PAUSE -  PONDER - PROFIT      DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE

    I am privileged to have at my disposal quite a few sermons of Brother Paul Keller who worked with Second and Walnut Streets Church of Christ for a number of years.

        In this issue I am going to use one of Paul's lessons on the "Remnant."  We began studying the prophecy of Isaiah when I moved here.  It is a great study.

THE REMNANT       

Let's begin with some scripture:  Isa 1:9 Unless the LORD of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah." (NKJV)  Paul in Romans used this term also.  Ro 9:29 And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah." (NKJV)  Remnant is defined as that which remains after a part has been removed. 

THE REMNANT OF THE PAST

In every age of time a few have held themselves apart from the current worldliness and sin.  Here are some examples:  Enoch stood almost alone. Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." (NKJV)  Noah and his family.  Only eight precious souls were saved.  Joshua and Caleb were the only two individuals under 20 years of age who were allowed to go into the promised land.  All that unbelieving generation of people died out. God used an army of 300 men to achieve a victory  with Gideon. Only a few clung to the Lord in John 6:66-68.  There were a few in Sardis (Rev 3:4). In Thyatira, Revelation 2:24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden." (NKJV)

THE REMNANT OF THE PRESENT

Present conditions justify  history.  The Parable of the Sower might very well be a prophecy of God's people today.  See this parable in Luke 8 and Matthew 13. The shallow, the sensational, the seasonal, they endure for a while.  Doesn't that sound like today?  Jesus taught this parable a couple of thousand years ago, yet it is so fresh.  The double- minded attempt the double life. They desire to follow Christ and carry their sins with them. The good and honest, though that number is small still remains. Look at Matthew 6:24; 7:13-14.  They are the ones who carry on the Lord's work.  They are the ones you can depend upon. The are the ones who are supportive.  They are the ones who live lives of purity.  They are the ones who pray.  God Bless them.  Without these kinds of Christians there would be no church.

THE REMNANT OF THE FUTURE

Here are some lessons that we can learn.  Re 2:24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. (NKJV)  The Lord will not hold the remnant responsible for the ungodliness of others.  Secondly, They will be chosen by the Lord.  Mt 22:10 "So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests." (NKJV)  Only those who have put on the wedding garment will be admitted to the feast when it takes place.  Thirdly, The remnant will be placed in vessels of security.  Matthew 13. "The kingdom of heaven  is like unto a net."  Fourth, they will walk with the Lord in white. Re 3:4 "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.  (NKJV)  Fifthly, they shall hear their names confessed. Re 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."  (NKJV)  Are you a part of the "remnant?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


In January's issue the article will be on Bible Authority.  I am wondering if Bible Authority is still important to God's people today? Do you believe it is important to do things the way God has told you in His word?---- Next Month.