Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 19 June 2019

The Saving Element of Life

“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:24-25)

Today’s Morsel:  Like faith,  hope is one of those things that cannot be seen with the naked eye. It must be seen through the mind.  It requires belief and trust in God’s ability to provide what we ask for.  Paul says that if we see what we hope for, then why are we hoping. Hope is that saving element for our soul.  We are not in eternity with Jesus yet, but we hope to someday be.  And because we look for such things, we need hope to ensure that we make it.

Sing:  Have faith, hope, and charity, that’s the way to live successfully.  How do I know? The Bible tells me so.

Thought  For Today: Jesus Christ is our anchor of hope.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 18 June 2019

The Waterway

“After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.” (John 3:22-23)

Today’s Morsel:  One of the things Jesus told his disciples was to let no man deceive you.  Paul wrote to the church at Galatia, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9)  The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we apply that to our lives by obeying Acts 2:38. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Jesus came up out of the water (Matthew 3:16). John was baptizing in Aenon because there was much water there (John 3:23).  The eunuch said to Phillip in Acts 8:36, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?"  (paraphrased)  And we are buried with Christ by baptism (Romans 6:4).  Friend, baptism is by immersion.  It’s the waterway.

Sing: It shall be light in the evening time, the path to glory you will surely find through the waterway; it is the light today. Baptize in Jesus name.  Young and old, repent of all your sin, then the Holy Ghost will enter in. The evening time has come; tis a fact that God and Christ are one.

Thought For Today: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21) Simon Peter

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 June 2019

Call To Remembrance

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:5-8)

Today’s Morsel:  Every now and then God needs to jangle my chain to remind me of His goodness. He shouldn’t have to, but He does.  You see, every now and then I seem to get into one of those complaining modes like Elijah, where I think I’m the only one and no one else cares, to which God reminds me I’m not.  And he tells me to stop complaining before I get overwhelmed.  The writer of Hebrews tells us, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”  When we are going through things, God may be correcting us the same way a natural father does.  He said that if God doesn’t correct us, then we are not His.  Aren’t you glad for His correction?  He only does it for our good.

Sing: He’s changing me, my blessed Savior, I’m not the same person that I use to be.  Well, it’s been slow going, but there’s a knowing that someday perfect I will be.

Thought For Today: If you be without chastisement you aren’t His. 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 15 June 2019

It’s Time to Get Off The Porch

“After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.” (John 5:1-9)

Today’s Morsel:  The man in today's scriptures had laid on this porch for thirty-eight years. He was there because of his sins (vs 14).  Sin will put you places you do not want to be.  Sin may look like fun and pleasure, but many are suffering today because of it.  Maybe you are on a porch that you find yourself doing the same thing over and over every day.  Maybe you are stressed, unhappy, tired, despondent, lonely, trying to make ends meet.  Well, ask yourself if sin has you on this porch?  If it does, it’s time to stop the merry-go-round and get off. Sin must not have dominion over you.  Jesus died that you might be made free.  Care to take up your bed and walk?  It's time to get off the porch.  

Sing: When gloom and sadness whispers, you’ve sin no use to pray, I look away to Jesus and He tells me to say:

I see a crimson stream of blood, it flows from Calvary, it’s waves which reach the throne of God, are sweeping over me.

Thought For Today: Sin will keep you on the porch if you let it.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 14 June 2019

Happy Birthday Army

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

Today’s Morsel: Today we celebrate the U.S. Army Birthday.  For 244 years, this great nation has been blessed to have such great men and women serve in its Army to maintain the freedom and peace of their homeland, and their allies, while liberating others.   And so we honor those soldiers of past, present, and future who have sacrificed and are sacrificing daily to maintain peace and freedom.  President Coolidge penned it best when he said, “The Nation that forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.”  We take time to honor the U.S. Army for a job well done and say thank you for 244 years of dedicated and committed service to this great nation.  We salute you.  

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 lightning of His of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on.

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

Thought For Today: Happy Birthday, Army… Hooah!

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 13 June 2019

Salvation

“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:32-42)

Today’s Morsel:  Many folks don’t like to hear that they must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins.  And so they continue as they are without complete salvation and power.  As I heard a preacher once say, the devil has the church right where he wants them, divided.  When Naaman was told by Elisha to go dip seven times in the Jordan River and that he would be clean of his leprosy, he went away because it was not what he wanted to hear (2 Kings 5).  Elisha didn’t care if he dipped or not.  He just gave him the instructions of God.  But Naaman's servant told him if he had asked you to do some great thing you would have did it.  How much more to dip seven times in the Jordan River.  When Naaman obeyed, he was healed.  You know one of the reasons you may be going through some of the things you are going through in your life is because you have not obeyed the scriptures.  Is salvation in the name of Jesus or not?  Read and obey, its as simple as that.  

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: “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)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 12 June 2019

The Power of The Word

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Today’s Morsel:  Albert Barns states about this word, “Mighty:  Its power is seen in awakening the conscience; alarming the fears; laying bare the secret feelings of the heart, and causing the sinner to tremble with the apprehension of the coming judgment.  All the great changes in the moral world for the better, have been caused by the power of truth. They are such as the truth in its own nature is suited to effect, and if we may judge of its power by the greatness of the revolutions produced, no words can over-estimate the might of the truth which God has revealed.”  When we understand that Jesus Christ has all power (Matthew 28:18), and that He is the Word made flesh (John 1:1,14), we can understand why the Word of God is so quick and powerful and can change any life or situation.  There is nothing more powerful or mighty than Jesus.  Just the mention of His name and mountains will move.  

Sing:  What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  O’ precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Thought For Today: Be careful you don’t get cut.