The Devotional

What does Papa “J” Say?

The Word of God takes a man or woman beyond happiness. If you are willing God replaces happiness with the Joy of the LORD, or you might consider the wicked way and let what light you have burn out! Proverbs 4:18 and Proverbs 13:9

In Nehemiah chapter nine, Nehemiah recaps the history of his nation. He reviews the good, the bad and the ugly seasons of time. How the nation responded to the judgments, statutes and laws of God. Early in this chapter he says that God's Name is glorious. When is the last time you purposed in your heart to say “God! Your name is glorious!”? Why is the Name of God so glorious? I mean; after all we live in a country that is foul with every kind of sin imaginable to man, isn't this God's fault? The same conditions affecting Judah during this captivity is affecting our nation right now. So, why should we say - “God your Name is Glorious!”? Well, it just may take us as a nation a little longer to muster up those words with meaning and purpose. We are as you know, a stubborn, stiff necked people who seem to enjoy living under the burdens of laws that favor crime and promote depravity and sin. And can you believe it, we are attempting to turn the Constitution of the United States of America into a piece of used toilet paper. These thoughts grieve my soul. So, why should we say - “God, Your Name is Glorious!”? The word “MERCY” shows up in this chapter at least four times, but lets look at Nehemiah 9:27. Maybe we should just wait until of captivity comes to the United States or we can begin with humble hearts NOW! And when we do our souls will shout! God, Your Name is Glorious!

The Gospel of John

John 13:12-21 The words of Jesus Christ. How can you not fall into a biblical love for Him? What He says to us each time we read His Words is; “I do this, because I love you and I love those who I place in front of you. What you have seen and heard in Me, you should do likewise. The apostle Paul understood this, notice 2 Timothy 2:1-13.

Jesus cleanses us from all sin, that is awesome and it is real. In a world of relative righteousness it is very hard to find a moment when sin is not an issue in front of you. Do you think I am wrong in this? Even while we devote time to the LORD, we are conscious of sinful bombardments and sinful people nearby. Notice that even Jesus who is God in the flesh is aware of His enemies during this passage of teaching and devotional session. See John 13:21.

So it is with you and me, God calls us to witness of the great things Jesus has done. He washed us in the Blood of the Lamb, He serves us daily by cleansing our walk with Him in the power of the Spirit of God. He places us in positions to present to others the authority of the gospel. Also, in the Spirit He warns us of the enemies of the gospel who are nearby. So closely related to Jesus that our lives can serve as He serves. So why is it that we often live in the poverty of Spirit rather than in the intended prosperity of the Spirit? Maybe we have forgotten that the kingdom of God at hand, is serving!

The Devotional

What does Papa “J” Say?

The soul that is rich in Jesus is a soul that is ransomed for the kingdom and the soul that is poor in Jesus does not hear and ignores the call of John 3:16 and Proverbs 13:8

A familiar passage to all of us is Isaiah 1:16-17 where Isaiah who is writing for God explains that as a nation, God expects us to wash ourselves of the filth of the world. This is not a physical washing as some might apply, but a spiritual washing. Take a look back at the earlier verses. Verse 4, Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evil doers. Verse 6, From the sole of the foot, even to the head, there is no soundness. Yes, Isaiah is commanded by God to write to Israel concerning this national problem, but it does not take much wisdom to see that this same challenge is right in our face today. Look at verse 7, (while at the present all of this verse does not apply), but the middle of the verse does, Strangers devour our land. They do this boldly and we let them. The rug of freedom is being snatched from under our feet and like the American Indian we are settling for little reservations of land, while others take over and trample our vineyards and live in our besieged cities. There is a remedy, praise God for His Mercy! Isaiah 1:18-19 and read on because if we refuse His remedy, God has spoken! Isaiah 1:19-20. We do not need resources, we need repentance! What hurts the most is that some are scoffing at this.

The Gospel of John

John 13:6-11 We have all heard the story of Peter desiring a full cleansing from Jesus in this passage as the LORD who is Master of everything and Servant of all washes the feet of His disciples. Many of us would have reacted the same way as the apostle, but we can take a deeper look at to just what it is that Jesus is doing or demonstrating in this passage.

As Master of everything, Jesus is the Authority over Creation. When God spoke the world into existence it was the Word of God (Jehovah) that accomplished this. This is Power and Authority that cannot be measured by any human standard or science. When we believe in God, He in His Power and Authority as the Incarnate Word of God (Jesus), washes us with the Blood of the Lamb.

Not all are clean, since religions do not recognize the Blood of the Lamb. Religion recognizes the works of man. Peter adds to the ongoing cleansing of Jesus (hands and head) and Jesus says. No, this is not necessary, you've had your bath, but there are those who are not bathed in the Blood of the Lamb. These are betrayers and even though I wash their feet because I will die for the sin of the world, they are still not clean because their religion and unbelief keeps them unclean.

The Devotional

What does Papa “J” Say?

Biblical riches are not found in the pockets of the rich and the famous, or the poor and infamous. These riches are not seen in the outward layers of appearance. These are stored in the soul and cannot be tainted by rusty hands. Proverbs 13:7

Are you not tired of reading about the moral decline of our great nation? I am tired of writing about these things! I feel like saying to everyone, “just read your Bible”. That truly would work if everyone would. Yet I know that reading the Bible is not a very high priority for anyone these days. It is not even a priority among those who say they are children of God through faith in Jesus. There are roughly two hundred fifty people that read these brief messages everyday. I also know that there are thousands of blogs that are similar to this one calling people to pray for this nation, to repent and return to the LORD of heaven and earth. So I really do not feel that I am alone in this plea for national reconciliation toward God. So the point! Most of us hope and pray that the nation will experience a Spiritual Revival and that it will be soon. Many pastors and teachers of the Living Word of God are calling for an Ezra or a Nehemiah to rise up and rebuild our crumbled walls of Faith. I believe that the last man standing in this position is a retired pastor whose name everyone knows, was; Billy Graham. Agree or disagree, it really matters little, what matters is that our nation is standing in the quicksand of change. Someone will show up to take the country into the future. Again I am not referencing a political point of view and to look at politics as a solution to our problems is to walk down a dead end street. Our future is dependent on, “One Nation under God with liberty and justice for all” Never mind the holy water, bring on the Sack cloth and Ashes and maybe a tent and a palm branch or two”. Nehemiah 8:1-18.

The Gospel of John

John 13:1-5 Who is Jesus? Jesus is the Master of Everything and the Servant of All. Notice in these opening verses of chapter thirteen that Jesus knew He was about to depart the world and return to His Father. Also note, that Jesus understood that the Father had turned over all authority to Him. This meant that the power and authority of accomplishing the Father's will was now in the human hands of Jesus to carry out.

Rather then rising up and taking charge of the kingdoms of the world as Satan prompted Him to do, from Matthew 4:8-10 and Luke 4:5-8. Instead, He laid aside His garments, His physical garments of man and His Spiritual Garments of Authority and became for these moments the Servant of All. The Servant of Heaven and Earth. Can we really get hold of this wonderful moment in Time and Eternity?

A time when the Creator of the Universe emptied His Being of all allegiances except the allegiance of love, the love found in John 3:16. He did this for you and for me. He did this for your enemies and my enemies. He did this for His enemies; you and me. He stood in our place as Romans 5:6-11 so clearly explains. So the question is; “where do you stand today?” Are you standing in the completed work of Jesus and His love for you? Or! Are you standing in the incomplete works of some church doctrine, and/or you own works of relative righteousness?

The Devotional

What does Papa “J” Say?

The soul, it is either rich or poor. There is no middle class for the soul. The sluggish soul is overweight with sin and transgression and of course the soul of the spiritually diligent is clean, lean and prosperous. Proverbs 13:4-6

Someone asked yesterday. “How do I apply what I've been reading in your blog?” That is a very good question. I remember growing up and being taught by my father and uncles, it seems that each had a specific area of knowledge that they were willing to share. You know that earlier generation of kin folk that we no longer listen too these days. One of the challenges that I remember most came from an uncle who said. &ldquoo not try to teach anyone anything that you do not know how to do. You know, if you do not know how to drive an automobile, don't try to teach someone to drive one.” Who can govern a nation as large as the United States of America? We the people bark out our justifiable displeasure over a crumbling economy and other constitutional woes. We also know that injustices produced by a system that has lost it's way of “checks and balances” seems unrepairable. Yet, for the many “We the people” we have no clue to teach the next generation of how to mend our walls. Someone also said recently that I seem to be on a political mission (that would be false). The United States of America has fallen from it's foundation of “Faith in God” We need “Walls of faith” faith builders, like the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt by Ezra and Nehemiah. Our foundation of allegiance to God must come first, then there will be a rebuilding of the Constitutional principles that this nation once thrived and prospered on. More to come.

The Gospel of John

John 12:33-50 Jesus tells His listeners that He is going to die and their response is. “We have heard from the teachers of the Law that the Messiah is to remain forever, so how do you say; if you are the Messiah that Your going to die, since the Messiah does not die? If You say the Son of Man must die, then who is this Son of Man? Jesus does not give the expected answer.

Like most peoples who are lost, His listeners have some knowledge of God. What these folks do not have is Jesus who is the “Light”. He being the fullness of God in the flesh would soon be put to death on the cross for the sin of the world and darkness would once again prevail and it would seem that; once again death would claim a victory over God who is eternal. It would seem that the reports of the Prophets who saw the glory of God would be mere myth and darkness.

The gospels are found in the New Testament writings, but the truths of gospels are based on the foundation of the Old Testament. As we have said before, the Living Word of God (Jehovah) became the Incarnate Word of God (Jesus) revealing the Word of God, (The Bible) as the Light of the Word of God (The Holy Spirit) explains the Everlasting Word of God, (The Father) who told Jesus to speak victory over death and so Jesus spoke, then He died, but He rose again. Messiah lives forever. Psalm 45:6-7 and Hebrews 1:8-9; Hebrews 7:25.

The Devotional

What does Papa “J” Say?

The mouth of mankind serves a dual purpose. To eat the fruit of his or her labor, or to produce the fruit of his or her labor. So as someone has said; “Life and death are authorized by the power and purpose of the tongue.” Proverbs 13:2-3

Seems impossible to get anyone's attention these days to the severity of the moment in which we live as peoples of a nation that believes all is well as we go beyond the midnight hour. Yes I said we've gone beyond the midnight hour. To take a passage a little out of context, I want to reference Matthew 24:43 which is referring to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. Just as we do not know when the LORD Jesus is coming again, we also do not know when this nation will capitulate to the overpowering effects of moral decay, economic ruin and political corruption. Just as there are signs that Jesus is coming soon, there are also signs that our nation is crumbling soon. Folks! WAKE UP. We have thrown our resources, our intelligence and our babies at this problem and we continue to fail. Money spent on our political problems has not worked. Plans and programs continue to fall short of the mark. And, pornography and abortions continue at a rate, that over fifty percent of the population of the United States is affected is some way by these evil deeds. There is a solution, but we've not used this power as of yet. It is the power of prayer. Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” How do we fix our problems? We cannot, but God can. Lets all ask Him too!

The Gospel of John

John 12:29-32 It is so easy for us to overlook some of the most important words of Jesus during His ministry. And sometimes His words are offensive and people, rather than running from Him will develop religions or doctrines to teach or preach their perversions or bents of understanding. There are those who say, “Well, I am not sure that Jesus meant to say this or that in this way, after all, several hundreds of years have passed and we most likely have lost a lot in our many translations and versions.”

My name is Scrooge on the thinking of these people; “Bah Humbug” Notice that the voice from heaven states that the Name of God is glorified through Jesus Christ. To me that means that the words of man and his religions and doctrines stand on sinking sand. So I take my stand on the literal words of Jesus, who says: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all to Myself.” John 12:32. The solid foundation of faith in God is – Jesus Christ and Him alone.

The words lifted up, literally mean crucified. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is for all peoples of the world. Don't let men of religions or false doctrines teach you something different. Jim Jones, Joseph Smith, Muhammad and many others who claim to have a special dispensation with God already know they were wrong. The souls of these people are alive and they feel the heat of being separated eternally from “God” forever. What an awful event ways for those who follow these souls who thought they knew something about God.