By Caleb Iboroma

(Sunday 11th May, 2008)

[For a printable version click here.]

QUOTABLE QUOTES

There is grace available in these times to bring us to the place of safety. It is in the place of safety brethren, that you will escape judgment. Psalm 91 vs 1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”

The foundation of God stand sure let him that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. … Bro Chijioke Nwauche. 

THE REMNANT

We talked of impending judgment. Today we address the matter of who will survive this judgment. Who are those that will escape or will every person be cut off in the destruction. A people will survive. Judgment survivors you may wish to call them. They are the remnant. The word remnant means few, small, the select few”. Isaiah 1 vs 9 “Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom and we should have been like unto Gomorrah”. The remnant are those whom God by His prerogative, and in His infinite mercy allows to escape the judgment that is coming upon all humanity. A humanity that has turned its back upon God. Jeremiah testified of this mercy “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed (Lamentations 3 vs 22).

Mercy is indeed available in the time of judgment to a select few (the remnant) Romans 9 vs 27 “But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose”.

Let us examine this judgment that is coming upon the entire human race a little more closely. It will amplify this great work of mercy He intends to extend to the persons called “the remnant”.

The coming judgment (Ezekiel 9 vs 1 – 11).

Terrifying judgment is coming brethren. The judgment will go through the whole city (nation, town, village)

Vs 5 “And to the others he said in mine hearing. Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity”.

Vs 6 “Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children, and women, but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house”.

There will be weeping and crying. The destruction would be great. Men, women even children would be completely wiped out. God says specifically that His eyes will not pity.

Ezekiel 14 vs 12 – 23 further emphasizes the impending devastation.

Vs 21 “For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it, man and beast?”

POINT TO NOTE

God had judged humanity for its sin in previous generation. But in each generation he singles out men who meet His standard of righteousness and holiness at the time and saves them and then extends mercy to his immediate relations or friends for his sake.

Take Noah for instance. The bible says Noah found grace in the sight of God. Genesis 7 vs 1 “And the Lord said unto Noah, come thee and all thy house; for thee (Noah) have I seen righteous before me in this generation”.

It was also the same for Job in his time. God sent deliverance to Job, and was ready to bring judgment to his friends but Job prayed for his friends and because of him (Job) God spared his friends.

Job 42 vs 8 “Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and to go my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly; in that you have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job”.

It was the same in the time of Daniel, the king had given out the instruction that all the wise men in the kingdom be killed; but God open a door of deliverance for Daniel and revealed to him the dream and its interpretation which abated the king’s anger and because of this all the wise men were saved.

We see a deviation of this pattern of extending mercies to others because of another’s righteousness in the judgments outlined in the book of Ezekiel. God specifically states, Ezekiel 14 vs 20 “Though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall deliver their own souls by their righteousness. God is saying brethren, gone are the days when mercy will be extended to men because other men have been righteous. Each man must stand before God and he will give each man according to his work. Rev. 22 vs 12 “And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be”. This is fearful indeed. You must live above board. May you with trembling and fear make your salvation sure. May you be part of these that will qualify to be saved.

WHAT WILL QUALIFY YOU TO BE A REMNANT (HOW CAN I BECOME PART OF THE PEOPLE CALLED THE REMNANT?)

The Lord is HOLY brethren, and we expects holiness from you and I. Holiness, righteousness, purity is the standard. The devil must come and find nothing in you. The remnant are a people in which God has made an end of sin. They are a people that love righteousness and hate iniquity. They will bear the name (nature) of our God. Jeremiah 23 vs 6 “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS”.

Zephaniah 3 vs 13 “The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid”

Also read Zechariah 8 vs 8.

How to qualify: Sigh and cry for all the abomination that abound in the land by praying and fasting. Lot in his day did the same. The bible says “this man seeing and hearing the abominations that abound in Sodom and Gomorrah he sighed and cried on a daily basis. May our souls not desire the wickedness and iniquity that abound around us. If you are doing it right (i.e. being truly repentant and turning from wickedness) the Lord will mark you out as a remnant. The command will go forth from on your behalf from the throne of God … Hurt not the earth, until all my servants have been sealed in their fore heads (Rev. 7 vs 3).

The people that were sealed in revelation, what was their testimony? Why were they sealed? Their only testimony was righteousness! Holiness! They hated the iniquity around them with a passion. Do you detest the whoredom that is all around you? Are you fasting and praying (sighing and crying) to God to deliver you from the wickedness you find in your own heart. It takes a righteous and holy heart to abhor the high level of wickedness we see all around us. The only thing that will deliver us is holiness; it is our hatred and rejection of iniquity that will qualify us.

CONCLUSION

Brethren, judgment is at the door. May we keep the fire of determination, to follow the Lord to the end burning brightly. May we not be distracted by the cares of this life and tempted to loose our zeal for righteousness.

Let the words of Psalm 37 encourage you further to remain on the Lord’s side. “Evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth (Psalm 37 vs 9).

Be encouraged brethren to press unto the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, your labour in the Lord will not be in vain.

IT PAYS TO REMEMBER…

THE BLOOD OF JESUS