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Nothing Holding Us Back - God's Remnant People • Sermon • Submitted
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The Concept of a Remnant
Definition of Remnant
Sin & Rebellion is Prevalent
Necessary Judgment
We don’t know but we have examples
Seen in Devastation
God’s Grace Preserves a Remnant
The Concept of a Remnant
This series of lessons is all about who’s left and who will be left in our midst. My intent is to warn, admonish, instruct, and encourage us to move forward with strong devotion to GOD the Father, our Lord Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and a service that is abundantly beneficial to all. Considering all that we’ve been through, and all that may come our way, I want to spend some time talking about God’s Remnant People. What is the concept of a remnant?
Definition of Remnant
Well first let me define what remnant generally means. It simply means what’s left or remaining. It can apply to every day items such as food, water, and possessions. But regarding people, specifically how it is applied throughout scripture, it refers to who is remaining after devastating or catastrophic events of life. But before we can fully appreciate a remnant, it is extremely imperative to understand what precedes or comes before that phase.
Sin & Rebellion is Prevalent
In our text and context, GOD is bringing a lawsuit against Judah. They and their kings are Isaiah’s audience in 7th century BC. Well why Judah? Because they are his people, his children. Yet they have been in a continuous pattern of sin and rebellion (notice verse 2 and 4) against their GOD, a GOD who saved them and made them his own. The nation as a whole was corrupt. All their religion was vain and GOD had become completely disinterested in their worship and religious practices, although he had commanded those things. Murder, theft, oppression and neglect of the needy, and corruption were prevalent.
Application: We can’t understand or appreciate remnant until we fully understand how terrible sin and rebellion against GOD is. Yeah we know the world sins, and that we have sinned, but do we really grasp the fact that light and darkness don’t mix. We should never be OK or endorse sin. Because it would demonstrate that we don’t really know our Father.
Necessary Judgment
Widespread sin brings on the next phase, and that’s judgment. The interesting piece about this lawsuit from GOD, is he calls all the earth and heaven to witness. This thing is clear. There’s ample evidence. Even if heaven and earth didn’t speak up, GOD is still righteous in all his judgments. Judgment is God’s decision on what consequences follow the guilty.
Seen in Devastation
How did GOD judge them back then? In many ways. Whatever it was, it was typically devastating and catastrophic. A lot of damage was done. Listen how Isaiah describes their damage, their land, cities, and fields. He is describing the land of Judah and Israel. It’s not pretty.
We don’t know but we have examples
All this devastation, you mean is God’s judgment. I can’t and won’t say definitively yes, because I don’t have that inspiration. And some argue that GOD isn’t doing any of this. But I beg to differ. GOD speaks to Amos in 3:6, that if calamity happens, didn’t the Lord do it. In other words, did he not permit it? Even Job says, shall I accept good and not calamity from GOD (Job 2:10). My point, when devastation happens, I can’t definitively say the people who suffered it were grave sinners (Luke 13:1-5). What I am saying is calamity on earth, devastation, sin is the cause. And GOD is sovereign over all things. His exact purpose, I can’t say. But we have a plethora of scriptural examples that all devastation should get humanity’s attention to turn them to GOD. ESPECIALLY the People of GOD. Amos 4 GOD says just a few years before Isaiah, I sent famine, drought, lack of rain, pestilence or epidemics, but it never moved them to return to him from their rebellion. Here Isaiah gives a picture, and says Jerusalem is alone and surrounded by devastation and desolation.
God’s Grace Preserves a Remnant
But then Isaiah speaks a ray of hope for God’s people. It is God’s divine activity, not the peoples. Unless he left a remnant of the community!!! God’s judgment would leave them like Sodom and Gomorrah, which were totally destroyed. It is by his grace that he leaves a remnant. It’s not just physical survival that’s in view, it is also spiritual survival. Meaning they are the faithful and righteous.
Application: Listen, what we have seen and experienced has been devastating. I can’t say for certain GOD is judging the world, for I know he will do that on the last day. But the fact that they are happening, should cause us to turn to him!!! Principally the people of GOD. Don’t look out there, look within, for judgment starts in the house!!! It is by his grace we are remaining!!! Our survival is not about physical, it is spiritual, faith, and trust in him!!! Some will return, some might never return. Whoever is left, in the Lord’s community of service, is by his grace!!!
Without Christ, we would be like Sodom and Gomorrah!!! He is God’s grace toward us!!!