Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
5/12/2021
A Nightmare is Swallowing America.
The political system. The financial system. Healthcare. Our sense of community. Family values. Our faith. It’s all fracturing. What on earth is happening? So much is changing in all of these areas it’s almost like America is crying out in labor pains to be reborn.
Today only one in five people are proud to be an American. Think about what that means for our children. There is a crisis of faith that is shaking America to its core. Look at the statistics 63% of Americans have no trust in politicians. 52% no trust in the news media. 57% no trust in business leaders. But who can blame them? So how do you survive these types of turbulent times?
Clearly, America must adapt. You and I must adapt but to who? Into what?
Romans 11:5 “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace”.
According to the Book of Isaiah, the “remnant” (Hebrew: שְׁאָר shear) is a small group of Israelites who will survive the invasion of the Assyrian army (Isaiah 10:20–22). The remnant is promised that they will one day be brought back to the Promised Land by Yahweh (Isaiah 11:11–16).
Genesis 18 talks about Abraham pleading with God to save the vile city of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 18; 23: Abraham said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.” Abraham continued to contend with God, that if only fifty, 45, 40, 30… Lord even for the sake of 10 would you spare the city?. “He said for the sake of 10,
I will not destroy it”. The bargaining stopped at 10! If you recall it was Lot’s family who lived there and not even Lot’s daughter’s fiancés made the cut.
They didn’t believe…they were unequally yoked. The remnant that day was small. They even lost Lots wife for looking back rather than looking to the promise that laid ahead.
God will always preserve a remnant. The remnant church is a visible, historical, organized body characterized by obedience to the commandments of God and the possession of a unique end-time gospel proclamation of Jesus coming again.
Isaiah 11:11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people…
Isaiah 17:3 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved”.
What does that mean for us Christians today?
Are we a part of that remnant?
Read this and you decide.
Do you recall the story of the 10 virgins awaiting the Bridegroom in Matthew 25:1-13, five have brought enough oil for their lamps for the wait, while the oil of the other five runs out. Jesus came as they were out filling up their lanterns. The five foolish virgins represent those that are lost and rejected on the day of judgment even though they looked like the five wise virgins, yet they were not true believers. Jesus warns the listeners to be spiritually prepared: The lamps of our faith and Bible study must be kept burning all through the day and night. We must uphold and defend the truth in the word of God and stand in prayer even as the world rises up against us.
Lamps are also a symbol of guidance. The guidance of a parent is likened to a lamp (Prov 6:23), and “a person’s soul is the LORD’s lamp. It searches his entire innermost being” (Prov 20:27). God’s Word is also compared to a lamp that gives light for the steps ahead (Ps 119:105). “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden… In the same way, let your light shine. Matt 5 14
Someone said; “Revival comes when the remnant remains faithful in darkness and decay.” We must stay faithful, diligent, and in prayer as the 5 wise Virgins… waiting for His return. Pray for Revival.
From COVID-19 to racial unrest to a divided election to the shutting down of churches across America, the sense of urgency and violence has risen to new levels. Christian leaders are calling believers to pray, fast, and prepare for what is to come. We need revival to turn the hearts of the people toward God again.
You can hear the groaning of a nation today crying out in their labor pains. We are part of that Remnant. Show yourself faithful before God.
Romans 8:19 All creation is in labor pains…For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Will you discuss this with your family and pray with them for one hour this week?
We are those children!
The Blessing with Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=Zp6aygmvzM4&app=desktop
