WALKING WITH GOD...:

"Enoch walked with God" (Gen 5:24).

Enoch walked with God when there was no one in the world to set him an example or teach him on that subject. God wants people who walk with Him even when they don't find anyone as an example.

Two cannot walk together unless they are united (Amos 3:3). Enoch therefore, lived in perfect harmony with God without murmuring or questioning the Lord in the ways in which He took him.

Enoch walked with God after he became a family man. Many people think their family poses a hindrance to their walking with God. The Bible doesn't say that Enoch's wife or children walked with God. They may not have been pleased. Perhaps they were a thorn to Enoch. Still, he walked with God. Child of God, you can have the experience of walking with God even when those around aren't walking with God.

"Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." 'God took him' or, God took his 'self.' When we walk with God, we will not be seen: only Christ will be seen.

"Not merely in the words you say,

Not only in your deeds confessed,

But in the most unconscious way

Is Christ expressed."

"How gentle is the manner of the man who walks with God!"

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

DO NOT BE DECEIVED

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly" (Rev 22:20).

"Surely I come quickly." This, the most blessed promise in the Bible, is perhaps one of the most ridiculed and despised truths. However, St Peter prophesied of this two thousand years ago: "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (II Pet 3:3,4). Now also scorners (even among Christians) say, "Where is the promise of His Coming? We have been hearing about the Coming of the Lord from our childhood. If He is coming soon, why has He not come all these years?" Such people deceive themselves and also others into not getting ready for the Rapture.

Such scorners are ignorant of the Word of God: "A thousand years in Thy sight are... as a watch in the night" (Ps 90:4). One watch is three hours. There are four watches in the night: the first watch, from six in the evening to nine; the second watch, from nine to midnight; the third watch, from midnight to three in the morning; the fourth watch, from three to six in the morning. About two thousand years ago Jesus said, "I come quickly." In one sense, this promise was made only "two watches" ago, i.e. about six hours ago, for, in the sight of God a thousand years are like a watch in the night!

Dear reader, our response to "Surely I come quickly," should be, "Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus." In the last chapter of the Bible, this promise is repeated three times; twice, "Behold, I come quickly" (verses 7 & 12) and finally, "Surely I come quickly."

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

FAITH TO CHOOSE

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb 11:24, 25).

Every 'choosing' should be preceded by a 'refusing' as much as, a 'leaving' should precede every 'cleaving'. "Therefore shall a man leave... and shall cleave" (Gen 2:24). This refusal and choosing show maturity. Normally, people choose as per the dictates of their five senses. And human senses choose riches, honour, glory, appreciation, position, authority, power, etc. and refuse reproaches, poverty, sufferings, afflictions, etc. A man of faith, however, has a sixth sense which is far better than the five senses - the sense of faith. Only those whose spiritual eyes are enlightened will be able to choose by faith what Moses chose. What we choose for the sake of the truth and Christ may appear as foolishness to the world, but God's foolishness is far better than the wisdom of man.

Moses refused the highest position in the world empire and chose to suffer with slaves. Some may suffer if they are forced to, but it takes great faith to choose to suffer in such a way.

In living with God's people there is suffering. Faith gave Moses the right knowledge. He understood that those suffering slaves were the people of God. Faith enables one to recognize who the true saints are. A natural man could have thought, "These are miserable slaves - unfortunate and forsaken of God. Why hould I suffer with them?"

"The pleasure of sin is for a seaon but the punishment for the unpardoned sin is for ever." By faith Moses knew that the pleasures of the palace were pleasures of sin, that they were only for a season, and that divine pleasures are for evermore. "In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

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

IT'S IMPORTANT HOW WE DRESS

"Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them" (Gen 3:21)

God Himself took the trouble to clothe man. The coat of skin God made for them was an exemplary garment. It covered their whole body - the Amplified Bible renders 'coats' as 'long coats or tunics'. It was also not a 'see-through' garment - like those we often see people wearing.

The Lord wants us to be properly clothed - in "modest apparel", as St Paul calls it (I Tim 2:9). The New Living Translation says, it is not to be expensive garments or clothes that attract others.

Even in the Old Testament the Lord was very particular about how His peoppe dressed. "I will punish all such as are clothed with strange apparel," He says in Zephaniah 1:8. He also says, "A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing"; He says He "detests" anyone who does this! (Deut 22:5 NIV).

Child of God, what is your dress like in the light of the above? Are your clothes what please the Lord? We should dress "as becometh women professing godliness" (I Tim 2:10). Does our dress reveal we are Christians? Are our clothes what the Lord would have made for us, if He would?

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

NO EXCUSE GOOD ENOUGH!...!

"The man said, The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat" (Gen 3:12)

Sin makes a person blame others for one's own mistakes. Adam here blames the woman for his sin. Every soul is responsible for his own sin. Adam might have eaten of the tree from the hands of the woman, in order to please her and show her his love for her. But now, instead of showing love, he shows only hatred by blaming her for his sin.

Adam also blames God. "THE WOMAN WHOM THOU GAVEST." In effect, he was saying, "O God, it was your misake. If You hadn't given me this woman I wouldn't have sinned."

And when God gives the woman a chance to repent, she blames the serpent (Gen 3:13). True, the serpent deceived her into eating the fruit, but why did she give it to her husband? The serpent didn't tell her to give it to him, did it?

Sin always finds some excuse. But remember, child of God, whatever your excuse, it will not hold good in the presence of God. You cannot put the blame for your wrongdoings on someone else and get away with it. Be sure your sin will find you out. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."

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

SHARE GOD'S BURDEN...:

When God was ruling over Israel through Samuel, the prophet and judge, the people wanted a king to rule over them. When Samuel told the Lord that the people had rejected him, God said, "They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them" (I Sam 8:7)

Earlier, when the people had made Gods for themselves, Moses had interceded for them and saved them from the wrath of God. Now when they asked for a king, Samuel realized how much God would be grieved. He bore the grief of God as his own. He pleaded with God asking Him to have mercy on them. Not all can pray like this; only those who understand the mind of God can.

In Isaiah 59:16 we read that God wondered that there was no intercessor. God still wonders that there is no intercessor. Some ministries are visible, while the ministry of intercession is a ministry done in the closet, seen only by the heavenly Father above.

The Holy Spirit is an intercessor. "The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom 8:26). And Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us (Heb 7:25). Should we not then share the burden of the Lord in unceasing intercession before His throne of grace? Is not God on the lookout for such intercessors?

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

CHANGE OF ADDRESS - NEPAL

OLD:
Beni, C/o D.D. Medical Hall,
Pipal Chowak, Kalipul,
Beni Bazar, Myagdi,
Dhaulagiri Anchal, West Nepal

NEW:
V.O.C. Mallaj Beni,
Bagarphant - Ward 8, Parbat,
Dhaulagiri, West Nepal
Phone: 69520927

TWO CROWNS

"Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour" (Ps 8:5).

God wants to give us two crowns - crown of glory and crown of honour.

It is amazing to note that when God created us, He crowned us with these two crowns of glory and honour. But when sin came in, the crowns fell from our heads - man lost his glory and honour. "We are confounded: shame hath covered our faces... For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Jer 51:51; Rom 3:23).

However, in this Grace Period, God is creating a new man to crown him once again with glory and honour. How do we get these crowns? What is glory? In Exodus 15:11 we read, "Who is like Thee, glorious in Holiness...?" Our God is glorious in Holiness, and therefore the real glory is the holiness of God. What is honour? "Before honour is humility" (Prov 15:33). So the crowns of glory and honour speak of God's holiness and God's humility.

A crown is normally set on the head. The head shows our thoughts. Sometimes we can have holiness and humility in our words and appearance, but they may not be in our thoughts. God wants our mind or thoughts to be filled with His humility and His purity - that will be crowns of glory and honour to us.

If holiness and humility do not adorn our thoughts, we are living in disgrace - 'the crown is fallen from our heads!'

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

KNOW YOUR LIMITS

"Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord" (II Chron 26:19).

In verse 18 we read that King Uzziah's heart was lifted up (with pride) and he went into the temple to burn incense - which was the priest's duty and not the king's. Azariah the priest, and the other priests withstood him and said, "It appeartaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Lord." This was the cause for Uzziah's wrath with the priest - which made him a leper.

Once a person named Zachariah came to meet a servant of God to discuss some domestic problems, and during the conversation, he got very angry with the servant of God. Immediately he had an attack of paralysis. He never recovered from the paralysis; he died a most pathetic death.

Dear reader, have you given room for pride and interfered in the duty or responsibility of any servant of God? Are you guilty of having reacted angrily at any time to the counsel or reproof of the leaders? If God has not stricken you with spiritual (and maybe even physical) leprosy, realize that it is purely the mercies of God and that you have been given an extended period of time to repent.

You may be a person of great importance but that doesn't give you the licence to go out of bounds. O King Uzziah, repent of your wrath!

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

GOD'S CONCERN FOR YOU...:

"The Lord God... made He a woman, and brought her unto the man" (Gen 2:22).

"Brought her unto the man" - This implies that the creation of the woman was not done near Adam.

It was God's burden and His concern, to prepare a bride for Adam, and the bride was God's own selection and perfection. The man was not supposed to be worried about finding a bride for himself. God will do the work of finding a help-mate for us, provided we are in the garden (many go out of the church to find a wife). It is true Adam could not find a wife for himself anywhere in the garden, but God took charge of the matter. We hear many parents and youngsters saying, "I couldn't find a suitable person in the church." The problem is that they want a match of their liking.

God has brought us into the Church, the true Garden of God, and He will provide us a help-mate in the Church itself, and not outside it. Let not our own choice hinder God's plan in our life.

The woman had only one person to love and set her affection on, and that was the man; the man too had only the woman to love. We have only one to love and that is Christ, and Christ too has only one to love, and that is His Church. Therefore those who are not in the true Church of God can never be formed as His Bride.

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

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"