The Remnant

[0:00] And if you've got your Bibles, I might just start off in Matthew 7.! Matthew chapter 7. Yeah, if you need to grab a Bible from the back, feel free.

[0:27] Matthew chapter 7. Does anyone have a church Bible that they've got the page number? Barry, Matthew 7, what page?

[0:47] 727. 727. Matthew 7, verse 13.

[1:00] Matthew 7, verse 13. Enter ye in at the straight gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.

[1:15] Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. It's a comparison between a narrow gate and a narrow way and a broad gate.

[1:32] A broad way. It says, of the narrow way, few there be that find it. But this is the way that leads to life.

[1:42] And of the broad way, it says the destination on this road is destruction. And it says many there be that go that way.

[1:52] So it's a contrast between the few and the many. And tonight I'd like to talk on a theme of scripture which tells us that few there be that find it.

[2:07] That narrow way. The remnant. In Isaiah 1, verse 9. It reads, Except the Lord of hosts have left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been a Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

[2:24] Isaiah 1, verse 9. A very small remnant.

[2:36] A very small number. Few there be that find it. The way to destruction. Many go that way, and it leads to destruction. What a contrast here.

[2:48] A very small number. A very small remnant. Isaiah 1, verse 9. Few there be that find it. That narrow way. Broad is the way to destruction, and many are going that way.

[3:00] So, God is not with the crowd, necessarily. He is with the remnant. He is with the few. And throughout the record of history we see this principle.

[3:13] Throughout the pages of scripture we see this theme, oftentimes repeated. The record of history shows the narrow way. It shows the few.

[3:24] It shows the majority. It shows the majority. The crowd often going astray. The majority of God's people.

[3:36] Sadly, the majority of the children of Israel. Now, oftentimes they went astray, and the majority of them were in great falsehood and backsliding.

[3:51] In Romans 9.27, it says likewise. Romans 9.27 of Isaiah. It says, It's saying, Only a remnant shall be saved.

[4:23] And we see this theme, as I say, repeated many times through scripture, of apostasy, of times of backsliding, where wicked kings came to rule and brought in idolatry and falsehood and worship of false gods.

[4:39] And an abandoning of the truth of God. Yet they were brought back with godly kings here and there. But we see a lot of the time, it was only a few that seemed to hold fast.

[4:54] And only a few seemed to be completely faithful to God. Through the record of scripture. And through church history, too.

[5:05] We see the same theme. Of only a few that are holding fast. The faithful. We see in Noah's time. In 1 Peter 3.20. 1 Peter 3.20.

[5:18] It tells of a time in the days of Noah. While the ark was being prepared. Now this period of time while the ark was being prepared. It's some hundred years.

[5:29] Some hundred and twenty. I'm not sure of the exact number of years. But it was about one hundred years, I believe. Others might want to correct me on that.

[5:43] While the ark was being prepared. It says, In which a few. That is eight. That is eight souls. Were saved through the water.

[5:55] As it were. As that picture. Of the ark being the safe keeping of God's people. As the ark being a picture of Christ. Of being in Christ. And when judgment came. When the floods.

[6:06] The rain poured. And the earth was broken up. With the water coming out of the earth. And the flood covered the earth.

[6:18] It was only the eight. Who were in the ark. Who were saved. Only a few. Out of perhaps millions. There was certainly. A colossal amount of people.

[6:30] On the earth at that time. But we know that the Lord saw. That every imagination. Of the thoughts and intents. Of the men's hearts. Was evil. Was wicked continually. Multitudes.

[6:46] Eight. What a contrast here. We see through. We see through. The time of Israel too. That God saved and preserved Jacob. And his family. God saved a remnant of Israel.

[6:57] From the Babylonians. From time to time. They were taken into captivity. They were taken captive. As a people. Yet God. Restored them again.

[7:08] We see in Joshua. In Caleb. In Numbers 14. 29 through 30. Numbers 14. 29 through 30.

[7:20] It tells how. All of you who are numbered. According to your. Entire number. It talks about those who are. From 20 years old and above. All of you. 20 years old and above.

[7:32] Except for two. Shall by no means. Enter the land. Dead. Here was a time. Where. The whole. Nation. The children of Israel.

[7:43] All of those who are. 20 years and above. And that would have been. Multitudes again. Only two of them. Could enter the promised land. Caleb and Joshua.

[7:55] The ones who are faithful. The faithful spies. They entered into the lands. And they said. Well. Whereas others said. Oh look. We are like grasshoppers. Compared to. The enemy here. We're just. Totally outnumbered.

[8:06] Outgunned. And we're done for. We can't take the land. Caleb and Joshua said. Yes we can. We believe God. And. They gave the faithful report. The good report. So.

[8:17] Again. The contrast of multitudes. And just two. Two of those above. 20 years old. Only those two. Could enter the land. In Elias.

[8:28] And. We see the same thing. Repeated. As it reads. In Romans 11. From verse 2. We read. Of Elijah.

[8:40] And. Paul writes. Of that. That time. In Romans 11. Verse 2. He says. God hath not cast away. His people. Which he foreknew. What ye know. Not.

[8:51] Sorry. What ye not. What the scripture. Sayeth. Of Elias. How he maketh intercession. To God. Against Israel. Saying. Lord. They have killed thy prophets. And. Digged down on altars.

[9:02] And I am left alone. And they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him. I have reserved. To myself. Seven thousand men.

[9:12] Who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then. At this present time. Also. There is a. Remnant. According to the election of grace. So God.

[9:24] Is saying through Paul. At the time of Elijah. The prophetess. He felt. Like he was the only one left. But God said. Actually. There's seven thousand here.

[9:34] Who haven't bowed the knee to. The image of Baal. In 1 Kings 19. Where it records his words. It says. He said. I have been very jealous. For the Lord God of hosts.

[9:45] Because. The children of Israel. Have forsaken thy covenant. Thrown down on altars. And slain thy prophets. With the sword. And I. Even I only. Am left. And I seek my life.

[9:56] To take it away. He was Elijah. In this. Time of. Great testing. Where. He could see that. It seemed to him.

[10:06] That he was. The only faithful one. And it says. Verse 15. The Lord said unto him. It goes.

[10:17] I'll. Jump down a bit here. Where. He says. Yet. I have left me. Seven thousand. In Israel. All the knees. Which have not bowed unto Baal. And every mouth.

[10:28] Which have not kissed him. So. As much as we might feel. We. We. Few in number. It could be. There's more. Than we realize.

[10:39] But even. The seven thousand. Was still. Outnumbered. In that. In the scheme of things. Against the multitude. Of the day. And the point is that. There's only a core group.

[10:50] That were faithful. Even in Elijah's day. And. Yet. The Lord encouraged him. That. There's more. With me.

[11:01] Than you realize. And likewise too. There's different Christians. Different believers. At this present time. That might be scattered here and there. Scattered far and wide.

[11:13] In different places. In different. Fellowship. That do know the Lord. That have not bowed the knees of Baal. And we can be encouraged in that. Like. Our Lord taught.

[11:24] Elijah. That. We see the same principle. In Daniel 3. Verse 12. The three Hebrew men. As we talked about. Not long ago. Where.

[11:34] It reads. In Daniel 3. Verse 12. There are certain Jews. Who they have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon. Shadrach. Meshach. And Abednego. The Babylonian names they were given.

[11:46] And. These men were accused. As. It goes on. These men. O king. Have not regarded thee. They serve not thy gods. Nor worship the golden image. Which thou hast set up.

[11:58] So. These three men. Of course. Daniel was on the scene too. But he wasn't numbered here. But. In that great crowd.

[12:09] Where these three men. Stood alone. When the multitudes bowed down. To the golden image. That the king had made. Against that same principle.

[12:20] Multitudes. And a few. Multitudes. And a remnant. They would not bow down. They held fast. They held their ground.

[12:31] They stood for Christ. They stood for the truth. For the Lord. In Ezra 2. We see the remnant. That. That came out of Babylon.

[12:42] A people. That were carried away. Who came back from captivity. They'd been taken by Nebuchadnezzar. The king of Babylon. Carried away to Babylon. And the whole assembly together.

[12:54] Was. 42,360. And now. That sounds like a big number. 42,360. 42,360. But it was out of about 4 million.

[13:06] It was about 4 million. 4 million. Went into captivity. Yet it's only 42,360. It's got the same principle. Repeated again. Of the multitude.

[13:17] And the remnant. When the Lord Jesus came. John 1, verse 11 through 12. He came unto his own. And his own received him not.

[13:29] But to as many as received him. So then gave him the power. To become the sons of God. Even to them. That believe. On his name. He came unto his own. His very own nation.

[13:41] Made for woman. He was born. In Bethlehem. He came. God manifests in the flesh. He came unto his own. But they did not receive him.

[13:53] But to as many as do believe. As many as receive him. Then. He becomes. He gives them power to become. The children of God.

[14:04] Even to them. That believe on his name. So again. The Lord Jesus came unto his own. The nation of Israel. The Messiah has come. They did not receive him.

[14:15] And they still do not receive him. Only a remnant. Did receive him. Multitude. Remnant. Even in our Lord's day.

[14:26] The Lord Jesus. As he preached. And this is an easy reference. To remember. John 6. 66. You know. 666. John 6. 66.

[14:37] From that time. Many of his disciples. Went back. And walked no more with him. The concept here is. Unless you eat my flesh. And drink my blood. He really.

[14:48] Bordered down. To hey. You've got to get serious here. About discipleship. And it says. From that time. Many of his disciples. Went back. And walked no more with him. Only a remnant. Only a remnant.

[14:59] Remained with our Lord. Many. Walked no more with him. They went back. In. 2 Timothy 1. Verse 15.

[15:10] It reads how. The Lord. Speaking through Paul. It says. All they. Which are in Asia. Be turned away from me.

[15:21] That's 2 Timothy 1. 15. All Asia. Turned away from Paul. Paul. Who was the faithful ambassador. The faithful apostle. He was. Commissioned by God.

[15:33] For these people. All they. That area in Asia. Turned away from me. They didn't want. To know Paul. The multitude. The remnant.

[15:44] Paul could only rely on Timothy. We read in Philippians 2. Verse 19. I'm sorry. I've not got these scriptures. To project. Because I know it's hard. To keep up with me tonight. But Philippians 2. Verse 19.

[15:55] Through 21. Paul writes here. In Philippians 2. 19. But I trust in the Lord Jesus. To send Timotheus. Shortly. Unto you. That I also may be of good comfort.

[16:05] When I know your state. For I have no man. No man. Like minded. Who will naturally care for your state. Paul says. I can only rely on Timothy. He's the only one of God to help you.

[16:18] As he was writing to the Philippians. I have no man. Like minded. Who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own. Not the things which are Jesus Christ.

[16:28] So even in Paul's day. This man of God. Of his time. The people who are the remnant. Are few in number. Only Timothy. He can count on. To get the job done.

[16:40] And then we see. Beyond the times of scripture. We see through the record. Of church history. How many. Were faithfully following on. In the time. Of.

[16:51] The dark ages. As it's called. Which is the period. From about 600. To 1500 AD. We see then. Likewise. Only a remnant.

[17:01] Only a faithful number. That held fast. That were. True to the word of God. And scripture. True to. To scriptural doctrine. It was truly.

[17:13] A time of spiritual darkness. When we know. That the Pope. Reigned supreme. And people were denied. Access to the Bible. When good people. Tried to print the Bible.

[17:24] They. They were persecuted. When people tried to. Print the word of God. In the common language. Of the nations. They were. Persecuted.

[17:36] And the Bibles. They made. Were burnt. And people were burnt. Along with the Bibles. By. The religious authority. Of the day. How dark can you get. That they were denied.

[17:46] The very light. Of the word of God. A time of great. Spiritual darkness. And many evils. Like the Crusades. And the Inquisition. Were done. In the name of Christianity.

[17:57] In the name of Christianity. And we know through. Even in the history of our nation. In Australia. Sometimes those who claim to be Christians. And set up missions. Sometimes there's dark things happen there.

[18:08] Which were not of God. And God have mercy on them. And even still today. We see. Gross things going on. In the name of Christianity. Which are nothing to do with Christianity.

[18:19] It's the evil. Of. The multitude. That are straight from Scripture. Whereas the. The remnant. Are the faithful. As we see through.

[18:31] Times of history. The Waldensians. You know. The various ones. The Anabaptists. They held fast to. The scriptural teaching. They. They believed. Salvation is.

[18:43] Through faith. By God's grace. They. They believed. The sufficiency of Scripture. By grace alone. Through faith alone.

[18:54] Through Christ alone. The word of God. Alone. They were. In the minority. And likewise today. Brothers and sisters.

[19:04] In this world that we live. It's still the same today. It was like that back in Samuel's day. In 1 Samuel 3 verse. 1. It tells of Samuel. And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli.

[19:17] And the word of the Lord was precious. In those days. There was no open vision. Now this. Word precious. It means. You know. As you think of precious stones.

[19:28] They're rare. You rarely find a precious stone. And I've been looking in my backyard for a long time. I've yet to find any precious stones. And I'm hoping one day I'll find that gold nugget there.

[19:39] Or you know. The gemstones or whatever. But. A precious stone is something that's rare. You scarcely would find such a thing. And what it's saying here in 1 Samuel 3 verse 1. The word of the Lord was precious.

[19:50] In those days. The word of the Lord was so precious. It was rare. You could rarely hear it. You could rarely hear the preaching of the word of God. There was no open vision. It's like. The scriptures.

[20:05] Are. Are not. Delivered to people. And we see that in. Our world today too. Where in some church circles. You scarcely get a bible verse.

[20:15] From the preacher. It's all about. Yarning on about. His. His. Experiences. Or. Or some. Extra. Biblical. Revelations.

[20:25] That. Has come to his mind. Or her mind. And. The word of God isn't even opened. In some churches. The word of the Lord was rare. It was precious.

[20:36] There was a lack of the word of God. We see that today too. Sadly. Where. The word of God. Is. Is not. Loved. And. And. Trembled at.

[20:48] And. Taken heed of. It's true again today. This. Reality. This. This theme. This. Concept. This. Doctrine. If you like.

[20:58] Of the remnant. Is. It is something that is. Clear through scripture. That. God's people. Oft times. Are in the minority. You know.

[21:09] It's like. If you follow the crowd. You're probably going the wrong way. There's a bit of a saying like that. You know. We can't follow the crowd. We've got to follow. The Lord. Follow.

[21:20] Follow the cloud. Follow God. And his way. His leading. Not. The majority. Because often the majority. Can be wrong. When people jump on the bandwagon.

[21:32] There's a lot of that fatty stuff going on. People jump on the bandwagon. Whether it be Rick Warren. Whatever it be at the time. That's in the. In the. Fashion. The fad of the day. People just jump on it.

[21:43] Without questioning. Without. Actually. Is that right? Is that scriptural? A lack of the word of God. It's true again today. We see it in Nehemiah's time. In the time of Nehemiah.

[21:54] Chapter 1. Verse 3. And they said unto me. The remnant. That are left of the captivity. There in the province. Are in great affliction. And reproach. The wall of Jerusalem.

[22:04] Also. Is broken down. And the gates. Thereof. Are burnt with fire. At this time of Nehemiah. 1. Verse 3. He got some news back. He was in. In Babylon. In captivity.

[22:15] He got news. Of Jerusalem. Of the walls broken down. Of the city lying in ruins. Of the gates burnt. So the city. The. The city of Jerusalem.

[22:25] Which was the. Special. Place. Given by God. And was meant to be. Guarded.

[22:36] And. A holy place. That. Should have been a safe place. For God's people. Was laying barren. And wasted. And. In great reproach.

[22:46] And. In great danger of the enemies. Who could just freely come and go. Because the walls were broken down. And. Nehemiah was told. The remnants. That are left. Are in great affliction.

[22:58] And reproach. Nehemiah was told. There's still a remnant there. There's still some people there. There's still the faithful. There. In Jerusalem. But they're in great reproach.

[23:08] Because the walls broken down. So he. Was led by God to go. And. Amend that. To repair the wall. It spoke of that. Lack of defense. Against the enemy.

[23:19] And the spiritual compromise. When the walls are broken down. The people are in great. Affliction. And reproach. It was. It was. A shameful thing. It was. It was.

[23:31] It was something. A reproach. It was something that was. It was a shame. They were ashamed. Before their enemies.

[23:43] And. I know. Our brother. Colin. Talked about. You know. Mega churches. And. And sometimes. Being the insignificant. Ones. As it were. And. In Zechariah 4. Verse 10. It talks about. Who had despised.

[23:55] The day of small things. Who has despised. The day of small things. Now. Sometimes. God. Can do. The greatest work. When. He uses. The smallest of us.

[24:06] When he uses. The most humble. Of humble. You know. There's a. I know there's a song. In our book. That talks. Little is great. When God is in it. That can be so. Can't it?

[24:17] That little is great. When God is in it. The very name. Paul. His name. The name. Paul. Means little. He was. A little man. Maybe he was. He was.

[24:27] Little. In stature. But maybe he was just little. In the sense. He was just insignificant. He's a nobody. God uses nobodies. Doesn't he? He uses nobodies. For his glory.

[24:38] And God works still. Through his own dear people. We can't ever. Put ourselves down. Because God can use. Every one of us. As his vessel. A vessel unto honour.

[24:49] No matter what. Our. Circumstance. We're all equally vessels. That can be filled by God. Whatever our situation. Here tonight.

[25:00] You might think. I'm not a worthy vessel. I'm not a vessel unto honour. He can make you one. He can. Just like that. He can get things sorted. And the past. The faults.

[25:11] And the failings. And the. And the. Disqualifications. He can. Remedy that. He can make us right. He can make us fit. Prepared for every good work.

[25:23] Ready for the master's use. How we need. To be such a people. And to. Each one of us. Find. Our place. To serve. To. To know.

[25:33] God's will for us. And even though we feel. We're small in number. Maybe we're small in faith. Maybe we're feeling insignificant. We're feeling.

[25:45] Like this is the day of small things. That God can do. Great things. Through. Us. And. I think more so. When we're conscious. How weak we are. I can.

[25:56] I think more so. God can use you. When you realise. How inadequate. You are. Because we all are inadequate. But. It's for such a time as this. When it seems like the majority.

[26:07] Are a strain. You know. I had someone. Visit our church. And. And one of the. The family didn't like. How we do church.

[26:18] And. And I was just racking my brain. To think. What other church. Could I really recommend. Wholeheartedly recommend. There's few. There's few.

[26:28] There's few churches. I would recommend in Adelaide. And. I would be. Hard pressed at times. To. To think. Where could I fit.

[26:39] If I wasn't here. It's not to big note ourselves. Because we're all. Inadequate. I'm an unworthy servant.

[26:54] I've just done that. Which is my duty to do. We can't big note ourselves. Or think. We're highfalutin. We're greater than others. But.

[27:07] Humbly before God. We can seek after God. And seek his face. And seek to be a biblical church. A biblical. Caring church. A sound.

[27:18] Doctrine. Preaching church. Where the simple gospel. Is. Delivered. It doesn't get lost. In translation. It's. We're trying to be messengers.

[27:30] Of this life. Where. A multitude. Seem. Like they've lost. The simple gospel. It's. Got lost somewhere. In translation.

[27:42] And it's like. There's a new breed. Of Christians today. A new breed. Of. A new age. Of churches. That. Just. As I talked. Earlier. This morning. About it. It's like. It's like.

[27:52] You're going into a discotheque. And. Yet. There is a remnant. There is a remnant. There is a faithful number. God's own precious people. And we don't have a monopoly on that.

[28:03] They're not all here. There. In fact. There may be some. Not saved here. This. This evening. It's not. That we've got a monopoly. On the truth. But.

[28:14] God helping us. We want to be part of that. Faithful number. That faithful number. God's remnant people. The people have not bowed. The knee to Baal. They've not bowed down.

[28:25] As. The three Hebrew children. Even though. They were outnumbered. Well and truly. We can be like Elijah. As. He was moved by God.

[28:36] In 1 Kings 18. Verse 30. It says. He tore down the idols. And he said. Let us repair the altar. This is 1 Kings 18. Verse 30. Elijah said unto all the people.

[28:47] He said. Come near unto me. Now. I say that Sunday night. Sometimes. I say. Sit closer to the front. Come near unto me. He said. And all the people. Came near unto him. And he repaired the altar.

[28:59] Of the Lord. That was broken down. He repaired the altar. Of the Lord. That was broken down. And. In the context too. They tore down the idols. They. They had some demolition work.

[29:10] As well as a construction. Of the altar. And we know that in. In. This same day. We have those same. Two things to do. To tear down the altars. To smash the.

[29:23] Images of Baal. Anything that's contrary. To God. And his truth. And I'd imagine. At times. People get very attached.

[29:33] To such things. To idols. Can you imagine that. In Papua New Guinea. People get attached. To the idols. They probably spent. Some good money for them. What did you say brother.

[29:44] Yeah. They might have spent. Hours and hours. Carving them. And painting them. And. And blessing them. And putting them in. Prime of place. On the mantelpiece. In the prime position.

[29:56] They could bow down. To those idols. But when people get saved. What do they do. With the idols. They forsake them. They burn them. Smash them up. Amen.

[30:06] Shouldn't we do that. In the western world. As well. What are the idols. That he wants us. To smash. And get rid of. Those things that we worship. Other than God.

[30:18] And rather repair the altar. Of the Lord. That was broken down. Yet many in our day. There's this counterfeit. This new breed. Of Christianity. The people who cry.

[30:29] Lord. Lord. The world is not offended. By that kind of. Christianity. That's. Kind of a. A weakly. Sappy.

[30:39] It's a. Pathetic. Twisted. Mixed. Mixture. Where.

[30:50] Someone can. Can come. And it's like. It's just going to a worldly party. Or some social club. You know. Some people choose churches.

[31:00] Whether. What kind of coffee. Do they serve. After the service. You know. Have they got the. I'm sorry everybody. I'm going to have coffee. Coffee man. It's like. I'm here tonight. But. It's like.

[31:11] They've got the. The coffee brewing in the. In the cafe. In the lounge. Of the church. And. Oh. I'm not going back to that church. The muffins didn't taste very good. Or whatever it be. It's almost like.

[31:21] There's that fleshly. That the God is. Their God is their belly. They're almost. Churches are competing on. On such sensual things. On fleshly things. About. Like.

[31:31] How good the coffee is. Or. How. Um. How. Bright. And cheery the music is. Or. Have they. Have they got the latest beats. The latest jazz.

[31:43] And the world is not offended by that kind of Christianity. The devil doesn't. Really care much for that. It's almost like. He doesn't waste his time.

[31:53] He probably. He's almost part of the marketing program. I'm being a little. Flippant here. But. It's almost like. That kind of weak. Superficial kind of Christianity.

[32:05] Isn't going to impact the world. We need to be like Elijah. Cast down. The idols of Baal. Repair the altar of the Lord. He is holy.

[32:15] Holy. Holy. Holy. Ahab told Elijah. He was a troublemaker. And in 2 Kings 18 verse 18. You know. Ahab says.

[32:25] You're a troublemaker. You're the one who troubles Israel. He says. I have not troubled Israel. But thou and thy father's house. In that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord. And you followed Baal.

[32:36] He's saying to the king. There's a boldness there in Elijah. You know. The faithful remnant. We'll be bold. We'll be bold for the truth.

[32:47] The righteous are as bold as a lion. We should be bold. With the truth. Because we have the truth. We love the truth. We need fearless preaching.

[32:58] To say it like it is. To say it in love. Of course. To speak the truth in love. We have need of boldness. In this day of weakness. In this day of superficial.

[33:10] Nominal Christianity. This worldly mixture. That is weak and pathetic. And does nothing. We have need of boldness today.

[33:21] To rise up as God's people. Even if we be outnumbered. Even if it seems like we're in the minority. We are the ultimate minority group. I used to think I was in the minority.

[33:35] You know. I was a pommy. In a school full of Aussies. And I was the odd one out. I had to learn how to talk Aussie. I had to be converted. To an Australian way of talking.

[33:47] I'm still learning. You can tell. I let the odd words slip. That oh he doesn't sound. That I'm the samurai. But you know. We're in the minority aren't we? Aren't we truly? And we could feel that way in different cultural aspects too.

[34:00] Oh look. I'm one of my lonesome. There's not too many Papi and Gideons here tonight. You know. Sometimes the minority is a good thing. Isn't it? But especially that.

[34:11] Be in that minority. The minority who stand with God. To be in that. That remnant as it were. And it's not to say. Oh we're going to walk around and think. I'm holier than thou.

[34:22] And I've got it all together. And everybody else is wrong. But. We love the truth so much. That. It won't matter that we're outnumbered. It won't matter that we're small in number. Because as our world hurtles towards judgment.

[34:35] To final judgment. Our Lord says. When the Son of Man cometh. Shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18 verse 8. In Noah's day. How many?

[34:46] Eight. Multitudes perished. Only part of the remnant. I hope that's not quite as small a number as that. You know. But the remnant. Of this day.

[34:58] Are those who are desperate for the truth. We see the love of the truth. We see the need of our day. We see the real Christianity that matters. That life changing.

[35:08] That soul saving. That heaven shaking. Truth of God. That world changing. Of the inspired and authoritative revelation of scripture.

[35:21] That book that makes us tremble. Because we care about its truth. We won't deviate from it. We'll hold it fast. And we'll hold it forth. The powerful word of truth. And as a church.

[35:31] We want to have that sound preaching of the scripture. Where we care about the word of God. And we don't succumb to the propaganda of the godless world around us.

[35:42] We don't have to use worldly marketing gimmicks. Or razzmatazz. We just need the plain and simple truth of the gospel. That real Christianity.

[35:54] That upholds the word of God. It's what changed everything. Through the scriptures. We see for example King Josiah. At a time where there was great decay of truth.

[36:06] There was great apostasy. There was great backsliding of the nation. King Josiah was delivered the scroll that they'd found.

[36:18] Buried away. Out of sight. And someone brought it to the light. And gave it to the king. And he humbled himself as the law was read. And he repented.

[36:29] And he tore his clothes. In a sign of his repenting. And here was when fruitfulness truly came. To the nation. Revival came. As the word of God was read. And believed.

[36:40] And acted upon. There was true liberty there. Will we realize that? Precious truth. Of the word of God.

[36:51] And the promises. That he has for us. Will we put away pride and self-will. Now that's the greatest idol isn't it? The greatest idol is.

[37:05] Making a God in our own image. Our own image. Our pride. Our self-will. And realizing. Our security is in God.

[37:15] Even if we're outnumbered. Even if. You know. When people say. Oh you go to that church. You're one of those. I've had that said to me.

[37:26] By someone who is pretty. High up in some. Church-based organization. And. I said. Well. We're independent Baptists. You know. Not that. Independent Baptists are.

[37:38] The be all and end all. But. I said. Oh. You're one of those. You know. Come out and be separate. One of them. So that's what. That's why he recognized.

[37:49] What that means. We're not part of the ecumenical outfit. That just goes along with the flow. Goes along with the. Kumbaya. We're all brothers and sisters.

[38:00] Nuns and priests and. Buddhists and Mormons. You name it. They can all hold hands and sing. Kumbaya. My Lord. We're not part of that outfit. You're one of those.

[38:11] Come out and be separate. He kind of mocked. The kind of church. The kind of belief that we have. That's actually what the Bible says to do. Amen.

[38:23] That's what matters. And souls are slipping into a Christless eternity today. May we pray. Like. Habakkuk did. In Habakkuk 3 verse 2.

[38:34] O Lord revive thy work. O Lord revive thy work. Now we can be mightily used of God. This is the day of small things. God can use the smallest of the small.

[38:48] All of us can. Be mightily used of God. We are outnumbered. Still. As they always were. Pretty much at the time. Through the record of history. We are outnumbered.

[38:59] But we can still stand. In Psalm 94 verse 16. It says. Who will rise up for me. Against the evil doers. Or who will stand for me. Stand up for me. Against the workers of iniquity.

[39:11] Down through history. Even through the dismal dark ages. God always had his people. Now thank God. There was the reformation. That even in the darkness of Rome.

[39:22] A light started to shine. In that very dark. And. And Bible denying. Religious system. That was papal Rome.

[39:33] And still is today. They haven't changed. Now this church is going. I believe it is Pentecost Sunday. Next Sunday. And there's an ecumenical gathering. Everybody can come.

[39:44] Everybody who's anybody. Who will stand up for me. Against the evil doers. Rome hasn't changed. Its doctrines are still as perverse. And satanic. Driven by the devil himself.

[39:57] We don't have a bar of it. God always has his people. He always has his own set apart people. And they still are around today. Sometimes scattered. In churches that are less faithful.

[40:09] It's not to deny. God has his people planted. All over the place. But the fact remains. The broad way is crowded. And only a few.

[40:22] Go the narrow way. There's only one way to be saved tonight. And there only has been one way ever. It's Jesus Christ. And him crucified. He is the way.

[40:32] The truth and the life. The broad way is crowded. Judgment looms. Destruction. Is the. Destination. For the broad way.

[40:43] Don't go the broad way. Don't follow the crowd. Be man enough. Woman enough. To say no. I'm not going to follow the crowd. I'm going to go God's way. The narrow way. I'm going to go that way.

[40:53] Even though it costs me. Even though I'm going to pay a price. To go that way. Even though. I'm going to be mocked. And scorned. And my family and friends. Are going to. Make jibes at me. And. And laugh.

[41:04] And. And. Taunt me. I'm going to go the narrow way. Because it's God's way. Judgment must begin at the house of God. Our nation has turned from what is right.

[41:17] And the church has lost its way. And we are in the last days. In Acts 15. 14. Simeon declared. God at the first. Did visit the Gentiles. To take out. Of them.

[41:28] A people. For his name. God's taking out a people. For his name. The multitude is not going to get saved. Only the few.

[41:39] Will be saved. Now. How do we make sure. We're in the few. What matters. Is that we have our absolute faith.

[41:49] In the Lord Jesus Christ. As our Lord and Saviour. He is the only way. To be saved. His blood is the only substance. That can cleanse your heart from sin.

[42:00] His grace. Is the only means. Of our knowing him. His. The faith. That we have in him.

[42:11] Is our only cry. Not of works. Only faith. Only faith in Christ. As our Lord and Saviour. And it's the same as it was in Noah's day.

[42:22] The remnant entered the ark. The rest perished. As it was in Sodom's day. The remnant were freed. Before God's judgment fell. On the multitude.

[42:33] God always has a faithful remnant. Now you might say. Preacher. Look. I'm not feeling very faithful tonight. He.

[42:46] Does the work. He does the work. You might say. I'm not worthy. None of us can be. Nobody can be worthy. Our only plea.

[42:58] Is his. Wonderful grace. Our only. Our only hope. Is his precious blood. That's the only. Reason we can know.

[43:09] Our salvation. I know. Numbers of us went to see. A woman. Of late. Our prayer warriors. We. We went and saw a woman. And. We asked the question.

[43:23] Are you a Christian? She said. I hope so. I hope so. But when we left that place. She was saying. I know so. I know so. Because she.

[43:33] She did what the word of God said to do. She'd already done it. But she was just a little. Familiar. That the word of God says. This is the record. That you can know.

[43:44] That you have. Everlasting life. You that believe. On the name of the son of God. If you do what it says. You can say. I know. That I'm saved. I know. That I'm going to heaven. It won't be any doubt.

[43:56] Won't be a hope so. Or a think so. It'll be. I know so. I know. I know. I know. God always has a faithful remnant. So do not be discouraged tonight.

[44:06] You might feel. Look. I'm feeling like I'm the only Christian. In my home. I feel like I'm the only Christian. In my family circle. Or you know. I'm working with. A whole load of people.

[44:17] Who do not know the Savior. And how outnumbered I am. God always has. His faithful ones. So do not be discouraged. If you feel like you're in the minority.

[44:31] Because. It's clear from scripture. That often. Those who were. Considered the least. And the outnumbered.

[44:42] Were those who are holding fast. To the truth. And it's all the more encouragement for you. If you can just grasp that thought. That okay. I do believe the Lord Jesus is my Lord and Savior.

[44:56] I want to earnestly follow. What he's telling me to do. But it seems like everybody else. I know. Doesn't want that. Don't be discouraged tonight. Hold fast the word of God.

[45:07] Hold fast the word of God. Let's pray. Lord we thank you. Lord we thank you that your word does encourage us. That even in testing times. Lord. Even when we see. It seems like. The whole world.

[45:19] Is turning away. From the truth. Lord. Help us to. Yet. Remain faithful. To know that. We are a majority with you Lord.

[45:30] As far as. It's. If we have faith in you. That you'll help us to be strong. And you'll help us to find our mission. And fulfill it.

[45:42] And we pray for those who. Seem astray. Those. Who seem. Off the. The. The straight and narrow. That you'll help us to be witnesses for you.

[45:53] To point them back. To. To be. A signpost on that. That warning sign as it were. To those. On the road to destruction. That they might. Do a U-turn.

[46:05] Lord. And turn. On to that narrow way. We pray if there's anyone here tonight. That. Have some doubt. Or concern on that. That they'll seek prayer tonight. Before they leave. They'll ask someone to pray.

[46:16] Pray for them. So they can. Know that. Certaincy. Of your saving grace. Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.