Speak to the children of Israel saying, opponent, out for you
Cities of Refuge, where op, I spake unto you, by the hand of
Moses, that the Slater that killeth any person.
Unawares and unwittingly May flee, thither, and they shall be
your Refuge from the Avenger of blood and when he had that and
when he that de flee unto one of those cities shall stand in the
entering of the Gate of the city and shall declare, his calls in
the ears of the Elders of that City, they shall take him into
the The city under the him and give him a place that he may
dwell among them. And if the Avenger of blood
pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the Slayer up
into his hands because he smote his neighbor's unwittingly and
hated him, not before time, and he shall dwell in that city
until he stand before the congregation for judgment.
And on, till the death of the high priest that shall be in
those days, then shall the Slayer return and come under his
own City, and under his own house.
On to the city from whence, he fled and they appointed kadish
of gout in Galilee and map, Nutella and cesium in Mount
Ephraim and carriage a Alba, which is Hebron in the mountain
of Judah. And on the other side, Jordan by
Jericho, they assigned Beezer in the wilderness upon the plane
out of the tribe of Reuben. Andrei, mop in Gilead out of the
tribe of GAD and Golan and Bechamel out of the tribe.
Of Manasseh and and the lord gave him rest.
Excuse me, there are these were, the city is appointed for all
the children of Israel and father, stranger that
sojourneth. Among them, that whosoever
killeth, any person at unawares might flee thither and not die
by the hand of the Avenger of blood until he stood before the
congregation. Now this is a reading of a
historical account back in the Book of Joshua concerning the
things we wish to speak about tonight.
And at this time, let us go to God In Prayer.
Old Testament that have future significance is are always
interesting when that long 40-year period was drawing to a
close Moses began to prepare the children of Israel for the time
when they would cross over the river Jordan and settle down in
their promised land and peace. One of the things he told them
was the arrangement that God would have for their protection
in the giving of these cities. Now when Moses finally climbed
the mountain dial gave out his breath into the arms of God and
Joshua assumed the leadership. They came to the birds of the
Jordan River in Camp there for quite a while.
Just before Crossing on over Joshua renewed, this thing to
the children of Israel. So it's very important.
It's very, very important concerning their welfare and
there were well, being in this future land now, he was going to
give them some cities, he would distribute them appropriately
proportionally throughout the land so that it would be for
their protection. Now, the reason for this is
under God system, anybody who slew someone the next of kin
could slew him could slay him rather and that's the way God's
checks and balances went along. But now then to take care of the
Situation. He also arranged for these
cities to be built, so that a man who unwittingly a nun
purposefully. In other words, accidentally
slew a neighbor, a friend, a fellow worker or whatever.
He could flee to one of these cities and enter it and settle
down there if he were accepted and there he would be freed from
his pursuer. That's God's checks and balances
about this matter. We see here.
Now this was an interesting thing.
Now this is a interesting just as it stands in the Old
Testament to read. That is extremely important and
informative. But not only is that the case,
but these cities also had a futuristic importance.
These cities look forward with prophetic fingers to the great
City of Refuge. That Jesus Christ would
establish a upon this earth called The Church.
And I think that's what town had in his eye.
When he wrote what he did over here.
We find our he says, who had fled for Refuge to lay hold upon
the hope that is set before you. That's what those people did and
Paul had reference to the great institution of God, the church.
When he said that are in Jesus Christ, which is, of course, the
owner of the church. And the church is his body, his
spiritual body. So then we can see how Uh, this
all ties in but not only is that the case but someone has helped
us to understand that each one of these cities each name, in
other words, has a meaning that reflects some virtue principle.
That is to guide the people within that church that we are
remember up tonight. Now when we look at it from that
standpoint we can see that this certainly is not an idle
research or study that we do. Do on this question.
So I would like to just go through this tonight and point
out some of the vital things that are very important to us
myth by these very names of the Cities.
So first, we're going to talk about K Dash, it was situated
and the word I'm told means. Holy, holy Well certainly the
church is a holy institution and it certainly does picture the
church because the Apostle Peter said in First Peter 2 and 9 but
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation
so that's certainly pictures. The church A peculiar people, he
continues that you should show forth the Praises of him who
hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous life.
So then has this word means holy it, pictures the fact that the
church Is a holy institution and we are overwhelmed to understand
that. Now, the word holy itself
suggests, the idea here are set apart.
Hold this right here does not refer to the fact that it is
absolutely completely and wholly without seeing.
That's there are not the idea conveyed right here, but right
here, it means set apart, which of course, would be without sin.
If you could live up to its standards, but the main reading
is The set it apart. Now, these cities were certainly
set apart and they were set apart, so much.
So till they were the ones that were ordained for people to find
protection in. Well, then the great City of
Refuge which is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a holy
nation and it is set apart to where the word holy does mean
that in 2nd Corinthians, 6 and 12, the Apostle.
Paul conveying this idea right here says, wherefore come out
from From among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.
Now, there's an idea of the people of the church coming out
from along somebody, coming out from along the worldly, people
from the people of seeing the people of of degradation, and
ruin come out from among them. And, of course, that's what the
word Church in this original language means, I'm told our
accuracy are as the modern used Scholars.
Now, Days and our young preachers likes to call it
Ecclesia. So, however, you want a picture,
it is okay with me, that's the meaning of it and, of course,
that means called out called out.
That's what the word church itself.
Even means even apart from the word Holiness, which is to be
separate because we read in Colossians 1, 13, and 14.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated
us into the kingdom of his dear son.
So Leah. We in the church today are
supposed to be just like those people were back there called
out our separate people apart from other people.
I distinct people. Now some folks don't like that
idea and don't like that concept of God's people today.
They think we're isolationist as you would be as you would
consider the political realm but we were isolationist if you
please and until we accept that fact, we're going to never be
the powerful moving movement that God wants us to be.
Now some folks that idea and some preachers ideas are that
the church is to be a lovable likable.
People who Mingle Everybody who gets along with everybody and
then we tell them, I'm a member of the Church of Christ come
over and be with us because we're no different from you.
We just worship difference. You see.
But really we like you, we are / take of the same clubs in the
same organizations and and we dress like you folks dressed and
we talk like you folks talk and we live like you folks live and
everything. So really we are not too much
different and the church will grow like that because everybody
will like that. Church you see and will grow to
be a great movement for the Lord.
This land, there's nothing in the world that's more wrong than
that. Now, that is just as wrong.
That's the concept that the devil is whispering in the ears
of people tonight, because when you have done that to this city
right here, you prostrated it into nothingness.
That's what you've done. It doesn't matter how big a
congregation is, how stylish the people are, how rich, I
well-to-do, how many rings and got on their fingers or what?
Let me tell you one thing, if you are not a separate people
from the world, the Church of Christ is not going to amount to
a hill of beans in the community.
Because they're not going to they're not going to accept the
fact that we are anybody different from them.
You know the more different you are from a thing, the farther
you are from a thing the more they're going to notice you if
you are mingling with them, they're not going to notice you
because you are one of them. But when you are a different
person and when you manifest some differences, when your
separateness and your apartness is recognized, they're going to
look across over young and see a people over Yonder, who are so
unlike them till they're going to be impressed.
And that's the idea that the Lord wants his church to convey
to the world, we are set apart people, and that's the way the
people were back in that day. God wanted his people to be a
separate people when they ceased to be a separate people.
When they begin to intermarry with the other people, when they
begin to go up and I'll partake of their ways, the children of
Israel became a nobody And God was so displeased with him until
he finally let them into captivity.
So, now that's a shadow of what we're supposed to be like today.
Also, we find John 8:45 where Jesus said, ye if ye were of the
world, the world would love its own but because you are not of
the world but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hated you. Hey you you know, I would like
for some people to explain to me, just what the Apostle Paul
is talking about. When he says meets says that you
are not of the world with some people's view that they hold
today. Tell me what he's talking about
when he says his church is not of the world.
We know he's not talking about necessarily adultery
fornication, Thief theft, things like that.
That's a crime. That's even a crime to the Civil
governments. He's not talking about that we
reprobate. When we do that.
But he's talking about that thing.
That makes God's people look more like the world than they
look like Christ and whatever it is that makes you look more like
the world than it makes you look like Christ is word early.
And we should abandon it, we certainly should John 17 and 14.
They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.
That's what the Apostle are, rather.
That's what the Lord said in his prayer and run.
Romans, 12 and 2. Powell said, and be not
conformed to this world. Be not conformed to this world.
Don't be fashioned after this world, but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your minds. But we've go home, we could
talk. On that for a long time but we
move on to the next one. We have another word here shisha
and somebody told me that that meant simply shoulder shoulder.
Well, what on Earth does shoulder have to do with it, I
saw him smile about when you think about it in a way and I
was certainly some? What mildly amused when I read
that? That means shoulder.
Well, when we come to look at it though, we see a good point
there when you think of our shoulder, you think?
Of support our shoulder is all objects of support.
We talked about a movement, we talked about a profession where
we and we talk about a work that we're engaged in and we somebody
gets up with an impassioned plea and says you know we've got to
all put our shoulder to the wheel.
We've got to put our shoulder to the wheel to get this thing
moving. You see, it's a support. well,
the church is or support support of what Support of the gospel
because the church is supposed to be that instrument, which
promotes the gospel throughout the world and it is.
And I might say that it's our only support.
People today don't know anything about missionary societies and
they don't know anything about various clubs and things of
that, do we? We like our little clubs and
things pretty much in the church if we just admit it.
But there was a movement of the, of the restoration movement
which adapted the system are forming a particular and
separate organization to put the gospel throughout the world,
that was separate and apart from the church.
Now, we don't think that's right.
We don't believe that's right. Right?
That's what caused the Christian church and the Church of Christ
to become two different entities.
One of the things, at least now we believe that the church is
the support of the truth. And we believe it's the only
support of the truth and that's what that word even indicates
right there that that church you under is the support, not some
Club, not some organization made out of the church but the church
itself is the support the church.
Each then gets the gold, not the international missionary
Society. But the church we don't send
delegates across the country to have one bass meeting younger
and Cincinnati somewhere where everybody gets together, well,
now, what should we do? So we send our delegates to
Kenya or shall we send it to Yugoslavia?
Where up goes, the hands, you know voting, we don't do that in
the church. It's local congregation has its
own support. It sends its missionary here,
and it's preacher younger. And so, and support locally, and
when you are bridge that That you're treading on Dangerous
Grounds because you have not allowed the church to be the
support of the truth. As the Bible would have it to
be. Paul said in first Timothy 363
and 15 that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
Now that word ground means support you see?
And I think of two arches standing up here to huge
divinely. Built arches that holds up the
truth. That's the church.
Now this Pillar is pillar. You notice it's not pillow.
Some folks would read it. The church is the pillar and the
pillar and ground of the truth because that's all they've done
on the church in their life is recline and rest and Repose and
sleep. The church is not that we've got
too many people today who are asleep in the church and they're
using it for a parole. Well, it's not a pillow.
And those people who have never done one single solitary thing
for the church, Church in their life, they've never supported
the preacher, they've never helped with the congregation,
they've never prayed for the work, they've never done
anything are using the church for a pillow, but it's a pillar,
and it's, and it's a support of the truth.
The church is the only support to.
I want to point out again, with all emphasis in, the only way
you look at it, the church is the only support.
That's the reason why we don't have Sunday schools tacked, them
to our churches today because it's the business of the church.
To teach the people. It's the church that does that,
we do it in a corporate fashion where people stand up and
address the church. That was the way it was done in
at the church in Corinth in the Paul regulated, it that way.
And he said when you all come together.
So that's what we do, we come together.
As a church, we don't split up into various organizations that
had its concept with Robert rakes in London England, when he
built a little system called a Sunday school, and that's where
it came from, and our digressive, burden, even try to
deny. That's what it is.
I don't care what you call it, but the church is the only
support for the truth for the teaching, for the word.
And anyway, you look at it. Other people have support groups
that call it, they'll have Have a room in their Church Plant,
and that's why they are support group.
If you've had Sorrows, if you've had some problem, if you've had
some untoward illness, or something of the kind you report
to this support group and it usually has a leader, a
president or chairman of something of the kind and you go
down to that support group and they are they flutter around
over you and do this and do that for you.
And they do some Good things. I'm not denying that but the
system is wrong. The church is our support group.
And when there's a death in the congregation, when there's a
overwhelming sorrow, that takes the Love, Takes the activity out
of some of our people. We don't put them off in a
support group. We rally around them as a church
because the church is the support, and we give them the
love and the care, and the needs that they are seeking at that
time as a congregation. And as a Port.
But there's another way that the words shoulder can be used and
that's the word Comfort. We don't need another Comfort
group either because the church is the most comforting group
that there is in all the world. And in this particular regard,
we surround our members who fall by the wayside who have their
problems and cares and troubles and we Comfort them where their
comfort group, that's what we're supposed to do.
The Apostle Paul says that through that we through the
Comforts and patience of patience and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope and your that's the only way you re
get real Comfort. Now we we do the other
necessities if we need to and we have to but you're not going to
comfort people in a substantial way until you have administered
to them. The only hope there is in this
life and that is the word of God.
You know, I've been to many a funerals.
I preached many funerals and I stand by open.
Caskets in are sick. People come up and look at their
loved ones and they just become overwhelmed.
And you know, the first thing they do, they fall on somebody's
shoulder. It's just, it's just our innate
thing that people do they fall on somebody's what their
shoulder because that's their comfort.
That's their comfort and we Comfort them in that way.
The church is a great big old shoulder as it were to comfort.
All those who are in need And that's our support group.
That's what we do. The church is the support, but
we go on to the next point, right here, and we noticed he
brung. Hebron means Alliance.
Allowance Smith's bible dictionary says that's the idea
and it carries with it. The felt the idea of Fellowship,
our partnership a cooperation and certainly that's what the
church does within its within its confines.
We have cooperation. We have fellowship and we have
our work, is mutual and our cares and concerns are mutual.
Now we we have joint participation with one another
in the congregation, we all work together and no congregations
going to ever amount to much unless it's members all work
together. And if there's a project at the
church undertakes, an instant instigates, everybody must work
together in it. And I must be cooperation in it
then if there's the need to spread the gospel down younger
somewhere and there's always a need to spread the gospel Down
Yonder somewhere. We have cooperation in it
because the church sends some Godly Man Down Yonder to preach
the gospel, to those people, while the people stay at home
and work and make a living, and make money and put it into the
church treasurer. And they support that, man,
there is cooperation you see? The most beautiful aspect of
cooperation. And I sometimes think our
members the members who were left behind failed to grasp the
wonderful. Picture that you perform in that
work, when good gaggle of going dig out, this is the Greg I'm
talking about over here tonight when he goes to Russia or when
he goes to Africa or wherever else anybody else and he does
something worthwhile over there. You folks right back at home.
Have just as much to do with that.
Is he does he's just the mouth for you.
He's just the hands for you but you're going into your pockets
and you're bringing it out and you putting it into the church
treasurer and you You are his support his and you cooperate
with him. Now the Apostle Paul I looked at
it that way and that's the way the Apostle Paul labored he
didn't have some separate and apart institution and he didn't
go out all alone. Neither throughout the land.
You know, I've never seen one of these deals work in my life or
somebody's going to get rich and then go preach the gospel and
not charge the church anything. I've heard of a few of those and
they fail just like the Autumn Leaves.
First place, that would be all right.
I suppose. If you could do that, I wouldn't
have any serious objections and back that compliment you for
spending your money that way. But God's name Arrangement is to
have cooperation with the congregation.
And you, you put your money in and let the church take care of
it. And then you left the church
sends you. And you've got cooperation
there, you've got partnership there, that's the way it is.
Paul, was that way. I guess.
Post favorite congregation was the little church at Philippi
are the big church? I don't really know how old it
was a big. It was but the church at
Philippi I guess was Paul's favorite congregation.
I know. Paul was their favorite
preacher. All right.
When all the other churches, abandoned the Apostle Paul and
when there was a rumor went out that he wasn't real, he really
wasn't a full-fledged Apostle his apostleship became in
question and in doubt some of the churches became somewhat
affected with that. Carmen did but not Philip.
I Philip I sent to him all the time, sip Philip.
I just kept sending you that church look back.
And remember the time when that man came down there by the help
of God and started their church for them and Glade his life on
the line for them. One of his Pauline Epistles is
Philippians and he's writing from a dungeon cell.
Now to the little church down, Philippi years have passed and I
want to read these words that he writes, I thank my God upon
every remembrance of you. That's a touching thought.
That's a pretty thought everyone.
Remembers Paul had remembrances of his first work in Philippi.
They got down there on that Sabbath day.
You know, with Silas, That was no synagogue for him to go out
and preach to the Jews then, but it did here are some ladies who
went down yonder on the creek Bank somewheres and had prayer.
So he went out the town and went down there on the creek bank and
sat down with these ladies and taught them.
The word of God, taught them. The gospel that was a lady in
the midst of the name of Lydia. She was from the distant town of
that era and was a seller of purple.
It's not really determined yet. What That was whether it was a
purple dye, she sold or whether it was purple material cloth
material, some think it's the latter.
But any rate she was you might say on a mission from her home
but was residing now in this city, but she was a devout woman
and since there was no synagogue, being a Jewish lady,
she went out with some more ladies and sat down and had
prayer on the riverbank Paul went out and preached to them.
That's the first time they ever heard the story of a little baby
being born and laid in a Manger of a virgin.
Without overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit they're woman heart went
right out to that story and Paul I know broke that story right on
up and he led right on up people weren't his restless back in
those days as they are today. I don't hello you preached but
anyway he preached laid it right on up till he preached the
gospel. He told I'm satisfied about the
death of that one on calvary's Cross, how he was buried, how he
rose again the third day. And how now his message is for
you, to obey the gospel, that you might be saved.
Well, it struck their heart, it struck its Target and they were
bet. She was baptized that day.
Well, I think right there, in that River where they were
sitting, that was certainly a good praise Yeah.
Well do you know right after that then Paul was put in prison
and Silas for preaching downtown?
They had commanded them to not preach anymore and that name and
he went on preaching it anyway. And you know how they were
finally arrested how they were brought up and put in a Roman
jailhouse and how they were in that jailhouse.
The newest inmates of that prison.
Their record was really not too well known.
Except they were preaching something about a man called
Jesus. Whom the Romans thought was more
or less a fable than anything else, but God zeroed in on that
jailhouse at night and shook its foundations and flung its
windows open at another event. Like it has never been heard
tell of upon Earth the invisible God hands of God, falling around
that jailhouse and held her prisoner there that night
though. Their chains were Unshackled And
that Jada thinking that it was jailbreak or that there was some
confusion came running in about to kill himself, with his sword
to because he knew he'd be killed in the morning.
Anyway, he's going to beat him to the draw and Paolo shouted
out in the middle of that. Darkness and took control said
do thyself, no harm but we are all here that was good news to
that Jailer and it was so impressive to the Bible says he
came running in. He sprang into the way the Bible
put he didn't come easing and tiptoeing around but he's spying
again. In and fell down at the feet of
these men. Why did he come to these men?
Do you suppose that was some oil prisoners around another?
He had known for years, probably knew them a lot better did.
He's Nubian. I tell you why.
These men never have been that jailhouse before.
And that jailhouse, never had acted like that before.
So he puts the action of that jailhouse, somehow in connection
with these two men. And he was so right.
So he flung himself down at their feet and said, sirs, what
must I do to be saved? Well, you know, the story.
Paul took him that night and Silas baptized him and all of
his house. We got some new members of the
church in Philippi. So a little church was
established. We don't know how many more Paul
left. They came.
That by now years have passed and gone.
I don't know where Lydia is today, maybe she's an old lady,
still down there at Philippi occupying, a very special place
in their heart and in the congregation, don't know where
the Jailer is. He's probably disposed of his
job by now. Maybe he's on pension now, I
don't know if they had pensions, probably didn't, but at any
rate, he's a member of the church had.
By this time they've got children and grandchildren in
the church has grown down at Philippi.
And they're they're strong enough now to send Paul's and
support and be a partner with him and around some him, a
preaching, the gospel. So he says I thank my God upon
every remembrance of you. Always in every prayer of mine
for you all making requests with joy, for your fellowship in the
gospel from the first day. See, that's what he was talking
about from the first day until now.
But again, he writes in chapter 4, 15 and 16.
Now, you Lithium's know. Also that in the beginning there
it is going right back to the beginning that in the beginning
of the Gospel. When I departed from Macedonia
no church communicated with me as concerning giving and
receiving but ye only for even in thessalonica you sent once
and again under my Necessities there's a beautiful case of
cooperation between the congregations and between the
preacher and he was sending it directly to the preacher to.
I won't tell you there was no In between treasure.
No, in between organization either and that's the way it's
being done today. So that's what the word means.
I think we have our cooperation with one another.
We have our partnership, our Fortress never been another one
like it. The church has a strong Fortress
against the powers of evil. That Jesus said our Paul said
other Foundation can no man. Lay than that, which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. Now there are some very, very
impressive organizations in this world tonight.
They have great power, they have great Prestige, their names are
talking about on the televisions and on the radios.
And when they have their conferences and their
associations thousands upon thousands of delegates, gathered
New Orleans or are in Cincinnati or San Francisco forever and the
news media takes notice of that because it's a mighty
organization, but the difference in that and the church that is
pictured right here by this one. Is the fact that it doesn't have
any kind of a foundation? Jesus church is the only one
that has him for a foundation and Paulo says, other
foundations. Can only have late.
Doesn't matter how great the superstructure is the building's
not going to amount to a hill of beans, unless it's on the right
kind of foundation. And Jesus Christ is the
foundation of his church and his church only.
Jesus Christ is a foundation of his institution and no other
institution in this world is Jesus Christ.
The founder of so, it is a strong.
Wrong Church. It is a fortress.
No wonder Martin Luther the great German writer.
Could write to him that we like to sing that such a moving
moving piece. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.
A bulwark never failing. That's right.
And that's what the church is it really is.
There's no building and our institution is stronger than its
foundation. As I've said, Those people who
build million-dollar homes up on cliffs and so on and so forth
that are so imposing and so beautiful.
And so impressive, they just wait for one of these big rains
to come and they all just wash off at down in the holler, you
know? Look like they'd learned some
saints. Someday you've got to have a
foundation you know up in North Carolina.
When I was getting up this, very little sermon.
Fact, the business that week that had a big flood up there in
the University of North Carolina.
Part of it was just flooded out and an engineer went down and
said, well, don't you folks know you've got to put a good
foundation under this thing down here?
You have got to put a good foundation on drill building
under an institution and cry and God put a good foundation under
his church when he built it. And that Foundation is Jesus
Christ. There's nothing.
That is that the forces of evil fear, as much as they do, the
Church of the Lord, and, you know, I have a belief tonight
that if every member of the church lived right up to the
Live right up to the standard if we all did everything.
We were supposed to do. That's nothing that could stop
the church. Communism.
Humanism. modernism any other ISM that how to build an awesome
is the man said Couldn't stand against the church because the
church is the path. Is the institution of God.
Never forget a year, a helped meeting out in Denver the church
had divided out there and we were meeting in oh you know,
empty store building out there Glass all around it.
We had just about as much privacy as a goldfish in the
living room. That's and so I went down had
Glen offering to go down. We got some butcher paper and
and papered that thing all around.
So at least we could have a little privacy in their eyes
braid. One of those wackos is going to
just shoot top of Marblehead. All like I've heard them doing
before. So I want a little privacy in
that thing. Next door to us.
That was a man running. A liquor store.
It is a fine liquor store pretty had big.
Pretty signs with half-naked girls standing out.
Drinking it, you know, that's what you've got to help today,
you know? And so all of our fine young,
people would come out on the street and stand around and his
business got kind of dull. He is standing out there to One
Nights doors. Hey what?
Y'all don't know that I said a gospel meeting said a, what
gospel meeting So what's that? And I told him, I said, that's
not all, I'm going to shut you down for this meetings over.
He said well what would you want to do that?
I said because you've got a damn, the bow drinking that that
you're selling, that tear us up homes and run boys and girls to
hell. That's why well of course, I
didn't shut him down, you might know that but any rate it did
impress him I'll have to say The church is a powerful institution
and the workers of iniquity or afraid of it.
Don't you ever doubt it? The forces of denominationalism
and error are afraid of the church.
The Bible says the wicked flee, when no man pursueth, but the
righteous are as bold as aligned, and that's right too.
I remember that Jesus said in Matthew 15 and 13 other plants
which my heavenly father has not planted, shall be rooted up.
But over in Matthew 16:18, he said Upon This Rock, I will
build my church and the Gates of Hell shall not Prevail against
it. And the gates, of hell, didn't
Prevail against it because the dark dark Forces of hell and of
evil. Captured, the Son of God nailed
him to a Roman cross. And they walked around that
cross that day, laughing and scoffing, and mocking and
jeering. And they thought they had hooked
the whole business, but they didn't know.
They buried that man and he came out again.
As William Cullen Bryant says truth crushed to Earth shall
rise again. The Eternal years.
Eternal truth years are hers, but every wounded rise in pain
and dies among her worshippers, and that's right.
The church cannot be stopped, it will out So we are interested in
that particular City to and the meaning of it we come out and we
mentioned next frame off. You know these places are still
heard of Over Yonder. You still here mentioned on your
radio you know, every once in a while it's interesting remark
that means height and elevation No institution, no building is
as high as the church. Oh no, no, they may have spires
on their domes and they may have this that and the other, but
there's no churches high as the Lord's church, because it is
exalted Above All Things. Jesus said, speaking of it in
Matthew 5 and 14, ye are the light of the world, a city that
is cannot be hid. In my travels many times I've
come into cities and a long distance away.
I could see the city couch under beautiful beautiful situation, I
could see it and I would think of God's Eternal City sitting
upon a hill that nothing in this world can hide.
No man can hide it and no force can take it.
Well, there is no institution on earth, that is so elevated in
God's estimation in the estimation of all reasonable
thinking people as God's Church. There are many organizations
commercial political social religious of international
Prestige, but the church has the most exalted power of all.
No wonder, David could say in Psalms 48 and 12 when he
contemplated the Zion of the Old Testament, which was a figure of
the Zion of the New Testament that Paul spoke about me. 12th
chapter book of Hebrews. When he said well kebabs, I go
round about Ur, tell the towers are off Marquis.
Well, her blue walks, consider her palaces.
It's you may tell it to the generations to follow.
Now, that's the church, but goal.
And we mentioned goal and next, and last evening, that means
Circle, Circle, little circle means complete.
A circle is complete and that's what the church is Colossians 2
and 10 says and ye are complete in him which is the head of all
principality and power. Now, why did Paul write that
statement right there? We mentioned that Sunday morning
I believe in our sermon but I want to mention is again in
connection with this thought right here, Paul was writing to
the church at colossae because it was being disturbed by those
Jewish agitators from Jerusalem who wanted to come down there.
And I'll fix circumcision to their belief in their worship.
They followed on Paul's heels everywhere, he went and they
didn't care if they become a member of the Lord's Church, the
new institution, if They would allow them to inject
circumcision in the tenets of Moses law in with it.
That's what they want to do and they would be satisfied and Paul
called them evil workers and said let no man deceive you with
the philosophies of men and so on and so forth.
And he goes on to say and you are complete in him which is the
head of all principalities and Powers.
They were teaching that you had to have this.
Other are you wouldn't be complete in fact that was their
argument to the Ready? I know you've done all right.
Now you this is okay, but now if you want to be complete you got
to put this in, Paul said, no wait, you are complete in him,
right? Where you stand under Christ,
which is the head of all principalities and Powers.
He said and also in Ephesians 1:22 where he says and he is the
head over all things to the body, not Moses, but Christ and
you keep it that way to look. Cause you can't add anything to
it. If you do, it won't be complete.
Well, we not bothered with circumcision tonight in the
church, we are not bothered with animal sacrifices tonight.
The church but we are bothered with a lot of other things.
And there are a lot of people who are dissatisfied and
unsatisfied with God's plain simple, arrangement of things in
his church. But they don't seem to know
because they're too worldly minded.
And they're too interested in the elaborate things of Life,
they're more interested in the novel things of laughter, they
are Godly things. They think you've got to have
all of these worldly attractions attack attached to the church in
order to make it complete. But today we still say as Paul
did your complete in him. Just it was really down and just
as it was built. That's the reason why we don't
have any additions to the Lord's church.
I was talking to a man one time, in fact he was a member of the
Greek Orthodox Church. He was a Lebanese, I was talking
to him and, you know, Charleston, South Carolina.
I never forget. I rather Charleston West
Virginia, excuse me. And we were talking and he was
telling me about the church that he was in there, broth.
He said, we're the closest to the Bible of any church.
There is. I said, well, I want to call you
hand out there and I went to tell them things that they had.
I said, where you going to find that in the Bible?
Oh well, these things don't matter.
I said but it just goes to prove that you are not closer to the
Bible than the Lord's church that.
I'm Remember how I said, where we worship down there.
So plain, we're supposed to the Bible, which the plane will see
a complete to you'd be bored to death it, you wouldn't last a
service. And that's the reason why a lot
of folks are dotting. The Church of Christ tonight is
because there's not enough things in there to attract their
worldly minded attention. They've got to have a parade
going on all the time, they've got to have something to flag or
own, they're drooping. Spirits is Alexander Campbell
said, What he was talking about, instrumental music in the
church. Well, that's the way it is.
If he's is one in three says blessed, be the God and father
of our Lord, Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in Christ, Jesus.
So we don't need any more. And we read that all scripture
is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for
Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction.
In righteousness. That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works right there
in the scriptures. That's the reason why we don't
have a human Creed. That's the reason why we don't
have anything, but the Bible is because it furnishes us with
everything we need. And if there's something, we're
practicing, that's not found in there.
We don't need it and it's to our destruction. the best way I know
to explain it Bible schools Sunday, school's Bible societies
missionary, societies youth groups Church Retreats you name
them Now having mentioned all of this, I want to go into another
phase here before I'm through tonight.
I want to notice some facts about these cities as they
relate to the Lord's Church. The weight of these cities were
made accessible and it was the Commandments of God's law that
they keep a road crew out, keeping the roads up up to these
cities. I hope they're better than some
of ours today but they had a real crew out that kept the road
smooth. That kept it straight.
Because when this man had slain a fella, he didn't have time to
stand around and Mauro. Now, what's the best rolled down
yonder? He had to get it on right down
that road because it's a man right behind him.
And in fact, man call him, he's killed Ladies and gentlemen,
that's just that's just comparative of the fact that the
devil's right on your heels. He's as a great roaring, lion
seeking, whom he may devour and he's after you.
And there's just one thing you can find Refuge as Paul said
plea for the hope that is set before us right there in that
church and the Church of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 2 & 2, & 3 tells us the way.
He said, Come, Ye and let us go up to the House could go up to
the mountain, to the house of Jacob, to Mountain of the Lord's
House. There it is.
God has given us support our rather signpost and guides to
tell us the way. Yeah, along the road they had
signs point. Did you know that these are?
I don't know if they said, how many miles it was down there,
but in Europe, they had signed boards.
Because you couldn't come to an intersection and think we'll
know better go and ask mr. Jones is this the way down to
Beezer Down Yonder, I'm a little mixed up on the road over here.
No you don't have time for that because there's another man may
be right behind you. After you so the signs just said
bees are and you just kept going.
Well God has given us on post and died.
Psalms 119:105, David said Thy word oh Lord is a lamp to my
feet. The light to my path and that's
the surest map. You can find any word.
The whole Bible is a signpost. The Old Testament tells us that
Jesus Christ would come in, the four gospels tells us that he
did come and that he died for our sins.
The Acts of the Apostles continues, the history of
conversion and tells us what to do to be saved and how to get
into that City Down, Yonder, and the Epistles tells us how to
live in that City, the rest of our life, a long as we're here
on this world, Revelations tells us who the benefits that we're
going to begin. By living in that City, these
cities were reach for all parts of the country.
Three of them were on one side of Jordan, and three of them on
the other side of Jordan, for those two and a half tribes that
were allowed to stay over there, you see?
And from any part of the country, they could find access
to these cities. Well, from anywhere in the
world, you can find access to the Lord's church right here
because in Matthew 28, + 8 x 8. 19 the scripture said, go ye
into all the world and preach the gospel.
To Every Creature he that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned these cities
will supplied with water and all of their physical needs so that
they didn't have to go outside that City because it's dangerous
to go outside that City seeking some need.
Because when you go outside that City, that man, may be lurking
right on the outside and it was his privilege to get you and
kill you if you walk right outside, that gate so you better
stay in a city. Now that's the way it is over
here. All spiritual blessings are in
Christ Jesus and doesn't as I said not one thing we need
outside the church, you tell me what it is.
So we stay inside the church because God has ordained itself.
Ephesians 1 and 3. Well the gates of these cities
stood open day and night and that's remarkable because all
the cities of that day were walled cities.
And the nighttime, the great huge, ponderous Gates were shut
to but not these cities god-ordained.
These Gates stay open. So that that man could come
running in at 12 o'clock at midnight. 3:00 in the morning.
He could come flying into the gate and find Refuge.
Well, the gates of this city has been opened ever since the day
of Pentecost and there's no such thing as opening the door of the
church, you don't hear that today.
But when I started preaching the denomination's would say well,
We're going to open the doors of the church tonight.
We told them that the doors of the Lord's Church, stood opened
all the time that was opened on the day of Pentecost, and it
won't be shut until the day of judgment.
That's when the doors of the Lord's Church would be shocked.
I can't shut it because I'm not big enough.
I'm not great enough. In fact, Revelation 3 and 7
says, I am he that openeth? And no man, shutteth.
That's what said of Jesus Christ whose the Builder that, see that
church. If you please?
As if fifty five, six and seven says seek ye the Lord while he
may be found call upon him. While he is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way. And the unrighteous man, his
thoughts and let him return to the Lord.
And I will have mercy upon Him, saith the Lord.
And to our God for, he will abundantly pardon and then, you
know, nobody's turned down in that City.
And some denominations and I've got to go Creed.
I carried around with you for the purpose of showing people,
this the most prominent denomination in America.
This side of the Catholic church has this Creed.
It says no man shall be received as a member of this church to
whose admission five members object--.
Now, they might deny it today but it's right there in your
Creed. In other words, when the
directors of the, their Church get together, where the board
meets, and they bring this man into try to see if he's a fifth
member of the church. If this man has something in his
past, its objectionable, if he's done something, to one of these
men and there are some animosity against him five, men could
stand up and that thrust him out of the church and you couldn't
begins. I'll tell you, that's not the
case with the Lord City with its City of Refuge.
Jesus said he that cometh to me. I will in no wise cast out
That's the difference and you don't I don't add him to the
church anyway and I don't kick him out of the church because we
read in Acts 2 and 47. What the record says That they
were added to the church daily. Such as should be saved, are
such as we're being saved. That's a difference in man and
God Well, in conclusion, Can't You See since he's visited
cities have been built, casting the ideas and the lessons that
they give us today. Having their fulfillment
resolved in this institution right here, we can see that
heaven has done everything for man's benefit and for man's
salvation. And for man's Refuge, From Sindh
and from Evil, there's nothing else for God to do.
Now, I don't get down and pray God to save me tonight, do this.
All I do is just get in that City.
Just do the things that puts me in that City because that's
God's arrangement for me. All things are ready.
The gates are always open and if you were lost, it's your fault.
It's certainly not gods. Will you Flee for Refuge
tonight? Will you not just be almost
persuaded but altogether. As Paul said, suppose a man had
come to one of these cities and he just stopped at that
Southgate year and Stewart. He almost made it, didn't he?
Well is mr. Bliss, setting your song.
Almost cannot Avail almost as but the failed sad sad that
bitter, whale almost but lost. We don't want to be almost, but
we want to make sure that we are all together redeemed and
accepted in the Lord city. Am I talking to one tonight?
Who's never become a member of the Lord's Church?
Give you that opportunity while we standing.
While we see, we thank you for listening to our podcast, put on
by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
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