A Small Remnant
Key Passage: Ezra 9:5-8
Date: June 7, 2024
They brought all these problems to him. Ezra begins to pray. People that tremble at the word of God come to him and they get together. They are having a somewhat of a prayer meeting, if you will. We are going to start in Ezra 9, verse number 5.
Verse number five, Ezra 9:5. “And at the evening sacrifice, I arose up from my heaviness, having ripped my garment and my mantle, and I fell upon my knees, spread out my hands unto the Lord my God. I said, ‘Oh, my God, I am ashamed and blessed to lift up my face to Thee. My God, for our…’”
Notice that. He wasn’t pointing his finger, getting on to them. “For our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass has grown up under the heavens. Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day. For our iniquities have we, our kings and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, into the sword, into the captivity, into a spoil, and the confusion of face as it is this day.”
“And now, for a little space, grace hath been showed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage.”
Well, let’s just stop there for the night. We’ll see how far we get. We may read a little bit farther later on tonight. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Would you ask the Lord to speak to your heart? Some of us are tired. Just ask the Lord, even tonight, give me a little revival and do work in my heart as we cover this verse 8 specifically. Would you pray as I pray?
Lord, we’re here. These people are here. They’ve been busy, Lord. And Lord, you know better than I, the burdens—many have got burdens. Lord, we put our burdens at your feet, at your hands. Lord, tonight, would you feed us from your word? Lord, encourage us. Father, help me to say what you want said. Help me to say it the way you want it said. And Lord, the big thing, would you come and meet with us in a special way, giving every individual here tonight what they need from you, from your word? Lord, we’ll thank you for what you do. We’re asking for these things in the name of Jesus. We pray. Amen.
Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.
Would you look back at verse number eight? I want to call your attention just to one word. And for a little while, I want to focus on this one word. Verse number eight, the sin had been brought.
Boy, he said, when you start intermarrying with the world, all the problems, and he just had wept about it. And then he says, “And now for a little space, grace hath been showed from the Lord our God, to leave us a,” what’s the next word? Remnant. Would you say that word “remnant” out loud? To leave us a… All that word is very, very important.
92 times in God’s word, God uses the word remnant. Back in the Depression days, when people didn’t have much at all, they would often have a rag drawer, and even years later, and even maybe some now. When just a shirt or something got so old you couldn’t wear it anymore, and it got to the point somebody hoped, you would put it over in the rag drawer. And every once my mom or grandma or whoever it was would take all those remnants out. And then we began to sew those rags, those remnants together. And out of the remnants, they’d make a beautiful quilt.
We went down to North Georgia, around in a little bit south of Chattanooga. You know, that’s the carpet capital, Dalton, Georgia, and all that. And we went down there, maybe in one of the other buildings, and when we went to remodel this, when we extended it and then remodeled it, both times we went down there. And you talk to these companies, and sometimes they say, look, man, they’ll make thousands and thousands of square yards of a certain type of carpet. And they’ll sell it, they’ll send it out on semis to different companies all across the United States. But sometimes there’ll just be a little bit left over that really can’t put on the roll. And it may be… it may be 1,200, 1,500 square yards of carpet or something. And that might be a lot for us, but for them, compared to what they ship out, it’s just a remnant. And sometimes you can get a good deal on a remnant of carpet. See?
Now, remnant is just a small section of what used to be a large amount. And he’s saying here, now, he’s saying, God, in your grace, you have left of your people wanting to serve you, and has your hand on their life. You’ve left us a remnant. Frank, can I say tonight, God always has a remnant of his people? You can say amen there on that. God always has a remnant of his people.
In the very beginning, when he created this whole thing, man began to go downhill. They lived so long back then. And sin was just rampant on the earth. You remember that? In the days of Noah, violence—the Bible speaks so often of violence. It’s amazing how much violence we got in our day and time. The Bible mentions that twice over there in Genesis, chapter number six, how violent. And they had evil continual, just always thinking evil and wicked imaginations in their heart.
And so God said, I’m going to bring a flood. Remember who it was in the ark? Was that Moses in the ark? No, you’re right. It was Noah in the ark. Yeah. But God brings that flood over the whole world. And really, everybody is wiped out besides a remnant. God said, I’m going to leave a remnant: Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives. And God always, even when the world was so wicked that it brought a flood on the world, God said, “No, nope, I’m going to have a remnant even during that time.” God always has a remnant for him. Always, he’s got a remnant.
I think of the… God said, of all the nations that want to go astray, I’ll pick my one nation, Israel, and Abraham, to be a remnant. Now, you even take that family of that nation of Israel many different times, but I think he’s in the very beginning. Remember Jacob? He had those 12 boys. Can you imagine going to Aldi’s and Walmart and Publix and Kroger’s and shopping for 12 boys? Wow, I want to pay that grocery bill. My goodness. I mean, 12 boys. And honestly, for the most part, those boys weren’t right. But God said, I’ve got the second to the youngest, a boy named Joseph, and that boy is going to be my remnant. You remember that? And God had him over there in Egypt, and he rose to prime minister of the land. He was a remnant. God always has a remnant, friend. Always has a remnant.
Remember what happens later on? It was Moses this time. Moses brings those people through God’s leadership out of Egypt and across the Red Sea and through the wilderness. And they got over there to Kadesh Barnea, about to enter into the promised land, and they sent in those 12 spies. Remember that? I’m shocked how many people ever—have you ever heard that song? “Ten were bad and two were good.” Bad joke. We got more. Brother Bush, would you leave us in this home? No, I’m joking. I can’t lead to said it either. I’m joking. But yeah, and what happened? Ten of them said, “We can’t do it.” Two of them said, “We can do it.”
And so the majority said, “No, no, we can’t do it.” And so that generation, God said, they’ll wander in the wilderness and they’ll die of natural death for 40 years—one year for every day, one year. And they did not enter into the wilderness. That generation did not enter in besides two: Joshua and Caleb, a remnant. God always has a remnant. Just mark it down for him. He always has had. He always will have a remnant. Oh, I’m so thankful for that remnant.
Now, they eventually, under Joshua, you know the story, that younger generation, they moved into the promised land over there, and they backslid, and God would let captivity come in. And then he would have a judge that would deliver them, and some would die and problems would arise. But 13 different judges would have the remnant. You’re just following on down. The kings: Saul and David and Solomon. And Rehoboam split the kingdom. Ten of the tribes said, “No, we don’t want to go to the house of David. We’re going to go our own way.” But two of the 12—Benjamin and Judah—a remnant. God always has his remnant, friend.
Even they backslid. And God said, “All right, I’ve warned you time and time; many, many prophets have warned you.” And so God let them come in and take them captive back over to Babylon. We’ve been studying about it. And they were over there for 70 years. And then 50,000 coming back. That’s a lot. Well, in comparison to all the Jewish people, that was just a remnant. But God had a remnant come back over to the city of God, Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple. And then 5,000 of another remnant to beautify the temple a little while later, under Nehemiah, another remnant to rebuild the wall. I’m just saying God always uses a remnant. He always has had a remnant. Always will have a remnant.
Let’s jump over to the New Testament time. Jesus came into his own. You know the verse: “And his own received him not.” That was the vast majority, the Jewish people rejected the Messiah. But friend, there was 12 men—Apostles, Jewish men. I’m saying that remnant, and God worked through that remnant. There’s always a remnant.
And now in the church age, the age of the Gentile, and Gentiles are getting saved for the most part. You say, “Well, a lot of people are getting saved at any time,” and praise the Lord, they are. But can I be honest? What has the Bible said? “Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go therein.” And “Narrow is the way that leadeth to life.” By the way, friend, that narrow is not your way of living narrow. It’s narrow because there’s only one way: Jesus. That’s the narrowness of getting into heaven. “Narrow is the way that leadeth to life, and few there be that go in thereat.” That’s the remnant. There’s always a remnant, friend. You just mark it down.
Sunday morning, we’re studying about the end times. And we discussed Sunday a lot about the tribulation period. And we’re talking about the Holy Spirit of God. Where does he live at? He lives in the… And the believers in our heart and our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. And one day he’ll be taken out at the rapture. Somebody said, “Well, preacher, how can people be saved after the Lord? The Holy Spirit is taken out.” There’s two witnesses—a remnant. And then those two witnesses, 144,000 Jewish evangelists, men—a remnant—and they spread the gospel around the world. I’m simply saying there’s always a remnant, friend, always has been, always will be.
Now, let me—can I just stop for a second? I know what’s meant to be having a Bible study, but it’s all right to give us a little bit. You can say amen tonight, all right? Is that all right? We’ll use it. Hey, aren’t you glad to be a part of the remnant? Man, I’m glad I don’t have to worry about going to hell. If I died tonight in my sleep, that’s all right, friend. I wake up in heaven tomorrow. Man, I’m just glad to be a part of the remnant. I don’t have to keep my eyes looking behind me for the police. I don’t have to worry about them. I’m going to drug overdose tonight. Friend, praise the Lord, by the grace of God, I’m a part of the remnant of Jesus. It’s just good to be a part of the remnant. Hey, there always has been, there always will be a remnant. I mean, I’m just—I just thank the Lord that I get to be a remnant.
Let us look at something. Look over in Isaiah 1, verse number 9. It’s the remnant. Man, we’re privileged. We’re going to talk about it a second. It’s not that I’m anything, you’re anything. We’re just privileged. God’s been good to us. He lets us be a part of the remnant. We’ll discuss that more in just a moment here. But look over here in Isaiah 1, verse number 9. Isaiah 1, verse number 9. And by the way, since we’re talking about the remnant, I’d be careful of following the majority. God uses a remnant, you know what I’m saying? We might not be the biggest and most popular, but I’m glad I’m part of the remnant, amen. Praise the Lord.
Look over here in this verse, Isaiah, look at chapter number one, look at verse number nine. Isaiah 1, verse number 9. He says, “Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small,” what’s the next word? “remnant,” we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been likened to Gomorrah."
I’m amazed. I never forget years ago, we went down to Nashville to the courthouse, and they were trying to promote or do this thing where homosexuals were going to come into the schoolhouse and whatnot and promote their sin, and nobody could do anything about it. We stood against that, and we took a group of people up there to it. And I never forget one of the council members on his way in—we talked for just a moment—and he said he was a Christian. And he said, “Well, I’m not really sure where God stands on that.” And that might not be the exact words, but it was on that line.
And I said, “Friend, look in Jude, verse number seven.” There’s only one chapter there. And God says Sodom and Gomorrah is an example to us. It shows us how God feels about homosexuality. And it’s pretty clear. God poured down fire and brimstone on five cities because he hates the sin upside down. Now, he still loves the sinner, but he hates the sin. But it’s pretty clear where God stands on the issue. I mean, he’s going to pour fire and brimstone on them for that sin. I’m not very smart. I mean, my mom didn’t raise any dumb boys besides my brothers, you know. I can figure that out. Don’t tell my brothers, Bob.
But look, friend, he’s saying, now look, if it wasn’t for this verse, if it wasn’t for that very small remnant, they would have been likened to Sodom and Gomorrah. You said, “Preacher, what has kept America free under the hand of God?” I know it’s not like it used to be in some ways, but at least God’s hand of protection is still on it. We still live in the greatest nation on the face of the earth. Now, what is the reason why has God continued to bless America even though with all these problems? I’ll tell you why: the very small remnant. It’s people gathering in God’s house on a Wednesday night just like you. We got problems galore. We’re not perfect. We’ve got all our issues, for sure. But we’re trying to serve God. We’re not trying to act like we’re better than anybody else, but we love the Lord, and we’re trying to honestly, sincerely, please him—the remnant.
Hey, God always uses his remnant. You see, God takes the remnant and he works through the remnant to reach the world. But if the remnant is gone or turns away from the Lord, oh, that’s what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. Yeah, the remnant’s so important. I hope—I don’t know how long the Lord’s going to tarry. I don’t know. He may tarry till I grow old and die. I mean, hopefully 104 or something like that. I don’t know. But I want to be a part of the remnant until the day the Lord takes me home.
Hey, we’re blessed to be a part of the remnant tonight. You ought to thank God. Man, I got the Bible in my hand, the old King James Bible in my hand. I’ve got a God I can pray to. I get to go to church. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. You ought to just thank God you’re part of the remnant. Man, I’m thankful I’m part of that.
Let’s look at something else real quickly here. We’re going to try to wind it down pretty quick here. Look back in verse number eight. Back over there, Ezra 9, verse number 8. And he says over there, you back over there at Ezra 9:8? Would you say “Amen” if you’re there? Good. Look at verse number eight. He says, “And now for a little space, grace hath been showed from the Lord our God to leave us a remnant to escape.”
Hey, lest we get proud, “I’m part of the remnant,” not because of who or what I am, but because of his grace. I’m not deserving of it. In fact, I wasn’t saved by my goodness or anything I did. It was all the shed blood of Jesus Christ from the cross of Calvary. Hey, we’re saved by His grace. I’m not part of the remnant because I’m a preacher or anything else like that. I’m a part of the remnant because He’s a gracious God.
In fact, I didn’t even have sense enough to get saved. God sent his Spirit out chasing me and wooing me. And as a boy, convicted me so I would lay awake at night in my bed thinking, “Am I going to heaven? Am I going to hell?” as the Spirit of God drew me. I can’t say, “Look at me, I’m part of the remnant,” and all that. I only can because of His grace. His grace saved me. His grace drew me. I don’t stay saved because of many things. The best I can do is filthy rags. I’m saved by His grace. I was drawn by His grace, and I stay saved by His grace. I’m kept by the power of God. Then I get to serve Him by His grace.
He says, “a little space of grace.” Can I say, I think God’s given some grace to our country? You realize that last presidential election? I mean, friend, we could have had the most pro-abortion president we’ve ever had. Let’s be honest about it. Who knows where they stood on Israel? I mean, we know where they stood on abortion, and we know our religious freedom was going pretty quick. They were talking about, you know, tax-exempt status and all that thing. By the way, if they were to take our tax-exempt status away from the church, God will still take care of His church, amen. But I’m just saying where our country is going. I mean, our former president walked out on Benjamin Netanyahu. You understand that? You said, “How did everything change? The grace of God.”
God is very, very good to us to give us a president. He’s not perfect. He’s got issues. He’s got some past immorality. I’m not happy about, for sure. But praise the Lord, he’s pro-life. Praise the Lord, he’s bold enough to move the embassy of Israel over to Jerusalem, where their capital is. I mean, God’s giving us some grace here. I mean, he’s lifted the Johnson Amendment where preachers—we already had the right—we have more freedom now to preach about truth. I’m just saying things have turned a little bit, and I believe God’s giving us a little space of grace.
God’s been so good to us. By the way, we better use this space of grace for the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s amazing how things can change so quickly. Boy, we better not—we better not be careful. If somebody mentioned the other day, churches aren’t going a whole lot because people are doing good economically and they don’t need God. Well, that would be a mistake for America, for sure. God’s given us a space of grace. We better pray. We better stay at the prayer on the square. We better stay out winning souls. We better—we better do all we can to get people in the house of God and get them right with God because this space of grace, we need to keep the remnant strong.
Can I say, for our church, God’s giving us a little space of grace? I believe that. I mean, we started out with nothing. I’m talking about nothing. I’ll never forget our first church and chairs in the little daycare. They were metal folding chairs, and we didn’t have them. We didn’t have anything. And we didn’t have a Sam’s card, and we didn’t have the money to buy one. So I found out a fellow that had one. So I said, “I’ll meet you at Sam’s Club.” He said, “All right.” And they had him down there in Murfreesboro to get some metal folding chairs, and they didn’t have any down there. So he said, “Let me give you an envelope.” He said, “I don’t have time. You can go up to the other one up in Antioch tomorrow sometime.”
And so he gave me an envelope. And I said, “Thank you.” And he gave me one of his cards, Sam’s card. And later on, I opened the card up, and inside of there was $300. And I took that to the bank. That’s how we opened our church bank account. A couple of days later, we bought the chairs we needed in the daycare. And if I remember right, it was somewhere around $299.91. And that’s where we started at. No credit to us. It’s the grace of God. God’s given us 12 acres and about four—about 10,000 square feet and two buses that run about half the time and an old van and great people and air conditioning and padded chairs. And that’s just God’s giving us some grace. He’s been good to us. The land—I believe God’s going to work things out in His time, His time.
Hey, we can’t waste the grace. We got to be—why Paul said, “Was the grace that God’s good was it in vain?” And God’s been so good, and we’ve got to use this grace. So I’m—my best friend over there, I don’t know.
Hey, let’s just rejoice in Jesus. We’re part of the remnant. We owe it all to Him. And let’s say, “Lord, you’ve given us a space of grace. Let’s be wise with it.” We’ll cover—we’ll get into the nail and the little reviving and all those things a little later on. But let’s just say, “God, God, you’ve been so good.” I was, even though I was saved at a young age, I was headed for hell just as bad as anybody else. Here’s the grace of God. I mean, we’ve got no pedigree that makes us part of the remnant besides the blood of Jesus Christ.
Let’s just be thankful for it tonight. And let’s say, “Lord, this space of grace, we will use it for you. Use it the best we can for you.” Let’s bow our heads, if you would, please, tonight. Our heads are bowed, eyes are closed. You say, “Preacher, man, I’m thankful. I’m part of the remnant. Best I can, by the grace of God, till the day I die, I want to be a part of the remnant.” God spoke to my heart. I’m thankful, and I want to stay a part of the remnant. God spoke to my heart about that tonight. That’s you tonight? Preacher, that’s me. I’m so thankful I’m part of the remnant. I want to stay there. I want to stay there. God bless you. God bless you, too. He’s been so gracious to us. So good to us.
Maybe you’re here tonight. You say, “Preacher, this space of grace God’s given to us—I want to be wise with it. I don’t want it to be in vain. I want to work and do all I can for the Lord Jesus Christ here in this space of grace. I don’t want to take it for granted. Now I want to be busy for the Lord, serving and using this space of grace He’s given to me.” God spoke to my heart about that right there. That’s you? Preacher, that’s me. That’s me. God bless you. God bless you. Me too. God bless you. Oh, yeah. Yeah, God bless you. That’s wonderful. Wonderful. Thank you so very much.
Maybe you’re here tonight. You say, “Preacher, I don’t know that I’m part of the remnant. I don’t know that I’m a child of God on my way to heaven. I don’t know that I can put my head on the pillow and not worry—I don’t have to worry about the fires of hell. Preacher, I don’t know. I don’t know that I’m part of the remnant.” And God spoke to my heart about that tonight. That’s you tonight? “Preacher, I don’t know that heaven’s my home. I don’t know that. I’d like to be a part of the remnant tonight.” God spoke to my heart. That’s you tonight? Slip your hand up, Preacher. That’s me. I’d like to be a part of the remnant. Don’t know that I’m part of the remnant. Just slip it up. Just slip it up.
Offering this grace is real; it’s available. We’re going to have a short invitation now. Let’s just come say, “Thank You, Lord, for making me a part of Your remnant, not because of my goodness, it’s Your grace. Now I want to use it for You.” The altar is going to be open. Let’s just come get close to God. Let’s all stand, if you would please. We’ll have a word of prayer, and our instruments will play.
Father, thank You so much. You’ve been very good, just like You were to Israel. You’ve been to us. It’s such an honor, Lord. I don’t deserve it. I know I don’t deserve it, Lord, but You let me be a part of Your remnant. Thank You for that. Thank You, Jesus. Bless our people tonight. Meet with us. Lord, if there’s someone here that doesn’t know that heaven’s our home, I pray this settles up before they leave tonight. We’ll thank You, Lord, for what You do. We ask for these things in the name of Jesus. We pray. Amen.
Would you just come? Spend some time with the Lord as we play. Let’s tell Him, “Thank You, Lord. I don’t deserve to be a part of the remnant. Thank You, Jesus, for making me a part of the remnant. I’m not going to be ashamed. I’m not going to—look, I’ll bear the name of Jesus proudly. It’s an honor. Glad to be a part of the remnant.” You say, “We’re the minority.” Yeah, that’s right. We’re the remnant. The world’s crowds—so many of them, and well, they’ve got the facilities, they got all the rest of that stuff. The people—that’s right, because we’re the remnant. When the Lord comes back, I want to be a part of the remnant. When I go home to meet my Maker, I will be a part of the remnant.
Amen. If you’re glad you’re part of the remnant tonight, would you say amen? And just say, “There’s always been a remnant, always has been, always will be.” That’s the crowd I want to be a part of right there. And glad you’re in church tonight.
Original File: A Small Remnant - Pastor Paul Chisgar 91819