Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth. And as Isaiah said before, unless the Lord of Sabbath had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.1
In the Bible a remnant is a small remaining quantity of people God has set aside for a purpose. These were chosen by God, usually seen as the least of these among us, but many times God assigns high value to these people. God can not work with pride, he hates pride.3 So he uses the weak things of the world, the base things of the world and the things which are despised, God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. God has people set aside for holy purposes, these He labels as remnants.
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.2 Satan was cast out of heaven because of pride, he had challenged God as the rightful authority.3 God's spirit roams the earth looking for those with a humble and contrite spirit, someone who will do his will. Who will carry on? This is not the first time and I believe it is not the last, God has a remnant. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.3 God had a remnant.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went... he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.4 They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, this is the nature of faith, substance of things hoped for, evidence of things unseen. They realized this was not their home, the promised land was something much greater, these are the pilgrims who understood; they have a heavenly home. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.5
These are the remnant of God. They through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.6 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,7
When Jesus came the people were very religious, they knew the scriptures, having a knowledge of God they glorified him not as God but became vain in their imaginations. They reduced God to their image so God gave them over to all uncleanliness in their hearts. Jesus spoke of these religious leaders as whitewashed tombs, full of dead bones, all kinds of uncleanliness. Paul is chose by Jesus, a Pharisee of Pharisees, externally blameless when it came to keeping the law, but Paul would write that he had been a chief among sinners, full of all uncleanliness, he knew of this debased mind. Jesus chose his first disciples not from the religious profession but from what we would deem the ordinary, even those considered sinners, he chose fishermen and tax collectors. God had a remnant.
From the dark ages God's remnant would rise to herald in a new era. From the technological triumph of the printing press. to the collapse of medieval feudalism, lords lording over people. A church that taught and exercised an authority that was not from God, it operated in its own sensuality. But the remnant birth the ideas of freedom and liberty that lie at the heart of this country, under God. God's Spirit teaches and leads men, his word is Spirit and Truth guiding into all truth and righteousness, his word is living and active. Reading his word and guided by his spirit Europe would rise from the dark ages and take on the evil spirit of authority and control that exalted itself over men, heralding in a new age of democracy and human rights, like nothing else that had ever existed. God had a remnant.
On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand
In the Bible a remnant is a small remaining quantity of people God has set aside for a purpose. These were chosen by God, usually seen as the least of these among us, but many times God assigns high value to these people. God can not work with pride, he hates pride.3 So he uses the weak things of the world, the base things of the world and the things which are despised, God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. God has people set aside for holy purposes, these He labels as remnants.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went... he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.4 They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, this is the nature of faith, substance of things hoped for, evidence of things unseen. They realized this was not their home, the promised land was something much greater, these are the pilgrims who understood; they have a heavenly home. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.5
Elijah was known as the biggest troublemaker in Israel. By faith he prayed and it did not rain for several years. By faith brought a boy back to life and by faith he being one prophet of God took on 450 prophets of Baal, raining down fire from heaven destroying them. By faith he prays for it to rain again and it did. But he tires and when receiving a threat he runs, I have had enough, Lord, he prayed. Let me die. I am no better than my ancestors... Your people have turned from you, they have destroyed your altar, and killed your prophets... I am the only left and now they are trying to kill me. Elijah by faith sought God in the wind but he was not in the wind, in the earthquake, but he was not in the earthquake, and in the fire but he was not in the fire. By faith Elijah heard God in a gentle small voice. I have seven thousand people left in Israel who have never bowed down before Baal and whose mouths have never kissed his idol.8 God had a remnant.
From the dark ages God's remnant would rise to herald in a new era. From the technological triumph of the printing press. to the collapse of medieval feudalism, lords lording over people. A church that taught and exercised an authority that was not from God, it operated in its own sensuality. But the remnant birth the ideas of freedom and liberty that lie at the heart of this country, under God. God's Spirit teaches and leads men, his word is Spirit and Truth guiding into all truth and righteousness, his word is living and active. Reading his word and guided by his spirit Europe would rise from the dark ages and take on the evil spirit of authority and control that exalted itself over men, heralding in a new age of democracy and human rights, like nothing else that had ever existed. God had a remnant.
Today, with so many people in seminary school, with so many theologians, with so many religious people one would think things would be better. Our country and our world is in its greatest need. We are at a crossroad. Many Christians feel this in their spirit; rumors of wars, disasters, and talks of end time are heard. The Church in Europe is said to be dead and as such it will be in the United States soon. Why is this? Is this God's will? We see Satan raising his ugly head, as he has done many times in the past. He wants to bring on the end, the more man conforms to the image of Christ, his glory and power is diminished and the manifold wisdom of God is made known in the heavens and on earth. When the weak become strong it is a testimony to his power, such glorifies God and such a testimony defeats Satan, by the blood of the Lamb and the testimony of those who cared not for their own lives.
Where is God's Church? It should be the light into the world. Are we like Israel of past, an adulterous people, leaving first love?9 Are we no longer a people under God, have we too become prideful and comfortable in our riches? Are we sidelined because of discouragement? thrown into a race without instruction, discipline, and training, have we no endurance? Do we no longer view the promised land as heavenly? Where is His people? God has a remnant.
Where is God's Church? It should be the light into the world. Are we like Israel of past, an adulterous people, leaving first love?9 Are we no longer a people under God, have we too become prideful and comfortable in our riches? Are we sidelined because of discouragement? thrown into a race without instruction, discipline, and training, have we no endurance? Do we no longer view the promised land as heavenly? Where is His people? God has a remnant.