Copyright 2007 Lawrence J. Caldwell

The Remnant

Introduction

A few years ago the Lord laid upon my heart to pray for the remnant of His church body. It began as a prayer for God to show me the remnant because at first I did not believe there was one locally. But then day by day He began to bring people into my life who were genuine, upright, God-fearing Christians. Then the prayer changed dramatically. God, show me the remnant! I was not alone. God showed me a people who love Him, use His gifts on a daily basis to witness and make disciples, and desire fellowship with others who walk in the Spirit.

As this prayer and our gatherings continued, we shared our prayers with one another. We confessed to one another. We discipled one another. We encouraged one another. And we found very quickly that what God was doing in our lives individually was also binding us together towards an as yet unnamed common goal.

A few years ago I heard Rev. Norman A. Koop, pastor of First Congregational Church of Woodstock, Vermont and son of former United States Surgeon General C. Everett Koop speak about the perfect church. He said that if you ever find one, it will be “screwed up” as soon as you arrive. So don’t go looking for it because there is no such thing. We are imperfect people and we make imperfect churches.

But let’s not carry this too far to draw the conclusion that church is to be status quo. God created His Church as a Body and Bride for His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have received the gift of redemption. Therefore God has every right and expectation to call us to be perfect and holy and righteous. It is we who make the church imperfect yet we also have the power in Jesus to make it more perfect until the last day. It is only right that we do so to bring glory and praise to God our Father. Anything less is not our best according to the faith, power, and gifted demonstration of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit active in us.

This book is for the remnant out there who seek God’s face. You know His will and you delight to do it. But you sense that something far greater is approaching and you know you are a part of it. You just don’t know what it is. This book puts a name to it. It answers the question, “What should the church be doing in these last days?”

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