LET HOLINESS BE FIRST IN YOUR LIFE...:

God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Gen 1:3).

The first action of God recorded in the six-day creation was to bring LIGHT into the darkened world. As such, let our first action or service be to bring God's light into this darkened world, to save souls doomed to eternal damnation.

In the Word of God, 'darkness' is usually compared to sin and evil, while 'light' stands for holiness.

The first things that God saw was LIGHT, and not anything else. "God saw the light" (Gen 1:4). Now also, while wickedness and violence are rampant in this sin-stained world, God is anxious to see light, even His holiness, in His children.

The first thing that God certified as good, was not an angel, man or woman, but LIGHT. "
God saw the light, that it was good." If God cannot certify your purity of life, beware, He may not accept any other goodnes that might be in you. Can God testify of our personal life and say, "I saw the light in you and it was good"?

The first thing that God named was not the heaven, the earth, water or darkness, but LIGHT. "And God called the light Day." If God is to put His holy name or His 'new name' on us and call us 'blessed and holy', we must realize that TRUE BLESSEDNESS IS HOLINESS. Hence He has called us with a holy calling - it is a blessed calling indeed.

Dear reader, let holiness be the FIRST THING that God sees in you as you grow in every divine attribute. Be sure to cultivate holiness in every part of your life and ministry.

- TPM Morning Manna

'GREATER RICHES'

"Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward" (Heb 11:26).

This is a very great revelation that Moses received by faith. By faith Moses counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. At that time, the Egyptian empire was the greatest empire in the world; from almost all over the world, treasures flowed into Egypt. In other words, the palace of Egypt had the greatest riches of that time. To reject all those riches and joyfully choose reproaches is something unimaginable.

Even in this Grace Period, when some saints face reproaches that spoil their name or fame, they get thoroughly discouraged and some even give up their ministry and their spiritual life. But here is a man of God who did not have the privilege of possessing the Bible and who had not seen in his time or heard from past history of anyone choosing to embrace reproaches, rejecting the riches of the world. It was faith that enabled Moses to do it.

How many saints can testify along with Moses that they are able to take reproach as great riches? While the people of the world hate reproaches, those who have the riches of faith take them to be true treasures.

"He had respect unto the recompence of the reward." When hated and reproached for the sake of Christ, people with faith rejoice and leap for joy for they see that their reward is great in heaven (Lk 6:22,23 & Matt 5:11,12).

- TPM Morning Manna

THE BEST COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY..:

"He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned" (Isa 50:4).

Before we can learn to speak we need to learn to hear or listen. "He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." It is strange to find that while learned people are willing to hear and learn more, unlearned people are often unwilling to learn or listen.

"My sheep hear My voice... and they follow Me," says Jesus (Jn 10:27). Let us ask the Master to open our ears to hear His tender voice, for only then we can follow Him in His footsteps.

"He wakeneth morning by morning." It is early in the morning that the Lord speaks to us, giving us instructions and orders for the day's activities, and warning us of dangers that lie ahead. "I spake unto you rising up early and speaking," the Lord repeatedly told the Israelites.

It was not once in a way that Jesus woke up in the morning. It was His constant practice to rise up" a great while before day," and go out and pray (Mk 1:35). No pupil in the school of God's wisdom comes out as a true saint without learning the discipline of RISING UP EARLY IN THE MORNING. After a whole day's long and tiresome journeying on foot and its hectic activities, it must have been very difficult for Jesus to rise up very early in the morning, but our Lord "was not rebellious, neither turned away back" (Isa 50:5).

Let us retrace the footsteps of our Master in the BEST COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY to become a blessing to millions!

- TPM Morning Manna

ORNAMENT OF PRIDE...:

Of all the women, Jezebel was perhaps the most proud. "She painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window" (II Kgs 9:30). She could see that Jehu was furiously executing God's judgment on the house of Ahab. What pride and audacity to look out at him like that!

"Let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but... the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" (I Pet 3:3,4). Yes, we cannot deny the fact that in the light of the Word of God, women who adorn themselves or beautify themselves do not have a meek spirit. Whenever people of God humbled themselves before God in the Old Testament we see them stripping themselves of their ornaments (See Gen 35:4 ; Exo 33:4).

Jezebel's arrogance earned her a most cursed death - "They threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trod her under foot... Go, see this cursed women, and bury her... but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands" (II Kgs 9:33, 34). Elijah's words, "Dogs shall eat Jezebel," came true.

Let us put off all out outward adorning and walk humbly with our God - adorning ourselves "in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety... appropriate for women who profess godliness."

- TPM Morning Manna

RENEWED DEDICATIONS..:

"And the Lord appeared unto Abram... and there he builded an altar unto the Lord Who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain" (Gen 12:7,8).

Wherever the Lord appeared to him, there Abraham built an altar. Every visitation of God, every promise from God, should take us to a new consecration (altar), and lead us to a mountain-top experience.

Wherever the Lord sent Abraham, he built an altar to the Lord - signifying that he was willing to serve Him wherever He placed him. The altar was a witness of his service to his God. Wherever we go, we should leave behind a spiritual fragrance of our service for the Lord. Lot, Abraham's nephew, never built an altar; no wonder he had no testimony where he lived (Gen 19:9&14).

"It is right that you should begin again every day. There is no better way to finish the spiritual life than to be ever beginning it over again," said Francis de Sales.

Child of God, it's important that we keep offering ourselved afresh to the Lord every now and then - every morning, every night, why, at every juncture in our life. Then we will have fresh grace, renewed strength and new joys as we go on in our journey. There will be no room for weariness, faint-heartedness or dreariness. We can enjoy every bit of our journey - be it across hill or vale, through fire or water, in rain or in shine. Nothing can deter us. It will be 'faster, higher, stronger' all the way.

- TPM Morning Manna

STUDY THE WORD...!

"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (Col 3:16).

The son of a certain child of God studied in Sunday School as a little boy and learnt quite a number of Bible verses, but he grew up not knowing any spiritual truths. One day, as a teenager, he got thoroughly discouraged and contemplated committing suicide. He climbed up a cashew tree, tied a rope to a branch and put the noose around his neck. Before jumping from the tree he thought he would say a little prayer. As he was praying, suddenly a verse he had studied in Sunday School came to his mind - "Curses is everyone that hangeth on a tree" (Gal 3:13). It dawned on him that what he was going to do was a cursed thing, and he came down from the tree. He repented for his sin and gave his life to the Lord. Now he is a grown-up man, a deeply committed Christian.

When we study the Word of God, initially some of the Bible verses may not have any impact on us. But at the right time the Word of God will work in our lives. "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My words shall not pass away," said Jesus (Mk 13:31). Therefore let us not neglect meditating on the Scriptures and memorizing Scripture portions.

- TPM Morning Manna

"MY MONEY MY OWN..!"

In the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, we see that the rich man went to hell. He was not an adulterer or a blasphemer. He was not killing or stealing. In fact, we read of many good things about him. He loved his brothers. And he was calling Abraham 'father'. Abraham also doesn't accuse him of any wickedness. Why did he go to hell then?

One reason why the rich man went to hell could be that he was clothed in purple and fine linen. In Bible times, scarlet and fine linen were royal and expensive clothing. You may be a rich man. You may say, "I am using my own money and wearing expensive clothes or having an expensive car or other luxurious items." But when you use your money like that, the Bible calls you a murderer. "I am not taking anybody else's money. Whom am I killing? You may ask, "Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just" (Jms 5:5,6). When you are living in pleasure you are morally killing many poor and needy people who may die of starvation or malnutrition. Remember, not only your tithes, but also every penny of yours belongs to God. One day we have to give account to God for them.

Those who live in pleasure and spend money on luxuries will have a tormenting end. Their life too will be a torment. "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her" (Rev 18:7).

Dear child of God, the happiest life is a simple, humble life. God gives you money, but He wants it to be used for the glory of God.

- TPM Morning Manna

SEEK SUPERNATURALITY...:

God made man in His own image and likeness. God is wonderful. Therefore when He made us, He put in us the desire to be wonderful. Every human being, sinner or saint, longs for supernaturality. Sinners seek supernaturality through drugs, cigarettes, witchcraft, etc. They want some supernatural power.

God wants to do something supernatural in us and through us. He has got a great plan for us, that is much greater than we can imagine. That is why the Word of God says, "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (I Pet 2:9). If our spiritual eyes are opened to see how wonderful the Lord wants our lives to be, what a difference it will make to our lifestyle!

The Lord wants to reveal Himself to us as the wonderful One every day. If God does not answer your prayer in a straight way, it means He wants to answer it in a wonderful way. Our God delights to do the impossible. Because our Lord's name is Wonderful, He wants to do everything in a wonderful way.

One man of God says we must pray for the impossible. It is easier to do a difficult thing than an easy thing. Our God dwells in the realm of the supernatural. When we ask for an easy thing we are limiting the power, the ability and the glory of Jesus. We are grieving the Holy Spirit. We are doubting the power, the generosity and the love of our God. In fact, we ar tying the hands of God. Our spiritual eyes need to be opened. Then we will not pray for small things; we will learn to pray for the impossible. We will pray for greater things and with greater faith and vigour.

- TPM Morning Manna

TRIALS DO US GOOD...:

"The waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered" (Gen 7:19)

In the Word of God, waters often refer to afflictions and sufferings. The Psalmist prays, "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul" (Psa 69:1).

God permits trials to 'prevail exceedingly' so that the high hills or our proud nature that often lifts its ugly head might be covered and crushed. The trials the Israelites encountered in the wilderness were intended to humble them (Deut 8:2).

"The waters prevailed exceedingly" so that the whole earth was covered and the sky or heaven alone could be seen. Dear child of God, our sufferings are meant to cover our earthly nature with all its vanitites - so that Christ and the heavenly nature alone may be seen in us.

As the waters increased, "all flesh died" (vs 21). Destruction of ALL FLESH was the purpose of the flood waters. The tribulations we go through help us to strip off our fleshly and unsacntified natures. "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (I Pet 4:1,2).

So dear child of God, welcome trials that are in the perfect will of God - they are a sure sign of God's love for you!

- TPM Morning Manna

HE KEEPS OUR FEET...:

"He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber" (Psa 121:3).

What privileged people we are! Our God has promised that He will not allow our feet which have been set on the Rock of Ages (Psa 40:2), to be moved or shaken.

"He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (Psa 91:11,12). "He will keep the feet of His saints" (I Sam 2:9). Is it not amazing that not only are the holy angels holding us in their mighty hands that our feet may not dash against a stone, but the Lord also is Himself watching over our feet night and day - He doesn't ever slumber or sleep!

However, if the Lord is to keep our feet, we have a part to play. "I have refrained my feet from every evil way" (Psa 119:101). Here 'feet' means 'walk of life'. When our walk of life is free from all known evil, the Lord will preserve our feet from being shaken and also from falling. "Thou hast delivered... my feet from falling" (Psa 116:8).

If God is caring for and keeping our feet, the lowest part of the body, how much more willing He must be to care for our head - to keep it from evil thoughts, imaginations, etc! And if God cares so much for our body, how much more He must care for our soul!

- TPM Morning Manna

NAME AND FAME...:

"A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. But now they break down carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers" (Psa 74:5,6).

How true it is that, just as we read here in this text, many famous people, both in the world and in the spiritual sphere, are not good people! Here, what is the famous man doing? He lifts up axes upon the thick trees. Axes show carnal weapons and thick trees show great saints. How often we see that those who manipulate affairs to become well-known and popular, are destroyers of the saints and the Church of God!

"They break down the carved work thereof." Those who try to become famous are not spiritual people; on the contrary, they are carnal and their works very often destroy the work of God rather than build it. Some of the famous people mentioned in the Bible were also such - like the "two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown" (Num 16:2). What these renowned people did was to rebel against God and their leaders. Nadab and Abihu who rebelled against Moses and the leaders, were also famous people (Num 26:2).

Dear child of God, if you wield your wisdom and influence you may become famous (maybe in the church), but your name, rather than helping the work of God, may destroy it. It is always good to run away from name and fame, and be hidden in the clefts of the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.

- TPM Morning Manna

PRECIOUSNESS OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS..:

It is said that there are atleast fifteen types of blood groups. Normally a blood test can prove whether or not a particular man is the father of a particular child. The blood of a child and its father can be checked scientifically for some genetic connection. But the BLOOD OF JESUS IS UNIQUE. He had no earthly father.

Everyone inherits blood group factors at conception. But the blood of Jesus cannot be grouped because it is singular. It is free from any genetic inheritance or connection. His Father was His Heavenly Father, the Eternal, Everlasting Father. The Blood of Christ, therefore, is also called the blood of God. "The Church of God, which He Hath purchased with HIS OWN BLOOD" (Acts 20:28)

"And the angel said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon you and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One that is to be born of you will be called the Son of God..." (Lk 1:35). This clearly proves that Jesus had no biological father. His Blood is therefore PRECIOUS BLOOD. "Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and spot" (I Pet 1: 18, 19).

Dear reader, you are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. You are precious to God as His precious Blood was shed to redeem you.

"Precious, precious Blood of Jesus
Everflowing free
O, believe it; O, receive it
'Tis for Thee"

- TPM "Morning Manna"

INFLUENCE OF A GOOD EXAMPLE...:

"Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ" (I Cor 11:1 NIV).

Once a pastor called one of his believers on the phone. The man's little boy answered the call. The pastor introduced himself and asked for his father. The boy said, "Hang on," and then the servant of God could hear some whispering going on. After one or two minutes the boy said, "Pastor, dad says that he is not here!"

We tell our children to be honest, and punish them when they tell lies, but how can we expect them to be honest unless we ourselves are an example to them? The best gift you can give to your children is your good example.

"As an open book they your life will read,
To your words and acts giving daily heed;
Will they be attracted or turn away
From the Christ you profess today?"

When a young rose plant is tied to a stick, it helps the plant to grow straight. Afterwards you may remove the supporting stick; it will continue to grow straight. But if the young plant is not tied to a straight stick in the beginning, later on it will be too late to help it and the rose plant may grow up crooked. "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov 22:6).

- TPM Morning Manna

NEEDLESS FEAR...:

"Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and... every one that findeth me shall slay me" (Gen 4:14).

"From Thy face shall I be hid," Cain moans. Nay, from Cain's face God shall be hid. A sinner has no boldness to stand before God or to behold His glorious face.

"Every one that findeth me shall slay me." In fact, around Cain, there were only his blood relations and no strangers. As such, one can hardly believe his statement. It was Cain's own imagination that EVERY ONE who found him would slay him. A sinner is always haunted by unnecessary fear and panic.

When Cain became a murderer he started thinking that everyone in the world had become a murderer, just as wearing dark glasses gives one the impression that the whole world is dark. If our heart is filthy we will think every one is filthy, and the converse is equally true: if we think everyone is filthy, it means we are filthy.

Let us examine ourselves. Are we being driven by needless fear or worry? Do we often give in to negative thoughts and feelings? Then our heart needs to be set right. A heart that is not pure cannot see the goodness of the Lord or goodness in anyone else. We cannot trust the Lord and His love either.

- TPM Morning Manna

"HIGH PRAISES"

"Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand" (Psa 149:6).

If there are 'high' praises, there must be 'low' praises too. It's natural for one to praise God for the blessings he has received, for deliverance from problems and bondages, for the graces given to him to do various things, for the friends and loved ones he has, for the prayers that were answered, etc. This is a 'low' level of praising God.

What is the 'high' level of praising God? Can you praise God when He takes away blessings - like Job (see Job 1:21)?

Can you praise God for the graces God has given to others to do things well - like St Paul (see I Cor 1:14)?

Can you praise God for your enemies, for those who reject you, presecute you, humiliate you or misunderstand you - for God to bless them - like Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:44?

Can you praise God when He doesn't seem to answer prayer or fulfil His promises - like Abraham (see Rom 4:20)?

Can you praise God when you find yourself in prison - like situations - like Paul and Silas (see Acts 16:25)? Now, these are 'high praises'.

- These are the praises that put a twoedged sword in our hand to execute judgment on the enemy (Psa 149:7-9); these are the bombs that 'still the enemy and the avenger' (Matt 21:16, Psa 8:2); these are the praises that shake the foundation of prisons and open prison doors (Acts 16:26).

Child of God, would you see the powers of the devil defeated? Would you see the hand of God in your life? Rise then from your low level of praising and offer the high praises of God.

- TPM Morning Manna

LIVE IN TENTS...:

"By faith he (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise" (Heb 11:9).

By faith Abraham lived in tents. In the Old Testament, living in tents was a sign of living by faith. Abraham's children, and his grandchildren too, were taught to live in tents i.e. they were taught a faith life. Hence, after Abraham's death, his children and grandchildren followed his good example and lived in tents. We must live by faith and also teach our children and grandchildren to trust God for their needs whether physical, spiritual or otherwise. Sad to say, some modern Abraham's children and Abraham's grandchildren have become Lots and lost their tent life or faith life.

"How wonderful to know the Lord,

And trust in His unfailing Word.

For life and love, for rest and food,

For daily help and mighty care,

Sing to the Lord, for He is good,

And lift your voice to Him in prayer."

"Sojourned in the land of promise" - Promises of God are like Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. Let us daily live by and lean on God's promises. Faith helps us to see this world as a strange land and heaven as our homeland.

- TPM Morning Manna

STRANGE PLEASURE...:

"I take pleasure in infirmities" ( II Cor 12:10).

One meaning of this is, having a realization of our utter unworthiness for the least blessings of God. The more we have this 'pleasure' the more the Lord makes us worthy of His great blessings.

"Why have I found favour in thine eyes seeing I am a stranger?" Ruth asked Boaz. She confessed she was not even comparable to one of his handmaidens, and later became his bride. Abigail too realizes her unworthiness to be David's wife: "Let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord" (I Sam 25:41).

See what John the Baptist said when people from all over Judaea and Jerusalem flocked to him to be baptized of him: "There cometh One mightier than I after me, the latchet of Whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down to unloose" (Mk 1:7). No surprise, John the Baptist is known as the greatest saint of the Old Testament time.

Some lose this "pleasure" after some time and become proud and fall into disgrace.

When Billy Graham was once asked what he would first do when he got to heaven, he replied, "The first thing I am going to do is ask, Why me, Lord? Why did you choose a farm boy to preach to so many people...?"

May the Lord grant us the grace to always have the realization of our unworthiness for the least blessings of God. If we are anything or have anything, it is because God is everything to us.

"To feel extraordinarily small and unimportant is always a wholesome feeling," says Robert Benson.

- TPM Morning Manna

IDLE WORDS...:

"I say unto you, that EVERY IDLE WORD (i.e. unprofitable word) that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matt 12:36).

It was a little foolish chat that Eve had with the serpent that brought about ruin and untold misery to the whole human race. She might have thought, "What is wrong in conversing with the serpent? After all, we are only speaking about spiritual matters." Let us be careful about how we talk, what we talk about, and to whom we talk. The kingdom of Israel got divided into two and many fierce battles ensued just because King Rehoboam spoke a few foolish words to his subjects!

"The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a LITTLE FIRE kindleth!" (Jms 3:5). How often we do not realize the awful result of the undefying words we speak for the sake of fun or pastime!

George Fox, a man of God of the 17th century who was noted for 'words like a flash of lightning', for 'fewness and fullness of words', said in his testimony, "The Lord showed me that my words must be few and savoury."

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt," taught St.Paul (Col 4:6). Our words, every word of ours ought to be 'good to the use of edifying' and should 'minister grace unto the hearers' (Eph 4:29).

- TPM Morning Manna

WATCH WHAT YOU SEE...!

"The woman SAW... the tree" (Gen 3:6).

If God did not want her to eat of the fruit of the tree, what is the use of looking at it? Most of our sins come through the doors of our eyes. If the devil can get us to look at something he can easily deceive us into being attracted by it. That's why the Book of Proverbs warns" "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red" (Prov 23:31).

Often we look at things thinking, "What harm is there in seeing it?" The woman also might have thought, "What is the harm in looking at the tree? After all, God has only told us not to eat its fruit." However, the right approach would be to think, "What is the GAIN in looking at something that has nothing to do with us?" "Ask not, Is it wrong? Ask, Is it BEST?" says one man of God. St Paul says, "All things are legitimate but not all things are helpful (profitable, wholesome, constructive)" (I Cor 10:23 - Amp).

In this modern age, the devil traps people by attracting their eyes and making them look at many unwanted things that are spiced with worldly glamour and glory - as in pictures portrayed in magazines and on television. They may all seem to be harmless doves, but they soon turn into stinging serpents. So child of God, watch what you see. Make a covenant with your eyes right now.

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

PRAY AND TURN AWAY GOD'S WRATH..:

The prayer of Moses of old is a true type of the intercessory prayer of Jesus. When the children of Israel sinned against God in making a golden calf and claiming it to be the god which brought them out of Egypt, the anger of the Lord was kindled against them and God wanted to destroy them. But when Moses came down from the mount and saw the great sin which had grieved God, he took the whole blame upon himself and said, "...forgive their sin - and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written" (Exo 32:32). This is true of intercession. It is truly divine to take the whole blame upon oneself and justify others. Concerning this character of Moses we read in Psalm 106:23 that Moses stood before God in the breach to turn away His wrath, that He might not destroy them.

Of all the intercessory prayers, the greatest was the one offered by Jesus on the cross when He prayed for those who tormented and persecuted Him: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Lk 23:34). Thank God, we have a forgiving God in this unforgiving world.

Dear Reader, God needs mighty intercessors filled with the holy zeal of God, who will travail in prayer for a true revival.

"On thy towers, O Zion!, They wrestled through in prayer;

In selfless service poured their lives, Thy glory e'er to share."

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

FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE...:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1).

"Now faith" - Faith is always connected with the present and is neither of the past nor of the future. Faith is not hope, expecting, something to happen later; Faith is 'now', in the present - not expecting but accepting, what God promised in His Word.

Hebrews chapter 11 begins with faith (1st verse) and ends with the word "perfect" (last verse) - it signifies that without faith there is no perfection. So, faith is what the devil steals from us first. The very first words of Satan (the serpent) were aimed at destroying faith in God's holy word (Gen 3:1). That's why Jesus wondered whether He would find faith on the earth when He returned.

Faith is the sixth sense, the invisible eye with which invisible things are seen, experienced and enjoyed (and invisible things are eternal - II Cor 4:18). Faith enables to see what others otherwise cannot.

"Faith is the substance." The substance of one's life is faith, and the substance of every blessing from God is faith - without which our life will be like chaff. If we are like chaff, when the devil sifts us, as he sifted Peter, we will get blown away. It's only through faith that we can overcome - the world, sin, sickness, the devil, and ultimately, death. If faith leaves us, a fear will captivate us. Chaff has all the appearance of wheat in terms of colour, size, etc. but it is weightless and useless - so is a faith-less man. "Mene mene tekel upharsin." 'Tekel' means, 'I have weighed you in the balances and you are found wanting (weightless).'

Dear child of God, pray that your faith in the Word of God may increase so that you may be a man of substance.

- TPM, Morning Manna

WORRY-FREE LIFE...:

"One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away" (Lk 10:42).

One thing is needed for all of us. When we fail to do the needful thing, we will try to do needless things - and create worry and care.

Mary had chosen the good part and it was not to be taken away from her. Your health, wealth, family, friends, name and fame, your talent to sing or preach, will be taken away one day. But one thing will not be taken away. If we learn to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His voice, even in Heaven we would be sitting at His feet and hearing His words. No man, no devil can take that part away from us. Oh what a blessed life this is!

This world is full of Marthas. God needs Marys to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word. It was not by luck that Mary got the good part. She chose it. It was not by chance but by choice.

"They come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed and in his right mind" (Mk 5:15). This man could not do one thing. He climbed the mountains, climed down, ran about, etc. But one thing he couldn't do, and that was to sit. Some of us are like the mad man of Gadarenes. We have time for everything but prayer. After Jesus met the man, he was found sitting at the feet of Jesus. People came to know that he was in his right mind on seeing him sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Child of God, with all your anxiety and worrying, you are only wasting your life. Do not be like that mad man of Gadarenes. Like Mary, learn to sit at the feet of Jesus.

- TPM, Morning Manna

USEFUL BUT NOT FAITHFUL...!

IISamuel chapter 23 is the Old Testament counterpart of Hebrews chapter 11 which lists the heros of faith. Verses 8-39 speak about the mighty men of David. In this list we see 37 heros. However, the name of the commander-in-chief of his army, Joab, is missing. What happened to him?

Joab was perhaps the most useful man to the king. He fought valiantly for the king and won many victories! But desperately lacked one thing - faithfulness. He killed two captains of the hosts of Israel, Abner and Amasa, without instructions from David.(I Kings 2:5,6). Moreover, David had charged Joab and other captains in the hearing of others, to deal gently with young Absalom, for his sake. Although Joab was reminded of the king's charge, he killed Absalom in utter disregard of the king's instructions.

We may be mightily used of God. We might have also won many spectacular battles against the forces of darkness. All this is commendable indeed. But if we are not faithful to Jesus, our David, our name may not be found in His book. "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you depart from Me, ye that work iniquity"(Matt 7:22,23)!

Dear reader, the Lord is more concern about your faithfulness than your usefulness. "We are called on not to be successful, but to be faithful", said Mother Teresa.

-TPM Morning Manna

MAKING SELECTIONS

"Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof" (Gen 2:19).

Having given man wonderful wisdom and understanding, God now gives him a chance to exercise it. It was an honour and privilege conferred on man to name all the animals and fowls. Besides, it was a test to see whether he would select one of them to be his help-mate (there were the nightingales who were talented in singing, the peacocks with amazing beauty and animals that were gracious and gentle in appearance).

If man had made a selection, he could have selected only an animal as his help-mate. Some children of God select a partner for themselves without the guidance of God, and lo, and behold, it is nothing less than an animal nature and behaviour! Of course, man could have given excuses for making a choice by saying, "After all it is God who brought him/her to me. I did not go in search of him/her." Yes, God 'brought them unto Adam' but not so that he may marry one of them, but so that, he may 'see what he would call them' that is, he was to distinguish one animal from another and one fowl from another, and not take one of them as his help-mate.

Child of God, do not make a selection on your own. We find Adam taking the victory in this test. He gave them names befitting each one, and did not find among them 'a help meet for him'.

- TPM Morning Manna

END WELL...!

And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom" (Gen 19:1).

What a contrast to Genesis 18:1! The Lord Himself came to meet Abraham. Here, to meet Lot, only two angels arrive. When a perfected saint dies, not merely angels, but the Lord Himself comes to welcome him to his eternal home.

Unlike in the case of Abraham, here, instead of "the heat of the day", it is "even". All the zeal for the Lord has cooled down; the Sun of righteousness is setting, bringing in dark shadows. Many 'cooled' believers do not realize that they are in a sad state of affairs - they find great joy talking of the zeal they once had, of the souls they won for the Lord, of how much they once suffered, of how they laboured in prayer.

"Lot sat in the gate of Sodom." At one time, when he was in fellowship with the true saint, Abraham, he too was a tent dweller - living by faith; but now he has lost that vision and revelation. Sitting at the gate meant holding the position of a judge. Maybe for sometime it appeared as if Lot was better off than his uncle - sitting at the gate of Sodom rather than dwelling in tents! How sad it is that, when many finally realize their folly in following the ways of the world, it is too late!

Dear reader, the voice of the Lord crying "Where art thou?" is still heard. Are you sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day like Abraham, or at the gate of Sodom at even?

- TPM Morning Manna

CHOOSE HIS PERFECT WILL...:

Getting guidance from God depends on the degree of our dedication. If we want to do the perfect will of God and dedicate ourselves for that, then the Lord will reveal His perfect will to us.

In Ezekiel 20:24,25 we read that God gave the Israelites 'statutes that were not good and judgments whereby they should not live,' because they had despised His statutes! So if you despise the guidance and counsel of the elders you will get counsel that will work your ruin. Here God gave them evil statutes that they may perish. So if God is to give us His guidance we must have a commitment and a desire to do the perfect will of God.

Why did God tell Balaam, 'Go with the men' when He didn't want him to? [When he went an angel of God was standing on the way with a sword to kill him.] God knew Balaam's heart. Deep in his heart he had already decided to do his own will. We can be like Balaam - not really wanting to do God's will, and yet praying to know His will. When the Lord told Balaam "Go," He meant "Go ahead and do what you want."

If you have rejected the counsel of God in some area of your life, God is not going to give you counsel in other areas of your life. Yesterday God may have given you a word of counsel and guidance and you may not have obeyed. If you ask for His guidance for today, you will not get it. You cannot say, "Yesterday I did not want to do that but today I am willing to obey." Unless you are prepared to do the whole will of God, God will not reveal His counsel to you.

- TPM "Morning Manna

DON'T WASTE YOUR TEARS..!

"Put Thou my tears into Thy bottle" (Psa 56:8).

God has a bottle in which tears are collected and kept in the presence of God. O child of God, your tears are never in vain.

A certain lady had a prodigal son. She kept weeping in the presence of God for the salvation of the boy. One day the Lord told her, "Daughter, your prayers are in My presence. You need not weep any more." Then one day, when that boy was going up in a lift, a stranger with two buckets of water entered the lift. The boy asked the stranger, "Why are you going up with these buckets of water?" Then the stranger answered, "I'm an angel of God. This is not water. I'm taking your mother's tears to the presence of God," and disappeared. The boy had a shock. How much tears my mom has shed for me!" He straightaway went to his mother, apologized to her, and accepted the Lord into his life.

What type of tears is God collecting in His tear bottle? All your tears may not go into that bottle. The people of the world weep when they lose their money, job, position, honour, title, etc. The Holy Spirit is sad about these people who weep, not for the glory of God, but out of self-pity. "Nobody cares. Everybody is rejecting me and despising me. There's nobody who understands." These tears of self-pity do not go to the presence of God.

"Lord, I don't have enough money, I need a better job, etc." is the cry of many. Now, it's not wrong to pray like that. But doctors say we have only a limited quantity of tears in our system. If you waste your tears on material things you will not have any tears for spiritual things. You shed tears for material blessings and you get them, but when you die you may go empty. If you find your tear bottle empty on going to heaven, it means you are almost bereft of the blessings of God in heaven.

The more we weep in the presence of God for our sins, for perishing souls, etc. the more we will be built up in God. All those tears will be collected in the bottle of God. Those tears will be plentifully rewarded by God.

- TPM Morning Manna

HEAVEN IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLES...:

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters... And God called the firmament Heaven" (Gen 1:6,8).

It is quite interesting to observe that God created heaven not only 'in the beginning', but also on the second day (only, with contrasting elements as compared to the first time)!

On the second day of His six-day creation, God is mainly dealing with the waters. One may wonder why God is devoted to the subject of waters on the second day, for we find the word 'waters' five times in the two verses, Genesis 1:6&7. From Psalm 69:1,2,14,15 we gather that waters signify afflictions, trials and tribulations. In the midst of the waters, God set the firmament called heaven. How encouraging and edifying it is for children of God to realize that in the midst of the waters or troubles, God has not kept a hell, but a HEAVEN (firmament) for us!

This 'heaven' in not in a corner, or by the sides of the waters, or at the bottom or top of the waters, but IN THE MIDST OF THE WATERS, praise the Lord! As such, our loving God often permits waters or troubles all around us, so that we might enjoy heaven in the midst of them. Instead of crying, "I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me" (Psa 69:2), we can shout, "I am come into heaven where joy overflows me!"

- TPM Morning Manna

YIELD NOT!

When we begin our Christian life, we may find life peaceful and without any problems. But as we grow we find ourselves facing trials and temptations and we tend to resist them. If one loses a few battles, one may even think of giving up. Carnal, sinful thoughts take over one's mind and the devil takes the upper hand. Such people lead a miserable life and make others also miserable.

The devil is a thief; his plan is to steal, to kill and to destroy (Jn 10:10). He wants to steal man's peace and joy; he wants to kill his body and destroy his life, even his spiritual life. He wants to deprive man of all that God has planned for him.

The devil had a plan for St.Paul; it was to destroy him. According to that plan he was going to Damascus to destroy Christians. But thank God, God "arrested" him on the way and revealed to him His plans for him. Paul then began to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (II Cor 10:5). It is no surprise therefore that God's glorious plan for Paul prevailed!

Dear reader, when we consider great men like Samson, King Saul and some others who were chosen by God, we can see how the devil managed to destroy their life and ministry. So let us be careful not to yield to the plan of the devil.

"Fight, fight with courage firm,

Fight, fight you will not fail,

Sure the foe in fear will flee,

By His might you'll ever prevail."

- TPM Morning Manna

YOU ARE A WATCHMAN..!

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

The first job man ever got was the best one; it was in the best possible place and it was received from the best employer! The work gave him only joy and never any strain. There was no need to draw water from a well to water the garden; a river with four heads ran through it and God Himself frequently watered it with the mist (2:6). There were no thorns or briers to prick or hurt man. Everywhere were present trees with good fruits for his nourishment. The first job that man undertook was not for any reward; he did it because he loved his creator God and Father.

Man had to 'keep' the garden or watch over it - as the original word implies. What a privilege it is to be entrusted with the work of gaurding the property owned by God. At that time God had not appointed any cherub to watch over the garden. Indeed, it was a crowning joy to man; but alas, man was not careful to do his duty, and his crown went to someone else. Being the watchman, he should not have let the serpent intrude into the garden.

God Has appointed us as watchmen to watch over our lives. If we are not diligent, the serpent will come and beguile us. We do not know whether Adam lost interest in his spiritual duties as soon as he got a wife; but he should have been, on the contrary more diligent than before to do his duty - as now his wife was a help-mate in this respect also.

"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Rev 3:11).

"Each sin has its door of entrance

Keep - that - door - closed!

Bolt it tight!

Just outside, the wild beast crouches

In the night:

Pin the bolt with a prayer,

God will fix it there."

TPM Morning Manna

ENLARGE YOUR VISION...!

"And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us" (II Kings 6:1).

Here, Elisha is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the sons of the prophets lived with Elisha, you may be living in fellowship with Jesus and yet may not realize that the place where we dwell is too strait or small, for us. Unless we realize how narrow-minded we are, how limited our spiritual vision and ambition is, we may never desire an enlarged spiritual life. To be useful to the Lord, we should have an enlarged vision and a large heart.

The saints who lived in the past were not born as saints, but they all had a vision of the great plan God had about them. Jabez prayed that the Lord may enlarge his territory. The Lord granted his request and it became more honourable than his brothers (I Chr 4:9,10). God must raise sons and daughters of Jabez in these days - people who are honourable and blessed in the sight of God and men.

The sin of the people of Israel was that they "limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psa 78:41). Our limited ideas and understanding may arrest the hands of God and prevent Him from doing great things in us and for us and through us. "Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God," said a certain man of God.

Where there is no vision, the people perish. Our vision should be God's vision. Our ambition should be God's ambition. Then our thoughts will be God's thoughts and, we will have a Christ-life as the ultimate result.

- TPM Morning Manna