A Word of Encouragement

Dr. John R. Adolph

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church ~ Beaumont, Texas

I Love it When You Call me Big Pappa !!!

Noted Princeton scholar and Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University, Dr.  Michael Eric Dyson contends and suggest that the heart beat of any culture is found in its music. According to Dyson if you want to gain the pulse of a people simply turn on the radio.  If he is correct and I believe that he is, music has always marked the generations of our country that may span the tide for over a century. If you are a prodigy of the 1970's Bootsy Collins, Earth, Wind and Fire, Cool and the Gang, the Whispers, the O'Jays, and the Ohio Players can still make you move. If you have social fruit in the 1980's then you move to Frankie Beverly and Maze,
Roger Trouman and Zap and many others. The 1990's however was dominated by hip-hop and the musical lyrics of Tupac and
Christopher Wallace aleus Biggee Smalls.  One of Biggee's greatest hits was an old remake of an Isley Brothers cut from back in the day entitled "Between The Sheets" but when Smalls got through adding his flava to the pot he came out with a whole new swagger of a cut entitled "I Love It When You Call Me Big Pappa!"  It was the same smooth music that had its roots with the Isley's but it bore the fresh new lyrics of Smalls and it sold millions!  Though I do not advocate why Smalls should have been called Big Pappa for numerous reasons I do want to suggest to you that there is another one who is worthy of such mention.

You see, when I hear the phrase "Big Pappa" my mind rushes to one that is able to carry your load.  And, when your load gets too heavy for you to carry He is strong enough to carry you and your load and never flench.  When I think of "Big Pappa" my mind can see a hand big enough to weigh the oceans of the earth in one of them and the hills and mountains of the world in the other.  When I think of "Big Pappa" I see one whose vision is so clear that He can see my history and my destiny at the same time while guiding my feet to get me to my place of divine favor without missing a beat.  When I hear the phrase "Big Pappa" I see one who is so transcendent that He can be at my house and your house at the same time and not have to divide His time!  And when I think of "Big Pappa" I see a Father in heaven whose love for us is so deep and real that He would die for you on earth because He could not live without you in heaven!!!  Can you feel me yet?  Get this, when I hear the phrase  "I Love It When You Call Me Big Pappa!" I can see a Father in glory who is worthy of our praise that cares for all of His Children!!!

As Paul writes the church in Rome he makes it clear that those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have a divine right to call the Lord Father.  Here is how Paul puts it, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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" (Romans 8:14-16, KJV). If I could transliterate this for our culture with a hip-hop twist it would sound like this, "You are a child of God so you don't have to be scared of Him at all...chill out!  You have been adopted into His royal family and God is your Father. In fact, He loves it when you call Him Big Pappa!"  But, what does it mean to have the God of the universe for a Father? To have God as a Father means that you have access to Him at all times.  Check this out, there are times that people just don't have time for you.  Friends can get tired of you, family can avoid you, doctors may not be able to fit you into their schedules no matter how ill you may be, but God always has room on His schedule for you.  Paul puts it like this, "...ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear..."  In short, you do not have to be afraid of Him as if He is not interested in you.  He will always make time for you because you belong to Him. You are His child!  The other day I called a friend of mine while sitting at the red light right next to them.  I was happy to see them and when I saw them pick up the phone I was prepared to laugh and talk.  But, I watched them ignore me and drop the phone and drive off when the light turned green.  I was crushed!!!  It was one of those people that I have paid bills for, you know what I mean?  But, my hurt went away the Lord reminded me that I was ignored by them, but I had access to HIM!!!

To have God as a Father means that you are accepted by Him.  Here's some radical hard to swallow truth for you, there are some people that will never ever accept you no matter what you do.  If you have long hair, they will not accept you.  If you have short hair, they will not accept you.  If you have a new car, they will not accept you.  And, if you have to ride a four wheeler they will not accept. 
No matter what the case, there are some people that will never ever accept you. But, the Lord of heaven who is your Father on high accepts you just like you are!!! Paul says it like this, "we have been adopted."  It is the process by which a Father chooses His children and claims them as His own.  Are you shouting yet???  If not, you should be!  You see, you did not chose God, God chose you!  Yes, He knows about your flaws, but He chose you!  He knows about your bad habits, but he chose you! The shouting news about this matter is this, it is not about your sinful condition it is about your spiritual position!  And, because you belong to Him, the Lord will continue His work in you until it is finished!!!

And, lastly to have God as a Father means that you have use of His authority.  Here's the exciting news about this!  You see, a son carries His Fathers name and in His name is His influence.  And with His influence is His authority!  Here's the shout
for you right now, God's authority belongs to you through His Word!  Now the word says, "no weapon formed against you shall process...", it says "...all things work together for good for those who love the Lord...", "the Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear, the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid...",  "God is our refuge a very present help in trouble...", it says
that you are the "..head and not the tail...blessed and not cursed..." and it says "many of the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver us from them all!"  You have the right and authority to live victoriously simply because of who your Father is! There are numerous things that we can call God in praise!  We can call Him our King, our Lord, our God, our Savior, our Friend, our Shepherd, our Leadership, our Bishop, our Peace, our Guide, and our Truth!  But, this is one to shout on right now, you can call Him Big Pappa!  Why?  Because you are His child and He is your Father!

Your Friend,

Dr. John R. Adolph
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Scripture Verse

Romans 8:16

The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are children of God
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