We live in an increasingly dangerous world in which there are fewer and fewer places of guaranteed security. As Christians we have the conviction that God is our protector, our hiding place, our refuge, a strong tower in the midst of a frightening, dangerous world. Hebrews 6:18 talks about our fleeing to the Lord Jesus for refuge: "...that...we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us." Everyday we meet people that are loosing hope. There are sinners that feel and believe that they are locked into a hopeless life that can’t be changed. They live from day to day tring to make the best of things. Often the things they seek for refuge, shelter, or protection becomes the place of imprisonment. I know they long for a refuge that offers them security and peace of mind in a topsy turby world. If you are here this morning and this describes you, run to “JESUS” He will be your refuge from the prison house sin !! Yet there are others that struggle just to keep their marriage going, some struggle with their finances, the list could go on. But I want to say that “ JESUS “ will be your refuge in the midst of any storm. Jesus can still calms the raging seas, The winds are still at His command, demons still tremble at the whisper of His name. “ PRAISE GOD JESUS IS STILL THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME, HE’S STILL THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORD’S !! PRAISE GOD JESUS IS STILL THE MASTER OF YOUR DISASTER!! DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID ? I SAID HE IS STILL THE MASTER OF YOUR DISASTER !! What ever you are facing Jesus is the refuge that you are looking for, Flee to Him and lay hold of the hope that is set before you. You will not be disappointed. Jesus is a refuge for the oppressed. Acts 10:38 say’s that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power, he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him. The NIV say’s “ That Jesus went about Healing all who were under the power of the devil, The word “ oppressed “ means “to exercise dominion against ”. What we need to understand is that the devil is trying “ to exercise dominion against our lives, our finances, our families, our health, our minds, and every other aspect of our lives.” What we need to understand more than anything is that “ JESUS IS STILL ANOINTED I WANT TO SAY THAT AGAIN, JESUS IS STILL ANOINTED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH POWER, HE IS STILL DELIVERING, SETTING FREE, AND HEALING ALL THAT ARE OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL. Flee to Jesus this morning for “REFUGE”. Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, those thing in the old testament were just a shadow of the “ real thing “ that was to come. You see the “ cities of refuge “ were just a shadow of the real refuge that was to come and that refuge is Jesus. As we look at each of these cities I want you to remember that in the bible names ment something. When a city or a child was named the name was a reminder of something that happened, good or bad. With that in mind let’s look at each of these cities and see how they reveal Jesus to us as our Refuge. In verse 7 and 8 it names those six cities. Let me just give them to you quickly and give you the meanings of those names of those cities. Cities names sometimes have meanings. Philadelphia - that name means the City of Brotherly Love. Same thing was true in the Bible. These cities of refuge had very significant meanings. 1. They appointed Kedesh. Kedesh means righteousness. Our refuge the Lord Jesus Christ is our righteousness. We are made righteous in Him. Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2 Cor 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. B. Kedesh also means a place of holiness, Aren't you glad that our city of refuge is a place of holiness. Christ is our holiness. Hebrews chapter twelve and verse fourteen, without holiness no man shall see God. II. The second city is Shechem which means shoulder. Our city of refuge is a shoulder because we are on the shoulder of our good shepherd the Lord Jesus. means shoulder and it designates strength or support. Do you remember the story of the, of the good shepherd who went out and found the lost sheep and the bible says there in Luke fifteen; Luke 15:4 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? Luke 15:5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 3. The third city is Hebron (underline Hebron, you will want to remember Hebron). The meaning of Hebron is fellowship. 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. You don’t have to feel sorry for Brother Mooney this morning because he may not fit into somebody’s little cliche, or because some people may not want to fellowship with me. Praise God I have fellowship with God and His Son Jesus. If you are a child of God rejoice because you have fellowship with the Father And His Son. 4. In verse 8, Bezer is the fourth one. That means stronghold. Proverbs 18;10 says "the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and is safe." Bezer means stronghold or fortification. Somebody asked a little boy, what is a fortification? He said it's two twentifications, Bezer means fortification. The psalmists said in Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength. Proverbs says in Proberbs chapter eighteen and verse ten, the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and are safe. We are secure in the Lord Jesus Christ. 5. The fifth one is Ramoth which means heights, exalted, seated in the heavenlies in Christ. Dwelling in Beulah Land with Jesus Christ. Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: God as raised us or exalted us above the defeated life style that we used to live. You have a new position in the Lord Jesus Christ, you once was lost but now you are found. Once a child of the devil now a child of God raised to the heights of heaven in Jesus. 6. The sixth city is Golan which means joy. O, the joy of our refuge because of our fellowship with Jesus. John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Acts 13:52 And the disciples were “filled with joy”, and with the Holy Ghost. Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 1 Pet 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: NIV 1 Pet 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, Many Christian remind me of the little girl that saw a mule with a long sad face, she walked up to the old mule and said “you must be a Christian like Grandpa, he has a long sad face just like you”. As Christian we are supposed to be full of joy, not sorrow. CONCLUSION: All of these six cities were so located that they were very near. They were close by to anybody who needed them. But the salvation we have available in Jesus Christ is closer than those cities were. Your salvation is just as close as your breath. Let me read you some verses over in the book of Romans. In Romans 10:8 - "But what says it, the word is nigh thee, even in thou mouth and in thy heart. That is the word of faith which we preach, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that god hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." That is saying that Jesus Christ is just a prayer away. It means that salvation is just right at the tip of your tongue. It means that Jesus Christ is just as near as you calling on Him right now to be your Lord and Savior. Do you need a refuge today ? Jesus wants to be your refuge. Jesus will be a refuge of righteousness and holiness for you, he will be your shoulder of strength and support when you are weak and worn. He will be a refuge of fellowship when all others turn you away. He will be a refuge of fortification in the midst of your lives storms to give you security and peace. He will be a refuge of exaltation to lift you up when you are down and out. He will take you to new heights that you have never known. He will be your refuge of joy when you are discouraged. All you have to do is run to Him, believe and trust Him to be the refuge that you seek. CITIES OF REFUGE ( part 2 ) HEBREWS 6:18 JOSHUA 20:7-9