The Remnant


But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.-1 Kings 19:18

Are you discouraged and feel like Elijah, alone or almost alone?  You know the story, that Elijah was told that, there were a bunch of people, in Israel, who were not apostate; plus a bunch of hidden prophets, he did not know about.  And Elisha was ready to be mentored.

Further back, God called Abram, by himself, with his wife, to follow alone.  God said he would bring forth a nation of believers from him.

Fast forward to Jesus.  By in large, that nation, from Abraham rejected Jesus, and God seemingly started over again, with a remnant.

In the history of the church, even in our lifetimes, there have been small groups of people, that God used to change the world.  God usually uses a small group to affect large change with the larger population of the world.

John Wesley and his group of followers is an example of a pattern that has happened over and over.  God touches a person or persons, who lead a small band of people; who are persecuted in various dimensions, and end up affecting societal change.

Did you know that one of the last things John did was to correspond with and encourage William Wilberforce?  I believe Wesley ended well.

Many church groups (denominations, movements, networks, tribes, or affiliations) got started with a fire inside of a small group of people.

God seems to have a preference for using remnants and anointed individuals to affect change in the larger society.

Unfortunately, what always seems to happen is that the majority of believers, tend to reject the new thing or the re-new thing that God is doing, that ends up bringing a whole bunch of unsaved people into the kingdom.  Irony and paradox.

God is on the move today.  God has always been on the move.  And many and perhaps most of the people of God do not recognize, see, or follow the move of God in the earth.

On the other hand, more people are in sync with God than we think.

Paul's are out there, so be like Barnabas and search for them, encourage, and connect (with) them.

Much of the church wants no part in what God is doing, but just wants to be left alone.  What God is doing is messy and controversial.  All of humankind, including many Christians, have a great hunger for religion; but the true God is not at all religious.  So there is a big problem and a disconnect there, if we make our Christianity into a religion.

The religious Christian right and left are both are in danger of being against what God is doing today, because God is not religious.  Jesus did not bring the social justice or the health and wealth gospel.  He preached and brought the kingdom gospel,  Same thing today.

We can even be so church minded and church centered that we are anti kingdom,  And that's religion.

If you are a religious Christian, listen to this leader:
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.
-Acts 5:34-39
And who's side is the Lord really on?
When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua approached him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
“Neither,” he replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.”
Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked him, “What does my lord want to say to his servant?”
-Joshua 5:13-14
The idea is to get behind the Lord, rather than try to get the Lord behind us.

And do we really believe in the gospel that begins with, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand"?  That is the antidote for the delusion.

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