SNARE OF THE FOWLER...:

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Ps 91:1).

"Shadow", in Hebrew, means DEFENCE. One cannot hide from a lion in the shadow of a tree. Nobody can defend us or protect us in times of troubles as our God can. Only when we dwell in the secret place, can we be in the defence of the El-shaddai. No enemy can enter into that secret place. The enemy cannot even see us. Our mother-like God will preserve us so.

"He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler" (vs 3). Till the bird is trapped, the fowler will remain in hiding. Once the bird falls in the trap, all hope of survival is gone.

Sin is a snare. "Sin first deceives, then deadens, then destroys.' "He goeth... till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life" (Prov 7:22,23). Too often people are sunk too deep in sin to get out, before they realize that they are in a deadly trap.

Death can be a snare. "The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me" (II Sam 22:6). The devil will set up a snare for us to fall in it and die before God's time. We may not be able to discern it as the snare of death. Sickness is not the certificate given to us to gain entry into heaven. God will inform us when our life-work is over. If an employee is faithful to his master, would not the master inform him in advance if he is going to retire?

If we live in the secret place of the Most High surely our God will deliver us from the snare of the fowler; the devil cannot trap us because he cannot see us.

"He will hide... me, safely hide ... me,

Where no sorrow or temptation can betide me;

He will hide ... me, safely hide ... me;

In the secret of His presence He will hide me."

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

MUCH IN A FEW WORDS...:

"The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary" (Isa 50:4).

Often, for speaking much we need little or no learning, while to speak "a word" we need greater learning.

A great topic presented in an abnormally large volume very often yields little results; so also our words in our day-to-day life.

Mary Magdalene went through a period of extreme sorrow after Christ's crucifixion and death. At last she was so wearied that she could no longer stay indoors; early in the morning on the first day of the week she ran to the sepulchre to take away the dead body of the One she loved much. However, one word from the Lord did a marvellous thing in Mary. That one word had a magnetic influence on that situation.

"Jesus saith unto her, Mary, She turned herself and saith unto Him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master" (Jn 20:16). That one word "Mary" from the Lord, did a tremendous work in her spiritual life and thereafter she never was the old Mary. That one word from her Saviour made her realize Who it was that was speaking to her, Whom she had first mistaken for the gardener. Before that, though the Lord had been standing close to her, she did not know that it was Jesus. Only ONE WORD, and not a sermon, made her recognize Him; it dispelled all her fears, discouragements and weariness, filling and thrilling her heart with heavenly joy, peace and grace.

Let us learn "how to speak a word in season."

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

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God Whom he hath not seen?" (I Jn 4:20).

There was once a very good believer sister named Grace. She had been a Hindu but she accepted the Lord, took water baptism and received the Holy Spirit. She faithfully gave tithes and offerings. She was also zealous about missionary work and she led a number of souls to Christ. She even dedicated her son for the ministry.

One day she was very sick and dying. Then in a vision she saw the city of Jerusalem, glorious and shining. She was very happy and she told the Lord, "Lord, I want to come there right now. I leave all my children in Your care." The Lord replied, "You are not coming to heaven; you are going to hell. The city of New Jerusalem I showed you is the place I prepared for you, but you became unfit and now you are going to hell." Grace was shocked. "But Lord, I'm Your child. How can I go to hell. You hate your elder sister and for a long time you have not spoken to her. Yes, you are on the way to hell." Grace was convicted of her hatred for her sister who was still a Hindu. She pleaded with the Lord, "Lord, please don't take me now. I realize my sin. I will forgive my sister and will get reconciled. Please give me a chance."

Thank God. Grace did not die then. She sent for her sister and embraced her, and cried and asked for forgiveness. The Lord completely healed Grace. her love and forgiveness touched her elder sister and she accepted the Lord as her Saviour.

Like Grace, you may have a hatred for your wife, husband, children, father, mother, or in-laws, and still think that, being a born-again Christian or a Pentecostal believer, you are going to heaven. Don't deceive yourself. If you cannot love your brother, sister, husband, or wife whom you see, how can you love God Whom you cannot see? Make sure your heart is transparent and you do not hate anyone - even someone who is dead and gone.

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

A BROKEN HEART NEEDED

"The Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground." (Gen 2:5,6).

God was pleased to water the face of the ground with a mist that went up from the earth. The mist that went up from the earth can be compared to saints who live a lofty life and keep themselves above all earthly attachments. God is pleased to use such saints to remove the dry experiences in others, and be a source of blessing to them.

Tilling the ground was not necessary till the day man committed sin. In other words, since the heart of man was soft, perfect and sinless there was no need for it to be broken. But when man committed sin, God cursed the ground and it brought forth thorns and thistles. Thorns and thistles can be compared to the evil natures which grew in man after his fall. We have to labour for a broken heart to remove these evil natures.

Tilling the ground was necessary, to grow fruits and flowers and other useful trees. So also, breaking our hardened heart is essential if we are to get a sweet-smelling life (flowers) and divine characters (fruits).

Let us labour for a broken heart and take out all the evil natures in us and develop a fragrant and divine character, so that we may become a source of blessing to everyone.

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

SPECTACULAR MEANS OF DELIVERANCE

"And the Lord said unto Moses... go forward... And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went before their face, and stood behind them" (Exo 14:15,19).

Is it not an astonishing paradox that after the Lord commanded Moses and His people to go forward, the angel of His presence and the pillar of cloud went behind! Thank God, our God is a God of harmony and there is no contradiction in Him or in His Word.

When we meditate on this wonderful text we marvel at the matchless providence and protection of God for His people. Of all the troubles and problems that the Israelites had to face, this was the most crucial. And of all the means employed by God to deliver His people, this was the most spectacular.

Pharaoh and his hosts were following hard after the children of Israel but God had ordained that they should no more be a terror to His people. Their end was to be a watery grave, while those same waters were a wall of protection to His people on either side. The angel of God and the pillar of cloud that had previously gone before them, now went behind them, not because God had forsaken them (as they may well have feared), but because God loved them, and wanted to prevent the Egyptians from overtaking them. The same pillar of cloud which brought darkness upon the enemy, brought light to God's people throughout the night.

Similarly, dear reader, the very things which appear to be troublesome are indeed a blessing to God's people! All things may not appear good to us, but 'all things work together for good to them that love God.'

"His eyes foresee our greatest good

While we at best are weak
And thus in wisdom He withholds
The boon that we often seek.
And yet His all-sufficient grace
He bids me freely share;
And in a way we little know
The Lord will answer prayer."

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

OUT OF WEAKNESS...MADE STRONG

"Who through faith... out of weakness were made strong" (Heb 11:33,34).

Hebrews chapter 11 speaks of the heroes of faith; almost all the heroes of faith in the Bible are listed in this chapter. One may think these men and women were born with extraordinary strength, talents or abilities. However, the above text enlightens us to the fact that they were all by nature weak persons - and that their strength or ability to do extraordinary things for God's glory came from the Lord.

Gideon was so timid that he was threshing wheat by the winepress for fear of the Midianites. David appeared to be such an insignificant boy that even his father didn't feel the need to call him when Samuel came home, although all the other children were called. The very name 'Jacob' means 'deceiver' - he deceived his brother, his father and his father-in-law and, in one sense he deceived himself. However, God was pleased to call Himself the God of Jacob. Our God is still the God of Jacob.

You may be a very weak person by nature. Even after receiving many spiritual experiences, you may be feeling the same - weak, timid, sensitive, touchy, moody, etc. Notwithstanding, "through faith... out of weakness" you can be strong.

Doctors say that if a bone in the human body is broken and healed, the joined part becomes the strongest part of the bone so much that, that part is the last place to get broken again. The God Who created the human body is the One Who builds our spiritual life. GOD WANTS TO MAKE OUR WEAKEST POINT THE STRONGEST POINT IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE. Praise be to God!

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

FAITHFUL LIGHT-GIVERS

"Let there be lights in the firmament to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Gen 1:14).

On the first day God brought light into the world. This is the light of the gospel of His grace. On the fourth day, the lights were positioned in proper places and their movement fixed. To become useful to the earth, we must remain in the high skies. Let us live a heavenly life.

The 'lights' (light-givers' - Heb.) had to keep to their orbits. In case the sun, the moon and the stars moved freely without any regulations, the objects in space could collide, resulting in a universal disaster. God has similarly kept us as 'light-givers' in our respective places - to serve faithfully where He has kept us.

Some of us could be like the sun, some like the moon and others like stars. Even the brightest sun has times when it is completely hidden to one part of the earth. Similarly, though you may be a great saint and most bright and brilliant, there are times and seasons when you have to remain hidden; your light or usefulness may not appear to all the people all the time. However, let us be in the place ordained for us. Just as the lights that God has ordained serve our God faithfully, May our usefulness be hidden in the seasons fixed by God.

If we are where the Lord has kept us, we shall serve His purpose - to differentiate between the holy and the unholy, just as one differentiates the day from the night (lk 21:25)

"I'll stay where you've put me; I will dear Lord;

I'll bear the day's burden and heat,

I'll till the dry soil while i wait for the rain,

I'll work, and I'll rest at Thy feet."

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

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

"When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled" (Matt 14:26).

It was gracious of the Lord to go to the troubled disciples to help them in their despair, though they did not expect it. In our spiritual life also the Lord comes to our help when we least expect it.

The disciples should have been delighted to see Jesus approaching them. However, they thought trouble was approaching and cried out in fear. Even today many children of God are in this state. When help approaches them in their fiery trials, they cry out in terror from lack of discernment.

Dear child of God, if your eyes were enlightened you would be able to appreciate, to your great comfort, that the many things you think are responsible for your problems and troubles, are in fact blessings in disguise; instead of crying out in fear, you would be able to shout in cheer. May the Lord open our spiritual eyes to see everything through the faith of the Son of God.

"Faith looks beyond the shadow

Of dread and doubt and fear

And finds the Saviour waiting

And always standing near."

- Late Pas T.U Thomas, in Morning Manna

EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE

It was very appropriate and appreciable for David to pray this beautiful prayer: "Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem" (Psa 51:18). God is well pleased when the walls of Jerusalem are built - "Then shalt Thou be pleased" (vs 19).

A crystal clear Christian life is only possible when an extremely thick wall of jasper is built all around our mind; then we will be able to say along with St Paul - "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Cor 10:4,5).

St Paul, who once said that he was the chiefest of sinners, could bring into captivity every thought (not just some thoughts) to the obedience of Christ by the grace of God. "We have the mind of Christ," he declares (I Cor 2:16). It gives us an encouragement to know that by the sovereign mercy of God we can bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, so that we may have the mind of Christ.

Let us ask the Lord to build the wall of Jerusalem around our mind. Nehemiah was not deterred by the efforts of the enemies to hinder the work of building the walls. "We made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night," he says (Neh 4:9). Let us show such a strong determination to keep our minds crystal clear.

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

WONDERFUL WORK OF GRACE

All the disciples forsook Jesus when He was captured. But Peter did much more than that. He denied the Lord - as if he had never heard of Him. Finally he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I know not the man." Then Peter went out and wept bitterly (Matt 26:70-75). But what was the use? Within a few days he was planning to go back to his old profession (Jn 21:3). Perhaps you are like Peter. After repenting for a particular sin, you may repeat it. Do not be discouraged; there is still hope for you in Jesus.

Such a cursing, swearing backslider as Peter, was restored and finally he lay down his life for the Master. According to his desire, he was crucified upside down, as he felt that he was not worthy to be crucified as was his Master. He wanted his posture (in crucifixion) to be such as his lips could kiss the feet of his Lord. What a wonderful work of grace!

Dear reader, perhaps you are perplexed and plagued with backsliding - like Peter. You may be repenting and afterwards repeating the mistake or doing something worse. Do you realize that God's grace through the power of the Holy Spirit is greater than all your failures and mistakes? Trust His grace. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom 5:20).

If the grace of God can change Peter, it can change you too.

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

DON'T JUDGE TOO SOON...:

"Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and women servants. and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife" (Gen 20:14)

We don't read of God appearing to Abimelech as He did to Abraham, or of Abimelech performing mighty mircales as Elijah and Elisha did. Nevertheless, in many respects Abimelech was much greater than Abraham, Elijah and Elisha.

In the face of the mendacity of Abraham and Sarah, which could well have led him and his righteous nation into sin, Abimelech shows no sign of malice; only of benevolence. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour" (Rom 13:10). Abimelech could have ordered Abraham and Sarah to leave his country declaring, "We don't want any hypocrites troubling us in our land." Had he done so, it would have been justifiable. But instead, Abimelech just gave them gifts! Jesus taught that one ought to love one's enemies, but we find no one in the entire Bible practising it in such an outstanding way.

Abimelech is not known as a saint. His name doesn't appear in the table of heroes in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. Nevertheless, his character shines through all ages.

The people we think insignificant in saintliness often have more divine natures than the greatest of saints. Heaven is a place of surprises, it is said. How many unexpected people we are going to meet in heaven, we don't know. So dear child of God, do not despise anyone but rather love everyone and live peacefully with all.

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

SEE GOD BY FAITH

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

If we see God by faith we can suffer with Him, as in Him we find all grace.

The man who has seen the invisible God need not be afraid of any visible king. Moses knew that the King of kings , the Lord of lords, the God of gods had called him and sent him with a message, and that he therefore could not be touched by any visible king or his emissaries. Without any fear, Moses walked right into the palace of the king though there might have been soldiers with drawn spears at the gates and guards with drawn swords on either side of the king.

Elijah displayed a similar boldness when he confronted the king with the words, "As the Lord God liveth before Whom I stand..."

Child of God, if you do not have a clear vision of your invisible God, the problems and trials you encounter will easily move you; you will be easily troubled and maybe even driven to despair.

To see the invisible God every day, we should deal with every invisible sin as with a great sin. And, unless we forsake visible pleasures we cannot enjoy invisible and lasting pleasures.

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

COVENANT BY SACRIFICE...:

"Gather My saints together unto Me: those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice" (Psa 50:5)

We have to make a covenant with our God by SACRIFICE. Every covenant we make involves making some sacrifice - a sacrifice of some comfort, pleasure or treasure. Those who do not make covenants with God, those who take life easy, cannot lay hold on greater things. They cannot go on with God.

"My saints... those who have made a covenant." Christian life begins with a covenant. At water baptism we first enter into a covenant with our God - by which the Lord becomes our God and we, His people. After that, at every stage of our spiritual life, we draw closer and closer to God by making various covenants. These we must faithfully keep till the Lord appears in His glory. Whether a man is a saint or not is proved by whether he is standing in his covenants with his God or not.

It is time for the Lord to appear. Soon we are going to hear Him announce, "Gather My saints unto Me!" Then those who have made a covenant with the Lord with sacrifice, those who have been true to it till the end, will be gathered unto His eternal Home. O child of God, will you be in that group?

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

YOU NEED A MIGHTY ANOINTING

"Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and behold, a young lion roared against him" (Judg 14:5)

This was the beginning of the mighty deeds or ministry of miracles that God wrought through Samson. His confrontation with the young lion was totally unexpected. No one would have ever imagined that a lion would be hiding in the vineyards. Similarly, in our spiritual life too, trials may confront us suddenly from unexpected corners, and in the least expected way. However, "the spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid" (vs 6)

One reason for the Spirit of God to come MIGHTILY upon Samson was that he had nothing in his hand (vs 6). Often, the Spirit of grace does not come upon us at the crucial moment in our trial, all because there is something that is not consecrated in our hand. How blessed it is to empty ourselves in the presence of God and experience God as "a very present help in trouble"!

What we need when we face a great trial is, nothing more and nothing less than a MIGHTY ANOINTING. When the first century church faced GREAT persecution, "GREAT grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33).

Though God chose Samson from his mother's womb, his ministry did not start until he received this mighty anointing from the Lord (as in the case of our Lord Himself) - which enabled him to face the young lion triumphantly. In the same way, though God may have called us with a great high calling, we need a mighty anointing to take the victory in our trials and be vessels unto honour, meet for the Master's use.

"Let us not be just filled with the Holy Spirit,

but filled to overflowing;

Anointed not just with the Holy Spirit,

but with a double portion of the Spirit;

For we are called not to be ordinary people,

but a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

a peculiar people."

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

WHEN YOU DIE...

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (Jn 10:10).

Many years ago, in East Surrey Hospital, London, a lady, Mrs.Burgess, lay dying. The bed next to her was occupied by another lady named Joan Plumridge who was also very sick. One night Joan saw a demon with two horns enter by the main gate of the hospital and come straight to Mrs.Burgess and, even as she looked on, she saw the demon carry her away. Mrs.Burgess screamed loudly and the next moment she was dead. That very moment, Joan Plumridge who was a drunkard, was convicted of her sins and she committed her life to Christ. Later on she became a wonderful servant of God and led hundreds of souls to Christ.

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." Yes, first the devil, the thief, steals peace, joy and grace out of our lives. Finally he steals our very soul. However, Jesus came to give us life and abundant life.

If you die today, where will you spend your eternity? Will Jesus and the angels come and carry you to heaven or will the devil carry you to hell-fire? Choose to follow Christ. He is our life and peace. Your decision will determine your destiny.

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

THE BIG DIFFERENCE

"Every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground... and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark" (Gen 7:23)

The very waters which lifted up Noah who was in the ark, drowned the people who were outside the ark. Here we observe the vast difference between sinners and saints, between those who trust in the Lord and those who trust in man or in themselves, and between those who love the Lord and those who don't. While those who without Christ drown in the trials they face, those who cling to Christ and hide themselves in Him, are lifted up and drawn closer to God and heaven. "All things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom 8:28). It has been rightly said, "Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions."

So don't panic when faced with problems. Like David, say, "My soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast" (Psa 57:1). If you are in the 'Ark', no flood, no problem, no matter how big, can drown you.

"Seas of sorrow, seas of trial

Bitterest anguish, fiercest pain

Rolling rages of temptation

Sweeping over heart and brain -

They shall never overflow us!"

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

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'