What Shall This Man Do? (Part 5)

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.

What Shall This Man Do? (Part 5) 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

This is the fifth in a series of words with a common theme of, "What shall this man do?" In Part 1 we focused on Haggai, Chapter 1, which speaks of the "problems" of the remnant of the tribe of Judah, the judgment of God as a result of their lethargy, apathy, and self-centeredness, and the answer as spoken through Haggai the prophet. That is current events as well as history. In Part 2 we shared briefly the significance of Luke 12:42-48 and the critical need for the Spirit-filled community to lay hold of the holy fear of God. In Part 3, we shared some thoughts from the Book of Zechariah which are pertinent to us today.

The burden of Zechariah was essentially the same as that of Haggai. In Part 4 we shared some pertinent words from the Book of Malachi. The culmination of this series will attempt to set forth what we believe to be the only effective answer to the question, "What shall this man do?" By "this man" I refer to you and me ... the spiritual remnant of Judah today, namely the Spirit-filled and/or charismatic community. This series does not in any way address those in denominational churches, who are better off than we are in the sight of the Lord right now, according to what the Lord said in Luke 12:47-48. In this word, we attempt to complete the background word to enable us to move on to what the Lord is looking for in His people today. The first step is to prepare the way of the Lord.

The message from the Books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi is essentially the same word. That same word is also reflected in the Books of Joel, Judges, Daniel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Revelation, and, in truth, in every book of the Bible. That common message centers around three basic themes. First is the sovereignty of God, His love for His chosen people, His great grace, His great mercy, His faithfulness, His wisdom, etc. The second theme is human nature ... the self-centered nature of man, even Christian man, the lack of understanding and wisdom of His chosen people, and our feeling of self-satisfaction, particularly when things seem to be going smoothly in our life. The third common theme is the attempts of the enemy to divert the chosen people of God from fulfilling their destiny, their inheritance. That destiny or inheritance is much more than being born again and going to heaven one day. We were born into a war that we did not start. We have been re-born into a new world of total victory in Christ, but we must still go up and possess the land (Numbers 13:30 and many others), the kingdom of God. It is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32), but it is not ours unless we qualify to take it (Matthew 11:12).

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

We must be very careful not to slip into an attitude of, "I know that," or, "I can do that." In reality we know very little and we can do absolutely nothing (of value) without Him.

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 1 Corinthians 8:2

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. John 3:27

I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father Which hath sent Me. John 5:30

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 1 Corinthians 4:7

At the same time, we must be very confident of Who He is and what He has said to us. My favorite verse is, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). It is because we possess such a hope that we write with such boldness.

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.

Ephesians 3:11-12

Everything is by His faith, not by our faith in Him. We have not generated our faith in Him.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

The first answer to, "What shall this man do?" is found in both the Old and New Testaments.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3

The same message is spoken of seven times in the New Testament (Matthew 3:3, Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2 and 3, Luke 1:76, Luke 3:4, and Luke 7:27). So, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" occurs eight times in Scripture. That word is not a request; it is a command; it is a command for us to do something ... to prepare the way of the Lord. How we prepare the way of the Lord will be the topic of subsequent words.

So the first step is to prepare the way of the Lord. You do it ... we do it. Make ready for the coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords. This preparation does not end when we are born again or when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit. That is only the beginning. If you know that a secular king or president or any other dignitary is coming to your house for dinner, you will undoubtedly make haste to clean your house thoroughly, wear your best clothes, and prepare your best meal for him/her. How much more shall we prepare for the Lord Himself?

How do we clean our house spiritually? By making sure that the enemy has to footholds in our life. Jesus said, "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me" (John 14:30). As long as we abide in the Vine, the prince of this world has nothing in us either, for the Lord is our shield.

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 

Psalm 3:3

He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4

This is not automatic. It takes action on our part to take His shield upon us. Suppose I come into your house and lay a $20 bill on your table and say, I give this unto you. As far as I am concerned I have given it to you and it is yours. But unless you pick it up and put it in your pocket, it is still not yours.

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6: 16

Next, we must wear our best clothes. We must keep our garments clean.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy. Revelation 3:4

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth. and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15

Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. 

Psalm 132:9

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her iewels. Isaiah 61:10

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. Revelation 3:5

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:10-14

The reason the man who had not on a wedding garment was rejected was because the host of a wedding always provided the wedding garments. So that guest trusted in his own righteousness rather than in the righteousness provided by the Lord.

Third, we must prepare our best meal. The spiritual food that we prepare, eat, and serve to others must be the truth as illuminated by the Holy Spirit, not what our carnal mind understands through our reasoning, logical thinking, traditions of men, etc..

31 In the mean while His disciples prayed Him, saying, Master, eat.

32 But He said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. John 4:31-32

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. John 6:51-53

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 1 Corinthians 3:2 

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14

One of the greatest causes of doctrinal error and lack of understanding comes about by trying to interpret Scripture in the natural realm, using our natural minds and logical reasoning.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

What then shall this man do?