The Cities of Refuge: Golan

Temple Baptist Church - 8-7-2011

Joshua 20:1-9; Habakkuk 3:17-19

Introduction: Things We Have In Christ

A. We Studied Kedesh – Holiness

B. We Studied Shechem – Shoulder

C. We Studied Hebron – Fellowship

D. We Studied Bezer – Fortress

E. We Studied Ramoth – Heights

F. This Morning We Will Study Golan – “rejoicing”

THE LOST FIND THEIR HAPPINESS IN WORLDLY THINGS:

John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

THE SAVED FIND THEIR HAPPINESS IN HEAVENLY THINGS

Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A CHILD OF GOD LOSING THEIR JOY - John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

a. Loss of Joy Through Sinfulness - Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

b. Loss of Joy Through Sorrow - 1 Peter 1:5-6 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

SOME THINGS THE SAVED REJOICE IN:

1. The Saved Rejoice In Their Saviour

a. The Joy Of His Person - 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:

b. The Joy Of His Presence - Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

c. The Joy Of His Protection - Psalms 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

d. The Joy Of His Provision - Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

2. The Saved Rejoice In Their Salvation

a. It Is A Purposed Rejoicing - Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

b. It Is A Productive Rejoicing - Psalms 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

1) The Reality of Our Salvation Makes Us Rejoice - Psalms 21:1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

2) The Restoration of Fellowship Makes Us Rejoice - Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

3. The Saved Rejoice In Their Scripture

Nehemiah 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

4. The Saved Rejoice In Their Service

a. The Price of Service - Philippians 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

b. The Prize of Service - Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

5. The Saved Rejoice In Their Suffering

a. We Are Persecuted For Christ - Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

b. We Are Partakers With Christ - 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.

6. The Saved Rejoice In Their Security

a. It Is An Eternal Joy - John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Isaiah 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

b. It Is An Exceeding Joy - Jude 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,

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.

7. The Saved Rejoice In Their Sanctuary

Psalms 42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

Praise of Psalms 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Psalms 43:4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

The Cities of Refuge: Ramoth

Temple Baptist Church - 7-31-2011

Joshua 20:1-9

Intro:

A. The Cities of Refuge - Things We Have In Christ

1. We Studied Kedesh – Holiness

2. We Studied Shechem – Shoulder

3. We Studied Hebron – Fellowship

4. We Studied Bezer – Fortress

5. This Morning We Will Study Ramoth – Heights

B. This present evil world that we live in causes us to look forward to the day when we will be finally home by either rapture or death.

1. The World Is A Place Of Sorrow - John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

2. The World Is A Place Of Sinfulness - Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

3. The World Is A Place Of Spiritual Persecution - 1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

4. The World Is A Place Of Spiritual Depression - Psalms 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

a) Because of Disease

b) Because of Disappointment

c) Because of Discouragement

C. Some Times You Just Want To Get Away From It All - Psalm 55:6-7 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

Ramoth – “Heights”

1. The Lord Lifted Us Up When We Were Lost – Psalms 40:2-3 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

2. The Lord Will Lift Us Up When The Enemy Approaches - Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

3. The Lord Will Lift Us Up When We Are In Trouble - Psalms 121:1-8 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

4. The Lord Will Bear Us Up When We Are Weary - Isaiah 40:27-31 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

5. The Lord Will Lift Us Up When We Are Forsaken - Psalms 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Isaiah 49:15-16 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

6. The Lord Will Lift Us Up When This Life Is Over - Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

The Cities of Refuge: Bezer

Temple Baptist Church - 7-24-2011

Joshua 20:1-9

Intro:

A. So far:

1. We Have Studied Kedesh or “Holiness” - In Christ We Have Positional, Perfect, and Permanent Holiness

2. We Have Studied Shechem or “Shoulder” - In Christ We Have Strength and Burden Bearing

3. We Have Studied Hebron or “Fellowship” - In Christ We Have Fellowship or Communion

4. Today We Will Study Bezer or “Fortress”

1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. (I have seen some great “rocks” in my time: The Rock of Gibraltar, Stone Mountain, stood on Bald Rock, etc. but none of these rocks are like unto our “Rock.”)

B. Our Fortress is the Lord Jesus Christ! One of the most important things that we can do as a Christian is to learn to trust Him. Paul, toward the end of his life, said, “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” The Christian life is a learning adventure. We gave to Christ the safe keeping of our souls but it is sometimes hard to give to Him the safe keeping of our lives.

Psalms 40:1-4a I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. (2) He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (3) And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. (4) Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust!
1. There Is Safety In God’s Person - Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (It would do us well to remember that we are “hid with Christ in God!” He is our Refuge; He is our Hiding Place; He is our Portion in the land of the living; He is our “safety net” as well as our Anchor in the storm; He is sometimes all that we have and He is always all that we need!)

Psalms 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Psalms 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

2. There Is Safety In God’s Word - Psalms 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. (In this verse, we find that our “hiding place” is found in God’s Word. It is the Bible that guides us through troublesome times. It is the Bible that protects us in our trials and tribulations.)

1. In Our Fortress We Have Sanctuary – A Fortress Is Built For Habitation

a. The People Of The Sanctuary

1) The Saved - Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

2) Not The Self Righteous - Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

b. The Place Of The Sanctuary

1) We Are In Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2) We Are In God The Father

John 10:29-30 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

3) We Are In Heavenly Places

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

4) We Are In A Secret Place

Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

5) We Are Hedged About

Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

2. In Our Fortress We Have Security – A Fortress Is Built For Protection Against An Enemy

a. In The World We Have Peril

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

b. In Christ We Have Protection

1) The Lord Is Safe

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

2) The Lord Is Sufficient

Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

3. In Our Fortress We Have Serenity

a. A Place Of Confidence

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

b. A Place Of Comfort

Psalms 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4. In Our Fortress We Have Safety

a. Safety From Slander - Psalms 31:20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. (Sometimes, people will slander you. You stay right and the Lord will protect you from wicked tongues. I have been talked about about as much as anyone around here and have only tried to serve the Lord over these years. My family has been slandered by wicked tongues and we are still here and are loved and respected in this county. God will protect you. You just let the Lord defend you and He will do a good job.)

b. Safety From Enemies - Psalms 143:9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. (For whatever reason, people will turn on you and do you wrong. Yes, they will attack you; malign you; hate you for no reason at all. The Lord our Refuge is also the Lord our Hiding Place! I hate it when I lose so-called friends but sometimes “mine own familiar friend” will raise his or her hand against me. They will turn on you. I am so glad that the Lord never turns away from us! He hides us from those who seek to destroy us. My family has been “hidden” for over 4 years as wicked people tried to destroy us but we are still doing fine because the Lord has “hidden” us.)

c. Safety From Situations - Psalms 57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. (Calamities befall all of us. A calamity is a great misfortune or disaster such as a flood or serious injury; a grievous affliction, adversity, or something that causes great misery. God’s people are not exempt. We get sick, have wrecks, lose jobs, and have other sorts of disasters come our way. It indeed rains on the just and the unjust. God will be our shade from the heat and our safety until these things are “overpast.” “Overpast” means to bring through or to carry over. The Lord does not leave us in the hard times.)

Conclusion: “Safety is of the Lord!” Yes, we have trials and tribulations; troubles on every side because that is life, but the Lord will never let troubles destroy us. He is there with us and for us.

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

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

The Cities of Refuge: Shechem

Temple Baptist Church - 6-12-2011

Joshua 20:1-9

Introduction:

A. The Cities of Refuge, in type, show us some of the things that we have in Christ. Last week we studied Kedesh which means “Holiness”.

a. We saw Positional Holiness – Our Position in Christ.

b. We saw Perfect Holiness – Our Perfection in Christ.

c. We saw Permanent Holiness – Our in Eternity.

B. It is interesting that the second city of Refuge was Shechem or “shoulder.”

Psalms 18:1-2 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

a. The Shoulder Is A Place Of Strength. I normally carry very heavy burdens upon my shoulders. Heavy burdens can be much more easily carried there.

b. The Shoulder Is A Place Of Safety. When our two sons were small, I would often carry them upon my shoulder. They were easy to carry there; they were easy to keep up; they were safe from all harm.

C. I find it interesting that “shoulder” is actually an old testament word. The only reference to the shoulder in the new testament is found in Luke where the shepherd leaves the ninety and nine to find the lost sheep and, when He finds it, lays it upon his “shoulders.”

D. Shechem or "shoulder" is the place that undergirds the heavy load. The ox pushed against the yoke with his massive shoulders. The high priest bore upon his shoulders the names of the 12 tribes of Israel on the Day of Atonement. The wandering sheep rests upon the shoulders of a loving shepherd. The Lord Jesus Christ is a "shoulder" to bear your burdens, whatever they might be.

E. As the old testament priest bore the children of Israel upon his shoulders, the Lord Jesus Christ (our High Priest) cares for the child of God.

1. He Cares For The Wandering Saint – The Lord never ceases to love and care for us when we are not what we need to be. His love never changes; it never diminishes! As He loved Israel, He loves us with an everlasting love. He rejoices when we are returned to the fellowship of the fold.

Luke 15: 1-7 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

a. The Lost Sheep Was A Sheep (coin was a coin, son was a son)

b. He Left The Ninety And Nine To Find The Lost One

c. He Carried The Lost One On His Shoulders

d. He Carried The Lost One Rejoicing!

2. He Cares For The Helpless Saint – It is the Lord that feeds us and leads us. It is the Lord that protects and guards us. Safety is of the Lord. He has hedged us about.

Isaiah 40:10-11 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

a. He Feeds His Flock

b. He Carries His Young

c. He Carries His Young Next To His Heart

d. He Gently Leads Those With Young

3. He Cares For The Old Saint – We live in a day when the old people are being cast aside. I love nursing home ministries but it breaks my heart to see the condition of the old. Many need to be there because they need constant care but many of them never see a loved one. I am so glad that the Lord love us older folks. We are closer to home with each passing day.

Isaiah 46:4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

a. He Has Made You

b. He Will Carry You

c. He Will Deliver You Safely Home

4. He Cares For The Weary Saint – Sometimes, I get tired of the way. I am not tired of the way but often get weary of this life with its troubles. The Lord understands what it is to be weary and worn. Life will wear you down if you let it.

Song of Solomon 8:5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

a. He Carries The Weary Through The Wilderness Places

b. He Allows Them To Lean Upon Him

c. He Gives Rest To The Weary

5. He Cares For The Burdened Saint – God cares about what you care about. Sometimes we get the feeling that He does not care when things go wrong or the world gets the advantage. He does care; He always cares.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

a. There Is No Care That He Will Not Help With (all your care)

b. He Cares For You When You Are Burdened

c. He Will Sustain You Through It All

d. He Will Not Allow You To Fall

6. He Cares For The Dying Saint – Tuesday, as I was out visiting, I stopped at Tracy Patterson’s grave for a little while. I squatted down beside of her tomb stone and looked at the embossed picture of her and “Binky” for a few minutes. I loved that precious lady and often stop bye when I am out that way. The Lord cared when Tracy got sick! The Lord cared as Tracy suffered! The Lord cared on the day that He took Tracy home. I led Tracy to the Lord on her birthday. I will never forget what she said after she got saved. She looked at me and said, “That’s the best birthday present that I ever got.” She is at home and it was a precious day for the Lord when she died. The Lord appointed a day for us to die because He cares.

Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

a. Death Is A Door

b. Death Is A Deliverance

c. He Will Be There For You

The Cities Of Refuge – Kedesh

Temple Baptist Church - 6-5-2011

Joshua 20:1-9

Introduction:

A. The Meaning Of The Cities Of Refuge

1. The Institution Of The Cities Of Refuge – God’s Sovereign Grace

2. The Interpretation Of The Cities Of Refuge – Man’s Physical Safety

3. The Importance Of The Cities Of Refuge – Saint’s Salvation In Type

4. The Implications Of The Cities Of Refuge – A Type Of Christ And Their Names Have Great Significance

B. Kadesh comes from the word “sanctum” which means to be clean or holy; to be consecrated or dedicated; to be morally pure (Christ Is Our Holiness)

1. When a man enters Christ Jesus, he then takes on the imputed righteousness of Christ.

2. This righteousness is not the goodness of man; it is the perfect, faultless righteousness of God Himself.

3. This righteousness is not a mixture of darkness and light; as God dwelleth in a light that man cannot approach unto, we—as God’s chidren—dwell in perfect light in Christ.

4. This righteousness is not a mixture of dead works and faith; it is imputed through faith alone.

5. This righteousness is certainly not a mixture of self-praise and boasting; our praise and boasting is in Christ alone.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Imputed righteousness of faith)

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

C. In today’s spiritual economy, most religions and denominations try to do right in order to be right with the Lord. Romans 9-10 spells out the spiritual blindness of Israel in light of Paul’s pray to God for their salvation. I will not read all of Romans 9:27-10:10 for sake of time but will point out a few things. These verses explain:

MAN’S RIGHTEOUSNESS VS. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

**Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

1. We See The Desire of the Redeemed – vs 1 “heart’s desire and prayer … saved” (I wish for no man to die without Christ!)

2. We See The Dedication of the Religionist – vs 2 “zeal of God” (It is a shame we don’t have the same zeal!)

3. We See The Deception of the Religionist – vs 3 “ignorant of God’s righteousness”

4. We See The Dilemma of the Religionist – vs 3 “going about to establish their own righteousness”

5. We See The Damnation of the Religionist – vs 3 “have not submitted themselves”

6. We See The Deliverance of the Religionist – vs 4 “everyone that believeth”

Let Us Examine God’s Righteousness

Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

1 Timothy 6:15-16 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Hebrews 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Revelation 15:4a Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy

Let Us Examine Man’s Righteousness

Job Said - Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

David Said - Psalms 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Solomon Said - Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Isaiah Said - Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Peter Said - Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Paul Said - Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1. In Christ, We Have Perfect Holiness (There is no fault in us!)

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

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,

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 your 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:

2. In Christ, We Have Positional Holiness (Salvation is by faith!)

Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 4:5-6 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Romans 5:17-19, 21 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous…. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Ephesians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

3. In Christ, We Have Practical Holiness (We could not keep it!)

Acts 15:7-11 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. (8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; (9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (10) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (11) But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

4. In Christ, We Have Permanent Holiness (We cannot lose it!)

Ephesians 1:12-13 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Revelation 22:10-11 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.