The Devotional

What does Papa “J” Say?

An individual falls into depression when the circumstances of life are overwhelming, such is true for a family, a community or a nation. God says look to the ant who needs no overseer or ruler other that it's Creator – Repent. Proverbs 6:6-11

Wow! Sometimes when I am awed by the Word of God, that word “Wow” will bounce around the walls of my brain like a well struck racquet ball. I would like to see the United States under the full conviction of the Holy Spirit to repent from the ways that have destroyed our freedoms, broken our homes and ruined our families. I am not alone in this as many desire to see the nation repent as well. Ezra, proclaimed a fast, that the people of Israel might humble themselves before God and seek Him the right way. It is easy to skip over the little words spoken to us by the Holy Spirit. Seeking God is not, my way, your way or the way of any church these days. If any of these ways were true, then why is it that the United States of America is witnessing moral decay and corruption on every level of organized life and liberty? After a few comments about the authority of Ezra's day, Ezra states that the people fasted and entreated God, then God answered their prayer. Ezra 8:21-23. When is the last time you heard the words “fasting and prayer” in the same sentence fall from the lips of anyone in the last twenty years. Yes I am sure there are exceptions to this, but even so the exception is few and far between.

The Gospel of John

John 11:33-44 There are great sermons on this little section of John eleven, the glory of God, the stench of the tomb, resurrection of the dead and the personal call of Jesus to Lazarus to come forth from the grave. Hopefully you have heard at least one of these sermons in your lifetime. The critic would say that it is impossible to raise the dead. That the brain dies within four minutes after life is taken a leave of absence from the body.

Mankind did not create life, nor did he come up with the idea! God, the Creator is our source of life and our source of death. For one to see the Glory of God, that one needs to be willing to believe. Not to believe in themselves that they have the power or the will to make supernatural things happen. Notice verse 41, Jesus prayed to His Father to reveal to this small group of mourners that only Jesus has this power.

As we read back in John 10:18, Jesus has the power of life and death, whether it is His life, your life or my life, even the life of dead Lazarus. Only Jesus! Life and the power to sustain life is in His Hands which is over you and me right this minute. In your heart you know this is true, ignoring the cries of your heart as it mourns for Him will not make this truth go away or change. Go ahead, believe in Jesus and you will be glad you did. You will never be happy again, but you will be overwhelmed with Joy forevermore as His presence surrounds you. Psalm 113:1-9

1 Chronicles 7:14 THIS NATION NEEDS TO REPENT, FAST AND PRAY FOR THE NATION!