Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 30 September 2022

 History

“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever” (Isaiah 30:8)

 

Today’s Morsel: Do you know your church's history? Can you explain how it began? “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history,” said George Orwell. This is so true. We see it with the children of Israel.  Moses had admonished them, “And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” (Deuteronomy 6:10-12)  The book of Deuteronomy is nothing but Moses giving the children of Israel a history lesson, and yet they fail the course. In Acts 7, prior to Stephen’s stoning and death, he gave them a history lesson in hopes that they would understand where they had come from and who Jesus Christ was. They fail the test. They forgot their history and they were destroyed. I am afraid that even here in America, we have, and we are forgetting our history. It is not being taught to the next generation. We have removed the status that told our history, and now the next generation will have no clue.  They think this is the way it has always been.  They have no clue about outhouses for bathrooms, segregation, or the sacrifice made by men and women during the world wars, just to mention a few things. Thus, the people and nation will soon be destroyed. As the Lord admonished through the Prophet Hosea: “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) Don’t ever forget where you come from.  

 

Sing: Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word.  Tell me the story most precious, precious that ever was heard.  Tell how the angels in chorus sang as they worshiped His birth; glory to God in the highest, peace and goodwill to man on earth.

 

Thought For Today: The only thing that will destroy America is herself (Abraham Lincoln) 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 29 September 2022

 Living In The Past or Living For The Future

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
 (Philippians 3:10-14)

 

Today’s Morsel: Have you ever stopped and asked yourself where you are in your walk with Christ? Do you ever consider what it is that causes people who have tasted the sweet anointing of the Holy Ghost, the love and mercy of God, to leave the church and return to the world as a dog returns to his vomit and a hog to the mire? Why do folks not want to leave the past? Jesus said because they are used to it. (My wording) “No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.” (Luke 5:39) Some folks desire to remain in the past for fear of what is ahead.  The children of Israel had never been to Canaan. They only knew Egypt. And so to go to a new location without anything but the clothes on their back was somewhat fearful. This is one of the reasons why we must learn to walk by faith and not by sight. If you desire to see what God has for you in the next chapter of your life, then you must let go of the past and press on for the prize that is set before you in the future.

 

Sing: I’m going to a city, there'll be no more night, I’m going to a city where Jesus is the light.  The trumpet's gonna sound, and I’ll be called away; I’m going to a city someday.

 

Thought For Today: Do you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 28 September 2022

 Sharing Truth

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

 

Today’s Morsel: If you learn something new every day, you can teach something new every day. Every time we learn something new about God from His Word, we should share it with others, unless He tells us not to, as He did His disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration.  Every time we receive the truth, we should share the truth, because the world in which we live in is full of lies and deception. And the only way that people are not going to be deceived in these last days is they must learn and know the truth.  The apostle Paul admonished Timothy, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:13-16)  If the truth will make us and others free, then we need to share it.

 

Sing: The Mighty God is Jesus, the Prince of Peace is He, the everlasting Father, the King Eternally, the Wonderful in wisdom, by whom all things were made, the fullness of the Godhead in Jesus is displayed.

It’s all in Him, it’s all in Him, the fulness of the godhead is all in Him.  It’s all in Him, it’s all in Him, the Mighty God is Jesus and it’s all in Him.

 

Thought For Today: “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 27 September 2022

 Be True To Yourself

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

 

Today’s Morsel: Are you true to yourself? One of the worst people you can lie to is yourself. Folks spend millions of dollars on makeup, clothing, body piercing, tattoos, hairdos, shoes, and equipment, trying to be like someone else.  Just be true to yourself. The Lord asked the prophet, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23) This is what James is trying to get us to see, if we know to do good and don’t, it only hurts us. You will never be like others, not unless you want to be a fool.  To be true to yourself is to see yourself as God made you, and to live your life to please Christ and not someone else. When you decide to be who God made you to be, and live the way He made you to be, you will see how beautiful life really is.

 

Sing: I’m yours Lord, everything I am, everything I’m not everything I’ve got; I’m yours Lord, try me now and see, see if I can be completely yours.

 

Thought For Today: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 26 September 2022

 We’ve Always Done It This Way!

 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

 

Today’s Morsel: When I transitioned from the Infantry side of the house, into the Quartermaster side of the house in the army, one day my soldiers were outside cleaning their equipment. By what they were doing, I could tell that there was a much easier way to do it. So, when I asked them why they were doing it that way, they said to me, “This is how we have always done it.” I said to them, not anymore you aren’t. And I proceeded to show them how to do it in a different way that was much easier and less time-consuming.  People go to work every day and are bored out of their minds because they keep doing the same thing, the same way, over and over expecting to get different results.  When is the last time you tried something new?  The disciples were so used to fishing one way that when Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side, they were surprised at the number of fish that they caught. If your church isn’t growing, you might want to try something new. If you only have one service, maybe an evening service instead of a morning service would get you different results. Or instead of a Wednesday night, maybe a Tuesday or Thursday night. Try something new. Even the Lord told the Prophet that he was going to do something new. Just because that’s the way it has always been done doesn’t mean that there isn’t another way.

 

Sing: I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my shame, I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord. I’m trading my sickness, I’m trading my pain, I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

And I’ll say, yes Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord, yes Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord Amen!

 

Thought For Today: If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 24 September 2022

 Peace

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

 

Today’s Morsel: “It is understanding that gives us the ability to have peace, when we understand the other fellow’s viewpoint, and he understands ours, then we can sit down and if there are differences work them out.” says Harry S. Truman.  Maybe this is one of the reasons we are having so much unrest and disunity in the home, schools, and workplaces these days. Folks don’t understand each other, and they aren’t willing to sit down and discuss their differences. But beloved, we are called to be sons and daughters of peace and peacemakers. Our feet must be shod with the gospel of the preparation of peace. We make peace and we do those things which make for peace.  Are you following Jesus' commands?  Strive to make peace with those around you.  

Sing: I know the peace speaker, yes, I know him by name; I know the peace speaker, He controls the wind and rain.  When He says peace be still, it has to obey.  I know the peace speaker, yes, I know him by name.

 

Thought For Today: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 23 September 2022

 Dreams

 “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:16-17)

Today’s Morsel: Have you ever had one of those good dreams that is so good, and just as you are reaching the climax, you wake up, and now you have no clue what the ending will be? We see in scripture that some men had dreams and they were troubling them. I often laugh at Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He can’t figure his dream out, and it is troubling to him. He calls the astrologers, soothsayers, and magicians, and tells them if they can’t tell him his dream and what it means, he is going to have them all killed. They tell him to tell them the dream and they may be able to tell him the answer. But he can’t remember the dream, so, he gives them a time to come up with the dream and the answer, or they will be killed. What a bold request. They tell him no one can do that. Tell someone their dream and the answer. But it didn’t change the king's demand.  But thank God for Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sought God and came up with the answers to save lives (Daniel 2). Peter states that your old men shall dream dreams.  Though prophecies, dreams, and visions were the usual ways of conveying knowledge in olden times, Joel had signified that the knowledge of men in gospel times should be equal to, or exceed, whatever was communicated to men in the highest degree in former times (Joel 2:28). God still uses men through dreams to relay His message of truth. Yet you must ensure that the dream is from the Lord and not from man. As Moses admonished the children of Israel “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-5) Any dream that goes against God’s word must be avoided.

 

Sing: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

 

Thought For Today: All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them (Walt Disney)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 22 September 2022

 Truth

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:1-6)

 

Today’s Morsel: Without knowledge of the way, we can’t go. Without an understanding of truth, we can’t know. And without life, we can’t live.  John states that Jesus Christ was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). If Jesus is the truth, and He is, then everything spoken by Him is truth. His Spirit is truth (John 16:13). His word is truth (John 17:17). He is the truth (John 14:6). And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32) Are you free? While others are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7); we who worship Him in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24) should be leading others into all truth and cause them to grow and increase in the gospel light and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Sing: Wonderful! Wonderful! Jesus is to me. Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God is He. Saving me, keeping me, from all sin and shame.  Wonderful is my Redeemer, praise His name.

 

Thought For Today: “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 21 September 2022

 Excuses

“Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” (Luke 14:16-24)

 

Today’s Morsel: Is an excuse really an excuse or is it a lie? Do we seek an excuse for why we can’t do something, be someplace, or don’t desire to go, or do we tell a lie? Some excuses are valid while others are not. If I give you a truthful excuse, then it is valid. But if I give you an untruth excuse, then it is a lie. Jesus told the parable that a certain man made a great supper and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.  Notice he invited many. Apparently, those that were invited were aware that the man was going to make the supper and that they had been invited. But they planned something else instead, or they chose to do something else rather than attend the supper. They made excuses, Jesus said. By Jesus telling this parable to us, apparently, it is to show us that these three men's excuses were lame. We have all been invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. So don’t make excuses for why you can’t come. He just might give away your seat to someone else.

 

Sing: Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed, He invites His chosen people to come and dine.  With His manna He doth feed us, and supply our every need, tis so sweet to sup with Jesus all the time.

Come and dine the Master calleth, come and dine;  You may feast at Jesus' table all the time.  He who fed the multitude turned the water into wine, to the hungry calleth now come and dine.

 

Thought For Today: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:20)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 20 September 2022

 In The Garden

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:7-9)

 

Today’s Morsel: I often wonder what it must have been like for Adam and Eve in the garden. The temperature must have been just right as they didn’t need to wear any clothing. The mosquitoes didn’t even bite them. There was every kind of tree and bush for their food. The rivers were clean for them to drink water. There was no fear of the animals or anything else in the garden. And to top it off, they had communion with God in the cool of the day. What an ideal place to live. And they only had one stipulation, you can’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Adam and Eve blew it. And they were evicted from their perfect home. Why do we think that we are missing out on something when God’s Word tells us not to do certain things? Why do we think that we must try it, taste it, feel it, or be a part of it? Paul told the church at Corinth: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) If you have never done any of these things, don’t think that you are missing out on anything. I can tell you as well as others that it will only cause you trouble and get you evicted from your heavenly home.  Heed the warnings given and be obedient to the word of God.  

 

Sing: I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.

 

Thought For Today: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 19 September 2022

 Life

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10)

 

Today’s Morsel: How do you see life? Do you see it as boring, mundane, dull, and full of trials and hardships? Why is it that one person sees life that way while others see it as being filled with joy and excitement? Why is it that one Christian sees attending church as exciting, while others see it as burdensome? If we as Christians do not see life as exciting and filled with abundant blessings, we may want to stop and observe what we are doing, who we are listening to, and what Bible we are reading.  Jesus said, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. If you don’t feel as though you are living, listen to what David said: “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” (Psalms 34:12-14) If you don’t feel that you are having an abundant life, go after it. Stop sitting there waiting for it to come to you. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (Psalms 42:11)  He came that we may have life, and that more abundant.  

 

Sing: I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise, I will say that this is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, he has made me glad, I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice cause He has made me glad.

 

This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice, I will rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.  This is day, this is the day that the Lord has made.

 

Thought For Today: “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 17 September 2022

 Moments

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 
(1 Corinthians 15:51-58)

 

Today’s Morsel: If you have ever had an accident or hit an animal with your vehicle, you know that it seemed just like a moment out of nowhere that it happened.  How do we define a moment? We tell our kids, “Just a moment.” Someone calls us and we say, “I will be there in a moment.”  Or, we may say, “Where are my keys, I just had them a moment ago.” So how do we define a moment?  Paul said: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Paul defines it as an atom of time. The smallest of time.  A blink of the eye. Just like that, we die, and we are immediately in the presence of the Lord. Changed just that quickly. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11) No opportunity to say goodbye. No opportunity to eat the last burger or steak. No opportunity to watch your team play again.  So, the question is, are you ready?

 

Sing: I want to know how it feels, to make my way down the streets of gold. I want to know how it feels to have a talk with the saints of old. I want to know what it’s like to rest my feet by the river of life. I’ve heard of heaven, and I know that it’s real.  I want to know how it feels.

Thought For Today: Don’t miss the moment.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 16 September 2022

 We Shall Wear A Crown

“And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”
(Exodus 39:30)

 

Today’s Morsel: “To be a king, and wear a crown, is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant from them that bear it.” (Queen Elizabeth I).  Often when we see kings and queens, and those arrayed with crowns and with such splendor, we don’t understand the duty and role that is associated with such adornment. We just see the beauty. The same is true with leadership positions. Most only see it from their eyesight, not the person fulfilling the position.  The position holder knows what is required. We may read of Esther being crowned as queen and think of how glorious and beautiful she must have been. But Esther understood the role. As she told Mordecai: “All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.”(Esther 4:11) She said yes, I’m queen with the crown on my head, but I just can’t go in unto the king anytime I want to.  Paul lets us know that there is a crown waiting for us, but we must endure unto the end. He stated: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8) If we stay faithful to the Lord to the end, we, too, will one day wear a crown.

 

Sing: If when you give, the best of your service, telling the world that the Savior has come, be not dismayed, if friends don’t believe you, He’ll understand and say well done.

Thought For Today: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:11)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 15 September 2022

 The First and The Last

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
(Revelation 1:10-11)

 

Today’s Morsel: John said that he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. When you go to church are you in the Spirit or in the flesh? Some folks are in the flesh and hear nothing. Those that are in the Spirit should be able to hear the voice of the Lord. John said that he heard a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia. Jesus Christ is the first and He is the last."  The Prophet Isaiah declared: “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.” (Isaiah 44:6-7) John declared: “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.” (1 John 1:1-3) And Jesus Himself declared: “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” (John 13:13)  The apostle Paul states: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:12-18) Who do you say that Jesus Christ is? Stay in the Spirit and you will receive clear revelation.  He is the first and He is the last.  There is no other God.  

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

Thought For Today: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”  (Isaiah 43:10)