TEACHING

(Paul guides an apostolic company based in Australia.)

Call unto Me

God said to Jeremiah when he was still in the court of the prison, “Call to me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” Jer.33:3. The word ‘call’ is a strong Hebrew word meaning ‘to call out to someone, cry out, to address someone, to shout, to speak out, to proclaim’. The word ‘mighty’ can also mean ‘inaccessible’. What God wants us to know can only be known if He reveals it to us. The LORD [I AM] then tells Jeremiah some awesome things that He promises to do (v4-16) for “the house of Israel and to the house of Judah” (v14).

An abundance of truth

God told Jeremiah that the same houses “of the kings of Judah, which have been pulled down to fortify against the siege mounds and the sword” will be rebuilt (v4,5,7). He promised “health and healing”. He said “I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth” (v6).

To be found faithful

In the ongoing prayer meetings here at SHILOH in recent weeks two powerful words of wisdom have been released to us. The first one was ‘God is not looking for successful ministers, but for faithful ministers’. We have studied the Scriptures concerning being faithful and faithfulness. In John 17:4, Jesus said to His Father, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” Jesus is referring to His apostolic ministry in founding the church by appointing and raising the twelve apostles and even then, He acknowledges that one of the twelve was the son of perdition. Jesus was faithful to only do what His Father told Him to do; He “was faithful to Him who appointed Him” Heb.3:2. Paul tells us, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1Cor.4:2).

Speaking the truth in love

The second word of wisdom was ‘it is not enough to trust in relationships; there is a need for honesty’. There has been much emphasis on relationship in the apostolic restoration but sometimes at the expense of “speaking the truth in love” (Eph.4:15). This is the only way that we can “grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ.” The failure to speak the truth eventually leads to a failure in relationship! God promised to reveal an abundance of peace.

Remission of sin – the basis of restoration

God promised Jeremiah that there would be restoration: “The captives of Judah and the captives of Israel” will return and will rebuild (Jer.33:7). Restoration can only take place when the people of God have fully returned to the LORD. Repentance leads to forgiveness and God said, “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me” (v8). A restored people will be to the Lord Jesus “a name of joy, a praise, and an honour before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them [the people of God]” (v9). God is raising a people, albeit a remnant, who will manifest “the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” Col.1:27.

The fruit of restoration

“There shall be heard in this place the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride” (Jer.33:10-11). God’s eternal purpose is guaranteed to be fulfilled: He has already “accomplished His eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph.4:11). There will be a perfect church manifest in the earth! “The whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now, eagerly waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God” Rom.8:22,19. Jesus Himself is “sanctifying and cleansing the church with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph.5:26-27).

Preparing the Bride

The message of the bride church being prepared in the earth is slowly permeating our spiritual consciousness! The voice of the bridegroom is being heard! The bride is making herself ready.

The bride/bridegroom relationship obviously speaks of great intimacy. We need to hear the “still small voice” (1Ki.19:12). We need to be sensitive to His approach and not say “I have taken off my robe; how can I put it on again” (Song of Sol.5:3).

True shepherds

The promise to Jeremiah that guarantees our inclusion in this bride church is that “there shall again be a dwelling place of shepherds causing flocks to lie down. The flocks shall pass under the hand of him who counts” Jer.33:12b&13b. It is as we find ourselves in committed relationships in the body of Christ, in the apostolic company where the Lord has placed us, that we will access this intimacy with Jesus. Again in our day, God is raising shepherds after His own heart. He is giving “shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” Jer.3:15.

The King is given a name

The culmination of God’s promise to Jeremiah, for the remnant that is being restored, comes in 33:15-16. In Jeremiah 23:5-6, God has already promised to raise to David “a Branch of righteousness: a King shall reign and prosper … In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will dwell safely. Now this is the name by which He will be called: YHWH Tsidkenu – the LORD our righteousness.”

The Church is given the same name

 Now in Jeremiah 33, verse 15 repeats 23:5, but then it is the bride “She will be called YHWH Tsidkenu” (v16). The church (the bride) is called and predestined to take the Bridegroom’s name!! How awesome is that!

 How is your relationship with Jesus?

‘I just keep falling in love with Him, over and over again’. How is your relationship with Jesus? Ways to check are: do you talk about Jesus? Do you talk to Jesus? Do you often sing praise and worship Him? Are you thankful? Are you walking in close relationship with Jesus? Are you submissive to Jesus and therefore submissive to the brethren?

The Spirit filled life is characterised by three, if not four, discernible features: 1) “not drunk with wine” – not looking for fulfilment in worldly pleasures but “filled with the Spirit”; 2) “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”; 3) “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of the Lord of us, Jesus Christ”; 4) “submitting to one another in the fear of God” Eph.5:18-21