Papa God

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Papa God

Modern Christians tend to focus their attention on only 2 persons of the God-head, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We usually begin our prayers with the address, "Father God", or, "Heavenly Father", but that's usually the extent of the attention we give to God, the Father. I think we have it wrong when we do this. If you will remember, Jesus was always talking to and about His Father, seeking to be obedient to, and glorify, Him. That's where His focus stayed. If we truly want to "be like Jesus," maybe we need to emulate Him in this, also, putting our focus in the same place. Let's spend a little time on this idea:

I've mentioned the following thought in other messages, but it bears repeating here. One verse probably known by more folks than any other is John 3:16. We have heard it quoted and read so many times, "For God so loved the world, that HE gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 (KJV) We tend to lose sight of the fact the One Who "so loved us" is God, the Father. The One Who gave His Son for us is the Father. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, just as Scripture tells us, but I would like to show you a passage very few people I find are aware of: "Then cometh the end, when HE (Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For HE (Jesus) must reign, till HE (Jesus) hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For HE hath put all things under His feet. But when HE saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that HE is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him (the Father) that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (KJV) God, the Father, will be Supreme over all. Jesus looked to Him as being that, and so should we.

(Speaking of Jesus, John wrote) "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." (1 John 1:1-4 (KJV) For our joy to be "full", we need to remember and look to the great love our Father has for us. We need to remember HE is our "Papa God." Paul told us we are to call Him "Papa", or whatever endearing term we use, when he wrote: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Romans 8:15-16 (KJV) (Abba was comparable to our "Papa." It was the term a child would use of his loving Dad.) Do you see God the Father as that? HE is. HE is our loving Dad, our Papa, our Abba.

Won't you spend a few minutes, right now, and recognize Him as your Papa? HE longs to fellowship with you. Don't neglect Him. Pay Him the attention you should. HE loves you. The Jewish people have always hesitated to speak or think of such intimacy with Him, but as Jesus told us, "If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father."