06/28/2024 – Who Out There is God’s People?
Ezra 1: 1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. 3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem
=================================================================
One of the apparent advantages the devil seems to have that makes his work easier is the strategy of the multitude. It seems at times that more people love the world than love God. The way of perdition is wide, and it is crowded. The general consensus of the world turns steadily against the teaching of the Bible. Heresy and sin become more and more widely accepted and the truth of God is more widely rejected.
The force of the majority has great influence on the individual. Peer pressure is one of the great forces that threatens to shape each of us according to this world. But there is a greater force that shapes us: a force that renews our minds and transforms us to the likeness of Christ!
Beware of the pull of the majority! The remnant does not depend on the world’s approval. When you decide to follow Christ, you need to be prepared to be in the minority. This will not be easy. We crave acceptance and recognition. But God has promised that He will save that minority of people faithful to Him. Not only that…God will use that remnant to bring blessing to the whole and blessing to many.
Even after 70 years of captivity in Babylon, God had preserved a remnant to build His house. God uses a pagan king to call God’s remnant into action.
God never allows total corruption. Fullness belongs to God. He places limits on sin, the devil and the world; but NO ONE places limits on God and His power! He always saves a remnant by grace. This was true in the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah. They were not perfect…but they found grace. God uses this remnant to restore His people and overcome the rebellious majority. We are part of God’s remnant today!