WEEPING - NOT A WEAKNESS

"Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep" (I Sam 30:4).

When David and his men returned to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had invaded it and taken away captive their women, children, cattle and everything worth carrying away, and burnt the city with fire (vs 3). They lost everything they had on this earth; all they could do was to lift up their voice and cry "until they had no more power to weep."

Some people think weeping is a human weakness. Whatever the interpretation given by the people of this world, weeping in the presence of God is one of our mightiest weapons.

David wept in the presence of God and was therefore able to encourage, himself in the Lord his God (vs 6). Then, David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away... And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil nor anything that they had taken to them" (vs 18,19). Yes, this is what happens when we learn to pour our heart before God, and cry with all sincerity. Our God is able to restore to us all that the Amalekites (a type of our carnal nature) have taken away - not partly, but wholly. It is amazing to see that David was not only able to get back all that they had lost, but was also able to get "the spoil of the enemies of the Lord" of which he could send presents to his friends (vs 26)!

Dear child of God, are you going through a "Ziklag" experience now? Do you feel you have lost your prayer life, your holiness, your close walk with God, your first love, peace with God, and your earlier zeal for God? Do you feel your fleshly nature has devastated your spiritual life? You do not need to be discouraged. All you need to do is to lift up your heart and cry to God with all your strength. You can rest assured that the Lord will restore all that you have lost. In addition, God is able to give you a "spoil" - blessings you had not experienced before - so that you may be a blessing to others and share with them the goodness of God.

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

EXPRESS IMAGE..:

"Who (Christ) being the brightness of His (Father's) glory, and the express image of His person" (Heb 1:3).

Christ was the express image of the Father. Here, the image of the Father does not mean the figure or the form of the Father but rather, the charadter of the Father.

Christ showed to us the very perfect character of the Father while He was on earth. Similarly, the Lord wants us too to show the express image of Christ, His very character to this unbelieving and crooked world. In one sense, we have the same mission as that of Christ. He came to show the perfecte character of the Father to the world; so also, the Lord has kept us on the earth to reveal to the world the very character of Christ. If we do so we also will become "the brightness of His glory"; by revealing the very character of Christ we will be shining brightly with His glory in this dark world.

Like Philip who asked Jesus, "Lord, shew us the Father," many in the world are going about trying to get a knowledge of God. Is our life giving them an answer similar to the one Jesus gave Philip: "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father"? Are we revealing such a Christlikeness to those around us?

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

YOU ARE CALLED FOR HEAVEN...!

"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Tit 1:2).

For whom is the promise of eternal life? It has been promised to every human being before the world began; no one is predestinated for hell-fire. If God had predestinated only some people for heaven, He could have sent His only begotten Son to die only for those people. But it says, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jn 3:16). Please note the words "whosoever believeth". The Lord wants all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth (I Tim 2:4).

"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28). Jesus did not say, "Come unto Me, all you who are predestinated for heaven." Then again we see Him inviting, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink" (Jn 7:37). "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out," He says (Jn 6:37).

Dear reader, if you ever thought you were destined by God for hell-fire, it was a trap of the devil. Jesus died for the salvation of everyone. You are called for heaven. Therefore believe the Word and dedicate yourself to live for Jesus. Hurry, for, you may be delaying the Coming of the Lord. For, "the Lord is not slack concerning His promise... but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Pet 3:9).

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

A RAINBOW FOR YOU...!

"I do set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth... and I will remember My covenant" (Gen 9:13,15).

God knew that the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth. But God was pleased with the sweet-smelling savour of Noah's offering and He made a covenant with man not to curse the earth any more, and gave him a sign of His covenant, that is, the rainbow. When dark clouds of trials and temptations rise in our lives, we can look to the cross where the Lord has made a covenant of safety with us. If you look at your trial you'll be discouraged; if you look at the cross you can press on cheerily no matter how threatening the trial.

A covenant is always two-sided i.e., two parties are equally responsible in adhering to the conditions. God remembers His covenant when the clouds arise in the horizon. We are also expected to remember our covenants with God when clouds arise, i.e. when troubles arise in our lives. Many remember their covenant with the Lord only when everything is going on well in their lives. When unexpected, baffling difficulties confrot them, they lose the vision of the corss - they forget their covenant with God; they forget God's covenant with them.

When John the Baptist was eating the sweet wild honey and the delicious locusts, he was very boldly declaring, "Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." But when he was imprisoned and fed with the bread of sorrows and water of affliction he doubted the very lordship of Jesus. If Jesus was the Messiah or the King of the Jews, why did he, John, have to suffer in prison, he being the forerunner of Christ? There are many John the Baptists even today. When everything is alright we can see them in the meetings, boldly testifying about Christ. But when they are imprisoned with weakness and privations, they doubt the all-sufficient, all surpassing grace flowing from Calvary.

Child of God, what are you looking at - the dark clouds or the rainbow?

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

DEEP SLEEP...!

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

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

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

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

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

THE WORST PERSON ON EARTH

The worst person on earth is not a murderer or adulterer, but one who had a good chance to serve God, and didn't. Judas Isacariot was one such person. The Lord said of him, "It would have been better if he hadn't been born!" Is the Lord saying of you, "I called him to serve Me. I gave him a great and high calling, but he messed up his life. He doesn't want to serve Me"? Today you can repent and return to the Lord.

Do you know what the worst type of fear is? The fear to do the will of God. In Revelation 21:8 we read of a group of people going to the Lake of Fire. The first among them are the fearful. The fear they had is the fear to do the will of God. Some are afraid to give their heart to Jesus. Some know about water baptism but are afraid to obey. Some have a clear calling to serve God but they hesitate in fear. "Will I be able to continue till the end?" they query, "Will I be able to continue till the end?" they query, "I know it is the will of God for me. But I am afraid of the suffereings involved.

Dear child of God, let's suppose your father owns the biggest company in the world. If he calls you to come and work in it, will you hesitate to resign your old job and join the company? Will you say, "I must consult my friends"? Will you be afraid your father may suddenly fire you. Child of God, you cannot find a better employer than Jesus. He is gracious and good and full of kindness and compassion.

So, if God has given you a calling, to serve Him don't let it slip. If the Lord is saying to you "Launch out into the deep" or "Come ye apart into the desert place," do not hesitate. He'll give you the grace to live that higher life. Your Heavenly Father is holding you in the hollow of His hands. His Hands are so wide that all the water in the ocean can be held in them. How can you fall then? Even if you were to fall, it is into His Hands that you will fall. If you are exhausted and faint, you will only fall in the Hands of the Lord. The only way you can really fall is by running away from God. So rebuke that spirit of fear and come into the centre of God's will.

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

CLEANSING POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS...!

The blood of Jesus Christ is incorruptible. It is the blood of God, the eternal God. See Acts 20:28. True, our God is a Spirit and in a spirit there is no flesh and blood; but thank God, God became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14).

In the Old Testament period sins were only covered (Psa 32:1). From Hebrews Chapter 9 we understand that the corruptible blood of bulls and of goats could not purge the conscience. The conscience can be washed only by the precious blood of Jesus. As Jesus offered His precious blood through the Holy Spirit or through the eternal Spirit, God the Father accepted that blood, and hence there is wonderful power in the blood of Jesus.

The blood of Chirst, which is the blood of the eternal God was offered through the eternal Spirit. So the blood of Christ has eternal efficacy, and it has eternal blessings. Its power is eternal. 'Eternal' means having no beginning or end. There is no change in the blood of Jesus - in its power, in its character or in its efficacy; there is no decay or corruption - it never grows old; it's always new.

Dear reader, the incorruptible blood of Jesus is able to cleanse your conscience eternally. "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin' (I Jn 1:7).

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

MAKE ME TO GO

How many times the Lord knowing our weaknesses, delivered us from tempting situations! The Lord never fails us or forsakes us in our utterly foolish and impetuous ways, but protects and preserves us. How much we ought to thank Him!

Peter was also a symbol of self-confidence and stubbornness. When Jesus was about to go to Gethsemane, He warned Peter that Satan was planning to destroy him. He showed him that he was very weak in faith and that he needed a real conversion.

Peter mistook his desire to follow Jesus for ability to follow Him. Many of us make the same mistake. We don't realize we are acting in self-confidence. When anyone feels he is ready (or able) to do anything for the Lord he is, in fact, least ready.

Dear child of God, you cannot do anything with your own trying or striving. So humbly ask the Lord to teach you, lead you, guide you. Yes, tell Him, "Lord, make me to go in the path of Thy commandments."

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

LOSS OF ALL THINGS

"Ye... took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance" (Heb 10:34)

Once a Chinese missionary lost all his life's precious things while travelling in a train - his long-used Bible, his book of favourite hymns collected over the years, a diary eith the addresses of all his friends and all the notes of his messages. He was depressed. Then the Lord spoke to him. "My son, you lost your Bible but not the Author of the Bible; you lost the song book but not the songs I gave you in your heart. True, you lost your message notes but you didn't lose your actual message which is Myself (Christ). You lost your diary with the addresses of all your friends but you've not lost your friends." On hearing this, the missionary was greatly encouraged and started rejoicing.

Dear friend, perhaps you have recently lost your money, house, property, job, or something that was precious to you. Remember, you have not lost your God, the Author and Owner of all spiritual and material blessings. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness (IIPeter 1:3)

When Job lost all his material blessings, his physical health and even his children, he clung tenaciously to his God - though even his wife suggested he give up the Lord. Eventually he came to know his God more intimately. "I have heard thee with the hearing of the ear. Now my eye seeth Thee," he says. He was also doubly blessed and became a wonderful witness for the Lord.

Let not the loss of earthly things upset us or make us doubt the goodness and faithfulness of our God.

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

BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY...:

"God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply" (Gen 1:22).

This is the first blessing recorded in the Word of God - the blessing to be fruitful and to multiply. We should be fruitful in character and also multiply in number. Both these aspects of our life are balanced and go hand in hand. The second mention of "God blessed them" (Gen 1:28) also indicates the same truth.

There is no us in saying, "I am a great saint," if you have no passion for saving perishing souls and multiplying souls for the kingdom of God. And, there isn't any use in winning souls if you are not fruitful in divine character.

The Lord does not want us to have a barren experience in our spiritual life. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings, and He tells us, "Be fruitful and multiply!" Let us be filled with the fruit of the Spirit, with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, and let us help others also to grow in these divine natures.

We read that Joseph was a "fruitful bough whose branches run over the wall." Our branches must run over the wall - to feed the hungry and the hungering that are around us.

"Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

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

'FOR A SEASON'

"Perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever" (Philem 15).

Although the context here is different, it is applicable to the dear ones who have departed from this earthly abode and gone to their heavenly mansions. In a true sense, they "departed for a season"; we are going to miss them only for a short time. "Death is not a period; it's only a comma." Any moment there can be the Rapture or our departure. Then we will join our departed dear ones to part no more. What a comfort this is for us and what a blessed hope we have beyond the grave! Let us "sorrow not even as others which have no hope" (I Thess 4:13).

"We shall sleep but not forever,

There will be a glorious dawn;

We shall meet to part - no, never,

On the resurrection morn!"

Our life on this earth is only 'for a season'. In fact, every stage of our life, every problem, every trial, every joy - are all only 'for a season'. Shall we then make the best possible use of every moment we have? Let us live every day of our life to the fullest.

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

LIFE-CHANGING TRUTH

"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (Jn 8:32).

"The truth shall make you free." 'Free' from what? Free from bondages to sin and to Satan, physical, mental and spiritual bondages.

Here is the test of any teaching or doctrine. Whatever the truth you may believe in or teach, if it does not change your stubborn, proud and arrogant nature, there is something wrong with the teaching or with your understanding of it. "Acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness" (Tit 1:1)/ The Living Bible puts it as, 'to kead them to the truth -- the kind of truth that changes life." Yes, the test of the truth is whether it changes our lives or not.

When Amy Carmichael was a young girl, she was struggling to live a holy life, when she heard the verse "He is able to keep you from falling." Instantly her addled mind cleared; nothing ever mattered to her since then but things were eternal. She dedicated her whole life to the Lord's service and served as a missionary in India till her death.

Perhaps you know many doctrines and deeper truths; if they do not have any impact on your character, it's all vanity of vanities.

"Freedom from all the carnal affections,

Freedom from envy, hatred and strife,

Freedom from vain and wordly ambitions

Freedom from all that saddened my life."

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

SOWN LIGHT...:

"Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart" (Psa 97:11).

Light is "sown" for the righteous. What is the difference between "sown light" and "shining light"? A thing that is sown, like a seed, is buried for the moment and appears dead also. In other words, you may not see any light at the moment. Similarly, gladness is also sown and not seen.

Child of God, perhaps God is permitting you to go through a path in which, instead of light you find darkness and instead of gladness you find sorrow and suffering. Be of good cheer. "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God" (Isa 50:10). Yes, you are obeying God and the servants of God above you, and you may be thinking, Why am I going through this darkness? Why have I no light? Dear child of God, light is sown for you and you just have to wait. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psa 30:5). "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up" (Matt 4:16).

When morning breaks and shadows flee away, the light that is sown is going to spring up. It's only for a short time that you have to walk through this valley of darkness.

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

BY FAITH 'WENT'

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went" (Heb 11:8).

By faith Abel WENT DOWN to the grave as a martyr. By faith Enoch WENT UP to heaven without seeing death. By faith Noah WENT UP INTO the ark. And by faith Abraham WENT OUT not knowing whither he went.

'By faith...obeyed." Faith is a great incentive to obedience. Disobedience is a clear sign of doubt and unbelief. Please note, it is very hard to obey, particularly in old age, when one's ideas and thoughts are fixed based on past experiences. Abraham was the first missionary to go out with the gospel and die in the country to which God sent him - unlike many modern missionaries who return to their native country to retire and die.

'By faith Abraham... was called to go out." Though he didn't know where he was going he knew with Whom he was going. By faith Abraham was separated from his country, people, home etc. for the sake of the truth. We too need a separation for the sake of the truth. People who are called to be the children of God sometimes mix up with the people of the world, and are conformed to the world - all because they do not have a true faith.

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

CREATE HEAVEN FIRST...!

"In the beginning God created the heaven..." (Gen 1:1).

We do not find anything existing before God or without God. Indeed, nothing can exist without God. It is a proven fact that any joy, wealth, health or happiness without God or which has not come from God, can never be a genuine one in the genuine sense. As God is eternal, anything coming from God will also have a taste of Eternity.

The first creation of God was 'heaven', and not anything else. Only thereafter do we find all the other creations that were pleasant and perfect in all respects. This teaches us the salient truth that first of all heaven should be created in our mind, heart, home - everywhere. Then everything will be right and perfect in our lives.

The first thing that God did was 'creating', not reforming or repairing. In the life of a sinner too, the first thing God does is to create a new heart, a new mind - "Behold, all things are become new."

God's plan is still the same - first heaven and then the earth. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (i.e. heavenly things); and all these things ((i.e. earthly things) shall be added unto you" (Matt 6:33).

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

BLESSED WEAKNESS...!

"He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (II Cor 12:9).

What is the infirmity or weakness St.Paul is glorying in? Does it refer to some sickness or physical weakness? Or does it refer to some spiritual weakness? No, it cannot be either, because these things cannot cause the power of God to rest upon anyone. What then is this weakness? When we consecrate ourselves to do only the will of God, by grace we receive a unique and blessed "weakness" - the weakness that makes us unable to do our own will; we have no strength at all to do our own will. We can call this a glorious weakness - because this weakness will take us from glory to glory. "He was crucified through weakness" (II Cor 13:4). This means Christ was weak to do His own will.

Jesus said, "I can of Mine own self do nothing" (Jn 5:30). Some are mighty to do their own will. Thank God, He has not called many mighty! See I Corinthians 1:26.

When we consecrate ourselves and decide not to do our own will, then the grace of God will come with a divine strength on our "weak" body - for us to do the perfect will of God.

Dear reader, do you have this blessed weakness which Jesus, St.Paul and many other saints had? If not, why don't you consecrate yourself right now to do the will of God for the rest of your life so that God's strength may be made perfect in you, so that grace to do the will of God may be bestowed on you?

"When I am weak, then I am strong" (II Cor 12:10). This means that when we are weak to do our own will we are strong to do God's will.

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

STORM IN A TEA CUP...!

"Who (God) hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand" (Isa 40:12).

This verse gives great encouragement to those who are going through trials. As we know, in the Word of God, trials are compared to waters, storms, floods etc. as in Isaiah 43:2: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." If all the waters in the universe can be held in the hollow of one hand of our almighty God, then our trials, which are like a drop of water in the ocean, can in no way affect or ruin our spiritual life. All our trials are just like a storm in a tea cup!

"When by the swelling Jordan,

Your feet in sinking sand,

Remember still He holds thee

In the hollow of His hand."

Dear child of God, don't ever forget you are upheld in a mighty hand. "I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness" (Isa 41:10). Our loving Lord's hands are so broad and powerful that no devil can pluck us out of them. Instead of looking at our smallness let us look at the greatness of our God; instead of looking at our weakness let us look at the strength of our God; instead of looking at our limitations, let us look at the unlimited grace that our God has for us.

As the songwriter says, We have a great, big wonderful God - Who makes our lives also wonderful.

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

FINAL GRACE...:

"Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (I Pet 1:13).

When Jesus comes into one's life, grace also comes. The more of Jesus you have in your life, the more grace you have. Every revelation of Christ gives grace. "Revelation of Christ" means revelation of the character of Christ. We may get to know about Christ through books, studies, sermons, etc. but knowing Christ is possible only when we have a close walk with God. There is a special grace that we receive according to the revelation we have of His character.

Hope is connected with grace here. "Hope to the end for the grace." By grace we have the blessed hope of meeting the Lord. A person who does not have the hope of Rapture will not have grace also.

There is a grace that Jesus will bring when He comes in mid-air. What will that grace do in our life? It will transform our vile body into a glorious body. This grace can be called the final grace. If we grow in grace, finally the grace of God will change our body like unto His glorious body at His appearing.

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

GIVE NO ROOM TO THE DEVIL

A young girl named Sandy had a strong hatred for her father, as she had seen him, in her small age, beating up her mother mercilessly. Bitterness kept mounting in her heart, and when she became a young girl she moved out of the house. One day, while speaking to a friend over the phone, she happened to refer to her father, "I hate my father!" she spat. That was the last her friend heard on the other end. Anxious to know if anything had happened to Sandy, the friend made enquiries and was shocked to hear that the moment Sandy had said the words, "I hate my father," demons had entered her and she had fallen on the ground writhing in pain. Finally, as some Spirit-filled servants of God ministered to her, twenty-nine demons came out of her and she became a brand new person in Christ.

Sandy sincerely confessed to her father all the hatred she had had for him and also confesssed that she had planned to kill him by poisoning his food. The father was really touched by his daughter's changed attitude and their relationship became better than ever for the glory of God.

Yes, the Word of God is true. Satan will take advantage of us if we do not forgive others from our heart. Just as Sandy was giving room for twenty-nine demons in her heart, if you do not forgive those who wrong you, as days go by, many demons can possess you or afflict you. There is great blessedness in Christlike forgiveness.

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

YOUR HEART IS THE PROBLEM...!

"The waters thereof roar and be troubled" (Psa 46:3)

We may wonder why some people always shout, get angry and are always in a rage. From the above verse we find that roaring people are troubled people. When your heart is troubled, you unnecessarily shout and get upset over very little things.

The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Isa 57:20,21

So when your heart is restless like a troubled sea and there is no peace in your heart, you will be not only shouting but also casting up mire and dirt on others. In other words, a troubled man will always blame others for everything that is happening around him.

Child of God, do you blame others for your problems? Then the reason is, your heart is not resting in Jesus.

The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psa 37:11

A meek person will be peaceful and at rest no matter what problem or trial he faces.

How do you face the trials and troubles of life?

Do you often accuse others for the problems you face? Do you get troubled about little things? It is a true saying that the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. When our heart is right with God everything will fit in the right place like a jigsaw puzzle.

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

TO DIE IS GAIN...!

"To me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil 1:21).

Here St.Paul considers as gain, as thing which almost every human being considers as loss. When a saint or a good man dies, people generally consider it as a loss but Paul sees through his spiritual eyes that death is a gain for him, for heaven, for all the glorified saints, and hence for all of us.

Paul says, "To me to live is Christ and to die is gain," but for some people it is the other way round: "To me to live is self and to die is loss!" Their earthly riches, possessions, enjoyments, ambitions, name and fame, will all be lost for ever once they die, and they do not know whether they have any hope or anything worth rejoicing in, after their death.

If death has to become a gain to us, there are things which we need to count as loss, as Paul did. "What things were gain to me, those I counted as loss" (Phil 3:7). The earlier two verses, verses 5 and 6, speak about seven things that Paul counted as loss for Christ. In a sense, these seven things speak about our boastings in the flesh. Only the saints who renounce the things of this world and live for Christ, can shout, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" The things we boast about, including our glorying about our spiritual life, will ultimately bring great loss or disaster to our spiritual life.

If you live for yourself the very word 'death' will give you fear, worry, sorrow, anxiety and pain. Dear child of God, have you come to the spiritual state in which you can say from the heart with Paul, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain," or are you afraid of death?

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

MAKE A COVENANT WITH YOUR GOD

"The bow shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my covenant... and the waters shall no more become a flood and destroy all flesh" (Gen 9: 14, 15).

The rainbow is a sign that all the past sins are forgiven and forgotten by God. When you have genuinelt repented for your failings and sins you must enter into a covenant with God - you can be very sure God has forgiven you and cast all the sins you have confessed behind His back. If you do not make a covenant with God, you will be confronted with the same failures no sooner than you repent.

Many repent for their sins but they do not believe that the Lord has forgiven them and that victory is ahead of them, and therefore they do not enter into a covenant with the Lord. Today the Lord is speaking to you. Enter into a fresh covenant with God. Don't allow the devil to keep bringing before you all your past failures and mistakes. It is very sure that you are going to have the victory. Keep your covenant with God before you and go from victory to victory.

The rainbow is seen as an arch. If you are under this arch, under the covenant, that very covenant or arch will cover you and protect you from all the wiles of Satan. So dear child of God, remember, when we break our covenant with God, we are unprotected and exposed to all the assaults of the devil.

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

THE DEMON OF ENVY

"My feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psa 73:2,3).

Many people have slipped and actually gone to the very pit of hell because of envy. "They envied Moses... and Aaron... the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram... They went down alive into the pit (Sheol)" (Psa 106:16,17; Num 16:33). In other words, envious people are useless not only for heaven but also for the earth.

"The patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph" (Acts 7:9). So when we have envy we are practically selling our Joseph, Jesus. We are delivering Him up to be crucified. "The chief priests had delivered Him for envy" (Mk 15:10).

"The Jews which believed not, moved with envy..., gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar" (Acts 17:5). When we are moved with envy we destroy God's work and become troublemakers. Having lost our faith, we try to destroy the faith of others too. But look at the good example of Jesus - He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater things than these shall he do" (Jn 14:12). Jesus wanted His disciples to become more useful and do greater things than He did. If Jesus the Almighty God wanted to raise the man He created from the dust to such a level, how much we need to rejoice and praise God when others, particularly our juniors are respected or blessed more than us!

Look at the beautiful spirit of St.Paul: "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ" (I Cor 1:4). It is easy to thank God for the grace we ourselves have received. But it requires great grace and humility to thank God always for the grace given to others.

Dear child of God, examine yourself and see whether the abominable wicked spirit of envy is working in your spirit.

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

"HOLY GROUND"

The place that God appointed for Noah to rest with the ark was the mountains of Ararat. 'Ararat' means, 'holy ground'. Till he came to the 'holy ground' he was wandering aimlessly. True till we are grounded in holy living we will be wandering in our Christian life without any purpose or rest in soul.

As far as Noah was concerned, the flood waters were intended to bring him to the 'holy ground', Mount Ararat. So also, our tribulations are meant to help us reach the holy mount, Zion.

The ark apparently had no steering; no human effort brought it to the mountain. It is not our greatness or cleverness that can help us live a holy life and reach the holy mount, but the grace of God - provided we abide in Him, as Noah did in the ark.

After reaching the 'holy ground' Noah was made the ruler of the whole earth. God brought both Moses and Joshua to 'holy ground' before they were made great leaders, before they did great things for God. The amazing thing is that Moses and Joshua were not conscious of the holy ground they were standing on till God told them. Alas, many so-called leaders in the spiritual world think they are living a holy life while their life doesn't certify so.

When the ark rested on the holy ground the tops of the mountains were seen (Gen 8:5). Seeing the mountain-tops points to our insight into the highest spiritual revelations and experiences - which can be acquired only if we learn to rest in the holiness of God.

When the waters of judgment came down, Noah went up; and after that he came down to have dominion over all the earth. Similarly, when the judgement comes the saints will go up to the mid-sky, and after the seven years of tribulation they will come to the earth to rule with Christ for a thousand years.

The Lord is calling His saints to abide in Him and reach the 'holy ground' so that they may escape the judgment and rule the world with Him.

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

SUPERNATURAL BRAIN

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Heb 11:3).

"Through faith we understand." If you have no faith, you have no proper understanding. Without faith, all your understanding of spiritual matters is but misunderstanding. A person can, with his natural brain, understand the natural things of this natural world. But to understand things of the other world, one needs a supernatural brain called 'faith' which is activated by the Holy Spirit. Human understanding is limited, as the human brain is limited. Once faith comes into our heart, our understanding becomes unlimited - like an ocean (I Cor 2:11, 12). However, when faith is gone, spiritual understanding is dead.

The Word of God which framed the worlds, is framing us also. The Word of God is called the word of faith (Rom 10:8) - which has creative power. The word for "frame" in Greek means "to make thoroughly fit." In other words, faith in God's Word makes a man thoroughly fit physically, spiritually, emotionally etc. "His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong,.. yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness" (Acts 3:16).

How can a man believe that God can meet his spiritual needs, if he cannot trust in God for his material needs like health, healing, finance etc?

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

NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD...!

"Call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isa 55:6).

'Calling upon God while He is near' is, being receptive to His Word and correcting our lives according to His counsel, when He speaks to us. If we live close to God in times of troubles and trials, we will be able to boldly testify along with the Psalmist - "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

"What nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for?" (Deut 4:7). If today you life is far away from God, far away from His presence, far away from His love, far away from His grace, far away from his power, and far away from His goodness, when you face a trial or trouble you will find God far away from you.

"There is a place of quiet rest;

Near to the heart of God,

A place where sin cannot molest

Near to the heart of God,

There is a place of comfort sweet;

Near to the heart of God,

A place where we our Saviour meet,

Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release;

Near to the heart of God,

A place where all is joy and peace,

Near to the heart of God."

When your heart is far away from God there is no satisfaction, no rest; life will be bitter, empty, dark, filthy and dry.

May the Lord help us to live very close to Him so that, in our troubles, we may have the joy of experiencing our God as a very present help.

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

COME TO CHRIST...!

"Make thee an ark of gopher wood... pitch it within and without with pitch... and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof" (Gen 6:14-16).

The ark is a type of Christ. Though it was made of wood (humanity), pitch (divinity) covered it inside and outside - making it waterproof. Jesus was all divine in His character and yet so human - having all the weaknesses and limitations of human flesh. By living on this earth in flesh and blood Jesus has shown to us that a sinless life, a victorious life is possible; He has shown us that we can live above the storms of life.

Those who were inside the ark alone did not drown in the water. We cannot live this life on our own. We need to go to Christ. We need to abide in Him. We need to be kept by Him. "Without Me you can do nothing," He says. Yes, without Him we're bound to fail, we're bound to fall. But if we are found in Him, "hid with Christ in God," we shall be buoyant in life's troubled waters and when He shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory.

The ark had one door. There is only one way to Christ. It is a narrow way - that is chosen only by few (Matt 7:14). If you go with the crowd, if you think you must please the world and worldlings, you cannot come to Christ. The way to Christ is called the highway of holiness, (Isa 35:8). To come to Christ you must, of a necessity, separate yourself from every form of sin and uncleanness.

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

'LITTLE' THINGS MATTER...!

How prone we are to overlook little things! But it is these 'little' things that often work destruction on our lives. The Bible teems with many such examples.

"At the time when kings go forth to battle," David took a little comfortable rest in his bedroom. That little rest ended up in abominable adultery and the heinous murder of his own faithful soldier. It was a little covetousness for just 30 pieces of silver, that made Judas Iscariot the betrayer of our Lord. Beware of the love of money. Gehazi's little greed made him a leper all the days of huis life. How many spiritual giamts have been slain by 'little' sins! It was not a big horn, but "a little horn" that cast down "some of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them" (Dan 7:8; 8:9,10).

Are we not prone to neglect to nip in the bud things that look small and harmless? This is one of the wiles of the devil to destroy and desecrate our saintly life.

Peter had not planned to deny the Lord. But in the cold ight, having found a bonfire near him, he had only wanted to warm himself there. That little warmth of sitting in the seat of the scornful made his life bitter and he cried bitterly. Peter's denial has gone down in history as a warning for everyone. It is better to die in the cold rather than have a warmth at the expense of denying the Lord.

The Lord wants us to be very careful about very little things - be it our very little time, money or any other thing that is at our disposal. Unless we are faithful in very little, we can never be faithful in very much.

It was reported sometime ago that an eight million dollar rocket was destroyed just because a hyphen was misplaced in the computer programme. Once, an aircraft crashed, killing all the passengers and the crew, all because the mechanic forgot to place a nut in a bolt. He thought he would do it after a cup of tea, but afterwards forgot all about it. Obviously, it appeared a very small job - the nut might have, after all, cost not even a dollar - but the negligence was enough to destroy many lives and the aircraft which was worth millions of dollars.

"The tiniest of coins when held close to the eye, can blot out the sun."

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

STORM THE THRONE OF GRACE

"And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth; and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake" (Rev 8:5).

The fire from the altar may speak of the holy zeal for a prayer life. There are always spectacular results for prayers generating from a holy fire. They are manifested in four ways.

1.) 'Voices' - not earthly voices, but heavenly voices or heavenly messages. If preachers in the pulpit are delivering cold and unpalatable messages, the reason could be that prayer warriors who kneel on holy ground are missing. Let prayer warriors with a holy heavenly zeal arise and "turn the battle to the gate". TO GET 'HOLINESS PREACHERS' WE NEED HOLY MEN WHO CAN STORM THE THRONE OF GRACE WITH MIGHTY PRAYERS.

2.) 'Thunderings' - denote great victory over enemies (I Sam 7:10). Why is the Church of the Lord in a cold, defeated state now - as if the devil is the winner? THERE AREN'T ENOUGH MEN OF PRAYER WHO ARE ALL OUT FOR A HOLY, UNDEFILED LIFE. Let saints arise with a clear vision of the holiness of God. Let them march to the throne of grace. Soon God will thunder from heaven and discomfit all His enemies.

3.) 'Lightnings' show the vanquishing of the forces of the devil (Lk 10:18). Oh, how God looks for saints who through their prayer and pure life bring down the forces of darkness! Dear saint, shake off the dust, arise from the dead and PRAY - PRAY TILL YOU SEE SATAN FALL AS LIGHTNING FROM THE SKY.

4.) 'Earthquake' - Yes, men of prayer who live an unblemished life can alone shake this world for Christ. Many are praying; why is nothing happening then? Some people rebuke the devil in prayer, but the devil rebukes them back, laughing at the mountain of SECRET SINS in them. Indeed, our God is the same yesterday, today and for ever. He still wants to send a big spiritual earthquake and shake the world for Christ. John Wesley once said, "Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin and who love nothing but God. No matter what background they come from, they can shake the world for Christ and establish the kingdom of heaven."

May the Lord make each one of us a censer of pure gold by helping us to live an unblemished life so that our prayers, like the heavenly incense, may result in "voices and thunderings and lightnings and an earthquake."

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

DELIVERED IN TROUBLE...!

There are two ways in which the Lord delivers us: 1) He delivers us from trouble 2) He delivers us in trouble. We can find both these experiences in Psalm 91. Verse 3 says, "Surely He shall deliver thee FROM the snare of the fowler." In fact, all the verses from verse one to fourteen speak about the Lord delivering us from trouble or protecting us from trouble. But the 15th verse speaks about the Lord delivering us in trouble: "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I wil be with him IN trouble; I will deliver Him, and honour him."

What is the difference between God delivering us from trouble and God delivering us in trouble? When God allows a trouble or trial in our life, we must know that God wants to promote us and honour us - "I will be with him in trouble; I wil deliver him, and honour him." Along with the deliverance, a spiritual promotion is also coming.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not delivered from the fire but in the fire. They were thrown into the fire and after they were thrown into the fire, God delivered them and then, "the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon" (Dan 3:30). God could have delivered Daniel from the den of lions. However, God permitted Daniel to be thrown in and, in the trouble, God protected him and delivered him. After he was delivered, the king greatly honoured Daniel and proclaimed that Daniel's God was the true God Who was to be worshipped by all. Joseph was thrown into the pit and into prison but afterwards he was honoured and raised to be the governor of Egypt. Mordecai was in deep trouble and all his people were to be executed by the king. However, God delivered him in that deep trouble and promoted him to be the prime minister of that great empire.

Perhaps you are in deep trouble now. Be of good cheer. Once you are foound to be faithful to the truth, the Lord will deliver you and honour you.

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

A SELFLESS LIFE..!

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2).

Once Sadhu Sundar Singh was walking with a monk through a valley of the Himalayas. The monk wanted Sunder Singh to walk fast as snow was falling and they had to reach their destination before the dark. As they were hurrying along they heard a pathetic cry. It was a poor man who had fallen down and injured himself.

Sundar Singh wanted to go and help him, but the monk said that if they tried to help him, they would not be able to cross the snow before darkness set in. The Sadhu could not bear to leave the man there to die. "Maybe the Lord has brought me this way just to help that brother," he thought and went over to the man.

The monk didnt wait; he walked on by himself. The Sadhu found that the man could not walk. So he made a sling with his blanket and carried the man in his back.

Carrying the burden of a helpless man and walking up the hill was extremely difficult. However, Sundar Singh continued trudging along. Finally he could see the light of a monastery a short distance away.

As he continued to walk on carrying the man, suddenly he spied a huge bundle covered with snow lying on the way. On inspection, he found, to his horror, the body of the monk who accompanied him.!

How true it is that sharing the burdens of others gives both of us and others new life!

Christian life is esentially a selfless life - one of bearing not only the burdens and cares of others but also their weaknesses and iniquities! Let us take a look at our lives and see how far we have fulfilled the expectation of the Lord.

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

"I WILL UPHOLD THEE...!"

"I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness" (Isa 41:10).

Our holding onto the Lord is good, but much more important than that, is to realize that the Lord is holding us. A child may hold on to his mother, but his mother's hold on him makes him feel much safer. Dear reader, you are the beloved child of your heavenly Father. He holds your hand. So you have nothing to fear.

"It isn't that I cling to Him
Or struggle to be blest
He simply takes my hand in His
And there I let it rest."

Holding is different from upholding. You may hold a book or a pencil but we uphold or hold up something that is generally feeble and which cannot stand on its own. Beloved, we are weaklings. Without any divine help, we cannot stand upright. If we try to stand on our own we may fall. Our gracious Lord knows our weakness and so He has promised that He will uphold us or hold us up with the right hand of His righteousness.

Since the Lord is holding us up we have great confidence. "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24). How blessed a people we are! Though we cannot stand upright on our own, our Lord is holding us up that we may not fall. He is holding us up so that on that glorious Day we may be presented before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

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

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS...!!!

We may have many friends but they may not be near at the time of our distress and trouble. But in Jesus we have a Friend Who is "a very present help in trouble." When we are in despair He fills us with heavenly peace, as He is the Prince of peace; when we go through darkness He gives light, as He is the light; when we seem to lose the way He shows the way, as He is the way. He feeds us when we are hungry, as He is the Bread of Life.

There are many fair weather friends in this world. When our money and materials fail, they leave us and forsake us. Jesus is One Who will never depart from us whether we go through poverty or prosperity. In our poverty He is our eternal riches; in our prosperity He is our exceeding joy. He will never allow us to go astray as "He will be our guide even unto death." He goes with us all the way. He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Two thousand years have passed by, and billions of people on this earth have proved Him to be faithful to what He has promised. In fact, His very name is "Faithful and True" (Rev 19:11).

There are some friends to whom we cannot open our hearts; they may not understand our pain and sorrow. They cannot feel the hurt we feel and the distress or rejection we go through. Sometimes even our closest friends may misunderstand us if we open our hearts to them. In Jesus we have a Friend to Whom, we can ALWAYS open our heart, no matter what the trouble we are going through and what the trial we are facing. In fact He says, "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest - I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls" (Matt 11:28 Amp).

There are friends who are too busy to help us. Our heavenly Friend is ever mindful of us. He sends His holy angels to keep us day and night. He Himself watches over us without sleeping or slumbering.

O, what a Friend we have in Jesus!

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