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"

GOD'S LOVE AND PITY

"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 tree for thy sake" (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.

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in "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.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID"

"Straightaway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matt 14:27).

Jesus, all alone in the rough waters and without any human help or even a straw to clutch at, was calm and cheerful. On the other hand, the twelve disciples, many of them well-experienced in rowing in the roughest seas, and all of them sitting together in a ship, were screaming and crying!

Is it not amazing to see the lone man exposed to the boisterous sea, ministering hope and encouragement to the crowd that was safe aboard the ship? Do we not see here a most wonderful and astonishing contrast between divine serenity and human frailty?

While narrating this wonderful incident Mark states: "He cometh unto them walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them" (Mk 6:48). True, there are times in difficult situations when Jesus may appear to be passing us by, but He will never do so.

Dear reader, our Lord does not want us to be afraid even for a moment. Let us take our stand with Jesus, and refuse to be shaken by our trials, so that we may be able to help the shaken ones.

"O give me a faith that is active and patient,

That trusts in Thy power to keep me from harm,

In fiery trials that I may be radiant,

And rest in Thy love and be calm."

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

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE

"Let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth" (Gen 1:15).

God set lights in the firmament of the heaven. "And hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:6). God has set us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. When we receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit we enter into this heavenly kingdom. The place where God has kept us, wherever it may be, is heaven for us; it should be taken as heaven by us. Then we shall be able to shine and give light to others. But if we choose a place for ourselves according to our own will the place may appear like heaven, as Sodom did to Lot when he chose it, but it will soon turn into hell for us, like Sodom did when fire and brimstone was rained. Instead of emitting rays of light we shall be engulfing others in darkness.

God has set us in heavenly places and He expects us to give light to the earth. God's method of ruling is by giving light and this is the excellent way to rule. Rulers should be exemplary. The ruling should not be based on power but should be character-based. We need revelation and enlightenment to live a selfless life and rule according to the pattern set by God. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt 5:16). God wants us to give light to the earth through our good works.

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

New Telephone Number: THRISSUR CENTRE:

Achankunnu: (THRISSUR CENTRE)
OLD: (o487) 325-4740
NEW: (0487) 235 - 9410

Change of Address: - Malaysia & Cuddalore Centre:

Malaysia:
OLD:
The Pentecostal Mission
2, Jalan Matahari,
Off Jalan Raya Barat,
41100 Kelang,
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Phone: +6033371 - 1610

NEW:
The Pentecostal Mission
No. 1, Jalan Raja Nong 12,
Off Jalan Raja Nong,
41200 Kelang,
Selangor - Darul - Ehsan
Phone: +6033373 - 1610

CUDDALORE CENTRE:
OLD:
The Pentecostal Mission
2/1 Pachayyappan Palli St
Chidambaram - 608 001, Tamil Nadu
Phone: (04144) 221 - 388
NEW:
The Pentecostal Mission
C.Thandaswaranullur, S.G.Nagar,
Ommakulam (P.O).,
Kattumanarkudi (via)
Chidambaram - 608 001, Tamil Nadu
Phone: 93456 51118

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.

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

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL?

"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple" (Psa 27:4).

David desired one thing, and he desired it with all his heart; his one desire was to behold the Lord. God's desire is that we too be single-minded in our seeking after Him. If we allow ourselves to be distracted by anything, we shall never succeed in this, our most important spiritual quest.

Paul was similarly single-minded: "This ONE THING I do," he said, "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13, 14).

The Lord is asking you one thing today: Are you a person of one mind, or is your mind set on a number of different things? What are you seeking? Maybe the devil is tempting you to focus your mind on the things of this world. Jesus rebuked Martha with the words: "Martha, Martha, thour art careful and troubled about many things: but ONE THING is needful: and Mary hath chosen THAT GOOD PART which shall not be taken away from her" (Lk 10:41, 42). If you neglect that one thing, you will worry about a multiplicity of other things, about things that can be taken away from you.

Some never acquire any goals other than material ones; all they desire is to realize their material goals, and go to the grave. Our goal must be beyond the grave.

David had confidence that he would achieve his aim, for in Psalm 23 he says: "SURELY... I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." Let us have one AIM, and let us set our mind on it.

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