08:54,100 consider the political realm but we were isolationist if you 138 00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:58,300 please and until we accept that fact, we're going to never be 139 00:08:58,300 --> 00:09:03,300 the powerful moving movement that God wants us to be. 140 00:09:04,300 --> 00:09:07,800 Now some folks that idea and some preachers ideas are that 141 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,900 the church is to be a lovable likable. 142 00:09:10,900 --> 00:09:15,600 People who Mingle Everybody who gets along with everybody and 143 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,600 then we tell them, I'm a member of the Church of Christ come 144 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,500 over and be with us because we're no different from you. 145 00:09:21,500 --> 00:09:23,500 We just worship difference. You see. 146 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,800 But really we like you, we are / take of the same clubs in the 147 00:09:27,808 --> 00:09:32,200 same organizations and and we dress like you folks dressed and 148 00:09:32,300 --> 00:09:36,100 we talk like you folks talk and we live like you folks live and 149 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:38,400 everything. So really we are not too much 150 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,600 different and the church will grow like that because everybody 151 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,500 will like that. Church you see and will grow to 152 00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:45,900 be a great movement for the Lord. 153 00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:50,100 This land, there's nothing in the world that's more wrong than 154 00:09:50,100 --> 00:09:53,500 that. Now, that is just as wrong. 155 00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:56,400 That's the concept that the devil is whispering in the ears 156 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,900 of people tonight, because when you have done that to this city 157 00:09:59,900 --> 00:10:03,800 right here, you prostrated it into nothingness. 158 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,400 That's what you've done. It doesn't matter how big a 159 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,600 congregation is, how stylish the people are, how rich, I 160 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,900 well-to-do, how many rings and got on their fingers or what? 161 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,300 Let me tell you one thing, if you are not a separate people 162 00:10:16,300 --> 00:10:19,200 from the world, the Church of Christ is not going to amount to 163 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:20,800 a hill of beans in the community. 164 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:27,500 Because they're not going to they're not going to accept the 165 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:29,700 fact that we are anybody different from them. 166 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,600 You know the more different you are from a thing, the farther 167 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,700 you are from a thing the more they're going to notice you if 168 00:10:36,700 --> 00:10:39,600 you are mingling with them, they're not going to notice you 169 00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:43,700 because you are one of them. But when you are a different 170 00:10:43,700 --> 00:10:47,700 person and when you manifest some differences, when your 171 00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:51,600 separateness and your apartness is recognized, they're going to 172 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,900 look across over young and see a people over Yonder, who are so 173 00:10:55,500 --> 00:10:58,900 unlike them till they're going to be impressed. 174 00:11:00,500 --> 00:11:03,400 And that's the idea that the Lord wants his church to convey 175 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:08,600 to the world, we are set apart people, and that's the way the 176 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,200 people were back in that day. God wanted his people to be a 177 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,800 separate people when they ceased to be a separate people. 178 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,800 When they begin to intermarry with the other people, when they 179 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:24,600 begin to go up and I'll partake of their ways, the children of 180 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:29,600 Israel became a nobody And God was so displeased with him until 181 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,400 he finally let them into captivity. 182 00:11:32,500 --> 00:11:35,300 So, now that's a shadow of what we're supposed to be like today. 183 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:41,800 Also, we find John 8:45 where Jesus said, ye if ye were of the 184 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:46,500 world, the world would love its own but because you are not of 185 00:11:46,500 --> 00:11:51,000 the world but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the 186 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:55,200 world hated you. Hey you you know, I would like 187 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,600 for some people to explain to me, just what the Apostle Paul 188 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,500 is talking about. When he says meets says that you 189 00:12:01,500 --> 00:12:05,800 are not of the world with some people's view that they hold 190 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,000 today. Tell me what he's talking about 191 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:11,200 when he says his church is not of the world. 192 00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:14,900 We know he's not talking about necessarily adultery 193 00:12:14,900 --> 00:12:18,500 fornication, Thief theft, things like that. 194 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:21,100 That's a crime. That's even a crime to the Civil 195 00:12:21,100 --> 00:12:24,700 governments. He's not talking about that we 196 00:12:24,700 --> 00:12:26,500 reprobate. When we do that. 197 00:12:27,500 --> 00:12:29,700 But he's talking about that thing. 198 00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:33,600 That makes God's people look more like the world than they 199 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:39,100 look like Christ and whatever it is that makes you look more like 200 00:12:39,100 --> 00:12:42,100 the world than it makes you look like Christ is word early. 201 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:48,100 And we should abandon it, we certainly should John 17 and 14. 202 00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:52,500 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 203 00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:54,400 That's what the Apostle are, rather. 204 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,600 That's what the Lord said in his prayer and run. 205 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,000 Romans, 12 and 2. Powell said, and be not 206 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,800 conformed to this world. Be not conformed to this world. 207 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:10,300 Don't be fashioned after this world, but be ye transformed by 208 00:13:10,300 --> 00:13:13,100 the renewing of your minds. But we've go home, we could 209 00:13:13,100 --> 00:13:14,600 talk. On that for a long time but we 210 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:18,700 move on to the next one. We have another word here shisha 211 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:23,800 and somebody told me that that meant simply shoulder shoulder. 212 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,000 Well, what on Earth does shoulder have to do with it, I 213 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,200 saw him smile about when you think about it in a way and I 214 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,400 was certainly some? What mildly amused when I read 215 00:13:34,500 --> 00:13:36,600 that? That means shoulder. 216 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:40,600 Well, when we come to look at it though, we see a good point 217 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,200 there when you think of our shoulder, you think? 218 00:13:43,300 --> 00:13:47,500 Of support our shoulder is all objects of support. 219 00:13:47,500 --> 00:13:50,900 We talked about a movement, we talked about a profession where 220 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:54,700 we and we talk about a work that we're engaged in and we somebody 221 00:13:54,700 --> 00:13:58,100 gets up with an impassioned plea and says you know we've got to 222 00:13:58,100 --> 00:14:00,000 all put our shoulder to the wheel. 223 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,400 We've got to put our shoulder to the wheel to get this thing 224 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,200 moving. You see, it's a support. well, 225 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:11,600 the church is or support support of what Support of the gospel 226 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:16,700 because the church is supposed to be that instrument, which 227 00:14:16,700 --> 00:14:20,000 promotes the gospel throughout the world and it is. 228 00:14:20,900 --> 00:14:23,800 And I might say that it's our only support. 229 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:28,100 People today don't know anything about missionary societies and 230 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:30,700 they don't know anything about various clubs and things of 231 00:14:30,708 --> 00:14:33,600 that, do we? We like our little clubs and 232 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,700 things pretty much in the church if we just admit it. 233 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:40,400 But there was a movement of the, of the restoration movement 234 00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:44,100 which adapted the system are forming a particular and 235 00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:48,300 separate organization to put the gospel throughout the world, 236 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,800 that was separate and apart from the church. 237 00:14:51,700 --> 00:14:53,200 Now, we don't think that's right. 238 00:14:53,300 --> 00:14:54,800 We don't believe that's right. Right? 239 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,500 That's what caused the Christian church and the Church of Christ 240 00:14:58,500 --> 00:15:00,000 to become two different entities. 241 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:05,300 One of the things, at least now we believe that the church is 242 00:15:05,300 --> 00:15:09,100 the support of the truth. And we believe it's the only 243 00:15:09,100 --> 00:15:12,500 support of the truth and that's what that word even indicates 244 00:15:12,500 --> 00:15:16,500 right there that that church you under is the support, not some 245 00:15:16,500 --> 00:15:21,600 Club, not some organization made out of the church but the church 246 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,500 itself is the support the church. 247 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,200 Each then gets the gold, not the international missionary 248 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,600 Society. But the church we don't send 249 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,500 delegates across the country to have one bass meeting younger 250 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:38,200 and Cincinnati somewhere where everybody gets together, well, 251 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,000 now, what should we do? So we send our delegates to 252 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,100 Kenya or shall we send it to Yugoslavia? 253 00:15:44,100 --> 00:15:47,800 Where up goes, the hands, you know voting, we don't do that in 254 00:15:47,808 --> 00:15:51,300 the church. It's local congregation has its 255 00:15:51,300 --> 00:15:54,700 own support. It sends its missionary here, 256 00:15:54,700 --> 00:15:58,400 and it's preacher younger. And so, and support locally, and 257 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,400 when you are bridge that That you're treading on Dangerous 258 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:04,300 Grounds because you have not allowed the church to be the 259 00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:07,600 support of the truth. As the Bible would have it to 260 00:16:07,608 --> 00:16:10,200 be. Paul said in first Timothy 363 261 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:16,800 and 15 that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth. 262 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,800 Now that word ground means support you see? 263 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,400 And I think of two arches standing up here to huge 264 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:27,400 divinely. Built arches that holds up the 265 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:28,900 truth. That's the church. 266 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:34,400 Now this Pillar is pillar. You notice it's not pillow. 267 00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:38,400 Some folks would read it. The church is the pillar and the 268 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,700 pillar and ground of the truth because that's all they've done 269 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:45,400 on the church in their life is recline and rest and Repose and 270 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,100 sleep. The church is not that we've got 271 00:16:49,100 --> 00:16:52,000 too many people today who are asleep in the church and they're 272 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,600 using it for a parole. Well, it's not a pillow. 273 00:16:56,300 --> 00:16:59,200 And those people who have never done one single solitary thing 274 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,900 for the church, Church in their life, they've never supported 275 00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:04,300 the preacher, they've never helped with the congregation, 276 00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:06,500 they've never prayed for the work, they've never done 277 00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:10,500 anything are using the church for a pillow, but it's a pillar, 278 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,099 and it's, and it's a support of the truth. 279 00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:16,300 The church is the only support to. 280 00:17:16,300 --> 00:17:20,700 I want to point out again, with all emphasis in, the only way 281 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:23,300 you look at it, the church is the only support. 282 00:17:23,500 --> 00:17:26,300 That's the reason why we don't have Sunday schools tacked, them 283 00:17:26,300 --> 00:17:29,600 to our churches today because it's the business of the church. 284 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:33,300 To teach the people. It's the church that does that, 285 00:17:33,900 --> 00:17:38,000 we do it in a corporate fashion where people stand up and 286 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,100 address the church. That was the way it was done in 287 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,700 at the church in Corinth in the Paul regulated, it that way. 288 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,500 And he said when you all come together. 289 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:49,700 So that's what we do, we come together. 290 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:56,300 As a church, we don't split up into various organizations that 291 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:00,600 had its concept with Robert rakes in London England, when he 292 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,600 built a little system called a Sunday school, and that's where 293 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,500 it came from, and our digressive, burden, even try to 294 00:18:06,500 --> 00:18:08,100 deny. That's what it is. 295 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,500 I don't care what you call it, but the church is the only 296 00:18:12,500 --> 00:18:16,500 support for the truth for the teaching, for the word. 297 00:18:16,500 --> 00:18:20,200 And anyway, you look at it. Other people have support groups 298 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,600 that call it, they'll have Have a room in their Church Plant, 299 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,400 and that's why they are support group. 300 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:31,400 If you've had Sorrows, if you've had some problem, if you've had 301 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:37,200 some untoward illness, or something of the kind you report 302 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,500 to this support group and it usually has a leader, a 303 00:18:40,500 --> 00:18:44,300 president or chairman of something of the kind and you go 304 00:18:44,300 --> 00:18:48,300 down to that support group and they are they flutter around 305 00:18:48,300 --> 00:18:50,300 over you and do this and do that for you. 306 00:18:50,300 --> 00:18:53,700 And they do some Good things. I'm not denying that but the 307 00:18:53,700 --> 00:18:57,600 system is wrong. The church is our support group. 308 00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:02,400 And when there's a death in the congregation, when there's a 309 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:07,600 overwhelming sorrow, that takes the Love, Takes the activity out 310 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:09,900 of some of our people. We don't put them off in a 311 00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:13,400 support group. We rally around them as a church 312 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:18,000 because the church is the support, and we give them the 313 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:25,200 love and the care, and the needs that they are seeking at that 314 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,700 time as a congregation. And as a Port. 315 00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:32,400 But there's another way that the words shoulder can be used and 316 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:36,100 that's the word Comfort. We don't need another Comfort 317 00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:40,400 group either because the church is the most comforting group 318 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:44,300 that there is in all the world. And in this particular regard, 319 00:19:44,300 --> 00:19:48,100 we surround our members who fall by the wayside who have their 320 00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:51,900 problems and cares and troubles and we Comfort them where their 321 00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:55,300 comfort group, that's what we're supposed to do. 322 00:19:58,300 --> 00:20:01,300 The Apostle Paul says that through that we through the 323 00:20:01,300 --> 00:20:04,000 Comforts and patience of patience and comfort of the 324 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,500 scriptures might have hope and your that's the only way you re 325 00:20:07,500 --> 00:20:11,400 get real Comfort. Now we we do the other 326 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:15,800 necessities if we need to and we have to but you're not going to 327 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:21,100 comfort people in a substantial way until you have administered 328 00:20:21,100 --> 00:20:23,200 to them. The only hope there is in this 329 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,200 life and that is the word of God. 330 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:27,900 You know, I've been to many a funerals. 331 00:20:27,900 --> 00:20:30,700 I preached many funerals and I stand by open. 332 00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:33,200 Caskets in are sick. People come up and look at their 333 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:35,300 loved ones and they just become overwhelmed. 334 00:20:35,300 --> 00:20:37,900 And you know, the first thing they do, they fall on somebody's 335 00:20:37,900 --> 00:20:41,200 shoulder. It's just, it's just our innate 336 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,400 thing that people do they fall on somebody's what their 337 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:46,400 shoulder because that's their comfort. 338 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,800 That's their comfort and we Comfort them in that way. 339 00:20:49,900 --> 00:20:53,800 The church is a great big old shoulder as it were to comfort. 340 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:58,000 All those who are in need And that's our support group. 341 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,400 That's what we do. The church is the support, but 342 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:05,200 we go on to the next point, right here, and we noticed he 343 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,700 brung. Hebron means Alliance. 344 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:13,200 Allowance Smith's bible dictionary says that's the idea 345 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,500 and it carries with it. The felt the idea of Fellowship, 346 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:21,000 our partnership a cooperation and certainly that's what the 347 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,600 church does within its within its confines. 348 00:21:24,700 --> 00:21:29,200 We have cooperation. We have fellowship and we have 349 00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:35,200 our work, is mutual and our cares and concerns are mutual. 350 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:39,500 Now we we have joint participation with one another 351 00:21:39,500 --> 00:21:43,800 in the congregation, we all work together and no congregations 352 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,900 going to ever amount to much unless it's members all work 353 00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:49,400 together. And if there's a project at the 354 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:54,700 church undertakes, an instant instigates, everybody must work 355 00:21:54,700 --> 00:21:57,700 together in it. And I must be cooperation in it 356 00:21:57,900 --> 00:22:01,500 then if there's the need to spread the gospel down younger 357 00:22:01,500 --> 00:22:04,200 somewhere and there's always a need to spread the gospel Down 358 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,900 Yonder somewhere. We have cooperation in it 359 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:11,100 because the church sends some Godly Man Down Yonder to preach 360 00:22:11,100 --> 00:22:14,900 the gospel, to those people, while the people stay at home 361 00:22:14,900 --> 00:22:18,600 and work and make a living, and make money and put it into the 362 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,100 church treasurer. And they support that, man, 363 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:25,700 there is cooperation you see? The most beautiful aspect of 364 00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:28,100 cooperation. And I sometimes think our 365 00:22:28,100 --> 00:22:32,000 members the members who were left behind failed to grasp the 366 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,600 wonderful. Picture that you perform in that 367 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:41,000 work, when good gaggle of going dig out, this is the Greg I'm 368 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,800 talking about over here tonight when he goes to Russia or when 369 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:48,100 he goes to Africa or wherever else anybody else and he does 370 00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:51,900 something worthwhile over there. You folks right back at home. 371 00:22:51,900 --> 00:22:53,500 Have just as much to do with that. 372 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:56,000 Is he does he's just the mouth for you. 373 00:22:56,600 --> 00:23:00,100 He's just the hands for you but you're going into your pockets 374 00:23:00,100 --> 00:23:02,500 and you're bringing it out and you putting it into the church 375 00:23:02,500 --> 00:23:08,300 treasurer and you You are his support his and you cooperate 376 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,900 with him. Now the Apostle Paul I looked at 377 00:23:11,900 --> 00:23:15,300 it that way and that's the way the Apostle Paul labored he 378 00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:19,100 didn't have some separate and apart institution and he didn't 379 00:23:19,100 --> 00:23:21,600 go out all alone. Neither throughout the land. 380 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,500 You know, I've never seen one of these deals work in my life or 381 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:27,300 somebody's going to get rich and then go preach the gospel and 382 00:23:27,300 --> 00:23:31,400 not charge the church anything. I've heard of a few of those and 383 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,300 they fail just like the Autumn Leaves. 384 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,800 First place, that would be all right. 385 00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:39,200 I suppose. If you could do that, I wouldn't 386 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:42,100 have any serious objections and back that compliment you for 387 00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:48,200 spending your money that way. But God's name Arrangement is to 388 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:50,500 have cooperation with the congregation. 389 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,100 And you, you put your money in and let the church take care of 390 00:23:54,100 --> 00:23:55,400 it. And then you left the church 391 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,600 sends you. And you've got cooperation 392 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,600 there, you've got partnership there, that's the way it is. 393 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,800 Paul, was that way. I guess. 394 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,500 Post favorite congregation was the little church at Philippi 395 00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:08,500 are the big church? I don't really know how old it 396 00:24:08,500 --> 00:24:10,000 was a big. It was but the church at 397 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,500 Philippi I guess was Paul's favorite congregation. 398 00:24:12,500 --> 00:24:14,200 I know. Paul was their favorite 399 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:15,400 preacher. All right. 400 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,000 When all the other churches, abandoned the Apostle Paul and 401 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,300 when there was a rumor went out that he wasn't real, he really 402 00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:28,200 wasn't a full-fledged Apostle his apostleship became in 403 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,700 question and in doubt some of the churches became somewhat 404 00:24:31,700 --> 00:24:35,300 affected with that. Carmen did but not Philip. 405 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:40,100 I Philip I sent to him all the time, sip Philip. 406 00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:42,400 I just kept sending you that church look back. 407 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,500 And remember the time when that man came down there by the help 408 00:24:45,500 --> 00:24:48,900 of God and started their church for them and Glade his life on 409 00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:56,200 the line for them. One of his Pauline Epistles is 410 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,300 Philippians and he's writing from a dungeon cell. 411 00:24:59,300 --> 00:25:03,600 Now to the little church down, Philippi years have passed and I 412 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,300 want to read these words that he writes, I thank my God upon 413 00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:10,800 every remembrance of you. That's a touching thought. 414 00:25:11,500 --> 00:25:13,100 That's a pretty thought everyone. 415 00:25:13,100 --> 00:25:17,500 Remembers Paul had remembrances of his first work in Philippi. 416 00:25:17,500 --> 00:25:19,200 They got down there on that Sabbath day. 417 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:23,900 You know, with Silas, That was no synagogue for him to go out 418 00:25:23,900 --> 00:25:27,200 and preach to the Jews then, but it did here are some ladies who 419 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:30,000 went down yonder on the creek Bank somewheres and had prayer. 420 00:25:30,700 --> 00:25:33,900 So he went out the town and went down there on the creek bank and 421 00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:36,200 sat down with these ladies and taught them. 422 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:41,900 The word of God, taught them. The gospel that was a lady in 423 00:25:41,900 --> 00:25:45,400 the midst of the name of Lydia. She was from the distant town of 424 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:47,800 that era and was a seller of purple. 425 00:25:48,300 --> 00:25:52,000 It's not really determined yet. What That was whether it was a 426 00:25:52,008 --> 00:25:56,500 purple dye, she sold or whether it was purple material cloth 427 00:25:56,500 --> 00:25:58,600 material, some think it's the latter. 428 00:25:59,100 --> 00:26:03,500 But any rate she was you might say on a mission from her home 429 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:07,900 but was residing now in this city, but she was a devout woman 430 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,200 and since there was no synagogue, being a Jewish lady, 431 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,900 she went out with some more ladies and sat down and had 432 00:26:13,900 --> 00:26:17,500 prayer on the riverbank Paul went out and preached to them. 433 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:21,600 That's the first time they ever heard the story of a little baby 434 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:26,500 being born and laid in a Manger of a virgin. 435 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:32,600 Without overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit they're woman heart went 436 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:36,000 right out to that story and Paul I know broke that story right on 437 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:40,300 up and he led right on up people weren't his restless back in 438 00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:43,900 those days as they are today. I don't hello you preached but 439 00:26:43,900 --> 00:26:46,400 anyway he preached laid it right on up till he preached the 440 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:50,000 gospel. He told I'm satisfied about the 441 00:26:50,008 --> 00:26:53,800 death of that one on calvary's Cross, how he was buried, how he 442 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:57,900 rose again the third day. And how now his message is for 443 00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:00,400 you, to obey the gospel, that you might be saved. 444 00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:04,600 Well, it struck their heart, it struck its Target and they were 445 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:06,200 bet. She was baptized that day. 446 00:27:06,300 --> 00:27:08,300 Well, I think right there, in that River where they were 447 00:27:08,300 --> 00:27:13,400 sitting, that was certainly a good praise Yeah. 448 00:27:13,900 --> 00:27:17,700 Well do you know right after that then Paul was put in prison 449 00:27:17,700 --> 00:27:19,900 and Silas for preaching downtown? 450 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,300 They had commanded them to not preach anymore and that name and 451 00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:25,900 he went on preaching it anyway. And you know how they were 452 00:27:25,900 --> 00:27:29,400 finally arrested how they were brought up and put in a Roman 453 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,500 jailhouse and how they were in that jailhouse. 454 00:27:32,500 --> 00:27:35,600 The newest inmates of that prison. 455 00:27:36,500 --> 00:27:38,700 Their record was really not too well known. 456 00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:41,000 Except they were preaching something about a man called 457 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,500 Jesus. Whom the Romans thought was more 458 00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:47,400 or less a fable than anything else, but God zeroed in on that 459 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,300 jailhouse at night and shook its foundations and flung its 460 00:27:50,300 --> 00:27:53,300 windows open at another event. Like it has never been heard 461 00:27:53,300 --> 00:27:57,300 tell of upon Earth the invisible God hands of God, falling around 462 00:27:57,300 --> 00:27:59,800 that jailhouse and held her prisoner there that night 463 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,800 though. Their chains were Unshackled And 464 00:28:02,808 --> 00:28:05,800 that Jada thinking that it was jailbreak or that there was some 465 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:09,400 confusion came running in about to kill himself, with his sword 466 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,200 to because he knew he'd be killed in the morning. 467 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,400 Anyway, he's going to beat him to the draw and Paolo shouted 468 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:16,800 out in the middle of that. Darkness and took control said 469 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:20,900 do thyself, no harm but we are all here that was good news to 470 00:28:20,900 --> 00:28:24,700 that Jailer and it was so impressive to the Bible says he 471 00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:28,400 came running in. He sprang into the way the Bible 472 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:32,100 put he didn't come easing and tiptoeing around but he's spying 473 00:28:32,100 --> 00:28:34,700 again. In and fell down at the feet of 474 00:28:34,700 --> 00:28:36,700 these men. Why did he come to these men? 475 00:28:36,700 --> 00:28:40,100 Do you suppose that was some oil prisoners around another? 476 00:28:40,100 --> 00:28:42,700 He had known for years, probably knew them a lot better did. 477 00:28:42,700 --> 00:28:45,600 He's Nubian. I tell you why. 478 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,500 These men never have been that jailhouse before. 479 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:52,900 And that jailhouse, never had acted like that before. 480 00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:57,900 So he puts the action of that jailhouse, somehow in connection 481 00:28:57,900 --> 00:29:00,300 with these two men. And he was so right. 482 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:04,900 So he flung himself down at their feet and said, sirs, what 483 00:29:04,900 --> 00:29:08,200 must I do to be saved? Well, you know, the story. 484 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,900 Paul took him that night and Silas baptized him and all of 485 00:29:11,900 --> 00:29:14,000 his house. We got some new members of the 486 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,800 church in Philippi. So a little church was 487 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,600 established. We don't know how many more Paul 488 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:20,400 left. They came. 489 00:29:20,500 --> 00:29:23,100 That by now years have passed and gone. 490 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:26,900 I don't know where Lydia is today, maybe she's an old lady, 491 00:29:27,100 --> 00:29:31,900 still down there at Philippi occupying, a very special place 492 00:29:31,900 --> 00:29:34,500 in their heart and in the congregation, don't know where 493 00:29:34,500 --> 00:29:36,500 the Jailer is. He's probably disposed of his 494 00:29:36,500 --> 00:29:39,900 job by now. Maybe he's on pension now, I 495 00:29:39,900 --> 00:29:43,700 don't know if they had pensions, probably didn't, but at any 496 00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:45,300 rate, he's a member of the church had. 497 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:49,000 By this time they've got children and grandchildren in 498 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:51,400 the church has grown down at Philippi. 499 00:29:52,700 --> 00:29:56,200 And they're they're strong enough now to send Paul's and 500 00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:00,700 support and be a partner with him and around some him, a 501 00:30:00,700 --> 00:30:03,900 preaching, the gospel. So he says I thank my God upon 502 00:30:03,900 --> 00:30:07,000 every remembrance of you. Always in every prayer of mine 503 00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:11,600 for you all making requests with joy, for your fellowship in the 504 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:15,600 gospel from the first day. See, that's what he was talking 505 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,100 about from the first day until now. 506 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,700 But again, he writes in chapter 4, 15 and 16. 507 00:30:21,900 --> 00:30:26,200 Now, you Lithium's know. Also that in the beginning there 508 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:30,000 it is going right back to the beginning that in the beginning 509 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,800 of the Gospel. When I departed from Macedonia 510 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:37,200 no church communicated with me as concerning giving and 511 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:41,500 receiving but ye only for even in thessalonica you sent once 512 00:30:41,500 --> 00:30:45,900 and again under my Necessities there's a beautiful case of 513 00:30:45,900 --> 00:30:48,500 cooperation between the congregations and between the 514 00:30:48,500 --> 00:30:51,300 preacher and he was sending it directly to the preacher to. 515 00:30:51,300 --> 00:30:53,900 I won't tell you there was no In between treasure. 516 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:58,000 No, in between organization either and that's the way it's 517 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,600 being done today. So that's what the word means. 518 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:06,300 I think we have our cooperation with one another. 519 00:31:06,300 --> 00:31:10,900 We have our partnership, our Fortress never been another one 520 00:31:10,900 --> 00:31:13,400 like it. The church has a strong Fortress 521 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:18,200 against the powers of evil. That Jesus said our Paul said 522 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:22,000 other Foundation can no man. Lay than that, which is laid, 523 00:31:22,300 --> 00:31:26,500 which is Jesus Christ. Now there are some very, very 524 00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:29,300 impressive organizations in this world tonight. 525 00:31:30,500 --> 00:31:35,100 They have great power, they have great Prestige, their names are 526 00:31:35,108 --> 00:31:38,000 talking about on the televisions and on the radios. 527 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:39,900 And when they have their conferences and their 528 00:31:39,900 --> 00:31:44,400 associations thousands upon thousands of delegates, gathered 529 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:49,900 New Orleans or are in Cincinnati or San Francisco forever and the 530 00:31:49,900 --> 00:31:53,400 news media takes notice of that because it's a mighty 531 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:57,800 organization, but the difference in that and the church that is 532 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:02,400 pictured right here by this one. Is the fact that it doesn't have 533 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:07,100 any kind of a foundation? Jesus church is the only one 534 00:32:07,100 --> 00:32:10,600 that has him for a foundation and Paulo says, other 535 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:12,500 foundations. Can only have late. 536 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:16,500 Doesn't matter how great the superstructure is the building's 537 00:32:16,500 --> 00:32:19,600 not going to amount to a hill of beans, unless it's on the right 538 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:22,700 kind of foundation. And Jesus Christ is the 539 00:32:22,700 --> 00:32:26,200 foundation of his church and his church only. 540 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:30,400 Jesus Christ is a foundation of his institution and no other 541 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:32,600 institution in this world is Jesus Christ. 542 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:34,800 The founder of so, it is a strong. 543 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:37,600 Wrong Church. It is a fortress. 544 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:40,100 No wonder Martin Luther the great German writer. 545 00:32:40,100 --> 00:32:43,200 Could write to him that we like to sing that such a moving 546 00:32:43,300 --> 00:32:46,500 moving piece. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. 547 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:49,300 A bulwark never failing. That's right. 548 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:51,800 And that's what the church is it really is. 549 00:32:52,100 --> 00:32:55,200 There's no building and our institution is stronger than its 550 00:32:55,200 --> 00:33:00,300 foundation. As I've said, Those people who 551 00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:04,500 build million-dollar homes up on cliffs and so on and so forth 552 00:33:04,500 --> 00:33:06,800 that are so imposing and so beautiful. 553 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:11,300 And so impressive, they just wait for one of these big rains 554 00:33:11,300 --> 00:33:13,600 to come and they all just wash off at down in the holler, you 555 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,000 know? Look like they'd learned some 556 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:17,400 saints. Someday you've got to have a 557 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:20,300 foundation you know up in North Carolina. 558 00:33:20,900 --> 00:33:23,000 When I was getting up this, very little sermon. 559 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:26,600 Fact, the business that week that had a big flood up there in 560 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:28,400 the University of North Carolina. 561 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:31,900 Part of it was just flooded out and an engineer went down and 562 00:33:31,900 --> 00:33:34,300 said, well, don't you folks know you've got to put a good 563 00:33:34,300 --> 00:33:36,400 foundation under this thing down here? 564 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:40,300 You have got to put a good foundation on drill building 565 00:33:40,500 --> 00:33:44,200 under an institution and cry and God put a good foundation under 566 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:49,100 his church when he built it. And that Foundation is Jesus 567 00:33:49,100 --> 00:33:51,200 Christ. There's nothing. 568 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:57,300 That is that the forces of evil fear, as much as they do, the 569 00:33:57,300 --> 00:34:00,900 Church of the Lord, and, you know, I have a belief tonight 570 00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:03,600 that if every member of the church lived right up to the 571 00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:08,300 Live right up to the standard if we all did everything. 572 00:34:08,300 --> 00:34:10,900 We were supposed to do. That's nothing that could stop 573 00:34:10,900 --> 00:34:13,699 the church. Communism. 574 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:20,600 Humanism. modernism any other ISM that how to build an awesome 575 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:26,199 is the man said Couldn't stand against the church because the 576 00:34:26,207 --> 00:34:28,800 church is the path. Is the institution of God. 577 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:33,500 Never forget a year, a helped meeting out in Denver the church 578 00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:36,100 had divided out there and we were meeting in oh you know, 579 00:34:36,100 --> 00:34:40,100 empty store building out there Glass all around it. 580 00:34:40,100 --> 00:34:42,600 We had just about as much privacy as a goldfish in the 581 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:45,699 living room. That's and so I went down had 582 00:34:45,699 --> 00:34:48,600 Glen offering to go down. We got some butcher paper and 583 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:50,199 and papered that thing all around. 584 00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:52,699 So at least we could have a little privacy in their eyes 585 00:34:52,699 --> 00:34:54,800 braid. One of those wackos is going to 586 00:34:54,808 --> 00:34:58,800 just shoot top of Marblehead. All like I've heard them doing 587 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:01,100 before. So I want a little privacy in 588 00:35:01,100 --> 00:35:03,600 that thing. Next door to us. 589 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:06,800 That was a man running. A liquor store. 590 00:35:07,700 --> 00:35:10,100 It is a fine liquor store pretty had big. 591 00:35:10,100 --> 00:35:12,900 Pretty signs with half-naked girls standing out. 592 00:35:12,900 --> 00:35:15,100 Drinking it, you know, that's what you've got to help today, 593 00:35:15,100 --> 00:35:18,100 you know? And so all of our fine young, 594 00:35:18,100 --> 00:35:21,300 people would come out on the street and stand around and his 595 00:35:21,300 --> 00:35:24,000 business got kind of dull. He is standing out there to One 596 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:25,400 Nights doors. Hey what? 597 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:29,800 Y'all don't know that I said a gospel meeting said a, what 598 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:36,000 gospel meeting So what's that? And I told him, I said, that's 599 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,400 not all, I'm going to shut you down for this meetings over. 600 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:41,100 He said well what would you want to do that? 601 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:44,500 I said because you've got a damn, the bow drinking that that 602 00:35:44,500 --> 00:35:47,500 you're selling, that tear us up homes and run boys and girls to 603 00:35:47,500 --> 00:35:50,100 hell. That's why well of course, I 604 00:35:50,100 --> 00:35:54,300 didn't shut him down, you might know that but any rate it did 605 00:35:54,300 --> 00:36:00,300 impress him I'll have to say The church is a powerful institution 606 00:36:00,500 --> 00:36:02,800 and the workers of iniquity or afraid of it. 607 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:06,800 Don't you ever doubt it? The forces of denominationalism 608 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,300 and error are afraid of the church. 609 00:36:09,900 --> 00:36:12,700 The Bible says the wicked flee, when no man pursueth, but the 610 00:36:12,700 --> 00:36:15,900 righteous are as bold as aligned, and that's right too. 611 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:21,700 I remember that Jesus said in Matthew 15 and 13 other plants 612 00:36:21,700 --> 00:36:24,800 which my heavenly father has not planted, shall be rooted up. 613 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:28,600 But over in Matthew 16:18, he said Upon This Rock, I will 614 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:32,000 build my church and the Gates of Hell shall not Prevail against 615 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:33,600 it. And the gates, of hell, didn't 616 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:38,600 Prevail against it because the dark dark Forces of hell and of 617 00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:41,900 evil. Captured, the Son of God nailed 618 00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:44,100 him to a Roman cross. And they walked around that 619 00:36:44,100 --> 00:36:47,300 cross that day, laughing and scoffing, and mocking and 620 00:36:47,300 --> 00:36:49,600 jeering. And they thought they had hooked 621 00:36:49,600 --> 00:36:52,400 the whole business, but they didn't know. 622 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:56,000 They buried that man and he came out again. 623 00:36:56,400 --> 00:37:00,400 As William Cullen Bryant says truth crushed to Earth shall 624 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:04,800 rise again. The Eternal years. 625 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:10,000 Eternal truth years are hers, but every wounded rise in pain 626 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:12,800 and dies among her worshippers, and that's right. 627 00:37:12,900 --> 00:37:19,500 The church cannot be stopped, it will out So we are interested in 628 00:37:19,500 --> 00:37:23,200 that particular City to and the meaning of it we come out and we 629 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:26,500 mentioned next frame off. You know these places are still 630 00:37:26,500 --> 00:37:28,600 heard of Over Yonder. You still here mentioned on your 631 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:31,600 radio you know, every once in a while it's interesting remark 632 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:39,000 that means height and elevation No institution, no building is 633 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:44,000 as high as the church. Oh no, no, they may have spires 634 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:47,500 on their domes and they may have this that and the other, but 635 00:37:47,500 --> 00:37:52,900 there's no churches high as the Lord's church, because it is 636 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:57,300 exalted Above All Things. Jesus said, speaking of it in 637 00:37:57,300 --> 00:38:01,400 Matthew 5 and 14, ye are the light of the world, a city that 638 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:05,900 is cannot be hid. In my travels many times I've 639 00:38:05,900 --> 00:38:08,400 come into cities and a long distance away. 640 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:13,400 I could see the city couch under beautiful beautiful situation, I 641 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:17,300 could see it and I would think of God's Eternal City sitting 642 00:38:17,300 --> 00:38:20,200 upon a hill that nothing in this world can hide. 643 00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:23,800 No man can hide it and no force can take it. 644 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:28,500 Well, there is no institution on earth, that is so elevated in 645 00:38:28,500 --> 00:38:31,200 God's estimation in the estimation of all reasonable 646 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:35,600 thinking people as God's Church. There are many organizations 647 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:38,900 commercial political social religious of international 648 00:38:38,900 --> 00:38:43,800 Prestige, but the church has the most exalted power of all. 649 00:38:43,900 --> 00:38:48,000 No wonder, David could say in Psalms 48 and 12 when he 650 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:52,500 contemplated the Zion of the Old Testament, which was a figure of 651 00:38:52,500 --> 00:38:55,400 the Zion of the New Testament that Paul spoke about me. 12th 652 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:58,800 chapter book of Hebrews. When he said well kebabs, I go 653 00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:01,900 round about Ur, tell the towers are off Marquis. 654 00:39:01,900 --> 00:39:06,700 Well, her blue walks, consider her palaces. 655 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:09,100 It's you may tell it to the generations to follow. 656 00:39:09,500 --> 00:39:12,000 Now, that's the church, but goal. 657 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:16,900 And we mentioned goal and next, and last evening, that means 658 00:39:16,900 --> 00:39:21,100 Circle, Circle, little circle means complete. 659 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:26,400 A circle is complete and that's what the church is Colossians 2 660 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:30,300 and 10 says and ye are complete in him which is the head of all 661 00:39:30,300 --> 00:39:33,100 principality and power. Now, why did Paul write that 662 00:39:33,100 --> 00:39:36,300 statement right there? We mentioned that Sunday morning 663 00:39:36,300 --> 00:39:39,200 I believe in our sermon but I want to mention is again in 664 00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:42,800 connection with this thought right here, Paul was writing to 665 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:46,700 the church at colossae because it was being disturbed by those 666 00:39:46,700 --> 00:39:50,900 Jewish agitators from Jerusalem who wanted to come down there. 667 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:55,600 And I'll fix circumcision to their belief in their worship. 668 00:39:56,300 --> 00:40:00,300 They followed on Paul's heels everywhere, he went and they 669 00:40:00,300 --> 00:40:02,900 didn't care if they become a member of the Lord's Church, the 670 00:40:02,900 --> 00:40:07,200 new institution, if They would allow them to inject 671 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:10,100 circumcision in the tenets of Moses law in with it. 672 00:40:10,100 --> 00:40:13,800 That's what they want to do and they would be satisfied and Paul 673 00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:20,300 called them evil workers and said let no man deceive you with 674 00:40:20,300 --> 00:40:22,600 the philosophies of men and so on and so forth. 675 00:40:22,600 --> 00:40:26,300 And he goes on to say and you are complete in him which is the 676 00:40:26,300 --> 00:40:28,900 head of all principalities and Powers. 677 00:40:28,900 --> 00:40:31,100 They were teaching that you had to have this. 678 00:40:31,100 --> 00:40:33,800 Other are you wouldn't be complete in fact that was their 679 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:36,900 argument to the Ready? I know you've done all right. 680 00:40:36,900 --> 00:40:39,600 Now you this is okay, but now if you want to be complete you got 681 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:45,100 to put this in, Paul said, no wait, you are complete in him, 682 00:40:45,300 --> 00:40:49,000 right? Where you stand under Christ, 683 00:40:49,300 --> 00:40:52,200 which is the head of all principalities and Powers. 684 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:57,000 He said and also in Ephesians 1:22 where he says and he is the 685 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:03,400 head over all things to the body, not Moses, but Christ and 686 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:06,400 you keep it that way to look. Cause you can't add anything to 687 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:08,400 it. If you do, it won't be complete. 688 00:41:08,500 --> 00:41:11,600 Well, we not bothered with circumcision tonight in the 689 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:15,700 church, we are not bothered with animal sacrifices tonight. 690 00:41:15,700 --> 00:41:18,200 The church but we are bothered with a lot of other things. 691 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:21,900 And there are a lot of people who are dissatisfied and 692 00:41:21,900 --> 00:41:27,100 unsatisfied with God's plain simple, arrangement of things in 693 00:41:27,100 --> 00:41:30,000 his church. But they don't seem to know 694 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:32,100 because they're too worldly minded. 695 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:36,000 And they're too interested in the elaborate things of Life, 696 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:38,800 they're more interested in the novel things of laughter, they 697 00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:41,600 are Godly things. They think you've got to have 698 00:41:41,600 --> 00:41:45,600 all of these worldly attractions attack attached to the church in 699 00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:50,100 order to make it complete. But today we still say as Paul 700 00:41:50,100 --> 00:41:54,900 did your complete in him. Just it was really down and just 701 00:41:54,900 --> 00:41:56,900 as it was built. That's the reason why we don't 702 00:41:56,900 --> 00:41:58,800 have any additions to the Lord's church. 703 00:41:59,700 --> 00:42:02,900 I was talking to a man one time, in fact he was a member of the 704 00:42:02,900 --> 00:42:09,700 Greek Orthodox Church. He was a Lebanese, I was talking 705 00:42:09,700 --> 00:42:12,700 to him and, you know, Charleston, South Carolina. 706 00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:14,300 I never forget. I rather Charleston West 707 00:42:14,300 --> 00:42:17,500 Virginia, excuse me. And we were talking and he was 708 00:42:17,500 --> 00:42:20,300 telling me about the church that he was in there, broth. 709 00:42:20,500 --> 00:42:22,700 He said, we're the closest to the Bible of any church. 710 00:42:22,700 --> 00:42:24,300 There is. I said, well, I want to call you 711 00:42:24,300 --> 00:42:27,100 hand out there and I went to tell them things that they had. 712 00:42:27,100 --> 00:42:28,700 I said, where you going to find that in the Bible? 713 00:42:28,700 --> 00:42:29,800 Oh well, these things don't matter. 714 00:42:29,800 --> 00:42:33,400 I said but it just goes to prove that you are not closer to the 715 00:42:33,408 --> 00:42:35,400 Bible than the Lord's church that. 716 00:42:35,400 --> 00:42:37,800 I'm Remember how I said, where we worship down there. 717 00:42:37,800 --> 00:42:41,600 So plain, we're supposed to the Bible, which the plane will see 718 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:45,700 a complete to you'd be bored to death it, you wouldn't last a 719 00:42:45,700 --> 00:42:48,200 service. And that's the reason why a lot 720 00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:50,600 of folks are dotting. The Church of Christ tonight is 721 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:52,900 because there's not enough things in there to attract their 722 00:42:52,900 --> 00:42:56,300 worldly minded attention. They've got to have a parade 723 00:42:56,300 --> 00:43:00,700 going on all the time, they've got to have something to flag or 724 00:43:00,700 --> 00:43:03,500 own, they're drooping. Spirits is Alexander Campbell 725 00:43:03,500 --> 00:43:07,500 said, What he was talking about, instrumental music in the 726 00:43:07,500 --> 00:43:12,500 church. Well, that's the way it is. 727 00:43:17,100 --> 00:43:20,100 If he's is one in three says blessed, be the God and father 728 00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:23,500 of our Lord, Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all 729 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:26,800 spiritual blessings in Christ, Jesus. 730 00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:30,700 So we don't need any more. And we read that all scripture 731 00:43:30,700 --> 00:43:33,500 is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for 732 00:43:33,500 --> 00:43:35,900 Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction. 733 00:43:35,900 --> 00:43:37,900 In righteousness. That the man of God may be 734 00:43:37,900 --> 00:43:42,400 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works right there 735 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:44,700 in the scriptures. That's the reason why we don't 736 00:43:44,700 --> 00:43:47,500 have a human Creed. That's the reason why we don't 737 00:43:47,500 --> 00:43:50,900 have anything, but the Bible is because it furnishes us with 738 00:43:50,900 --> 00:43:55,600 everything we need. And if there's something, we're 739 00:43:55,600 --> 00:43:57,600 practicing, that's not found in there. 740 00:43:57,700 --> 00:44:02,600 We don't need it and it's to our destruction. the best way I know 741 00:44:02,600 --> 00:44:06,300 to explain it Bible schools Sunday, school's Bible societies 742 00:44:06,300 --> 00:44:10,100 missionary, societies youth groups Church Retreats you name 743 00:44:10,100 --> 00:44:15,800 them Now having mentioned all of this, I want to go into another 744 00:44:16,000 --> 00:44:17,800 phase here before I'm through tonight. 745 00:44:17,800 --> 00:44:21,100 I want to notice some facts about these cities as they 746 00:44:21,100 --> 00:44:28,500 relate to the Lord's Church. The weight of these cities were 747 00:44:28,500 --> 00:44:34,000 made accessible and it was the Commandments of God's law that 748 00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:38,500 they keep a road crew out, keeping the roads up up to these 749 00:44:38,500 --> 00:44:41,100 cities. I hope they're better than some 750 00:44:41,100 --> 00:44:45,400 of ours today but they had a real crew out that kept the road 751 00:44:45,400 --> 00:44:49,000 smooth. That kept it straight. 752 00:44:50,000 --> 00:44:54,800 Because when this man had slain a fella, he didn't have time to 753 00:44:54,808 --> 00:44:57,900 stand around and Mauro. Now, what's the best rolled down 754 00:44:57,900 --> 00:45:01,600 yonder? He had to get it on right down 755 00:45:01,600 --> 00:45:03,500 that road because it's a man right behind him. 756 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:07,700 And in fact, man call him, he's killed Ladies and gentlemen, 757 00:45:07,700 --> 00:45:12,000 that's just that's just comparative of the fact that the 758 00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:16,500 devil's right on your heels. He's as a great roaring, lion 759 00:45:16,500 --> 00:45:19,100 seeking, whom he may devour and he's after you. 760 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:23,300 And there's just one thing you can find Refuge as Paul said 761 00:45:23,800 --> 00:45:26,700 plea for the hope that is set before us right there in that 762 00:45:26,700 --> 00:45:29,200 church and the Church of Jesus Christ. 763 00:45:29,900 --> 00:45:34,000 Isaiah 2 & 2, & 3 tells us the way. 764 00:45:34,300 --> 00:45:37,900 He said, Come, Ye and let us go up to the House could go up to 765 00:45:37,900 --> 00:45:42,800 the mountain, to the house of Jacob, to Mountain of the Lord's 766 00:45:42,800 --> 00:45:44,100 House. There it is. 767 00:45:45,200 --> 00:45:49,200 God has given us support our rather signpost and guides to 768 00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:52,500 tell us the way. Yeah, along the road they had 769 00:45:52,500 --> 00:45:55,800 signs point. Did you know that these are? 770 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:58,300 I don't know if they said, how many miles it was down there, 771 00:45:58,400 --> 00:46:00,300 but in Europe, they had signed boards. 772 00:46:01,600 --> 00:46:04,500 Because you couldn't come to an intersection and think we'll 773 00:46:04,500 --> 00:46:07,800 know better go and ask mr. Jones is this the way down to 774 00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:11,400 Beezer Down Yonder, I'm a little mixed up on the road over here. 775 00:46:11,400 --> 00:46:15,300 No you don't have time for that because there's another man may 776 00:46:15,300 --> 00:46:19,900 be right behind you. After you so the signs just said 777 00:46:19,900 --> 00:46:22,000 bees are and you just kept going. 778 00:46:22,800 --> 00:46:26,100 Well God has given us on post and died. 779 00:46:26,800 --> 00:46:30,900 Psalms 119:105, David said Thy word oh Lord is a lamp to my 780 00:46:30,900 --> 00:46:33,500 feet. The light to my path and that's 781 00:46:33,500 --> 00:46:35,700 the surest map. You can find any word. 782 00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:39,500 The whole Bible is a signpost. The Old Testament tells us that 783 00:46:39,500 --> 00:46:42,500 Jesus Christ would come in, the four gospels tells us that he 784 00:46:42,500 --> 00:46:44,800 did come and that he died for our sins. 785 00:46:45,000 --> 00:46:48,200 The Acts of the Apostles continues, the history of 786 00:46:48,200 --> 00:46:51,100 conversion and tells us what to do to be saved and how to get 787 00:46:51,100 --> 00:46:54,300 into that City Down, Yonder, and the Epistles tells us how to 788 00:46:54,300 --> 00:46:57,500 live in that City, the rest of our life, a long as we're here 789 00:46:57,500 --> 00:47:00,500 on this world, Revelations tells us who the benefits that we're 790 00:47:00,500 --> 00:47:03,600 going to begin. By living in that City, these 791 00:47:03,600 --> 00:47:05,600 cities were reach for all parts of the country. 792 00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:08,500 Three of them were on one side of Jordan, and three of them on 793 00:47:08,500 --> 00:47:11,200 the other side of Jordan, for those two and a half tribes that 794 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:13,400 were allowed to stay over there, you see? 795 00:47:13,900 --> 00:47:18,100 And from any part of the country, they could find access 796 00:47:18,100 --> 00:47:20,300 to these cities. Well, from anywhere in the 797 00:47:20,300 --> 00:47:23,800 world, you can find access to the Lord's church right here 798 00:47:24,100 --> 00:47:28,700 because in Matthew 28, + 8 x 8. 19 the scripture said, go ye 799 00:47:28,700 --> 00:47:31,100 into all the world and preach the gospel. 800 00:47:31,300 --> 00:47:34,000 To Every Creature he that believeth and is baptized shall 801 00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:37,300 be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned these cities 802 00:47:37,300 --> 00:47:41,600 will supplied with water and all of their physical needs so that 803 00:47:41,600 --> 00:47:44,900 they didn't have to go outside that City because it's dangerous 804 00:47:44,900 --> 00:47:48,300 to go outside that City seeking some need. 805 00:47:48,300 --> 00:47:51,900 Because when you go outside that City, that man, may be lurking 806 00:47:51,900 --> 00:47:56,200 right on the outside and it was his privilege to get you and 807 00:47:56,200 --> 00:47:59,500 kill you if you walk right outside, that gate so you better 808 00:47:59,500 --> 00:48:02,600 stay in a city. Now that's the way it is over 809 00:48:02,600 --> 00:48:05,100 here. All spiritual blessings are in 810 00:48:05,100 --> 00:48:08,300 Christ Jesus and doesn't as I said not one thing we need 811 00:48:08,300 --> 00:48:11,100 outside the church, you tell me what it is. 812 00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:17,000 So we stay inside the church because God has ordained itself. 813 00:48:17,500 --> 00:48:21,200 Ephesians 1 and 3. Well the gates of these cities 814 00:48:21,200 --> 00:48:25,300 stood open day and night and that's remarkable because all 815 00:48:25,300 --> 00:48:28,000 the cities of that day were walled cities. 816 00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:33,700 And the nighttime, the great huge, ponderous Gates were shut 817 00:48:33,700 --> 00:48:37,300 to but not these cities god-ordained. 818 00:48:37,300 --> 00:48:40,300 These Gates stay open. So that that man could come 819 00:48:40,300 --> 00:48:43,200 running in at 12 o'clock at midnight. 3:00 in the morning. 820 00:48:43,800 --> 00:48:47,200 He could come flying into the gate and find Refuge. 821 00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:50,300 Well, the gates of this city has been opened ever since the day 822 00:48:50,300 --> 00:48:54,200 of Pentecost and there's no such thing as opening the door of the 823 00:48:54,200 --> 00:48:56,100 church, you don't hear that today. 824 00:48:56,200 --> 00:48:59,200 But when I started preaching the denomination's would say well, 825 00:48:59,400 --> 00:49:01,800 We're going to open the doors of the church tonight. 826 00:49:03,300 --> 00:49:06,100 We told them that the doors of the Lord's Church, stood opened 827 00:49:06,100 --> 00:49:08,700 all the time that was opened on the day of Pentecost, and it 828 00:49:08,700 --> 00:49:11,100 won't be shut until the day of judgment. 829 00:49:11,400 --> 00:49:14,000 That's when the doors of the Lord's Church would be shocked. 830 00:49:14,200 --> 00:49:16,400 I can't shut it because I'm not big enough. 831 00:49:16,700 --> 00:49:19,300 I'm not great enough. In fact, Revelation 3 and 7 832 00:49:19,300 --> 00:49:22,700 says, I am he that openeth? And no man, shutteth. 833 00:49:22,900 --> 00:49:26,400 That's what said of Jesus Christ whose the Builder that, see that 834 00:49:26,400 --> 00:49:27,500 church. If you please? 835 00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:32,200 As if fifty five, six and seven says seek ye the Lord while he 836 00:49:32,200 --> 00:49:35,000 may be found call upon him. While he is near. 837 00:49:35,100 --> 00:49:37,700 Let the wicked forsake his way. And the unrighteous man, his 838 00:49:37,700 --> 00:49:39,600 thoughts and let him return to the Lord. 839 00:49:39,700 --> 00:49:41,700 And I will have mercy upon Him, saith the Lord. 840 00:49:41,800 --> 00:49:45,200 And to our God for, he will abundantly pardon and then, you 841 00:49:45,200 --> 00:49:48,000 know, nobody's turned down in that City. 842 00:49:49,800 --> 00:49:52,400 And some denominations and I've got to go Creed. 843 00:49:52,400 --> 00:49:54,900 I carried around with you for the purpose of showing people, 844 00:49:54,900 --> 00:49:59,600 this the most prominent denomination in America. 845 00:50:00,500 --> 00:50:03,700 This side of the Catholic church has this Creed. 846 00:50:03,700 --> 00:50:07,700 It says no man shall be received as a member of this church to 847 00:50:07,700 --> 00:50:10,100 whose admission five members object--. 848 00:50:10,200 --> 00:50:12,400 Now, they might deny it today but it's right there in your 849 00:50:12,400 --> 00:50:15,500 Creed. In other words, when the 850 00:50:16,400 --> 00:50:19,700 directors of the, their Church get together, where the board 851 00:50:19,700 --> 00:50:23,700 meets, and they bring this man into try to see if he's a fifth 852 00:50:23,700 --> 00:50:26,600 member of the church. If this man has something in his 853 00:50:26,600 --> 00:50:30,500 past, its objectionable, if he's done something, to one of these 854 00:50:30,500 --> 00:50:34,800 men and there are some animosity against him five, men could 855 00:50:34,800 --> 00:50:38,000 stand up and that thrust him out of the church and you couldn't 856 00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:39,200 begins. I'll tell you, that's not the 857 00:50:39,207 --> 00:50:42,400 case with the Lord City with its City of Refuge. 858 00:50:43,600 --> 00:50:47,600 Jesus said he that cometh to me. I will in no wise cast out 859 00:50:48,900 --> 00:50:52,600 That's the difference and you don't I don't add him to the 860 00:50:52,600 --> 00:50:56,600 church anyway and I don't kick him out of the church because we 861 00:50:56,600 --> 00:51:00,700 read in Acts 2 and 47. What the record says That they 862 00:51:00,700 --> 00:51:03,800 were added to the church daily. Such as should be saved, are 863 00:51:03,800 --> 00:51:07,200 such as we're being saved. That's a difference in man and 864 00:51:07,200 --> 00:51:15,500 God Well, in conclusion, Can't You See since he's visited 865 00:51:15,700 --> 00:51:20,900 cities have been built, casting the ideas and the lessons that 866 00:51:20,900 --> 00:51:24,600 they give us today. Having their fulfillment 867 00:51:25,400 --> 00:51:29,800 resolved in this institution right here, we can see that 868 00:51:29,800 --> 00:51:35,600 heaven has done everything for man's benefit and for man's 869 00:51:35,600 --> 00:51:40,000 salvation. And for man's Refuge, From Sindh 870 00:51:40,200 --> 00:51:43,600 and from Evil, there's nothing else for God to do. 871 00:51:45,000 --> 00:51:47,900 Now, I don't get down and pray God to save me tonight, do this. 872 00:51:47,900 --> 00:51:49,600 All I do is just get in that City. 873 00:51:50,400 --> 00:51:53,500 Just do the things that puts me in that City because that's 874 00:51:53,500 --> 00:51:58,000 God's arrangement for me. All things are ready. 875 00:51:59,100 --> 00:52:04,700 The gates are always open and if you were lost, it's your fault. 876 00:52:04,800 --> 00:52:09,900 It's certainly not gods. Will you Flee for Refuge 877 00:52:09,900 --> 00:52:12,500 tonight? Will you not just be almost 878 00:52:12,500 --> 00:52:16,700 persuaded but altogether. As Paul said, suppose a man had 879 00:52:16,700 --> 00:52:19,000 come to one of these cities and he just stopped at that 880 00:52:19,000 --> 00:52:23,100 Southgate year and Stewart. He almost made it, didn't he? 881 00:52:24,300 --> 00:52:26,200 Well is mr. Bliss, setting your song. 882 00:52:26,200 --> 00:52:29,800 Almost cannot Avail almost as but the failed sad sad that 883 00:52:29,800 --> 00:52:35,900 bitter, whale almost but lost. We don't want to be almost, but 884 00:52:35,900 --> 00:52:40,300 we want to make sure that we are all together redeemed and 885 00:52:40,300 --> 00:52:43,000 accepted in the Lord city. Am I talking to one tonight? 886 00:52:43,000 --> 00:52:45,900 Who's never become a member of the Lord's Church? 887 00:52:46,300 --> 00:52:48,100 Give you that opportunity while we standing. 888 00:52:48,100 --> 00:52:53,400 While we see, we thank you for listening to our podcast, put on 889 00:52:53,400 --> 00:52:57,000 by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 890 00:52:57,000 --> 00:53:00,500 Road in Bakersfield, if you would, like any additional 891 00:53:00,500 --> 00:53:03,400 information, or you would like to receive a free. 892 00:53:03,600 --> 00:53:05,700 Bible correspondence, course by mail. 893 00:53:06,300 --> 00:53:10,200 Please email us at info at True Church of Christ 894 00:53:10,200 --> 00:53:14,100 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 895 00:53:14,100 --> 00:53:20,700 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. please 896 00:53:20,700 --> 00:53:23,900 make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 897 00:53:23,900 --> 00:53:24,800 honored guest