Manifestation of Christ

"He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin" (1Jn 3:5)

Every manifestation of Christ, or revelation of the knowledge of Christ in our lives takes sin out of us. The more Christ is revealed in us, the more we are sanctified. In other words, the revelation of the knowledge of Christ purifies us deeply. Every MANIFESTATION of Christ in and through us helps us to be separated from sins and be drawn closer to Christ, just as, the more light shines, the more darkness is disspelled.

"In Him is no sin." Therefore, as we hide ourselves in the sinless Son of God, we can grow to a sinless perfection. On the other hand, instead of hiding ourselves in Him, if we "show ourselves," we are exposed to sin and we may forfeit our sanctification and salvation. The more we hide in Him, the more we are cleansed and sheltered.

"Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him" (v 6). Abiding in Christ virtually means, hiding in Christ. How is it that by hiding in Him we can avoid sinning? WHEN WE HIDE IN JESUS THE ENEMY CANNOT SEE US, just as a man hiding inside a building cannot be seen. "Whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him." This proves that the more we are sanctified, the more we see Him or His glory. Also, the more we are sanctified, the more we know Him. In short, if we wholeheartedly love a spotlessly pure life, we can see and know Christ as never before.

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (v 8). Every manifestation or revelation of the knowledge of Christ destroys the works of the devil. We are living in a world where the works of the devil (sin, sickness etc) are being manifested more and more. It is therefore essential that our life manifest Christ as never before.

- TPM Morning Manna

TRUE CONVERSION...:

When Jesus entered the house of Zacchaeus, His disciples, instead of rejoicing, started murmuring. However, Zacchaeus was not deterred by their unexplary behaviour, and he stood up to give his first testimony. His first testimony was a confession of his faults, and a dedication of himself to the Word of God. Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold" (Lk 19:8). The Word of God demands fourfold restoration (see Exodus 22:1). Acting strictly according to the Word of God, he is now willing to restore fourfold all that he has stolen from God or man.

When a person is really converted and Jesus comes into his life, just as it happened in Zacchaeus' life, his life will be radically changed and he will be willing to conform to every detail of the Word of God, whatever the cost may be. When Jesus comes into one's life, one of the first things one does to become faithful in money matters.

Along with St.Paul, Zacchaeus could boldly say: "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Phil 3:7,8).

Immediately after Zacchaeus' short and sweet testimony, Jesus gives a testimony about him: "This day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he also is a son of Abraham" (Lk 19:9). Many children of God testify about themselves but Jesus may not have any testimony about them.

- TPM Morning Manna

TOO LATE...!

King David asked Amasa to assemble the people in three days' time. But, "he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him... and Amasa wallowed in blood" (II Sam 20:4,5,12). The Bible is full of warnings about the 'spirit of delay'. A right thing should be done in the right way, and that, AT THE RIGHT TIME.

Once a man of God was exhorting everyone to commit their life to Christ. A man in the audience, although convicted, thought he would give his life to Christ the next day - as the preacher had a few more days of meeting there. That 'next day' never arrived; on the way back home that very night he died of a snake-bite.

Many have good intentions - to surrender their life to Christ, to take water-baptism, to serve God, etc. However, 'the spirit of delay' ruins all these good intentions. They say, "We will do it later when a convenient time arrives." Although Felix the governor trembled at the preaching of Paul and was convicted of his sins, he told Paul, "When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee" (Acts 24:25). That 'convenient season' never came. Felix must be repenting in hell for the spirit of delay which doomed his eternity.

In hell it's all regret - too late to repent, too late to come to Christ... too late, too late! Some are going to spend all eternity weeping because of their delaying. Dear reader, let not your lazy spirit ruin your eternity. If the Lord wants you to do something today, don't postpone it to the morrow. If the Lord calls you to serve Him, obey His call NOW.

- TPM Morning Manna

YOU CAN'T ESCAPE

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov 16:25).

Sometimes our own plans may appear better, more sensible or more convenient than the plans of God. However, "the end thereof are the ways of death." We observe that it begins in 'a way' but ends in 'ways'. Our own 'way' will finally become 'ways'. "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways" (Prov 14:14). Our self-will leads us in many directions, finally leading to death. We get alienated from the presence of God.

God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. But he planned to go to Tarshish instead. He found a ship going to that place already. There was a seat available, and he had the money for the ticket too. For some time, his own plans seemed favourable to him. However, fairly soon a storm struck the ship. He encountered such problems that he almost died.

Dear child of God, are you a Jonah - running away from the plan of God, having your own plans? Remember, sooner or later a storm will overtake you. You had better give up your own plans even if they may appear encouraging to your carnal mind. Steer clear off the devil's ways and your own ways if you don't want to ruin your life and your future.

- TPM Morning Manna

THE GREATEST FEAT...!

"What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Rom 8:3).

The grand purpose of God in sending Jesus to this world to die on the cross was to condemn sin in the flesh. What the saints of the law period could not do was to live a perfectly holy life - although they could do many other things like raising the dead, dividing the Red Sea, etc. This proves that living an overcoming life is better and greater than performing miracles, raising the dead, etc.

The greatest feat is overcoming the flesh; the greatest defeat is giving in to the flesh.

Jesus 'condemned sin' by His death on the cross. So we, in the New Testament Period, are free to live a holy life. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom 8:2). Do we have any excuse then, if we DO NOT LIVE A HOLY LIFE?

God sent the judgment of flood to destroy 'all flesh' (Gen 6:13; 7:21). The same will be the purpose of the coming judgment - "Except those days should be shortened, there should no FLESH be saved" (Matt 24:22).

Let us therefore "make no provision for the flesh," but overcome the flesh by the Spirit of God. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Rom 8:13).

"'Holiness unto the Lord'

is our watchword and song,

'Holiness unto the Lord'

as we're marching along,

Sing it, shout it, loud and long,

'Holiness unto the Lord' now and for ever."

- TPM Morning Manna

HEALING POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Through the blood of the Lamb we have healing. The balm of Gilead of the Old Testament is a type of the blood of Christ. "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of My people recovered?" (Jer 8:22).

Forgiveness of sin and healing of sickness go together. "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases" (Psa 103:3). If the blood of Jesus can wash away sins, it can also heal. In fact, it can do much more than that - a blood-washed saint's life can be sheltered from plagued. In the Old Testament the blood-sprinkled house was protected from the plague - "When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you" (Exo 12:13). In the New Testament Jesus is the Pascal Lamb slain for us. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we aer healed" (Isa 53:5).

Dear reader, sin is one main cause for sickness. In many places we read of Jesus forgiving sins before healing the sickness. Sin enables the devil to enter a person's life, and then captivate him through sickess. If a person is washed from his sins by the blood of Jesus the devil cannot work; he cannot bring sickness into his life.

- TPM Morning Manna

HIGHER AND HIGHER...!

"The flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth" (Gen 7:17).

When Noah obeyed God's Word and entered into the ark, it gradually lifted him up from the earth. This is amazingly true in our spiritual life also. Our ark is Christ. As we respond to the gospel-call and enter into Christ or as Christ enters into our life, He lifts us up from the earthly sphere to heavenly heights. The higher we rise the smaller the things of the world seem. The things of the earth no longer seem glamorous and attractive. Things which once held us in allure now hold little appeal for us. "The more of heaven we cherish, the less of earth we covet."

The more the ark was lifted up, the higher Noah went. Similarly, the more we lift up Christ, the more we are lifted up for the glory of God. We become the light of the world, a 'city set on a hill'; seeing our light, men glorify the father in heaven (Matt 5:14,16).

"The mountains were covered." As we go higher in our spiritual life, the mountain-like problems that once loomed large before us, disappear from our view. Our life is now a joyful song - a song of worship, praise and adoration.

- TPM Morning Manna

JOIN THE MIGHTY ARMY...!

God needs mighty intercessors who can shake the gates of hell and bring down the kingdom of heaven; He wants men and women filled with the holy zeal of God, who travail in prayer for a true revival, the revival of the holiness of God.

"He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor" (Isa 59:16). If God wondered, it is indeed worth noting. God did not wonder that there was no preacher, teacher, faith-healer or singer; HE WONDERED THAT THERE WAS NO INTERCESSOR. In one sense, the ministry of interceding is greater than preaching, teaching, working miracles, etc. People may preach, teach or sing even when their life is not right with God. But no one can travail and intercede in prayer unless he is right with God, unless he is walking in the light.

Today, God still wonders that there is no intercessor. Those who preach, teach, sing, testify etc are seen by others, but the mighty intercessors in the closets are hardly seen or appreciated by others. However, "the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (II Cor 4:18). In this sense, intercessors are more important than preachers, singers, etc.

Dear reader, join the mighty army of the living God by becoming a mighty intercessor willing to travail in prayer.

- TPM Morning Manna

IT'S YOUR PRIDE!

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5;8).

Often we don’t realize what terrible sinners we were and what great love and mercy the Lord showed in rescuing us from the pit of hell.

Once a servant of God had a vision. Jesus was being crucified. A man was driving nails into the tender hands of the Lord with a big hammer, giving the Lord excruciating pain. On that hammer was the word “PRIDE”. As the wicked man was hitting hard with his hammer Jesus gently told him, “My child, I still love you.” But the man continued to hit with his hammer, as if he were deaf. Each time he brought the hammer down, the cross would vibrate, adding more pain to the agony of the Lord. But Jesus gently continued to say, “My son, I still love you.” What a terrible wicked sinner that man must be!” the servant of God thought. Then he looked a little closely, and to his great shock he saw that the wicked man was himself and that the hammer of Pride that was crucifying Jesus was his very spirit. The vision clearly convicted him of his sinfulness and pride and led him to a great repentance and change of life.

Dear child of God, perhaps you too are nailing Jesus with the hammer of Pride and yet thinking you are a precious child of God who loves and worships God. May the Lord open your spiritual eyes to see the deep pride in your heart.

- TPM Morning Manna

WOULD YOU BE A VICTOR?

"With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matt 7:2).

This is a very enlightening verse for those who take revenge, or oppress or trouble others. The more you oppress others, the more pain you will feel in your inner man. A honey bee may sting you and give you pain, but look at the impact of the sting on the bee. Immediately after stinging you, it falls down and dies. It suffers more pain than its victim. Those who trouble others don't realize how much they themselves will be troubled.

Sometimes we say, "I will never forgive you," but do we realize the price we have to pay for such a foolish reaction? When we refuse to forgive your offender, you get tensed, your blood pressure may go up, and you may even come to a state in which you cannot concentrate on anything or even sleep. All your conversation is centered around the person with whom you are offended. Finally, instead of becoming a victor over circumstances, you become a victim of circumstances.

When you forgive, you are forgiven. When you comfort others, you are comforted. When you love others, you are loved. When you care for others, you are cared for. When you show mercy to others, you receive mercy. Whatever you want others to do for you, do for them. (Matt 7:12)

This is the golden rule of life - to make your life a triumphant and happy one.

- TPM Morning Manna

ARE YOU FACING REJECTION?

Of all human feelings, perhaps the feeling of rejection is the most unbearable and heart-rending. All through the Bible we find that men of God were first rejected and then exalted.

Joseph, the son of Jacob was not spared. In the beginning it looked as if he was enjoying the love of his father, but soon the time of his rejection came - when his brethren first rejected him. Then the dream that God gave him caused his father to rebuke him. Soon he was cut off from his family. Again, in the house of Potiphar, it looked as if he was being exalted. But rejection followed. But finally, the time came when God exalted him to be on the throne next to the Pharaoh.

David is another fitting example for this truth. It is really a wonder how David went through all the rejection he faced. When David had a harp for Saul, Saul had a spear for David. But this is how God leads His chosen ones. Finally, David was exalted to be king over Israel.

You may be rejected by your friends and even by your own wife or husband, brothers and sisters. At times it may even appear as if God Himself has rejected you. Consider Hannah! We read that God Himself had shut her womb (I Sam 1:5). Dear child of God, we may be continously rejected until we come to wholly belong to God. When God wants to exalt us to higher spiritual planes, He first allows us to tread the path of rejection. If, by the grace of God, we receive strength in the inner man to rejoice in our hour of rejection, we will be blessed both spiritually and materially.

- TPM Morning Manna

THE TRUE SERVICE...:

There were saints in olden days who lived more on their knees than on their feet. In John 12:3 we see Mary at the feet of Jesus doing some very humble service. She took the highest part of her body (hair) and used it for the service of the lowest part of the body of Jesus (feet). Many want to serve God, but they don't know how to serve. To serve God, one needs humility. Jesus is very humble, only the humble can serve the humble Jesus.

Mary brought an alabaster box of very precious ointment, broke the bottle, and poured the ointment at the feet of Jesus. This is true service to God that any of us can do. Our body, our heart and our life can be compared to the alabaster box. We must lay them low at the feet of Jesus. Your alabaster box must be full of precious ointment. Our heart should be filled with divine love. Our love should be full of perfume. Mary did not give that ointment to any man; she did not want to sell it either. She wanted to pour it all out for Jesus.

Will you be a Mary today? Bring your alabaster box in all humility to the feet of Jesus. Offer to Him your life, your love, your all.

"Take my love: my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store:

Take myself; and I will be

Ever, only, ALL for Thee."

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

ENJOY HEAVEN ON EARTH...:

"It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

This text changed the whole life of John Rockefeller, the one who once owned the world's largest oil company. He became a multimillionaire when he was 35. But at the age of 50, he was dying of cancer. The doctors gave him only six weeks to live. While accumulating wealth he had also accumulated enemies, and had to have bodyguards to protect him, although he was nearing death.

Miserable, hopeless, depressed and dying, Rockefeeler came across the above verse. It was really an eye-opener to him. All his life all he had been doing was receiving and receiving, and the more he received the more greedy and unhappy he became. Now finally, he realized that, being one of the richest men in the world, he was one of the most miserable men as well.

Straightaway he started distributing money among the poor. He actually distributed dollar notes on the streets of New York. He gave away money in abundance to charities, hospitals, etc. To his great surprise and delight, he found the verse, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" to be true. The more he gave, the happier he became.

Finally, the man who was given only six weeks to live, (and that, when he was 50), lived upto the age of 90 or 92, enjoying happiness and good health. When he died at last, he was a happy man with no enemies but friends all over the world.

Heaven is a place of giving. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and RICHES, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (Rev 5:12). In fact, giving to God is heaven and, selfishly keeping to oneself is virtually hell. How can those who have not learned to give their riches to the Lamb of God (Jesus) on earth, give in heaven!

May the Lord help us to give until we have no more to give - our body, our time, our talents, our money, and everything at our disposal, until we meet the Lord at the pearly gates to be greeted, "Well done, faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord."

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

A VERY PRESENT HELP...:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed" (Psa 46:1,2).

We have three great blessings when we live in the presence of God:

1. The Lord becomes our refuge. The Name of the Lord is a high tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. (Prov 18:10). In the Old Testament time there were cities of refuge. These cities of refuge represent Christ, as we can always run to Him when we are in trouble.

2. The Lord is our strength. In times of trials and troubles, we may become extremely weak both spiritually and physically, but if we are living in the presence of God the Lord will give us strength to emerge victorious.

3. In our trouble, the Lord will be a very present help. We may not immediately come out of the trouble but in the very trouble we will feel the holy presence of God - like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Although they were thrown into the fiery furnace, a fourth person was with them (which was a very present help in the time of trouble), and because of the fourth person (the Son of God), they suffered absolutely no harm. Not even a single hair was singed although the fire was sevenfold hot.

So when we live in the presence of God, we have absolutely nothing to fear even if the earth be removed. The earth being removed refers to earthly blessings being removed. We can lose our wealth, health, name, fame and maybe even our family members. (Did not Job lose all his ten children and almost all his possessions in one day?] But nothing can disturb us.

"I am walking with Jesus,
There's nothing now to fear,
There's none to me so dear.
I am walking with Jesus,
He wipeth every tear,
I am walking in the steps of Jesus."

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

HOW DO YOU SEE THINGS?

"The woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise" (Gen 3:6).

The woman saw that the tree was 'good for food' - as if all the other trees which God had provided for her were not good for food and the one which God had told them not to eat was the only one that was good for food! As a matter of fact, all the trees were good for food (Gen 2:9), but when a man loses his spiritual vision and love for God, things that are evil seem good in his sight. The Israelites found manna distasteful and abhorred it, when it was actually sweeter than honey, and they found the Egyptian cucumbers and onions most delicious!

The tree was also 'pleasant to the eyes'. All the treees which God created were pleasant to the sight, but the woman imagines that this tree is the only one that is pleasant to look at. It is still the tendency of human beings to find no satisfaction in the things God has provided for them; and their dissatisfaction leads to lust and sin.

The woman also saw the tree as 'a tree to be desired to make one wise' - as if God had created her as a fool and as if she could become wise with her own cleverness. In fact, the truth was the other way round; while all the other trees could have made her wise, this forbidden tree could only make her a fool. She was not satisfied with the wisdom that God had given her and by trying to get the wisdom in her own way, she became the first fool and the No.1 fool on earth!

Child of God, 'godliness with contentement is great gain" (I Tim 6:6). When we have a good spiritual vision about God's grand plan concerning our life and learn the secret to be content in all situations like St.Paul, we will not find anything other than spiritual things, good, pleasant or desirable.

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

KEEP COOL!!!

"Therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him" (Esth 1:12).

"Anger burned in him." Anger burns with the fire of hell. The king's anger here ended in deep distress and divorce, If you are an angry man you are digging your own pit of hell with your spirit of anger.

Jesus is called a Lamb. A lamb, as you know, is meek and gentle. The Holy Spirit is called a Dove. The dove is also meek and gentle. If that is so, the Father too must be meek and gentle.

Once a child of God was pacing up and down a street. He was thinking of a person who had offended him. As he kept thinking, he was getting angrier and angrier. The very thought of the matter made his blood boil. Suddenly he noticed a vehicle passing by on the street. It was a white van, and on it, in big letters, were the words "KEEP COOL". And here he was, boiling inside and getting hotter and hotter! The passing van was like a messenger from heaven telling him to cool down. The vehicle happened to be only an ice cream van, but the message was clear to him. It greatly helped him to repent of his anger, and by the grace of God he was able to get completely delivered from that destructive spirit of anger.

"Thy gentleness hath made me great." If you are a hot-tempered man, repent and come to the Lord - so that He can make you a saint of a meek and gentle spirit.

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

YOU HAVE A GLORIOUS FUTURE...:

"By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come" (Heb 11:20).

Faith helps us to not only receive blessings but also to be a blessing to others. "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau." Here Jacob stands for saints and Esau, for sinners. Faith helps us to become a blessing to both saints and sinners. Paul says we are a sweet savour unto God (a blessing), to them that are saved and to them that perish. Faith helps us, not only to receive blessings, but also to give blessings to others.

"Concerning things to come" - Faith has a clear sight, a foresight of the future. Those who look at the future through faith, look to the future blessings also; they have the blessings of the future, not a fear of the future. Unless we see future blessings for ourselves, we will not see future blessings for others.

Some people are always worried about future problems; they have a fear of the future. Such cannot receive any blessing or become a blessing. About the bride of Christ it is written, "She rejoices over the future" (Prov 31:25 Amp). A child of God who has faith has no fear of the future; only joy concerning the future.

Leave your worries at the Lord's feet and rejoice over your glorious future.

"I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jer 29:11).

- TPM Morning Manna

GOD IS WITH YOU...!

The angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour... And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel... And he said unto Him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house" (Judg 6:12-15).

Here we see God choosing Gideon for His great work and separating him for it. The fifteenth verse, as quoted above, shows how disqualified and weak Gideon appeared to be. How true it is that God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, the base things of the world, things which are despised, and the things which are not (I Cor 1:27-29).

The angel of the Lord says, "The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." Strangely, we hardly see in this man anything to make one call him mighty or great. Further, his questions prove that he was depressed. "Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of?" (Judg 6:13).

Nevertheless, Gideon's depressed state was not a hindrance for God to work in and through him. The sovereign grace of God not only chose Gideon to be a servant of God, but also chose him as the leader of the people of Israel. And, through this very timid, doubting and depressed man, the Lord performed the greatest miracle of the time. With 300 people Gideon crushed the Midianites whose army was like the sand of the sea.

Dear reader, perhaps you are a Gideon; you may be full of doubt and anxiety. But the Lord Who chose Gideon is with you. "Beware of despairing about yourself: you are commanded to put your trust in God, and not in yourself," said St.Augustine. The Lord has planned great things for you and He is going to do great things through you. Indeed, you are a mighty man of valour, because God is with you. "Go in this thy might." What is this "might"? It is, God being with you, the God of glory being with you, the God of victory being with you.

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

YOU NEED FELLOWSHIP...!

"The Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him" (Gen 2:18).

The first thing that God pronounced as being 'NOT GOOD' was, man being alone. This is the message of God even today - it's NOT GOOD to live without fellowship. Yes, many born-again children of God are ignorant of this great truth, and avoid worship and fellowship. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is" (Heb 10:25). In the first century, thank God, it was 'the manner of some', but in this last century it is the manner of many.

"I will make him an help meet for him." If God has created you, given you the born-again experience, God will make you a help meet for you i.e. God will arrange for you a fellowship that is suitable for you. You shouldn't choose as you please. "My help cometh from the Lord" (Psa 121:2).

Adam is a type of Christ and the help-mate, of the Bride of Christ. What an encouragement it is to know that our God Himself will make a Bride that is perfectly suited to Him! This work is done in the garden of God (Church).

Let us always live in the fellowship of the saints, as it is there that we can become the Bride of Christ.

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

THE NATURAL LAW CHANGED...!

"By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned" (Heb 11:29).

The path opened for those who have faith cannot be used by those who have unbelief. By faith the Israelites passed through the Red Sea as by dry land; however, the same path brought only destruction to the Egyptians who tried to use it. This shows that the Israelites had faith and hence they passed through the Red Sea. As they walked in the sea, the farther they walked, the deeper the ground might have appeared. Also, the water which stood up as a huge wall without any literal barrier must have appeared to threaten to come back any moment. And perhaps, while walking, they also saw various creatures, like whales and crocodiles, threatening to jump out of the water and attack them. Those who did not have faith would have felt like retreating.

When Pharaoh tried to follow the Israelites into the Red Sea, his army saw the water receding and making the ground very wet and making the chariots get stuck in the mire. However, the Israelites had faith in the promise of God - "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee" (ISa 43:2).

The dry ground is only for those who walk by faith. The natural law became a supernatural one only to those who believed the One Who is supernatural. The ravens changed their nature only for the sake of Elijah. Before the unbelievers the waters easily came back, following their natural law.

Dear reader, the Lord is wanting to change the natural law for you if you walk by faith, just as He changed the natural law of the sun and moon and made it stand still for a while, honouring Joshuah's faith.

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

YOUR TONGUE - A DESTRUCTIVE WEAPON...!

"Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin... wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" (Eccl 5:6).

If we sin with our mouth, our work or ministry, no matter how great the things we have done for the Lord, will be destroyed. How true this was in Moses' life! He who was to lead the people into the land of Canaan could not enter it himself, as he opened his mouth and spoke "unadvisedly." "Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth." (Prov 6:2). "As ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you," said the Lord and saying that they would not be able to possess the promised land (Num 14:28).

The soul of a man and his tongue are connected - "Deliver my SOUL, O Lord, from lying LIPS, and from a deceitful TONGUE" (Psa 120:2). If you are a man with a defiled tongue, your whole soul is defiled.

We find that particular mention is made about the tongue or the mouth of the saints in Zion: "In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God" (Rev 14:5). The plain fact is that when there is no fault in the mouth, there is no fault in the life.

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

"JESUS, I LOVE YOU!"

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Rom 8:35).

Once a pastor had a vision. Three sisters were kneeling and praying, when Jesus came by. Jesus did not even go near the first one. He smiled at the second one, and when He came to the third one He laid His hand on her head. Seeing this vision the pastor thought that perhaps the first sister did not love the Lord . "The second one at whom Jesus smiled may love Jesus a little," he thought, "but the third one must love the Lord very much indeed!" As the pastor was thinking like this, the Lord spoke to him: "My son, the truth is the other way round. I did not go near the first sister because I know the she loves Me very much and that she trusts My love so much that even if I don't immediately answer her prayer or speak to her, she will not be shaken or leave Me. The second one is a bit unsteady. At least once in a way I must show her My love and care for her, or she may get upset. The third one is spiritually very weak; she has only a shallow love for Me. If I don't immediately give what she asks for, she will murmur and complain and become cold in her love for Me, and may even leave Me."

Dear child of God, are you like the third sister? Is your love for the Lord shaken when the Lord does not answer your prayer or if your plans and desires are not fulfilled. May the Lord help us to say as St.Paul said, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." May the Lord fill our hearts with such a strong love that nothing can separate us from His love.

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

TOO SMALL A PUNISHMENT...!

"Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear" (Gen 4:13).

In fact, despite the atrocious sins Cain committed - murdering his innocent brother, getting angry with God, lying to God, questioning God, etc. - the Lord did not punish him as He ought to have: the punishments the Lord pronounced were only a blessing in disguise.

But Cain, instead of saying, "My sin is greater than I can bear," says, "My punishment is too great to bear." This was afront to the matchlesss love God had showed to him. It was not God Who drove him away, but his own sins. But he accuses God of driving him out "from the face of the earth" (vs 14). Now also many sinners speak the language of Cain.

But look at how King David took reproof. When the prophet pronounced God's judgment on him for his sin, he humbled himself greatly before God and accepted his punishment. We can read of this in many of his psalms. "My sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight," he cries (Psa 51:3,4). Another time he tells the Lord, "I have sinned... I have done wickedly. Let Thine hand be against me and against my father's house" (II Sam 24:17).

Child of God, it is a heart like David's that the Lord wants us to have. When we err, let us humble ourselves and say like Ezra, "Our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve" (Ezra 9:13).

"He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities (Psa 103:10).

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

GRAVITATIONAL PULL...:

"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing" (Job 26:7).

"He hangeth the earth upon nothing." No one could understand the meaning of this mysterious text, till scientists discovered that the earth, by the force of gravitation, actually stands upon nothing. Still, no one knows what gravity really is, how it originated and why it is there. Thank God, the Bible has the answer. "Upholding all things by the Word of His power" (Heb 1:3). It is God Who is holding up the earth.

What lesson can we learn from this? If the earth hangs upon nothing, God's people on the earth should also hang upon nothing - on nothing but their God. Our faith should hang on nothing but our God, on the Word of God, on the power of God.

There is a spiritual gravitational pull by which we are upheld - "grace wherein we stand" (Rom 5:2). Yes, that gravitational pull is the grace of God which is upholding us and keeping us. Let us put all our trust in the Lord and allow ourselves to be upheld by the powerful grace of God.

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

DEADLY TEARS...:

"Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (II Cor 7:10).

The sorrow of the world worketh death. What does that mean? Death here has two meanings. One is physical death. If you sorrow for the things of the world or shed tears for the things of the world, you may die before God's time. While those who weep before God for spiritual things go from strength to strength, those who weep out of self-pity go from weakness to weakness. Another meaning for death is separation from God. If you are always weeping before God for money, a job, a car, or a house, the more you weep the more you will get separated from God. Your tears will only make you backslide. Physically and spiritually you will go down and down and down. But godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation.

Weeping when others reject you, despise you, speak evil of you or humiliate you, is also called 'sorrow of hell'. Why are the people in hell weeping? It is not out of repentance; it is self-pity. If you have been crying in self-pity while on earth, while dying also you may die of self-pity. So when people hate you, falsely accuse you, etc. you must rejoice and leap for joy, realizing your reward in heaven is great.

Dear child of God, don't allow the sorrows of hell to compass you. When loved ones die your sorrow should be limited - don't get swallowed up in sorrow like those who have no hope. Don't shed tears for earthly vanities. Don't weep for losing earthly positions, possessions, honour and glory. That is when we must rejoice in the Lord. It is a test of your love towards God. God is going to give you a greater blessing after the test.

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

NOT ABLE TO TRUST...!

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose minds is stayed on Thee: because he truseth in Thee" (Isa 26:3).

The devil is always trying to distract our mind from staying on the Lord! "I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, that your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (II Cor 11:3 NIV). TRUSTING IN THE LORD IS, OUR MIND STAYING ON THE LORD IN ALL SINCERITY AND PURITY. When Eve's minds was corrupted she could no longer trust in the Lord; she trusted in the words of the serpent instead. How important it is to keep our minds pure! Once our minds are corrupted, we cannot trust in God. Let us therefore take heed to keep our minds pure. This is a basic requirement if our mind is to stay upon God.

When problems arise we often take our eyes off the Lord and keep them on our problems; this results in "worrying" which is just the opposite of trusting the Lord. "Take no thought for the morrow" (Matt 6:34). The devil always tries to bring to us worrying thoughts of the morrow. We read, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully" (Lk 12:16). Yet he worried so much about the morrow that he couldn't even sleep. "What shall I do? I have no room to bestow my fruits?" The devil will try to put in us the worry of either how to get money or the worry of how to keep it.

Child of God, don't fall prey to the devil's tactics. Commit yourself to the Lord and trust in Him. The Amplified Version of Isaiah 26:3 is enlightening: "You will guard him and keep him in perfect peac whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."

"I'll trust Thee with my whole heart,
I'll never from Thee depart,
I know Thou art keeping me safe in Thine arms,
And I know I'm free from alarms."

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

RIGHT TIME FOR THE MOVE

The first mention of the Spirit of God is closely connected with the waters - "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Gen 1:2).

'Waters' show afflictions (Psa 69:1,2). Often revival breaks out, not when we are comfortable, but when we are in afflictions, when our faith is tried.

"Without form and void" in the original also means 'confusion and emptiness' (see Isaiah 34:11). Yes, when we find everything in confusion and empty, that is where and when "the move is on."

The present age is a perfect picture of Genesis 1:2 - confusion, emptiness and darkness everywhere. Hence this is the right time for the move of the Holy Spirit; it is high time the Spirit of God moved mightily - for which let us believe and pray.

The greatest blessing God could ever bestow on sinful man was the sacrificial death of Christ. However, that was preceded by three hours of pitch darkness when the sun went into hiding. Similarly, dear reader, we may very often find the Sun of righteousness (Jesus) hiding from us either by not answering us or by delaying to answer our prayers, BEFORE WE RECEIVE THE GREATER BLESSINGS OF GOD. Let us be encouraged as this is the right time for the move of the Holy Spirit Who moved upon the face of waters when everything was dark and in a chaotic condition.

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

SEEING THE INVISIBLE GOD...:

By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible" (Heb 11:27).

Egypt stands for sin and the sinful pleasures of this world. Why are many so-called children of God not able to forsake "Egypt"? Because they have no eyes of faith - to see the invisible God. If Moses had not forsaken Egypt, God could not have chosen him as the leader of Israel and fulfilled His grand plan through him.

When the Son of Man cometh, will faith [to forsake Egypt] be found on earth? Many who once forsook Egypt are now embracing Egypt. Why? They have lost their eyes of faith.

"He endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible." This implies that while Moses was enduring suffering in the will of God, he was seeing the invisible God. When Stephen, the first church martyr was about to be stoned, he "saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55). While Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were enduring the fiery furnace, they saw the invisible God in the fire. When you endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, even others will see the invisible God in you - as King Nebuchadnezzar did when Shadrach and the others were in the fiery furnace.

Let us therefore joyfully endure sufferings in the will of God - they are rare opportunities on earth to see the invisible God.

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

THE HUMBLEST ARE THE PUREST...:

"And he (Joseph) commanded the steward of his house, saying... put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken" (Gen 44:1,2).

This silver cup typifies an extremely pure heart. Joseph was very careful that not any silver cup, but his own silver cup, be put in Benjamin's sack. Joseph is a type of Christ. Benjamin, the youngest, speaks of the least, the humblest. Jesus, our Joseph, is pleased to put His silver cup, (His own purity), into the sack (life) of the least. St.Paul says, "I am less than the least of all the saints." The Lord put the "silver cup" in his sack also, it appears, for he confesses that he has "a pure heart" (I Tim 1:5). Benjamin could in no way take the credit for it, for it was placed by the steward (Holy Spirit) at the express command of Joseph (Jesus).

Purity and humility go together. The humblest are the purest, and the silver cup (the most pure heart, like the heart of Jesus) is found in the most humble (youngest).

"And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack" (vs 12). Dear friend, if the Holy Spirit searches your sack (life) today, will He find the silver cup? IS YOUR HEART AS PURE AS THE HEART OF GOD?

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

GOD HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON YOU...:

"Go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him" (Mk 16:7).

These are the words the angel of the Lord spoke to the women gathered at the garden tomb on the resurrection morning. Our Lord was going to Galilee to meet His disciples. Would it not do to say, "Tell His disciples that He goeth before them into Galilee"? "His disciples" surely included Peter, he being one of the twelve. Why was Peter's name particularly mentioned then? There is a possibility that, in view of the terrible mistakes he had made and the way he had denied the Lord on the day of crucifixion, he thought Jesus had forsaken him and therefore him and therefore "His disciples" did not include him any more. Knowing Peter's predicament, Jesus made special mention of him.

Are you too, like Peter, thinking that you may have grieved the Lord too deeply and that He may have forsaken you? No, dear child of God, there is hope for you. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench" (Isa 42:3). Here the reed is like a broken key on a piano; it cannot produce good music. Today your life may be out of tune, like a bruised reed. Yet God has a plan for this bruised reed. A smoking flax, instead of producing light, gives out smoke - darkening and polluting the atmosphere; but the Lord will not put out a smoking flax. God has not given up on you.

This scripture is for you: "Go you way, tell His disciples and Peter [put your name here, instead of Peter] that He goeth before you." The Lord has something to say to you. He wants to draw you to Himself again. He wants to fill you with His glorious power and change you. He has a glorious ministry for you.

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

'NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD'

"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." (Gen 3:3).

The woman described the treee as 'the tree which is in the midst of the garden' instead of 'the tree of the knowledge of good and evil' as stated by God. Obviously, she speaks of the tree as being in the midst of the garden, because it was in the midst of her heart's lust. She might have also intended to convey that the best of God was in the midst of the garden and that she was debarred from enjoying it. By that she was questioning the love and kindness of God.

We know from the Word of God that all that was created on the earth was for the use of man (including the tree of knowledge of good and evil). But man was supposed to eat of the fruits of all the other trees first, and, after he was mature enough, to eat this fruit also. 'Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb 5:14). So it is very clear that the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil belonged to those who had 'full age', which our first forefathers did not have when they tasted it.

Let us not misunderstand the ways of God or doubt the plan of God for our life. Let us be filled with the love of God and place our trust in God. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

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

FLEETING HONOUR..!

The frightening fact about pride is that, not only will their life be miserable but their death and eternity too will be most miserable.

Look at Saul, the first king of Israel. Normally, people who sin ask pardon from God when they realize their sin. But look at what Saul said when his sin was pointed out - "I have sinned: yet honour me now" (I Sam 15:30). How sad that, instead of seeking forgiveness, Saul was seeking honour, knowing he had sinned against God. When a man seeks honour, it is a sure sign of the presence of hidden (unwashed) sins in his life.

When Saul was "sore wounded of the archers" he knew he was dying, and yet, instead of using the last few seconds or minutes to repent and prepare for his eternity, he was still seeking dignity and honour! (I Sam 31:4). Obviously he did not want anybody to say after his death that he had been killed by an uncircumcised person. Whoever it was who killed him, he was going to go to hell; but that appeared to be his least concern!

The armourbearer refused to kill him. Saul therefore took a sword and fell on it. But his suicidal attempt failed. He realized that even death was hating to kill him. The Amalekite stood upon him and cut off his head. In what pathetic backslidden state he ended his life!

Saul's end is a warning to every one of us. It proves how pride can make our life and death and eternity most miserable. Saul did not want an uncircumcised Philistine to kill him, but what a disgrace it was to have to ask an Amalekite - the Amalekites were worse and more abominable than the Philistined - to kill him. The honour of this world is like a shadow - the more we follow it, the more it flees from us.

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

DIE IN FAITH...:

"These all died in faith" (Heb 11:13).

All the heroes of faith died in faith. We need faith, not only to live a life that's pleasing to God, but also to die pleasing to God. The Old Testament saints died in faith although they did not receive the promises.

What is meant by dying in faith? Dying trusting in divine healing is, in a way, dying in faith. But all those who die without taking medicine may not die in faith. Many die filled with fear - tormented with the fear of death, fear of hell, or the fear of the devil. Dying in faith means dying fully trusting in God, without any fear at all. Some may have wonderful gift of faith - faith to heal the sick, raise the dead, etc. But that faith will not help them at the time of death. We need faith as a character, faith, the fruit of the Spirit.

When the founder of our mission, Pastor Paul, was about to die, the old priest of his former nominal church came to see him. Pointing to the boils on his body he said, "Look at all the pain you are suffering now." Then Pastor Paul smiled and said, "You are only looking there; you didn't look here (pointing to his heart). There is a lion roaring inside!" Even if the whole of hell rises against us, we should not be afraid. The righteous are bold as a lion. Even in the deepest trouble, even at the time of our death, we should be like a lion.

When Pastor Lazarus was dying he was extremely weak but his spirit was roaring like a lion. Raising his hand he was saying, "The gates of hell cannot prevail against the militant Church of God."

Some people may appear bold and may seem to have greater faith but when the time comes for them to die they are shaken. The heroes of faith stood for the faith, lived for the faith, fought for the faith, and also died for the faith.

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

"THEY SHALL BEAR THEE UP"

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them" (Psa 34:7).

Once, when a mother was attending a prayer meeting, her little daughter sneaked out into the church compound and went out into the street. Suddenly, during the meeting, was heard a terrible screeching of tyres, and a car stopped right in front of the church. To her horror, the mother noticed that her daughter was not near her. She rushed into the street and found her daughter calmly sitting on the pavement, and the driver of the car in a shocked state. "Elizabeth, what happened?" shrieked the excited mother. "I did not see the car coming, and I ran into the middle of the street. The car hit me but an angel of God took me up in his arms and made me site here, "replied Elizabeth calmly. The mother looked her daughter over. There was not even a scratch on her. And, though the driver looked dazed, Elizabeth was very calm and looked like a sweet angel.

How often the angel of the Lord delivers us from harm and danger! We may not be thanking God for them; we may not have even realized how we are being protected and cared for. How blessed a people we are!

"There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Psa 91:10-12).

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

THE MOST BLESSED PRIVILEGE...!

"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (Jn 1:12).

The word 'power' also means privilege or authority. Indeed, this is perhaps the most wonderful privilege anyone can have on earth.

Dear friend, if you have not received Jesus into your heart, receive Him RIGHT NOW. His compassions and care and tender love are all available to you. He is waiting just outsite your heart to come in and embrace you and live with you. If you confess your sins to Him, His blood can wash away all your sins and make you a child of heaven.

Countless privileges follow the person who receives Christ into his heart. He has the privilege of being the son of God. Jesus becomes his brother then. That's why He is known as the 'firstborn among many brethren' (Rom 8:29). Sometimes our own blood brother may let us down. But Jesus will be to us "a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Prov 18:24).

Moreover, when we become sons of God, we experience our God as EL-SHADDAI, mother-like God! Sometimes, our own mother may not be able to understand the burden and sorrow we have in our heart. Our God is more than a mother to us. Our earthly mothers cannot carry our sicknesses and pains, but our El-Shaddai can. Our mothers could carry us only when we were babies, but our God has promised to carry us even in our old age! See Isaiah 46:4. "Even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you."

"There is an arm that never tires

When human strength gives way;

There is a love which never fails

When earthly loves decay.

How sad it is that millions of people have either not discovered this blessed privilege or have rejected it to their own doom!

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