GOD CAN BE TRUSTED...!

"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my should shall have no pleasure in him" (Heb 10:38).

In Bristol, England, George Muller had an orphanage feeding one thousand and five hundred children. It was Mr.Muller's strict orders that the orphanage be run by faith - his staff members were not to ask anyone for money or even indirectly reveal to anyone the need for money.

One morning, George Muller was informed that there was absolutely no food in the orphanage and that even if they were to receive some money then, by the time they went to the market and made the purchases and cooked the food, the children would faint. George Muller prayed and told his staff to make the children sit in rows as usual, and serve the plates. Then the children were asked to praise God for the food God had given them. The children, not knowing the crisis, praised God enthusiastically. That very moment someone knocked at the gate of the orphanage and asked whether it was George Muller's orphanage. A horse cart loaded with food was at the gate and the man wanted to know where he had to unload the food. George Muller told his staff to serve the food right away. That day they had a delicious feast. What had happened was that, a marriage reception had been arranged in a neighbouring village but they were not able to hold the reception as someone in the family of the bridegroom had died. When they were wondering what to do with all the food someone suggested that they send the food there.

Once George Muller remarked that he was taking all the trouble to feed the children by faith because he wanted to prove the world that God can be trusted.

Dear friends, have you learned to trust in the Lord for all your needs? The central verse in the Bible is, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man" (Psa 118:8). If you want to be in the centre of God's will, go to the centre of God's word.

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

ARE YOU WOUNDED...?

There is a terrible warning for all those who live an unsanctified life and call upon the name of the Lord and serve Him being in that state.

Some vagabond Jews, sons of 'a chief of the priests', were highly impressed by the ministry of St. Paul - seeing how evil spirits were driven out in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They thought they too could do it. However, when they pronounced the name of Jesus, the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, Paul I know; but who are ye?" And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed over them, so that they fled naked and wounded (Acts 19:15,16).

Dear reader, are you a Jew (circumcised in the heart and Spirit-baptized - Rom 2:28,29; Phil 3:3), and yet one who gets wounded or offended often? Do not blame any human being for your wounds. You have given room for evil spirits to prevail over you, maybe due to your unsanctified nature. If you are wounded, you may become spiritually naked also. If you blame man (the person through whom you were offended, obviously), the devil will be happy - as by that you are practically proving the devil innocent! If you fail to recognize the devil who has been prevailing over you and making you wounded and naked, you may never resist him. Consequently, the same evil spirit may continue to wound and torment you until you flee in shame.

Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE...:

"Make thee an ark of gopher wood... pitch it within and without with pitch" (Gen 6:14).

'Pitch,' in Hebrew, kaphar has various meanings and all of them signify amazing facts about Christ.

Kaphar is translated elsewhere in the Bible as 'pardon' or 'forgive.' Yes, when the Lord pardoned people saying, "Thy sins are forgiven," He forgave them in His heart also. Some children of God say, "I have forgiven you," but their hearts would be testifying against it. Let us "pitch within and without with pitch." Jesus said that our heavenly Father would be very angry and will deliver us to the 'tormentors' if we do not 'from our hearts forgive' the trespasses of our brother (Matt 18:35). "Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye," admonishes St.Paul (Col 3:13). Child of God, are you able to freely love those who have wronged you? Or do you sometimes remember the wrongs you have suffered?

Kaphar also means 'merciful' or 'cleansed.' Jesus was pure and merciful both outside and inside. It is not enough if all our deeds are pure and full of mercy; we must make sure our heart is pure to the core and full of compassion, kindness and tenderness. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness..." (Col 3:12).

The Bride of Christ is 'all glorious within' (Psa 45:13). Shall we lay bare our secret life and allow the Holy Spirit to imprint the character of Jesus on it?

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

A VISION OF GOD

The Lord gave John a clear vision about Himself before giving him a revelation of the many eternal abodes and the future bliss. See Revelation 1:14-17.

"His head...white like wool, as white as snow." 'Head' speaks of our thought-realm, mind or spirit. Isaiah 1:18 speaks of "snow" and "wool" as implying extreme purity. Indeed, God is extremely pure in His mind and wants us to have the same purity.

"And His eyes were as a flame of fire." 'Eyes' denote spiritual vision. As far as God is concerned, all things are clear to Him. But where we are concerned, if our vision is to be bright like flames of fire, our thoughts should be pure and spotless.

"His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace." 'Feet' reflects our walk of life. If we are careful about our 'head', our 'feet' too will have its steps ordered aright. 'Burned in a furnace' speaks of having come through the fire. Some perish in their trials because they failed to keep their lives clean. Fiery trials will not destroy those who are careful to keep their lives holy. Fiery trials can only serve to brighten their 'feet' to a brilliant glow.

"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead." No one can see God and live. When we receive a revelation about our God, we die to our 'old man' of self, pride, etc.

"And He laid His right hand upon me." The right hand of God speaks of many things, but here it speaks precisely about the plan of God. When we are dead to our self, we are given a revelation about the plan of God for our lives.

Let us seek to have a clear vision of the invisible God, of His extreme purity, so that we can fall at His feet and die. The best place to die is, of course, at His feet!

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

YOUR CHARACTER REFLECTION...:

"The Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts" (Isa 19:4).

This is a frightening verse, but it is very true. One interpretation for 'the Egyptian' is, 'backslider'. If you are a backslider in heart the Lord will hand you over to a 'cruel lord'. The cruel lord may be the Antichrist. A backslider will be left behind at the Coming of the Lord and the cruel lord, the Antichrist, will rule over him. Also, if you are a backslider in heart, those who are above you, your boss, your parents, or the servants of God, may always appear to be cruel lords or fierce kings ruling over you.

What is the remedy for this? Repent and renounce any backsliding spirit you may have in you. If you are a hardened person, then those who are above you will appear just as hard as you are or even worse. If you are a merciless person, then those who are around you or over you may appear to be cruel to you. If you are unforgiving, then your God also may appear to be like that to you. In other words, what you see in the people around you is the reflection of your own character. If you are softhearted, forgiving, loving and caring, you will find everyone around you having the same character.

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

"THE WORLD BEHIND ME!"

In the New Testament we find Jesus calling His disciples to leave all and follow Him; they left their boats and nets and their beloved ones to follow the Lord and serve Him. But long before that, at a time when there was no Bible, no church, no servants of God, and no anointing of the Holy Spirit as an abiding experience, Abraham, responding to God's call, left everything to follow the God of glory.

When God called Abraham out, there was no promise or plan for his return. He had to "burn the boat and the bridge behind" as he left his homeland . "If they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned" (Heb 11:15).

"Get thee out... I will shew thee.. and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing" (Gen 12:1,2). "Get thee out" and then, (a) I will show thee... (b) I will make of thee... (c) I will bless thee (d) I will make thy name great... (e) thou shalt be a blessing. How sad it is that many children of God are losing manifold eternal blessings by compromising with the world!

Abraham obeyed and "got out"; and then all along, his tent life showed that he was willing to move out any time the Lord told him to. How willing are we to obey the Lord and give up the things of the world to follow the Lord more closely?

"Take take the world, I covet not its joys,

Take, take the world with all its empty noise,

Mine is a wealth no moth nor rust destrpys,

Fellow-heirs with Jesus for ever."

Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

RICHES OF GRACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS

"In Whom we have redemption through His blood the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph 1:7).

One may forgive a person, but one cannot give him the riches of God's grace along with it. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we get not only forgiveness of sins, but also riches of grace. Why is riches of grace given along with forgiveness of sin? Riches of grace is essential for one to overcome that particular sin and the effects of that sin.

For instance, a man may have a problem with anger. When he sincerely asks the Lord for forgiveness, through the blood of Christ, he receives not only forgiveness, but also riches of grace to overcome that anger. MANY MILLIONS OF WELL-MEANING CHRISTIANS ARE IGNORANT OF THIS POWER IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

If your spiritual eyes are open to the glorious power in the blood of the Lamb, you will sincerely repent and ask forgiveness for all your sins. Then all of them will be forgiven, and along with that YOU WILL RECEIVE RICHES OF GRACE TO OVERCOME THOSE SINFUL NATURES, whatever they may be - pride, anger, envy, lust, greed, bitterness or unforgiving spirit; the riches of grace through the blood of Jesus will bestow humility, gentleness, charity, purity, generosity, forgiving love, etc. If, for instance, you are a chain smoker and you repent with all sincerity, the blood of Christ will not only wash away your sin, but will also give you riches of grace to overcome it. You will start hating even the smell of it, by the grace of God.

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

Manifest Christ...:

"Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful Who had promised" (Heb 11:11).

"Through faith Sarah received strength." Faith helps us to receive strength both spiritually and physically. 'Receive strength' from where? From God. Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." In the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus surrendered Himself to do the will of God, an angel of God came to strengthen Him.

Sarah "received strength to conceive seed." We get strength to become fruitful in our spiritual life. The greater the faith we receive, the more fruitful to God we will be. This seed is also Christ. By faith, Christ or the character of Christ may be formed in our life. That is not enough. Sarah conceived seed and 'was delivered of a child.' Christ or the character of Christ should not only be formed in us, but should also be manifested to the world - so that others may be attracted to Christ.

"Was delivered of a child when she was past age." You may think it is too late for you to repent and turn to God, or that it is too late for God to give you grace. No, you are wrong. It is never too late for you to have the character of Christ formed in you and have it manifested to the world for the glory of God.

"She judged Him faithful Who had promised." Although it appeared impossible when she looked at the state of her own body and at that of her husband, she decided God was faithful to fulfil what He had promised - and He sure was!

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

DO WELL AND BE ACCEPTED

"Unto Cain and to his offering He had no respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?" (Gen 4:5-7).

Cain's ferocious face showed that he had not offered his sacrifice with a right spirit. It was not God Who was angry with Cain for not offering an acceptable offering, but Cain who was angry with God. It is the same with us. Very often we are annoyed because God has not answered our prayers or because He has delayed in answering them. We don't examine ourselves to see whether we have prayed for the right thing or whether we have prayed in the right spirit.

"If thous doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?" From this we understand that Cain had not done well, and was hence not accepted. Though Cain offered an unacceptable offering, and was angry with God and obviously with his brother as well, God still showed His love and affection for him as a father would, and was ready to forgive him and accept him of he repented and did right.

What a compassionate God we have! The Psalmist says, "He is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy." How anxious He is that we should realize our faults and repent and return to Him! How eager He is to accept us, to receive us!

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

WAY TO PROSPERITY..:

Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, despised the Word of God and destroyed it in the presence of the officials of the palace (Jer 36: 22 - 27). As a result, the word of the Lord concerning him was: "He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost" (v 30). "He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem" (Jer 22:19).

Dear reader, you may not have thrown the Bible into the fire like Jehoiakim, but you may be neglecting reading it and meditating on it, thereby despising it. If we delight in God, as David did, we will delight in His Word too.

It appears as if the Lord had given Jehoiakim three years' time to bring forth fruit unto God. History records that in the third year of Jehoiakim's reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem (Dan 1:1,2). But it was only later that the Lord actually gave Jehoiakim into the hands of his enemies. He had not yielded fruit as expected of him by God. If we do not remain in God's hand, we will fall into the hands of our enemies. May the Lord grant us the grace to meditate on the Word of God and live by it, and not despise it or neglect it.

In contrast to Jehoiakim, Joshua was blessed because he meditated on the Word of God and observed to do all that is written therein (Josh 1:8). Indeed, we know how prosperous Joshua was. "Blessed is the man... his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law doth he meditate day and night whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psa 1:2,4).

Dear reader, would you be a Joshua or a Jehoiakim?

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

PROFITABLE 'BONDS'

"I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds which in time past was to thee unprofitable but now profitable to thee and to me" (Philem 10,11).

St.Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Apparently, Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, had robbed his master and fled to Rome where he was caught and put into the same prison where Paul was imprisoned. Through Paul's ministry, Onesimus got saved. The illiterate slave and thief is adopted by St.Paul. "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" ( I Cor 9:22

Though Paul was in bonds, he brought freedom to others who were in bonds. Maybe you are not literally in bonds or in prison, but the situation in your house, in your family or in your work place may appear to be keeping you in bonds. As in the case of Paul, God might have permitted your "bonds" to bring true freedom to many others. Do you remember what happened when Paul was thrown into the Philippian jail? See Acts 16:22-33. Your "jailor" too can be saved!

The meaning of Onesimus is "profitable". Once he was an unprofitable servant; now that he is saved, he becomes profitable to St.Paul and to his master. A saved person should be a blessing to the spiritual world and to the secular world.

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

WHY WERE YOU 'CAUGHT'?

"Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him (Peter)" (Matt 14:31).

Peter can now sing along with the Psalmist: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear... though the waters thereof roar and be troubled" (Psa 46:1-3).

Here the wonderful love of Jesus is manifested. It was not Peter who stretched forth his hands, but Jesus. It was not Peter who caught Jesus, but Jesus Who caught Peter. Dear child of God, this is exactly what Jesus has done for us. When we were drowning in the sea of sin, sickness and sufferings, Jesus approached us and stretched out His hands, and caught us.'

After Jesus caught Peter, both of them started walking on the water - no more danger of drowning and no more fear ! First Peter tried walking alone on the water and failed. Without the helping hand of Jesus holding us, we can never live above our trials and troubles. Now, with Jesus holding his hands, Peter is able to walk on the water triumphantly. What was the secret that kept Peter above the waters? The promise, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deut 33:27).

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

A SPECIAL GRACE..:

"Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (Rev 22:20,21).

This last benediction is not for all Christians, but only for those who believe in the word, "Surely I come quickly," and say, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." All those who believe the promise of the most wonderful blessings - the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The grace mentioned in this last verse of the Bible is only for those who believe His Coming and wait for it. There are many graces mentioned in the Word of God, such as, saving grace (Eph 2:7,8), etc. But the ''grace'' mentioned here is the "grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (I Pet 1:13) - which can be called the grace that prepares us for the Coming of the Lord.

This grace does a marvellous work in our lives and gives us the blessed hope mentioned in I John 3:2,3: "Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure."

Dear child of God, do you want this grace that prepares us for His Coming? Every minute and evey second you can live in readiness for His Coming. It is His grace that saved you, it is His grace that filled you with the Holy Spirit and kept you so far, and it is His grace that will keep you ready for the Rapture.

"The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come... Surely I come quickly" (Rev 22:17 & 20). The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

"MEAT FOR THE BELLY"

The first question of the serpent that brought the first sin into the world was concerned with food. Often, our concern and care for material things hampers our spiritual welfare.

There was no reason for the woman to allow the devil start this topic on food because God had provided them with food in abundance. Many people are worried about things for which God has already planned and provided. "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink... for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (Matt 6:25,32). The rich man in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus fared sumptuously every day and went to hell, and there he was starving without even a drop of water to drink.

The first temptation of Jesus after His forty days of fasting was also concerning food. The devil said to Jesus, "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." (Matt 4:3). Jesus overcame the trial with the Word of God by saying, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

Dear child of God, do not lust for any kind of food. Let not your belly become your God.

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

CLEAR YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN...:

"Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt 18:6).

In this verse the Lord Jesus warns us that we may face terrible consequences if we offend or hurt others.

Once a dear sister-in-Christ, Mary, who served the Lord for a number of years, became sick and died. As the dear ones stood around and funeral arrangements were being made, Mary suddenly opened her eyes. Everyone was shocked.

Mary started crying and told everyone that her soul had soared up and come right up to the pearly gate of New Jerusalem, but that an angel of God had told her that she was not allowed to go in. When she asked why, the angel said that a sister who had taken care of her when she was sick had been hurt by her words. Mary wept before the angel, pleading with him to let her in, for after all, it had been only one mistake. The angel replied that he had strict instructions from the Lord not to let her in. Mary then asked to see Jesus. She wept bitterly before Him and said, "My backbone is completely crushed. What is the use of my going back to the earth and remaining in bed?" Jesus then said, "You go back to earth and ask forgiveness from the sister you grieved, and you will be completely healed."

Mary is still alive today, testifying everywhere about the new life Jesus gave her.

Dear child of God, hurting or offending others is a very serious sin which can block the way to heaven. Right now, kneel down and examine yourself and see whether you have offended anyone. If so, please ask pardon and get reconciled to that person so that heaven's gates may be open to you.

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

THE EDIFYING TONGUE

When a person receives the Holy Spirit, God takes control of the tongue first - "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues" (Acts 2:4). "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself" (I Cor 14:4). This enlightens us to the fact that speaking in unknown tongues animates the speech centre to instruct all the nerves in the right disposition.

Our tongue has an influence on the heart - "Of the abundance of the HEART his mouth SPEAKETH" (Lk 6:45). "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his TONGUE, but deceiveth his own HEART this man's religion is in vain" (Jms 1:26). "Let the WORDS OF MY MOUTH and the meditation of my HEART be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord" (Psa 19:14).

The tongue and the ear are connected too - "The Lord God hath given me the TONGUE of the learned... the Lord God hath opened mine EAR." Also, in Isaiah 6:5-8 we see that as soon as the prophet's tongue was cleansed, he could hear the voice of God and his life was ready to obey the call of God. In other words, if you don't hear God's voice, it may mean that your tongue needs cleansing.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace into the learners" (Eph 4:9). "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt [not with hot chilli], that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Col 4:6).

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

HIDE THYSELF..:

"Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then ye also appear with Him in glory" (Col 3:3,4).

Here, two experiences of a true Christian are stated: i). His life is hidden with Christ. ii)When Christ appears he shall also appear with Him in glory. Unless we are now hid with Christ we cannot appear with Him in glory when He comes. People of God who try to become famous and come to the limelight may have to hide themselves in shame at the glorious appearing of Christ.

Elijah was asked to hide himself before he was told to show himself. "Turn thee eastward and hide thyself" (I Kings 17:3). 'East' is the place of sunrise. A true child of God should learn to hide in the sunshine of God's presence; then one day, just as the Lord told Elijah, He will say to you, "Go, show thyself" (I Kings 18:1). When Elijah showed himself then, through him great things were done in the kingdom of Israel.

It is surprising to see in David's list of heroes the name of a person of whom we do not read anywhere else, heading the list. "The Tachmonite... chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite" (II Sam 23:8). He seems to have been a 'hidden saint'.

Dear child of God, if you are longing for name and fame and the applause of the world, a day is going to come when your glory will turn to shame. However, if you learn to hide yourself humbly in the Lord, then will come the glorious day when you will appear with Christ in glory.

"I HAVE ENOUGH"

We live in a world filled with dissatisfied and greedy human beings. Let us not be one of them. It is indeed surprising that the first person in the Bible who said, "I have enough," was not one who was acclaimed a saint. It was Esau (Gen 33:9).

Jacob deceived his father and also Esau his brother and got the birthright. Esau was very angry at that time and determined to kill Jacob. However, it looks as if Esau somehow learned that, "godliness with contentment is great gain," and became a transformed person. He affectionately addresses Jacob "my brother." In this age of materialism, greed and discontentment can lead one to even killing one's own relatives.

When you are content with what you have, your relationship with God and others will be right, and you will have no desire to amass wealth or acquire materials even if they are freely offered to you. How then can you covet another man's possessions!

It is amazing to note that the face of the man who uttered the words, "I have enough," was seen as the face of God, and that, by one who was expecting to see a murderer's face! "Jacob said... I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God"(Gen 33:10). It is probable that Jacob realized that this transformation was due to Esau's contentment. And he too, whose name means 'supplanter', or 'grabber' seems to have changed for, we find him also saying, "I have enough" (vs 11). The lesson is crystal clear - contentment changes you, and changes others through you.

If the man who said, "I have enough" had a face like the face of God, one can imagine how terrible the face of the man who says, "I have not enough" will be!

"When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven nor your home on high."

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

BEWARE OF MAN EATER..!

Some wild animals are man-eaters. Human flesh interests them. Satan is a man-eater. Human flesh interests him! But this flesh of men that he is after, is not composed of tissue and blood. It is rather a composition of ingredients such as self, pride, vanity, carnality, etc.

Daniel was cast into the den of man-eater lions. But the lions could not eat him - because Daniel had no flesh, so to speak! He was classed as 'spirit-man' "whose dwelling is not with flesh". Satan, the 'roaring lion,' seeks flesh, but he cannot touch you as long as there is no 'flesh' in you.

Satan has made his den, the world, a flesh farm - to rear people for flesh, just like they do in a pig farm. His agents in the farm, the wickd spirits, supply the flesh ingredients. Besides the already available fleshy world-men, to augment his supply of flesh, he looks to ways of deceiving 'bony' Spirit-men into entering his farm - to make them develop flesh.

Jesus bore His cross and went to 'the place of a skull' (Golgotha). The skull has no flesh - no fleshy brain. Jesus therefore did not murmur. We may be bearing our cross, but we may be in the place where the skull has brain. The brain says: "Why should I tread such a reproachful, 'trialsome' and burdensome path, buffeted by men and matter?"

Let us cast off 'flesh and brain' and put on the Daniel-like 'excellent spirit' - the Spirit of glory and of God (I Pet 4:14). Daniel was exalted; we will be glorified!

Blessedness of Humbling Oneself...:

Manasseh was worse than King Ahab who sold himself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. Moreover, he was worse than the heathen (II Chron 33:9). "He observed times and used enchantment and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger" (II Chron 33:6). There are many more things that Manasseh did to provoke God. He began his wicked works right from the time he began his reign at the age of twelve. During his long reign of fifty-five years, he hardly did anything to please God.

But when Manasseh was bound with fetters and carried to Babylon, the Word of God says, "he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers" (vs 12). Although he was such a wicked king who angered the Lord greatly, because he humbled himself before the God of his fathers, God had mercy on him and brought him again to Jerusalem and into his kingdom; after that we see him doing many things for the Lord (vs 14-16). And like any other saintly king, his end was peaceful and blessed - "Manasseh slept with his fathers" (vs 20). In the Old Testament period, "slept with the fathers" is a term that is generally taken as a godly death.

Dear reader, is it not amazing to see that when a man decided to humble himself, God forgets all his wickedness of the past! He shows him great mercy and blesses him.

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

UNFORGIVABLE INIQUITY...:

"In that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackloth: and behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine... this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts" (Isa 22:12-14

What is this iniquity which shall not be purged? When God calls you to repent, to weep, to fast and to cry to Him (so that He may show compassion on you), if you feast and rejoice, rebelling against the counsel of God, the Lord may never forgive such a rebellious spirit.

"Pride, fulness of bread and abundance of idleness" was the iniquity of Sodom (Eze 16:49) - for which the judgment of God came on them. The present generation has become worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. "Lord, have mercy on us; let not this iniquity that cannot be purged come on us."

True children of God should take time to fast and pray and weep before the judgment of God comes on this untoward generation. But alas! The majority of Christians have neglected prayer and fasting as never before. It's time for us to wake up and take time to fast, to weep and to mourn in the presence of God - that God may have mercy on us and on this sinful generation.

"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil" (Joel 2:12,13).

'FAT' AND 'HOT'

"The Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day" (Gen 18:1).

Here the Lord's appearance to Abraham can be compared to our home-call. This thought enlightens us on how we ought to end our life.

When the Lord appeared, Abraham was in the plains of Mamre. 'Mamre' means 'fatness'. We should be spiritually fat and flourishing - not lean - when we finally meet our Lord. Of those in the house of God (Church) it is said that they shall bring forth fruit in old age (Psa 92:13, 14). Our lives should be fruitful - useful and a blessing to others - till the end.

The patriarch was at the tent door. 'Tent' signifies faith life. It is indeed sad that some saints who once lived by faith, trusting God for their health, wealth and healing, are now seeking medicine, doctors and human remedies. Will the Lord see you sitting at the tent door if He calls you today?

It was "in the heat of the day" that Abraham welcomed the Lord. May the Lord grant us the grace to be spiritually hot - zealous for God and in the height of our spiritual life with the Sun of Righteousness at its zenith in our life, when He calls us.

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

STRANGE RESTORATION..!!!

"I restored that which I took not away" (Psa 69:4).

The true Christian spirit is to restore that which one did not take away. Sounds strange, doesn't it? What is this? The devil took away our health, joy, love, peace, etc. from us - which Jesus restored to us. This is the ministry entrusted to us also.

If someone hates you, it is because the devil has taken love away from him. He certainly must be miserable. What should you do then? If you are a true child of God, you will restore to him the love he lost, by loving him in a very special way. If you cannot love him and do good to him, it means the devil has taken away from you the greatest and most important divine quality - love. "Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love)" (I Cor 13:13).

The devil has taken away love from millions of souls; they are starved of true love. Let us restore to them what the devil has taken away and what the world cannot offer - divine love, forgiving love. The devil is also actively involved in the business of taking peace away from people, families and homes. Shall we then go about restoring peace wherever we go? Jesus "made" peace by His death on the cross, and He wants us too to be peace "makers" by making a sacrifice (of our self-interest, self-concern, etc.).

How many of us can say with Jesus, "I restored that which I took not away"?

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

FAITH HAS A MOVE..:

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith" (Heb 11:7).

"By faith Noah... moved with fear." Faith has a move in it. If faith moves us (activates us) nothing in the world can move (shake) us. "Men who moved the world were not moved by the world."

Faith did a great work in and through Noah. He prepared an ark. The ark is a type of the Church. Those who do not have faith cannot build the Church of God. What was the purpose of the ark? It was to save all those who entered it. Those who entered it went up when the floods came. Similarly, those who are in the body of Christ (prepared as the Bride) will go up at the Rapture before the judgment of tribulation comes upon the earth.

By faith Noah took the warning seriously and acted upon it. Do you take the warning that Jesus is coming soon, seriously? If you don't, it means you have no faith.

"By faith... prepared." Jesus is coming soon. Why are people not prepared? They have no faith. Noah did not worry about where he could get men to build such a large ship. Manpower, time, availability of designing engineers, the large sum of money needed, etc. did not bother him. Faith moves us to do great things for God.

"Faith is a grasping of almighty power,

The arm of man laid hold on the arm of God,

The grand and blessed hour

In which the things impossible to me

Became the possible, O Lord, through Thee!"

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

AN AMAZING REQUEST

"He said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise" (Lk 23:42,43).

Many believed on Christ when His ministry was at its peak. They saw His miracles - multiplying the loaves and fishes, healing those who came to Him of every kind of sickness and disease, raising the dead, etc. However, here is a man who accepted Jesus as his Saviour at a time when our Lord was physically very weak and apparently could not even save Himself. He was bleeding and in great agony, deserted by His own disciples, condemned, mocked and jeered at by the people and the leaders. This malefactor was not converted on hearing a sermon or seeing a miracle. Many who saw Jesus' miracles (who even saw Him raise Lazarus from the dead), did not believe! But here is a hardened criminal putting his trust in Christ in His weakest human form!

Many came to Christ for their material needs - for food, healing, deliverance from evil spirits, and for relief from numerous other problems. The thief on the cross probably had greater physical needs than anyone else. He definitely needed healing in his lacerated, bleeding body. He needed deliverance from his agonizing pains and from his imminent, hopeless death. Yet he asked Christ for none of those things. He asked for only spiritual salvation. All he asked for was that Jesus would remember him; that He would have mercy on him on judgment day. And of course, Jesus gave him "more abundantly than he could ask or think." He asked for mercy for the remote future. Jesus gave him salvation 'TODAY'! He asked for only that Christ would "remember" him. Jesus replied, "Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise!"

Dear reader, like this penitent thief, if you pray and seek things of eternal value, our Lord will do for you "more than you ask or think."

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

MULTIPLYING...:

"God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so" (Gen 1:24).

'Earth' shows earthly people, and also the saints of New Earth. In the physical sense, the earth can only bring forth earthly lives i.e cattle and creeping things. In a spiritual sense, it means that earthly people (those who have the nature of clinging to the things of the earth) can only win souls who have such mundane desires. Similarly, the saints going to New Earth can produce only saints for New Earth. The earth could not bring forth fowls that fly above the earth. People who have earthly natures cannot produce people for New Jerusalem and Zion, or people having divine natures. Also, the saints going to New Earth cannot win souls who live a heavenly life and get ready for the Rapture. You cannot lead another further than you yourself have gone. Only higher grade saints can produce other higher grade saints.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (Jn 3:6). Let us put off all carnal natures; they will create death in us and in others. Let us walk in the Spirit and bring forth spiritual fruit to God and lead many into the same spiritual experience.

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

TRUE HAPPINESS..:

"Blessed are the pure in heart" (Matt 5:8).

'Blessed' also means 'happy'. True happiness is holiness. All other happinesses are imaginary and fleeting. If you go to a sandy beach in a tropical country you will enjoy lying on the sand; it may appear a pleasure. But after you come away from the beach, have a bath and wear fresh clean clothes, if you lie on a soft bed and find a pinch of sand there on the bed, it will irritate you so much that you cannot rest till you have got rid of it. One may ask you, "Earlier you were lying on the sand itself, and you enjoyed it. Now there is only a pinch of sand on your bed. Why can't you enjoy it?" Your answer will be, "Well, now I am washed and clean and wearing clean clothes. Even a few grains of sand really irritate me on this soft bed."

In the same way, to a sinner, enjoying the pleasures of the world is like lying on a sandy beach. But to a person who is washed in the blood of Jesus and who has put on the character of Christ, even the little sins and pleasures of the past life appear irritable and undesirable.

Dear child of God, love purity of life. Shun every trace of evil, yea, every appearance of evil. Then surely you will be a happy man.

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

ORDAINED TO BE WITH HIM...:

"The Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden" (Gen 2:15).

"The Lord God took the man" - Though God created millions of things in heaven and on earth, He took only man to Himself (as His son and as the object of His great affection).

"And put him in the garden of Eden." The word for 'put' also means 'rest'. The garden of Eden was the best place of rest for man. 'Eden' means 'delight'. The Church of God (the true garden of Eden) is the place of rest and refreshing for a sinner saved by grace. 'To rest' doesn't mean to be lazy and inactive. God put man there in the garden 'to dress it and to keep it'.

The Lord God 'TOOK the man' before putting him 'INTO the garden' or into His service. The Lord continues the same principle now also. First of all, before we are called to serve Him, He takes us to Himself to be with Him. "He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach" (Mk 3:14). Once we have learned to live with Him, He can send us anywhere. Now the danger is that many do not want to live with Him, but go without Him to preach and teach. Let us learn to be with the Lord so that He may send us forth to serve.

Dear reader, before we can 'keep' the garden of God, we should be able to keep ourselves. Keep yourself in the love of God and the love of God will keep you. Keep yourself in the presence of God and the presence of God will keep you.

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

WHY PRAYERS ARE HINDERED...!

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife... that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous" ( I Pet 3:7,8)

Many couples do not realize why their prayers sometimes go unanswered. From this text we learn that if the couple are not of one mind or if they do not dwell together in unity and harmony, their prayers will be hindered. Quite often, couples who fight, quarrel and argue, do not have family prayers because their spirits are not ready to pray together. You may say, "I pray alone," but that prayer may not go to God's presence.

How can the couple be of one mind? The above text says, "Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another." Yes, that is the secret. The husband and wife can never be united if they think the other must be perfect in character. The wife may find various failures and mistakes in the husband's life and the husband may find mistakes in the wife. So they can have one mind only when they have compassion for each other. What is compassion? Compassion is a sympathetic feeling towards someone for his or her weak points, troubles, failures or drawbacks.. Instead of having sympathy, if you have a critical attitude towards the other's failures, you can never be of one mind and, as long as you are not of one mind your prayers are hindered.

This principle is applicable not only to married couples, but also to others. Dear reader, perhaps some of your prayers are not answered because you are not of one mind with others. Unless we are united with others, whether in the gospel work, in family life or in any other thing, and look at others with compassion rather than with a critical spirit, we cannot see God answering our prayers.

"Bind us together, Lord,

bind us together, Lord,

With cords that cannot be broken;

Bind us together, Lord,

bind us together, Lord,

Bind us together with love."

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

STAND ON YOUR COVENANT!

We read about a woman standing on the moon in Revelation 12:1. This woman shows the Church of God or every individual believer. The moon stands for the grace of God, and feet, for our covenants and dedications. 'Standing on the moon' therefore shows that when we stand on our dedications we will have grace in our lives. When we are not firm in our dedications we are virtually taking our feet off the grace of God. So child of God, hold on to your dedications to have grace to be perfected and found as His bride.

According to your calling you must make covenants with God. The grace you have will be as great as the covenants you have made with the Lord. If you are a servant of God, or if you are called to be a servant of God, your covenant with God should be deeper; the grace to live that life will be bestowed on you. About Mount Zion, it is stated that it 'cannot be removed but abideth for ever' (Psa 125:1).

So child of God, step out to serve God without doubting whether you will be able to stand firm to the end in all the fiery trials. We can live like Mount Zion - a life which never moves by trusting in the unlimited grace of God. The Lord says that even if mountains move His kindness and His covenant of peace shall not depart from us. If we don not depart from our covenant with God, His kindness or grace will not depart from us. This is the secret of a victorious Christian life; this is the secret of the Zion-life!

About the Zion-saints, the Psalmist says that they go from strength to strength (Psa 84:7). Because of the strength of their covenant, because of the abundant grace that flows through this covenanted life, the way of Zion is not a narrow way, but a broad way! If you find this way narrow and difficult, it is because you are not keeping your covenant with your God!

"I never will my love withdraw
For oh, I love Thee more and more,
And Thy undying love for me
Shall be my theme eternally."

- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 'Morning Manna'

HOW GREAT THOU ART!

The difference between heaven and earth is so very vast that there is no example we can use to illustrate it. Our galaxy is called the Milky Way and, according to scientists, in this galaxy to which our solar system belongs there are over 30 million suns. 1.5 million earths can be put into one sun, and there are in all about 100,000 galaxies. God put all these 100,000 galaxies together and created heaven. This gives us some idea of the vastness of the heavens. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork!" exclaims the Psalmist (Psa 19:10) God created this vast universe and, side by side, He created the tiny earth in which we are just little specks.

Compared to the majesty of the universe, how insignificant is man, and yet God Who could and did create such glory, made man in His own image! He Who created the entire universe also created this puny man. This reveals to us the greatness of God and also His great love for man. "When I consider the heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained; what is man that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that Thou visitest him?" (Psa 8:4).

How wonderful our God is! Dear reader, what have we to boast about? The Lord has shown us how much He caress for us. If you have this revelation you will never be worried or concerned about earthly things.

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