BEAUTIFUL AND FRAGRANT LIFE...:

"I am the rose of Sharon" (S.S. 2:1).

The rose is the queen of flowers. Some flowers are fragrant but not beautiful, and some flowers are beautiful but have no fragrance. The rose is both beautiful and fragrant. As the Bride of Christ, our life must be one of unique beauty, fragrance and sweetness. "Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee... There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. My dove, My undefiled is but one," says the Bridegroom of the Bride (S.S. 4:7; 6:8,9)

Everywhere around the rose there are thorns. When the wind blows the soft petals of the rose are pricked by the thorns. What does the rose give in return? It gives sweet fragrance. We live in the midst of a crooked and perverse people, people who prick and hurt, people who cannot love; we need to perfume their lives with the aroma of forgiving love and kindness.

The oak tree lives for a thousand years but it has no beauty or fragrance. The rose lives for only a short period but it is beautiful and it gives good fragrance. It matters not how many days we live. All our days must be filled with beauty and fragrance.

The Christian life is truly a beautiful and fragrant life, for it is the life of revealing Christ, of revealing Christlikeness to the world. "Now thanks be unto God which maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place" So child of God, let Christ fill your life. Without Him you have no holiness, no beauty. Let Him shine out of you.

The rose never has to go to the butterfly and bee. They come to it even if it is in a corner. If we are like the rose, souls will flock to us to taste of God's love, to taste Christlikeness.

Dear reader, today you may be a thorn in the garden of God, the Church. However, our gracious Lord can transform you into a beautiful rose, filled with fragrance and honey - if ony you will repent and return to Him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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"

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"

'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'

BELITTLE NOT LITTLE SINS

"Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones" (Psa 137:8,9).

Even a heartless person will find it difficult to dash little ones against a rock. But God Who is most gracious and compassionate, exhorts the saints to do it. It is even surprising to read that the one who does this act shall be happy.

These words were spoken against the daughter of Babylon. Babylon the Great is called 'the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth' (Rev 17:5). If Babylon stands for all immoralities and abominable sins, the daughter of Babylon could stand for the little sins of impurities and defilements.

Happy, and of course, blessed shall he be, who searches out the seemingly insignificant sins in his life and dashes them against the Rock which is Christ i.e. destroys these sins (darkness) by bringing them to Christ (the Light).

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes (little sins), that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes" (S.S. 2:15). These foxes enter through the small holes in the fence and spoil the vines eating up the tender sweet grapes. In other words, these little foxes or sins will spoil our vine, even our good testimony, our joy, peace and grace. When tender grapes are eaten up, fruitfulness is cut off. Once these little foxes come inside the garden they no more remain little but in no time turn into fatted foxes, and hence will not be able to go out through the "little holes" they came through. "No sin is small. No grain of sand is small in the mechanism of a watch," said Jeremy Tailor.

Be "very cruel" to the very little sins in your life and "dash them against the Rock!"

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

HOW CAN WE RECEIVE JESUS JOYFULLY?

While Zacchaeus was clinging to the sycamore tree, Jesus came down the road, surrounded by a great multitude. The Lord came close to the place where Zacchaeus was. Then He looked up and saw Zacchaeus and said to him: "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house" (Lk 19:5). What a loving gesture!

The beautiful thing we find here is that it was not Zacchaeus who drew near to Jesus, but Jesus Who came near to him. It was not Zacchaeus who saw Jesus first, but it was Jesus Himself Who saw Zacchaeus first. It was not Zacchaeus who spoke to Jesus first, but it was Jesus Who first spoke to Zacchaeus. Dear child of God, is this not true of our spiritual life also? Before we went to Jesus, He came near us. Before we saw Him, He saw us and called us by our name, as Isaiah says: "I have even called thee by thy name."

Zacchaeus' joy knew no bounds! He had only wanted to see Jesus, but Jesus saw him, called him by his name and conferred upon him the privilege of having Him as a guest in his house. Truly, our God is able to do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20).

The first thing Jesus told Zacchaeus was, "Make haste and come down!" Zacchaeus was a rich and important man, and also a chief among the publicans, which means he held a very high office. Jesus wanted him to come down from the pride of his position and possessions. This is the first thing a sinner has to do when the Lord meets him.

"Zacchaeus made haste and came down and received Him joyfully" (Lk 19:6). Dear child of God, if you have not yet received Jesus joyfully, it is because you have not yet come down from your pride. Will you make haste and come down today, and receive Him joyfully?

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

"BY ANY MEANS SAVE SOME"

"If by any means I... might save some of them" (Rom 11:14).

St Paul's motivation to save souls by any means, made him sacrifice much, and as a result innumerable people got saved. Even after 2000 years his epistles continued to be awesome, and all over the world souls are not only getting saved but are also being transformed. Any sacrifice we make to rescue even one soul from hell-fire is worth the while.

When a child of God was going around distributing tracts, he knocked at the door of a house. After a while, a man opened the door. The Christian offered him a tract. The man of the house angrily snatched the tract and banged the door shut on his face. Anxious to know why the man had been so upset and angry, the Christian went back to the house after a few days. This time, the man had a smile on his face when he opened the door. He invited the Christian in and showed him the fan from which he had hung a rope to commit suicide. He had been in the act of putting his head into the noose that day, when the doorbell had rung. "Anyway, I'm going to hell. Why should I spend all my time in hell wondering who might have rung the bell? Let me see who is standing outside and then proceed with my suicide plan," he had thought, and answered the door. The sight of the man with the tract annoyed him, and he was going to chuck the tract into the wastepaper basket when the words 'YOU ARE SOMEONE SPECIAL' caught his eye. He paused to glance at the contents of the tract. As he read, a light dawned in his heart. He gave his life to the Lord and gave up all his foolish plans.

Dear child of God, do all of you can, by all means and at any cost, to save souls from eternal destruction. Don't go to heaven empty-handed. What a joy it will be to be welcomed at the pearly gates by the souls you led to Christ! What a thrill that give to your spirit all eternity!

"Help us, Lord, to be a lifeline

To a dying world today

Bringing hope to hopeless people

And sharig salvation's way."

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

ARE YOU CORNERED?

"And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid; and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord" (Exo 14:10).

They were literally "between the devil and the deep sea." Before them were the boisterous waters of the Red Sea obstructing their forward march, and lo, behind them Pharaoh and his mighty army with their iron chariots and well-trained horses in hot pursuit. On either side, apparently, were lofty mountains.

In their dilemma, their only source of comfort had been the knowledge that the angel of God and the pillar of cloud were before them. Alas, no that refuge too was gone! The angel of God went behind them, and so did the pillar of cloud which signified the presence of God. It seemed as if God had forsaken them in their anguish. We do not know, but it would not be surprising if Moses, in his despair, had cried out, 'My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?'

There are times when we are faced with a similar situation in our journey to heavenly Canaan. We find that all doors are closed to us, and that our God does not answer our prayers or seem to have pity on us. We feel we are forsaken and forgotten by everyone.

However, dear reader, for people of God, the greatest trial often turns out to be an occasion of the greatest deliverance and victory. Though all things seem to be against you, as Jacob once thought, they are in fact in your favour, praise the Lord! Everything is planned by God in His immense love and mercy. In every minute detail, God's intention is to reveal His mighty hand and invincible power.

"Are you standing at 'wits' end corner',

Christian, with troubled brow?

Are you thinking of what is before you

And all you are bearing now?

Does all the world seem against you

And you in the battle alone?

Remember - at 'wits' end corner',

Is just where God's power is shown."

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

ARE YOU WOUNDED?

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

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

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

Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

STRANGE RESTORATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

International Convention 2008

International Convention and Divine Healing Services of THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION starts on Wednesday, 05 March 2008 to Sunday, 09 March 2008.

KEEP AWAY FROM SIN...!

"Be sure your sin will find you out" (Num 32:23).

Every sin is like a magnet; when you go close to it you are caught by it.

The story is told of two young boys who were having a good time collecting plasticwares and other light materials floating in a river which had flooded its banks. Suddenly they spied a woollen-blanket-looking thing floating some distance away in the river. One boy swam towards it and caught the so-called black blanket. But as soon as he caught the blanket, he started drowning. "Leave the blanket and come away," shouted the other boy who was on the shore. "I've left the blanket," shouted back the drowning boy, "but the blanket doesn't leave me!" With that the boy disappeared from view. Then, to his shock and horror, the other boy saw the so-called black woollen blanket swimming away - it was a big black bear!

Every sin is like a black bear. First you are attracted to it. Smoking, drinking, etc. may appear harmless and likeable in the beginning. However, at the end they kill your spirit, soul and body. "The promises of sin are fair but the pay-off is cruel," said Albert Nielson. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom :23).

"Sin's pleasures have such great appeal,

They look like bargains rare;

But seldom do we clearly see

The hidden costs they bear."

Keep as far away as possible from sinful places and people. "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn away from it and pass away" (Prov 4:14,15).

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

WHAT IS TRUE BLESSEDNESS?

"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways" (Psa 128:1).

Moffat's Bible renders 'walketh in His ways' as 'liveth His life.' Those who live the life of God or, those who live near to God are the truly blessed people. True blessedness is nearness to God. In the sight of God, a blessed man is not one who is rich, famous, educated, talented, healthy etc. but one who lives close to Him - though perhaps not having riches or other material possessions.

A blessed marriage does not mean that the couple is well placed in society having a big mansion, wealth, health etc. To have a blessed married life the couple has to live close to God despite the problems they face in life.

A blessed life (long or short) is one that is lived close to God. Your life's problems can either bring you close to God or take you far away from God - it all depends on your attitude towards the problems.

Two thieves were crucified with Christ. Both were thieves, and both saw Jesus in the same way - hanging with them on the cross, and both heard the words of Jesus. However, the penitent thief went to paradise to be close to Jesus for ever and the other went to tormenting hell to be far away from Jesus for ever.

Dear reader, today and every day will be a blessed day for you, provided whatever happens that day brings you close to God. In the same way, every problem in your life will be a blessing to you, provided you take those problems as a means to bring you close to God.

"He exalteth the horn of his people, even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him" (Psa 148:14).

- Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

DEEP SLEEP...!

Like a mother, God gave Adam a deep sleep when he had completed the great work of naming every living creature. Our God is able to help us rest in Him once we complete the great work He has begun in our life. God CAUSED A DEEP SLEEP. Oh, what a sound sleep it must have been! "He giveth His beloved sleep." Indeed He is still "El-shaddai", the mother-like God!

He 'took one of his ribs' and 'made He a woman'. The removing of this rib in the process of making a bride was not at all painful to Adam; it could have been agonizing and disturbing had he not been resting in deep sleep. Making a Bride for Christ is the work of God and He will do it faithfully and in the best way if we have learned to rest in God.

"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt 11:28,29).

Let us learn to rest in God. Even today, as we labour for God, our God is more concerned than we are about our rest.

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

We Thank You Lord for Your Grace thus Far...!

I reproduce below two stanzas from a very meaningful hymn in our TPM English Hymn book, (Song 377) which has inspired thousands over the years, and sung at the Month-end thanksgiving prayer yesterday...

Lord, You've made me glad
Can I ever be sad?
Your works for me, great indeed they are!
And I thank You Lord for Your grace thus far
Lord I praise, Lord I love, Your most precious name!

Lord, I'm in Your hands
'Midst Your will do I stand
All things proceed from Your loving hand
And my life amazingly You have planned
All that's mine, all that I'm, Lord I owe to You.

Bro.GNANASEKARAN ENTERS GLORY

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24

Bro.Gnanasekaran, serving the Lord in The Pentecostal Mission, Chembakkam, Tambaram, entered glory on Thursday, 24 January 2008. The funeral service which was held today was a glorious blessing and a rich source of edification to thousands of believers and Servants of God who had come from all parts of the country to pay their last respects to the departed soul.

The testimonies about the life and service of beloved Bro.Gnanasekaran are a source of edification to every child of God.

We give you excerpts from the funeral service of Brother Gnanasekaran.

He was transferred from Palayamcotta Centre to Irumbuliyur centre after the International Convention in March this year, and soon was given in charge of Chembakkam Faith Home, near to Irumbuliyur faith home.

Elder Sister Dr.Kalyani from Adyar centre, who spoke about Bro.Gnanasekaran traced the time to when he was a kid in the faith home, doing all the work for the Lord. He was in charge of spreading the mats which he did with utmost sincerity. We didnt know when he studied for his school exams, cos all the time he used to be in the faith home, doing some odd jobs or the other. The only time he used to come for prayer was just before his quarterly or half yearly exams.

In every exam, he always got the first rank in class, and if by any chance, if he missed out on the first rank he used to kneel down in prayer at around 1 in the night, ask God for His grace, and then start studying. In the Tenth Grade exams, he was the school topper, and the school honoured him with a gold ring and a gold medal. Bro.Gnanasekaran said that "these prizes rightfully belongs to the Lord as it was because of His grace that i got them". So saying, he gave them to the Lord.

Pastor Luke in a message, recalled the time he was the worker in charge of Villiwakkam faith home, when Bro.Gnanasekaran was a believer there. "He was more of a co-worker for me there, as he used to help me in every aspect of the ministry," said Pas.Luke.

His elder sister recalled with grief about their "only youngest brother for three elder sisters, and how much beloved he was for them. Inspite of famiy problems, he came to the ministry in the year 1993," she said.

Many Ministers of God who were his contemporaries in the ministry gave an edifying testimony about him.

"Bro.Gnanasekaran had always stood for the power of prayer and even till the last minute of his life, he prayed with a deep burden for the believers and the needy, and he rarely took any rest at all. After attending to his office duty at the Centre faith home, he used to come tired, and yet, he would come for the four o' clock praising," recalled the elder sister of Chembakkam faith home, Sis.Lawrence.

Scores of people from all walks of life came to see the mortal remains of beloved Bro.Gnanasekaran, vividly recollecting the impact of our beloved Brother's selfless ministry in the service of the Lord.

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" Psalm 116:15. Indeed let us all try to walk in the footsteps of Brother Gnanasekaran and live a life pleasing to the Lord and His Saints.

For an edifying message of Bro.Gnanasekaran, kindly check back on our blog posts on Friday, April 6, 2007 in the following link:

http://pentecostalmission.blogspot.com/2007/04/good-friday-service-at-chembakkam.html

Christmas Vacation

Dear blog readers, As we are on Christmas vacation, there is a brief hiatus. Will bounce back shortly in about two days. Till then, keep the faith. Wishing my dear bloggers and readers a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A CHRIST CENTRED NEW YEAR AHEAD.
Regards,
Prem

OVERCOMING LIFE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS...!

"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony" (Rev 12:11).

One blessing we get through the blood of Christ is an overcoming life. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we receive a life of overcoming sin, Satan, sickness (hereditary sicknesses, curse spells, witchcraft, childhood diseases, etc.), fear of death, fear of the future, fear of disease, etc. In brief, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ has a unique power that can enable us to overcome anything that is of the devil, world and sin.

It is called the 'blood of the Lamb' and not, 'blood of the lion'. In other words, as we are continuously washed in the blood of Christ, we are gradually being made lambs, being made meek and lowly. "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand..." (Rev 14:1). Those who stand with the Lamb of God must be lambs (in character).

May the Lord help us not to hide any secret sin but bring everything to the light, repent of them, confes them and have them washed in the blood of Jesus, so that we may be able to overcome all things and enjoy all His blessings now and throughout Eternity. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things.""

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

WHERE ARE THE INTERCESSORS?

"By His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities... He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors" (Isa 53:11, 12).

"By His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many." This knowledge is indeed unique. The knowledge of this world makes a man justfiy himself and put all the blame on others. Jesus told the Pharisees, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men" (Lk 16:15). Divine knowledge works the other way round; it makes one take the blame upon oneself and justify others! Do we have this divine knowledge?

Why is this unique knowledge essential for travailing or interceding in prayer? Because true intercessors have to bear the iniquities of others - "He shall bear their iniquities." If someone has sinned against God, the man who intercedes for him, pleads with God as if he himself has committed that sin. Hence we read, "He bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."

We also read, "He was numbered with the transgressors" i.e. He identified Himself with the transgressors. If we are praying for a sick man in a wheelchair, we should pray as if we ourselves are in the wheelchair and suffering the pain. If we are praying for a dying man, we should identify ourselves with him. "He poured out His soul unto death." Jesus interceded for us with great agony as our souls were going to hell to face the second death.

WHERE ARE THE INTERCESSORS who can travail for others as Jesus did?

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