Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
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We are continuing our message on restoration in reality with some additional thoughts on repentance. It is profitable for us all to reread the rewards or results of repentance found in Deuteronomy 30. We quote only parts of that Chapter below. Please go back and read the entire Chapter.
Please notice the little word, "then," in Verse 3. Little words mean a lot in the Bible. In other words, the blessings, prosperity, etc., spoken of starting in Verse 3 are conditional upon the repentance in Verses 1 and 2. The same is true in the Book of Joel. Exactly in the middle of the Book of Joel (Joel 2:18) is the word "then." This is the only occurrence of the word "then" in Joel. What follows Joel 2:18 is deliverance, blessing, prosperity, etc. What precedes Joel 2:18 is repentance. Please also go back and read again all of Isaiah 58. Those 14 verses in Isaiah 58 contain the word "then" four times. Each time, it describes how the Lord will bless us IF we repent. We suspect that there have been a multitude of people who have said, "Lord if you will just do this for me, then I will ..." In general, those who make such a statement generally do not keep their vow. But AFTER we have accepted the saving grace of our Lord, there is no more place for that kind of statement or vow. At that point it is the Lord who says, "If you repent, then I will ..." Will what? Then the Lord will restore.
Now let us consider the second of the two most important actions on our part before the Lord restores the Church to that which was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world ... namely intercession.
A number of years ago I heard a good brother say, publicly, that he was not called to a ministry of intercession. What he should have said was that he had not yet recognized that call on his life. If you are a member of the body of Christ, you are automatically called to intercession because you are part of the holy, royal priesthood after the order of Melchisedec! Because He ever liveth to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25) we likewise, in identifying with Him in all points, are called to intercession for the lost (who will be found) and those already in the Church.
The bearers of burdens represent true intercessors, whose strength is decayed. Also, no one can build a wall on rubbish because it has no firm foundation. Such is the condition of far too many churches today.
Paul tells us that the first priority of a Christian assembly is prayer. He mentions various forms of prayer. Supplication means a petition or request. The Greek word comes from a word which means to beg, as binding oneself. Prayer signifies to pray earnestly. Jesus said to those in the temple,
In addition, Paul says,
The word "men" in the above verse is actually the Greek word for males, not the generic word for human beings. Just as the Lord instructed every male to gather the manna each day for himself and his family, here again is an exhortation for men (males) to pray. This does not diminish or de-emphasize the importance and tremendous effect and fruit which springs forth from the prayers of women. For example, in the following verse, the word "man" is the Greek word for human being and thus includes both male and female.
Samuel said that it was a sin against the Lord if he ceased to pray for the people.
Note that Samuel prayed for Saul even after God had rejected him from being king (1 Samuel 15:11). That verse says that Samuel cried unto the Lord all night on behalf of Saul.
To intercede literally means "to come in between." The intercessor is one who comes in between God and man, on behalf of men, frequently those men who deserve His wrath and punishment.
The great Intercessor, of course, was and still is Jesus.
In effect, when Jesus died on the cross, He was saying, "Let the judgment that is due to the people come upon Me." Then after His death, resurrection, and ascension, we are told,
What a comfort we have to know that Jesus continues to make intercession on our behalf before the throne of the Father! Jesus spent thirty years in relative obscurity, in "normal" family life; three and one-half years in public ministry; and now about two thousand years in intercession, unseen by any natural eye. Do those time frames say anything about the importance of intercession?
Some careful thought will bear witness that the greatest saints were often the greatest intercessors, for they were those who were closest to the heart of God. Some of these great intercessors were Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Paul, to name a few.
Abraham interceded on behalf of Sodom because his nephew, Lot, was there. Abraham knew that if judgment came upon Sodom, then Lot and his family would be part of the judgment. Abraham kept interceding for Sodom until the Lord promised that He would not destroy it if He found ten righteous persons in the city. I have read that at that point in time, Sodom was a major city with a population of no less than 10,000 people. So for the sake of ten righteous people out of 10,000 persons God was willing to spare the entire city. That is one out of a thousand! Elihu, in the Book of Job records this same proportion.
One out of a thousand! That does not seem like a very large percentage ... 0.1% ... or a tenth of a tenth of a tenth. Let us apply this same proportion to the United States. As of 20l1, the population of the United States is very close to 300,000,000 people. Does that mean, if we use the same proportion, that God will spare the United States if He finds 300,000 persons who walk in righteousness? A better question might be, are there 300,000 committed believers in the United States who walk in righteousness? (That does NOT mean those who have their names on a church roster; nor does it mean those who are born-again believers but are doing their own thing.) Do you think that America is in trouble? Is it time for the judgment of God to descend upon our country? Do we need some real intercessors, such as Abraham was in his time?
A second striking example of an intercessor was Moses. The apostasy of the Israelites who came out of Egypt during the Exodus was so great that only two of those over the age of twenty actually made it into the promised land. But Moses interceded.
That is intercession! How many such saints do you think there are in the United States who would sincerely make that same statement? Only the Lord knows, but I would guess not too many! The Lord surely would have destroyed his chosen people had not Moses stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath.
In Verse 31, the people had made gods of gold. Do you think that some believers today have likewise made gods of gold? Money is a HUGE driving force in America, both in the world and in the Church. Almost all of the teaching relating to money that I have heard in person and from the television preachers is WARPED and DISTORTED!
The apostle Paul made the same statement as did Moses.
Ezekiel 22 records a different scene. Just as in the time of Abraham and Moses, the sins of God's people are portrayed once more. But this time there was NO intercessor found to stand in the gap.
One man ... one intercessor ... could have saved an entire nation, even though every section of society was corrupted (see Ezekiel 22:23-29 for proof of that). Can one man save the United States from the judgment of God?
The same apostasy existed in the time of Isaiah. Please read all of Isaiah 59 to get the complete picture.
What an amazing verse! Not one intercessor! Even God Himself wondered that there was no intercessor! Therefore, He sent His Son, Jesus, to be that intercessor. Thank you Lord! Therefore, it is crucial for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand, to ask the Lord to raise up true intercessors in our midst.
From my somewhat limited experience, I have seen very few saints who even know what intercession is, much less move in that vital ministry. Even the so-called "intercessor conference" that I attended many years gave little sign of genuine intercessors. There is no higher calling than that of an intercessor. Man will not see, recognize, or applaud you, but in the Kingdom of God your life will count for eternity.
What shall we as intercessors pray for? that the spiritual leaders of the Church will return unto the Lord, laying aside all mixture and things that hinder. Scripture is clear that judgment is according to the light that has been given. The greater the light, the more severe the judgment.
In all of the history of the human race, there has never been a generation on the face of the earth that has been exposed to greater spiritual light than this generation in the United States. Most believers have heard an enormous amount of good teaching, both through first hand exposure and through books, tapes, and videos. Yet the Church in America has strayed far from what the Lord desires.
Intercessors also need to ask the Lord to open the eyes of each believer in our midst to come and see Jesus, to hear His voice, and to walk in His ways. Ask the Lord to give each member of the local church discernment concerning the body of Christ. Ask the Lord to bring you a true apostle. Ask the Lord to raise up a true prophet(s) in your midst. Then when the Lord grants your request, ask the Lord for His grace to hear, understand, and walk in the higher ways set forth by the true apostles and prophets.
The need for both repentance and intercession is stated very clearly in the Book of Joel. The first half of the Book of Joel reflects the state of the visible Church today.
Verse 17 speaks of the intercession of the ministers of the Lord, not those who minister to the house (see Ezekiel 44). That has not yet occurred but is in process. Only after that will the Lord restore the Church. That is signified by the first word of Joel 2:18 ... then.
Come quickly Lord Jesus.
We are continuing our message on restoration in reality with some additional thoughts on repentance. It is profitable for us all to reread the rewards or results of repentance found in Deuteronomy 30. We quote only parts of that Chapter below. Please go back and read the entire Chapter.
1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,2 And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;3 That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.9 And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers.Deuteronomy 30:1-3, 9
Please notice the little word, "then," in Verse 3. Little words mean a lot in the Bible. In other words, the blessings, prosperity, etc., spoken of starting in Verse 3 are conditional upon the repentance in Verses 1 and 2. The same is true in the Book of Joel. Exactly in the middle of the Book of Joel (Joel 2:18) is the word "then." This is the only occurrence of the word "then" in Joel. What follows Joel 2:18 is deliverance, blessing, prosperity, etc. What precedes Joel 2:18 is repentance. Please also go back and read again all of Isaiah 58. Those 14 verses in Isaiah 58 contain the word "then" four times. Each time, it describes how the Lord will bless us IF we repent. We suspect that there have been a multitude of people who have said, "Lord if you will just do this for me, then I will ..." In general, those who make such a statement generally do not keep their vow. But AFTER we have accepted the saving grace of our Lord, there is no more place for that kind of statement or vow. At that point it is the Lord who says, "If you repent, then I will ..." Will what? Then the Lord will restore.
Now let us consider the second of the two most important actions on our part before the Lord restores the Church to that which was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world ... namely intercession.
A number of years ago I heard a good brother say, publicly, that he was not called to a ministry of intercession. What he should have said was that he had not yet recognized that call on his life. If you are a member of the body of Christ, you are automatically called to intercession because you are part of the holy, royal priesthood after the order of Melchisedec! Because He ever liveth to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25) we likewise, in identifying with Him in all points, are called to intercession for the lost (who will be found) and those already in the Church.
And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. Nehemiah 4:10
The bearers of burdens represent true intercessors, whose strength is decayed. Also, no one can build a wall on rubbish because it has no firm foundation. Such is the condition of far too many churches today.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. 1 Timothy 2:1
Paul tells us that the first priority of a Christian assembly is prayer. He mentions various forms of prayer. Supplication means a petition or request. The Greek word comes from a word which means to beg, as binding oneself. Prayer signifies to pray earnestly. Jesus said to those in the temple,
It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer. Matthew 21:13
In addition, Paul says,
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1 Timothy 2:8
The word "men" in the above verse is actually the Greek word for males, not the generic word for human beings. Just as the Lord instructed every male to gather the manna each day for himself and his family, here again is an exhortation for men (males) to pray. This does not diminish or de-emphasize the importance and tremendous effect and fruit which springs forth from the prayers of women. For example, in the following verse, the word "man" is the Greek word for human being and thus includes both male and female.
The effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16
Samuel said that it was a sin against the Lord if he ceased to pray for the people.
23 Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all of your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. 1 Samuel 12:23-24
Note that Samuel prayed for Saul even after God had rejected him from being king (1 Samuel 15:11). That verse says that Samuel cried unto the Lord all night on behalf of Saul.
To intercede literally means "to come in between." The intercessor is one who comes in between God and man, on behalf of men, frequently those men who deserve His wrath and punishment.
The great Intercessor, of course, was and still is Jesus.
Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12
In effect, when Jesus died on the cross, He was saying, "Let the judgment that is due to the people come upon Me." Then after His death, resurrection, and ascension, we are told,
24 But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.25 Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:24-25
What a comfort we have to know that Jesus continues to make intercession on our behalf before the throne of the Father! Jesus spent thirty years in relative obscurity, in "normal" family life; three and one-half years in public ministry; and now about two thousand years in intercession, unseen by any natural eye. Do those time frames say anything about the importance of intercession?
Some careful thought will bear witness that the greatest saints were often the greatest intercessors, for they were those who were closest to the heart of God. Some of these great intercessors were Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Paul, to name a few.
Abraham interceded on behalf of Sodom because his nephew, Lot, was there. Abraham knew that if judgment came upon Sodom, then Lot and his family would be part of the judgment. Abraham kept interceding for Sodom until the Lord promised that He would not destroy it if He found ten righteous persons in the city. I have read that at that point in time, Sodom was a major city with a population of no less than 10,000 people. So for the sake of ten righteous people out of 10,000 persons God was willing to spare the entire city. That is one out of a thousand! Elihu, in the Book of Job records this same proportion.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:24 Then He is gracious unto him. And saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. Job 33:23-24
One out of a thousand! That does not seem like a very large percentage ... 0.1% ... or a tenth of a tenth of a tenth. Let us apply this same proportion to the United States. As of 20l1, the population of the United States is very close to 300,000,000 people. Does that mean, if we use the same proportion, that God will spare the United States if He finds 300,000 persons who walk in righteousness? A better question might be, are there 300,000 committed believers in the United States who walk in righteousness? (That does NOT mean those who have their names on a church roster; nor does it mean those who are born-again believers but are doing their own thing.) Do you think that America is in trouble? Is it time for the judgment of God to descend upon our country? Do we need some real intercessors, such as Abraham was in his time?
A second striking example of an intercessor was Moses. The apostasy of the Israelites who came out of Egypt during the Exodus was so great that only two of those over the age of twenty actually made it into the promised land. But Moses interceded.
31 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book, which Thou hast written. Exodus 32:31-32
That is intercession! How many such saints do you think there are in the United States who would sincerely make that same statement? Only the Lord knows, but I would guess not too many! The Lord surely would have destroyed his chosen people had not Moses stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath.
In Verse 31, the people had made gods of gold. Do you think that some believers today have likewise made gods of gold? Money is a HUGE driving force in America, both in the world and in the Church. Almost all of the teaching relating to money that I have heard in person and from the television preachers is WARPED and DISTORTED!
The apostle Paul made the same statement as did Moses.
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. Romans 9:1-3
Ezekiel 22 records a different scene. Just as in the time of Abraham and Moses, the sins of God's people are portrayed once more. But this time there was NO intercessor found to stand in the gap.
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 22:30-31
One man ... one intercessor ... could have saved an entire nation, even though every section of society was corrupted (see Ezekiel 22:23-29 for proof of that). Can one man save the United States from the judgment of God?
The same apostasy existed in the time of Isaiah. Please read all of Isaiah 59 to get the complete picture.
And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. Isaiah 59:16
What an amazing verse! Not one intercessor! Even God Himself wondered that there was no intercessor! Therefore, He sent His Son, Jesus, to be that intercessor. Thank you Lord! Therefore, it is crucial for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand, to ask the Lord to raise up true intercessors in our midst.
From my somewhat limited experience, I have seen very few saints who even know what intercession is, much less move in that vital ministry. Even the so-called "intercessor conference" that I attended many years gave little sign of genuine intercessors. There is no higher calling than that of an intercessor. Man will not see, recognize, or applaud you, but in the Kingdom of God your life will count for eternity.
What shall we as intercessors pray for? that the spiritual leaders of the Church will return unto the Lord, laying aside all mixture and things that hinder. Scripture is clear that judgment is according to the light that has been given. The greater the light, the more severe the judgment.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him will be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:48
In all of the history of the human race, there has never been a generation on the face of the earth that has been exposed to greater spiritual light than this generation in the United States. Most believers have heard an enormous amount of good teaching, both through first hand exposure and through books, tapes, and videos. Yet the Church in America has strayed far from what the Lord desires.
Intercessors also need to ask the Lord to open the eyes of each believer in our midst to come and see Jesus, to hear His voice, and to walk in His ways. Ask the Lord to give each member of the local church discernment concerning the body of Christ. Ask the Lord to bring you a true apostle. Ask the Lord to raise up a true prophet(s) in your midst. Then when the Lord grants your request, ask the Lord for His grace to hear, understand, and walk in the higher ways set forth by the true apostles and prophets.
The need for both repentance and intercession is stated very clearly in the Book of Joel. The first half of the Book of Joel reflects the state of the visible Church today.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?18 Then will the LORD be jealous for His land, and pity His people. Joel 2:17-18
Verse 17 speaks of the intercession of the ministers of the Lord, not those who minister to the house (see Ezekiel 44). That has not yet occurred but is in process. Only after that will the Lord restore the Church. That is signified by the first word of Joel 2:18 ... then.
Come quickly Lord Jesus.
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