Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 July 21

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Today’s Morsel:  How much confidence do you have in God?  How much calm assurance do you have that He will come through for you?  With that said, what are you waiting for God to do for you?  What have you asked Him for that has yet to happen?  Do you still believe that He will come through?  The writer of Hebrews tells us that if we come to God, and ask Him for something then we must believe that He will reward us (Hebrews 11:6).  Always remember, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  Faith stands in the demonstration and Power of His Spirit.  So, while you are waiting, stay in the word and let God work on His timeline.

Sing:  He’s an on-time God, yes He is. Oh’ He’s an on-time God, yes He is.  Job said, He may not come when you want Him, but He’ll be there right on time.  He’s an on-time God yes, He is.

Thought For Today: He will work if you let Him.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 July 20

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:8-14).

Today’s Morsel:  Have you ever been surprised by a birthday party?  I mean you are aware of nothing and then you walk in and everyone screams surprise!  I have had it happen to me twice.  I guess some may say well after the first time why didn’t you anticipate it being done again?  I really had no clue and no reason to suspect a surprise.  But let me ask you a question, If Jesus came right now would you be taken by surprise?  Sad to say, that’s what’s going to happen to many.  They are not going to be ready. They are going to be taken by surprise.  The five foolish virgins had no oil.  And when they went to get more, they missed the entrance into the open door.  Peter said that Jesus coming is going to be as a thief in the night. Thieves do not tell you when they are going to rob your house. They are going to do it when you are not home or watching. Friend, Jesus is coming. I don’t know when, but I plan to be ready and watching. What about you?  His coming is not without warning, the day and time is going to be a surprise, but we are not without warning.  Be ready.  

Sing:  O’ my brother are you ready for the call?  To crown your Savior King and Lord of all?  The kingdoms of this world shall soon before Him fall, we shall see the King when He comes.

We shall see the King!  We shall see the King!  We shall see the King when He comes.  He’s coming in power, we’ll hail the blessed hour.  We shall see the King when He comes.

Thought For Today: Don’t get caught by surprise. Watch and be ready.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 July 19

“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD” 

(Ezekiel 37:1-6).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the reasons that God saved you, was so you would be a witness to a lost and dying world for Him.  Each day as you go on your job, you are going through your city, or you are sitting at dinner in a restaurant, most of those folks are dead.  They don’t know Christ, nor do they have His Spirit.  And Paul said, now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9).  They are dead bones.  Therefore, we must seize every opportunity to tell them about Christ.  Ezekiel was brought by the Spirit into a valley of dry bones, which represents those that once lived but are now dead.  So God asked him if they could live?  What would have been your answer?  God tells him to prophesy to the bones and to tell them to hear the word of the Lord and they shall live. These bones represented the house of Israel.  Yet today, they represent the nations in which we live.  The cities in which we live and work.  People who attend our churches. No man can live without the word of God, as Jesus is the word.  He said, without me you can do nothing (John 15:5).  What are you doing about sharing God’s word? Always remember, the best way to share the word is to live it.

Sing:  Them bones, them bones, them dry bones; Them bones them bones them dry bones, them dry bones; Them bones, them bones, them dry bones, oh hear the word of the Lord.

Thought For Today: The word gives life.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 July 18

“One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ” 

(John 1:40-41)

Today’s Morsel:  Who was the first person you told after you found Jesus?  Who was that first person that you told about what happened?  What was their reaction to your good news?  I think everyone that is truly born-again has a testimony of what went down.  I don’t think I will ever forget that day I was baptized in His name and filled with His Spirit.  That was over thirty years ago, and I can still see in my mind the building, the baptismal tank, the preacher doing the baptism, most of the folks that were praying for me, and how I felt when I went down in that watery grave and took on the name of Jesus.  And when I came up from that water, it felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off of me.  Friend, I have found Him.  And I will tell you, there is nothing that can compare to you being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and being filled with His Spirit.  As there is only one way to God; Baptized in Jesus name.  Have you found Him?

Sing: I have found the way. O’ I have found the way.  O’ glory hallelujah, I have found the way.

Thought For Today:  There is only one way to God. Baptized in Jesus name.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 July 17

“And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:24-26)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the greatest qualities that should be in every saint of God is that of praise.  We must always bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.  It does not say that we should bring in anything else other than praise.  No complaining.  No murmuring.  No bickering.  No lying.  No cunning remarks.  No hatred.  No betraying.  Not anything that would defile the house of God.  This stuff is to be left outside; well actually it should not even be in our life at all!  We must only bring praise and a giving heart.  The writer of Hebrews tells us, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” Hebrews 13:15).  When we truly love our fellowship and relationship with God, our praise will always be a sacrifice that will be well pleasing and acceptable by God.

Sing: When the praises go up, the glory come down, where sin used to dwell, His grace now abounds.  There’s healing and hope and love all around.  When the praises go up, God's glory comes down.

Thought For Today: True sacrifices always come from the heart (Parker).

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 July 16

“Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying” 

(Psalms 70:1-5).

Today’s Morsel:  One of the most important things for a Christian is to never forget where they came from.  When we forget how God has delivered us, we will start to take things for granted.  And we will think and say, as God said of the children of Israel, “We did this by our own hands” (Judges 7:2).”  David said, “Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.” Do you love your salvation?  Let me make it plain.  Do you love Jesus?  Because “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).  He is the only One that can save and deliver.  If you love Him, then never stop magnifying Him in your life.

Sing:  O’ magnify the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised. O’ magnify the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised. Hosanna! Blessed be the Rock, blessed be the Rock of my salvation.  Hosanna! Blessed be the Rock, blessed be the Rock of my salvation.

Thought For Today:  If you love Him, let Him be magnified.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2018 July 14

“Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people” (Isaiah 56:5-7).

Today’s Morsel:  You know, throughout the world, we have erected these beautiful buildings and called them churches, the house of God.  I wanted to change the name of the church that I pastor and call it the ‘Feeding Trough and Watering Hole’, since scripture says that He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and sheep of His hand (Psalms 95:7), but my wife said no (a little humor to start our morning).  I know that we sing, preach, teach, and worship in these houses, but do we pray?  “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:12-13).  His house must be a house of prayer for all people.  If you want to see the anointing of God in your church services, get into the habit of holding church prayer.  Solomon’s ministers couldn’t even minister when he dedicated the temple with prayer.   Let's return to have our churches be a house of prayer.

Sing: I was glad when they said unto me, I was glad when they said unto me, I was glad when they said unto me, come let go unto the house of the Lord.

Thought For Today: Every service must begin and end with prayer.