Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 25 November 2020

Given to Hospitality

 

“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
(Titus 1:5-9)

 

Today’s Morsel:  One of the distinguishing marks of a true Christian is hospitality. You cannot be a true ‘Cross Bearer’ without giving to hospitality.  Paul told the church at Rome, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”(Romans 12:9-13)  He cautions them not only to help the saints but to also give hospitality.  Invite others in.  They must be ready to offer and cheerfully entertain even strangers.  This is a duty that we see frequently in the scriptures.  In Hebrews 13:2, we are told “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby many have entertained angels unawares;”  Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:9, “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”  And Paul again makes it the duty of a Christian bishop, “A bishop then must ...be given to hospitality;” “and a lover of hospitality” 1 Timothy 3:2  and Titus 1:8. That stranger just might be the person that changes your life forever.  Do you love hospitality?  It is a requirement that Jesus give us.  

Sing:  You are welcome in the place mighty God, You are welcome in the place Abba Father,  You alone deserve our praise, to You our voice we raise, You are welcome in this place mighty God.

Thought For Today:  Does your welcome mat means what it says.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 24 November 2020

 

The Man that Hath No Strength

“ O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength” (Psalms 88:1-4)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Have you ever found yourself feeling as though you have no strength to keep going.  Or maybe you have found yourself not even having enough strength to cry.  When I was a missionary living in Japan, myself  and now Missionary Fonzell Marsh decided to climb Mount Fuji.  From the look of that mountain, which the Japanese call Mr. Mountain, it looks as though it can be easily conquered.  But we came to realize that that mountain will consume every ounce of strength you have if you have not prepared to climb it.  There were times during that climb that I wanted to go down as quickly as I could.  But what I found was that as I kept singing and praising the Lord, I found the strength to carry on to completion.  The psalmist said that he was a man that had no strength.  In other words, he was weak.  He had no power to resist anything.  If he were to get sick, he had no strength to resist.  If someone were to beat him up, he had no strength to resist.  When a man has no strength, he has no means to defend himself.  But Jesus said, "Behold I give you power."  And His power never fails.  Paul said that Jesus’ strength is made perfect in our weakness.  If we have His strength, we can endure unto the end.

Sing: He gives strength to me, as I worship him, as my heart is filled with praise.  Jesus breaks the band, as I raise my hands, He gives glorious victory.

Thought For Today:  His strength is made perfect in our weakness!

 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 23 November 2020

 

The Message

“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. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
(1 John 1:1-5)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Do you remember playing the game in school where someone told you something, you told someone else, and by the time it got back around to the front of the class it was changed? The same is true in the church.  For some reason, many have changed the message of the gospel.  The Apostle John wanted to recall our attention to not forget the message.  He said, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”  We cannot say that we have received and understand the message if we are still walking and living in darkness.  Jesus is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  And if we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth.  The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only message that will get you out of darkness.  It is the only saving message.  It is the only message whereby we must be saved.  The Gospel is the only message that has hope in it for the world.   We cannot change and we must not forget the message.  

Sing: Send the light, the blessed gospel light, let it shine from shore to shore.  Send the light, the blessed gospel light, let it shine forevermore.

Thought For Today: The Gospel is the only message that has hope in it for the world.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 21 November 2020

 

Sounds Good to Me

 

“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” (Acts 15:28-29)

 

Today’s Morsel:  When the Gentiles were being added to the church, the council needed to discuss what the requirements would be for them to be added since they were not Jews.  After much discussion by the council, it was determined that they should abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.  Are you following suit?  Scripture says for this seemed good to the Holy Ghost and unto the council.  In other words, since it was good to God, it sounded good to the apostles.  We should all agree when it pleases the Holy Ghost.  Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)  I do not know about you, but anytime it is good to the Holy Ghost, whatsoever He desires, it sounds good to me too. 

Sing: I’ll say yes, Lord, yes, to your will and to your way.  I’ll say yes, Lord, yes, I will trust you and obey.  When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree.  And my answer will be yes, Lord, yes.

 

Thought For Today:  Are you in agreement with Jesus?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 20 November 2020

 

Established in Righteousness

“In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.”
(Isaiah 54:14)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Why do people think that they can do wrong and expect good to come from it?  Don't they realize that God is a God of righteousness and that He desires His people to also be established in such?   Solomon informs us, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34); He further states,  “Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.” (Proverbs 25:5)  When we put on the breastplate of righteousness, it will protect us from making evil and wrong choices.  When the church is established in righteousness, she becomes rooted and grounded in love, joy, and peace, and her children become rooted and grounded the same.

 

Sing: When you see me singing, I just want to be right.  When you see me walking along, I just want to be right.  When you see me testify, Lord, I just want to be right.  When you see me giving God praise, I just want to be right.  Help stay right, I just want to be right.

 

Thought For Today:  “A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.” (Proverbs 12:3)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 19 November 2020

 

Heading The Wrong Way

“And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.” (Numbers 22:20-33)

 

Today’s Morsel:  Sometimes we may be heading in the wrong direction, in the direction that could cause us harm and much loss. But suddenly, we have a flat tire.  Or our car may not start.  Or the person that was supposed to pick us up calls and cannot come.  Or our dog or cat gets off the leash and runs a different way.  We never know why these things happen.  But God does.  When Balaam was sent to come to curse the children of Israel, the angel of the Lord got in the pathway.  The donkey saw him with his sword drawn and tried to protect his master.  When Balaam kept persisting, the donkey laid down to prevent him from being killed. When God opened Balaam's eyes and he saw the angel, he was amazed that the donkey had saved his life.  So, the next time your car gets a flat, the person cannot come to pick you up, your pet gets loose, do not become angry rather give God praise.  He may be sparing your life.

 

Thought For Today:  Remember, God’s ways are not ours.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 November 2020

 

Praying Amiss

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:1-3)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things I have learned about prayer is that it is so important to the Christian life.  And I have also learned the importance of knowing how to do it.  If we do not pray, we will not stay.  As the adage goes, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.”  James said that we pray and do not receive because we are praying amiss.  In other words, we are not praying right.  We are praying for the wrong reason or for the wrong purpose.  John Gill commentary states: “We are praying not in the faith of a divine promise; nor with thankfulness for past mercies; nor with submission to the will of God; nor with a right end, to do good to others, and to make use of what might be bestowed, for the honor of God, and the interest of Christ: but that we may consume it upon your lusts.”  Do you know how to pray?  If you start your prayer by giving God praise and thanks for who He is and what He has already done for you, you probably will not pray amiss.  Give it a try.  

Sing:  Thanks, Thanks, I give you thanks, for all You have done.  I am so blessed, my soul has found rest; O’ Lord, I give you thanks.

Thought For Today:  “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)