"Lord they have killed thy prophets, they have demolished thy
altars, and I alone am left and they seek my life." But what is
God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men
who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too at the present time
there is a remnant chosen by grace." Romans 11:3-5
We live in times quite similar to Elijah's time in many
respects. The glory of Christ is seldom seen in the church,but
there is much "religious" activity that satisfies the bulk of
Christians. In the midst of this there is a remnant crying out to
God, desperate to see the Holy Spirit come in power and change his
church, and overflow with revival in the land. Are you part of the
remnant?
THE REMNANT IS A BROKEN PEOPLE
God is seeing to it that his remnant is a broken people, they
always are. Nehemiah was a part of the remnant of his day. When he
heard about the condition of God's people he said "When I heard
these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days..." While
most of the Jews in captivity simply adjusted themselves to their
surroundings, the remnant cried out for God to restore His work.
This brokenness so gripped Nehemiah that it affected everything, it
even interfered with his duties to the king. Do you cry out to God
for the church today? Do you see the present condition of the
church and the lack of concern by its members? The remnant cries
out as Daniel did:
"all this calamity has come upon us , yet we have not entreated
the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and
giving heed to the truth Therefore the Lord has kept ready the
calamity and brought it upon us." Daniel 9:13,14
THE REMNANT REPENT
The remnant will repent on their own behalf and on behalf
of the rest of God's people. Both Nehemiah and Daniel confessed
their corporate sins and declared God's justice in sending them
into captivity. God had kept His word. Today the remnant knows the
social pressure on Christians is the hand of God calling us to
repentance. In fact God has sent a baptism of fire into many
Christians to deepen the examination of themselves. They feel the
"deep calling unto deep" in their hearts and begin to cry for the
whole people. We are indeed in captivity in the church and don't
even know it.
THE REMNANT PAY A GREAT PRICE
The remnant of God will be misunderstood and persecuted by
the rest of God's people. This is because the remnant yearn for
God's greatness while the rest love the religious status quo which
looks so good. God send's trials and finally captivity to make his
people turn to Him with all their heart. The prophets call for
repentance, but only a remnant will respond. The majority never
see there is something wrong and are threatened by the call to
repentance. In Elijah's day God's people killed the prophets. In
Luther's day Christians killed the reformers. But unless the rest
of the church responds the majority will despise the remnant.
Never the less, the remnant is called to be humble and lay down
their life if necessary.
THE REMNANT SEEK HOLINESS AND OBEDIENCE
The remnant yearns for holiness in order to be a vessel God
can use. This is not legalism but a deep examination of the heart
and a desire to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit implicitly.
"In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and
silver, but also of wood and earthenware , and some for noble use,
and some for ignoble. If anyone purifies himself from what is
ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and
useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work."
2 Timothy 2:20,21
GOD ACTS FOR THE REMNANT
Throughout scripture God promises to restore and revive His
work. When a remnant repents and obeys and takes hold of these
promises God will bring restoration. This is the astounding part,
God will act for the sake of the remnant. He does not require all
the people. Nehemiah prayed according to God's promise:
Remember the word which thou didst command thy servant
Moses, saying ,"If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among
the peoples; but if you return to me and keep my commandments and
do them ...I will gather them thence..." Nehemiah 1:8,9
Daniel received the same sort of answer to prayer. In Daniel
chapter nine he repents for all the Jews including himself and
calls for deliverance according to God's own word;
"O my God incline thy ear and hear, and open thy eyes and
behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name;
for we do not present our supplications before thee on the grounds
of our righteousness, but on the ground of thy great mercy."
Daniel 9:18
God prepares for Himself a remnant so they can seek Him so
that he can act. This is a wonderful thing about God's grace. It
is His work from start to finish.
TODAY'S REMNANT
Do you identify with the remnant in our day? Is your heart
broken over the condition of the church? Do you find yourself
weeping and crying to God for revival in the land? Do you yearn to
walk in holiness and power and are discontent even in places where
great things are happening? Are you looked at as peculiar by
Christians without such feelings?
Then take courage, you are part of the remnant God is raising
up. God is not slow concerning his promises as some count
slowness! Take your place with us. Let the refining fire do its
work to make you a pure vessel. Take hold of God's promises and
cry out to Him for the land.
TOTAL CHANGE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES - TERRY SOMERVILLE
100 JONES RD. CAMPBELL RIVER B.C. CANADA V9W-2V1
(250) 287-7420
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