NEWS LETTER JUNE 2016
Click here for Hindi Version
Editor Note
I greet you all in the matchless name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I believe you all are awaiting for the monsoons to bring new blessings for you all.
The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:13, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
New Heavens and New Earth! Our beloved Lord is going to make all things new. The One seated on the throne has promised to make all things new. Rev 21:5 “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
Once when I was going to a meeting, I passed through Dharavi in Mumbai where the roads were very broad but unclean. On both sides of the road men and women were doing their morning ablutions side by side without any shame. This unclean place was dotted with many small hovels. My friend, another servant of God who was with me told me not to be surprised and this was nothing, for there is a place worse than this in Kolkata.
Due to Adam’s sin, this world has become unclean. Satan who took Adam’s power over this Earth, was crushed on the Cross of Calvary more than 2000 years ago. Satan has not gone to hell, he is still on this earth making the people, cities and nations unclean.
The Lord has promised us not this Earth, but a new Heaven and a new Earth.
No power of Satan can work in that new place. There will be no sin or sickness in the new world. For that city to receive light there will be no need of the sun or the moon. The light of that place is the Lamb of God. The saved of this earth will wait in His illumination.
The Kings of this world will bring glory and honour to Him. Rev 21:23–25, 
“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.”
How glorious and beautiful will this new Heaven and Earth be! To make this place unclean there will be no evil, no animals or false prophets.
The Bible says in Rev 20:10 “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever”
My beloved people do not be troubled by thinking of your problems. 
Instead thank the Lord who is making new things for you.For the short time we are living in this world, let us live holy lives and walk in perfection to our new Heaven and new Earth.
The Lord’s coming is near.
The Lord bless you to enjoy the monsoons.
Yours in His service,
Pastor Saroja M
Praise the Lord. Recently I came to know that my Dad had developed a heart condition where only 25% of his heart was functioning along with other complications like water retention etc which was affecting his health as well. I immediately called Pastor Saroja and tearfully explained his situation and requested Pastor to pray for his recovery. Pastor assured me of her prayers and I was at peace thereafter. Subsequently, my Dad’s condition improved and while he has to make changes in his lifestyle, he is much better and the water retention issue has also gone away. I thank the Lord for His mercy on my parents and specially thank Pastor Saroja for her prayers for him.
** Bro. Ramiah Daniels, Bangalore.
Praise the Lord. One day when I was coming to Church for the Sunday service, I slipped and fell very badly on my back on my building stairs. For a few minutes I just could not get up due to the impact of the fall but slowly by God’s grace I got up and came to Church. I told Pastor Saroja about it as soon as I reached Church and she immediately applied the prayer oil on my back and prayed very fervently for me. Lord Jesus gave me the strength to attend the church service and also enabled me to play the keyboards that day. The following days the pain continued but without going to the Doctor for any treatment it subsided the next week, only by Pastor’s prayers and the Lord’s immense mercy. I am truly grateful to the Lord for saving me from a very massive injury and thank Pastor Saroja for her tearful prayers for me.
** Sis. Evangela Roberts, Vakola
Praise the Lord. My family and I are staying in my Mom’s place. Last month she asked us to find a new home because my brother staying in a chawl (which was going into redevelopment) wanted to come and stay at my Mom’s place. We were in a very hopeless situation as we were having no money to buy a new home or pay money for rent. We told this matter to Pastor Saroja who earnestly prayed for our problem. By Lord’s grace and mercy we now got the news that the redevelopment plan for my brother’s home has been postponed for 5 years and hence there is no need for us to move as my brother will be staying in his old home itself. I give all glory to God for taking away all my tensions and problems. I thank Pastor Saroja who is always praying for me and my family.
** Sis. Esther Patel, Jogeshwari.
Praise the Lord. I thank my Lord Jesus Christ for enabling me pass my Second Year B.Com exams with good marks, although simultaneously I was preparing for a competitive examination. I sincerely thank Pastor Saroja for praying for me.
** Sis. Angel Roberts, Vakola
Praise the Lord. My husband’s name is Abraham and he was working in Saudi Arabia for the last 12 years. Suddenly one day his right leg went numb and he could not stand. His company sent him back to Chennai for treatment. We tried a lot of treatments and finally he was in the hospital for 3 months. At that time, I happened to see Pastor Saroja’s program on Tamilan TV. I spoke to Pastor Saroja and messaged my address. They sent me their magazine and Pastor Saroja’s Jeevan Jyothi – Vol I and II. After that within 10 days my husband was able to stand. The doctors were surprised but we had great faith in Pastor’s messages in the book and on TV. Now my husband is fine by God’s grace. I have to thank the Lord for Pastor Saroja’s TV programme as many are blessed through it. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Pastor.
** Sis. Jyothi, Chennai
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
“If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.
Now consider this:
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Life is the coffee.
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The jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life.
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The type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee.
Savour the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Be fruitful in your afflictions
Genesis 41:52 “And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”These are the end times and we know that it is the time of the antichrist. In this world every congregation will be visited by people claiming to be Ephraim, Manasseh, and Elijah. They may visit in any form, whether in the form of a spirit or any other, but they will visit. It is written in Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:”During the times of antichrist, God will send His disciples Ephraim, Manasseh and Elijah to save His people. 
The Lord God will also send the spirit of John the Baptist amidst us to minister unto us. In the life of Jacob, we know that he had two sons Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob called them both to bless them and at the time when he kept His right hand thinking it was his the elder son he blessed the younger son. Thus, the birthright of the elder son Manasseh was transferred to the younger son Ephraim. As was written in the Bible, he who will be first will be last and he who will be last will be first, became true. Mathew 19:30 “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”Here we see what happens to the ones who are Christians from the beginning. Let us see what will be the works of these people. Acts 6:2-3 says “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” These people were given the work of serving the people food, while those who were called from the Gentiles i.e. fishermen etc. were filled by God with His love and they served the Lord day and night, fighting against all evil in life and forcibly entering the kingdom of God. The Word of God says ‘Those who are first will be last and those who are last will be first’. Thus, those who were born Christians were given the work of serving the people. But those who were called from the Gentiles, worked for the Lord night and day, received the Spirit of God as a reward for their works, and forcibly reached the kingdom of God.
Mathew 8:10-12 “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Those who came from the Gentiles, those who loved the Lord God very much, those who toiled for the Lord day and night and reached the heavenly kingdom are now seated at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Those who were saying ‘We are first, we are first’, God has sent them into darkness and hell fire. What is the reason for this? We must remember those who forcibly fight with the Lord God alone win the kingdom of God. Hence it is important for us too to work hard for the Lord. God’s reward is not given to those who work for the Lord for a day, but the peace, joy and happiness is given to those who constantly toil for the Lord God. Our every behaviour, thought and works must bring glory to God alone. Isaac’s first son was Esau, who for a morsel of food sold his birthright to his brother Jacob. Jacob’s first born was Reuben who should have inherited his father’s rights, but because of his sinful doing (he shared the bed with his father’s concubines), he lost his birthright to Joseph. This happened because Reuben was careless, he thought that by default he would inherit everything in life. In our lives too we must never be careless and live our lives without fear of the Lord. Children of God should always remember that the living and mighty God neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is watching over us all the time. Even our smallest of wrong deeds hurt Him. 
Revelation 3:11 says “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” We should not be like Esau and Reuben, for we must hold on to the spirit that the Lord has given within us and be strengthened. God has given coins according to our talents, we must learn to use it to the fullest and multiply them. God will come again and He will take account of the coins given to us, so we must cling to our coins and use them to the fullest. Revelation 3:16 says “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” When we are not hot nor cold but lukewarm for the Lord, our Lord God will spew us out of His mouth.
When we feel that we are members of this church and come to church and participate with the congregation just for namesake, then we are an abomination to the Lord and the Lord will spew us out of His mouth. We have to be ‘Hot’ for the Lord, hence He has given His fire within us. When anyone speaks against our church or the Pastor we have to stand firmly for them and speak out in support for them. We have to have fire for the Lord, for His people, for His Word and for His church. God watches over us and even if we are last we will be first.
The reason for those who are first to become last is that they are neither a hot fire nor cold for the Lord. Those chosen from the Gentiles strive to work hard for the Lord, they seek the Lord wherever and whenever they can, they run here and there to hear the Word of God and thus they reach God’s heavenly kingdom. They are the ones who are privileged to sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and become worthy to enter into God’s kingdom. But the born Christians who have taken the love of God for granted are today in darkness and put in hell fire and are gnashing their teeth. Genesis 41:52 “And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Abraham means ‘multiply, spreading, growing’.Hence his name was kept Abraham. God desires the same for us i.e. to multiply, spread and grow during the end times. Isaiah 54:3 “For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.”This is a great blessing for God’s children. This is the promise for the children of Abraham. 
The meaning of Abraham is ‘to multiply, spread and grow’ on all sides. During the end times, God wishes to pour out His spirit on all mankind to multiply, spread and grow. As Jacob neared the end of his life, his desire to see his son Joseph was very strong. Genesis 46:29-30 “And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.” This travel in Jacob’s life to Goshen was his final travel and during this travel he carried everything that he had with him. David says in Psalms 103:1 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” We must love the Lord with all our heart, our soul and mind. In the verse we have read that Jacob held his son’s neck for a long time and cried with him with all his heart, soul and mind. We too must cry and praise the Lord God with all that is within us i.e. with all our heart, soul and mind. We see in the Holy Scriptures that Jacob did not forget the love and God’s wondrous doings in his life. He went to same place where Abraham and Isaac sacrificed for the Lord and he too sacrificed in the same place and then started off his final journey.
Genesis 21:33 “And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.”
Genesis 26:23-25 “And he went up from thence to Beersheba. And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.” Those of us who love the Lord, must remain a disciple of God during our travel in this world till the end of our life’s journey. Psalms 50:5 “Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” In the end, Lord calls His saints just as he called Abraham and Isaac; and as Joseph went to the same place of sacrifice and renewed God’s covenant with him, similarly in our lives too we must be entwined with the Lord till the end of our life’s journey. Just as the righteous God fearing people lived for the Lord diligently till the end, we too must have the same quality within us of love, zest and faith as Abraham, Isaac and Joseph had. God makes an announcement for the end times in the above verse ‘Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice’. God says “These people have sacrificed everything in life to renew their covenant with Me”. Peter tells Jesus “To follow you we have left everyone and everything in this world; now what about us”? Jesus replies “If you leave anything for the Lord, you will be blessed ten-fold. If you have left your family your family will be added unto you. If you have left your wealth, double wealth will be added unto you. My people who have sacrificed their families, parents, sons and daughters, have sacrificed themselves for My sake. Gather them all for they will have the privilege to be seated at the table along with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the Holy Scriptures we also know that the Lord God invited every household for the wedding in Israel. But none of Israelites went to the house of the marriage and when the Lord came and saw the empty wedding house, He asked “where are those who are invited to this marriage”? People told Him “No one has come”. So the Lord tells them to go and stand on the road and invite all the passersby and thus the house was full and the marriage took place. This is what is going to happen during the end times. The antichrist is going to come and before that God will send Ephraim, Manasseh, Elijah to show us the truth and also the way. Even during the end times, Lord’s children will increase from all sides, in this world. Just as Abraham means to ‘Multiply’, we too will multiply, increase and grow in this world. Just as John was sent into this world to make the way for Lord Jesus, the Lord God will send His Spirit into the world to save us.
Knowing all this we must be careful for the Lord and live carefully and diligently for Him. The Lord will look at our faith, trust and belief in Him. He will also see our works and then bless us. In the end the Lord will pick up such people for His kingdom. Two will be working in the fields, one will be taken away. Two will be in bed, one will be taken away. Each one of us have to individually face the judgment of God. No one can advocate for each other. Each one has to stand individually before His throne of Judgment and each one will be rewarded according to his own works and deeds.
Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”Our certificate is in the hands of our Lord God Jesus. God has not given authority to anyone in this world to decide who will reach His Heavenly kingdom. Men are partial but God will never be partial in His judgment. Men run behind positions but God sees the heart with which men have accomplished works for Him in this world. However great an individual is, even if he/she has a big ministry with many people following, yet only God can give him/her the certificate. How many souls were won for His kingdom, how you served the Lord in this world, how perfect you were for the Lord; seeing all this our certificate will come from the Lord God. God will bring along our certificates when He comes with our crown. No man knows this till the end, but our Lord God alone knows this. Jesus has told us “I go to prepare you many mansions, then I will come and take you along to your home in heaven”.
Yes we are all in a race today, but who will win and who will lose is in God’s hands alone. We all must have this desire that “I will win this race with God”. Remember, God says “I will bring along with me the crown for each one’s deeds.”
In the Holy Scriptures we know that there was once a great drought and famine in Egypt and the people sold all that they had to buy food grains from time to time for their survival. 
But we see that Joseph’s family did not have to pay for anything, rather they got all their supplies without money or without selling anything. Why was this grace upon Joseph’s family? It was only because of Joseph, his righteousness and his faith in God, for he stood truthfully and did not give into temptations in his life. Hence his family enjoyed free food grains and did not have to struggle to get their meals. Joseph’s family were thus blessed through Joseph. Genesis 47:12 “And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.” Here we see the grace of God came upon Joseph’s family because of Joseph. Today we have the grace of Jesus Christ upon us. He has never been ashamed to call us his child or brother, sister or parents. During the end times we may have to face such situations in our lives too. There may come a time of famine and drought in our lives too. 
But the children of God will be taken care of, for Jesus will take care of us. Jesus died for us on the cross, taking all our sins and shame with Him for our sakes. This is God’s gift to us and His grace for us. We will not realize this now, but when the world starts going into darkness and deep darkness, we will be able to understand the grace of God upon us. We will understand how the gentiles will suffer and how the children of God will be blessed even in these situations. Hebrews 2:11 “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren”.Because of Lord Jesus’ love upon us He does not shy from calling us His sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mother and father. It is only because of His love and compassion upon us that we will receive His grace, just as Joseph did not hesitate to acknowledge his parents and brothers. Songs of Solomon 2:4 “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love”.It is only because of Jesus’ love upon us that we have reached His banqueting table, His love and grace alone can take us to His banqueting table. This will only happen when we give God the first place in our lives, when we say to Him “Let your will be done in our lives”, when we have this kind of faith and trust in Him. Just as we have read in Isaiah 60, the people of this world will struggle for food and water, but we His children will receive everything easily at His banqueting table.
Even today, our Lord God feeds us His manna. Mathew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” People of this world think even today, that life is only about eating and drinking. He gives us ‘His Word’ and our ‘Manna’ comes from Him alone. Psalms 78:23-25 “Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.” This is God’s love for His people. He will never change. It is the same yesterday, today and forever. For those who give a big or a small offering, His love is the same, for He is not a partial God but an impartial God. We must never differentiate amongst people. We know in the Holy Scriptures how the people came to God and said “In your name we drove out demons, we preached the Word to many in your name, our good works are all these things that we have done for you”. But in the end the Lord God said “I don’t know you. You have done everything for your name to be glorified and thus you have also received your reward for the same in this world.” The Lord’s way is very narrow. Jesus said “Just as the camel cannot go through the eye of the needle, it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”. Every knee must bow down to the Lord God in this world. Our records are all with God. Remember Lot’s wife and how she loved the world more with its wealth therein. Though God gave her a chance to escape from the destruction, she turned back to look what she had left behind and was turned into a ‘Pillar of Salt’. We must remember to seek the Lord first and then all things will be added into our lives and we will become blessed people for the Lord God.
Mathew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Through God’s grace and mercy alone can we seek the Lord and His Kingdom – on our own with our many weaknesses we will never be able to seek God. Revelation 2:11 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Our God will never force anyone to follow Him, He leaves it to our own free will to follow Him. He has given us ears to listen, so let us hear and accept the Word. Just as Joseph’s family found grace because of Him, likewise because of Jesus we will find grace before our Lord God and will lack nothing in our lives.
May this message bring blessings into our lives!
Pastor Saroja M
Rose of Sharon Old Age Home
My good Lord gave me the grace to spend one week in our Old Age home and I could see how our children ministered to the inmates with so much of love.
The morning starts from 6 am with a nice bath for all the Uncles and Aunties and they are all fresh and all ready for their breakfast which is at 8 am. After their nice healthy breakfast, I could see the joy and happiness on the Uncles and Aunties faces. Then they hear spiritual music being played or watch TV programs for some time till lunch time. Then after a nice warm lunch they take their afternoon siesta till 3 pm. As soon as they get up they are served tea with biscuits and get ready for the evening prayer which is at 6:30 pm. Once their prayer is over by 7 pm they eagerly wait for their dinner. After having their dinner they are put to sleep for the day.
One of the residents – Uncle Baldwin Rodrigues aged 84 years, cannot sit or walk. If he sits for a long time his blood circulation does not reach his head. On his back he has a bed sore the size of a ten rupee coin. After his bath, his bed sore was treated and he was fed breakfast, and he said THANKS with a joyful face. We all were shocked because the Aunty who is serving in the Old age home from the beginning (Sis. Victoria) said he had stopped speaking after coming to the Old Age home and now he suddenly spoke. Praise God!
Praise the Lord! Thank you!
We thank the Lord for bringing only His chosen ones to that place.
With a thankful heart, I thank the Lord for giving this service for me and my beloved children. May God bless them and use them to serve with love.
Your sister in Christ,
Pastor Saroja M
Come summer and our children are all set into the holiday mood. The only thought is to have a fun filled holiday, but at the back of their mind the worry is the examination results. However our children of the Rose of Sharon are blessed and worry free, since they all have passed and moved into the next grade. Praise the Lord!
The children were explained a short story in which they were taught to be grateful and thankful for what God has given them and share the joy with the ones who don’t. The story is…
Once, a dog was relaxing in a garden, when it saw a cat on the top of a high wall. It thought,
“It must be so nice to be high above the ground. If only I could climb?” This feeling of envy made it so bad-tempered that it didn’t even wag its tail at its master who came to give it some milk. Then it saw a goldfish in the river and wished that it too could live in the cold water. Envy made it angry once again. Just then it heard the fish say, “It looks so nice and warm on the grass. I wish I could lie down on it.”After some time, a sparrow flew past. Seeing the dog lazing around, it said aloud, “I wish I could play the whole day like this dog. I wish I didn’t have to build a nest for myself, search for food and tire my wings.” Listening to them, the dog realized its folly for not appreciating what it had.
Post narrating the story it was surprising to see the response of the little ones who accepted that in many ways they were not thankful for what they have and were willing to accept their flaws and not repeat them.
We pray that our children continue to be grateful for all that they are blessed with.
Praise the Lord.
Sis. Shalaka Salins
One fine day in the forest, a Deer and a Frog had an argument as to who is the fastest amongst the two. The argument went on for a long time in front all the animals and finally the Frog gave the Deer a challenge for a race. All the animals were shocked as everyone knows that the Deer is the fastest runner and all were surprised to see the Frog challenge a Deer.
The day of the race arrived and all the animals came to see the race between the Deer and the Frog. The race began and the Deer who was very sure of winning the race ran extremely fast.
As the finish line approached the Deer confident that he was the winner stopped just a step before the finishing line and looked back to see if the Frog was anywhere in sight. Just as he stopped the Frog who was on the back of the Deer jumped across the finish line and won the race! Everyone was shocked including the Deer as to how the Frog completed and won the race! Actually the Frog had jumped on the back of the Deer as soon as the race began but the Deer was not aware of this at all!
Hence in life never be over confident or self- righteous. Always trust and depend on the Lord’s wisdom so that even when you are weak you can emerge a winner with the Lord by your side!
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness.”
I Corinthians 3:19
