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Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, April 17, 2005, at
Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including
zipped files of outlines from previous years, click on the link at the
bottom of this note, and go to our website: JESUS - OUR CITY OF REFUGE By Michael D. O'Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia Scripture Reading: Num. 35:6-8 Text: Num. 35:6 Numbers 35:6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. Introduction: Join me tonight in once again looking for our Savior in the Old Testament. He said that we should be able to find Him: John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. We are in the book of Numbers, and it is one of the five books of Moses. Let us remember that Jesus said of Moses' books: John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. Tonight I want to show you some ways in which the cities of refuge are a prophetic picture, called a "type" by Bible students, of our Lord Jesus Christ. I. THE SIXES (Notice the cities in verse SIX:) Numbers 35:6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. A. The association 1. Six is often associated with man (see our lessons on this subject) 2. God became MAN to save us (Jn. 1:1,14) 3. Six is one short of 7, which is associated with completion or perfection. This reminds us of man's sinfulness even at his best. He has come SHORT (Rom. 6:23) B. The appointment 1. These SIX cities were APPOINTED for a MANslayer. 2. Man has an appointment with death (Heb. 9:27) C. The addition 1. 42 cities were added (Num. 35:6) 2. Six were not enough 3. Seven more groups of six were added. 4. Seven is the number of completion, perfection, or the Lord's number. 5. One six of man plus seven sixes of the Lord equals eight sixes, and eight is the number of a new beginning. Add a ruined sinner to a redeeming Savior and you get a regenerated saint! Now notice II. THE SLAYER Numbers 35:11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. A. The ignorance he possessed 1. "unawares" 2. We slew Jesus by our sins even if we didn't realize it B. The indignation against him 1. By the family 2. By the father 3. We slew the Father's Son! C. The immediate danger he faced 1. "may FLEE" 2. The danger of judgment 3. The danger of revenge 4. Flee to Christ, sinner friend! 5. Come NOW to Jesus! 6. You are one breath, one step, and one heartbeat from HELL! but God provided: III. THE SECURITY Numbers 35:15 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. The manslayer was protected A. By the location he chose 1. IN the city 2. Security is IN Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) B. By the law God gave 1. We are secure by God's divine decree 2. We are as safe as the word of God is divine Finally, observe IV. THE STAY (The manslayer was to stay in the city until the death of the high priest) Numbers 35:25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. A. Notice the priest 1. Our priest is JESUS B. Notice the protection 1. The life of the high priest guaranteed the life of the manslayer 2. The resurrection of Christ was essential to salvation C. Notice the permanence 1. He was secure as long as the high priest lived 2. Heb. 7:25 3. Secure forever! 4. Saved to the uttermost! 5. Hallelujah!
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