Message Notes

(I) CONCERN ABOUT THE FUTURE

A. Insightful Analysis

1. Threat of war

“Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire” Isaiah 1:7

2. Decline of social order

“How the faithful city has become a harlot!
It was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it;
But now murderers” Isaiah 1:21

3. Decline of judicial system

“Your princes are rebellious, and companions are thieves;
And everyone loves bribes” Isaiah 1:23

4. Destruction- Divine punitive measures

“The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together,
And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed” Isaiah 1:28

B. Important considerations

1. Ancient Israel as an example

2. The world at large as the scenario

3. The need to understand God’s will

a) Judgment

b) Retribution

c) Mercy

(II) CONCEPT OF THE REMNANT

1. A Biblical teaching

“Unless the LORD of hosts had left us a very small remnant,
We would have become like Sodom,
We would have become like Gomorrah” Isaiah 1:9

2. A Biblical perspective

a) Acceptance of the punitive judgments of the Lord

b) Appreciation of the Lord’s grace and mercy in preserving “a very small remnant”

(III) CONTRADICTION TO POPULAR IDEAS

1. Preaching a message of “peace” when there is no peace

2. Proclamation of world-wide returning to God

(IV) CHALENGES WE CANNOT IGNORE

1. To understand further the concept of “the remnant”

2. Stirring of hope

3. Cultivation of faith in God’s promise with reference to the remnant

4. To be found among the remnant