What Shall This Man Do? (Part 6)
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
This is the sixth 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. Part 5 set forth the need and commandment to prepare the way of the Lord. 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 start setting forth how we prepare the way of the Lord. We need vision in this hour; we need to know where we are going and how to get there!
The primary thing that the Lord is looking for within His people is the state of our heart. Isaiah warned the Judah of his time of the coming captivity by Babylon. He spoke the word of the Lord to Judah.
Note the phrase, "this people," not "My people." Also, the "marvelous work" that the Lord did (and is doing again) is not the kind of marvelous that we would like. When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, He said that Isaiah prophesied of the Pharisees, some 725 years after his time. In reality, Isaiah prophesied to the Judah of his time, the Judah (Pharisees) of the time when Jesus walked the face of the earth, and the (spiritual) Judah of our time. The word of God is timeless and independent of race, culture, gender, and geographical location.
So a hypocrite is one who says all of the right words, but whose heart is not right before the Lord. Their heart is overly concerned with materialism, entertainment, traditions of men, putting an 'X' in all the right boxes, and a hundred other things. Therefore it seems only reasonable that we should all understand what does constitute a right heart. More importantly, a right heart must become flesh and not simply a mental understanding.
At the most basic level, a right heart is a heart that is attuned to the heart of the Lord. Every believer is called to identify with the Lord Jesus in every respect (except His Deity). We must identify (in reality, experientially) with His suffering, His death, His burial, His resurrection, His weeping over Jerusalem, His will, His heart, His intercession for us, His love and zeal for the Church, and His jealousy over Zion (Zechariah 8:2), to name a few. It is a heart that wants the Lord to be pleased and satisfied with us even if we never receive anything from the Lord (not even our personal salvation). It is a heart that wants the will of the Lord to be done more than life itself. It is a heart that is jealous for the Lord of hosts ... jealous that He might have His way within every believer; which is what Elijah said in 1 Kings 19:10 and 14. Stephen, Paul, and Moses (among others) had that same jealousy for the Lord to be satisfied and glorified. Moses said,
Paul said,
Paul also said,
Stephen said, to the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem,
Some might say that Stephen did not exercise wisdom when he spoke those words to the Sanhedrin. Logical reasoning and natural thinking would say, "Stephen, you should be very careful with your words to the Sanhedrin. Just think of all of the good you could do for the body of Christ. You are a man full of faith and wisdom. The Lord needs you to help other believers here on earth." We are quite sure that Stephen was aware of the consequences of his discourse. However, Stephen was motivated only by speaking the word which the Holy Ghost put into his being. As a result, Stephen is sometimes called the first Christian martyr. Did Stephen fully satisfy the heart of the Lord? We believe that Scripture gives a resounding answer of "YES" to that question. His ways are higher than our ways; His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Let us see the scriptural support for Stephen's bold, (harsh?) words to the Sanhedrin as recorded in Acts, Chapter 7.
We are all aware that after Jesus finished His work on earth, He sat down on the right hand of the Father in heaven. This is recorded five times in the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:3, 1:13, 8:1, 10:12, and 12:2). For example,
The Lord Jesus Christ is still seated at the right hand of the Father. But when Stephen said what he did to the Sanhedrin, he said,
So the Lord Jesus, who was (and is) seated at the right hand of the Father, stood up when Stephen said what he did in Acts 7:51-52 to the Sanhedrin. It was as if the Lord was applauding Stephen for his selflessness in speaking the word of God, regardless of the grave consequences to himself. Amazing! How could the Lord express such an attitude towards any human being? But it happened!
Now some may say, "But brother, I am not a Moses; I am not a Paul; I am not a Stephen." Very true. Likewise, I am none of those three either. We are all unique because God never makes a copy of anything or anyone. We all have slightly different, unique and specific callings and functions. But we all have many things in common also. One of those things that every believer has in common should be the attitude of our heart. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Our first priority is always to glorify God, first of all in our heart, and then outwardly as the Holy Spirit gives us unction. The first step in preparing the way of the Lord is to have that same heart attitude that Moses, Paul, Stephen (and others, like David) had. That heart attitude can never be generated by our own effort or by our own faith. So some may say, "Well I am not in that place in my life yet." Then you (we) are not alone. But God is no respecter of persons. If He did that amazing work in Moses, Paul, Stephen, and others, He will also do that work within you and me, PROVIDED that we see the need and cry out to the Lord. After all, what the Lord is looking for is that each of us believers cry out to the Lord and say, "Help me, Lord."
Back in the 1970's we sang a little spiritual song which I have not heard in 35 years (although I understand that Hillsong has a version on a CD). The words are:
What then shall this man do?
The primary thing that the Lord is looking for within His people is the state of our heart. Isaiah warned the Judah of his time of the coming captivity by Babylon. He spoke the word of the Lord to Judah.
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Isaiah 29:13-14
Note the phrase, "this people," not "My people." Also, the "marvelous work" that the Lord did (and is doing again) is not the kind of marvelous that we would like. When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, He said that Isaiah prophesied of the Pharisees, some 725 years after his time. In reality, Isaiah prophesied to the Judah of his time, the Judah (Pharisees) of the time when Jesus walked the face of the earth, and the (spiritual) Judah of our time. The word of God is timeless and independent of race, culture, gender, and geographical location.
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.7 Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:6-7
So a hypocrite is one who says all of the right words, but whose heart is not right before the Lord. Their heart is overly concerned with materialism, entertainment, traditions of men, putting an 'X' in all the right boxes, and a hundred other things. Therefore it seems only reasonable that we should all understand what does constitute a right heart. More importantly, a right heart must become flesh and not simply a mental understanding.
At the most basic level, a right heart is a heart that is attuned to the heart of the Lord. Every believer is called to identify with the Lord Jesus in every respect (except His Deity). We must identify (in reality, experientially) with His suffering, His death, His burial, His resurrection, His weeping over Jerusalem, His will, His heart, His intercession for us, His love and zeal for the Church, and His jealousy over Zion (Zechariah 8:2), to name a few. It is a heart that wants the Lord to be pleased and satisfied with us even if we never receive anything from the Lord (not even our personal salvation). It is a heart that wants the will of the Lord to be done more than life itself. It is a heart that is jealous for the Lord of hosts ... jealous that He might have His way within every believer; which is what Elijah said in 1 Kings 19:10 and 14. Stephen, Paul, and Moses (among others) had that same jealousy for the Lord to be satisfied and glorified. Moses said,
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 32:32
Paul said,
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Romans 9:3
Paul also said,
Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21:13
Stephen said, to the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem,
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Acts 7:51-52
Some might say that Stephen did not exercise wisdom when he spoke those words to the Sanhedrin. Logical reasoning and natural thinking would say, "Stephen, you should be very careful with your words to the Sanhedrin. Just think of all of the good you could do for the body of Christ. You are a man full of faith and wisdom. The Lord needs you to help other believers here on earth." We are quite sure that Stephen was aware of the consequences of his discourse. However, Stephen was motivated only by speaking the word which the Holy Ghost put into his being. As a result, Stephen is sometimes called the first Christian martyr. Did Stephen fully satisfy the heart of the Lord? We believe that Scripture gives a resounding answer of "YES" to that question. His ways are higher than our ways; His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Let us see the scriptural support for Stephen's bold, (harsh?) words to the Sanhedrin as recorded in Acts, Chapter 7.
We are all aware that after Jesus finished His work on earth, He sat down on the right hand of the Father in heaven. This is recorded five times in the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:3, 1:13, 8:1, 10:12, and 12:2). For example,
Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:3
The Lord Jesus Christ is still seated at the right hand of the Father. But when Stephen said what he did to the Sanhedrin, he said,
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:55-56
So the Lord Jesus, who was (and is) seated at the right hand of the Father, stood up when Stephen said what he did in Acts 7:51-52 to the Sanhedrin. It was as if the Lord was applauding Stephen for his selflessness in speaking the word of God, regardless of the grave consequences to himself. Amazing! How could the Lord express such an attitude towards any human being? But it happened!
Now some may say, "But brother, I am not a Moses; I am not a Paul; I am not a Stephen." Very true. Likewise, I am none of those three either. We are all unique because God never makes a copy of anything or anyone. We all have slightly different, unique and specific callings and functions. But we all have many things in common also. One of those things that every believer has in common should be the attitude of our heart. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Our first priority is always to glorify God, first of all in our heart, and then outwardly as the Holy Spirit gives us unction. The first step in preparing the way of the Lord is to have that same heart attitude that Moses, Paul, Stephen (and others, like David) had. That heart attitude can never be generated by our own effort or by our own faith. So some may say, "Well I am not in that place in my life yet." Then you (we) are not alone. But God is no respecter of persons. If He did that amazing work in Moses, Paul, Stephen, and others, He will also do that work within you and me, PROVIDED that we see the need and cry out to the Lord. After all, what the Lord is looking for is that each of us believers cry out to the Lord and say, "Help me, Lord."
9 And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:9-14
Back in the 1970's we sang a little spiritual song which I have not heard in 35 years (although I understand that Hillsong has a version on a CD). The words are:
Every new day Your glory unfolds, filling my heart with Your treasures untold,The beauty of holiness brings worship anew, My greatest love is You.
What then shall this man do?
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