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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
We have shared with you several messages concerning the restoration of the Church. In this final message on restoration, we will share a few thoughts with respect to how, we believe, the restored church should operate. We are fully aware that much of the following may sound radical to many believers, primarily because of the traditions of men.
There should be a freedom and liberty for each gift and ministry to function, but under the control of the Holy Spirit. Avoid getting into the same routine at each gathering of believers. A gathering of believers should be anything BUT something routine or mechanical. We have believed for 48 years that there should be fresh revelation coming forth in EVERY gathering of believers! We have seen it happen too many times. We have also seen the fresh revelation unable to come forth because of the traditions of men and control by men. We need to be careful not to frustrate the grace of God.
At the same time, we must be careful not to use that liberty for an occasion to the flesh (Galatians 5:13). Unfortunately, the Corinthian spirit pops up through supposedly "mature" believers in a multitude of charismatic churches and conferences. We must have the balance of:
One of the most critical areas in order for a local church to function as a well-oiled machine is the recognition and appropriation of the various gifts and ministries that have been placed in the body by the Lord. I remember the very first word that I shared publicly. The word was "appropriating the Christ in others." I also remember that I spent much time preparing that word and I was very nervous as I spoke. I have no idea whether any of the 40 or so believers present received anything of value from that teaching. Only the Lord knows. But the essence of that word has been made very real to me over the years. One appropriate Scripture is:
The word "unworthily" is not in the original texts. It is not a "bad" insertion as long as we understand what the Spirit is saying here through Paul. If we read the context (what precedes), it is clear that at the agape love feasts, many were just looking to eat all they wanted, with no thought for the less fortunate believers. The word "damnation" means judgment. The judgment is given specifically in Verse 30 ... many are weak and sickly, and many sleep. Why are many weak and sickly in the Church and many sleep (died physically)? because they do not discern the Lord's body, neither naturally nor spiritually. In the natural realm their gluttony overshadows their compassion for other believers who are also hungry. I witnessed a vivid example of this many years ago at a covered-dish supper for believers. I was next to last in line for food and could see that very little food was left. The young man in front of me piled his plate high with an abundance of food. Apparently he had no thought for anyone behind him who might also want something to eat. When he left, the hostess pulled out a jar of peanut butter, which became her supper. Would you believe that the Lord took that young man home at the age of 51?
In the spiritual realm many do not recognize or appropriate the gifts and ministries that the Lord has set in the body as it pleases Him. If you have a toothache would you go to a car mechanic? If you have a leaky water pipe would you go to an artist? No matter how hard you try, the hand just does NOT see as well as the eye; neither does the foot hear as well as the ear. We do well to read again 1 Corinthians 12. We need discernment to recognize and appropriate the gifts and ministries that the Lord has placed in the body!
The other side of appropriating the Christ in others is to function in the place you have been called.
One reason why the Spirit-filled community is greatly divided and fragmented, based on different understandings of scripture in general, is because too many ministers are trying to function in a place where they have not been called. The American Church is distinctly "pastor" dominated, almost to the exclusion of other ministries. The pastor preaches, teaches, administrates, and in general "calls the shots."
I have never met a true pastor, a believer who has been called to pastoral ministry, who is likewise a visionary. This is NOT being critical in any way because that is not the function of a pastor. I HAVE known several believers who are visionaries and have tried to function as a pastor. In general, that also does not work well, except possibly for a short season. A pastor is primarily attuned on the horizontal level ... to the needs of people. We need more good pastors. They have a vital role to play in the Church. What we see in the Church today is that pastors, subject more or less to some elders, are setting forth the "acceptable" doctrine through teachings. But what says the Scripture?
Those verses indicate that the apostles and prophets are charged to set forth doctrine. The problem is that there are too few genuine apostles and prophets. In fact, who even sees the need for such ministries? Further, the Church does not discern between the holy and the profane. One good brother in the Lord told me a number of years ago that the best thing that could happen to the local church in his area was for it to disband completely and start all over on a more sure foundation. I cannot disagree with his observation.
Is it time for pastors to pastor, teachers to teach, all believers to intercede on behalf of the church, watchmen to stand upon the walls and proclaim what they see, and apostles and prophets to set forth doctrine and lay the foundation in the Church? Is it time for the mouth to speak, the heart to lean on Jesus' breast, the eye to see, the ear to hear? The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, addresses that question very clearly in 1 Corinthians 12. Is it time for each member of the body to function in the place he or she has been called and for each member of the body to recognize the place where other members of the body have been called? Is it time to realize that God hath set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him (1 Corinthians 12:18)? Is it time to repent and return to our first love? Is it time to cry out for the grace and mercy of God to be upon us and all of those whom the Lord has called?
This word applies to every believer, which includes my wife and me. Believe me, we are NOT perfect! Just ask my wife about me! EVERY believer is called to the priesthood after the order of Melchisedec and that part of that priesthood includes intercession for the lost and for others in the Church who have lost their way or strayed in some manner. Obviously we have NO control over other people. We do exceedingly well to control our own spirit.
But we CAN groan in the Spirit, weep over the present state of the Church, and intercede fervently for those who need help. Is there any believer who does NOT need help? Does the visible church need help? I have become thoroughly convinced over the past several years that intercession is what is urgently needed in this hour. If you have not yet sensed the burden of intercession in your life, ask the Lord to show you that truth and then to fan the flame within your soul and spirit. Stir up the gift that is within you! Ask the Lord to cleanse and purify you because the effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).
Many years ago the Holy Spirit quickened to me that the Book of Isaiah prophetically speaks of the history of time before the second coming of Jesus. Then, about ten years later a good brother on the West coast told me that the Lord had quickened that same truth to him many years before I received it. If that be true, then where are we today in the chronology of Isaiah?
We would say that we are PAST Isaiah 59. There are TWO significant events in Isaiah 59.
They are,
Certainly the enemy has come in like a flood. But the Lord is in process of lifting up a standard against him. This is a sovereign work of God.
Isaiah, Chapter 60, speaks of the dawn of a new manifestation of God's redeeming glory. That is like a little cloud out of the sea (of humanity), like a man's hand rising up in the distance, afar off (1 Kings 18:44). We are in the few hours which precede the dawn's early light.
Isaiah 61 speaks of the good tidings of salvation and also proclaims the coming day of vengeance of our God. Isaiah 62 proclaims ... THE RESTORATION OF ZION.
A careful study of those chapters bears a striking resemblance to the Book of Joel. And why not? Both books were inspired by the same Holy Ghost.
Finally, we desire to emphasize what happens in Isaiah 66.
It is reasonably obvious that (spiritual) Zion has not yet travailed. The timetable of the Lord is that Isaiah 62 (the restoration of Zion) precedes Isaiah 66 (Zion's travail).
This word also challenges EVERY reader (including myself and my wife) to a life of intercession that the restoration of Zion may be completed and that Zion, in turn, might travail in intercession for her children (the young, immature believers) to come forth. The BIG question is ... WHO WILL ACCEPT SUCH A CHALLENGE?
If we see the state of the present, visible Church in America, and if we lean on the breast of Jesus and sense in some small part the heartbeat of the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, then we have no choice! We MUST accept that challenge! We MUST travail in intercession that the will of the Father may be completed ... that He might restore all back to what was in His heart and mind from before the foundation of the world.
Why does the Father want to bring many sons unto glory? He wants a kingdom of priests with whom He can have fellowship. If Enoch walked with God on this earth, why can't we?
Pentecost came to give us the power to do just that ... to walk with God.
In summary, nothing has changed in 6000 years. The nature of man has never changed. The sad part is that too many Christians (even one is too many) do not see the bondage and captivity that we are in. And very few seem to care.
The Lord always wants to challenge His people. The Lord challenges His people to do all for the glory of God, to come and see where He dwells, and to follow Him. Then the Lord will bring about a complete restoration of His Church, restoring all things to that which was in the mind and heart of God from before the foundation of the earth. Those who follow Him wherever He goes will rule and reign with Him on earth for 1000 years.
When the Lord gets through building His Church, it will not look anything like what we see today. The question every believer must decide is whether we are content just to get to heaven one day or whether we want to rule and reign with Christ in His throne for 1000 years. If we want the latter, then there is a price to pay here and now.
Those verses in Revelation 3 are for true Christians. Note that we have to open the door of our heart and we must become an overcomer, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
There should be a freedom and liberty for each gift and ministry to function, but under the control of the Holy Spirit. Avoid getting into the same routine at each gathering of believers. A gathering of believers should be anything BUT something routine or mechanical. We have believed for 48 years that there should be fresh revelation coming forth in EVERY gathering of believers! We have seen it happen too many times. We have also seen the fresh revelation unable to come forth because of the traditions of men and control by men. We need to be careful not to frustrate the grace of God.
At the same time, we must be careful not to use that liberty for an occasion to the flesh (Galatians 5:13). Unfortunately, the Corinthian spirit pops up through supposedly "mature" believers in a multitude of charismatic churches and conferences. We must have the balance of:
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:11
One of the most critical areas in order for a local church to function as a well-oiled machine is the recognition and appropriation of the various gifts and ministries that have been placed in the body by the Lord. I remember the very first word that I shared publicly. The word was "appropriating the Christ in others." I also remember that I spent much time preparing that word and I was very nervous as I spoke. I have no idea whether any of the 40 or so believers present received anything of value from that teaching. Only the Lord knows. But the essence of that word has been made very real to me over the years. One appropriate Scripture is:
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.1 Corinthians 11:29-30
The word "unworthily" is not in the original texts. It is not a "bad" insertion as long as we understand what the Spirit is saying here through Paul. If we read the context (what precedes), it is clear that at the agape love feasts, many were just looking to eat all they wanted, with no thought for the less fortunate believers. The word "damnation" means judgment. The judgment is given specifically in Verse 30 ... many are weak and sickly, and many sleep. Why are many weak and sickly in the Church and many sleep (died physically)? because they do not discern the Lord's body, neither naturally nor spiritually. In the natural realm their gluttony overshadows their compassion for other believers who are also hungry. I witnessed a vivid example of this many years ago at a covered-dish supper for believers. I was next to last in line for food and could see that very little food was left. The young man in front of me piled his plate high with an abundance of food. Apparently he had no thought for anyone behind him who might also want something to eat. When he left, the hostess pulled out a jar of peanut butter, which became her supper. Would you believe that the Lord took that young man home at the age of 51?
In the spiritual realm many do not recognize or appropriate the gifts and ministries that the Lord has set in the body as it pleases Him. If you have a toothache would you go to a car mechanic? If you have a leaky water pipe would you go to an artist? No matter how hard you try, the hand just does NOT see as well as the eye; neither does the foot hear as well as the ear. We do well to read again 1 Corinthians 12. We need discernment to recognize and appropriate the gifts and ministries that the Lord has placed in the body!
The other side of appropriating the Christ in others is to function in the place you have been called.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.1 Corinthians 7:20, 24
One reason why the Spirit-filled community is greatly divided and fragmented, based on different understandings of scripture in general, is because too many ministers are trying to function in a place where they have not been called. The American Church is distinctly "pastor" dominated, almost to the exclusion of other ministries. The pastor preaches, teaches, administrates, and in general "calls the shots."
I have never met a true pastor, a believer who has been called to pastoral ministry, who is likewise a visionary. This is NOT being critical in any way because that is not the function of a pastor. I HAVE known several believers who are visionaries and have tried to function as a pastor. In general, that also does not work well, except possibly for a short season. A pastor is primarily attuned on the horizontal level ... to the needs of people. We need more good pastors. They have a vital role to play in the Church. What we see in the Church today is that pastors, subject more or less to some elders, are setting forth the "acceptable" doctrine through teachings. But what says the Scripture?
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2:19-20
3 How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; Ephesians 3:3-5
Those verses indicate that the apostles and prophets are charged to set forth doctrine. The problem is that there are too few genuine apostles and prophets. In fact, who even sees the need for such ministries? Further, the Church does not discern between the holy and the profane. One good brother in the Lord told me a number of years ago that the best thing that could happen to the local church in his area was for it to disband completely and start all over on a more sure foundation. I cannot disagree with his observation.
Is it time for pastors to pastor, teachers to teach, all believers to intercede on behalf of the church, watchmen to stand upon the walls and proclaim what they see, and apostles and prophets to set forth doctrine and lay the foundation in the Church? Is it time for the mouth to speak, the heart to lean on Jesus' breast, the eye to see, the ear to hear? The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, addresses that question very clearly in 1 Corinthians 12. Is it time for each member of the body to function in the place he or she has been called and for each member of the body to recognize the place where other members of the body have been called? Is it time to realize that God hath set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him (1 Corinthians 12:18)? Is it time to repent and return to our first love? Is it time to cry out for the grace and mercy of God to be upon us and all of those whom the Lord has called?
This word applies to every believer, which includes my wife and me. Believe me, we are NOT perfect! Just ask my wife about me! EVERY believer is called to the priesthood after the order of Melchisedec and that part of that priesthood includes intercession for the lost and for others in the Church who have lost their way or strayed in some manner. Obviously we have NO control over other people. We do exceedingly well to control our own spirit.
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Proverbs 16:32
But we CAN groan in the Spirit, weep over the present state of the Church, and intercede fervently for those who need help. Is there any believer who does NOT need help? Does the visible church need help? I have become thoroughly convinced over the past several years that intercession is what is urgently needed in this hour. If you have not yet sensed the burden of intercession in your life, ask the Lord to show you that truth and then to fan the flame within your soul and spirit. Stir up the gift that is within you! Ask the Lord to cleanse and purify you because the effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).
Many years ago the Holy Spirit quickened to me that the Book of Isaiah prophetically speaks of the history of time before the second coming of Jesus. Then, about ten years later a good brother on the West coast told me that the Lord had quickened that same truth to him many years before I received it. If that be true, then where are we today in the chronology of Isaiah?
We would say that we are PAST Isaiah 59. There are TWO significant events in Isaiah 59.
They are,
And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor.Isaiah 59:16When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19
Certainly the enemy has come in like a flood. But the Lord is in process of lifting up a standard against him. This is a sovereign work of God.
Isaiah, Chapter 60, speaks of the dawn of a new manifestation of God's redeeming glory. That is like a little cloud out of the sea (of humanity), like a man's hand rising up in the distance, afar off (1 Kings 18:44). We are in the few hours which precede the dawn's early light.
Isaiah 61 speaks of the good tidings of salvation and also proclaims the coming day of vengeance of our God. Isaiah 62 proclaims ... THE RESTORATION OF ZION.
A careful study of those chapters bears a striking resemblance to the Book of Joel. And why not? Both books were inspired by the same Holy Ghost.
Finally, we desire to emphasize what happens in Isaiah 66.
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.8 Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Isaiah 66:7-8
It is reasonably obvious that (spiritual) Zion has not yet travailed. The timetable of the Lord is that Isaiah 62 (the restoration of Zion) precedes Isaiah 66 (Zion's travail).
This word also challenges EVERY reader (including myself and my wife) to a life of intercession that the restoration of Zion may be completed and that Zion, in turn, might travail in intercession for her children (the young, immature believers) to come forth. The BIG question is ... WHO WILL ACCEPT SUCH A CHALLENGE?
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14
If we see the state of the present, visible Church in America, and if we lean on the breast of Jesus and sense in some small part the heartbeat of the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, then we have no choice! We MUST accept that challenge! We MUST travail in intercession that the will of the Father may be completed ... that He might restore all back to what was in His heart and mind from before the foundation of the world.
For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons [huios] unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10
Why does the Father want to bring many sons unto glory? He wants a kingdom of priests with whom He can have fellowship. If Enoch walked with God on this earth, why can't we?
Pentecost came to give us the power to do just that ... to walk with God.
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. John 11:25
In summary, nothing has changed in 6000 years. The nature of man has never changed. The sad part is that too many Christians (even one is too many) do not see the bondage and captivity that we are in. And very few seem to care.
The Lord always wants to challenge His people. The Lord challenges His people to do all for the glory of God, to come and see where He dwells, and to follow Him. Then the Lord will bring about a complete restoration of His Church, restoring all things to that which was in the mind and heart of God from before the foundation of the earth. Those who follow Him wherever He goes will rule and reign with Him on earth for 1000 years.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:6
When the Lord gets through building His Church, it will not look anything like what we see today. The question every believer must decide is whether we are content just to get to heaven one day or whether we want to rule and reign with Christ in His throne for 1000 years. If we want the latter, then there is a price to pay here and now.
Revelation 3:20-22Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Those verses in Revelation 3 are for true Christians. Note that we have to open the door of our heart and we must become an overcomer, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
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