BORN TO FLY...!

An eaglet knows that it is going to fly one day like its mother – not creep on the earth or walk on the ground. We are begotten of God. The name of our Jesus is Wonderful. His children are also wonderful like Him. That’s why the Word of God says, “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel” (Isa 8:18). Our wonderful Jesus makes our life wonderful.

Let this wonderful Jesus come into your life. He wants to make your life wonderful. He desires to do wonders in your life. He will turn the bitter into sweet. He will turn water into wine. He will turn darkness into light. He will create everything out of nothing. Your thoughts, your words, your character, your peace, your joy, will all become wonderful. Everything connected with Jesus is wonderful; He will make everything connected with you also wonderful. This life with Jesus is most wonderful and exciting.

Our Jesus is going to do something most wonderful very, very soon. A thing that has not been done since the creation of man, the most wonderful thing that can ever be done, will be done perhaps even today. On a wonderful day, Jesus will come in a wonderful way with His wonderful angels and His wonderful saints. And this body of ours will be changed in a wonderful way. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye… we shall be changed” (I Cor 15:52). “Then we… shall be caught up together… to meet the Lord in the air” (I Thess 4:17). The Rapture is going to be the most wonderful of wonders.

Child of God, we are not born to die; we are born to fly. When our Jesus comes, our feet will not be on the ground. In a wonderful way, we will fly to meet the Lord. Are you ready for that?

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

"ALL BECAUSE OF JESUS"

"They cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as He went, they spread their clothes in the way" (Lk 19:35, 36).

What an honour the donkey got when Jesus sat on it! Wherever the donkey went it got a red carpet welcome - people spread their clothes and branches of trees on its way; it did not walk on ordinary ground.

If the donkey had suddenly for one moment thought, "All these people are honouring me because of my greatness," and thrown Jesus off its back, guess what would have happened! The very people who put their clothes and branches before it would have stoned it!

Precious child of God, now you are blessed with all kinds of material and spiritual blessings all because Jesus is sitting on you. If you forget Jesus everything will change. Oh dear donkey, don't ever forget that one day you were bound, that one day you were useless, that one day you were wild, that one day you were hopeless and love-less. All the blessings you see now, all the blessings you had in the past, and all the blessings you are going to enjoy, are all because of Jesus. Let Jesus take all the glory for your life.

Finally, Jesus took the donkey to Jerusalem, the holy city of God. The poor donkey would have never expected to go to Jerusalem. Beloved one, after Jesus comes into our lives He does not leave us halfway and go away. He wants to take us to New Jerusalem and Zion. "I will never leave you or forsake you."

The donkey could have asked, "Jesus, what goodness did you find in me to choose to sit upon me and take me to the holy city of God?" Child of God, you do not deserve to go to New Jerusalem. Jesus Who loved the donkey loves you very much. The same Jesus Who took the donkey to the city of God wil certainly, by the mercy of God, take you to New Jerusalem and Zion.

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

DO YOU LOVE LIFE?

"He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile" (I Pet 3:10).

Here you see the frightening fact that if your tongue is evil, your future is bound to be evil. "He that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil." In other words, if your tongue is evil, you virtually hate your own life; you don't want to see good days ahead of you.

Your life is closely linked to your tongue. When your tongue is evil, your life also is evil. Similarly, if your tongue is sweet, gracious, compassionate and kind, your life also will be just the same. "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life" (Prov 15:4).

Do you often desire to die? You may have your excuses; you may say it is because of this problem or that. But the real problem is your tongue. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Prov 18:21). When your tongue is evil you do not love life, but rather hate life. When the tongue is a fountain of life giving forth sweet and gracious words, you will find your life to e full of grace and goodness; you will not want to die.

"...his lips that they speak no guile" - If you are dishonest or deceptive in your words, if you speak with a double heart, you certainly shall not see good days.

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

ENJOY A CURSE-FREE LIFE

"Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee... in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" (Gen 3:18,19).

God made a beautiful garden out of the ground, but man's sin brought weeds and thorns into it. Sin produces thorns in your heart - natures that prick and hurt you, as well as others. Jesus wore a crown of thorns, taking this curse upon Himself, so that you might not be a thorn.

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." This is the first mention of sweat and bread. Before falling into sin man did not have to labour for food. He was happy with fruits - for which no labour was necessary. But now he has to toil. Just as his heart had hardened after sinning, the ground too had become hard and now needed to be tilled.

The Lord wants us to be free from worry over our material things. He wants us to cast all our cares on hIM. "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you" (I Pet 5:7). The Lord has promised to worry for us. So child of God, "Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" (Matt 6:31). It's the Gentiles (who know not the Lord) who worry about such things.

Jesus has paid a high price to earn for us a curse-free life. Are we enjoying this new life or are we still under the curse?

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

Snippets from the International Youth Camp 2008

In the International Youth Camp Sunday Morning Praising, Pastor shared a small story.

A boy prayed to God that if he passed his examinations, he would offer 1,000 praises to God. On the other hand, If he happened to fail, he vowed to offer 2,000 praises to God. Satan, on hearing his prayer, trembled and thought if this boy fails he will offer 2000 praises to God. So satan didn't try to fail him in the exam and helped him to pass the exam it seems. Satan will not be happy to see us praising our God.

What we get from this story is that we should Praise God more for the negative things happening in our life, to make abound God's blessings more and more in our daily lives.

[Contributed by a participant of the Youth Camp]

MY GOD!

"He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust" (Psa 91:2).

Though Saul was chosen by God to be the first king of Israel, we don't read of him ever referring to the Lord as "my God"; but we see David saying "my God" many times. Paul says, "My God shall supply all your needs."

How does God become "my God" or a personal God? By receiving the Holy Spirit, by taking water baptism or by doing the will of God you cannot make God your God. For God to become "my God" I must delight to do God's will. "I delight to do Thy will, O my God" (Psa 40:8). You may do the will of God, but you may not be doing it joyfully. When you delight to do the will of God with joy, the omnipotent, omnipresent God becomes your own personal God.

Knowing God and knowing about God are two different things. By reading the Word of God, by listening to messages, etc. we come to know God. But we know God personally only when we live with God. For that we must delight to do the will of God. "Thy law is within my heart" (Psa 40:8). Unless we delight to do the will of God, we will not know our God with our heart, but only with our head.

When we take delight in doing the will of God, God will start delighting in us. All our songs, prayers and praises will be a delight to Him. When we don't delight in the will of God, even if our songs are melodious they will only be the 'noise of thy songs' to the Lord (Amos 5:23).

"My refuge and my Fortress: my God." Daniel delighted to do God's will, and God became his strong refuge. He was not afraid of the lions. He says, "My God hath sent His angel." If we don't delight in doing the will of God we will have only a false refuge. "The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies" (Isa 28:17). If we do not do the will of God with joy and delight, one day we will realize that God is not our refuge, that all our refuges were only refuges of lies.

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

CONTEND FOR THE FAITH...!

"By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones" (Heb 11:22).

Faith gives us hope even in death. Joseph knew that one day God would visit His people and that his bones would not remain in Egypt (this world), but would be carried to Canaan (heaven). This is a type of the hope of the Rapture.

Joseph (by faith) 'gave commandment', not 'requested'. Even while dying, faith gives one a divine commanding authority and power.

"By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel;" This shows that, while dying, Joseph had a blessed hope before him of the departing of the children of Israel. Joseph's bones stand for the doctrines of Christ. Just as bones are the solid part of the human body, true doctrines are the solid part of the body of Christ, the Church. Jude says we should contend for the faith (doctrines) revealed 'once and for all' to the saints of God (Jude vs 3 - Orig). Joseph giving commandment concerning his bones when he died shows that even while dying, true saints should be strong and contend for the faith or doctrinal truths revealed to them.

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

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST...:

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Gen 2:24).

We find here, not only the responsibility of the man but that of the woman too. If the man is to leave his father and mother and cleave to the woman, he should find in the woman both a father and a mother or, a fatherly and a motherly nature. The Church that is to be presented before Christ should have a father's love and a mother's caring nature. What kind of nature does the Lord find in us? Would we qualify to be His Bride?

Just as a man loves his wife and leaves his father and mother and cleaves unto her, Jesus left His Father's bosom and Heaven and came to the earth in the likeness of man because He loved the Church. He then "gave Himself for it; that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph 5:25, 27). How much the Lord loves us! How much do we love Him?

Christ and the Church are united through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the Church grows in that relationship by bearing the fruit of the Spirit. Let us be united to our Lord and bear fruit for Him. Let us be found as His spotless Bride when He comes to take us.

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

TAKE THE RIGHT ROAD

"And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see Him: for He was to pass that way" (Lk 19:4).

Many people run their spiritual race without any aim or target, but Zacchaeus ran along the very route Jesus was to take. Dear child of God, you may be running this spiritual race, but are you running along the road Jesus is taking? That alone can help you to meet Him and see Him face to face.

The Lord is eager to show you the way He is taking. If you will stop in your tracks and "see and ask" for the right way, "thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isa 30:21). So, set your heart towards the highway (Jer 31:21); turn your face towards it (Jer 50:5). Like the Psalmist, show the Lord your eagerness to walk in His way - "I will run the way of Thy commandments!" (Psa 119:32). "Seek and ye shall find!"

The word 'Zacchaeus' means 'white' or 'purity.' Jesus takes the road to Zion and New Jerusalem, the road to the Holiest of Holiest. So dear reader, if you do not love holiness, you cannot go His way. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matt 5:8).

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

YOUR "ISAAC"

"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called" (Heb 11:17,18).

'Isaac' stands for anything that we love dearly. To offer up our Isaac, we need faith.

The purpose of God in sending us trials is to get us to offer up our Isaac. Every trial speaks to us, telling us that there is something more to go out of our heart - be it our name, fame or any other Isaac! Every trial is meant to increase our faith. Our faith will not get perfected without our giving up our Isaacs.

"He that had received the promises offered up..." Our offering up Isaac shows that we have already received something better - Christ and His eternal blessings. We give to God our best as He gives us His best. Our giving to God can never exceed His giving to us. By faith Abraham received Isaac and by faith he gave up Isaac - what we receive by faith we must be willing to also offer up by faith.

Dear child of God, when the Lord blesses you, set not your heart on His blessings. Don't let yourself be distracted from loving the Lord supremely and exclusively.

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

LESSONS FROM A 'THIEF'

"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.

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

STAY IN THE 'GARDEN'

"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.

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

THE MEEK HE GUIDES...!

"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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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!"

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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).

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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."

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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!"

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "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).

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "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!"

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "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 doorof 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

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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 chnage 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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "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.

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

A LIFE THAT COUNTS

"All the days of Methuselah were mine 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. 'Dont 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."

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "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.

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

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.

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