Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 October 17

The Sentence of Death

 

“And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:” (2 Corinthians 1:7-9)

 

Today’s Morsel: If you will notice Paul’s letters to the churches, they are often written from his time in prison, or while he is facing some form of hardship or sentence. Many were out to kill Paul. Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees, religious leaders, and business owners, such as those who made the shrine of the goddess Diana, for sale, and even Satan, wanted to see Paul dead. Paul had a sentence of death on his life for his faith, belief, and his preaching and teaching about Jesus Christ. Paul knew that there was often one step between himself and death. But Paul had received a charge to preach the gospel. And he felt obligated to do so, no matter what may come his way. He did not put his trust in himself and in others for his safety. He put his trust in God who raised the dead. Even though he had a sentence of death upon his life, he told the church at Corinth: “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1) The same way that Satan desired the kill Paul, he desires to kill the church as well. We who are born-again have a sentence of death upon us. Therefore, we must not trust in ourselves. We must trust in Him who is able to raise us from the dead. And that is our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

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

I trust in God, I know He cares for me, upon the land, or on the stormy seas; For come what may, from day to day, my heavenly Father watches over, over, me.

 

Thought For Today: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 October 16

 We Stand by Faith 

“Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” (2 Corinthians 1:23-24)

 

Today’s Morsel: The enemy’s goal is to cause you to quit, give up, and walk away from the calling of God. Many have given in to his desires. Many have quit because they did not have the patience to wait. Many have quit because they did not have the endurance to keep pursuing when they got tired. And many have quit because they lost hope and courage within themselves. When we as Christians give up, it is often because of our faith in Christ. Paul states that it is by our faith that we stand. If we fail to trust God and believe in God, we lose our ability to endure and be patient. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had faith to believe that God would deliver them from the fiery furnace. And so they stood by their faith. We know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. But faith stands in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. As Paul told the church at Corinth, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).  The Holy Ghost, the power in you, ought to cause you to keep standing no matter what comes your way. The same way that faith without works is dead, faith without belief and trust in God is dead also.  Use your faith to keep you standing strong.  

 

Sing: Standing on the promises of Christ my King, through eternal ages let His praises ring. Glory in the highest I will shout and sing. Standing on the promises of God. 

Standing, standing, standing on the promises of Christ my Savior. Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

 

Thought For Today: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 October 15

 Comforting the Comfortless 

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the things that some folks fail to realize is that the gifts and blessings which God gives to us are not only for our benefit but also for the benefit of others. If we become hoarders of God’s blessing and gifts and do not use them for His purpose, He will take them away. Paul told the church at Corinth that God has comforted us in all our tribulation, so that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. Just what is the comfort of God? When we think of comfort, we think of coming along beside someone to give them assistance or aid to help in times of need. So, God comes along beside us and help us in our troubles, which shows His compassion and love, so that we can do the same for others. You know that grace and mercy that we have received from God ought to teach us how to comfort others.

 

Sing: I’m so glad that I’m a part of the family of God. I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod. I’m so that I’m a part of the family of God.

 

Thought For Today: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 October 14

The Last Enemy

 

“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the things about warfare is that you must never leave your enemy in command of the battlefield. He must be destroyed. A lot of folks are afraid of death. But Jesus has already conquered death. Thus, there is nothing for us to fear about death or dying. Paul encourages us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5: 6,8). He told the church at Rome, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:6-11) You see, if we remain in sin, and we struggle to overcome sin, we remain dead, and death will always plague us, cause us to fear, and stop us from reaching perfection. But when we are dead to sin, death has no more dominion over us, and we can rejoice daily knowing that soon we will rein with Christ forever.

 

Sing: Soon and very soon we are going to see the King. Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King. Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We are going to see the King.

No more dying there, we are going to see the King. No more dying there, we are going to see the King. No more dying there, we are going to see the King. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We are going to see the King.

 

Thought For Today: “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 October 12

Growing Your Measure

 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:1-3)

 

Today’s Morsel: For us to move on unto perfection and to grow, it requires us to act upon ourselves. Peter admonishes us: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18) Notice, grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus. What does that look like for you? For me, it means that I must come to a complete revelation of the truth. I must be complete in Christ. I must be fully persuaded that Jesus is God manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, and received back up into glory. I must be fully convinced within myself that the word of God is true and it is infallible. I must be fully persuaded that I am dead to sin, and alive in Christ. And I must do everything in my power to be ready for the coming of the Lord. If we don’t take matters into our own hands to grow, we will struggle in our walk with God. To grow our measure of faith, we must spend time in the Word of God and be at church, as faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  On a scale of one to ten with ten being highest, where does your faith fall? “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8) There is your assignment for growing your faith. 

 

Sing: This faith that I have the world didn’t give it to me, this faith that I have the world didn’t give it me. This faith that I have, the world didn’t give it to me. The world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away. 

 

Thought For Today: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”(Romans 10:17)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 October 11

Everything Doesn’t Edify

 

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)

 

Today’s Morsel: In the church, one of the things the scriptures encourage us to do is to edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). But Paul lets us know that all things do not edify us. Therefore, we must examine ourselves to ensure what we are saying to others and doing are encouraging and building them up. When we become adults, there are many things according to the law that we can do just because we are of a legal age. But just because we are of a legal age doesn’t mean that certain things are good for us, nor will they help us to grow spiritually and become more like Christ in His character. Somethings, even though they are legal, may present you as a sinner, and one who is far from God. Therefore, the things that we say and do ought to edify us and not cause us to wonder if we are pleasing to God or not. Self-edification ought to strengthen you, encourage you, and build you up. Therefore, if we are not following after those things which we may use to edify others, we will not be edified ourselves. “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” (Romans 14:19) Do you know why you are doing what you are doing? 

 

Sing: There are so many wonderful things about Jesus, there just so many wonderful things about Him. There are so many wonderful things about Jesus, there just so many wonderful things about Him. He is the Mighty God, He’s the Everlasting Father, He is the Prince of Peace, He’s the Wonderful Counselor, there’s just so many wonder things about Him.

 

Thought For Today: “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” (Romans 15:2)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 October 10

Walking in The Spirit

 

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

 

Today’s Morsel: If someone were to ask you, how do you walk in the Spirit, what would you tell them? You see, oftentimes we may require others to do things that we ourselves may not know have done. For example, if you have never been married, your advice on marriage will find itself being useless to someone who may be thinking about getting married. If you have never travel abroad, again, your advice may find itself useless to someone who is thinking about traveling aboard. To tell someone to walk in the Spirit, if you yourself have never walked in the Spirit, or understand what it means, could be misleading and cause someone to become confused. To walk in the Spirit, first means that you must be filled with the Spirit. You can’t walk in what you do not have. Acts 2:1-4 says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4) They needed the Spirit to walk in it. And now when this happens, Christ is in you, the hope of glory. The Spirit of God. Your outward man must now be a total reflection of Christ; in actions, character, conduct, and discipline. “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)As Christ is the Spirit. What is now inside you must be reflected outside of you. Christ in, Christ out. And to walk in the Spirit is to walk according to His Word and His leading, as Jesus is the Word made flesh. As John admonishes us: “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:6). 

 

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: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)