Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 August 2019

Mix Well

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (Hebrews 4:1-2)

Today’s Morsel: Most of us who cook or bake know that recipes require us to mix the ingredients well, or we will not receive the desired end state.  The writer of Hebrews says that the word of God did not profit the children of Israel in the wilderness because they did not mix their faith with it.  Anytime we hear the word of God we must mix our faith with it or it will not profit us. We must get to the point that we believe God’s word.  If we do not mix our faith with it, nothing is going to change in our lives.  The word of God is our answer to life.  But if we don’t believe it, it will accomplish nothing.

Sing: I believe God! I believe God! That He will do, just as He says.  Trust and obey, believe Him and say, I believe, I believe God.

Thought For Today: Faith without works is dead. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 16 August 2019

Roadblocks

“But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:17-19)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the biggest roadblocks to spiritual growth, maturity, and perfection is unbelief. One of the things about unbelief is it binds you and holds you back from getting what God has promised you.  Scripture says, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3). He put his faith and trust in God and he received the promise.  It’s amazing how we will trust everybody but God.  Our friends say they will come and pick us up, and we believe them.  Somebody tells us that someone was talking about us, and we believe them. But when it comes to God’s word, and someone tells us that God loves us and cares for us, we don’t believe it. Your pastor tells you to tithe and God will bless you, and you don’t believe him.  Roadblocks to spiritual growth and maturity.  The children of Israel, that came out of Egypt, did not enter the promised land because of unbelief.  The warning is clear.  Either we believe God’s word or miss the promise.

Sing:  Let Jesus lead you!  Let Jesus lead you!  Let Jesus lead you all the way, all the way from earth to glory, let Jesus lead you all the way.

Thought For Today: Beware of roadblocks to your faith. (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 15 August 2019

Salvation Is of The Lord

“But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jonah 2:9)

Today’s Morsel:  What comes to your mind when you think about salvation?  Many people say that they are saved and born-again, but their life and actions speak a different meaning.  Have you ever had anyone ask you if you are saved?  How did you feel when they asked you? Were you surprised?  Did you do a self-examination?  It’s not uncommon around the church for someone to ask you if you are saved.  The gospel is about salvation. It’s the price Jesus paid that we might be saved.  Salvation belongs to Jesus.  He is the Lord.  It is all His; all belongs to Him so that none can share in bestowing it; none can have any hope but from Him.  What a message. Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”(Acts 4:12)  We should be thankful every time someone asks us if we are saved.  Either we are or we aren’t, there is no in-between.

Sing: Saved!  Saved!  I’m happy on my way. Saved! Saved!  Saved, I love Him more each day. Saved! Saved! Saved, I know He’s mine each hour, for He saves and He keeps satisfied by His Power.

Thought For Today: What day were you born-again?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 August 2019

Help and Shield

“O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.” (Psalms 115:9-14)

Today’s Morsel:  Often, when I read scripture, I wonder what went through the minds of the enemies of Israel’s when they knew that they could not defeat them and that the creator of the world was with them and fighting for them.  We see this time after time in scripture.  But the Israelites don’t seem to realize it, nor do they seem to have the faith to believe God for what He says.  The Psalmist admonished Israel to trust in the Lord because He was their help and shield.  In other words, God would help them and protect them.  Jesus always helps those who trust in Him.  He is able to help them in the time of trouble (see Psalms 50:15, Isaiah 40:10-13).  They who put their trust in Him will find Him a sure and certain help.  The writer of Hebrews tells us, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Sing:  He's  my rock my sword my shield, He’s the wheel in the middle of the wheel, He’s the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star; makes no difference what folks say, I’m going down on my knees and pray, I’m gonna wait, wait right here till Jesus come.

Thought For Today: “The LORD is my strength and my shield.”

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 13 August 2019

What To Keep An Eye On

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:12-16)

Today’s Morsel:  Have you lost focus of who you are? It seems that many are keeping up with everything but themselves. I wonder if this is the reason why the flesh is out of control; Why so many churches have lost their way.  Paul told Timothy until he comes to take heed to himself, and the doctrine.  If we are not alert to ourselves, we can allow anything to come in.  We must be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, Peter said (1 Peter 5:8).  You must examine yourself daily, to ensure you are remaining in the faith and that nothing has crept in unaware. If you don’t watch yourself, I guarantee you Satan will.

Sing: He set me free, yes, He set me free. He broke the bonds of prison for me.  I’m glory bound my Jesus to see, glory to God, He set me free.

Thought For Today: Keep an eye on yourself.    

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 12 August 2019

The Lost

“And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?... Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost… For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” 

(Luke 15:3-7; 8-9; 24)

Today’s Morsel:  If you notice Luke’s writings about the parable of the lost, he listed three things that Jesus said were lost.  The sheep, the coin, and the prodigal son.  If you will notice, when you read the entire parable, only two things were sought after, they were the sheep and the coin.  The son was not sought after. He had to come to his senses and go home by himself. Lost sheep are the ones that we go after.  We don’t chase prodigals, they must come to themselves.  They know what is in the father’s house because they have been there, they have tasted and seen.  As Jesus told His disciples, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:5-8)  Stop chasing prodigals.  Pray for them and let them come to themselves.  You go to the lost sheep. 

Sing: One night while on life's raging sea it looked as if I would suffer defeat.  As the blackness of night closed off the light my heart sank with fear.  My desperate cry rang out with fright; all I could see was no hope in sight. With faith all but gone I met the one who came looking for me.

Chorus: He came looking for me, He came looking for me. He made a way when there was no way that I could see.  When I drifted so far Jesus was near to rescue my soul and calms all my fears.  Now I'm safe from all harm since I met the one who came looking for me.
(2nd Verse)
Satan had already picked out my grave, his plan was to foil and put me away.  I'd drifted so far, would anyone care that I'd soon be lost.  I knew my destruction was a matter of time but Jesus appeared and said this one is mine.  Now I'm safe with no harm for He walked through the storm when He was looking for me. 

Thought For Today:  Are you lost or a prodigal?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 10 August 2019

Why Pray?

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1)

Today’s Morsel:  Prayer must be our steering wheel and not our spare tire, said Corrie Ten Boom.  Pray must be what guides your life and keeps you in the center of your lane.  It must be what turns us when Jesus prompts us to go in a different direction.  It must not be something that we only use when our life is flat, has a hole in it, or is low on air.  Prayer must be something that we put our hands on daily.  If you don’t have a life of prayer as your steering wheel, you better make sure your spare tire has air in it.

Sing: Telephone to Glory, oh what joy divine, I can feel the current, moving down the line.  Built by God the Father, for His loved own; you may talk to Jesus on this Royal Telephone.

Thought For Today:  Stay in touch with heaven on your knees (Parker).