MORNING MANNA 31 MAY : THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION

'NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD'

"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." (Gen 3:3).
 
The woman described the treee as 'the tree which is in the midst of the garden' instead of 'the tree of the knowledge of good and evil' as stated by God. Obviously, she speaks of the tree as being in the midst of the garden, because it was in the midst of her heart's lust. She might have also intended to convey that the best of God was in the midst of the garden and that she was debarred from enjoying it. By that she was questioning the love and kindness of God.

We know from the Word of God that all that was created on the earth was for the use of man (including the tree of knowledge of good and evil). But man was supposed to eat of the fruits of all the other trees first, and, after he was mature enough, to eat this fruit also. 'Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb 5:14). So it is very clear that the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil belonged to those who had 'full age', which our first forefathers did not have when they tasted it.

Let us not misunderstand the ways of God or doubt the plan of God for our life. Let us be filled with the love of God and place our trust in God. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

MORNING MANNA 16 MAY : THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION

Drawing Power of the Blood of Jesus

Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
 
In one sense, the blood of Christ has the greatest magnetic power in the world. Just as a magnet draws an iron piece to itself, the blood of Jesus draws a sinner to Jesus. [A magnet may draw an iron piece to itself, but the magnet cannot transform the iron piece into a magnet. But the blood of Christ can not only draw a sinner to Christ, but also transform the sinner into a saint!

When you really repent of all your sins and are washed in the blood of Christ, the blood has power to bring you very close to the Lord – “made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

Living presence of God is feeling God all over you. If you want to speak something wrong, you find God virtually closing your mouth. You feel as if you can reach out and touch God. He becomes so real and so near. Psalm 139 speaks beautifully about the manifest presence of God or the immediate presence of God. David says, “There is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (Psa 139:4-6). The manifest presence of God is such a unique experience; even the thoughts are checked when they are far away. And, in this presence there is fullness of joy and eternal pleasures.

The blood of Jesus Christ is able to bring us so close to God as to enable us to have these beautiful experiences. In other words, the blood of Jesus will enable every fibre of our being, including our words, deeds, thoughts, imaginations, etc. to be directed and dominated by God’s presence every moment. Oh, what a wonderful power there is in the blood of Jesus! Even the holy angels cannot comprehend this.

Let us claim this glorious experience available through the precious blood of Jesus. Its power will never fail; its power will never be in vain. Even all through Eternity we will be praising the power in the blood of Christ!

“Saviour, more than life to me,
I am clinging, clinging close to Thee;
Let Thy precious Blood applied,
Keep me ever, ever near Thy side.”

MORNING MANNA 15 MAY : THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION

ANGER - THE SPIRIT OF MURDER

“Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell… Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” (Gen 4:5,8)
When your face (countenance) changes, beware – a murderous spirit might be entering into you, and it could lead you into killing your own brother or sister!

Dear child of God, do you realize that when you are angry and upset and your face changes, “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you”? Many of God’s children have not realized that wrath is the spirit of murder. When this foul spirit entered into Saul, he wanted to kill innocent David (I Sam 18:8,11). Herod, in his fury, slew thousands of babes under two years (Matt 2:16). And Pharoah, furious with Israel, slew all their male children (Exo 1:22).

When Simeon and Levi, the sons of Jacob were furious with the Shechemites, they hid their anger in their hearts and outwardly showed themselved to be friendly, even to the extent of suggesting marriage ties with them. However, after a few days, when they found an opportune moment, they massacred all the males in the country. [Perhaps the worst form of anger is keeping resentment and bitterness in the heart and pretending to be godly and friendly on the outside.] Their wrath was so detestable that even their own father, when in his deathbed, instead of blessing them, said, “Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations… for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel” (Gen 49:5-7).

Dear reader, do not wait for the demonic spirit of anger to destroy both you and others. Flee to God with a broken and contrite heart. God, in His mercy, can renew a right spirit within you (Psa 51:10). Instead of your face becoming black with anger, let it be changed into a glory with grace.

MORNING MANNA 01 MARCH : THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION

HOW GREAT THOU ART!

The difference between heaven and earth is so very vast that there is no example we can use to illustrate it. Our galaxy is called the Milky Way and, according to scientists, in this galaxy to which our solar system belongs there are over 30 million suns. 1.5 million earths can be put into one sun, and there are in all about 100,000 galaxies. God put all these 100,000 galaxies together and created heaven. This gives us some idea of the vastness of the heavens. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork!" exclaims the Psalmist (Psa 19:10) God created this vast universe and, side by side, He created the tiny earth in which we are just little specks.

Compared to the majesty of the universe, how insignificant is man, and yet God Who could and did create such glory, made man in His own image! He Who created the entire universe also created this puny man. This reveals to us the greatness of God and also His great love for man. "When I consider the heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained; what is man that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that Thou visitest him?" (Psa 8:4).

How wonderful our God is! Dear reader, what have we to boast about? The Lord has shown us how much He caress for us. If you have this revelation you will never be worried or concerned about earthly things.

MORNING MANNA 28 FEBRUARY: THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION

REIGNING PURITY...:

God's holiness is connected with God's reigning or ruling.It is very interesting to note that a number of psalms which start with "The Lord reigneth", end with 'holiness.' What we learn from this is that, God wants holiness to rule in our lives so that He may reign or rule over us. The holy God may not be able to rule over those who do not love His holiness.

Rulers or leaders should be those in whom the Lord reigns in holiness. Leaders in the church who do not love holiness do not have the moral or spiritual right to rule over others. He that hath no rule over his spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. A city whose wall is broken down is always vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.

Dear child of God, are you like a city without walls? The devil and his agents are playing havoc in your life then. Perhaps the reason for some of your major problems is that, you have not let the Lord or His holiness rule over you.

Let the government of your life be "upon His shoulder"; then, of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end". In other words, as God rules in your life with His holiness, He will rule over all the powers of darkness in your life, bringing triumph in all your trials. Let purity crown your spiritual life.

MORNING MANNA 27 FEBRUARY: THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION

LIVELY HOPE OR DEAD HOPE?

"Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which... hath begoten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead" (I Pet 1:3).

Here St.Peter speaks about a lively or living hope.There are two types of hope - living hope and dead hope.

If you want to become rich, great or famous in this world, yours is a dead hope; all the hopes that you build up to become great will come to an end with your death.

What is the lively hope we get by the resurrection of Jesus Christ? "If Jesus comes when I am alive, by the grace of God I shall be changed or transformed!" Even in the matter of getting caught up at the Rapture, some people have a dead hope. They think they can never be ready if Jesus comes in their lifetime. Their miserable hope is that they must lie in the sickbed and get sanctified and die if they are to be caught up when Jesus comes. This certainly is a dead hope. Look at what St.Paul says: 'We which are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord... shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air' ( I Thess 4:15, 17). In other words, we who remain on earth and are lively i.e. those of us who live with the hope of translation or transformation will meet the Lord in the air.

Dear child of God, what type of hope do you have? Is it a lively hope or a dead hope?

"The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope" (Tit 2:11-13). When the grace of God fills our life, we will have a lively hope. And only those who have a lively hope can be lively Christians.

MORNING MANNA 26 FEBRUARY: THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION

SEEK HIM...:

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb 11:6).

Faith pleases God. Great faith pleases God greatly. Faith is trusting God and acting on His Word. If we don't have faith, fear will destroy all our blessings.

"He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Please note, He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, not His blessings. This is where many people of God make a mistake. Instead of seeking the Giver of all blessings, many seek blessings. If you seek only God's blessings, remember, one day all His blessings - your health and wealth, your dear ones and friends - may be removed from you then your fragile faith will fail you. Look at Job. He lost his wealth, his children and even his health, but his faith abounded all the more. His faith became so strong that he was able to shout with a note of victory - "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me" (Job 19:25-27).

MORNING MANNA 25 FEBRUARY: THE PENTECOSTAL MISSION

A MAN OF REVELATION..!

"Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground" (Gen 4:2).

"Abel was a keeper of sheep." The first job man ever chose was the best job - keeping sheep, which typifies looking after souls. We need the heart of a shepherd; we must have a burden, concern and care for others, for perishing souls, and for those in need. In particular, a servant of God must diligently watch over the souls entrusted to him. Later on we find that God had respect unto Abel and to his ministry or offering. So also, those who serve Jesus willingly will be honoured by the Father.

"But Cain was a tiller of the ground." The profession that Abel chose is stated first - as his service was more pleasing to God. While Abel was serving the sheep, Cain was serving the ground that was cursed by God. Cain clearly did not have the kind of heart God wanted - a heart of concern for others. Later, when God asked him, 'Where is your brother?' 'Am I my brother's keeper?' he retorted.

Abel was a man of revelation. The job he selected, doubtless, was inspired by God; and so was his offering. Abel brought "of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof" (vs 4). The "firstlings of his flock" are, the best out of the flock. The"fat", in Hebrew, means the best part. So Abel offered the best of bests, and therefore his offering was honoured as, "a more excellent sacrifice". By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice, says the writer to the Hebrews. Faith gives new revelations and excellent faith gives excellent revelations.