City Of Refuge
Joshua 20:1-9
1 The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the 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.
How many know tonight that, as Christians, we have a place of refuge?
We have a place of safety that we can go when things seem to go wrong in our lives.
Jesus is my Rock of refuge tonight and as long as I am following Him, I will be sheltered from storms that I have to go through.
Tonight God has spoken to Joshua, He told him to appoint out for you cities of refuge, which was spoken by the hand of Moses.
Verse three says, “That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.”
These cities of refuge were set up not for murderers; they were set up for those who had killed someone accidently.
These cities were set up to protect them from family members of the family of the person who had lost a loved one in this way.
The family members of the victims might not have seen the way the situation took place very clearly, so they might have wanted revenge on the person who had killed an individual accidently.
Joshua 20:4
4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
The people would have to declare their cause to the elders of these cities as they were standing in the entrance.
These people were looking for a place of refuge and safety.
Joshua 20:5
5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
These people were caught in a situation and they were running for their lives.
Have you ever messed up and you felt that the enemy was pursuing you?
Have you ever messed up and Satan has been on your heals?
Has he been trying to tell you that you have messed up and that there is no forgiveness for what you have done?
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Jesus came to give you a way of victory over the enemy.
Satin wants to steal from you, he wants to steal, kill and destroy the plan that God has for your lives tonight.
God has given you a city of refuge tonight and that place of refuge is in the pavilion of Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to give you and me life more abundantly.
Joshua 20:6
6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
The high Priest is a type of Christ.
When the high Priest died, the man was free to return to his home, and would be protected by law.
When Jesus died on the cross, He made it possible for man to be free, at least those who accept Him.
Joshua 20:7-8
7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. {appointed: Heb. sanctified}
8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
Hebrews 6:18 sets forth Christ as a city of refuge for sinners guilty of His Blood.
There were six cities appointed for a place of refuge.
In the meaning of their names is a place of safety as led by the Savior.
1. Kadesh - means Holiness
2. Shechem - means Strength
3. Hebron - means Fellowship
4. Bezer - means Safety
5. Ramoth - means Uplifting
6. Golan - means Happiness
God puts Holiness first and happiness last, man reverses this.
Joshua 20:9
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the 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.
Hebrew 6:18 says:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
It is impossible for God to lie, and we have a refuge to lay hold of.
I have entitled this tonight: City of Refuge and here is the reason why:
Dream 5-19-08
I dreamed that Shawn and I were staying at a hotel, and while we were inside, there were strange things that were taking place. Walls were falling, and the floor was cracking. Doors were opening and shutting. I knew that we needed to get out, so we made a break for it. People were chasing us. They were trying to keep us inside the hotel. We made it to the front counter. We ran out, Shawn out ran me to safety.
Interpretation
Sometimes, as Christians, we stay in places that we ought not to be.
While we are at places in our walks that we ought not to be, strange things will take place.
Walls of protection will fall because we are at a place in our walks that God is not happy with.
The floor was cracking because maybe there is a crack in our walks.
The doors were opening and shutting because God opens and shuts the doors He wants us to go through.
Revelation 3:8
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
The door for your escape is based upon obedience to the Word and not denying Jesus.
Jesus, tonight, is your refuge and He is your strength.
Your strength and power comes from listening to what He speaks.
People are chasing us but we run to safety.
Are you running to a place of safety tonight?
Are you running to Jesus tonight?
Jesus is at your door tonight and all He wants you to do, is apply what He says to do.
A while back I was talking to God and I was telling Him that I could not do this without Him.
I told God that I needed help.
This is what the Lord spoke to me:
Dream 4-28-08
I dreamed that another guy and I were on a ledge of stone. There was snow and ice on this ledge. I was trying to help this guy and myself across the path of stone. I saw a door, a literal door. I grabbed hold of the door so that I would not fall. As I grabbed hold of the door, I noticed that the door was being held by ice and stone. The ice broke away from the door and the stone. It looked like that I would fall. On the other side of the door was Jesus. He reached out His hand and He helped me across the ledge.
Interpretation
Another guy and I would represent me as a pastor trying to help you.
Ledge of Stone is easy; Jesus is the rock of my salvation.
There was snow and ice on this path that was a ledge of stone.
Snow and ice represents the Word of God.
White snow means purity, undefiled.
Ice-if you don’t pay attention to ice you might fall.
If you don’t pay attention to what the Word of God says you are on dangerous ground.
I saw a door, a literal door.
Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Jesus is standing at the door, and He is knocking: if I hear His voice I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Sometimes I might feel that I am going to give up and fall, but Jesus is standing at my door, and when I need Him, the Word tells me that He will show up and that He will help me.
Jesus reaches out His hand and He helped me over the ledge.
Closing
City of Refuge, Jesus is your help tonight!
Do you need help tonight? Jesus is right there in your situation.
If you are interested in seeing some God given sreams given to me and others in our church go to:
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/w/windoffaithdrea/
Go to the new text page for the God given dreams.
