2010 September 30 - Morning Manna

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11-12)

Today's Morsel: You know, one of the really nice things about our world is that it's full of people who have all kinds of good intentions. Many of them desire to do what's right, fair, and just, but intending or wanting to do something and actually doing it aren't the same. The difference is action. And the thing that ensures that action happens is accountability. Do you remember when you were in your early teens? We could hardly wait to become adults because we thought it would mean that we could do whatever we wanted to do. Well, we became adults and we found out that it meant something much different than what we thought. We learned that we were responsible for ourselves. We became accountable for our actions and we still are and always will be. Now we realize that we must answer to external authorities. The government, the boss on our job, teachers, military leaders, and others. We've learned that in the real world, others can mandate that we follow rules and laws. But they cannot force us to be people of character. Ultimately, it is up to each of us to decide how we will live our lives. We must hold ourselves to a higher standard. The apostle Paul admonishes us, "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Everything that we do in this life, we will someday be accountable before God. What will He say about your character?

Sing: For He is Lord, Yes, He is Lord. He has risen from the dead and He is Lord. Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ, is Lord!

2010 September 29 - Morning Manna

Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved (Acts 27:29-31).

Today's Morsel: There seems to be many people leaving the church these days. Many seem to have allowed their situations and circumstances to pull them from the church. Many have lost their hope of what the church can offer and do for them. Many don't seem to realize that outside of the church they cannot be saved. The apostle Paul told the centurion and the soldiers,"Eexcept these abide in the ship, you cannot be saved." You can't be saved outside of the church. Paul said, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-15). The church is your safe haven. There are going to be storms, but if you get out of the church, you can't be saved. Jesus pilots this ship. He is the Captain of the sea and He knows how to navigate us through the storm. If you will notice, when Peter got out of the ship to go to Jesus on the water, it was when he took his eyes off Jesus that he began to sink; and he cried out to Jesus to save him (Matthew 14:22-32). Jesus took him by the hand and put him back into the ship. This lets you know that you can't be saved without Jesus (Acts 4:12) and you can't be saved and make it to the other side unless you stay in the ship. Let me encourage you, just because the waters of affliction are taking place in your life, don't get out of the ship. The church has been constructed by Jesus to ensure your safety. So stay put. Once the storm passes by, you will see that Jesus always has your best interest at heart.

Sing: In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face, while the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place. 'Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord, hear my cry, keep me safe till the storm passes by. (Chorus)

2. Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try, for there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by." But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise, where the storms never darken the skies. (Chorus)

3. When the long night has ended and the storms come no more, let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore; In that land where the tempest, never comes, Lord, may I dwell with Thee when the storm passes by. (Chorus)

Chorus : Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more, till the clouds roll forever from the sky; hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand, keep me safe till the storm passes by.

2010 September 28 - Morning Manna

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22).

Today's Morsel: How much do you love Jesus? The Apostle Paul said that if any man love not the Lord, let him be Anathema Maranatha. The word Anathema means excommunicated (thing or person): - accursed; Maranatha means our Lord has come; that is, an exclamation of the approaching divine judgment. So the Apostle Paul said that if any man love not the Lord, don't let him take part in the things of God. He said that there is a divine judgment coming and if any man doesn't love the Lord, he is gonna have to face it. Just where does Jesus rank in your priorities in your life? Just where does He fit in your love life? Is He number one or is there something else vying for that number one spot? John said that we should "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). He also informs us, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also"(1 John 4:16-21. Just how much do you love Jesus? Is He the most important thing to you? Does He come before your job, your career, your family? If you keep Jesus as the number one love of your life, I guarantee that everything else in your life will fall into its rightful place.

Sing: I love Him! I love Him! Because He first loved me. He purchased my salvation, on Calvary!

2010 September 27 - Morning Manna

Let all your things be done with charity. I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) (1 Corinthians 16:14-15).

Today's Morsel: I have noticed that many people are medically dependant on so many drugs these days. Many of these drugs are addicting and cause many people to become dependant on them. Many people are in rehab centers trying to deliver themselves from the addiction of cocaine, crack, or other barbituates. Many people steal, kill, and destroy to get the money to support their addiction. Some people have become addicted to this world. No matter how hard they try, they just can't seem to get away from it and shake it. They are hooked on it and every day they have to have a fix of it. Satan has them hooked and he keeps developing more things to addict them. People are addicted to gambling, credit card use, gadgets, spending, stealing, eating, sports, television, pornography, the list goes on and on. But as saints and born again believers, we must become as the household of Stephanas and addict ourselves to the ministry of the saints. We must get high on the Lord and dependant on Him and the work that He has called us to. We must become addicted to prayer, reading the Word, witnessing, attending church, and giving of our time, talents, and treasure to the work of the Lord. The early church was addicted from the time they were filled with the Holy Ghost. We don't need to be addicted to this world, as it will kill us both naturally and spiritually. But we need to be addicted to the things of God. Every day you need another dose of the Holy Ghost! I say that it's time that we get hooked on Jesus the same as the early church did.

Sing: Baptize me Jesus, with the Holy Ghost. I shall have power, Your Word says so. Satan is bus,y trying to turn me around. But I’m determined, to stand my ground. But I can’t do it; I can’t do it; Till you baptize me with the Holy Ghost.

2010 September 25 - Morning Manna

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Ephesians 4:1-6).

Today's Morsel: Are you aware that if you are not in unity,it cannot happen? If you will notice in the word "Unity" there is the letter "U" at the beginning and "I" in the center. That means that for anything to have unity, it takes "U" and "I" to make it happen. So if you take "U" and "I" out of the equation, we'll never have "UNITY". When you get married, you are united in holy matrimony. You come together in unity. One. But it takes "U" and "I" to keep it together. If "U" or "I" do not do their part, then unity is broken and divorce happens. The church is to be a united body of believers working together in unity. But again, if "U" and "I" do not do our part to keep it together, we will have disunity, the church will suffer, and we will divorce ourselves from each other and render the work of the Lord non-effective. The Apostle Paul said that we should endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. He lists the things in the church that must be united. He said that there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. He says that it's all one. Therefore, to keep it one, we have to have "U" and "I" to ensure that the church remains as God intended it to be from the beginning. Be not deceived, God hates discord.

Sing: You're my brother, you're my sister, so take me by the hand, together we will work, until He comes. There's no foe that can defeat us, when we're walking side by side, as long as there is love, we can stand!

2010 September 24 - Morning Manna

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour (Matthew 8:5-13).

Today's Morsel: Do you have the faith and trust in Jesus that when you ask Him for something and He tells you to go your way, that you believe what you asked of Him will happen; or do you find yourself pouting because it isn't happening in the time and way that you wanted it to take place? The writer of Hebrews tells us, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him"(Hebrews 11:6). In other words, if you go to God and ask Him for anything, you have to believe it and go about your business, trusting Him to work on your behalf. Paul said, " For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:24-27). The Centurion said to Jesus, "Just speak the word and my servant shall be healed." He was a man of faith. He believed that whatever Jesus said, it was going to happen. Can you extend your faith to that range? That no matter what you ask Jesus to do, if it's according to His will, when He speaks, it will happen? We must remember that faith without works is dead. Always remember that Jesus said, "All things are possible to him that can believe."

Sing: Faith can move mountains. Mountains of fear and of doubt. Faith can move mountains, so why don't you try your faith out!

2010 September 24 - Morning Manna

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour (Matthew 8:5-13).

Today's Morsel: Do you have the faith and trust in Jesus that when you ask Him for something and He tells you to go your way, that you believe what you asked of Him will happen; or do you find yourself pouting because it isn't happening in the time and way that you wanted it to take place? The writer of Hebrews tells us, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him"(Hebrews 11:6). In other words, if you go to God and ask Him for anything, you have to believe it and go about your business, trusting Him to work on your behalf. Paul said, " For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:24-27). The Centurion said to Jesus, "Just speak the word and my servant shall be healed." He was a man of faith. He believed that whatever Jesus said, it was going to happen. Can you extend your faith to that range? That no matter what you ask Jesus to do, if it's according to His will, when He speaks, it will happen? We must remember that faith without works is dead. Always remember that Jesus said, "All things are possible to him that can believe."

Sing: Faith can move mountains. Mountains of fear and of doubt. Faith can move mountains, so why don't you try your faith out!