The Remnant
By Apostle Aje Pelser
Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town, South Africa
January 2015

In the most negative of scriptures we find hope through Jesus Christ. We see Christ in every scripture of the Bible. This helps us to discern God’s heart in the situation.

Here a backslidden nation is given hope because God’s prophet Ezekiel mentions one little word:
“Remnant.”

Eze 6:8 \”Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.
Eze 6:9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations.
Eze 6:10 And they shall know that I am the LORD;

In this seemingly negative passage, let’s aim through the cross of Jesus Christ and see what revelations we can discover about a remnant that God preserves through calamity.

God’s heart is crushed by backsliding because it is a relationship lost. God made man for communion – for fellowship and that is destroyed through sin. Adam walked with God in the cool of the evening – during hot summer days in Cape Town the day’s heat gives way to a light offshore breeze that cools off the entire city. Imagine a city of people walking and talking with their God in the cool of the evening discussing their future pans with their maker – that’s something to pray for indeed!

Contrasts between the departed and the remnant of God include:
Adulterous Heart – can become a Faithful heart
Idolatrous Eyes can become – submissive eyes of vision & obedience
Evil abominations – can be replaced by teachable spirits.

Ezekiel was the man who saw the vision of God with His cherubim angels, the living creatures with 4 faces, that of the man. Lion, eagle and ox. Consider the attributes of God reflected by these creatures who always move in God’s presence as one. The Lion has governmental authority. The Eagle is regal and divine and sees perspective. The Ox is aligned with the purposes of his master and works – like an ox! The man has the ability to reason and think, yet is the form that Jesus chose to enter our experience and commune with His remnant.

So 3 Revelations of God’s Remnant are:
1. Faithfulness.
Where someone is unfaithful in a relationship it is called adultery. Now consider the impact of an adulterous heart towards God. A divided heart:
The word for double mindedness as we read in James, actually means two-spirited. Jesus told his disciples when they wanted to call down fire from heaven – “You do not know what spirit you are of…” Jesus came to save and their spirit wanted to kill and destroy – later they received the Holy Spirit and became known for their unconditional love. They were no longer two spirited.

Double Minded: Two-spirited G1374 dipsuchos
From G1364 and G5590; two spirited, that is, vacillating (in opinion or purpose): – double minded.
Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit and it is a revelation of the remnant of God. In churches there are times of falling away form a doctrine taught from the Bible, people dislike a teaching and leave to find a place where their ears can be tickled with interesting trifles of men’s reasoning and cleverness. Whereas they should actually have allowed the Word of God to shape them and correct, instruct in righteousness that they may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work in Christ.
When Apostle Paul set up elders in the churches that he planted he gave Timothy sound advice that bears repetition today:
2Ti 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
A requirement for leadership in Churches today, a true revelation that such a person is part of God’s remnant. Many people go to church, but God wants a faithful single spirited heart that shows the fruit of faithfulness in Christ and the service of His Church.

2. Obedience.
Stubbornness is as idolatry. 1 Samuel 15:23. There are areas in our lives that the Holy Spirit convicts when we pray and worship together. The blood of Christ is constantly cleansing us of subtle defilement of the flesh and attitudes of the heart. Staying connected to a body of believers stimulates obedience because we stir each other up to good works and get inspired through the testimonies of others to do great exploits because we know our God!
Insubordination is the opposite of Submission and Obedience to God’s Will and His Ways. Idols of iniquity can be cast down through the simple process of repentance and acknowledging sin, in the sense of idols of our own opinions.
We set up a high thought that exalts itself above the knowledge of the Word – that is an idol of stubbornness, it is disobedience to the Word at a stubborn level of the mind and heart. That needs to be cast down quickly. When those high thoughts are dealt with and the Word of God regains pre-eminence in our thoughts, there is a restoration of inward obedience to the leading of the Spirit of God, the Spirit is always in perfect submission to the Word, and the Word is always in perfect submission to the Father. That perfect obedience that exists in the Godhead, is accessible to all who believe in the name of Jesus and have been baptised in water and the Holy Spirit. The baptism is essential to shed the garment of sinful stubbornness and disobedience. The old man of sin has to be buried with Christ through baptism so that the new creation can emerge – by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God – that describes the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues – but also the accompanying fruit in our lives, and yes the gifts that operate through us to build up the church.

3. Teachability.
Whenever you have a teachable spirit, it speeds up the processes of God in your life. But those who err will learn doctrine.

Decide to get to know God’s Ways: Hebrews 3:10 THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THAT GENERATION, AND SAID, \’THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN MY WAYS.\’

Let God’s Spirit give you understanding and receive doctrine from His Word
Isaiah 29:24 These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, And those who complained will learn doctrine.\”

Place you strengths under God’s control in order to receive the Word:
James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

The Implications of the Word “Remnant”:
(H3498 ya?thar BDB Definition)
• to be left over, remain
• to save over, preserve alive
• to excel, show pre-eminence
• to show excess, have more than enough

Good News for the faithful, obedient, teachable Remnant Today:
God will preserve, sustain and leave you to remain. You will excel and show pre-eminence and have excess, more than enough for you and your generations to come. Turn your heart to God!