Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 21

Hardness of Heart, Creates Hardness of Life

 

“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” (Proverbs 29:1)

 

Today’s Morsel: When the Lord sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel out the hand of Pharoah, God told him that Pharoah would harden his heart and would not let them go. All Pharoah had to do was obey and Egypt would have been spared. But no, he hardened his heart, and it created hardness in his life. He found himself trying to deal with hard situations and a troubled mind. The same was true with King Saul. When he failed to obey God’s word, he was rejected from being king. And he hardened his heart and would not listen. Thus, causing his demise. When we fail to obey and listen to God’s word, it’s because our heart is hardened. God knows what is taking place inside of us, and His word is designed to change us for the better. But if we rebel and do not obey His word, it’s going to create hardness in life. When the Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people, “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jeremiah 6:16). Notice, they hardened their heart and said, we will not walk therein. Thus, they forfeited their rest and created hardness in their lives. The writer of Hebrews tells us: “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:7-13) Don’t let sin harden your heart. Life is already hard enough.  Allow Jesus to give you rest and peace, simply hear Him and obey His word.  

 

Sing: Change my heart O’ God, make it ever true. Change my heart O’ God may I be like You.

 

Thought For Today: Life is so much easier for those who listen.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 20

Set Some Boundaries Around Your Life

 

“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.” 

(Proverbs 7:1-2)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the safest ways to protect yourself is to set some boundaries around your life. Biblical, church, and personal convictions are not there to hurt or restrain you. They are there to protect you. Boundaries serve as a reference point for you to stop and consider if you are getting outside of the safety zone. I can remember when my wife would say to the kids, you can play outside, but you cannot go past certain houses or landmarks. She wasn’t trying to restrain them or stop their fun, she wanted to be able to see them for their protection. Solomon said, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Proverbs 6:23) These things ought to be our boundaries. He asks a question for you to consider. “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” (Proverbs 6:27-29) This is one of the reasons men need some boundaries in their lives. And he does the same with women. He said: “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:” (Proverbs 2:10-15) Boundaries are just another word for guardrails to keep you in your lane.

 

Sing: Jesus hold my hand, Lord, I need Thee every hour. Through this pilgrim land, protect me by Thou saving power. Hear, my feeble plea, oh, Lord, look down on me. When I kneel in prayer, I know You’ll meet me there, blessed Jesus hold my hand.

 

Thought For Today: “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” (Psalms 101:3)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 18

Are You Trying to Figure Out Life?

 

“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:34-36)

 

Today’s Morsel: Are you one of those who is trying to figure out life? I mean, are you one of those who questions why bad things seems to happen to good people? Or why the innocent hurt, and the evil seem to be getting away and the righteous suffers? Or why so many who are supposed to be Christians have lost their moral compass? Listen, you are not going to be able to figure life out when it comes to these things. Paul tells us, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33) God even says in His word that He’s made the wicked for the day of evil. “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Proverbs 16:4).  Scripture also says of God’s conversation with Job, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” (Job 38:1-3) As Christians, we are not to try and figure life out. We are to live life, as that is what Jesus gave it to us for.  Life must be lived and not seen as burden. If you are one of those who keeps trying to figure life out, you will find yourself like a hamster in a cage and you will soon become tired, depressed, and without hope. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we will have fellowship one with another and joy will fill our hearts. So don’t sweat the small things, or even the big things!

 

Sing: Trials dark on every hand and we cannot understand, all the way that God will lead us to that blessed promised land. But He’ll guide us with His eye, and we’ll follow till we die.  We will understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes, and all the saints of God are gathering home. We will tell the story how we’ve overcome, and we’ll understand it better by and by.

 

Thought For Today: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 17

Receptive to Spiritual Things

 

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Proverbs 9:9)

 

Today’s Morsel: Throughout scriptures, we see men and women who were receptive to spiritual things. Jacob seems to be receptive to spiritual things and Esau was not. The Bible says that Esau didn’t value his birthright. And he sold it for a bowl of soup. When he wanted it, he couldn’t find it though he sought for it with tears. Mary seemed to be receptive to spiritual things, as we see her sitting at Jesus feet and listening, while Martha was cumbered about with much serving. Spiritual receptivity begins with wanting to learn and grow in spiritual things. You can only live by what you know. Spiritual receptivity was a byproduct of all of Jesus and the apostles teaching. Remember that when you become a Christian, your development doesn’t come from worldly ways. It comes from spiritual ways. Notice what the Bible says: “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27) Do you see the difference between spiritual and nonspiritual receptivity? With one you can endure the storms of life and with the other you cannot.  Notice what Solomon says, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” God wants us to mature and grow. And the only way you are going to move on to perfection is you must become receptive to spiritual things.

 

Sing: Here’s my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord, come and quench this thirsting of my soul.  Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more. Here’s my cup fill it up and make me whole.

 

Thought For Today: “But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.” (Ezekiel 2:8)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 16

Longevity of Life

 

“The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.” (Proverbs 10:27)

 

Today’s Morsel: Longevity of life starts with respecting God. Many people are losing their fear of God. Giving God our undivided attention when He speaks to us, whether through His word or His ministers, shows that we are disciplined to obey. We must be aware of gradualism, because it is so easy to become comfortable with who we think that we are, and we may start to snub God because we hear that all we need to do is repent. My friend, that is walking on thin ice. And if you live in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the wintertime, you know that is very dangerous. When we talk bad about others, or we do not reach out to help others, or we say one thing at church and do another at home, we have lost our fear for God. Our fear for God ought to cause us to want to always please Him and in all things. If we don’t know the minute nor the hour that Jesus may flip the switch, shouldn’t we fear and respect Him knowing that the very next moment we could be standing before Him to give an account for the things done in this life?  Reverence God in all that you say, do and think.  

 

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

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

 

Thought For Today: “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)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 15

Are You Satisfied?

 

“The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.” (Proverbs 30:15-16)

 

Today’s Morsel: Daily, billions of dollars are being spent on cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, and weight loss programs, all because people are not satisfied with who they are. People are quitting their jobs, moving to new locations, and retiring early, because they are not satisfied. If someone were to ask you to define what satisfaction looks like for you, what would your answer be? Solomon said that there are four things which are never satisfied. The grave, the barren womb, the dry earth, and a fire. But what about you? When we are dead, living in our trespasses and sins, living, and trying to keep up in this old sinful world, we will never be satisfied. When we are not witnessing and reaching out for new souls for the kingdom, we are not going to be satisfied. When we are not drinking continuously from and at the springs of living waters, we are going to be a barren land, and we are not going to be satisfied. And when we are not filled with the Holy Ghost and staying on fire, we are not going to be satisfied.  Friend, if you want true satisfaction, then you need Jesus. It is only Jesus that can satisfy your soul and only Jesus can make you whole.

 

Sing: For only Jesus can satisfy your soul, only He can change your heart and make it whole. He’ll give you peace you never knew, sweet love and joy and heaven, too. For only Jesus can satisfy your soul!

 

Thought For Today: “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” (Proverbs 19:23)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 14

Precepts

 

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.” (Isaiah 28:9-12)

 

Today’s Morsel: Precepts in scripture are the responsibilities that God places on His people. They are design to regulate thought and behavior. Let me explain. First, you cannot delegate responsibility. You can only delegate authority. Responsibility is what you must do because of your authority. And so, when Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit, He gives us His power and authority to operate in His name. So, we find that because of His Spirit in us, we are now responsible to carry out His commands and behave accordingly. I believe this is why numerous times throughout scripture we read and see God’s anger against Israel because they were not carrying out their responsibilities. And it’s no different with some who say that they are born-again. No one ought to have to tell you to love God and others, read your Bible, go to church, tithe, dress modestly, and respect authority. All those things came with the Spirit. No one ought to have to tell you to witness, help your neighbor, and be ethical. That came with your authority from God. Don’t become one of those who in the end find yourself standing before God and hearing Him say to you, “Depart from me, I knew you not.” The maximum effective range of an excuse is zero meters. And Jesus will not be excepting any excuses from those who do not consider and who do not take His precepts found clearly in scripture serious.  We serve a fair and just God.  

  

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 said. Well, I’ve been to the water, and I’ve been baptized in Jesus’ name; my soul got happy and now 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 says.

 

Thought For Today: “Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.” (Psalms 119:159)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 13

The Choice Is Yours

 

“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:11-24)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the things that we often see when we are reading scriptures is that God gives us free choice after He has shown us the correct way. God isn’t about to keep standing and telling you what to do when He already knows that we know what to do. The problem is some folks do not like what He says to do. And so they avoid doing it, keeping themselves in the same depressive and miserable state they are in. But what I like about the story of the Prodigal Son is that he comes to himself and realizes that the choice to do something about his condition was his to make. By all accounts he had tried to make it own his own. He even tried to find work to fix his condition. But because there was a famine, no one was hiring. He was running into a shut door after shut door. He did, however, land a job feeding swine. But that wasn’t doing anything to feed himself, nor feed his soul. And so, he came to himself and said, I’m going home to my father. He realized that he had another choice that would hopefully correct his condition. And that was to go home. What about you? What’s your situation right now? Is the door shut? Is your situation rewarding you good? If not, you still have a choice. You can stay there, or you can come home to Jesus, your Heavenly Father, and allow Him to restore you to your rightful place.  Today is the day that you can come to yourself, the choice is yours to make.  

 

Sing: Aren’t getting just a bit tired of fooling around? You’re trying to laugh your way through this life, but you’re not gaining ground. Why not try the Lord today, just ask Him in your heart to stay. You’ll find Jesus’ love to be the best thing that you’ve ever found.

Jesus got ahold of my life, and He won’t let me go. Jesus got into my heart, He got into my soul. I used to be oh so sad, but now I’m happy free and glad; because Jesus got ahold of my life and He want let me go.

 

Thought For Today: When you change your attitude, you can change your choices (Parker) 

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 11

Jesus Loves Me

 

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:10-12)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the old songs that we don’t hear sung in churches much anymore is, “Jesus Loves Me.” The whole theme in the Bible is God’s love. Jesus told Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) And Moses told the children of Israel: “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8) I am concerned that the church is forgetting who they are, and what God has done for them. When we don’t value God’s love, we won’t value the love for others. John tells us that if God loved us, we ought to love one another. Always remember, you will never love others until you learn to love God first. Because God is love.

 

Sing: Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong. 

Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me; The Bible tells me so. 

 

 

Thought For Today: If God Be For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 10

Vivify Others

 

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)

 

Today’s Morsel: What do you do each day to put a smile on the face of others? The Holy Ghost came with joy, and we are commanded to rejoice always. We ought to arise every day and think of ways to help others obtain that same joy in their life. Helping to encourage and build others up ought to be a daily habit for a Christian. Do you remember how much joy you had in your life after your baptism and Holy Ghost infilling? I know for me, I wanted to hug everyone, love on people, and laugh. What I find with the fruit and gifts of the spirit is that they are to be used to vivify others. I hear in the church all the time that we need a revival. Well, revival means that folks are dead. People are sitting on the pew as sour pusses. No joy. No life. No encouragement. And no positive outlook on life. God has given you and me His spirit to revive them back to life. Revival starts with those who were once alive and now are dead.  So, start using your EMT skill to get life back into them or they soon will die right before your very eyes.

 

Sing: Well, if you’re happy, and you know it, say amen; Amen. If you’re happy, and you know it, say amen; Amen. Cause when God’s Spirit falls on you, makes you shout Hallelujah. Cause if you are happy and you know it, say amen; Amen.

 

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 May 9

Unwavering Faith

 

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13)

 

Today’s Morsel: Do you have trouble with your faith? Do you seem to find yourself on a rollercoaster when it comes to your faith? James says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4) If we realize that our faith is being tested to improve our patience, then let us not be weary in well doing. God doesn’t want us to lose our trust and confidence in Him. That’s why we have all the stories of David, Daniel, Joseph, Paul, and others, they are examples to help us stay focused and to be able to help others through their situations and circumstances.  Peter tells us how to strengthen our faith when he says, “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. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-11) Your faith needs additional character traits to help it become stronger. As a born-again believer, you should know how to stay on top and not be up and down in your walk with God.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.  

 

Sing: Jesus got ahold of my life, and He won’t let me go.  Jesus got into my heart, He got into my soul.  I used to be oh so sad, but now I’m happy free and glad. Because Jesus got a hold of my life and He won’t let me go.

 

Thought For Today: “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 8

Reading The Word

 

“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)

 

Today’s Morsel: Folks who say that they are Christians and who do not read the word of God, don’t know what they are missing. The Bible is given so that you will understand what you have been given for development in your life. Those who do not read and study the word of God are often depressed, lonely, discouraged, and may even suffer from PTSD and suicidal thoughts. God’s word is Himself being revealed to us. It shows us how much God truly loves us. The story in its pages is designed to show us the things that we ought not to do, how we are to treat others, and how we ought to live. God’s word teaches us how to not sin against God and others. It helps us be a more productive person in our lives and communities. As Abraham Lincoln stated, the day that one stops reading is the day he stops leading. Keep in mind, the epistles, which were written by Paul and the other apostles, are to teach us self-discipline and good godly character. If you want to have a good productive and successful life, read His word daily.

 

Sing: Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, know, know, He holds the future, my life is worthy the living just because He lives. 

 

Thought For Today: “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” (Psalms 138:2)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 7

You Are Not Always Right

 

“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (Proverbs 3:7-8)

 

Today’s Morsel: Don’t ever think that you know all and are always right. A person who is willing to listen to other’s opinions shows that they are wise and have respect for what others think. You are not the sharpest knife in the draw. Many are rich today because they were willing to listen to the ideas of others. Solomon states to be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD and depart from evil. You can keep following evil and doing wrong but know that there is an end. Then what? One of the things I’ve learned about life is that it can come to an abrupt stop and none of us can prevent it from happening. But if we depart from evil, Solomon said, it can be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bone. It will be healing and strength to you. If you want to be nourished up and in good health in the Lord, then you must depart from evil. Evil zaps you of your strength and power. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

 

Sing: He is my everything, He is my all. He is my everything, both great and small. He gave His life for me, made everything new. He is my everything; oh, how about you?

 

Thought For Today: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” (Proverbs 1:10)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 6

The Principal Thing

 

“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:5-7)

 

Today’s Morsel: Does your life reflect the character of God? Paul states that Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God. Therefore, God’s character ought to be revealed in your life if wisdom is present. The gospel is designed not only to save you, but also to change you. “But the manifestation of the Spirit, (Paul said), is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (Emphasis mine) Notice, if you will, the manifestation of the Spirit’s presence in your life first is the word of wisdom. It’s the principal thing. You need wisdom so that you can understand right from wrong. As Jesus said, “What doth it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul.” Foolish ways and actions do not reveal the life of someone who is saved. Only wisdom reveals that.  Wisdom is no more that knowledge and understanding personified in your life. If wisdom is not evident in your life, check your spirit.

 

Sing: I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay. And I’m so happy, so very happy, I’ve got to love Jesus in heart, and I’m so happy, so very happy, I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.  

 

Thought For Today: “Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:” (Proverbs 7:4)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 4

I’m Still Here

 

“And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.” (Acts 16:23-28)

 

Today’s Morsel: How many of you remember when you first got saved. How many of you think that folks wrote you off not thinking that you would stay with it. You know I have seen many people start out on this same journey, and for some unknown reason, they became weary and threw in the towel and went back to the ways of the world. I’m not saying that they cannot come back, that is perhaps what the story of the prodigal son is in the Bible is about, letting us know that God is a God of second chances. Just don’t wait too long. But there are many of you that are still here. One of the highlights for me, is when I look across the table in our District Board room meetings, and I see our District Superintendent, Bishop James Booker, and our Section 1 and 3 Presbyters, Rev Dale Pace, and Rev Scott Jacobs, men whom I first met in 2001, who are now in senior leadership, and these men are men that are still here. Or, our previous District Superintendent, Bishop John Putnam, whom I first met in Germany when I first got saved, and District Secretary, Elder E.A. Kaske, whom I first met in 2001, and I served with him on our District Board for several years; these men and their wives are still here serving God.  Wow, I’m telling you this is the best life ever. There are many that I know that others had written off, but they are still here serving Jesus. The jailer thought that the prisoners has escaped and that his life was in much danger, but Paul cried, “We are all here.” Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man come again will He find faith on the earth?” In other words, are you still going to be here? “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” (Luke 2:36-37).  I have a made up mind, I pray you do, too.  Look up, for your redemption draws nigh!

 

Sing: I am determined to hold out to the end. Jesus is with me, on Him I can depend; for I know I have salvation for I feel it in my soul. I am determined to hold out to the end. 

 

Thought For Today: Hang in there.

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 3

Which Baptism Formula Is Correct?

 

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

 

“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.” (Acts 2:38-41)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the biggest divisions in the church is the method of baptism. Some say that you should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; while others site that it should be in the name of Jesus Christ. But to answer this question, since both Matthew and Peter were both apostles of Jesus Christ, we need to ask if one of them got it wrong? Luke, which was not one of the original apostles of Christ,  wrote, “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.” (Luke 1:1-4) And at the end of his gospel, he writes “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:44-48) So, we see a pattern established by Jesus to His apostles, that they were to teach repentance and remission of sins in His name, beginning at Jerusalem. So, if this is the case, then we must look for the pattern to see if they obeyed the command. Keep in mind that the gospels only teach us about the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. And we also see His teaching instructions to His disciples. Luke, who is also credited as being the author of the book of Acts as well, throughout this book, reveals that all those who were baptized were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. And this same pattern is established by Paul in his epistles to the churches. So, did Matthew get it wrong? No! When you read through Matthew’s gospel, he’s already explained to his audience in the first chapter that Jesus Christ was the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and He is the name that fulfills those titles. Jesus!   “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matthew 1:21-25) So, not only did they all baptize in Jesus’ name, but they also all endorsed that this is the only name whereby we can be saved. “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 19:4-6) Have you received the Holy Ghost since you have believed?  To make it simple and clear – we are to be baptized in Jesus’ name, and we are promised the gift of the Holy Ghost which is evidenced by speaking in other tongues.  God is not the author of confusion; He does not leave us doubting our salvation.  

 

Sing: I’m so glad that I’ve been buried in the name of the Lord, in the name of the Lord, in the name of the Lord. I’m so glad that I been buried in the name of the Lord since the name of the Lord has been revealed.

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 - 2024 May 2

The Importance of Hearing God’s Voice

 

“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.” (Psalms 81:10-14)

 

Today’s Morsel: One of the basic lessons that children ought to be taught is that of recognizing of their parent’s voice. This is why I believe that nursing a baby is important. The child is kept close enough not only to hear its mother’s voice, but also to learn the intonation. Jesus said that His sheep know His voice and they will not follow another. Do you know your heavenly Father’s voice when He speaks to you. God oftentimes will speak to us through His Word, or the pastor He places over us. The Lord said through the psalmist that if His people had listened to Him, and walked in His ways, that He would have subdued their enemies, and turned His hand against their adversaries. Do you hear what God just said? He will get rid of those that cause you heartache and pain if you will just listen to Him and do what He says. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27) You are His.  So, listen to His voice and He will take care of those who trouble you.

 

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: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 May 1

 Mayday

 

“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” (Acts 16:9-10)

 

Today’s Morsel: Mayday is an internationally recognized radio word to signal distress. It's used mostly by aircraft and boats, and most of us are only familiar with it through TV and fiction.  Paul received a mayday call in a vision by a man in Macedonia and prayed him, saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.” And immediately they did not delay but came as quickly as they could to help them. Do you hear the mayday call coming from your next-door neighbor, your community, or the next town saying, “Come over and help us?” Do you hear the distress call by the abused, the lost, the lonely, the elderly, the widow, the widower, addicted, and the homeless, saying, “Come over and help us?” Every day, someone that you pass by in the store, on the job, on the plane, and even in the church is saying, “Help me.” Can you see and feel the hurt and pain? Can you feel the hand reaching out for your help? Is there someone that you know who is sending out a mayday call to you?  Will you answer the distress call?  Someone answered it one day for you.  

Sing: I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within sinking to rise no more.  But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry; and from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love lifted me. Love lifted me. When nothing else could help, love lifted me. Love lifted me. Love lifted me. When nothing else could help, love, lifted, me.

 

Thought For Today: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalms 50:15)