NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2016
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Editor’s note
I greet you all in the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2016, is fast drawing to a close and shortly we will be in the month of December. We will all be busy preparing for the birthday of our Lord Jesus when He came into this world.
Our Lord Jesus was anxious to do the will of His Father perfectly every second. “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” John 9:4. Let us just imagine how His face and voice would be when He spoke these words.
In this world the day will not continue forever for man. The time of grace will also not continue forever. One day the preaching of the Good News will stop. The door of grace will be closed. The Lord divided the time into day time and night time; day time when man could work, and night time when no man could work. The Lord who asked us to work during the day time, simultaneously also warned us to be alert at night time. Jesus was on this earth for a very short time i.e. 33 ½ years, out of which He got only 3 ½ years to serve. After this came the night time, that is where He sacrificed Himself on the Cross.
Our Lord Jesus before coming to this world was very obedient to the Father. Hebrews 10:7 & 5, “7: Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 5:“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: “ That is why he said He had to do His Fathers work in the day time.
My beloved, use the day time given by grace from our Heavenly Father for the benefit of our souls and to lift up Jesus. Jesus used the day time by going and preaching in every village. Mathew 14:14 , “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” At night He used to go on the mountain and pray.
In every man’s life there is a day time and a night time. This world is going towards the night time. Isaiah 60:2, “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
As the Lord made day and night, He divided the sheep into two folds; one was of His fold and the other was not of His fold. Whichever fold we belong to, if we have a thirst for the Lord He will take us into His fold. Psalms 14:2 The LORD looked down from 
heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
I have been to many places to serve the Lord and I have seen many who have received Jesus in secret.
Among the Jews there was a man named Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night. John 3:1,2 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”
Nicodemus loved the Lord very much and said he was a good teacher. Jesus accepted Nicodemus at night and cleared all his doubts. When Jesus died, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea another secret disciple of Jesus took Jesus from the cross and gave Him a decent burial. John 19:38-40, “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” 
They brought an offering of myrrh and aloes in gratefulness for the life Jesus sacrificed for them.
So my dearly beloved, let us walk in a circumspect manner, not as fools but as wise people, redeeming the time, for the days are evil.
May God bless you all, till we meet again.
Yours in His service,
Pastor Saroja M
Praise the Lord. I hereby testify on behalf of my granddaughter Saloni, who was suffering from high fever and leg pain. On informing Pastor Saroja, she prayed for her and she is now completely healed. I thank Pastor Saroja for her prayers for all our family members. Thank you Jesus.
*Bro.Ramji Kushwah, Jogeshwari.
Praise the Lord. We used to keep our house windows shut with only very little space kept open for ventilation at night due to problem of rats which used to enter our home from outside. 
This created a lot of inconvenience and suffocation for us. By God’s grace we gained wisdom to sprinkle the prayer oil on our window grills before sleeping and the rats stopped entering from that day. I give all praise and glory to our Lord Jesus and thank Pastor Saroja for praying for the prayer oil.
*Bro. Austin Roberts, Vakola.
Praise the Lord. I had severe pain in my left thumb due to which I was not able to hold anything. Whenever I used to move it up and down, I would hear a noise of my bones moving from within, causing me unbearable pain. As I ride a motorbike, this was causing me great pain while riding. I told Pastor Saroja about my thumb pain and she advised me to apply the prayer oil over it, saying that it would heal soon. I did the same and my pain completely vanished and I was totally healed. I give all glory to Lord Jesus for healing me and I also thank Pastor Saroja for praying over the prayer oil and for her precious advice. Thank you Jesus.
*Bro. Hardik Patel, Goregaon.
Praise the Lord. I recently got promoted at work. This is a great miracle in my life. My promotion proposal was submitted a year ago, and it was rejected twice. The enemy fought too hard not to let it happen. I informed Pastor Saroja about this and requested her for prayers. She counseled me and told me not to be discouraged. It is only Pastor Saroja fervent prayers for this matter and finally won this victory in my life. Thank you Jesus for your fulfilling all my heart’s desire, according to your will and plan. Thank you Pastor Saroja for praying ceaselessly for me.
*Sis. June Anchan, Mira Road
Praise the Lord. While on the way to the Saturday healing service, I suddenly got a catch on my right leg and was unable to walk; however I managed to reach the church. After prayer service while getting up for the last prayer, I got the catch again on the same leg and was not able to stand up. After the prayer service I told this matter to Pastor Saroja who prayed for me and after a while my pain vanished away. I give lots of thanks to Almighty Lord Jesus for healing me and lots of thanks to Pastor Saroja for her prayers.
*Sis. Elizabeth Arikswamy, Jogeshwari.
Praise the Lord. While washing clothes in the bathroom a steel drum fell in front of me, but by the grace of my dear Lord Jesus it did not fall on me. I give lots of thanks to Lord Almighty for saving me from this accident and I also thank Pastor Saroja for praying for me and my family.
*Sis. Susamary Francis, Goregaon
Praise the Lord. I and my family wanted to apply for a passport but at the first instance our passport was rejected for some reasons. This time before applying, we asked Pastor Saroja to pray that we get our passports without any problem. By Lord’s grace and Pastor’s prayers we received our passport without any problem. Thank you Jesus for hearing your daughter’s prayers.
*Sis. Esther Patel, Goregaon
TRUST IN GOD’S PLANS FOR YOU
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said, “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure in the world!” The second little tree looked out at a small stream trickling by on it’s way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world.” The third tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave this mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they will raise there eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”
Years passed. Rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. “Now I will be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “this tree is strong, it is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. “Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looker her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter toppled it. Any kind of tree will do for me.” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was covered in saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail an ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a small lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. “What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God.”
Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams!But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her new born baby in the feed box. “I wish I could make a cradle for him, her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said. And suddenly the first tree knew she was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveller and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveller fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, “Peace, be still.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew she was carrying the King of Heaven and Earth.
Early one morning a couple years later, the third tree was startled when her beam was yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But three days later, with the sun shining and the earth trembling beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong, And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God, that was better than being the tallest tree in the world!
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” - Proverbs 16:3 …
God – A wall of fire around us
The geography of Israel is divided into 3 parts; Galilee on one side, Samaria in the middle and Jerusalem on the other side. If someone wants to go to Jerusalem from Galilee, they have pass through Samaria. There is no other way to reach Jerusalem. Once, Jesus Christ wanted to go to Samaria; so he told his disciples to inform the people of Samaria that he would be visiting them. Though the Samaritans were informed of Jesus’ visit, they thought in their hearts that Jesus wanted to pass through Samaria only to go to Jerusalem, hence they were not happy and did they make any preparations for this visit. On reaching Samaria, when the disciples James and John saw that no preparations were made for Jesus’ welcome, they were furious and asked Jesus if they should command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elijah had done. 
Luke 9:51-56 “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”
The history of Samaria explains that they were 12 tribes in total. The Assyrians captured 10 tribes and ruled over them. 2 Kings 17:24 “And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.” The remaining 2 tribes continued in Samaria, they mingled with the others and defiled themselves by worshipping idols. 2 Kings 17:41 “So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.”
The Scriptures also say that after sometime a poor man named Manuha who lived in Cerchim, built a temple for these Samaritans, since they were considered low caste and were not allowed to worship with the others in their temple. Hence the Samaritans worshipped in the temple built by Manuha. The people of Jerusalem never allowed the Samaritans to worship in their temple and treated them as a low caste and did not allow them to mix amongst the people of Jerusalem. But our Lord Saviour Jesus is not a partial God; He is a God who treats all mankind with equality. In His love there is no variation for He loves all mankind alike. Our God is a God of all flesh. Jesus Christ reached the city of Samaria though He was not welcome there. He first met a Samaritan woman by the well and He preached the ‘good news’ to her. John 4:14 “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” The same Jesus Christ also healed the lepers in Samaria. Luke 17:15-16 “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”
Not only that, Jesus also preached to the people regarding the Good Samaritan, portraying himself as the Samaritan. Luke 10:33-35 “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” Jesus Christ performed great works in the midst of the Samaritans, yet they did not believe or accept Him; that is why His disciples James and John were furious with the Samaritans for not accepting Jesus. In spite of everyone rejecting the Samaritans and treating them as low caste people and not allowing anyone to mingle with them, yet Jesus Christ visited Samaria and did His wonderful works amongst them; still they did not believe or accept Him. Hence James and John were angry and said in Luke 9:54 “And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” Immediately, Jesus understood the anger within his disciples and He said in Luke 9:56-57 “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.” Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this world with compassion for mankind; He brought the love of God amongst mankind. It is written in John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’’ The only reason Jesus came into this world is that we might have life and that we may have it more abundantly.
In the Bible, we know that fire was sent upon this world for different reasons… Sodom & Gomorrah was destroyed by fire… When Prophet Elijah prayed, God sent down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice… There is fire in Hell as well. But the fire that our God Jesus Christ has come to kindle is different from all these fires. It is not a fire to destroy us; rather it is a fire to cleanse us. This fire can make us whole once again and will not destroy us.
Mathew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Jesus’ fire can make us whole and complete in life. Jesus served mankind with great compassion on this earth. What is Jesus’ desire for this world? Luke 12:49 “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” This fire is not the fire sent to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah, nor the fire sent in answer to Elijah’s prayer to consume the sacrifice, nor the fire of hell; rather this fire has been sent to rekindle us. God promises in Joel 2:28: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” God wants to pour out His spirit upon all flesh so that our sons and our daughters shall prophesy, our old men shall dream dreams and our young men shall see visions. Our God is not a partial God; He does not bless us according to our congregation; whether it is big or small or whether the people are rich or poor. Our God is the God who sends down rain upon the sinners and righteous alike, on the good and bad alike, on the rich and poor alike. Whoever is thirsty today, God is ready to quench the thirst. 
Our God is ready to give us His Spirit amongst us today. Zechariah 2:5 “For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.” We know that our God was with the Israelites in the wilderness in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Even today, He loves His people and promises that He will be a Wall of fire around us. This world is a bad world and we are not at all secure in this world. God wants to protect us and His grace is very important in our lives. Without God’s grace we can do nothing and His protection on us is very important. We don’t know what will happen anytime. However, since a Wall of holy fire is around us, we know that He will protect us from all evil things and evil doers. Since the Lord God was with the Israelites in the wilderness, they did not fear attacks by wild animals in the wilderness. Psalms 107 says that the Lord God loved the Israelites so much that He kept forgiving them again and again and again. 
He loved them so very much that every time they called on Him in sorrow or pain, He would come to their rescue. This is our God! It is important for us to recognize our God and His mighty works.
Jesus went to the city of Samaria and performed many mighty works again and again. Even today, every promise given by God will be fulfilled in our lives. Our God is the God of all flesh. Thus, to perform His promise in our lives, it is important for us to call out to God. His salvation is ours when we accept it in true faith. Even today, God wants to protect us with His Wall of Holy fire around us. This is our God’s love. We know that it is only God’s blood and God’s Spirit that can save us. If we read the Holy Scriptures in Joshua, Judges and Kings, we will read the mighty and marvelous works done by the Lord for the Israelites. Our victory comes from God alone. He is a God who neither slumbers nor sleeps. His desire for us even today is Luke 12:49 “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?”
May this message bring blessings in our lives.
Pastor Saroja M.
Rose of Sharon Old Aged home
Praise the Lord. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Sis. Pidade D’souza, aged 61 years in our Family from the month of October.
Sis. Pidade is a very tall person and a heavy individual and accepting her into the Home was a challenge which I accepted and by God’s grace we are managing her to the best of our abilities.
The Harvest festival too was celebrated this month in the Home and all the inmates enjoyed delicious Biryani to their hearts content. 
Dear brothers and sisters do continue to pray for the Rose of Sharon Old aged home so that the Lord may bless all the inmates and keep them in good health always during this last stage of their lives.
Thank you all readers for your encouragement and support always.
May God bless you.
Yours sister in Christ,
Pastor Saroja M
Last month was a season of festivity at the Rose of Sharon Church. As we all celebrated the Harvest festival, i.e. the festival of Thanksgiving, we cannot thank Jesus enough for the beautiful little ones we are blessed with in our Sunday School.
The little ones are now all getting geared up for the Christmas function. The excitement levels are increasing week on week. Songs, skits and the list is on, the little ones don’t want to stop with one performance. What a joy it is to see the little ones wanting to praise God in all their little ways. As the kids prepare for the big day and eagerly await the month of December for the celebrations to kick start, we request all readers to uplift the little ones in your prayers so that the excitement and zest to perform for the Lord continues not just for Christmas but for each day ahead.
Praise the Lord!
Joy Salins
