The Remnant or The Rabble? – Part 2
Isaiah 8:9-9:7 (8:16-20)
May 7, 2023
There are indeed many doctrines that we believe and study
Which are difficult for the world to accept
And which sinful men fight against.
But none is more offensive than “The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment”
It is very simply the biblical truth that
Those who have rejected Christ will one day rise from the dead
And receive a resurrected body
Which is created to suffer the agonies of hell for all eternity.
John 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”
• It is NOT a merely spiritual reality…
• It is NOT a momentary reality…
JUST AS believers in Christ receive a new and glorified body capable of experiencing the glories of heaven,
SO WILL unbelievers also receive a new and eternal body capable of suffering for eternity in hell.
SUCH A DOCTRINE IS HATED VEHEMENTLY TODAY.
IN FACT, those who oppose the doctrine of election don’t really hate election it is the doctrine of eternal punishment that they really hate.
No one would care if God elects whom He will save
If He didn’t punish eternally those who are not.
And certainly HERESIES HAVE ARISEN to seek to nullify this doctrine.
UNIVERSALISM is the current favorite which simply states that in the end God will just save everyone.
ANNIHILATIONISM is also popular, which states that God will just kill sinners and they will cease to exist, but not be punished forever.
And yet, neither of those is what the Bible teaches.
The Bible teaches that God will punish sinners forever in hell.
Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;”
• Jesus called hell “the eternal fire” – it lasts for all eternity.
Mark 9:42-48 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. “If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. “If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.”
• We see it there 3 times regarding hell, “where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched”. The torment never ends.
Revelation 14:9-11 “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
• There we learn that those in hell are not only tormented in the presence of Christ,
• But will be tormented “forever and ever”
• And that “they have no rest day and night”.
And so THIS MORNING I again REMIND YOU of the truth
We spoke of to open the sermon last Sunday night.
Namely that it is not God’s plan to save everyone.
If God willed to save everyone then everyone would be saved,
But as it is, that is not what He has willed.
Does that mean that God takes pleasure in the death of the wicked? No
Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’”
Does that mean that God has no desire for sinners to be saved? No
1 Timothy 2:3-4 “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Does that mean that God wants men to go to hell? No
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
The very presence of Jesus arriving on earth
Reminds us that God loves the world
And that He desires men to repent and be saved.
But what we know of men is that, if given the choice, NONE will ever repent or believe or be saved.
Paul laid it out for us clearly that there is “none who does good, not even one”.
He reminded that there is “none who seeks for God”.
We were taught in the book of Ephesians that all of humanity is “dead in sin” and only desires the sinful things of the world.
IN SHORT, if God remained passive toward humanity
• Then not one single human would ever be saved,
• We would all have continued in sin
• And been totally unconcerned about the righteousness of God.
BUT GOD HAS INTERVENED.
• By sovereign grace He has chosen to save some.
• By sovereign grace He has chosen to awaken some to eternal life.
Romans 8:29-30 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”
God looked upon the whole of sinful and rebellious humanity,
And from the masses God chose to save some.
He foreknows them, predestines them, calls them,
Justifies them, and glorifies them.
But God has NOT willed to do this for every single human.
NOT EVERYONE WILL BE SAVED.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”
Luke 13:22-30 “And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. “Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ “Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.’ “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. “And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. “And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”
Even John 3:16 teaches us that.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Even that beloved verse reminds us that
Salvation is limited to those who believe.
Not everyone is being saved.
GOD IS SAVING THE REMNANT
Romans 9:6 “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;”
Even in the nation of Israel, God is only saving the remnant.
Romans 9:27 “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED;”
(That is Isaiah 10:22)
Romans 9:29 “And just as Isaiah foretold, “UNLESS THE LORD OF SABAOTH HAD LEFT TO US A POSTERITY, WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED GOMORRAH.”
(That is Isaiah 1:9)
Romans 11:1-5 “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”
God is only saving the remnant.
And that remnant is saved by His gracious choice.
ISAIAH 7-12 IS THEIR STORY.
7:1 – 8:8 TELLS THE STORY OF THE RABBLE (those who are not the remnant)
• We saw their fear of the alliance made between Aram and Israel.
• We saw their refusal to trust God; instead turning to Assyria.
• We saw how God will severely discipline them.
But beginning 8:9 and going through 9:7 we get the story of the Remnant.
And we see 4 distinctions that help us recognize
The difference between the Remnant and the Rabble.
And this is good information for us.
For none of us wishes to be a part of the rabble.
• What is the remnant?
• What do they look like?
• What sets them apart?
• How can I know if I am part of the remnant?
• And if I am not, how can I be?
Those are the things we are looking at here in our text this morning.
As we said, there are 4 distinctions made here between the remnant and the rabble.
We looked at the first two last Sunday night.
#1 THEIR FAITH: The Remnant trusts God’s presence, The Rabble trembles over the presence of the enemy.
Isaiah 8:9-10
• Very simply in verses 9-10 we saw ISAIAH’S TAUNT.
• It was a taunt directed at the nations of Aram and Israel.
And Isaiah was so bold because
He had believed the promise that Ahaz had rejected.
“For God is with us.”
Ahaz and the people of Judah had trembled at the news that Aram and Israel had made an alliance and planned to invade.
• God had sent Isaiah to tell Ahaz not to fear for God was them.
• The Rabbled refused to believe that message.
Isaiah and the Remnant did believe it.
And Isaiah was able to TAUNT those rogue nations.
(10) “Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; State a proposal, but it will not stand, For God is with us.”
Faith is a major difference between the Remnant and the Rabble.
• You can go throughout the Bible and see that distinction.
• Just read Hebrews 11 and see the faith of the remnant throughout the ages.
And we simply asked the question,
DO YOU TRUST GOD OR DO YOU FEAR THE WORLD?
• When the news is bad…
• When a pandemic emerges…
• When inflation rises…
• When enemies threaten…
DO YOU TRUST GOD OR DO YOU FALL INTO FEAR?
That is a distinguishing mark.
The encouragement is obvious.
If you have thus far failed to trust God, then start to trust Him.
#2 THEIR FEAR: The Remnant fears God, The Rabble falls over Him
Isaiah 8:11-15
In verses 11 & 12 Isaiah is told NOT to fear what the people fear.
What do they fear?
The “conspiracy” that has formed.
That is to say they fear that alliance between Aram and Israel.
And God tells Isaiah and the remnant, don’t fear what they fear.
Rather:
(13) “It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread.”
If you want something to fear, then fear God.
Isaiah is told that “It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy.”
That is to say: TREAT GOD AS GOD
Our world is full of people
• Who give lip service to God’s greatness and power and provision and
goodness.
• They say God can do all sorts of things, but the second life gets tough they
refuse to trust Him.
• They call Him their provider, but when things get tight they refuse to trust
Him.
• That is not regarding God as God.
It has to be more than lip service.
There must be a real and tangible faith.
One of the things I love about the faith chapter in Hebrews 11 is that you can CLEARLY SEE THE FAITH of all of them.
• Noah built a boat…
• Abraham left Ur, remained in Canaan, sacrificed his son…
• Moses left Pharaoh’s house…
• The children of Israel walked through the Red Sea…
It wasn’t faith in theory, it was faith in action.
THAT IS WHAT THE REMNANT DOES.
And Isaiah promised that if you will fear God in such a way: (14) “Then He shall become a sanctuary;”
You want peace in the storm?
You want assurance in the battle?
Then trust God.
He is a hiding place, a refuge, a strong tower,
A sanctuary for those who trust Him.
But the wicked do not fear Him, they FALL over Him.
(15) “Many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; They will even be snared and caught.”
• They stumble and fall and are broken.
• They are snared and caught.
To the wicked Jesus is not a rock of refuge,
He is a mill stone over which they trip and then are crushed.
It is THE DIFFERENCE between the remnant and the rabble.
• The Remnant truly regards God as God, they fear Him.
• The Rabble does not, they abandon Him and end up tripping over Him.
So be the remnant.
• Have faith in God and regard Him as God.
• Fear Him.
So those are two distinctions we have seen.
Their Faith and Their Fear
#3 THEIR FOCUS: The Remnant consults God’s Law, the Rabble consults the world.
Isaiah 8:16-20
We certainly remember back in Isaiah’s Commissioning
When God told Isaiah that his primary ministry would be that of rendering the people deaf, blind, and hard-hearted.
IN SHORT he was going to preach and preach and preach to people
Who would not listen to the word of God.
Only the remnant would listen.
And here Isaiah’s words reflect that reality,
It feels like a word of frustration.
He says, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.”
It paints the picture of the Law of God being preached in public,
But no one is listening so Isaiah says,
“Fine, from now on, only give it to my disciples.”
• Close the book.
• Tie up the scroll.
• Put it in an envelope.
• Lock it in a box.
• Only give it to “my disciples”
They are the only ones who will listen to it.
It REMINDS again of when Jesus applied Isaiah’s ministry to His own.
• He gave that parable of the soils
• The disciples wanted to know why He spoke in parables
• Why didn’t He tell them plainly?
Matthew 13:11-13 “Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”
• That is the same thing Isaiah is doing.
• He’s binding up and hiding the Law from those who won’t listen to it.
And that is the problem with the rabble.
• They have no interest in hearing the words of God.
• They have no interest in the Law of God.
Look down at verses 19-20
“When they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.”
The people of Isaiah’s day where not interested in the Law of God.
They were more interested in the wisdom of the world.
• They turned to “mediums and spiritists”
• They were psychics and palm-readers
• They were modern day wise men
We see some of that in our world but in our day our culture is more prone to listen to “experts” and “professionals”.
If someone who has a doctorate speaks
Our culture will value that higher than the word of God every time.
• Psychologists have become the leading experts on marriage and parenting.
• Social media dictates our moral standards of right and wrong.
• Success in life is measured not by obedience but by money and fame.
• Movie stars and athletes are those most greatly followed by the masses.
WHAT IS MY POINT?
People aren’t running to the bible for answers to life’s problems,
They run to “experts” and “professionals”.
In Isaiah’s day it was “mediums and spiritists”
But I assure you there is little difference
For they all are influenced by the father of lies.
And this doesn’t just happen in the world, it happens even in the church.
• It is the business models of success which saturate church growth books.
• Church leaders are selected based on success not being spirit-filled.
• Church decisions are often made without prayer or a Bible being opened,
people just follow their own will and logic.
And Isaiah said, “Should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?”
THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION!
(Even in a spiritual sense.)
Would you really consult those who are spiritually dead to give you counsel and insight into life?
Are you really going to accept wisdom and guidance
From someone who doesn’t even recognize
God as the supreme authority over life?
Remember when the Corinthians were suing each other?
1 Corinthians 6:1-6 “Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?”
But we know why.
The Corinthians were captivated by worldly education.
That is why Paul reminded them:
1 Corinthians 1:20-21 “Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”
Paul shamed the Corinthians there by reminding them
This worldly wisdom that they seek didn’t even know how to have a relationship with God, and yet you trust it over Biblical truth?
We might as well say, “9 or 10 doctors agree, they have no clue how to go to heaven.”
But the church increasingly lines up to follow their advice on everything.
• Do we really think that Dr. Fauci is the all-knowing guru about how to live during a pandemic?
• Does Edward Jones know more about how to handle your money than God?
• Does Dr. Phil know more about marriage than God does?
• Does Oprah have a better read on human goodness than God?
• Could Sam Walton or Bill Gates provide a better model on how to grow and govern the church than God?
It’s a shame that those who claim to be God’s people
So quickly allow the wisdom of the world
To take precedent over God’s wisdom.
Paul would go on to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”
It was a tragedy how the Corinthians overlooked the word of God
In order to lean upon worldly wisdom.
• Why not lean upon those in their congregation who were filled with God’s Spirit?
• Why not lean upon those who know the word of God?
IT IS BECAUSE so many who claim to be God’s people
Have no regard for God’s word and would rather consult the world.
But Isaiah said: (20) “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.”
That is to say if they don’t give you the wisdom of Scripture
Then they have no true valuable insight to offer you.
What does it say of those who claim to be God’s people but when they need advice they run to the world instead of to the Bible?
That is what was happening in Isaiah’s day.
They were consulting the dead on behalf of the living.
Isaiah told them to open a Bible!
They weren’t interested
So Isaiah said, “Fine, shut the Bible, live by your wisdom, and only me and my disciples will enjoy the wisdom of God.”
See what Isaiah said in verse 17, “And I will wait for the LORD who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him.”
• You can see your worldly experts, but I’m seeking God!
• You can run to the “experts” and “professionals” but I’m waiting on the LORD.
And it’s not just me.
(18) “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.”
It’s not just me who will wait on and seek the LORD.
It is also “the children whom the LORD has given me”
Don’t miss that Isaiah understood the reality of sovereign election.
• He knew why those who believed actually believed.
• They believed because God appointed them to do so.
Though humanity has a whole ran as fast as they could
After the wisdom of the world, God had saved a remnant.
God had intervened and called back a few and given them to Isaiah.
Isaiah called them, “the children whom the LORD has given me”
And now Isaiah says that THEY “are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.”
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
That this remnant is “for signs and wonders”?
• It means they are a spectacle.
• It means they are peculiar to the world.
• They are a novelty.
• They are a side-show attraction.
Paul said:
1 Corinthians 4:9-13 “For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.”
• Paul said we are “a spectacle to the world”.
• We just stick out as peculiar.
• We are certainly not the majority.
• We are considered backward and even ignorant and foolish.
Peter wrote:
1 Peter 4:1-4 “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;”
The world doesn’t understand the remnant
Who don’t love what they love, think like they think, and do what they do.
And so to the rabble, the remnant is a peculiar spectacle.
BUT ISAIAH DOESN’T LAMENT that they are seemed as strange to the world, HE ACTUALLY EMBRACES IT.
Isaiah says “I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel FROM the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.”
WE ARE FROM THE LORD OF HOSTS
• He is the One who makes us peculiar.
• He is the One who makes us strange.
Isn’t that what Paul said to the Corinthians in what we just read?
• “God has exhibited us…”
• “We are fools for Christ’s sake…”
• Do you understand that part of saving you and sanctifying you is to make you a light that shines against the darkness?
• Do you understand that part of saving you and sanctifying you is to make a spectacle?
• Do you understand that you are supposed to be different?
And the chief difference we exhibit is that
While the world follows it’s own wisdom,
We follow the word of God.
AND WE SO NEED TO LEARN THIS CHURCH.
We are repeatedly called to seek and trust the wisdom of God’s word.
Psalms 1:1-3 “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”
Or consider the wonderful 19th Psalm.
Psalms 19:7-11 “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”
Or:
Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
Peter seized upon that truth when he wrote:
2 Peter 1:19 “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”
Why would a person trust in the false light of human expertise when we have at our disposal the very words of God?
Jeremiah reminded his congregation:
Jeremiah 23:28-29 “The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?” Declares the LORD. “Is not My word like fire?” Declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”
We are not to be like the world!
We are not to think like the world!
The remnant is characterized by the fact that
Even though all the world may follow secular wisdom,
They will cling to the truth that is revealed in the Bible.
• It will dictate their finances…
• It will dictate their marriages…
• It will dictate their parenting…
• It will dictate their relationships…
• It will dictate their behavior…
• It will dictate their decisions, their plans, their goals, their future…
The remnant doesn’t listen to the world, they listen to God!
And this should be OBVIOUS to us.
John 10:3-6 “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.”
And again later:
John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;”
The remnant simply follows the word of God.
Psalms 119:97-104 “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.”
So we learn that the remnant are characterized
Not only by their FAITH, and not only by their FEAR of the LORD,
But also by their FOCUS on His word.
SO NOW WE GET TO SEARCH INWARDLY.
WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS?
Where do you go for counsel?
When you need advice about your marriage or your kids or your job or your finances or any other aspect of life…
• Where do you go to find the answer?
• Where do you look for counsel?
The RABBLE look to the world and their wisdom.
The REMNANT looks to the wisdom of God in His word.
And this is another way you can tell which group you are in.
Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
So first we must identify which camp I am in.
• Am I those who trust God or do I tremble over the world’s circumstances?
• Am I those who fear God or do I fail to regard Him as God and fall over Him?
• Am I those who focus on God’s word or do I consult the world for guidance?
And if you find this morning that you are IN THE WRONG CAMP,
Then praise God for making that known to you.
REPENT before Him, CONFESS to Him your sin,
And CALL upon Him for forgiveness.
TELL HIM you have been too long a part of the rabble,
But you want to be a part of His remnant.
ASK HIM to save you and change you and pull you out of the sin infested world and make Him a part of His people.
And the promise of Scripture is that He will.
It is true that God is not saving everyone.
He is only saving His remnant.
But He freely extends His hand and offers that
Any who desires to be part of that remnant is welcome to be.
John 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
Romans 10:13 “for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
