The Cities of Refuge: Hebron

Temple Baptist Church - 7-10-2011

Joshua 20:1-9

Introduction:

A. The Cities of Refuge show us some of the things that we have in Christ. I fear that we often take these things for granted. We come to Christ by faith, are gloriously saved, and then basically “forget about it.” We know that we are going to heaven one day but trudge our way through this life thinking that we have to make it on our own.

B. The Lord never ceases to work both in us and on our behalf. He never slumbers nor sleeps and is every watchful as well as helpful to His children. We will never fully understand what happened the moment of our salvation. We were saved and now safe and secure. We are provided for, protected, and constantly though upon by God. “He thinketh upon me!”

C. The Lord knows our every thought; He knows our uprisings and our down sittings; He compasses my path and my lying down and is acquainted with all my ways. He hears what I say; He is behind me as well as before me; His hand is upon me. He has hedged me about; He cares about my cares; He loves me in spite of myself; He is a wonderful Lord; a glorious Saviour; a compassionate High Priest; a marvelous King; a wise Counselor; my Prince of Peace; and the soon coming Lover of my Soul! Do not take Him for granted!

D. In Kedesh we find His holiness: 1) Positional 2) Perfect 3) Permanent! In Shechem we find His care for us: 1) He Cares for The Wandering Saint 2) He Cares for The Helpless Saint 3) He Cares for The Old Saint 4) He Cares for The Weary Saint 5) He Cares for The Burdened Saint 6) He Cares for The Dying Saint

E. This morning, I want to look at the third of the Cities of Refuge: Hebron. The word “Hebron” means fellowship. I find that amazing! A holy God wants to have fellowship with you and me. It is hard to believe that He would even recognize me, much less want to spend quality time with me. The Lord desires you!

F. God initiated fellowship with sinful man in eternity past as He pre-determined our Lord Jesus Christ to die for our sins that we might spend a glorious eternity with Him.

1. Fellowship Initiated By God - Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Fellowship was initiated by God in eternity past through Christ Jesus.)

a. He Bought Us Before We Knew Him Or Even Knew About Him

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ

b. He Sought Us Before We Sought Him

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
2. Fellowship Was Broken By Sin And Restored By God

a. Fellowship Was Broken By Sin In The Garden - Genesis 3:9-10 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

b. Fellowship Was Restored By God through Sacrifice - Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

c. Fellowship Was Eternally Broken By Cain Through Disobedience - Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

d. Fellowship Was Eternally Established By God At Calvary - Colossians 1:20-22 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in you mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

3. Through Calvary We Have:

a. There Is Fellowship With God The Father - 1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

b. There Is Fellowship With God The Son - 1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

c. There Is Fellowship With God The Holy Ghost - Philippians 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

The Results of Fellowship With God

INWARD RESULTS

1. Blessed Assurance

Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Blessed Assurance

2. Answered Prayer

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

3. Peace of Mind and Heart

Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

4. Confidence and Trust in the Lord

Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

5. Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory

1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

OUTWARD RESULTS

1. Fellowship With The Lord Brings About Separation From The World

1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Colossians 3: 1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

2. Fellowship With The Lord Brings About Love With The Saints

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3. Fellowship With The Lord Brings About Soul Winning

Philippians 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

2 Corinthians 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

4. Fellowship With The Lord Brings About Suffering

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Through Creation, He Shows Us His Glory - Creation For Our Seeing

Through Calvary, He Shows Us His Grace - Calvary For Our Salvation