Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 11 December 2019

The Omniscience One

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)

Today’s Morsel:  Abraham Lincoln stated, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."  Sooner or later someone will figure you out.  Scripture says that the Lord knoweth them that trust in him.  God is all knowing.  David said in Psalms 139:1-16 “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalms 139:1-16)

We may be able to fool some people into thinking that we trust God, but we can’t fool God into thinking that we trust Him if we don't.  Either we do or we do not.  There is no gray area with God. It’s a yea or nay kind of life.  The Psalmist said, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.” (Psalms 118:8-9) David said in Psalms 34:8, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”  If God is good, and a strong hold or refuge in times of trouble, shouldn’t our trust be in Him?  Do you trust God?

Sing: I trust in God, wherever I may be, upon the land, or on the storm seas.  For come what may, from day to day, my heavenly Father watches over, over me.

I trust in God, I know He’s cares for me, upon the mountain bleak or on the raging seas.  Though billows roar, He keeps my soul.  My heavenly Father watches over, over me.

Thought For Today: God knows everything about you.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 10 December 2019

Full Of Power

“But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.” (Micah 3:8)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the reasons Jesus said that He would give us His Spirit was so that we would have power to be a witness for Him (see Acts 1:4-8).  The Bible says in Acts 2:1-4, that on the Day of Pentecost they were all filled with the Holy Ghost; God’s Spirit.  They received the power that Jesus told them He would send and that they would receive.  They were full of power by the Spirit of the Lord.  And immediately, Peter began to preach and to tell Israel of her sins and how to be remitted of them (see Acts 2:22-38).  Have you received the Holy Ghost?  If you have, then you are filled with power of Jesus to share in a loving way with others their sins and how they too can have them remitted.  Psalms 62:11 says, “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.”  Remember, a true witness is one who can help to deliver the accused and those who may be trapped in sin.

Sing: I’ve got the Holy Ghost down in my soul, just like the Bible says.  I’ve got the Holy Ghost down in my soul, just like the Bible says. Well, I’ve been to the water and I’ve been baptized.  My soul got happy and I’m so satisfied.  I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now, just like the Bible, just like the Bible says.

Thought For Today: There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 9 December 2019

Running from Your Calling

“Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”
(Jonah 1:1-3)

Today’s Morsel:  To me, the story of Jonah is a story of one of a person running from their calling.  Jesus said in Matthew 22:14, that many are called but few are chosen.  Is this the reason they are not chosen?  They are running.  I think that one of the reasons that men and women run from their calling to the ministry is they feel that they need to have certain qualifications and abilities.  Friend, when God calls you, He is the One that trains and equips you.  You just need to be a willing vessel that will submit to spiritual authority and have an attitude and heart to learn and serve.  If you keep running from your calling, you will live a frustrated life.  Every vehicle has brakes for a purpose.

Sing: Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true.  With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, sanctuary for you.

Thought For Today: Every vehicle has brakes for a purpose (Parker)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 7 December 2019

A Day of Infamy

“But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.” (Mark 15:11-15)

Today’s Morsel:  December 7, 1941, the day on which Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, bringing the United States into World War II: so, referred to by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his speech to Congress the next day, asking for a declaration of war on Japan stated, this will be a date in which he said will live on in infamy. Infamy means being famous for something bad or negative.  Many were killed, and buildings, ships and planes were destroyed. President Roosevelt said, “No matter how long it may take to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through absolute victory.”  It was seen by many as a day of evil and destruction of innocent lives.

When the religious leaders pressured Pilate to have Jesus crucified, it was seen by many as a day of infamy.  This evil act of pride and self-will have over the time caused many to lose their lives.  But no matter how long it may take to overcome this premeditated evil by Satan, the church in her righteous might will win through absolute victory.

Sing: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword; His truth is march on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah, Glory, glory, hallelujah, Glory, glory hallelujah, His truth is marching on.

Thought For Today: We win. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 6 December 2019

Who Are You Walking With?

“Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:1-3)

  

Today’s Morsel:  It seems that every time I pick up a “People’s Magazine” or listen to the news someone is getting divorced.  I’m not throwing stones here.  But how can so many people walk down the aisles, say I do, get married, and not agree with each other?  As the old 60’s song said, “Where did our love go?”  You can’t truly walk together unless you agree with each other.  Solomon admonishes us to make sure thy friend (Proverbs 6:3).  And Jesus said that if the blind leads the blind they will both fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14).  Are you in agreement with the person you are with?  One of the best ways to ensure that the person you are about to say, “I do” and agree with is real is to ensure that each of you love Jesus more than the other.  If that piece is real, the relationship will be real and remain solid.  A house divided against itself cannot stand.

Sing: Let me walk with You Jesus. Don’t ever leave me alone. For without You, I could never, no, never make heaven my home.

Thought For Today: A house divided against itself cannot stand. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 5 December 2019

The Outpouring

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” (Joel 2:28-32)

Today’s Morsel:  The outpouring of Holy Spirit in scripture is usually associated with such terms as, “A River of Life”, “A Mighty Rushing Wind”, “A Fresh Anointing”, “Baptism by Fire”, “The Promise of the Father”, “The Comforter”, “Speaking in Tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance”, and “The Spirit of Christ”.   The Prophet Joel stated that in the last days God would pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh.  This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost around 33 AD.  And it was what the New Testament Church was built upon (see Acts 2).   According to Acts 10, Luke wrote when Peter was sent by God to the house of Cornelius, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” (Acts 10:44-48)  And he wrote, “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” (Acts 19:1-6)  Have you received the Holy Ghost since  you have believed?  Friend this promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:39)  So, don’t leave home without it.

Sing: I've got the Holy Ghost down in my soul, just like the Bible said.  I've got the Holy Ghost down in my soul, just like the Bible said.  Well, I've been to the water and I’ve been baptized in Jesus Name, my soul got happy and I’m so satisfied; I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now; just like the Bible, just like the Bible, just like the Bible said.

Thought For Today: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:8-9)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 4 December 2019

Self-Destruction

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the worst kinds of destruction is self-destruction.  Self-destructive behavior is any behavior that is harmful or potentially harmful towards the person who engages in the behavior.  One such self-destructive behavior I see in the church is, “Forced incompetence.”  This means people portraying themselves as unintelligent or incapable of successfully achieving something.  Forced incompetence usually stems from a lack of self- confidence in one’s abilities.  Such comments as “I’m afraid”, “I don’t think that I can,” “I’m not good enough to do that.”  are all comments of lack of self-confidence.  It may not look as self-destruction, but it is.  When we don’t use our talents for the kingdom we will soon self-destruct.  The enemy is always looking for Christians who do not engage in the kingdom.  They become his best weapons against God.  Another type of self-destructive behavior is refusing to accept godly counsel.  “For without me you can do nothing, Jesus said.” (John 15:5)  Through the Prophet Hosea, God said that His people were destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee.  When we refuse to accept God’s word to help us and obey what He is asking of us to do, we are heading for self-destruction.

Sing: Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning.  Give me oil in my lamp I pray.  Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning; keep me burning till the break of day.

Thought For Today: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)