THE GRACIOUS TONGUE..:

"Thou art fairer than the children of men: [for] grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever" (Psa 45:2).

Many do not realize the blessed truth that the more grace a man has in his mouth while on earth, the more beauty his resurrected body will have. If you have a bad mouth you wil have an ugly body after resurrection. Remember, that body is going to be eternal! 'God blessing a man for ever' depends also on the grace poured into his lips.

The next verse is more insightful and revealing: "Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O MOST MIGHTY, with thy glory and thy majesty" (Psa 45:3). A saint who has grace poured into his lips will find his tongue to be like a two-edged sword (the Word of God), and HE WILL BE MOST MIGHTY, CROWNED WITH GLORY AND MAJESTY! Does not this also prove that if you have a foul mouth, you are bound to be most weak, and filled with shame and misery?

About Jesus, it is stated that gracious words proceeded out of His mouth (Lk 4:22). "His mouth is most sweet: yea, [therefore] He is altogether lovely" (S.S. 5:16). The reason the officers gave to the Pharisees for not arresting Jesus, is most inspiring: "NEVER MAN SPAKE LIKE THIS MAN" (Jn 7:45, 46). Even the enemies of Christ had a testimony about the gracious words that proceeded out of Him.

Dear reader, in Eternity, your eternal beauty and eternal blessings will depend on the grace you had in your lips.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

GOD'S LOVE AND PITY..:

"And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life" (Gen 3:17).

Here we see how God in His mercy doesn't curse the man but the ground - so that he may not put his trust in this earth but in God, so that he may not set his affection on the ground or on the earth. God didn't send man to a place of torment either, but to a place of toil; not to the grave, but to the ground - to humble him.

In verse 21 we see the motherly nature of God again. Though man had fallen into sin and had started to rebel against God in his words and deeds, and was trying to hide from Him, God makes coats for him. It was not man who asked for clothes, but God who felt the need for it. So also, it is not we sinners who feel the need for salvation, but God Who felt it and hence came down from heaven to clothe us with salvation. God did not just give them the garments, but 'clothed them' like a mother would. The Almighty God Himself made the coats, and not any angel. What a great love God had for the fallen man! How much He pitied him and his miserable state!

Finally, again in mercy, the Lord sent man out of the garden - see verse 22 - so that he may not eat of the tree of life and live for ever in his fallen condition. God's knowledge of evil doesn't tempt Him to commit evil, as He is perfect in character. But man's knowledge of evil without character is dangerous. Therefore, if his life-span had not been curtailed, his wickedness would have been very great on the earth. Also, now that his life-span is curtailed, his sorrows and miseries brought by his own sin would have an end.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

HOW TO KNOW THE MIND OF GOD?

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (I Cor 2:9).
What a glorious and gracious plan God has kept for us! Now the most important question is, can we know what God has planned for us? Yes, we can, for, the next verse says, "But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit" (I Cor 2:10). Many children of God, have failed to know the plan of God, and have surrendered themselves to the plan of the devil or to their own plans, and have destroyed themselves.

What should we do to know the will of God and walk in the plan of God? When we were born, our thoughts were pure. However, we allowed evil thoughts to corrupt and defile our minds. Every evil thought is like a black spot that stains our pure mind. As we continue to defile our mind like that, the 'black spots' increase and make our mind altogether corrupt. Although God's plans are glorious, we may get to know them only if our mind is pure and spotless.

Dear child of God, it is true you want God's plan to be fulfilled in your life, but there is only one way for you to know the plan of God. Conquer every evil thought by the blood of the Lamb and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let your mind be clean and pure so that God can write on it what He has planned for you, and so that you may find the grace for fulfilling His plans. Then your Christian life will be 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.'

- TPM "Morning Manna"

BLESSING WHILE DYING..!

"By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff" (Heb 11:21).

True saints should be a blessing, and not a burden, even while dying. Jacob was a blessing while dying. He blessed both the sons of Joseph while dying. Faith helps us to be a blessing.

"By faith...Jacob worshipped." Faith helps us to worship the Lord in the Spirit and in truth till our last breath. How did Jacob worship? Leaning on the top of his staff. 'Leaning on the top of the staff' shows trusting in the highest promises of God. This is another fruit of faith. Jacob had the privilege and freedom to worship his God till the last moment, as Jesus did. [Jesus committed His Spirit to God while dying.] At the time of his death, Jacob was in a heathen land with pagan gods all around, and yet he preserved his faith. True worshippers are truly a blessing to others till their last moment.

"Jacob blessed both the children of Joseph." He blessed with both his hands. Jesus did the same. See Luke 24:50. This is a shadow of blessing others with spiritual blessings and material blessings.

May the Lord grant us the grace to worship the Lord till our last moment - if the Lord tarries and it pleases the Lord to take us to our heavenly home by death.

- TPM Morning Manna

BE ANGRY AND SIN NOT..!

Some people find an excuse to nurse anger in the verse, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Eph 4:26). Commenting on this, a man of God rightly states, "He that would be angry and sin not must not be angry with anything but sin."
Some Christians excuse their anger, calling it 'righteous indignation.' Scripturally, 'righteous indignation' indicates 'furious zeal' for God, and is expressed when one is filled with the Holy Spirit. For example, St.Paul, "filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. And said, O full of all subtility and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13:9,10

"Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." This should not be taken as a scriptural sanction to be angry and resentful until sunset. The Lord may come before sunset and you may be left behind. By losing his temper, a child of God experiences in his life, the 'sunset' of the Sun of Righteousness Who is the True Light, thereby ushering in spiritual darkness. Therefore, "cease from anger and forsake wrath" (Psa 37:8).

- TPM "Morning Manna"

OUR POSITION IN CHRIST...:

"Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man" (Gen 2:23).
Though Adam did not know or feel that one of his ribs had been taken out, he was able to discern it in his spirit. It was not necessary for anyone to introduce the woman to the man and tell him his responsibilities towards his wife. When we walk with God, we will be able to understand what our position in the Church is, and also our duties in our spiritual life. "The anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you" (I Jn 2:27).

"Bone of my bone" - 'Bone' in the original tongue also means 'substance'. Adam is a type of Christ. The Bride of Christ has the same substance (life or character) as that of Christ. God is preparing a group of saints who have the very life and character of Christ.

"She was taken out of Man" - What a great sacrifice Adam had to make to get a bride - one of his vital bones was taken out! To take out a rib, the side has to be pierced. Jesus Christ our Bridegroom was pierced on His side and His agonizing sacrifice formed the Church of Christ. What a dowry He paid for us!

Not only is the Bride 'taken out of' Christ, but all that the Bride has too - all the blessings - are in Him. We have been made to sit in heavenly places IN Christ and we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings IN Christ (Eph 2:6; 1:3). Apart from Christ we are nothing and we have nothing.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

GRACE UPON GRACE...:

In the New Testament, there is double grace - "grace upon grace" (Jn 1:16 - another translation). We need grace to forgive the person who has wronged us, and another grace to love him. Some have only one grace - "I forgive him, but I cannot love him." Some cannot even forgive.

The double grace to forgive and love, comes from humility, for, God gives grace to the humble. One important nature of God is humility. "Thous art a God that hidest Thyself" (Isa 45:15). Since God is humble He can forgive and love even the worst sinner. It is because we are proud that we cannot forgive others and love them.

Once a soldier got saved, and his life completely changed. One day he came to his bed (tired after duty) and bowed his head to pray. Another soldier, an atheist, got angry and kicked him on the head with his shoe on. But the other soldier continued to pray. The next morning the soldier who kicked his fellowsoldier got saved. How? When he got up he saw that the Christian soldier had polished his shoes. That moved the atheist and made him want to give up his bad ways.

Child of God, how much grace do you have? Do you have 'grace upon grace', or are you struggling with feelings of resentment, anger and bitterness? Do you want forgiveness and love to flow out of you unbidden when you are wronged and hurt? Humble yourself and you can have that double grace.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME...!

Yes, God is good all the time if we know just one secret - "TRULY GOD IS GOOD... EVEN TO SUCH AS ARE OF A CLEAN HEART" (Psa 73:1). Oh, how wonderful it would be if the whole world came to know this blessed secret: GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME -

in winter times and summer times,
birth days and death days,
funeral days and festival days,
feasting days and fasting days,
mourning days and dancing days,
days of prosperity and days of poverty,
days of trials and days of triumphs,
sick days and healthy days!
However, there is only one condition: KEEP THE HEART CLEAN!
Although David was a man of God who loved the Lord and walked with God, one day he lost his purity of heart. Then he had so much agony that it was as if all his bones were being broken; he lost all his joy. Thank God, he knew the secret of restoration and cried out, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psa 51:10).

How sad it is that millions of people, including many Christians, are ignorant of the fact that a wrong spirit (getting irritated, angry, etc.) is the result of an unclean heart! When the heart is clean, the spirit will be right.

Dear friend, are you looking for a way out of your bitter trials? Do you want God to turn them all into sweet and blessed experiences? Keeping the heart clean is the secret of a joyful life flowing with milk and honey.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

CURIOUSLY WROUGHT...:

I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth" (Psa 139:15) 

God still wants to make true saints in secret. One day it is going to be a real surprise and shock to everyone, to find some people whom the world thought to be great saints, in the pit of hell, and some others who were despised and rejected by the world, as the finest saints in eternity.

God wants His saints to live hidden in Christ - "your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col 3:3). All the glorious blessings of Psalm 91 are only for those who "dwell in the secret place of the most High". Saints who live in the secret place of the most High will renounce secret sins. O, what a blessed thing it is to live a hidden life in Christ leaving the glamour and glories of this sinful world!

The Amplified Bible says, "intricately and curiously wrought" (as if embroidered with various colours) in the depths of the earth [region of darkness and mystery]." If God has planned to make you a great saint with various beautiful colours or perfections, He may take you through 'the lowest parts of the earth' or utter humiliating situations, like the ones Jesus Himself had to go through. The Lord may also take you through such dark regions or periods that at least for some time things may appear a mystery to you. All these are foundations of the mansions of glory. "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires" (Isa 54:11).

By the grace of God, after we have gone through all the dark and humiliating paths, being hidden in Him, finally we will be able to exclaim, "I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well!" (Psa 139:14).

- TPM Morning Manna

THE WEAPON OF LOVE

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (Isa 54:17).

If no weapon that is formed against us should prosper or overcome us, we must have a greater and mightier weapon than the weapons formed against us. What is this weapon? It is the love of God. When we learn to love our enemies with forgiving love, that heavenly love can conquer all the powers of darkness coming against us.

The enemy, the devil, may have many weapons, including "fiery darts" (Eph 6:16). Look at the challenging words in the Song of Solomon: "Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it" (S.S. 8:7). Many waters speak of the rejections, humiliations, accusations, hatred, persecutions, etc. coming against us. When we are filled with Calvary's undying and unchanging love, these weapons or trials are no doubt but straw before the fire.

"Love is strong as death" (S.S 8:6). In a deep sense, God's love is stronger than death. Death is the last enemy. If it is possible to conquer the last enemy through the love of God, surely all other enemies and weapons can be easily conquered by love.

Perhaps today you are confronted with many of the enemy's weapons. The only way to become more than a conqueror over these trials or troubles is to be filled with Calvary's pure love. Are you able to love those who insult you, humiliate you, persecute you, reject you, despise you, deceive you, or deprive you of your money and goods? IF SO, you are more than a CONQUEROR.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

'NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD'

"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." (Gen 3:3).
 
The woman described the treee as 'the tree which is in the midst of the garden' instead of 'the tree of the knowledge of good and evil' as stated by God. Obviously, she speaks of the tree as being in the midst of the garden, because it was in the midst of her heart's lust. She might have also intended to convey that the best of God was in the midst of the garden and that she was debarred from enjoying it. By that she was questioning the love and kindness of God.

We know from the Word of God that all that was created on the earth was for the use of man (including the tree of knowledge of good and evil). But man was supposed to eat of the fruits of all the other trees first, and, after he was mature enough, to eat this fruit also. 'Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb 5:14). So it is very clear that the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil belonged to those who had 'full age', which our first forefathers did not have when they tasted it.

Let us not misunderstand the ways of God or doubt the plan of God for our life. Let us be filled with the love of God and place our trust in God. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

- Morning Manna

Drawing Power of the Blood of Jesus

Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
 
In one sense, the blood of Christ has the greatest magnetic power in the world. Just as a magnet draws an iron piece to itself, the blood of Jesus draws a sinner to Jesus. [A magnet may draw an iron piece to itself, but the magnet cannot transform the iron piece into a magnet. But the blood of Christ can not only draw a sinner to Christ, but also transform the sinner into a saint!

When you really repent of all your sins and are washed in the blood of Christ, the blood has power to bring you very close to the Lord – “made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

Living presence of God is feeling God all over you. If you want to speak something wrong, you find God virtually closing your mouth. You feel as if you can reach out and touch God. He becomes so real and so near. Psalm 139 speaks beautifully about the manifest presence of God or the immediate presence of God. David says, “There is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (Psa 139:4-6). The manifest presence of God is such a unique experience; even the thoughts are checked when they are far away. And, in this presence there is fullness of joy and eternal pleasures.

The blood of Jesus Christ is able to bring us so close to God as to enable us to have these beautiful experiences. In other words, the blood of Jesus will enable every fibre of our being, including our words, deeds, thoughts, imaginations, etc. to be directed and dominated by God’s presence every moment. Oh, what a wonderful power there is in the blood of Jesus! Even the holy angels cannot comprehend this.

Let us claim this glorious experience available through the precious blood of Jesus. Its power will never fail; its power will never be in vain. Even all through Eternity we will be praising the power in the blood of Christ!

“Saviour, more than life to me,
I am clinging, clinging close to Thee;
Let Thy precious Blood applied,
Keep me ever, ever near Thy side.”

- TPM Morning Manna

ANGER - THE SPIRIT OF MURDER

“Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell… Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Gen 4:5,8)

When your face (countenance) changes, beware – a murderous spirit might be entering into you, and it could lead you into killing your own brother or sister!

Dear child of God, do you realize that when you are angry and upset and your face changes, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you”? Many of God’s children have not realized that wrath is the spirit of murder. When this foul spirit entered into Saul, he wanted to kill innocent David (I Sam 18:8,11). Herod, in his fury, slew thousands of babes under two years (Matt 2:16). And Pharoah, furious with Israel, slew all their male children (Exo 1:22).

When Simeon and Levi, the sons of Jacob were furious with the Shechemites, they hid their anger in their hearts and outwardly showed themselved to be friendly, even to the extent of suggesting marriage ties with them. However, after a few days, when they found an opportune moment, they massacred all the males in the country. [Perhaps the worst form of anger is keeping resentment and bitterness in the heart and pretending to be godly and friendly on the outside.] Their wrath was so detestable that even their own father, when in his deathbed, instead of blessing them, said, “Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations… for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel” (Gen 49:5-7).

Dear reader, do not wait for the demonic spirit of anger to destroy both you and others. Flee to God with a broken and contrite heart. God, in His mercy, can renew a right spirit within you (Psa 51:10). Instead of your face becoming black with anger, let it be changed into a glory with grace.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb 10:25).

Here the 'day approaching' signifies the Coming of the Lord. What the writer of the epistle wanted to emphasize was that, as the Coming of the Lord is approaching, we should meet together and have fellowship with one another more than before. If this was so two thousand years ago how much more careful we should be now, not to neglect our meeting together in fellowship and worship, seeing we are in the last moments before the Coming of the Lord!

Once a young man named Jacob was going from one village to another village on a Sunday morning. He had to cross a forest. As he walked along a thief caught him and demanded all his money. Jacob pleaded with the thief asking him to release him as he had no money. The thief threatened to kill him if he did not hand over the money. Then Jacob again pleaded with him saying that he was a Pentecostal believer and did not tell lies. Immediately the thief took him by the throat and angrily said, "Then you ought to be in church now, this being a Sunday morning!" Jacob was cornered and had nothing to say. "Hereafter, will you regularly go to church?" demanded the thief. To this Jacob readily agreed. Then the thief asked, "Do you pay tithes?" Jacob was shocked. He hadn't expected a question like this from a thief. He had already said that, being a Pentecostal man he didn't tell lies. So he meekly said. "No, I don't pay tithes." The thief got very angry. Shaking him like a rabbit he shouted, "Hereafter, will you faithfully pay your tithes." He hurriedly agreed and the thief let him go. The next Sunday Jacob came to church and gave a testimony about this incident during the service. His life was changed and he later became a very good servant of God.

Do not wait to be caught by "the thief" before starting to go to church and paying your tithes.

- TPM Morning Manna

"The Lord planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed" (Gen 2:8).

God kept man in a special place of comfort and delight. 'Eden' itself means 'delight' and the garden in it added to the delight. This is a type of the Church. When we are born again and born of water and of the Spirit, the Lord puts us in His Church. This delights us, and God also delights in us.

"The man whom He had formed" - The Lord puts in the Church people in whom He has done some work of formation (transformation of the old nature and formation of divine nature). "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Eph 2:10).

God planted the garden in Eden for man - to provide him with food, shelter and protection and to meet all his needs. Similarly, God has placed man in the Church to give him spiritual food, refuge in the secret place of the Most High, and protection from the powder of darknes, and to meet all his other spiritual needs. Man committed sin and was sent out of the garden, and that ended his delight-filled life.

Let us remain in the 'garden' God has put us in. Let us surrender ourselves into His hands to be moulded according to His desire, like clay in the hands of a potter. Our loving God has made provision for all our needs to be met. Let us stay where God has placed us and keep our life free from sin and worldliness.

- TPM Morning Manna

The meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way" (Psa 25:9).

God will guide only meek people. He will not give His guidance to bad-tempered or hot-tempered people. That is why God took away His guidance from Moses after he lost his temper. All along, when he remained meek, the Lord never failed to give him His counsel; but when he lost his meek spirit, God said, "You are not going to Canaan and you are not going to lead the people to Canaan either." "Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory," the Psalmist says with assurance (Psa 73:24). If we walk in meekness, meekly enduring all the reproaches, rejections and persecutions that we face, the Lord will keep giving us His counsel till we reach His presence. We'll never stumble or lose our way.

Some children of God get angry and say, "It's only righteous anger, godly anger." Well, God cannot teach you anything. "Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart," He says. The Lord can teach only the meek.

David always got the counsel of God because he always maintained a humble and meek disposition. "My sheep hear My voice... and they follow Me," said Jesus (Jn 10:27). If we're not following the Lord just like sheep meekly follow their shepherd, we cannot expect the Lord to guide us with His counsel.

- TPM Morning Manna

WHY THESE TRIALS..?

The lion that David faced when he was alone, typifies trials that come against our personal life. Goliath, being the common enemy of Israel, signifies the trials that come against the people of God or the Church collectively. Had David been defeated by the lion, or had he been too timid to face it, he would not have had the courage to face Goliath and the Philistines. Unless we take the victory in the trials and temptations that come against our personal spiritual life, we cannot conquer the Goliaths that confront the people of God, and protect the Church.

David's victory over the lion that roared against him when he was young, was the first step on the way to the throne. Child of God, remember, the throne of God awaits the overcomers.

The young lion that Samson faced, yielded him sweet honey in the end - which he 'went on eating', and which he gave to his parents also (Judg 14:8,9). Just as Samson 'went on eating' sweet honey, let us go on tasting and eating God's love in the midst of our trials. "O taste and see that the Lord is good." Let us share this 'honey experience' with others also.

The purpose of God in permitting trials in our lives is, not to make our lives bitter, but truly better and sweeter, and to strengthen the dear ones with us.

"There's nothing God permits in grace
That ever comes in vain;
He has a shining 'afterward'
For every cloud of rain!"

- TPM Morning Manna

LIVE IN THE SPIRIT...:

"It is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh" (Dan 2:11).

Although these Chaldeans were not aware of the true God, they knew that there were 'gods' or, saints who do not dwell in the flesh. They also knew that rare things or hidden truths can be revealed only to such saints. Later on, it was proved that Daniel was such a man.

The Lord wants saints "whose dwelling is not with flesh" - to reveal to them the deep truths and hidden mysteries in His Word. St.Paul says, "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you" (Rom 8:9). Daniel had an excellent spirit (Dan 6:3). The Lord has filled us with His Holy Spirit so that we may live in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

Dear child of God, if you live in the Spirit, the Lord will reveal to you deep things that are hidden to the wise people of this world.

The king's word was, "If ye will not make known unto me the dream with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces." If we do not live in the Spirit and have deep spiritual insight and revelation, we are sure to fall prey to the devil and his vices. "To be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom 8:6).

- TPM Morning Manna

WORK OF ABUNDANT GRACE...:

"God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven" (Gen 1:20).

Waters show grace. The grace of God which is in us is able to bring forth ABUNDANTLY 'moving creatures' i.e. redeemed souls who can move the world for the glory of God. 'That hath life' - By receiving abundant grace we can bring forth an abundance of souls who can move others also in a chain-reaction.

"And fowl that may fly above the earth" - Souls who live a higher heavenly life are also formed by abundant grace. Such people CAN JUST FLY AWAY WHEN JESUS COMES. 'Fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven' - We cannot live or fly above the world unless we have the vision of an open heaven.

Child of God, God's abundant grace in us can do great things in us and through us. Let us not frustrate the grace that is bestowed on us. Let us keep dying to our self and allow the grace of God to work in our lives, so that we may be able to say like St Paul, "His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain."

- TPM Morning Manna

LET 'TERAH' DIE...!

"Terah took Abram... and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran and dwelt there... and Terah died in Haran" (Gen 11:31,32).

Although God spoke to Abraham and told him to leave everything and go to Canaan, Abraham could not go to Canaan till Terah died. 'Terah' means 'delay'. Terah made Abraham stay in Haran, that is, halfway through to Canaan. If 'Terah' lives in your life you will have only a half-hearted devotion to Christ. This is very true in many of God's people today. 'Terah', the spirit of procrastination or the spirit of delay, ruins many lives. They end up in Haran and not in Canaan. Canaan denotes the fulness of the blessings of the gospel. If 'Terah' is alive in your life, you may even stop short of a heavenly Canaan.

Many a saint has been destroyed by the spirit of delay. The angels of God had warned Lot in the evening that he should leave Sodom quickly with all his family, as fire was going to destroy that city; but 'he lingered' we read, till the next morning. We all know about the consequent disaster that struck his family. Indeed, our King's business requires haste.

Today, let your 'Terah' die - so you can march on to the land of Canaan.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

LOOK TO JESUS...!

When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me” (Matt 14:30).

Peter took several steps on the water looking at Jesus, but the moment he saw the boisterous wind, he was afraid and began to sink. While faith stablishes, fear makes us sink. When walking on the water, Peter understood the strength of Christ that was able to keep him from sinking; when he took his eyes off the Lord he understood that his own weakness prevented him from keeping himself above the waters, that is, above the world. In the course of our trials, which may prolong for some period of time, we often come to an understanding of the power of Christ and the weakness of our faith.

"Beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Peter did the right thing here. Though he was sinking due to lack of faith, he knew Jesus was the only One Who could save him. There were eleven other disciples very near him in the ship, but he did not resort to them or request their help. "Vain is the help of man." Many resort to human remedies in their sicknesses and trials and become disillusioned, and fall into despair.

Perhaps you are about to sink in the sea of trials and troubles. Do not look at your weaknesses and at your trials, for that will make your fearful and make you sink. Look to the Lord alone and don't seek any human help. Look at the power of Christ.

"Look away to Jesus! Look away from all;
Then ye need not falter, then ye shall not fall
From each snare that lureth, foe or phantom grim
Safety thus insureth; look away to Him!"

- TPM "Morning Manna"

THE RIGHT PLACE TO GIVE...:

The first man to give tithe was Abraham. No one taught him this truth. Obviously, he learned the grace and glory in giving when the God of glory appeared to him (Gen 14:18-20).

Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. We too should give tithes to Melchizedek - "without father, without mother, without descent..." (Heb 7:3). Jesus taught this consecration to His disciples - "If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Lk 14:26). THOSE WHO HAVE NOT THUS CONSECRATED THEMSELVES ARE NOT SCRIPTURALLY FIT TO RECEIVE TITHES.

Before Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine (which is a type of giving Holy Communion). This shows that tithes should be given at the place where a believer worships and receives Holy Communion. Some think that tithes can be given where the need is most. But the Word of God says, "Unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose... thither ye shall bring... your tithes" (Deut 12:5,6).

Before Abraham gave tithes, he was blessed - Blessed be the most high God, Which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave Him tithes of all." Our giving tithes is a sign of gratitude and an acknowledgement that God has blessed us and given us victory over our enemy, the devil.

One older man testified that the Lord blessed him so much after he started giving tithes that he gradually kept increasing his giving to the Lord from one-tenth to nine-tenths! "Bring ye all the tithes... 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" (Malachi 3:10).

- TPM "Morning Manna"

THE SECRET OF GREAT SPIRITUAL STRENGTH...:

"There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb; if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man" (Judg 16:17).

Samson had a great, high calling. Before he was born an angel appeared to his mother and told her about his birth. Even his manner of life and his calling to be a judge were foretold. Despite all this, Samson's life and ministry turned out to be an utter failure. He lost all his strength and his anointing. He could not deliver the people of Israel from the bondage of the Philistines. He eventually committed suicide. Why? Had God failed to fulfil His plan concerning him? No, rather, Samson failed God by allowing a razor (sin) to come upon his head (thoughts).

We may have a great high calling on our life and God may have planned great things for us. However, there is a part that we have to play for God to fulfil His plan. We must keep our lives in purity.

Samson failed to keep his Nazarite vow and miserably failed God, but thank God, there was someone else in the Old Testament who kept his Nazarite vow. It was Samuel. His mother Hannah made a vow, saying, "If Thou wilt... give unto Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and THERE SHALL NO RAZOR COME UPON HIS HEAD" (I Sam 1:11). Samuel kept this vow till the end of his life. As a result, he was given a multiple ministry that no one in the Old Testament had. Samuel was priest, prophet, and judge - three blessed ministries were bestowed on him, and in all these three offices he was outstanding. If we, like Samuel, will not let a razor come upon our head, if we do not let sin enter our thoughts, the Lord will richly bless us and make us a blessing to everyone.

Dear friend, perhaps today you feel like a Samson. You might have repeatedly given room to sinful thoughts and defiled your mind and failed God. Repent and come to the Lord. In this Grace Period, God can change a Samson into a Samuel.

- TPM Morning Manna

AN ENDLESS MORNING...:

God's work of creation ended in an endless morning: "And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the MORNING were the sixth day" (Gen 1:31). Thank God, we do not find an evening in the seventh day: "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all the work which He had made" (Gen 2:2).

Man's work usually finishes in the evening, but God's, in the BRIGHT MORNING which will be most glorious (when He appears for His glorious Church). It is therefore no wonder that, the meaning and mission of God's first message, "Let there be light" (Gen 1:3), is to be accomplished only in HIS LAST MESSAGE, "Surely I come quickly" (Rev 22:20).

Jesus, 'the True Light which lighteth every man' has already come once to this darkened world to dispel the darkness of sin, but the second time the same Sun of righteousness shall arise for those who have been delivered from the power of darkness and become the children of light.

"Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee LIGHT" (Eph 5:14).

May the glorious light of the gospel keep shining in our hearts, changing us from glory to glory till we are completely lost in that great glorious Light - JESUS CHRIST! Amen.

- TPM Morning Manna

SUBTLE PRIDE...:

Judas Iscariot was one who was puffed up with pride. He was so proud that he indirectly rebuked Jesus. He said that the ointment that was poured at the feet of Jesus should have been sold and the money used for the poor - as if he knew better than Jesus Himself! Perhaps Judas had the worst form of spiritual pride any man can have. Aren't we also guilty of thinking we are better than others?

Look at the way Judas died. Like Saul, he tried to commit suicide; but from the Scripture, it is obvious that he failed in his attempt. "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out" (Acts 1:18). From this we can gather that while Judas was hanging (on a rope), the rope snapped and as he fell, a sharp stone or something on the ground cut such a deep gash in his abdomen that all his bowels gushed out. Just think of his state, lying there on the ground where he fell. It must have been a most horrible sight too. Beware of subtle forms of pride!

When a proud person prays, it is not Jesus but Satan who stands at his right hand. His prayer not only displeases God, but also becomes sin! We read this regarding Judas Iscariot - "Let Satan stand at his right hand... let his prayer become sin" (Psa 109:6,7).

May the Holy Spirit enlighten us to see the pride lurking in our lives. May the Lord help us to cast this demon of pride out of our lives - so that the mind of Christ may dominate our lives, bringing grace to us and to others.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

SHOUT OF VICTORY...:

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days" (Heb 11:30).

When we read the Book of Joshua we may not clearly understand how the walls of Jericho fell down. It was not because of the men who walked in front holding their weapons, nor because of the priests who blew the trumpets and carried the ark, nor was it because they walked seven days around the walls, and not even because they finally shouted. The reason is mentioned here - "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down." If they did not have faith they wouldn't have gone round the walls or shouted. They did all these things by faith and God gave them the victory. The weapon that the Lord gave them to conquer the walls of Jericho, was the weapon of faith; against it there is no weapon in the world or in the underworld. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (II Cor 10:4). In these days also we need that mighty faith to pull down the strongholds of the enemy.

When the Lord wants to do mighty things in the land, the devil may raise up 'Jericho walls' to frighten and threaten God's people. We should not be shaken by the devices of the enemy; we should by faith sound the note of victory. Canaan is for such people. Remember, they walked around the walls of Jericho for six days without seeing even a scratch appear on those huge walls. And on the seventh day, they walked seven times, about thirty-five miles in all. By that time they might have been extremely exhausted. Perhaps they did not have any strength to shout. If they didn't have faith, doubt would have mounted in them and they would have thought, "All these seven days of walking so many times did not make even a scratch on the walls. Now, when we are physically very weak, how can our shouting have any impact on them?" Their faith overcame all barriers.

Dear child of God, the Lord has given us the land; let us see it by faith and shout the victory. The Lord will do great things in those who believe; He will do great things through them.

- TPM Morning Manna

WAIT...!

"The ark rested... upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually... on the first day of the month were the tops of the mountains seen" (Gen 8:4,5).

Before the ark came to rest it was tossed to and fro on the waters, seemingly without any end or destination. The Lord had told Noah only about the imminent flood and nothing about its end. This must have been a test of his faith. He could have been alarmed at the possibility of running short of food, but we are very sure he wasn't. Noah, the man who walked with God and was perfect in his generations must have shouted on a note of triumph - "I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day!" (II Tim 1:12).

Just as Noah faithfully remained in the ark in his trial of faith, let us abide in Christ. Listen to Job's words of faith and hope as he waited for healing and deliverance: "I know that my Redeemer liveth... Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another!" (Job 19:25,27). When beset by trials sore, when problems seem to drag on endlessly, when all hope of ever seeing better days seems lost or remote, rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Fret not thyself in any wise.

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage... wait, I say, on the Lord!"

- TPM Morning Manna

DON'T WASTE YOUR BEST...:

Queen Victoria of Britain, being a godly woman, was concerned about the welfare of her subjects. She would often dress like a commoner and walk along the streets. She knocked at the door of the house of a well-to-do family living nearby, and asked whether she could borrow an umbrella. The lady who answered the door told her that she had two umbrellas an that she could lend her the old one. Queen Victoria agreed and took the old, tattered umbrella. On reaching the palace she sent a maid to return the umbrella to the lady and say that Queen Victoria thanks her for lending her the umbrella. The lady had a shock when she heard that the Queen had come to her house and she had not given her the good umbrella. She deeply regretted losing the golden chance to do the best for her Queen.

When Mary of Bethany gave the best ointment to Jesus by pouring it on Him, everyone thought it was a waste. Judas Iscariot was particularly annoyed and remarked that the money should have been used on the poor. But Jesus thought otherwise.

Anything you do for Jesus with love is never a waste but an eternal investment. The Father gave us the very best - Jesus; Jesus gave us the very best - His life. Should we not also give our best to the Lord?

Judas Iscariot regarded what Mary did for Jesus as a waste. But look at his life - he wasted his own life; he is even now wasting his life in hell and will be wasting it for all eternity.

Dear friend, give your best - your time, talents, treasure, everything to Jesus.

"Only one life, soon it will pass,
Only what's done for Christ will last,
Only one chance to do His will,
So give to Jesus all your days,
It's the only life that pays,
For you have but one life

- TPM Morning Manna

WHY LORD...?

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God" (Deut 29:29).

Many a time we ask why God allows sufferings. "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter," Jesus told Peter (Jn 13:7).

One reason why God allows sufferings is, to make us humble, to make us small and not great. God led the Israelites for forty years in the wilderness to humble them (Deut 8:2). When someone speaks evil of you, if you get angry, if you are hurt and not able to love that person, it is because of your pride! A hen can keep only one chick, and not another hen, under its wings. Unless we become small, God cannot keep us under His wings. We should not have any horns because we are going to fly. No flying bird has horns. Walk humbly with God.

Sufferings also help to change our character. (See Romans 5:3,4). 'Patience', in another translation, is character. Our sufferings are doing a beautiful work in us, forming a beautiful character in us. Our sufferings give us inner strength. So we have sufferings, not because our God hates us, but because He loves us! You may be going through a dark narrow tunnel, but at the end of the tunnel you see a light.

Don't stop your Christian life because of your sufferings - keep pressing on! Those who endured sufferings joyfully and pressed on were really blessed in the end. (Eg. Abraham, David, etc.) Those who do not like to suffer do not have a good end. (Eg. Lot, Saul, etc.) Saul did not want to suffer. He did not praise God even once. King David suffered and had a good end.

The end of our life should be glorious. If we grumble, murmur and get angry when we suffer, it will bring us no glory. GOD ALLOWS SUFFERINGS AND KEEPS WATCHING OUR ATTITUDE.

- TPM Morning Manna

DESPISE NOT YOUR HIGH CALLING...!

Come now therefore, and let us slay him (Joseph), and cast him into some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams" (Gen 37:20).

We all know that Joseph had dreams that reflected his great high calling. God clearly showed him that he would have dominion over his brothers, and that his whole family would bow before him (Gen 37:7). When we look at the trials Joseph went through, we see that they were mostly attacks on his high calling. We read, "they hated him yet the more for his dreams" (Gen 37:8).

Do we realize that the devil hates us because of our high calling, and that he is all out to attack, not our material or physical life, but our heavenly vision (high calling)? Joseph was thrown into the pit to die a miserable death so that his dreams might not be fulfilled in his life. The devil, in his attempt to thwart God's high calling in our life, may throw us into a pit, into prison-like situations.

God called the people of Israel our of Egypt and promised to take them to a land flowing with milk and honey; but when they faced a trial in the wilderness they doubted their calling (Exo 14:11). They were called to Canaan, which is a type of heaven. Since they lost the vision of their calling, they died in the wilderness. Even in this age there are some in this world (which is like a wilderness), who are losing their heavenly vision and perishing miserably.

Let us not forget our high calling in the time of trials. Let us remember that in every trial the devil is watching to see what will become of our calling.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

EFFECTS OF BACKSLIDING...:

When you backslide, your family also may backslide and suffer. When Abraham went aside to Egypt Sarah got into trouble. She was taken to Pharaoh's palace. And Pharaoh "entreated Abram well for her sake" (Gen 12:15, 16). Now Abraham is being honoured by the world. It is crystal clear from this that the way to get the admiration and honour of this world is to deny Christ or compromise with the world. Some churches sometimes compromise with the world so that the church organisation can get the help of the world government.

"And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife" (vs 17). Some imagine that it is good to compromise with worldlings. "It will do them good; we can win them for Christ," they say. You do not do any good by compromise; in fact, you bring a great plague upon Egypt.

When God's people are not faithful, God has to plague the world or send trouble to the world to get them out. It was because of His mercy that God permitted some trouble in Egypt - to drive God's people out, just as Jonah was thrown out of the ship because of the storm - for the plan of God concerning him to be fulfilled.

We learn a lot from Abraham's backsliding. If we go to Egypt (or backslide) in our trials, both we and our dear ones will have more trials, and others will also suffer unnecessarily.

Abraham finally escaped from Egypt. By the immense mercy of God, we may come out of our backsliding; however, the effects of our backsliding can be eternal. It is said that Abraham got his Eygptian wife Hagar from Egypt. Through her was born Ishmael who became a perpetual enemy of Israel. Also, though Abraham escaped, his nephew, Lot was not completely delivered from Egypt. Having tasted Egypt, he retained "Egypt" in his heart (Gen 13:10). While we may be able to come back from our backslidden state, those who are affected or influenced by us may not come back at all.

- TPM Morning Manna

A LIFE THAT COUNTS...!

"All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died" (Gen 5:27)

'Methuselah' means, 'he dies'. It is interesting to observe that the man who lived the longest always carried death with him. It is a pity that though he lived for such a very long time on the earth, it has not been recorded that he did anything - except that he begat sons and daughters! He did not do anything for the glory of God though God had given him health and other good things.

It isn't how long you live that matters, but how you live. 'Don't count your days, but make your days count.' Let each day be your masterpiece. Invest every minute you have in things of eternal value.

Once a 17-year-old girl went to be with the Lord. Her life had been a fragrant and fruitful one and everyone was sad that she was taken away in the prime of her life. One believer asked the Lord why He took her away so young. Then he had a vision. The girl was in heaven and she was being introduced by one angel to another angel. "She is 85 years old!" the angel was saying. Then the believer woke up and the Lord told him, "Though physically she was only seventeen, spiritually she reached 'full age'. I have completed My work in her; she has completed her life's work."

"The life that counts must toil and fight;
Must hate the wrong and love the right;
Must stand for truth, by day, by night -
This is the life that counts.

The life that counts must aim to rise
Above the earth to sunlit skies;
Must fix its gaze on Paradise -
This is the life that counts."

- TPM "Morning Manna"

WE CAN BE READY...!

"In a moment, in the twinking of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (I Cor 15:52).

The Lord's coming from heaven to mid-sky, the opening of the tombs, the dead saints rising from the tombs to join the Lord, and the living saints having their vile bodies changed into glorious bodies and meeting the Lord in mid-air - all these events will take place in a moment or in a split second.

How can we always be ready for that imminent and most glorious event? Can we always live in a state of readiness? Yes. Look at the encouraging text in Isaiah 27:3 "I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." This is a promise given to the saints of God or the Church of God (vs 2). The Lord has promised to keep us day and night and water us every moment. Watering us every moment shows pouring His blessings, His anointing and His grace on us every moment (including the very moment He comes).

Dear child of God, never think that it is because of your cleverness or holiness that you will go at the Coming of the Lord. By the mercies of God, we will meet Jesus when He comes.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

ARE YOU A JONAH?

"Then Jonah prayed... out of the belly of hell cried I, and Thou heardest my voice" (Jonah 2:1,2).

Here we find Jonah praying for the first time. Before deciding to sail to Tarshish he didn't pray - though sailing, in those days, was a matter of life and death. When the ship was struck by a "mighty tempest" and all the heathen mariners were crying to their gods, their worshipper of Jehovah did not pray; nay, it did not even wake him out of his deep sleep!

Then the mariners began casting lots to catch the culprit. Jonah knew he would be caught and would face terrible consequences. But even this did not move his hardened heart to pray. As expected, "the lot fell upon Jonah" and he was caught. Jonah's heart was harder than rock - he still did not seek God's face for deliverance.

It seems, despite all this, the Lord, in His mercy, was determined to bring him back to his prayer life that was long lost in his self-will. Jonah was then bound, and was about to be thrown into the raging sea to face a horrible death. But alas, Jonah seemed determined not to pray! This stubborn saint was finally thrown into the sea. Now that all he could expect was a watery grave, did he pray? No, he still did not pray! How stubborn! Even the worst person would have prayed in such a hopeless state!

However, our God did not give up on Jonah - in His effort to make him pray. The Lord prepared a large fish to swallow Jonah. In the belly of the fish, it appears, poor Jonah thought he was already in hell. "Out of the belly of hell cried I." Now he cries and prays!

"Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear -
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!"

Dear reader, how is your prayer life? If you don't come back to your first prayer life, God may have to bring you to a hell-like situation, to teach you to cry and pray! Selah.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

DOES GOD ANSWER PRAYER..?

Many children of God do not understand why God does not answer all our prayers. In one sense, God does answer all our prayers - for some prayers His answer is "Yes", for some it is "No" and for some others it is "Wait".

When answering prayer, the principle God follows is that, the answer to our prayer should make our end joyful and not sorrowful. "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL" (Jn 16:24). Yes, God wants our joy, and not our sorrow, to be full. God knows that if some of the things we ask for are granted, we will be sad at the end of our life.

One godly couple had three daughters. However, the father badly wanted a son. He fasted and prayed and cried to the Lord. The Lord very clearly revealed to him that it was not His will to give him a son, and that his daughters would be better than sons and would take care of him till the very end. But he still kept fasting and pleading with God for a son. Finally the Lord gave him a son and he became a prodigal - smoking, drinking, womanizing, etc. The father was heartbroken. He felt sorry for having insisted on having a son. As promised by the Lord, his daughters took care of him to the very end. But till death, the father was a sorrowful man because of his prodigal son. The son did not turn up even at the father's funeral.

Dear child of God, it is true that some of your sincere prayers have not been answered, but at the end you will know why God did not answer them. God wants you to have great eternal joy. So praise God for all your unanswered prayers.

- TPM "Morning Manna"

"VIRGIN MIND" NEEDED...!

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son" (Matt 1:23).

The purpose of our life is to have Christ manifested through us. And the purpose of our ministry is to help others manifest Christ. These are the important purposes of our calling. We are like the sower who went out to sow seed. That seed, in one sense, is Christ. We are sowing Christ in the hearts of others. If you help one person to become like Christ, that person will help another, and that person another. Like that we must multiply Christ.

Are you showing Christ through your character? "A virgin shall be with child." Only in a virgin mind can Christ be born. If the character of Christ is to be formed in us, we need a pure mind. We need a great longing and thirst for absolute purity.

Sarah was very old. She thought it was impossible for her to have a child. Sometimes we may be like Sarah. There may be many hindrances for Christ to be manifested through us. We may be saying, "I have made so many mistakes in my life. I am still making mistakes. I don't think my character can be changed into the character of Christ." No, we should not give up our hope and faith. It is never impossible to have the character of Christ formed in you. If you long for deep purity - even in your thoughts - the Holy Spirit will come upon you and do the work of forming Christ in you.

- TPM Morning Manna

AT THE FEET OF JESUS..:

Mary... sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word" (LK 10:39).

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is different from hearing the words of Jesus. Sitting at the feet of Jesus is different from sitting in the presence of God. We may be praying in the presence of God, but we may not be sitting at the feet of Jesus.

What is sitting at the feet of Jesus? It is taking the lowest, humblest place in our spirit and giving God the highest place, seeking only the will of God in all things. It is spending time in the presence of God yielding and submitting ourselves to the will of God.

If God has not spoken to us, it means we have not sat at the feet of Jesus. When we sit at the feet of Jesus, He will speak to us. "Be still and know that I am God." This is a most sweet experience in our spiritual life. In the beginning of our spiritual life we keep speaking much to Jesus, but as we grow we learn to sit at the feet of Jesus. Jesus will speak more to us, and we will speak less or not speak at all.

"Mary has chosen that good part." Those who learn to sit at the feet of Jesus can choose the best in life as Mary did. And only they can give their best to Jesus. What is the best way to spend the best of your life? Sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing His words. One word from the mouth of Jesus is richly satisfying and enlivening.

Jesus is waiting to speak to us but are we willing to sit at His feet and listen to Him?

- TPM "Morning Manna"

GREAT FAITH...:

"Take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them" (Gen 6:21).

God put in Noah a burden for the whole world - to save every living thing. We need to have a burden for souls to be saved and be made ready for New Jerusalem and Zion. Noah had to provide food for all the living creatures. The Lord gives spiritual food or revelations to those who have a burden for the salvation of the perishing.

"It shall be for thee, and for them." When you eat, don't forget you should feed others as well. And when you gather food for others, don't forget that you need it too.

"Thus did Noah." How much money, material and resources Noah must have needed! We do not read that he was very rich like Abraham or Job, and yet, when God gave him the burden to do the work, God provided his needs as well. The Lord not only provided for the construction of the ark, but also for the food needed for everyone. Noah was the first man to live by faith in this respect.

The Lord wants us to have faith for our spiritual needs as well as for all our material and physical needs; and also for those of others. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Heb 11:6).

- TPM "Morning Manna"

THE LEADING OF THE SPIRIT...:

When we do the will of God, sometimes we appear to be mad to the people of the world. Our ways may not make sense to them. When God was training up Moses, God told him to throw his rod down on the ground and when he did, it became a snake. Then the Lord told him to hold it by the tail. No sensible person will hold a snake by the tail because then it will turn and bite you. But when Moses obeyed God, the snake became a rod again.

We may not quite understand why the Lord guides us in some particular way, but if we go by His guidance we have perfect peace of mind. "The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decision that you have to make" (Col 3:15 - GNB). If you feel troubled when you pray about a particular matter, it means that God is saying 'No'. If, on the other hand, you really have a peace of mind, it means God is guiding you in that way. If you are right with God, when you pray, you can sense God saying 'NO', 'WAIT' or 'YES'.

The word 'peace' in Greek is the word for 'UMPIRE'. The Holy Spirit acts as a referee. When talking to someone, you may sense the Holy Spirit suddenly saying "Don't do that." When you tend to think ill of someone the Holy Spirit may say, "You are prejudiced. Stop it." Sometimes you may want to visit a person and the Holy Spirit may say 'NO'.

The conscience of some people is hardened and they cannot hear the referee whistling any more. Child of God, is your conscience dead or alive? Are you sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit?

- TPM "Morning Manna"

GLORY OF THE DUST...:

"The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed life into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen 2:7).

Dust has no beauty or strength; it is trampled under foot. It is out of this dust that God made man. God is outstanding and His strength and beauty are outstanding, but man is mere dust and returns to dust. Recently, scientists discovered that the chemicals found in man and the chemicals found in dust are the same - which proves man's creation from dust.

Man has nothing to glory in, as he was created only last, and with just ordinary dust (not even with paradise dust). Nevertheless man was a special creation of God. The very breath of God was breathed into man. This privilege of having God's breath or God's eternal life is given only to man. Just as God created man, the crown of His creation, out of dust, God now makes man a glorious being when he humbles himself as dust.

"The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit" (I Cor 15:45). The first Adam sinned and brought curse upon us all, but through the last Adam Who is our Jesus we can get back all the lost blessings. Let us humble ourselves as dust and allow God to form a glorious man in us.

- TPM "Morning Manna"