A Remnant Shall Be Brought Forth
E.A. Johnston teaches that despite coming judgment on a sinful land, God faithfully preserves a faithful remnant who will stand strong and bring comfort in times of persecution.
In this expository sermon, E.A. Johnston explores the sobering prophecy of Ezekiel 14, highlighting the certainty of God’s judgment on a sinful nation and His unwavering faithfulness in preserving a faithful remnant. Johnston warns of coming persecution but encourages believers with the promise that God’s remnant will stand strong and be a source of comfort and testimony. This message calls Christians to remain steadfast and trust in God’s sovereign plan amid trials.
Full Transcript
Before we go to our time of prayer, I want to read us a portion of scripture out of the book of Ezekiel chapter 14 beginning in verse 12 regarding the surety of judgment and the preservation of the faithful. The word of the Lord came again to me saying, son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then I will stretch out my hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.
If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because the beast, though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, they shall only be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, sword, go through the land, so that I cut off man and beast from it, though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves. Or if I send pestilence into the land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut it off from man and beast, though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter, they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
For thus saith the Lord God, how much more when I send my four sword judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence to cut it off from it, man and beast, yet behold, therein shall be left a remnant, they shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters, behold, they shall come forth unto you, and you shall see that their way, and their doings, and you shall be comforted concerning the evil I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I brought upon it, and they shall comfort you when you see their ways, and their doings, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done it, saith the Lord God. In this passage, friends, we see the surety of judgment upon a sinning land, and a rebellious people, yet we see the faithfulness of God in bringing forth his remnant, the faithful ones who follow the Lord God Almighty, he brings them forth through that time, and in the coming days we're going to see the land itself fall into fierce persecution, as Christians are brought into the hottest persecution they've ever faced since this country has been formed, but God will bring forth his remnant, they will stand strong, and they shall be a witness, and they shall be comfort to those who look and behold the Lord God Jehovah lives.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Surety of Judgment
- God’s hand stretched out against a sinning land
- Judgments include famine, sword, pestilence, and beasts
- Even the righteous deliver only their own souls
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II. The Faithfulness of God in Preservation
- God promises to bring forth a remnant
- The remnant includes sons and daughters
- They will be a comfort and a witness to others
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III. The Coming Persecution
- The land will face fierce persecution
- Christians will endure the hottest persecution in the nation’s history
- The remnant will stand strong and glorify God
Key Quotes
“Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.” — E.A. Johnston
“Behold, therein shall be left a remnant, they shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters.” — E.A. Johnston
“God will bring forth his remnant, they will stand strong, and they shall be a witness, and they shall be comfort to those who look and behold the Lord God Jehovah lives.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Trust God’s faithfulness even when judgment seems imminent.
- Remain steadfast in faith to be part of God’s preserving remnant.
- Be a witness and source of comfort to others during times of persecution.