The Basic Meaning and Pattern of \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d<\/p>\n
(Psalm 46:1, Hebrew 6:18, Numbers 35:1-8, Deuteronomy 19:4-10, Joshua 20:21)<\/strong>
\n\u201cGod is our refugee, our strength, and our help in distress.\u201d<\/strong>
\n\u201c\u2026.. Those of us who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nChrist is our \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d, our refugee. Praise God, He became our \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d through the salvation that His son Jesus Christ has accomplished for us. We can run to His bosom, be saved and be kept secure.<\/p>\n
He not only forgives all our transgressions, but also releases and keeps us safe from the firm grip of sins. By faith, we have died with Him, and shall live again with Him. Our sinful bodies destroyed to the extent that we might become victorious and sanctified (Romans 6:6-7). For that reason, we need to escape into Him every moment. He can save us to the end and Satan can no longer hurt us! \u201cWord became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father full of grace and truth.\u201d (John 1:14). Christ is the word. He is not only the word that leads us to a new birth, He also let us grow through His Word, take roots in Him, unite with Him and Hide within Him. Nothing in the outside world can affect us. Therefore we accept His word by faith and experience the truth which sanctified us (Jn 17:14-17). Every single word of His carries power and strength! All we have to do is to rely in His rich, authoritative and living truth, meditate on His Word day and night, never to abandon His Word in our deeds and earnestly abide by all of His command. His truth will keep us safe to the very end! Therefore, our life cannot depart from the salvation and protection of the \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d. Just as David\u2019s Prayer: \u201cOh God, Please protect me, because I take refugee in you. You are my Lord, l have no good besides you.\u201d (Psalm 16:1-2). \u201d \u201cAnd when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.\u201d ( Revelation 12: 13-14)<\/p>\n
Apostle John, in his vision, saw the big red dragon persecuting the woman who gave birth to the boy infant; today, similarly, all God\u2019s workers and church leaders are the subjects that the evil one intends to devour. For this reason, God has prepared \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d for His workers in many places all over the world. This is the \u201cwilderness\u201d of tranquility, where they can retreat to, to escape from the chase and assault of the red dragon, whenever they are physically exhausted, whenever they are entrapped in a difficult mess, and whenever they are attacked by Satan. This is a \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d with form. When retreat from the battlefield, this is the hiding place where God\u2019s workers can be once again \u201ctrimmed and equipped\u201d. There they can set aside their burden and work load and find time to be close to Him. This is absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n
But more importantly, the workers of God must learn to escape to the formless \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d \u2013 that is to be within the bosom of Christ. He must learn to enter the \u201cinner room\u201d and hide himself deeply before His throne. God values each of His workers, much more than any work! Just like prophet Elijah when he tried to escape from the power and fierce pursuit of Jezebel, a harlot, who was determined to kill him, God led Him to Mt. Horeb just when he had no one or nowhere to turn to. There on the mountain, God led him through piercing mountain-and-rock breaking wind, awesome earthquake and fire. His \u201cold self\u201d was thoroughly and completely broken. Only then did he hear the gentle voice and was given the new commission from God. Only then did he realize that God had saved seven thousand men who did not bowed down to the Baal for Himself. From that point on, Elijah could not be self-conceited, self-boosting, or accusative of others any more. Just like Jacob who wrestled with God at Peniel. God touched the socket of his thigh and he had the experience of seeing God face to face. The prayers and Scripture reading in spirit are like the two wings of a great eagle, it will enable us to fly to the \u201cwilderness\u201d. We will be shined upon by His light, repent and hence be cleansed, and be renewed in strength. It will let us be lifted up on the wings of His Spirit. Our spiritual eyes will be open before Him. In one aspect, we will begin to view and understand God\u2019s heart with clearness. On the other, we will be able to pierce through \u201cthe mysteries of the harlot\u201d and escape from her most dangerous, clever plots to wipe and slaughter. So, it is vitally important, that God\u2019s workers need to return to the \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d both with form and without, to be preserved and kept safe.<\/p>\n
After Saul fell to the ground at Damascus upon meeting God and received grace, God took him to the Arabian \u201cwilderness\u201d. For three years, he retreated from the world and was edified by God alone. He ate the Book which turned into life. He experienced the lessons of the cross. He then stayed quiet in his own native town for a lengthy duration, as if he was in a tomb, buried and set aside by God. All of these to force his old self to die completely surrender totally and wait patiently until the end. When finally God\u2019s time came, God opened the door for him to spread His gospel in Antioch. Once he completely became God\u2019s, he also became the \u201cepidemic\u201d of that time, an apostle of the gentile whose entire life met God\u2019s heart\u2019s content (a small man).<\/p>\n
From Deuteronomy 19:4-10 we learn that the \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d is the refugee prepared for all those who killed others unintentionally. The man may not had the intent to kill, but the iron head of his axe flies off the handle, strikes and kills his friend. He must flee to one of these cities and therefore be preserved, because otherwise the avenger of blood might pursue and overtake him. This was the purpose and reason that God touched His servant Song Shang Jie to setup Home of Grace for Christ\u2019s Workers in many places. All of us, who have received His grace, are willing to save more souls. But our lives and examples cause others to stumble because our old lives have not changed nor united with Him. Or, we made others stumble just the same when we display our talents and gifts, not knowing that we should conceal ourselves or else we become the idol of others. Consequently, we bring harm to many, cause hindrance to the salvation of many souls. We may even lead others onto the wrong path and \u201ckill by mistake.\u201d More tragically, some heavily gifted and used servants of God were easily tempted and fell victim to pride, money and sex and never returned, simply because they did not \u201covercome their old flesh\u201d and were paying attention only to the outward extravagant and transient success.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the servants of God must pay attention to the constant seeking of growth of his own \u201clife\u201d. He needs to be ready to flee to the spiritual \u201cwilderness\u201d at any moments. He needs to run into the presence of Christ and be close to Him and draw his strength from the heaven above. He needs to know His will before he can start to work. If a God\u2019s servant has not taken a break for a retreat in a long time, for certain he will become spiritually numb. He won\u2019t know God\u2019s will. He may accomplished a lot work wise, still his work is done according to man\u2019s will and liking, and is \u201cman-made\u201d. By working in the flesh, through human temperament, and according to the way of the world, all the hustle bustle and labor would only be for the building of the Tower of Babel. In the end, it still will be torn down by God. Work of such nature is not leading people to God, but to one\u2019s self. It could even be stealing God\u2019s glory, taking over God\u2019s place, thus departing from God\u2019s plan further and further! God\u2019s servant Song Shang Jie late in his life proposed the \u201cHymns on top of the Mountain\u201d. There were two stanzas in that hymns that revealed God\u2019s mind and demands for His workman: \u201cEnter pass God\u2019s veil in the tent to meet God. Listen carefully to His gentle voice. All His workmen must take retreat, pray in the spirit with one mind and heart, live in Him and become one body, and know His will and proceed as one.\u201d \u201d On top of the holy mountain, God gathers His workmen; forsake all else, in spirit they meditate, pray and read Scripture, first God\u2019s will they want to know, this precedes His work to toil.\u201d<\/p>\n
This writer recalls the many years of serving Him. On the surface, she appeared to be fervently serving Him, treading and bustling across large areas of territory; but amidst her hustle bustle, she neglect her fellowship with God. She did not dwell deeply within Christ. She gradually became the idol for the believers. Like iron head of axe that slipped off the handle, she gradually became disconnected with God. She was all dried up spiritually and lost strength. In her recollection of those days, God was no longer important. Work plus result, praise and approval of men were important. Her heart even deviated to the unrighteousness. She took the object of her work (little donkey) to be her idol. Consequently, she served and offended God at the same time. Praise God for His mercy. He took her back to the \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d in time. Through daily rotational reading and meditation of His word, she retreated back to Himself. As His light shone upon her, she saw herself laden with filth. She repented incessantly in pain to cleanse herself; had she fail to do that, she would have been devoured by Satan. The consequences would have been unimaginable! From her personal failures, she deeply comprehends the importance of \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d to God\u2019s workmen (including all who killed others by mistake). May those who serve God recognize the necessity of spiritual retreat in the Lord! Otherwise they may spread the gospel to others, but they will leave themselves out (I Corinthians 9:27).<\/p>\n
For many years, the burden and vision to prepare \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d as retreat for God\u2019s workers has become increasingly urgent for the coworkers at the Home of Grace. We believe that the Holy Spirit is working incessantly at many places. It has touched many of God\u2019s servants to recognize the significance and importance of \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d. Many are willing to take the time to retreat to the presence of God. This brings themselves many blessings. More importantly, together with other servants of God, they seek and learn God\u2019s will, awaiting the commission from the Holy Spirit. Together, they will complete the great commission to spread the gospel!<\/p>\n
The following is a brief outline of the spiritual significance of the \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d and the secret if a man were to be preserved by God:<\/p>\n
1. United with God through Scripture reading and prayers: God\u2019s children can be united with God and kept secure within God\u2019s love only through constant prayers and the reading of His word. (Jude 20-21). In Psalm 61, when David\u2019s heart was faint, he asked God from the end of the earth to lead him to higher ground. He truly experienced that\u201d You are my fortress that frees me from my enemies. I want to live in your tent forever. I want to run to you and dwell in the shadow of your wings.\u201d Only when we study the Word, pray and run to Christ (\u201cCity of Refuge\u201d) ourselves, can we like wise lead others to unite with the Lord. This is to eat and digest the Book, seek Him without ceasing, and in a steadfast way keep Lord\u2019s truth through the Holy Spirit. This will enable every believer a direct path to the life of living water through His Word. It is not to let us rely on the \u201cbag of water\u201d from the ministers. It will not sustain us for very long. We will soon be lifeless and dry. We want to live within Christ forever. We will not let anyone or anything hinder or decrease our closeness to Him. Flower and grass may wither; only the truth of God prevails from everlasting to everlasting.<\/p>\n
2. Make intercessions for all men after God\u2019s heart (Isaiah 62:6-7, I Timothy 2:1-4): We need to be thoughtful of God\u2019s heart and thereby fired up about Zion! We need to cry out for the salvation of all people without ceasing. Prayers for all the nations must be the priority! For all the ages in the past, the revival of churches and the expanding of gospels are the results of the prayers of God\u2019s children. Without prayers, there would have been no revival. Prayers are the urgent need of this age. We cannot pray only for our personal \u201csmall circle\u201d. We need to intercede for all the people! When Haman, the foe of the Jews, was in power and control, he wanted to wipe out all the Jews. Esther risked her life and pleaded for the lives of the Jews to the king against the king\u2019s rule. Her action was right on target at defeating Haman\u2019s plot. It thoroughly uprooted the power of Haman. All the Jews whose lives were preserved and protected gathered to welcome the \u201cDay of Purim\u201d great revival. So the work for the \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d is the work of prayers. It is the work of the living water of the Holy Spirit. May God raise faithful watchmen in all places to raise their hands and cry out to God for salvation of all men! Let the knowledge of knowing the glory of God fill all the earth, just like water fills the ocean!<\/p>\n
3. Love lost souls and be compassionate about saving people: We need to follow God\u2019s example and value each soul to be more precious than all things in the entire world. We need to follow our Lord\u2019s command to spread the truth of God\u2019s grace to all the nations Not to slight and overlook any of the men, we must also face the entire human race and seize the opportunity to spread the gospel to those who do not believe. We won\u2019t ask for results. We won\u2019t worry about gain or loss. Let us bring all those who are lost into Christ (The City of Refuge), to enjoy the everlasting saving grace of Christ!<\/p>\n
4. Strive to be \u201choly\u201d and \u201cunified\u201d with all our might. (I Thessalonians 4: 3-6, Hebrew 12:14): Let us be encouraged to be holy and united according to our Lord\u2019s command. The root cause of division in churches is unholiness. Unity precedes holiness. Only holiness can avoid the unity of flesh, emotion and the will of man, or else the body of Christ will be corrupted. Therefore, we must do our best to preserve a heart of unison given to us by the Holy Spirit. We need to pay special attention to the holiness of all our relationships -holiness among the co-workers, holiness in marriages, holiness on the money matters, holiness of our thoughts and most inner being, and holiness of our outward deeds! \u201cBut as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all you conduct;\u201d (I Peter 1:15). In addition, we must be set apart and be holy from men or organizations that deviate from the truth of the gospel. We absolutely should not mix; should not compromise! God\u2019s church will be pure and blameless only if we are united in holiness in Christ and to fight for the truth.<\/p>\n
5. Willing to abide by his will and take the narrow path (Matthew 7:21, 11:12. Acts 13:22): At the eve of our Lord\u2019s second coming, men misplace their zeal and withdraw. They deviate from the truth and the \u201cnarrow path\u201d of the cross. They only seek the pleasures in sight and personal blessings. They disregard the will of God and the commission to spread His good news! We must follow the example set by Apostle Paul. Even in the face of countless trials and tribulations, he stood firm and obeyed His will. He was unyielding, unwavering, and never changing till his death. Similarly, you and I are facing with the test and decision whether we are to obey His will and walk the narrow path. We should follow Christ. A willing mind to endure suffering will be our weapon. We are attentive only to God\u2019s liking and not man\u2019s. We walk firmly in the narrow path of the cross. Until now, God is still searching for men like David that are after His own heart \u2013 following God\u2019s will in everything (Acts 13:22)! Let us remember well the teaching of our Lord: \u201cIf any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.\u201d (Luke 14:26).<\/p>\n
Consequently, Christ is our \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d! Come to Him, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and He will give us rest. Take His yoke upon us and learn from Him, for He is gentle and humble in heart, and we will find rest for our souls (Matt. 11:28\/29).<\/p>\n
\u201cO taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!\u201d (Psalm 34:8)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Home of Grace<\/p>\n
7\/28\/2007 (Modified)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Basic Meaning and Pattern of \u201cCity of Refuge\u201d (Psalm 46:1, Hebrew 6:18, Numbers 35:1-8, Deuteronomy 19:4-10, Joshua 20:21) \u201cGod is our refugee, our strength, and our help in distress.\u201d \u201c\u2026.. Those of us who have taken refuge would have … Continue reading