WHEN NOT TO SPEAK

We are living in an age in which people are often weary of their life, their family, children, wife or husband, and everything around them. This is the age in which we should learn, as never before, how to speak to the weary - to bring them to Christ. Sometimes, even the sweetest words and the words we think would best befit the occasion may boomerang and worsen the situation. People everywhere tend to be tension-ridden, and indifferent and provocative, rather than receptive to any word.

How upset Peter must have been after denying the Lord thrice! Any word of rebuke or correction could have hardened or embittered him. But one look from Jesus did greater things than the greatest sermon ever preached by the most gifted preacher on the earth. "And the Lord turned, and LOOKED UPON PETER, And Peter remembered the word of the Lord... and Peter went out and wept bitterly." (Lk 22:61, 62).

One LOOK from the Lord, a look of compassion and love, a look of sympathy with the sweetness of sincerity - that did the work; it brought to remembrance the word of the Lord, it made him to go out of the bad company, and the best of all, it made him weep bitterly for his bitter sin against the sweet Saviour. We should discipline ourselves, not only to know how to speak, but also to be silent as the occasion calls for and as the Lord guides. There are times when silence proves golden, while sermon proves irksome and out of season.

"A caring heart, a listening ear,

A compassionate look, a gentle tear

Will help to lift the heavy load

Of weary souls along life's road."

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

VANITY OF VANITIES..:

"Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (Eccl 2:11)

Solomon had vineyards, gardens and orchards. He had pools of water; he built many mansions; he had silver and gold, men singers and women singers. Although these may not be sinful pleasures they are indeed pleasures of the world.

Being the richest king of his time, Solomon could enjoy all the pleasures of the world, and this he did try. But the statement he makes at the end of his life is that all those pleasures, in the end, only brought trouble to his spirit (vexation of spirit), and that his inner man was restless. He confessed the emptiness (vanity) of his heart. He repeatedly says, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." The more he tried to enjoy the world, the more miserable and unhappy he became. Apart from the life that comes from God, everything is emptiness or vanity. The Psalmist says, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore" (Psa 16:11).

St.Paul emptied himself of everything in the world and towards the end of his life, although in prison and waiting to be executed, he was jubilant. Look at the triumphant words of this saint: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous...Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice!" (Phil 3:1). "I have all and abound: I am full" (Phil 4:18)

Look at the contrast between St.Paul who counted all things as loss for Christ and Solomon who had all the pleasures of the world. The end of the man who counted all things as loss for Christ had a joy and triumph, particularly at the end of our life.

Late Pas.T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

REBEL NOT, O SINNER!

"Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden" (Gen 4:16).

All of God's love and protection could not keep Cain in God's presence, as he had no repentance for his sin. Therefore we see him going out from the presence of God.

"Dwelt in the land of Nod" - 'Nod' means trembling and shaking. True, once a person commits sin and loses the presence of God, his sin makes him restless even on a bed of roses. "The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest...There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked" (Isa 57:20, 21).

Though the Lord had said he would be a vagabond and a fugitive, he obviously wanted to resist the punishment, for he built a city and dwelt there (vs 17). Every work that is not of God cannot stand; apparently, the city was completely destroyed by the flood.

You get nothing by going away from God. You only lose all your blessings and bring destruction upon yourself. So dear reader, if you have strayed from His presence, come back. If you will yield to His love and return with genuine repentance, you can once again enjoy the peace and joy and rest that you can get nowhere but in His presence.

"Come unto Me... and I will give you rest."

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

YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM GOD

"They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God" (Gen 3:18).

The very voice of the Lord which once brought joy to them, now brought fear and terror. It was not a change in God's way of walking or a change in His voice that brought terror, but the change in man's character. Now also, fear and worry are not brought about by our environment, but by the state of our inner life.

Adam could have rightly confessed, "I was afraid because I had sinned" rather than saying, "I was afraid because I was naked." Adam was not only hiding from God, but was also hiding the fact from God. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper" (Prov 28:13). Though man tried to cover himself with fig leaves, it wouldn't help. All our own righteousness is only filthy rags in God's sight (Isa 64:6).

Sin stripped man of his good conscience and he became naked in his own sight and in the sight of God. Now he runs for cover to refuges which are no refuges at all. God is our hiding place; where can a man hide from God? "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do" (Heb 4:13).

A time will come when all false refuges will disappear. "The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow the hiding place" (Isa 28:17). Let us therefore give up all our false refuges. Instead of trying to cover up our faults, instead of trying to hide from God, let us, like David, cry, "Whither shall I flee from Thy presence? ... Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee... the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee'' (Psa 139: 7, 12).

DO YOU FEEL THE PRESENCE OF GOD?

"In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torment and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom" (Lk 16:23).

The rich man saw Abraham and Lazarus afar off. Where you will be in eternity, depends on how you lived in this world. Abraham was a type of God's presence. While on earth the rich man was far away from the presence of God, and now he finds himself far away from the presence of God after death.

How can you make out you are far away from God? You may be in a service in church but you could be far away from God. You may be singing and praising God and worshipping God and may spend much time in prayer, but your heart could be far away from God. If you don't feel the presence of God it means you are far away from God. To the extent you feel God close to you now, you will be close to God in eternity.

In the Old Testament times, lepers had to be outside the camp. The parts of the body affected by leprosy do not have any sensation. You can take a big needle and pierce the part, but the leper won't feel any pain. The minister may be preaching and pouring out his life before you, but you don't feel anything. You are a leper in the sight of God. If you don't feel the presence of God, the grace of God can heal that leprosy. God can give you brand new flesh.

When Naaman, that proud, arrogant man dipped himself in the waters of Jordan, he got new flesh. You need to be dipped in the grace of God. You need to be dipped in the Word of His grace. You need to be dipped in the water of the Holy Spirit.

Come back to God today and say, "Lord, I don't want to be far away." If you keep a distance between you and God, the devil will take that place. So have a real intimacy with Jesus. After you leave this world, it will be too late to realize that you are far away from God.

HOW SHOULD WE FIGHT?

"Who through faith...out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Heb 11:33, 34).

When we accept the Word of God and believe that our weak points are made strong points, and praise God, we may not all at once experience all that we accepted and believed. Things may appear to be just the opposite.

Let's suppose our Christian life needs a thorough sanctification in thoughts, words, etc. and we sincerely believe His Word and stand on the above promise. We may at least for a short time, feel more unsanctified than ever! This should not discourage us - we are not ignorant of the devices of the devil. AGAINST EVERY CONSECRATION WE MAKE AND AGAINST EVERY PROMISE OF GOD WE CLAIM, DEMONS MAY BE SENT - TO BREAK IT AND FRUSTRATE US.

If, suppose, we decide to get up early the next day to pray or read the Bible, we may have to go to bed very late that night and not be able to get up early the next day, or we may wake up with a splitting headache! This is why the Word of God says, "waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." That is, we should not only take up the promise that all our weaknesses are turned to strength, but also fight valiantly ("I fought a good fight...I have kept the faith" - II Tim 4:7), and turn to flight the armies of the demons till we fully enjoy the promises of God. "Let the weak say, I am strong" (Joel 3:10). This is why God has chosen weak people - to be heroes of faith (I Cor 1:27).

Dear reader, are you weak in holiness, in your prayer life, in meditating on the Word of God, in your love for God, etc? Claim by faith that all those weak areas have become strong areas of your life. Do you often give in to discouragement, depression, anger, frustration, etc? Claim the victory. In the physical areas of our life also we can apply this promise of God by faith. Let the weakest part of our body become the strongest part. Let the weakest part of the Body of Christ (the weakest believer) become the strongest one.

- Late Pas.T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

BRIDE-MAKING

"The Lord God... took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman" (Gen 2:21, 22)

Before the bride was made, GOD CLOSED UP THE FLESH. Yes, before God forms the Bride out of the Church(garden), He closes the FLESH of man. In other words, if God is to prepare us for His Coming, our fleshly nature should go.

This is the first mention of FLESH in the Bible, and thank God, He closed it up. If God has closed up the flesh, why should man open it up?

If one single rib (rather a weak bone in the body) could be instrumental in making a bride, how much more God can make use of servants of God who are in His hands, to form the Bride.! "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt yoiu in due time" (I Pet 5:6)

In the Body, the ribs are close to the heart, protecting and covering the heart. So also, in the Body of Christ, some saints are close to the heart of God. God takes them, and by means of their life and prayer, does the wonderful work of forming the Bride of Christ.

Let us mortify the deeds of the flesh or 'close up the flesh' and draw close to the heart of God. God is looking for 'weak' and 'fleshless' saints who live close to the heart of God to use them for forming New Jerusalem.

LORD, WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO?

"Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan" (II Kgs 6:1,2)

When the disciples of Elisha realized their low state (spiritual), they felt the need to confess this to their master. Have we ever confessed to oyur Lord that our spiritual life is far short of what it should be?

"Let us go, unto Jordan." Once we realize our real spiritual state, we will not only confess it to the Lord, but will also be urged to do something to remedy the situation. We will be inspired to go to "Jordan". Jordan is the place of fulfulling God's will. There, Jesus fulfilled the will of the Father by taking water baptism (Matt 3:15). Just as the disciples of Elisha decided to go to Jordan, we should decide to fulfil the whole will of God. "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" should ever be a prayer of ours.

The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "I pray thee, go with thy servants" (v3). Many Christian lives are struggling - struggling to do God's will. Even with the best of motives and sincere dedication, we will not be able to do God's will unless we ask the Lord to go with us and help us. Elisha's immediate response to the request of the prophets was, "I will go"; so will the Lord go with us. If you find that the Lord is not going with you, not helping you to do His will in your life, it may be because you have not urged Him to come with you.

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

Our God will do great things for His glory...!

"Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt 28:18,19)

When Jesus was raised from the dead all power in heaven and in earth was given to Him. "Go ye therefore" shows that the same power and authority is given to us - although we appear to be insignificant to the world.

A missionary lady in Africa had a small fellowship of African souls. One day, as they were worshipping the Lord, a witch doctor entered the church and challenged her power. "I'm going to perform a miracle," he said, "If your Jesus can perform a greater miracle, I promise to become a Christian." The missionary lady knew that Jesus had greater power and authority than all the demons put together. Her little congregation also encouraged her to take up the challenge and prove that Jesus had greater power and authority than the devil.

The witch doctor came up to the front and lay face down on the ground, and as he kept chanting something, his body started rising from the floor. The body rose almost up to the pulpit in the lying position. The missionary lady wondered what greater miracle she could do; in fact, she had never performed any miracle. But as she and the whole congregation were praying, the anointing of the Holy Spirit came upon her with power and authority. Stretching her hands towards the man she said, "In the Name of Jesus, get out, you demon!" Instantly, as if he had been shot, the witch doctor fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. He could not even move his limbs till he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear child of God, He that is in you is greater than he (the devil) that is in the world. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Our God will do great things for His glory.

- Late Pas.T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

THE CLOSEST RELATIONSHIP

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Psa 91:1).

"Dwelleth," in the Hebrew tongue, is 'YASHA' meaning 'marrying' or 'to marry'. It shows the relationship between Christ and the Bride. "I am married unto you," says the Lord (Jer 3:14).

The relationship between husband and wife is the most intimate of relationships. The next most intimate relationship is that of a mother and child. Both these relationships are mentioned in the 1st verse of Psalm 91. ['almighty' is 'El-shaddai' which, in Hebrew, is mother-like God'].

The Lord wants to have a very close relationship with us. All the promises mentioned in Psalm 91 are for those who have an intimate relationship with the Lord.

Those who live in the heart of God will have the closest relationship with God. But we must have this relationship with the Lord while on earth itself.

When we live in the heart of God, our heart will become like the heart of God. What does that mean? Our heart will be full of peace, joy, love, grace, purity, humility, forgiveness, etc. If you are in the heart of God, God's heartbeat will be your heartbeat. You will want to think only what God puts in your mind. You will desire only what God puts in your heart.

FRUITS OF REST

"God blessed the seventh day, and sacntified it: because that in it He had rested from all HIs work which God created and made." (Gen 2:3)

God blessed the seventh day because He completed all His work of creation and rested on that day. So, blessings gollow when a person completes his work and enters into rest. Our life is full of battles; we must overcome every battle and enter into a rest. In this Grace Period, we have to get the spiritual experience of daily entering into God's rest.

The process of sanctification begins within us when we start leading an overcoming life. God commands His blessing upon us and completes the process of sanctification when we cease to strive and struggle, and rest in God. "For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His" (Heb 4:10)

God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. The blessing of God goes together with sanctification. Sanctified life is indeed a blessed life.

God sanctified the seventh day because He completed His work and rested on that day. It is only when we have a rest in us that God will be able to sanctify us. We should see that our rest is not disturbed in any way, as that will prevent us from getting sanctified.

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

TREASURES OF DARKNESS

Often, darkness and night are closely linked with occasions of tremendous victory and blessings. Before Jesus raised the shout of victory , "It is finished,' on the cross, he had to face the blackest darkness for three whole hours. In the life of Jacob too, the most remarkable and blessed events took place during the night. First, in the desert of Bethel, in that night of flight from the father's home, he saw the heavens opened and the angels ascending and descending with the promises of God. Another time, while fleeing fro Laban's home, he wrestled with an angel of God during the night and was so greatly blessed that his very name (which indicates his character) was changed, and he became Israel, meaning, 'a prince with God.'

It has been said that the supply of attar of roses for the whole world is from the Balkan Mountains. An amazing thing is that roses that are picked between one and two after midnight have been scientifically proved to be the most fragrant. In our Christian life also, darkness and night are permitted by God to make our spiritual lives more fragrant.

Dear reader, God permits dark nights in our spiritual lives, not to destroy us, but to enable us to 'divide the spoil.' One of the blessings Jacob pronounced on Benjamin was 'AT NIGHT he shall divide the spoil' (Gen 49:27). Instead of getting discouraged in the darkness, let us learn to 'divide the spoil' or, enjoy the rich blessings of God. God's promise is, "I will give thee the treasures of darkness" (Isa 45:3). There are treasures in darkness; unless we go through darkness, we cannot receive them.

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

THE ACCUSING TONGUE

If you speak evil of others, even your dreams will be defiled. "These FILTHY DREAMERS defile the flesh, despise dominion, and SPEAK EVIL of dignities." (Jude 8). The Word of God therefore warns, "Speak evil of no man" (Tit 3:2). It is amazing to note that the holy archangel Michael, while disputing with Satan, does not "bring against him a railing accusation" (Jude 9). If the holy angel himself does not speak accusingly to the devil, how careful we should be not to speak evil of any man!

It is the devil who is the "accuser of the brethren." "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night" (Rev 12:10). From this text we realize that the nature of accusing the brethren is an evil spirit directly come from Satan. Once this spirit goes out of us, we can enjoy God's salvation, His strength, the kingdom of God (righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost), and the power of Christ, in our day-to-day life.

Dear reader, the tongue can influence the whole body. "If any man offend not in WORD, the same is a perfect man, and able to bridle the WHOLE BODY" (Jms 3:2). This points to the fact that YOU WILL NEVER BE PERFECT UNLESS YOUR TONGUE IS TAMED AND BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL.

- Late Pas.T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"

GOD'S GREATEST FAITHFULNESS

"Hear my prayer, O Lord... in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness" (Psa 143:1).

God's greatest faithfulness and righteousness are going to be revealed in His answering one of the greatest prayers of the saints in these last moments of the last days. What is that prayer? "Come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20).

"Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds" (Psa 36:5) - till we reach the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, our God is going to be faithful to us. What a great encouragement! It is God's faithfulness that makes us faithful - "they that are with Him are... faithful" (Rev 17:14).

Child of God, rejoice! God is faithful. He shall "confirm (perfect) you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor 1:8). "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6). "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it" ( I Thess 5:23, 24).

"Great is Thy faithfulness!"

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

GUIDED WITH HIS EYE

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle” (Psa 32:8,9)

God can guide us in two ways. “I will guide you with My eyes” means “I will guide you with love.” God’s desire is to guide us, and lead us gently and in love. That’s how a shepherd leads his sheep. The Lord is our good shepherd. “My sheep hear My voice…and they follow Me,” He says (Jn 10:27). But if we will not be guided by His love, then the Lord will lead us with bits and bridles like a horse or donkey is led. If you are riding a donkey, to make it turn to the right, you have to whip it on the left side, the opposite side. Some people obey only when some sickness, accident or some other calamity comes their way. Then they cry, “Oh! I have gone wrong. I will obey God.”

The Lord says, “Be not like the horse or mule.” Let us not harden our hearts. The Lord told the Israelites that if they will ‘diligently hearken’ to His voice and give ear to His commandments He will not put diseases upon them (Exo 15:26). Isaiah says, “He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned (disciple)” (Isa 50:4). Let us therefore diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord – like a disciple listens to his master. The Lord will not fail to guide us – lovingly, gently, tenderly.

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

CREATIVE POWER OF DIVINE CHARACTER

"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so" (Gen 1:11)

"Fruit tree yielding fruit." Saints are fruit trees yielding all manner of spiritual fruits. An interesting feature in God's creation is that every fruit tree (saint) had seed in it. All divine virtues and spiritual qualities are called fruits. In Galatians 5:22 we read of the fruit of the Spirit viz.love, joy, peace, etc. The 'seed' shows the ability to create in others a desire to acquire divine character. Every genuine good character in us should create in others a desire for that character.

It is not enough to be ordinarily humble, holy or patient. These divine traits should be marked in our lives that others are drawn to them. Those who see us should long to be like us.

God did not command the earth to bring forth merely grass and herbs, but also fruit trees yielding fruit. Similarly, God did not merely create man with flesh and bones. but also saints bearing spiritual fruits (divine character) who in turn help in growth of many more saints with divine natures.

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

DO THINGS LOOK BAD?

Many children of God are not concerned about purity of life and so THEY FIND THEIR LIFE FILLED WITH EVIL. In one sense, WHEN OUR HEART IS NOT CLEAN, EVEN THE GOOD THINGS GOD DOES FOR US WILL APPEAR EVIL TO US.

The gracious Lord gave the children of Israel manna from heaven. Manna was the best food they could ever get. It was freely and freshly given every morning. It had the taste of "fresh oil" (Num 11:8) and "wafers made with honey" (Exo 16:31). It was angels' food. There was not one feeble or sick person among those who ate manna. But the evil Israelites could find nothing good in it! WHEN YOUR HEART IS EVIL, EVEN THE BEST THING THAT GOD DOES WILL SEEM TO BE THE WORST.

The same truth is also applicable the other way around. When our heart is clean, even the evil others do to us will turn out for our good! Look at the example of Joseph in Genesis. His brothers hated him, put him in a pit, sold him and did a host of other evil, but God turned them all into good. See the very words of Joseph in this context: "ye thought evil against me; but GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Gen 50:20)

If you really love purity of heart, you will enjoy heaven every day and every moment! Right now surrender your whole life with uncompromising zeal for a life of purity, and come out of that dungeon in which you have been bound for so long.

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

Laugh at the Devil

"The rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed... He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh" (Psa 2:2,4)

Let's suppose you are in a huge ship and the captain is Jesus. If a shoal of little fish appraoch and threaten to drink all the water and dry up the ocean and make the ship get stuck, won't you laugh at the little fish? If so, why don't you laugh at the devil? He is a defeated foe. Do not believe a word of what he says. All his threats are but empty boasting. He cannot so anything against you. "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh." why don't you join the Lord in laughing at the enemy?

God has already defeated the enemy and brought him under your feet. What for? To crush him ruthlessly under your feet. Remember the promise, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass..." (Deut 33:25). If you are wearing iron shoes, you must be an iron man! Don't worry about whether you feel that way or not. That is what the Word of God says. Indeed, God has given you shoes of iron and brass, to crush Satan under your feet.

Child of God, believe the Word of God and come out of your fear. He shall "thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them" (Deut 33:27).

- Late Pas.T.U.Thomas, in "Morning Manna"