Minister to the masses, but only be joined to the remnant. “…there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice” (Romans 11:5 NASB).
The remnant is that small and strange group of believers that do not fit into mainstream Christianity. They do not march in the formations of traditions and popularity conjured up by the worldly ones. To be in the remnant requires that you do not fit in with the crowd.
Many are called, few will listen, and only the remnant will respond. Be the remnant. Dare to believe He can use you, and then He will. “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29 NKJV).
The remnant lives by the Word of God over the word of man. They are like the Bereans who make sure what man says lines up with what God has already written. They do not take at face value the opinions of man and instead make sure they hold fast to the truths of God.
While many argue that there is no longer spiritual power for the believers of our day, the remnant yet walks in this power. Jesus said, “…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8 NKJV).
The remnant is more interested in living a doctrine than arguing a doctrine. They understand that God will measure them by what they have done and not by what they know. They do not get distracted by the divisions in the church but instead seek to live a life as the church.
God is more interested that you live a doctrine than you are able to argue it. “Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments. You know that these arguments grow into bigger arguments. As a servant of the Lord, you must not argue. You must be kind to everyone. You must be a good teacher, and you must be patient” (2 Timothy 2:23-24 ERV).
The remnant is not the ones who are the most righteous but who are the most forgiven. They do not pretend to be great before men but bow down in their weakness before God. They see themselves more clearly because they plead with the Lord to show them because He alone can show us our true selves.
The most righteous person is not the one who has sinned the least but the one who has been forgiven the most. Jesus told the story, “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men’… And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man [the sinner] went down to his house justified rather than the other…” (Luke 18:11,13-15 NKJV).
Those in the remnant are not the strongest but the weakest, and that is why God can work in them. They do not stand tall but fall down at the feet of the Lord Jesus, who can fill them. They are not full of themselves but emptied out and then filled with the Holy Spirit.
God chooses the foolish and the weak because they rely on His wisdom and strength. “But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]” (1 Corinthians 1:27 AMP).
In the remnant, they may not have a high position noticed by men, but they have a lowly position that pleases God. They may not get many likes on social sites, but they are noticed in the courts of heaven. The lowest seat on earth is often the highest place you can be in heaven.
The work of a great saint is not in what is seen but in the roots grown in the dark places with God. “And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward” (Isaiah 37:31 NKJV).
The remnant may not be the smartest by the standards of men but is considered wise by the measure of God. They seek to learn more, but only that they may be more in the will of God. Their knowledge is not used to lift them over others but to lead them in how they can please the Lord.
Just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you’re right. “Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19 NLT).
The remnant is not an elite club for the few but a humble group that few are willing to belong to. To be in the remnant, there is not a class or college you must go to but a humble surrender you must bow to. To belong to the remnant means that you must belong to God.
If you cannot find the remnant, be the remnant. The reason you do not fit in may be that you do not belong. “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV).
There is a choice that we each must make that we would be in the remnant. The remnant is as much a place as it is a people. To get to the place, you must leave where you are and vow that you will never return. It is a place of sacrifice, and the sacrifice is yourself.
There’s a whole new life for you when once you’ve given it to God. “Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him” (Romans 12:1-2 CEV).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
This word brings much understanding, confirmation and comfort to both me and my husband. We weren’t willing to compromise just to fit in because we knew there was something much deeper and that was a brokenness before God and a yielded/surrendered life in Christ in utter dependance upon the Word and the overcoming work of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives through suffering in the flesh (I Pet. 4:1) giving us the victory. Thank God for the remnant church which is alive and well and will soon go up in the Rapture at the appointed time. But until then we must share the Gospel and live for Him and glorify His Name Unashamed! Blessings to you, brother Paul.
You wrote such powerful words here. A synopsis of what faith should look like and can only be understood after having gone through what it takes to get there. In reading your words this morning it lifts me up knowing that the remnant is alive and the remnant is ever growing, those willing to go the route that God has for them. I pray there would be more teaching like what you have written here that others would come to know a faith that is precious and true and pleasing to our Father in heaven. Blessings to you and your husband, Paul.
Thank you, Brother.
Thank you for this truth on what the remnant truly stands for. I’ve never truly fit in and that’s okay with me. Especially being a middle aged woman. I’m filled with an insatiable hunger for him and an unquenchable thirst. My sole purpose is to live a true spirit filled life that glorifies God. I was raised in “religion”, and it took many years to reverse that mindset by the grace of God. I have a spirit led Street prayer support ministry where I go out often to bring his lost sheep home again. God took all that was placed in my mind and completely wiped that slate clean. He said to me “I’m going to indoctrinate you.” And led me to the book of Romans. It saddens me when I’m at a church that denies the power of the Holy Spirit to move upon his people. I’m a true prodigal that lost herself for a while in the ways of the world. Ive lived under a bridge alone in the middle of winter, and was healed of alcoholism. Fast foreword, out of pure obedience I came out of retirement of living a serene life in a treehouse with a loft with a birdseye view of a pristine lake and surrounded by wildlife. Most only dreamed to live the life I had been blessed with, To fulfill my purpose in Christ Jesus. I’ll never forget the last time I sat on the stairs of that treehouse. For 61/2 years I could hear the doves cooing in the trees but had never seen one. That is until that last day. As I sat there one flew overhead and I knew immediately that God did that. I’m spirit filled and on fire for the Lord. God has shown me an outpouring of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit coming upon his people, greater than the day of Pentecost. Jesus told his disciples that they shall do even greater works than he. I am also a true survivor of modern day persecution for my Faith right here in the United States. I know now that In the end, I won’t deny Christ Jesus. I’m not even supposed to be here but I have one thing to say about that……BUT GOD 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I stood up to the ultimate authority on earth, but answer to the one true authority and that’s Jesus Christ. I fell madly and deeply in love with him as a 5 year old little girl and still love him with my little girl heart. No question about it. Until the death of me. A true remnant In every way. I actually spent months and months alone with him, in isolation. It changed me in every way. And developed a strong intimacy with my Lord. My street ministry has a foundation built upon Faith and humility. Any true believer must have a foundation based upon these things if they truly wish to do his perfect will in their lives.
I once read a quote that said the following:
“Gods perfect will for our lives is on the other side of obedience, for if we understood the weight of our assignment, we may have said no.”
How true is that?? Here I am Lord, use me as you see fit.
Hi Michelle, apologies for such a late reply. I just loved everything you wrote! You are most blessed to have a Holy Spirit-filled life! It is a wonderful place to be when we are rescued by God, scooped up in His arms and used for His kingdom. I wwas most blessed to go do some street preaching on Skid row two Sundays ago. I have a dear friend who has an outdoor church there and every once in awhile i am blessed to go there and preach. I love churches where they don’t need the trappings of man. Blessings to you Michelle, prayers for your life to be a blessing to others.