WHEN NOT TO SPEAK...!

We are living in an age in which people are often weary of their life, their family, children, wife or husband, and everything around them. This is the age in which we should learn, as never before, how to speak to the weary - to bring them to Christ. Sometimes, even the sweetest words and the words we think would best befit the occasion may boomerang and worsen the situation. People everywhere tend to be tension-ridden, and indifferent and provocative, rather than receptive to any word.

How upset Peter must have been after denying the Lord thrice! Any word of rebuke or correction could have hardened or embittered him. But one look from Jesus did greater things than the greatest sermon ever preached by the most gifted preacher on the earth. "And the Lord turned, and LOOKED UPON PETER, And Peter remembered the word of the Lord... and Peter went out and wept bitterly." (Lk 22:61, 62).

One LOOK from the Lord, a look of compassion and love, a look of sympathy with the sweetness of sincerity - that did the work; it brought to remembrance the word of the Lord, it made him to go out of the bad company, and the best of all, it made him weep bitterly for his bitter sin against the sweet Saviour. We should discipline ourselves, not only to know how to speak, but also to be silent as the occasion calls for and as the Lord guides. There are times when silence proves golden, while sermon proves irksome and out of season.

"A caring heart, a listening ear,
A compassionate look, a gentle tear
Will help to lift the heavy load
Of weary souls along life's road."

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

SPIRIT OF HOLINESS...:

"And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Rom 1:4)

Holiness is the greatest power one can have - to conquer the greatest enemy, the power of death. From the above text we see that Jesus was raised from the dead according to the spirit of holiness. Our spirit should get sanctified and become the spirit of holiness. In other words, our spirit should be free from defiling elements such as lust, pride, envy, jealousy, anger, etc.

When we die, we are going to entrust our spirit and not our body, into the hands of God. Jesus died saying, "Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit" (Lk 23:46). Stephen, the martyr who readily forgave his murderers, died with the prayer, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59). We can give only a holy spirit into the hands of a holy God.

So let us pray with the Psalmist - "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psa 51:10). When we have a right spirit we will have a right spirit towards everyone, including the one who spits on our face!

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

VANITY OF VANITIES...!

"Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (Eccl 2:11)

Solomon had vineyards, gardens and orchards. He had pools of water; he built many mansions; he had silver and gold, men singers and women singers. Although these may not be sinful pleasures they are indeed pleasures of the world.

Being the richest king of his time, Solomon could enjoy all the pleasures of the world, and this he did try. But the statement he makes at the end of his life is that all those pleasures, in the end, only brought trouble to his spirit (vexation of spirit), and that his inner man was restless. He confessed the emptiness (vanity) of his heart. He repeatedly says, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." The more he tried to enjoy the world, the more miserable and unhappy he became. Apart from the life that comes from God, everything is emptiness or vanity.

The Psalmist says, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore" (Psa 16:11).

St.Paul emptied himself of everything in the world and towards the end of his life, although in prison and waiting to be executed, he was jubilant. Look at the triumphant words of this saint: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous...Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice!" (Phil 3:1). "I have all and abound: I am full" (Phil 4:18)

Look at the contrast between St.Paul who counted all things as loss for Christ and Solomon who had all the pleasures of the world. The end of the man who counted all things as loss for Christ had a joy and triumph, particularly at the end of our life.

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

REBEL NOT! O SINNER...!

"Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden" (Gen 4:16).

All of God's love and protection could not keep Cain in God's presence, as he had no repentance for his sin. Therefore we see him going out from the presence of God.

"Dwelt in the land of Nod" - 'Nod' means trembling and shaking. True, once a person commits sin and loses the presence of God, his sin makes him restless even on a bed of roses. "The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest...There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked" (Isa 57:20, 21).

Though the Lord had said he would be a vagabond and a fugitive, he obviously wanted to resist the punishment, for he built a city and dwelt there (vs 17). Every work that is not of God cannot stand; apparently, the city was completely destroyed by the flood.

You get nothing by going away from God. You only lose all your blessings and bring destruction upon yourself. So dear reader, if you have strayed from His presence, come back. If you will yield to His love and return with genuine repentance, you can once again enjoy the peace and joy and rest that you can get nowhere but in His presence.

"Come unto Me... and I will give you rest."

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

TRUTH-SEEKING...:

"Behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he...sought to see Jesus Who He was" (Lk 19:2,3)

Zacchaeus' profession was looked down upon by society. 'Publicans and sinners' was a term used by people to denote their hatred for them. The work of a publican was to collect taxes for the Roman government. As there were no strict rules concerning tax collections, publicans used to take bribes.

Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus and wanted to know Who He was. As he was short, he climbed up a sycomore tree. The sight of the little rich man climbing a sycomore tree must have been amusing to the crowd; but shame or ridicule did nothing to diminish Zacchaeus' desire to see Jesus and know Him for himself. Does reproach and ridicule discourage you from seeking the truth?

It is amazing to note that Zacchaeus chose a sycomore tree to climb. There must have been many other tall trees in Jericho. What made Zacchaeus climb up this rather insignificant tree? The reason was that though this tree was not great in many respects, it was standing by the side of the very road along which Jesus was to pass, and was therefore the only tree which could enable him to see Jesus. The sycomore tree is a type of a true servant of God who lives 'in the way' of the Lord. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen" (I Cor 1:27, 28)

Dear reader, are you looked down upon by the society? Are you an object of ridicule and shame? Jesus Who came in search of Zacchaeus needs you. Seek the help of the true servants of God. They may be insignificant, just as the sycomore tree was, but they are great before God; they are helpful to seekers of truth.

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

BOLDNESS THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh" (Heb 10:19,20).

In the Old Testament, the way to the holiest (most holy place) was blocked by the veil. Even the high priest entered it only once a year with the blood of the animal sacrificed, with great fear and trembling, as it could prove to be the way of death. But thank God, the blood of Jesus turned the way of death into the way of life, the living way.

We can boldly enter the holiest, we can live a most holy life, through His blood. Even in deep troubles, a blood-washed saint will have divine boldness. "The righteous are bold as a lion... which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any" (Prov 28:1 & 30:30). If you keep any sin hidden in your life, you will not have any boldness in the time of trouble; your heart will melt like wax - "if thou faint in the time of adversity, thy strength is small."

May the Lord help all of us to keep our hearts washed in the blood of Christ so that we can have boldness to enter into the holiest (New Jerusalem and Zion). The text doesn't say, "enter into the holiest place," but "enter into the holiest life by the blood of Jesus. What a great privilege!

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

GREATER WORKS...:

Peter denied Lord Jesus and he was the first to go back to his fishing after Jesus' death. But after he received the Holy Spirit he was a changed man.

Perhaps the most surprising (and all-surpassing) grace that we see in the ministry of Peter is seen in Acts 5:14-16: "MULTITUDES...brought forth the sick unto the STREETS, and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the SHADOW OF PETER PASSING BY might overshadow some of them... AND THEY WERE HEALED EVERY ONE. "In fact, such a miracle has not taken place at any other time in the history of Christianity (and even in the Old Testament). Peter's shadow falling on bed-ridden sick people was enough to heal them. There were such crowds that no house or hall was large enough to hold them; the sick had to be laid on the streets - "AND THEY WERE HEALED EVERYONE." The Lord Jesus gave Peter a tremendous ministry which He Himself did not do. The hem of the Lord's garment healed many, but not His shadow. See what wonders the grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can do in a person!

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know... WHAT IS THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO US-WARD WHO BELEIVE, ACCORDING TO THE WORKING OF HIS MIGHTY POWER" (Eph 1: 18, 19).

YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM GOD..:

"They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God" (Gen 3:18).

The very voice of the Lord which once brought joy to them, now brought fear and terror. It was not a change in God's way of walking or a change in His voice that brought terror, but the change in man's character. Now also, fear and worry are not brought about by our environment, but by the state of our inner life.

Adam could have rightly confessed, "I was afraid because I had sinned" rather than saying, "I was afraid because I was naked." Adam was not only hiding from God, but was also hiding the fact from God. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper" (Prov 28:13). Though man tried to cover himself with fig leaves, it wouldn't help. All our own righteousness is only filthy rags in God's sight (Isa 64:6).

Sin stripped man of his good conscience and he became naked in his own sight and in the sight of God. Now he runs for cover to refuges which are no refuges at all. God is our hiding place; where can a man hide from God? "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do" (Heb 4:13).

A time will come when all false refuges will disappear. "The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow the hiding place" (Isa 28:17). Let us therefore give up all our false refuges. Instead of trying to cover up our faults, instead of trying to hide from God, let us, like David, cry, "Whither shall I flee from Thy presence? ... Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee... the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee'' (Psa 139: 7, 12).

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

ARE YOU THAT DONKEY?

"Ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither...because the Lord hath need of him" (Lk 19:30,31).

There may have been horses or other gracious animals available, but Jesus wanted this wild, bound and untameable donkey. If you are thinking you are a great man in this world, Jesus doesn't want you.

The donkey was not thinking about Jesus. Jesus was thinking about the donkey. The donkey did not show any love to Jesus. It was Jesus Who loved the donkey.

The donkey was tied in a place where two ways met. Before every child of God, there are two ways kept - "My will" and "God's will". When Jesus saw that donkey, He sat on it. The Word of God says that nobody could sit on it before that. It was so wild. Nobody could control it. But Jesus sat on it, and from that moment, its direction, its ways, completely changed.

When Jesus sent His disciples to bring the colt, He did not tell them, "Train it and tame it." He said, "Bring it as it is." When Jesus sat on the colt, everything about it changed. "Behold I make all things new." If God has not changed you, the reason is that you have not realized that you are a wild donkey. If God is not able to bless you spiritually, one reason could be that you are not able to realize that without Him you are but a wild donkey. God wants people with the degree FWBDN (i.e. 'Foolish, Weak, Base, Despised, Not' - see I Cor 1:27, 28). Your pride is the greatest hindrance for God to work for you.

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

SHED 'GODLY' TEARS...:

"Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God" (Psa 84:6,7).

'Valley of Baca' means valley of tears. 'Valley' shows humility. Only humble people can weep for godly things. Proud people cannot weep in the presence of God. Our tears show we have a broken and a contrite heart.

The first thing Jesus had to do after His resurrection (as the High Priest) was to go to the presence of the Father with His atonement blood. On the morning of the resurrection, Jesus was about to go to the Father. But before He could do that, another important thing came up. Somebody was weeping for Him. Mary Magdalene had come to the sepulchre early in the morning and all alone. She was weeping just in front of the sepulchre.

While Jesus was alive on earth, many might have wept and pleaded with Him for healing, deliverance, etc., but here Mary had not come to Jesus for a blessing. "I want to take Jesus with me," she says. All she needs is Jesus. Child of God, how much time have you spent in the past weeping before Jesus saying, "Lord, I want You." You might have prayed to get blessings; that is good. But in a deep sense, if you have Jesus you don't need to ask for any of the blessings of Jesus. "I want only Jesus!" - When we come to this state we will forget to pray for material things.

In the 16th century there was a saintly lady named Madam Guyon living in France. She told the Lord, "Lord, all that you want to give me on earth, give to my enemies, and all the blessings You want to give me in heaven, give to the saints, but give me Yourself."

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psa 30:5). This is a night-time for us, a weeping time; but after these days are over, when our tear bottles are full with godly tears, then joy will come in the morning. Your tears will become a pool of blessing. Whether it is your death or the Rapture, it will be a glorious bright morning.

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

CHANGE OF ADDRESS - Universal Pentecostal Church - UK

Universal Pentecostal Church - United Kingdom
OLD:
8B, Derby Grove, NEWPORT
Gwent NP19 4QL, U.K
Ph: 7800 - 609614
NEW:
85 Glasllwch Crescent, NEWPORT
Gwent NP10 9SG, U.K
Tel/Fax: (+44) 1633 894441

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER...!

The last ministry of Moses was the ministry of encouragement. The Lord told him, "Go and encourage Joshua." It's after that that the Lord took Moses into glory. Similarly, the last ministry of Jesus was the ministry of encouragement. He told the penitent thief, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." What an encouragement that thief must have got! Let us encourage others with the Word of God.

Look at one of the last ministries of St.Paul. For forty days and forty nights they had no light, no sun, moon or stars - the ship they were in was caught in a tempest. Nobody could eat; everyone was discouraged. But in that moment of despair, Paul stood up before everyone. "Be of good cheer," he said, "There stood by me this night the angel of God Whose I am, and Whom I serve." He was able to encourage others because he knew God was on his side. Child of God, do you know that God is on your side? Then you can encourage others.

The Lord has given you the ministry of encouraging others. Speak the word of faith. Don't speak out what you see with your natural eyes, and discourage others - like the ten spies did. Let it never once be said of us, "Our brethren have discouraged (melted) our hearts!" Like Joshua and Caleb, let us tell others, "We are well able to overcome!"

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

CONQUER THE LION...:

"The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid" (Judg 14:6).

Once Samson was confronted by a young lion. The roaring lion we may be facing is possibly a lion-like person, problem or situation, but let us be of good cheer, for, as Caleb said about the giant-like people they saw in the land of Canaan, "they are BREAD for us... THE LORD IS WITH US" (Num 14:9).

God was with Samson and he was able to kill the lion, as if it had been a kid. When God is with us, the lion that we are facing is nothing but a kid. However, if God is not with us, even a kid can be as terrifying as a lion. A lion rose against David when he was young, but he slew it. In this modern world, young people face lion-like temptations in their flesh, but often, instead of conquering them, they are conquered by them.

Samson's victory in his first trial greatly strengthened his faith. "Each victory will help you some other win,' sang one man of God. Our great trials are intended to greatly strengthen our faith and make us great in the sight of God. Trials are sent, not to pull us down, but to raise us up to a higher pedestal for the glory of God.

Dear reader, let us overcome the lion-like person, problem or situation in our life through the anointing of the Holy Spirit that is in us. Let us not forget that the Lord is with us.

- TPM Morning Manna

PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS...:

"Made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col 1:20).

Note the words, "made peace" - not "gave peace." There is a vast difference between making peace and giving peace. You may be able to give someone an expensive electronic watch - it may cost you a couple of hundred dollars. But let's suppose you made the watch and then gave it to him. You could have spent a fortune studying electronic engineering; a good part of your time might have also been used in those studies. Besides, since you are the one who made the watch, you can repair it if anything goes wrong with it. "Having MADE PEACE through the blood" means Jesus is the author of peace, the Prince of peace. The blood of Jesus Christ is so unique. As we have been washed in the blood of Christ, we can always enjoy the peace of God. "Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means" (II Thess 3:16).

Millions do not yet know the SECRET OF PERFECT PEACE. Many think riches, name, fame, friends etc. will give them peace; finally they are frustrated and fail to find the SECRET OF PEACE.

Dear reader, if we have been fully washed in the blood of the Lamb, we can always have perfect undisturbed peace of mind. No matter what happens outside, it matters what happens inside!

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

SPECIAL YOUTH MEETING...:

"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth" Ps.127:4

THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION

invites you to

SPECIAL YOUTH MEETING

on 30 & 31 August 2008 (Saturday and Sunday)

at The Railway Institute Play Ground

Opp. Madras Christian College

East Tambaram, Chennai

at 2.30 pm

Details of the Programme:

Special Songs - Living Testimonies - Quiz Program - Spiritual Messages - Interesting Group Activities

Admission Free / No Collections

How to come there:

Bus Stop: Madras Christian College Bus Stop

Enquiries at:

The Pentecostal Mission, 14, Rajaji Road,
West Tambaram, Chennai - 45

Ph:22266560 / 93838 88627

BLESSEDNESS IN FORGIVING..:

"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee" (Psa 128:1,2).

Fear and forgiveness go together - "there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou mayest be feared" (Psa 130:4).

"That walketh in His ways" When we cannot forgive others we lose the fear of God - instead of walking in His ways we begin to walk in our own ways. The very fact that you cannot forgive or refuse to forgive someone, shows that your mind is already set in your own ways. "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways" (Prov 14:14). You may have many reasons and excuses for not forgiving; however, know that "there is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov 14:12).

"Thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands." This is a blessing found in forgiving others. If you refuse to forgive, others will eat the labour of your hands. "Happy shalt thou be." Yes, forgiving people are always happy people. It has been rightly stated by someone - "A happy marriage is a union of two forgiving persons." Unforgiving people will always be unhappy. "It shall be well with thee." Doctors say that if a person cannot forgive others, high blood pressure, nerve tension, heart problem, cancer and many other ailments can afflict him.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Forgiving others too, is the beginning of wisdom.

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

NEED FOR A PURE HEART...!

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" ( I Pet 1:22).

We need to purify our hearts because that helps us to obey the truths of God. The more our hearts are purified, the more we will be able to obey the truths. In the same way, if our hearts are not purified, even if deep truths from the Word of God are taught to us, we will not have the grace to obey them. If we pour delicious honey into a cup that is not clean, the honey will get defiled. Only a purified soul can be receptive to the deep truths of the Word of God. That's why Peter says, "Laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere (pure) milk of the word" (I Pet 2:1,2).

Dear reader, do you want to receive deeper truths from the Word of God? Then purify your heart in a deeper way.

When your heart is not pure, your love too is not pure - "See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently." This shows that, to love fervently or with Calvary's love, we need pure hearts. St.Paul speaks of "charity out of a pure heart" (I Tim 1:5). If a person does not have a pure heart his love will not be pure; it will be but a false love.

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

A GOOD REPORT...:

"For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good report" (Heb 11:2).

Faith is the unfailing witness - it speaks to our heart that God's Word is true. Just as unbelief is a (wrong) spirit, faith is a (right) spirit. The spirit of faith makes us see what God has planned for us - which eye hath not seen nor ear heard (I Cor 2:9,10). The spirit of unbelief, however, drives a person to see what the devil plans for us (misery, confusion, sickness, pain, etc.).

If God is to give us a good report at the end, our life and ministry should be based only and always on faith in the promises of God. Faith always gives a good report, as we see in the case of Joshua and Caleb. Some are always 'negative' and speak 'negative' - all because they don't believe the Word of God. They magnify their problems - like the unbelieving spied did when saying that the cities of the Amorites were "walled up to heaven" (Deut 1:28). But Paul says, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment" (II Cor 4:17).

Dear child of God, do you want to obtain a good report from God before the angels and others at the end of your life, after your life's work on earth is ended? Then you must trust the Word of God and act on it so that by faith you may obtain a good report.

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

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"