Manna Publications

Daily Manna for Mondays to Fridays

Editor's choice of Bible teaching

We invite you to use our free, mobile-friendly daily Bible teaching devotions written in worldwide easy English. These Manna devotionals are prepared daily (Monday to Friday) at 06:00 hours, then uploaded at approximately 07:30 hours GMT.

It was the last wish of Fred Morris, Manna Publications author, to his editorial team that, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, "Old Testament teachings should be viewed in the light of their New Testament fulfilment and that New Testament teachings should be viewed in the context of God's purposes and promises expressed in the Old Testament and then applied to today". These daily devotionals are useful for Bible teaching topics and sermon ideas from random places in the Old and New Tetaments. They will help build up a broader picture of God's word at the time it was written and for today.

18th April 2025

Isaiah 12. In the previous chapters, God’s prophet tells of judgement, salvation and Israel’s promised Messiah. He then gives this song of praise to the LORD God Almighty. “LORD, we will praise You. You were angry with us. But now Your anger has turned away from us. And you have brought us comfort. God, you are the one who saves us. We will trust in You. Then we will not be afraid. LORD, You are the one who gives us strength. You are the one who keeps us safe. LORD, You have saved us… Sing to the LORD. He has done glorious things. Let it be known all over the world. Sing for joy! The Holy One of Israel is among you. And He is great.”

Matthew 24:12-14, 23-24. In the hours leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus warned His followers, “Because evil will grow, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who remains strong in the faith will be saved. This Good News of the Kingdom of God will be preached in the whole world. It will be a witness to all nations. Then the end will come… At that time some may say to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ Or, ‘There he is!’ Do not believe it! False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will do great signs and miracles. They will try to fool God’s chosen people if possible.”

Thank You Father God for your Old and New Testament prophecies. You have “done glorious things”. “Your anger has turned away from us” and brought us salvation through Israel’s Messiah. In these days when “evil will grow” help us to remember the warning of Jesus to “remain strong in the faith” and not be deceived by false prophets or messiahs. Help us to uphold the teaching of Jesus in Revelation 3:11, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have. Then no-one will take away your crown.” Thank You Jesus for suffering on the cross for our salvation. Amen.

Weekend Manna for Saturdays and Sundays

What Fred said in his Bible teaching

These are extracts from Manna Publications Bible teaching commentaries by the late Fred Morris, based on the easy English NIrV Bible. These are selected and uploaded every Saturday by 8.30 hours GMT.

Weekend of 5th/6th April 2025

1 Samuel Chapter 9: Samuel meets and anoints Saul as King of Israel

This is the story of how God, in His mercy, heard the cries of His people. He saved them from the Philistines and arranged for the prophet Samuel to meet Saul. God chose Saul to be Israel’s king. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel. He was not known to most of the people.

When his father’s donkeys ran off, Saul took a servant with him and went to look for them, but they did not find them. They came near to Samuel’s town. Saul wanted to go back home. “My father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us” (9:5).

His servant replied, “There is a man of God here in Ramah. Everything he says comes true… Perhaps he will tell us what way to go” (9:6). Samuel was High Priest in Israel, but Saul did not know him. Saul agreed to go.

Before Saul and his servant reached the top of the hill, Samuel met them. They did not know him so they asked, “Please tell us where the house of the seer [prophet] is” (9:18). The day before, God had told Samuel: “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man. He is from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the king of My people Israel. He will save them from the power of the Philistines. I have seen how much my people are suffering. Their cry for help has reached Me” (9:16).

When Samuel saw a man coming towards him, God spoke to Samuel again. He said, “He is the man I told you about. His name is Saul. He will govern My people” (9:17).

Saul approached Samuel at the gate of the town. He asked Samuel, “Can you please show me the seer’s house?” (9:18). “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go on up to the high place ahead of me. I want you and your servant to eat with me today. Tomorrow morning I will send you on your way. Do not worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago. They have already been found” (9:19-20).

Then Samuel told Saul his father’s family will meet the needs of all Israel (9:20). Saul replied, “I am from the smallest tribe of Israel. My family is the least important in the whole tribe of Benjamin. Why do you say such a thing to me?” (9:21). God often raises up people who are not important. He sees what is possible by looking into people’s hearts.

‘Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the [eating] room. He seated them at the head table. About 30 people were invited’ (9:22).

After that, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of Samuel’s house (9:25). The next day, Samuel anointed Saul as future king of Israel.

Extracted from “SAMUEL AND SAUL” Bible teaching commentary by Fred Morris, © 2000, 2021. [view here]

Our Prayers of praise to God

Father God and Creator in Heaven, we thank and praise You for Your love and mercy in forgiving and saving us through the sacrifice of Your Son and Saviour, Jesus the Christ and Messiah. Thank You for His promised Holy Spirit at work in the lives of those who repent and believe and among fellowships of true believers. Keep us faithful as Bible-believing witnesses of Your purpose in Christ to establish Your Kingdom on Earth as in Heaven. Forgive our disobedience, fears and doubts. Provide our daily needs while awaiting His return, and bring help and forgiveness to others through Christ's resurrection power and through Christ's compassion at work in our lives. Grant us perseverance during famines, plagues, storms and persecution as we study and teach and distribute Your Bible teaching.

Thank You for the amazing worldwide growth of the Church over the past two thousand years and for the part that Manna Publications has played in this 21st Century. Accept our praise for the funding, printing and distribution of Manna Bible teaching commentaries written by the late Fred Morris currently in Armenia, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Tanzania, Zambia and worldwide through this website. Amen.

Also read the daily prayers for blessing God's people who are persecuted or traumatised by climate change, plagues, terrorists or wars. They are provided by Barnabas Aid for the worldwide, suffering church.