Manna
God's Word and the Lord's Supper are sources of spiritual food, but there is a better life available when we arise and go to the Father to claim our birthright and be filled with the Spirit.
In this sermon by J. Wilbur Chapman, he draws parallels between the journey of the children of Israel in the wilderness and the Christian's spiritual journey. Just like the Israelites received manna from heaven as sustenance, Christians are provided with spiritual food through God's Word and the Lord's Supper. Despite partaking in these blessings, many Christians still feel a sense of lack and unrest, struggling with sin and inconsistency. Chapman emphasizes the need for Christians to fully surrender to God, seek His Spirit, and claim their birthright as children of God to possess the abundant life He has promised.
Text
As the children of Israel journeyed on from Elim, they were very hungry, and they began to murmur. They sighed for the things of Egypt once again, and at last God sent to them from the skies heavenly manna.
"Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily."
They gathered it each day, and the supply was never exhausted. This is surely a type of what the Christian has given to him as spiritual food.
First of all, there is God's Word; it has been a sweet morsel to us. Secondly, the Lord's Supper; it has been both meat and drink to our hungry souls. All this has been ours, but there seems to be something lacking in the lives of many. The blessings our hearts have longed for seem still to tarry. Is there not yet something to be obtained?
Could you not say, reader: "My Christian life has been like this: Jesus, my Passover Lamb, shed His blood for me, and I have accepted Him as my personal sacrifice. So far as I knew the way, I entered into His death to keep me from the power of sin. The Red Sea experience has been mine. I have been both at the bitter waters of Marah and beneath the palm trees of Elim. I have fed my soul on the heavenly manna, and the Lord's Table has been to me a perfect delight. And yet! and yet! I am filled with unrest, I am constantly suffering defeat, I am full of envy, I am the victim of pride, I am always inconsistent."
I doubt not but that this is the experience of many Christians. Is there anything better? YES, there remaineth yet much land to be possessed. This was true for Israel, and this leads me to the most important step of all this lesson.
I need not be miserable. God did not intend that I should be defeated. He cannot be pleased to have me discouraged. It is against His own name that I should be living in Egypt. I am like the prodigal in this. I will be like him in one thing more-- "I will arise and go to my Father," and I will say unto Him: "Father, I have been a disobedient child. I now come to Thee to claim my birthright. Fill me with Thy Spirit."
Reader, can you subscribe to this?
Sermon Outline
- I. The Promise of Heavenly Manna
- A. God's provision for the Israelites
- B. A type of spiritual food for Christians
- II. The Blessings of God's Word
- A. A sweet morsel for the soul
- III. The Lord's Supper
- A. Meat and drink for the hungry soul
- IV. The Experience of Many Christians
- A. Defeat, envy, pride, and inconsistency
- V. The Possibility of a Better Life
- A. There remaineth yet much land to be possessed
- VI. The Call to Arise and Go to the Father
- A. Claiming the birthright and being filled with the Spirit
Key Quotes
“Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or no.” — J. Wilbur Chapman
“I will arise and go to my Father, and I will say unto Him: 'Father, I have been a disobedient child. I now come to Thee to claim my birthright. Fill me with Thy Spirit.'” — J. Wilbur Chapman
Application Points
- As a Christian, I do not have to be miserable or defeated; God did not intend for me to be discouraged.
- I can arise and go to the Father to claim my birthright and be filled with the Spirit.
- There remaineth yet much land to be possessed in my Christian life, and I can pursue it by seeking God's guidance and provision.