Editor’s Note

I greet you all in the matchless name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:17 says, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” In this verse, our Lord promises us His glory for those who suffer for His sake. If we endure with Him, we will also reign with Him.

The Bible says in 2 Tim 2:12, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” The reward for being afflicted with Him is to reign with Him in His kingdom. If we partake in Christ’s suffering, we will rejoice with Him with exceeding great joy, when His glory is revealed. We should not be ashamed to suffer as Christians, but rather, let us glorify God in this matter. Who can harm us if we become followers of what is good. If we should suffer for righteousness sake we are blessed; and we should not be afraid of their threats or be troubled.

We should sanctify the Lord in our hearts and always be ready to give a good defense to everyone who asks for a reason of our hope that is in us, with meekness and fear. We should have a good conscience when evildoers try to defame us so that those who revile us may be ashamed; for it is better if it be the will of God for us to suffer for doing good. (Rather than for doing evil). In such a case, we will be comforted by our Lord.

The Lord says that whosoever knows His law and keeps it in his heart, should not fear the reproach of men nor be afraid of their revelings. The Lord will comfort us. Who are we that we should be afraid of man or of a son of man who will die and be made like grass.

You have no need to fear in your time of trouble and sorrow because 1 John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

May our Good Lord bless you and keep you under His safe wings.

Till we meet again…

Yours in the Lord’s service.

Pastor Saroja M

Praise the Lord. By the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ and prayers of my dear Pastor Saroja, I was able to complete my graduation with a good percentage and grade. I wholeheartedly thank my Lord Jesus Christ for enabling me to write all my papers with good health and thank Pastor for her fervent prayers for me always. Thank You Jesus.

*Sis. Angel Roberts, Vakola.

Praise the Lord. I was suffering from urine infection for the last two months. Finally, after all the medications failed, I called the Rose of Sharon Prayer Tower after watching their TV programme on Shubhsandesh Channel. The brother at the prayer tower prayed for me. I can definitely say that my Lord Jesus has healed me thereafter and I praise God for His healing and thank the Rose of Sharon Prayer Tower for praying for me.

*Sis. Shashi Foi, Gujarat. (ROS TV Programme Viewer)

Praise the Lord. I am hereby testifying about my granddaughter Ruhi. Some days ago, she was very sick and in such a serious condition that we had to admit her to the hospital. I informed Pastor Saroja about her condition. Pastor assured me that she would pray for her. Very soon my granddaughter was discharged from the hospital. I praise and thank Lord Jesus for healing her and also thank Pastor for her prayers for my granddaughter.

*Sis. Bharti Mohite, Kalina.

Praise the Lord. This testimony is about by mother Jenabai who was seriously ill. I was constantly in touch with the Rose of Sharon Prayer Tower. My mother’s condition was so serious that she had to be admitted to the hospital where she was diagnosed with liver damage. I immediately called the Prayer Tower and the prayer warrior prayed for my mother. I praise and thank Lord Jesus that today my mother has been discharged from the hospital. I thank Lord Jesus for this healing and thank the prayer warrior for his prayers. Thank you Rose of Sharon and your prayer team.

*Sis. Ranjana, Jalgaon. (ROS TV Programme Viewer)

Praise the Lord. I would like to testify about my son Obed who was looking for career openings in Hotel Management after his HSC, but could not get success in getting admissions for the training programmes. By the time we applied for admission into various colleges for the same course, it was delayed and the colleges had already closed their admissions for the year. This year again we applied for his admission to the college of his choice and requested Pastor Saroja to keep him in prayer. The process for admissions went very smoothly and my son got admitted to the college. I thank Lord Jesus for granting admission to my son and sincerely thank our Pastor for praying for him and for always giving us helpful advice. Thank You Jesus.

*Sis. Savitha Roberts, Vakola.

Pastor Saroja M

God’s Word is True & Enduring

Revelation 1:16 “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”

When I accepted the Lord and began coming to this holy temple 25 years ago, there were a lot of problems in this temple. I used to get strange feelings within myself which could not be expressed in words, but these feelings made me understand that something was going wrong in this holy temple. Few years thence, when my life got transformed completely, this feeling only increased. At times I feared this feeling and doubted my faith too as I would wonder why I was getting this feeling. I used to inform the then Pastor about whatever happened in my heart and mind. When correction used to come upon members of the holy temple, their lies, sins and unrighteousness surfaced. Many people took the correction and are still rooted in the ministry, while those who disliked correction were uprooted and some also left the ministry. Many loved me and yet many hated me. This went on for many years and I began fearing within myself as to whether my thoughts within were right or wrong. I also disbelieved for some time. One day, we decided to meet Bro D.G.S. Dhinakaran at Chennai. Pastor Godwin, a sister of this ministry and I went to meet the Brother. During their meeting Bro Dhinakaran laid his hands upon me and prophesied for approximately 40 mins and at the end the Spirit spoke through the mighty servant saying “I have kept you in my Hands, nobody can snatch you from my hands.” On hearing this I loved the Lord God even more and I started crying unceasingly and bitterly for I had disbelieved our Lord God for some time. Even today when I hear God’s promise I shudder in fear, for the Lord God who had held the seven stars in His hands also holds me in those very hands. Many of us are in God’s hands. However much I used to face problems in church, I faced even more problems at home. As the outside world made fun of me, my family from within did the same. Hence that time I really wanted to know the truth of the Lord God and His will and plan for me. We must all remember that we too have a place in His hands as we read the word again in Revelation 1:16 “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”

Isaiah 62:3 “Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.” The God who held the seven stars, the very same God has kept a place for you and me in His hands. Let us see what it means to be the seven stars and also the seven golden lampstands in His right hand. Revelation 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” We know the meaning of the seven stars and the seven churches and God’s angels are His servants and disciples. Revelation 2:1 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” God does not need to write to His angels because He can speak directly to them when He wants them to know something. But here the word says “Write these things” – which means that God tells the Apostle John to write to the seven churches and congregations, so that His servants and disciples will know what God wants them to do. God’s angels mentioned here are His servants and disciples. Revelation 2:1 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;”

Revelation 3:1 “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” When God told the Apostle John to write to the angels, He meant to write to the servants of these seven churches. God’s eyes are upon the servants, watching the zeal with which they work for the Lord. God sees if the servants are serving the churches in truth and righteousness. He watches upon the servants, He loves them and holds them in His hands along with the seven stars. Isaiah 49:16 “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Our mighty God who held the seven stars in His hands says “My people are inscribed upon my palms”, hence no one can pluck them out of His hands.” Jesus said in John 10:18 “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” No one can snatch God’s children from His hands, nor can anyone come into His hands directly, for God the Father has given Jesus Christ the authority to keep us in His hands or take us away from His hands.

In those days mentioned earlier, when wrong things were happening in this holy temple, I just couldn’t sit at my home for the Lord God would pull me and bring me into this holy temple somehow. God’s flaming eyes are always upon this place. In different ways there was darkness, sin and unrighteousness happening in this temple. This temple was like a market place in those days. The Word says “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My Word will never pass away.”  Every promise our Lord God has given in this place has come to pass till today. In those days the Word was not very strong in this place, but God continued to do His good works and today still continues to do His marvellous works in this place. Our Father God has given Jesus Christ the authority, hence He says “Those I will remove will be uprooted. Those I will plant will remain rooted”.

We have seen in Psalm 119 how those who live by the Word, those who fear the Word, those who believe the Word are all blessed people. Our heart should not be stayed on the Preacher rather it should be on ‘The Word’. The Word is alive, the Word alone is the truth and the Word will work in our lives. Hence Jesus says “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Word will not fall to the ground.” The Word that is preached in this holy temple should not be taken lightly. Rather, we need to accept the Word and bear fruits in our life. The Apostle Paul went to Thessalonica and to Berea. While some of the Thessalonians believed what Paul preached, the people from Berea were nobler and believed the Word that Paul preached with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Whatever Word was preached by the Apostle Paul was once again confirmed by the people by going into the holy temple and reading the Holy Scriptures again, since there were no bibles in their homes. They always counter checked the Word of God preached by the Apostle Paul. In the end times, we too must be very careful, for many preachers will come in our midst and twist the Word and preach it to us. But we must always only believe the true Word and re-read the Word at home once again. Our God is an unchanging God: yesterday, today and forever He is the same God. I have never seen anyone bored during my message, or people sleeping off during my message for the true Word has power. Jesus Christ preached for 3 days and nights, where the people forgot their hunger and thirst and listened intently to Him. Such is the power of the Word. Psalm 119:158 “I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.” God considered these were unrighteous people and wanted to stay away from them. When we do not believe in the Word and do not walk according to the righteousness of the Word, the angels count us as unrighteous people, ungrateful and unwise people.

We know that in many a preaching, the Apostle Paul spoke in a human manner. The Thessalonians liked his preaching and believed in Him because it suited them and their way of life. But the people of Berea counter checked what he preached and reconfirmed the Word again. Acts 17:10-12 “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” Here we read about two congregations, one in Thessalonica and the other in Berea. In those days the Holy Scriptures were not in the form of a bible in every home, rather it was in the form of scrolls kept in the holy temple. The people of Berea made efforts to go the holy temple again and search the scroll on whatever was preached by the Apostle Paul; they read it and believed in the Word. Hence the people of Berea were full of wisdom and knowledge as compared to the people of Thessalonica. Today even a small child has his/her own bible to read. The Word is in our hands and we must hear the Word, read and re-read the Word and believe it. If we do not believe the word, the angel of God will consider us as unrighteous people. The gate to the Heavenly Kingdom is through Jesus Christ who is the Word. Jesus Christ is the key to the heavenly kingdom. Without the Word, we can do nothing. John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” None whom our Father God has planted can be plucked out of the hands of Jesus Christ. This was the prophecy I received long before I became a Pastor. Even as we will soon complete 15 years in the coming year as the Rose of Sharon church, I have had to fight many a battle from outside and within, but through all this, no one could pluck me from my Jesus’ hands!

The God that held the seven stars also held His servants and disciples in that very hand.  What is the work of the stars? When there is no sun and light, the stars emit light. Where is the ‘sun’ of righteousness i.e. Jesus Christ? He has gone to His Father God and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. So now who emits light? It is the stars. Who are the stars? It is the angels i.e. God’s servants and the chosen people who work today to give light to the world, i.e. the light through God’s Word. Jesus is going to return and till then it is the Word alone that will show us the light. The Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. The Word of God can keep us from sinning right from our youth. It is the angels i.e. the servants and disciples of God, who can give us light in this world.

2 Peter 1:19-21 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Till the return of the Sun of Righteousness, the stars have to emit light in this world and show us the way through the Word. The Word must lead us and guide us like the Morning Star. This world is full of sin and unrighteousness and hence God has given us the stars to show light in this world. Mathew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” The light given in this world, cannot hide itself from the world. But those chosen in the world to show light in this world must show the righteous way to the world. Daniel 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” When we read in the book of Revelation that the Lord God asked Apostle John to write to the angels for the seven churches, we must understand that there was no need to write to the angels. By angels, God meant His servants and disciples; it was written to the leaders of the church who preach the Word, to show the righteous path to people and show them the light in this world. Till Jesus returns, it is the work of the angels to perform His work and throw light in this world. We must be like the people of Berea, enthusiastic to learn, re-read the Word and confirm what is being preached.

Let us read some encouraging words from the book of Psalms:

Psalm 119:57 “Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.”

Psalm 119:65 “Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.”

Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

Psalm 119:28 “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.”

Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”

Psalm 119:72 “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”

Psalm 119:55-56 “I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.    This I had, because I kept thy precepts.”

Psalm 119:92 “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.”

Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

Psalm 119:158 “I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.”

Without the Word we are worthy for nothing and we need to give light in this world as angels. Mathew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Revelation 1:16 “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” We have seen that our God who holds the seven stars in His hands, also has place to hold us in those same hands. We know that the Sun of Righteousness is now seated at the right hand of God the Father and is interceding for you and me. Hence, it is our duty to give the light to the world now, even as the Lord God commanded the Apostle John to write to the angels of the seven churches, i.e. His servants and disciples. When a King goes to fight a battle, he carries a sword with him. Today, our God does not have a sword like the kings, but He has the Word to smite the world. Isaiah 11:4 “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” The Word is powerful, it is by the Word alone that God fights our battles. Isaiah 45:2 “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:” Revelation 2:12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;” The double edged sword that God asked the Apostle John to write about signifies the Word.

In conclusion, the Lord God tells John in the book of Revelation to write to the angels. Here the angels mean Gods’ servants and disciples. Revelation 19:15 “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” God keeps an eye upon those who are disobedient to Him. Our God’s every word is life to us.

Joshua 9:14 “And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.” The Israelites did not seek God’s counsel to maintain a relationship with the Hivites who were the people of Gibeon. Finally in the end, these people became a trap to Joshua. We must always keep our every work before the Lord and enquire of Him before we begin it. It is important for us to know His will and plan for us. In Joshua we have read that the Israelites only ate from their own belongings; but this time they took of the men of Gibeon’s victuals without asking the counsel of God. We must never let these things become a trap for us. Even the Kings of the Old Testament, before they went to war, asked the counsel of God and then went forward, after which they would obtain victory in their battles. David used to do it all the time. We too must always take the counsel of God before we take a step forward.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” What is good for us? The Word is a double edged sword. The Star must show the light to the world through the Word. Jesus Christ said “You are in my hands, no one can pluck you from my hand.” He alone can institute us or remove us from His hands.

King Saul was ousted and David was made the King. It is God’s prerogative alone to work in our life. We must always keep our faith in the Word and not in any man. God gives His Word and its revelation to His servants and disciples alone. The Word is alive and true. When we are in darkness and sin, leading an unrighteous life, it is the Word that will lift us up. God’s love and kindness is new for us every morning. John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” God has given us the Word and it is the Word that will judge us in the end.

May this Word bring blessings in our lives.

Pastor Saroja M.

Praise the Lord. Greetings to our dear readers in the most holy and matchless name of our saviour Jesus Christ.

This month’s edition we would like to introduce our Uncle Mario Fernandes (87 years old), who originally is from Goa but used to reside with his family in Malad, Mumbai.

Uncle Mario is a well-mannered , soft spoken and good natured person. By appearance he is frail and  very short stature but by God’s grace, he is quite strong and  fit for his age.

Uncle Mario has a prostrate problem and hearing disorder  but still he does most of his work by his own. His food habits are also non-fussy and he willingly eats the food served to him.

May our Good Lord always keep him in good health and strength.

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord! At this time of the year the bible study portion from the book of Acts is completed. The kids had their Sunday School exams and fared quite well. Kids from the age of 5-10 years had the oral exams and kids aged 10 years and above went through a written test. Kids were full of zest on the day of exams, it was amazing to specially see the smaller kids recite the memory verses so fluently and word by word.

We at the Rose of Sharon Sunday School are glad to announce the top performers for the year 2018.

* Junior class top 3 performers are :

* Senior class top 3 performers:

Congratulations to all the children !!

As the exams have ended the rehearsals for Christmas programmes have already started in full swing.

Do continue to remember our little children in your daily prayers.

Joy Salins