2013 May 16 - Morning Manna

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. Andall nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:8-12)

Today's Morsel: There seems to be so much controversy about paying tithes into the kingdom of God. Why is tithing a doctrinal teaching point; and why is it essential to you? Tithing teaches us money management and discipline. If you cannot manage your finances it will cause you indebtedness, distress, and discontentment which leads to, in so many cases, sickness, divorce, lying, cheating, stealing, and even death. It causes sin. Paul said: "For sin shall not have dominion over you" (Romans 6:14). Malachi asked, "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse." What comes to your mind when you think of being cursed? Evil to the point of being despicable. Stubborn to the point of causing irritation or annoyance. Bothered, a pest. Without peace in your life. Fear. Torment. Money tests your heart. Your faith. Your attitude. Your love. Paul told Timothy, "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Notice, because of the love of money, many have caused themselves hurt. What kind of hurts? Stress, discontentment, indebtedness, divorce, sickness. All because they fell in love with money. Isn't it amazing that we allow the world to tell us that when we eat out that we should leave at least a 20% tip based on the total of our bill to the wait-staff and we don't question it. But when it comes to the church, we question giving God 10%! James said, " My brethren, these things ought not so be." If you don't give God what is rightfully His, He has no problem taking it. Ask Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, who sold a possession, and kept back part of the price (Acts 5:1-2). You cannot put a dollar amount on the value of your life.

Sing: Give, and it shall be given, good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over; give, and it shall be given, when you give you give to the Lord.

2013 May 15 - Morning Manna

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. (2 Kings 4:1-7)

Today's Morsel: Oil can serve many purposes. We use oil for cooking. We use oil for lubrication. We put oil in our car to reduce friction. You may not think that oil is important in your car until you see smoke coming from your exhaust pipe, or you hear metal beating against metal. Or that little red light comes on in your car dash board which says, "Check your engine oil." Most engine oils starts to breakdown between 3-5 K miles. This is why auto companies request that you change your oil every 3-4 K miles. But it all depends on the type oil you us, too.

When the woman's sons in our scripture were about to be take for payment, she went to Elisha for help. He asked her what she had in her house. She said that all she had was a pot of oil. To her, it wasn't much, just a pot of oil. I'm sure she was thinking within herself, "What does that have to do with what I need to deliver my sons?" You see, God's ways are not our ways. The same way Elijah had told the woman that God said the barrel of meal would not waste neither the cruse of oil fail until God sent rain upon the earth, he wanted this woman to know that her little pot of oil would meet her need. But it required that she put her faith in action. And so he told her to go get as many vessels as she could find, go into her house and start pouring. She stepped out on her faith and she did what the man of God told her to do and she was able to meet her requirements to deliver her sons and to live. Do you step out on faith when the man of God tells you something to do to meet your need, or do you try to figure out another way? James said that faith without works is dead.

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.

2013 May 14 - Morning Manna

And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
(2 Kings 2:23-25)

 

Today's Morsel: The younger couple invited their aged pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having. "Goat," the little boy replied. "Goat?" replied the startled man of the cloth, "Are you sure about that?" "Yep," said the youngster. "I heard Pa say to Ma, 'Might as well have the old goat for dinner today as any other day." (humor).

I always like it when I see ministers who can have fun with children. Often, children don't think that they can have fun with ministers because many ministers take themselves too serious. I would hate to think that any child is afraid of me as a minister. Elisha seems to be a minister that could not handle being teased or being made fun of. Granted, children should be taught how to give honor and respect to the ministry, but they should also be taught not to be afraid of the ministry as well. If a child becomes afraid of the ministry, they may miss their calling of God. Scripture says, "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:1-6). Solomon said, "The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice" (Proverbs 23:24-25); Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate"(Psalms 127:3-5). Children should know that it is a joy to serve the Lord, and this begins by seeing adults who have fun serving Him.

Sing: Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; red and yellow black and white they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.

2013 May 13 - Morning Manna

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved" (Psalms 55:22)

 

Today's Morsel: When my wife and I were missionaries and we went to churches to present our missions field in hopes to gain support for the work of God, the pastors would often say to us, "Come share your burden with us." I knew what they meant; they wanted us to share with them why we felt God had called us to a certain area of the world and for what purpose. I don't believe that any of us should be carrying around burdens, since we are told to cast them upon the Lord. I think the call of God should be carried with excitement and not as a burden. I think we should be so excited about what God is doing that others will want to join the team. If I say that it is a burden, then many may say, "Why do I want to be a missionary if it is a burden." I don't read where Pau, in all his missions trips, said that it was a burden for him. He said, "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel"(Philippians 1:12). He told the church at Corinth, "But be it so, I did not burden you" (2 Corinthians 12:16). Paul wasn't carrying around any burdens and we shouldn't be either. If I have burdens, I'm bound to burden someone else. Are you burdened with something today? Are you worried about your health? Are you wearied about your children? What about your job? Are you worried about whether the things you've depended on will be around when you reach retirement age? Is the past weighing you down? The psalmist and Peter both tell us to cast our burdens and cares that weight us down on the Lord (Psalms 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7). If we keep carrying things around that weigh us down, pretty soon they may just crush us.

 

Sing: Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus. Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone.

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus, He is a friend that's well known; you have no other such a friend or brother, tell it to Jesus alone.

2013 May 11 - Morning Manna

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. (Acts 9:1-9)

Today's Morsel: It's great hearing how far technology and how advanced medicine has come when dealing with optometry. People who could not see, are now being able to see. And those who have struggled with their eyesight are now able to obtain medical procedures to help their vision. But when Paul was struck blind on the road to Damascus, these procedures were not in place for him to obtain his sight back again. He would only be able to see again through a miraculous means. Jesus said that he was anointed to recover sight to the blind (Luke 4:18). When Jesus sent Ananias to Paul, Ananias said to him, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God" (Acts 9:17-20). Not only did Paul receive his natural sight again, but he also received spiritual sight as well. Many people today are blinded by the light of God's Word and they can't see where they are going. They need someone to pray for them that they may receive their sight. Therefore, when God sends you to them, you must be ready to pray for them, and to declare to them the correct way. Remember, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ"(2 Corinthians 4:3-6)

Sing: Open the eyes of my heart Lord. Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You, I want to see You. To see You high and lifted up, shining in the light of Your Glory, pour out Your power and love, as we sing holy, holy, holy; holy, holy, holy, I want to see You.

2013 May 10 - Morning Manna

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.(1 Peter 2:1-10)

Today's Morsel: When I was a kid growing up in North Carolina and living in the country, we would walk along the road and pull this weed that we called a "sour weed." We would suck on it, and out of it would come this juice that was somewhat sour, but tasted sweet after you swallowed it. Maybe that's why Solomon said "The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet" (Proverbs 27:7). Peter tells us, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." When we are willing to suck from God's Word, we can obtain a clear understanding and get the true meaning of what is being said so that we can apply it to our lives and grow spiritual and not be barren in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. David tells us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). He said that God's Word is sweeter than the honey in the honeycomb (Psalms 19:10). When we desire the sincere milk of God's Word, we will be able to stand in the times of adversity, affliction, and anguish, because our spiritual bones will be strong. Friend, there is honey in the Rock for you.

Sing: Oh, my brother do you know the Savior, who is wondrous, kind and true, He's the rock of your salvation. There is honey in the rock for you.

Oh, honey in the rock (oh, honey in the rock), Sweet honey in the rock (sweet honey in the rock), Oh, it tastes just like honey in the rock, Go taste and see if the Lord is good, Oh, it tastes just like honey in the rock.

2013 May 9 - Morning Manna

And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. (2 Kings 25:8-10)

Today's Morsel: People are often aghast when a church burns to the ground or someone breaks in and destroys the property inside a church. It's like taking the wind of faith right out of people's sails. Folks immediately give credit to the devil for doing it. They say, "The devil is trying to destroy what God is doing!" And I have heard others say, "Man, I wish it had happened to our church, because we sure could use a new building." Hummm! Many people aren't aware that when you lose a church you sometimes lose people, because people lose their faith in the transition and while waiting for a new building. Any place that is used for ministering and teaching God's word you should never want it to be destroyed. These places become land marks for some people. They become special places that they can talk about and share with their children as places that they received their salvation and truth.

 

Scripture says, "Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire." Can you imagine? He burnt the house of the Lord. Why would they burn the house of the Lord? Because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. It was a place of worship. It was a place of sacrifice to their God. And the king of Babylon knew that if the Lord's house was destroyed the people's hope and faith would be destroyed. Even today in our own country of America, so many seem to be against the church and the things of God. But thanks be to God that we are the church of the living God. It's not a natural building, but a living temple; because we are the temple of the living God. And there are no fiery trials or temptations that can destroy us. As our King told the apostle Peter, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Jesus knew that the enemy of Truth would destroy the natural building, and so He showed the Apostle John New Jerusalem wherein dwelleth rightousness. Aren't you glad that that's where you're going?

Sing: It's the old ship of Zion, it's the hope for the lost and dying, it's a soul saving station, the tower of salvation! Well, it's the church, triumphant, O Lord, and it's built by the hand of the Lord.

 

I'm talking about the church in the Book of Revelation, it's built on the Rock, it's got a firm foundation, it's been through the flood, and it's been through the fire, but one of these days, the church is gonna move up higher. It's the church triumphant, O Lord, and it's built by the hand of the Lord.