Ep 379 | The Cities Of Refuge - Lynwood Smith April 1997

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

John 8:45

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

Matthew 16:18

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

Ephesians 1:22

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

Psalms 119:105

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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