Vineyard Church North Phoenix | A Church of Refuge

1. Introduction
1. Numbers 35:11 (NAS) Then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there.
2. Deuteronomy 23:15 (NLT) “If slaves should escape from their masters and take refuge with you, you must not hand them over to their masters.”
3. II Samuel 22:3 (NAS) My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.
4. Psalm 9:9 (NLT) The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
5. Psalm 46:1-3, 7 (NLT) ¹God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.²So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.³Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! ⁷The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
6. John 17:11-15 (NLT) ¹¹“Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.¹²During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.¹³“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.¹⁴I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.¹⁵I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.”
7. John 17:15 (NLT) “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.”
8. Mark 1:39 (NAS) And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.
2. Where Do We Find Refuge?
1. In the blood of Christ.
1. Revelation 12:11a (NLT) And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.
2. In the intercession of Christ.
1. Hebrews 7:25 (NAS) Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
3. In the church.
1. II Corinthians 10:3-5 (NAS) ³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,⁴for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.⁵We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
4. By submitting to God.
1. James 4:7 (NAS) Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
3. Conclusion

Upcoming Messages:

• 11/21-22/2009 “A Church That Is Missional”
• 11/28-29/2009 “A Church That Fosters Community”
• 12/5-6/2009 “A Church That Fosters Community (Part 2)”
• 12/19-20/2009 “A Church of Hospitality”