Message: God's operation plan is how He desires to share the Word. The elect are those accept Christ, a free gift, not of works. In this atmosphere, Paul speaks of the ongoing war for our souls, of the strategic plan of the enemy to steal, kill and destroy, whereas God's plan is for life, life abundantly. It can seem like there is no hope with so much going wrong and so few desiring to do God's will, as it was with the Israelites. There were few willing to make Christ the Lord of their life, challenge by conformity. God's plan has never changed, it is secure and it is our responsibility to take the step of faith in Him, out of a life of works and self-righteousness.
There are 3 phases to His operation plan: I.) God has a remnant according to grace; II.) God is multiplying by grafting and III.) God returns to Israel.
I. There were so few following God, it was the consensus He had forgotten them. However, He called the few of Israel who embraced the gospel. Through the prophet Elijah's anguish and loneliness, God revealed the few, the remnant preserved by grace.
II. Outsiders saw the Israelites as God's chosen, whom He showed favor and strength. Though small in number they were feared and viewed as large due to God's protection. The remnant had to go to the Gentiles to expose the flaw of their thinking about a God others could not reach. They were to tell of a plan which included all, a grafting process of hope and opportunity through Christ.
III. In Romans 11:25-26, there is a revelation of the mystery behind the blindness of the Jews for the sake of the Gentiles. The Jews must reach the whole world before Israel would be saved. The kingdom of God will be for all, Jew or Gentile, who call upon the name of the Lord.
Thank God for the remnant.
Scripture: Romans 11:5 "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." - KJV
