BELITTLE NOT LITTLE SINS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOW CAN WE RECEIVE JESUS JOYFULLY?

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

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

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

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

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

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

"BY ANY MEANS SAVE SOME"

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

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

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

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

"Help us, Lord, to be a lifeline

To a dying world today

Bringing hope to hopeless people

And sharig salvation's way."

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

ARE YOU CORNERED?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christian, with troubled brow?

Are you thinking of what is before you

And all you are bearing now?

Does all the world seem against you

And you in the battle alone?

Remember - at 'wits' end corner',

Is just where God's power is shown."

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

ARE YOU WOUNDED?

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

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

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

Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

STRANGE RESTORATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

International Convention 2008

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

KEEP AWAY FROM SIN...!

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

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

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

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

"Sin's pleasures have such great appeal,

They look like bargains rare;

But seldom do we clearly see

The hidden costs they bear."

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

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

WHAT IS TRUE BLESSEDNESS?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- Pastor T.U.Thomas, in Morning Manna

DEEP SLEEP...!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bro.GNANASEKARAN ENTERS GLORY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas Vacation

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

OVERCOMING LIFE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS...!

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

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

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

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

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

WHERE ARE THE INTERCESSORS?

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Chosen and Precious Stone for Zion - Remembering our Late Chief Pastor T.U.Thomas on his FIRST ANNIVERSARY

A Section of the Massive Crowd of Believers and Workers of God

The LAST GLIMPSE of beloved Pastor

WHY DO WE NEED A DANIEL TODAY? - Remembering a great Saint of God Pastor T.U.Thomas on Pastor's first Anniversary

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself..." (Daniel 1:8). This is one of the best decisions a young man can ever make in his life. All his future blessings depended on this vital decision.

Most of the modern Christians want to be happy, not holy. They go to a church where the songs, sermons and everything will suit to their worldly lifestyle. Consequently, a good number of Spirit-filled Christians have already defiled their minds, and some of them sad to say, even their bodies.

Daniel lived in Babylon in the midst of luxury and laxity. Wine, women and any other thing under the sun to defile oneself was available in abundance there. He lived in a world full of temptations. Very easily he could have defiled himself with all the filthiness of Babylon. He was far away from his home. Perhaps all his family members might have been killed as the enemies invaded his country. He could have found a thousand excuses to fall into temptations and sins. "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defiled himself." Some young men have no backbone. In an emotional moment they may make a decision not to defile themselves, but the next moment, when the temptation knocks at the door of their heart, they cowardly open the door and wallow in the mire of filthiness.

Dear friend, have you ever made an unbreakable decision to be uncompromisingly pure and clean? Have you ever made a decision to lay down your life to preserve your purity? How much zeal do you have for purity? Do you know that for every truth there is a price to pay? The greater the truth that you want to stand on, the greater the price that you have to pay.

The key of success for Daniel's life and ministry was nothing but the power of purity. He had such a zeal and love for purity that even those heathen who did not know the true living God saw the beauty of purity shining all over Daniel (Dan 1:15). His life brought a great impact on them and they consented to Daniel's request to keep his life clean. Daniel's zeal and love for purity was fully followed by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. When you stand unmovable for the truth of God, God will raise up many to follow your example.

As these four young men made a bold stand for their God (in Babylon there were almost a million Jews brought as captives from Israel, out of them only four young men made the difference), He bestowed upon them special graces. "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" (Dan 1:17). Many Christians do not know that true knowledge, skill, and wisdom are connected with purity. "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure..." (James 3:17). Even Solomon, the wisest man in the world could not get this wisdom, because he defiled himself with strange women.

"And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel..." (Dan 1:19). Our King wants to have sweet communion with us: the king "found none like Daniel." Saints who love purity are matchless; they are very special to our God. This world may appreciate great preachers, singers, faith healers, miracle workers, etc. However, some of these great men may not even make it to heaven, if they do not love purity from the heart.

What this present generation desperately needs is not great preachers and singers. The greatest need of this modern generation is a Daniel, a man of God who made an unbreakable decision to be holy. Holy in thoughts, feelings, imaginations, attitudes, and in every aspect of life. God needs a Daniel who is all out for purity. Only in such saints can God bestow ALL WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING to rule the (coming) world. Only such ones are matchless and very special in the sight of God. "The King found none like Daniel." Why don't you surrender RIGHT NOW to be a Daniel?

May God bless you.

Pastor T.U. Thomas

Youth-centred Message...!

With the International Youth Camp round the corner, given below is excerpts from a Sunday Service by Pastor Manase focussing on the youth.

"When you come to church, if you dont have real thirst for God, the Church will only be like a cricket stadium or a football stadium to you."


When you go to the sea shore, you can take home sand with you, or a bit deeper, you take water with you, still deeper, you can take some fish along, but if you go to the deepest, you will get precious pearls. Come to the presence of God to get pearls.


God has created a longing in each and everyone's heart, which is greater than all the riches of the world put together. Love God for God's sake, not for his blessings, or houses, or healing etc.


Desire God more and more in your life. Longing for God has made youth from far off places to come here today. I was really overjoyed to see a lot of youths at 8.30 itself inside the hall.If God sees a longing heart, He will give it the best of Heaven.


Your motivation is directly proportional to your longing.You commit sin not because of others around you, but because you dont have the longing for holiness of God in you.If you've longing for God, even if the whole of hell is let loose against you, it wont harm you to an iota.


Even if Jesus Himself comes and preaches, or even if you get baptised in Jordan, its of no use, unless you have the longing deep within you. King David, even though he failed many times in his life, he still had one thing in his life, and that was a deep longing for God within him. That's why god certifies of David, that he was after His own heart. This desire should be more than the delicious food you eat.


The whole people of the kingdom came to Kind David, but King David went after God. "As the deer panteth for the waters..."Every beautiful thing in this world echoes a silent language which says that its beauty came from God, its creator.


The most powerful research in the world is the searching of God.Heaven is nothing but a heart filled with the character of God. Hence God's postal address is our heart.


If you cut open King David's heart, you will see God's heart inside him. God was so happy and crazy of King David that He went to the extent of naming His Throne as David's Throne, and many other places after him, including City of David, Son of David etc etc.....


GOD was crazy about David. Is GOD crazy about you today?

Remebering Pastor Paul Koshy - His Life and Works on his first anniversary

Rembering Pastor Paul Koshy on his first anniversary.

Pastor Paul Koshy entered eternal rest on October last. Given below is his testimony, which, has and continues to be, a great inspiration to millions of Christian believers world wide.

I was born in the year 1936. Even when I was a small boy of seven years, I received the anointing of the Holy Spirit and used to speak in diverse tongues. At times, when mighty anointing would come upon me, I had been thrown from one place to another.

In 1943, Pastor Paul the founder of this Mission, invited my father and our family to Sri Lanka for doing the ministry there. We went to Tuticorin Faith Home and from there we went to Sri Lanka by a ship. During those days, the ordeals we experienced in Sri Lanka were not less. The deputy Chief Pastor was Pastor Alwin and Pastor Freddy, (Pastor Paul’s eldest son) was the third in order. The elder sister of Pastor Alwin Sis.Freeda and another sister Sis.Job were ministering there.

When I was a very small child, Pas.Paul only christened me and dedicated me. When I turned as a school going boy, I had good opportunity to learn Sinhalese, Tamil and English in the school run by our Mission. Later on, it was very useful for me to preach in Sinhalese and also to interpret for that language. Further, as a small boy, I had the opportunity of having close contact with the above three senior pastors and it gave me the privilege of observing the prayer life of all the three Pastors.

For all matters, they used to be on their knees in prayer the whole night to get the counsel of God and without getting a definite answer they would not stop their prayers. I learnt a lesson from this that God had given them a governing rod to manage the entire administration of our mission.I studied in the faith school run by our mission in Sri Lanka.

Workers were the teachers. Very often, I used to attend the school without any drink or meal. Due to starvation, I had fainted very often. In my studies also God was wonderfully leading me in the midst of multifarious works assigned to me at Faith Home apart from fasting and prayer time.Later on, God called me to do this glorious ministry. He began to speak to me through various ways.

In one vision, I saw myself on my knees praying in the midst of a fully-grown paddy field. I understood that the Lord expected from me a life of prayer for the millions of hungry souls perishing in this world without God.

Thus I entirely consecrated my life for the service of God as a full time servant. After being taken for the ministry, I had to do my ministry in a Buddhist village called Mathugamma. Before a faith home was opened in Mathugamma, I was staying in the faith home at Kaluthara. I used to visit souls residing in the area of Mathugamma by bicycle and would pray and be a great comfort for them. We had a believer here by name Master Andrew. He was a head master in a school there. After school, he would immediately join me for the gospel work and would not mind his tiredness due to school work. We both joined together and visited the surrounding Estates in the hilly areas till 11 o clock in the night and preach the gospel to all souls without discrimination of Caste or Religion. He used to give all his income to the faith home except the money needed for his necessities.

Later on, Bro. Andrew dedicated himself as a full time worker. He did the ministry sincerely and whole heartedly. Then he was sent abroad to do the ministry. This man of God who started the teaching profession with a name as Master Andrew was elevated as Pastor Andrew in God’s ministry before he entered glory finishing his race victoriously.I began my ministry in Kottayam centre in Kerala after I came from Sri Lanka to India on transfer.

Every day I used to wait in the presence of God for a long time before going out to do the ministry. As God fed Elijah with meat and bread through ravens, so also God fed us wonderfully in those days.As we passed our days in this gloomy situation I used to spend much time musing about the abundant grace of God and be filled with joy in His presence.

In one such circumstance when I was meditating I got a revelation and I brought it out in the form of a song which is now our Malayalam Hymn 144. I composed two stanzas of the song with its tune. At that time there was a convention to be held at Pudupalli, and our Chief Pastor Pas. A.C.Thomas was also present. I came to know that the servants of God as well as believers there had prayed for a new convention hymn but nothing had materialized. They informed about their anxiety to our Chief Pastor and when he called me and asked if I could help, I showed him the song that I had composed, and he was very much pleased. He summoned the singing group and before them asked me to sing.

Pastor A.C.Thomas added further two stanzas in my song and thus a good hymn was composed and it has found a place in our Malayalam Hymn book no.144.“Gnann ninne thyanikkumpol – nathaNin kruba orthidumpol…”

In 1963, I had come to the convention of Palayamcotai. Pastor Bobby also had come to the convention. He used to play accordion during those days. I used to sing songs. As I was filled with unshakeable faith on God I composed a song in Tamil based on faith and that is the Hymn No. 275 in our Tamil Hymn Book.Seeyonile yen thida asthibaram krishtuvae…

From 1963 till 1970, I used to sing songs recorded as convention hymns. Pastor Bobby would play the accordion and one Madurai believer Bro.Victor used to play the guitar. Before starting to sing, I used to pray well, and our Pas.Freddy and Pas.A.C.Thomas would come and pray to inaugurate the recording program. Recording of songs would start only by 4 o clock in the morning. In as much as we gave prominence for prayer, we never faced any problem while recording songs.

I have never faltered in singing and the recording was done in the first attempt itself. Hymns recorded in such a manner have created a great inspiration in the minds of those who heard it and moved many.

The following are the hymns still indelible in my memory:

1.Seeyonile yen thida asthibaram krishtuvae…

2.Paareer gethsamane…

3.Antho kalvaariyil…

4.vaasalandai ninru aasayaai thattum…

5.balipeedathil ennai parane…

6.Naetrum indrendrumae….

7.Yesu kiristhuvin namamithae…

8.marida em maa nesarae….

9.aaga enna inbam…

From Kerala, I was for a brief period in Calcutta, and then recalled to Ernakulam to assist Centre Pastor Writer John who had met with a bus accident.

One day while we were traveling in the car of Pas.T.G.Varghese, hear a bridge we saw on both sides of the road flooded with water as that of water stagnated in Salt Pans and we knew that it was not a worthy place to construct a building for worship. But I remained in the car, stretched forth my right hand toward that spot and said jovially, “This is the land for our Ernakulam faith home.” I never thought even in my dream that God would honour my saying. HE did a wonderful work here.

A believer of Madras was inspired by God to buy that land for us within a month and give it to us freely which he had purchased at a nominal price. All Glory to God.Then I was transferred to Bilai in Madhya Pradesh. When I went there, I faced difficulty because I did not know the language of Hindi. Whenever I went for shopping, I used to know the name of the article and its measurement in Hindi and would buy it. But I could not forget the love and affection shown by the people towards me which encouraged me very much.

In Bilai, I had a vision. God showed me that I was ministering in Nagaland among people of diverse languages. According to the vision,I was transferred to Nagaland within four months. There were many terrorist organizations due to political reasons in that state. One day I had an opportunity to meet a terrorist. I explained about the supreme love of Christ and of His forgiving nature, and when I said no murderers or workers of iniquity would enter the kingdom of God, his heart was broken and with deep conviction he accepted Jesus as his saviour. His entire family got saved.

At this time, the devil tried to destroy me with paralytic strokes almost 23 times repeatedly night and day at unexpected moments damaging many parts of my body. During those days, Pastor S.B.Earnest used to phone up and comfort me with his own experience, sometimes even at midnight.Afterwards I was transferred to Trichy in Tamil Nadu and I served there for 41/2 years. We erected a pucca center faith home there and started many branches. Then I was transferred to Palayamcottai. some discord among believers there was settled amicably after drastic disciplinary action.

Then, I was transferred to Madurai. We were able to raise many new workers at an average of 20 workers per year. Soon, God enabled me to open 15 new faith homes.I can quite confidently and assuredly say that it is no longer I but only the Lord working in and through me.

This far, He has not met me down but has been faithful to me since He has chosen me from my mother’s womb. I can say together with St.Paul that, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Pastor Paul Koshy, went to be with our Lord last month at Madurai Center Faith Home(in October 2006). His life and ministry are a living witness to each and everyone of us.

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 thon 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

Click on the diagram to enlarge

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

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

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).

DO YOU FEEL THE PRESENCE OF GOD?

"In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torment and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom" (Lk 16:23).

The rich man saw Abraham and Lazarus afar off. Where you will be in eternity, depends on how you lived in this world. Abraham was a type of God's presence. While on earth the rich man was far away from the presence of God, and now he finds himself far away from the presence of God after death.

How can you make out you are far away from God? You may be in a service in church but you could be far away from God. You may be singing and praising God and worshipping God and may spend much time in prayer, but your heart could be far away from God. If you don't feel the presence of God it means you are far away from God. To the extent you feel God close to you now, you will be close to God in eternity.

In the Old Testament times, lepers had to be outside the camp. The parts of the body affected by leprosy do not have any sensation. You can take a big needle and pierce the part, but the leper won't feel any pain. The minister may be preaching and pouring out his life before you, but you don't feel anything. You are a leper in the sight of God. If you don't feel the presence of God, the grace of God can heal that leprosy. God can give you brand new flesh.

When Naaman, that proud, arrogant man dipped himself in the waters of Jordan, he got new flesh. You need to be dipped in the grace of God. You need to be dipped in the Word of His grace. You need to be dipped in the water of the Holy Spirit.

Come back to God today and say, "Lord, I don't want to be far away." If you keep a distance between you and God, the devil will take that place. So have a real intimacy with Jesus. After you leave this world, it will be too late to realize that you are far away from God.

HOW SHOULD WE FIGHT?

"Who through faith...out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Heb 11:33, 34).

When we accept the Word of God and believe that our weak points are made strong points, and praise God, we may not all at once experience all that we accepted and believed. Things may appear to be just the opposite.

Let's suppose our Christian life needs a thorough sanctification in thoughts, words, etc. and we sincerely believe His Word and stand on the above promise. We may at least for a short time, feel more unsanctified than ever! This should not discourage us - we are not ignorant of the devices of the devil. AGAINST EVERY CONSECRATION WE MAKE AND AGAINST EVERY PROMISE OF GOD WE CLAIM, DEMONS MAY BE SENT - TO BREAK IT AND FRUSTRATE US.

If, suppose, we decide to get up early the next day to pray or read the Bible, we may have to go to bed very late that night and not be able to get up early the next day, or we may wake up with a splitting headache! This is why the Word of God says, "waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." That is, we should not only take up the promise that all our weaknesses are turned to strength, but also fight valiantly ("I fought a good fight...I have kept the faith" - II Tim 4:7), and turn to flight the armies of the demons till we fully enjoy the promises of God. "Let the weak say, I am strong" (Joel 3:10). This is why God has chosen weak people - to be heroes of faith (I Cor 1:27).

Dear reader, are you weak in holiness, in your prayer life, in meditating on the Word of God, in your love for God, etc? Claim by faith that all those weak areas have become strong areas of your life. Do you often give in to discouragement, depression, anger, frustration, etc? Claim the victory. In the physical areas of our life also we can apply this promise of God by faith. Let the weakest part of our body become the strongest part. Let the weakest part of the Body of Christ (the weakest believer) become the strongest one.

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

BRIDE-MAKING

"The Lord God... took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman" (Gen 2:21, 22)

Before the bride was made, GOD CLOSED UP THE FLESH. Yes, before God forms the Bride out of the Church(garden), He closes the FLESH of man. In other words, if God is to prepare us for His Coming, our fleshly nature should go.

This is the first mention of FLESH in the Bible, and thank God, He closed it up. If God has closed up the flesh, why should man open it up?

If one single rib (rather a weak bone in the body) could be instrumental in making a bride, how much more God can make use of servants of God who are in His hands, to form the Bride.! "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt yoiu in due time" (I Pet 5:6)

In the Body, the ribs are close to the heart, protecting and covering the heart. So also, in the Body of Christ, some saints are close to the heart of God. God takes them, and by means of their life and prayer, does the wonderful work of forming the Bride of Christ.

Let us mortify the deeds of the flesh or 'close up the flesh' and draw close to the heart of God. God is looking for 'weak' and 'fleshless' saints who live close to the heart of God to use them for forming New Jerusalem.

LORD, WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO?

"Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan" (II Kgs 6:1,2)

When the disciples of Elisha realized their low state (spiritual), they felt the need to confess this to their master. Have we ever confessed to oyur Lord that our spiritual life is far short of what it should be?

"Let us go, unto Jordan." Once we realize our real spiritual state, we will not only confess it to the Lord, but will also be urged to do something to remedy the situation. We will be inspired to go to "Jordan". Jordan is the place of fulfulling God's will. There, Jesus fulfilled the will of the Father by taking water baptism (Matt 3:15). Just as the disciples of Elisha decided to go to Jordan, we should decide to fulfil the whole will of God. "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" should ever be a prayer of ours.

The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "I pray thee, go with thy servants" (v3). Many Christian lives are struggling - struggling to do God's will. Even with the best of motives and sincere dedication, we will not be able to do God's will unless we ask the Lord to go with us and help us. Elisha's immediate response to the request of the prophets was, "I will go"; so will the Lord go with us. If you find that the Lord is not going with you, not helping you to do His will in your life, it may be because you have not urged Him to come with you.

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

Our God will do great things for His glory...!

"Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matt 28:18,19)

When Jesus was raised from the dead all power in heaven and in earth was given to Him. "Go ye therefore" shows that the same power and authority is given to us - although we appear to be insignificant to the world.

A missionary lady in Africa had a small fellowship of African souls. One day, as they were worshipping the Lord, a witch doctor entered the church and challenged her power. "I'm going to perform a miracle," he said, "If your Jesus can perform a greater miracle, I promise to become a Christian." The missionary lady knew that Jesus had greater power and authority than all the demons put together. Her little congregation also encouraged her to take up the challenge and prove that Jesus had greater power and authority than the devil.

The witch doctor came up to the front and lay face down on the ground, and as he kept chanting something, his body started rising from the floor. The body rose almost up to the pulpit in the lying position. The missionary lady wondered what greater miracle she could do; in fact, she had never performed any miracle. But as she and the whole congregation were praying, the anointing of the Holy Spirit came upon her with power and authority. Stretching her hands towards the man she said, "In the Name of Jesus, get out, you demon!" Instantly, as if he had been shot, the witch doctor fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. He could not even move his limbs till he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear child of God, He that is in you is greater than he (the devil) that is in the world. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Our God will do great things for His glory.

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

THE CLOSEST RELATIONSHIP

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

"Dwelleth," in the Hebrew tongue, is 'YASHA' meaning 'marrying' or 'to marry'. It shows the relationship between Christ and the Bride. "I am married unto you," says the Lord (Jer 3:14).

The relationship between husband and wife is the most intimate of relationships. The next most intimate relationship is that of a mother and child. Both these relationships are mentioned in the 1st verse of Psalm 91. ['almighty' is 'El-shaddai' which, in Hebrew, is mother-like God'].

The Lord wants to have a very close relationship with us. All the promises mentioned in Psalm 91 are for those who have an intimate relationship with the Lord.

Those who live in the heart of God will have the closest relationship with God. But we must have this relationship with the Lord while on earth itself.

When we live in the heart of God, our heart will become like the heart of God. What does that mean? Our heart will be full of peace, joy, love, grace, purity, humility, forgiveness, etc. If you are in the heart of God, God's heartbeat will be your heartbeat. You will want to think only what God puts in your mind. You will desire only what God puts in your heart.

FRUITS OF REST

"God blessed the seventh day, and sacntified it: because that in it He had rested from all HIs work which God created and made." (Gen 2:3)

God blessed the seventh day because He completed all His work of creation and rested on that day. So, blessings gollow when a person completes his work and enters into rest. Our life is full of battles; we must overcome every battle and enter into a rest. In this Grace Period, we have to get the spiritual experience of daily entering into God's rest.

The process of sanctification begins within us when we start leading an overcoming life. God commands His blessing upon us and completes the process of sanctification when we cease to strive and struggle, and rest in God. "For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His" (Heb 4:10)

God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. The blessing of God goes together with sanctification. Sanctified life is indeed a blessed life.

God sanctified the seventh day because He completed His work and rested on that day. It is only when we have a rest in us that God will be able to sanctify us. We should see that our rest is not disturbed in any way, as that will prevent us from getting sanctified.

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