The Devotional

Papa “J” says

There are only two types of people in the world. The “dusty ones” and the “heavenly ones” 1 Corinthians 15:49

Ever wonder where the submarine gets the air to bring the ship to the surface? Well before we clear that question lets talk about various submarine air systems. A submarine is normally equipped with two air systems. One system is called the normal blow system and the other is called the emergency blow system. On another submarine there are two systems as well but one is different. The normal system is replaced the low pressure blow system. The air from the normal blow system and the emergency blow systems is stored in air flasks in the ballast tanks of the submarine. These tanks are the very same tanks that receive the stored air. The air flasks inside the ballast tanks releases compressed air into the ballast tank and as this air expands it pushes the water out of the ballast tanks and the ship rises. The low pressure system is much different. Submariners have to drive the submarine to periscope depth, raise the snorkel mast and turn on a low pressure air pump and pump air into the ballast tanks. This takes about 20 minutes, or until the air pressure inside the ballast tanks reaches a weigh of pounds per square that is sufficient to keep the submarine afloat.

The Gospel of John

John 1:43-51 The very next day, now we are three days into the ministry of Jesus Christ. He is building His ministry. I am at awe when I take time to think about the power of One Man over the people He comes in contact with. He simply says, “follow Me” and they do! But we need to qualify this. Jesus is God, He knows those who will follow Him. He did not have to interview each of the disciples or have them fill out membership cards. Jesus knew His disciples before they were even born.

They knew very little about Jesus, they did not even know where He was living even though they all lived near each other in the same town. In John 1:39 we see it is about 4pm so after finding a few more disciples it is getting dark and time to turn in for the evening. What is interesting is that these men were looking or searching for the Messiah. Fishermen mostly, but they knew the Old Testament and the prophecies concerning His coming, the evidence of this is found in the verses we are looking at.

Phillip finds Nathanael, verse 45 explains that these men were searching for Jesus. People say that Jesus saw Nathanael as he studied the scriptures under the fig tree, but the scripture here does not say that. I think that since Jesus is God it makes no matter what you are doing. God knows you and your character at all times. Jesus verifies this by stating that Nathanael does not possess a character of duplicity, in other words he is not deceitful or cunning even to the point of being guiltless but not sinless, “can anything good come out of Nazareth?” passing judgment.

The Devotional

Papa “J” says

Socialism! Do you understand! “We are the world, we are the people!” The selfish rheological statements of sectarian religions. A catastrophic error to acknowledge – Psalm 24:1-2

Reading through the Old Testament a person can form all sorts of opinion and beliefs. We see God's hand withhold blessing on those we feel should receive it and seemingly provide blessing to those who do not. Why do these major historical moments happen and why does God react the way He does? The sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ removes the penalty of sin; Past, Present and Future. (Now when did God know this? Since the beginning of time). However, the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ does nothing to remove evil from the world around us. So, what does evil look like? Idolatry and false gods. Idolatry is an evil system of worship that looks to the Creator through the eyes of the golden calf, while the evil of false gods reject God the Creator for some form or faction of a false deity. The sin of Aaron and Jeroboam are sins that were forgiven through the blood of the LAMB. The religions of today are full of this sort of replacement theology. Gentile nations are rejected by God even to this day because they have purposed to have and worship false gods, this is lying to the Holy Spirit, John 16:8-11. So today if we say we are a Christian nation we are virtually agreeing sins of Aaron and Jeroboam. Exodus 32:1-4; 1 Kings 12:25-29 and 2 Kings 10:30-31

The Gospel of John

John 1:35-42 The day after John the baptizer sees and baptizes Jesus we see the ministry of Jesus beginning. Two of John's disciples are standing with John and John says Look, there walking passed us now is the LAMB of God! Wow! What a blessing to see Him in this way. Have you seen Jesus as the LAMB? Have you asked Him yet, “Where are you going”? Have you concluded in your heart that His way could be the path to follow?

If you have then He has taken the moment and turned to say to you. “What do you seek?” The LORD Jesus is still building His church, if you are not yet a disciple then now is a good opportunity for you to consider His response to you. “Come and see” (You know, it is about the tenth hour, Jesus is coming again).

Jesus has been calling men and women to Him throughout the ages. People who are made in the sight of God, PERFECT through the Blood of the LAMB. There are many golden calves in the world around us. This religion seeks God through the outward effort of man, since the golden calf itself cannot suffer, bleed, die or be resurrected. There is only One God, One faith, One baptism and One LORD. John 14:1-6 and Ephesians 4:1-6