Editor’s note

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I greet you all in the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I believe this harvest, the Lord will shower you with plenty of His blessings.

Deuteronomy 30:20 “That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

When you love the Lord He will bless you with life and length of days. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. You don’t get life through good doctors, good medicines or through good tonics; but when you love the Lord, you will receive long life through the Lord. It is God who gives life and good health.

Exodus 15:26 “And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”

God will forgive all your iniquities; He will heal all your diseases. God redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies. He satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

Look at the life of Job. He lost his children and his livestock. He also suffered with sores all over his body. Yet, Job did not speak against the Lord. Job 2:10 “But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

Job said ‘naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ When he lost everything, he still loved the Lord. Finally the Lord blessed Job doubly of all that he had lost. He also blessed him with long life. Job 42:16-17 “After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days.”

Psalm 91:16 “With long life will I satisfy him and shew him my salvation.”

Through the Lord alone, our days will be multiplied and the years of our life will be added unto us.

The psalmist David who loved the Lord writes in Psalm 21:4 “He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.”

Beloved ones who love the Lord, hate evil. The Lord will preserve our souls and deliver us out of the hand of the wicked.

When David who loved the Lord, was tending to his sheep in the wilderness, the Lord preserved his soul when the lion and the bear attacked his flock. When Saul was chasing David and death was very close to him; at that time also, David did not fear. He said, ‘my soul waits patiently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.’ Even in his time of trouble, David looked to the hills from whence his help came from the Lord. Because David fully loved the Lord with all his heart and soul, therefore the Lord delivered his soul from death, and his eyes from tears and his feet from falling. Looking at all the good things the Lord did to him, David says in Psalm 103:1-2 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:”

Let the Living God who was with David dwell in you all always!

The morning after Daniel was put in the lions cave, King Darius called out to enquire his well-being in Daniel 6:20 “And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” Since Daniel loved the Lord with all his heart the Lord delivered Daniel from the lions, so that the Lord’s name would be glorified.

The Lord who saved Daniel from the lions mouth and delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace, the same God will deliver you from all the problems surrounding you.

A rich man spoke to himself in Luke 12:16-20 “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

The Bible says in Mark 8: 36-37 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

So love the Lord and protect your souls. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

When you love the Lord, all your sorrows will turn to joy and your tears into tears of joy.

May you all receive a bountiful harvest this year. May God Bless you all.

In the service of our Lord

Pastor Saroja M

Praise the Lord. I am extremely thankful to my Lord Jesus for giving me opportunity to share this testimony. In 1994 my uncle had made a case against us regarding our property. Since that time my brother was attending the court but nothing happened. The dates only used to be postponed. Recently my brother could not attend court and I was asked to be present for the case. I asked Pastor Saroja to keep this matter in prayer and she assured me of the same.  When I went to court for the hearing, the court told me that my uncle had withdrawn the case.  I thank my Lord Jesus Christ wholeheartedly for this victory after so many years and Pastor Saroja through whose prayers this was possible.

*Bro. Anand Gaikwad, Ghatkopar

Praise the Lord. I was going through a menstrual problem.  I told this matter to Pastor Saroja and she assured me of her prayers. By God’s grace within a week my menstrual problem was solved. I give all glory and praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for healing me and hearing Pastor Saroja’s prayers. I also thank Pastor Saroja for her fervent prayers.

*Sis. Esther Patel, Goregaon

Praise the Lord. I am Sis. Lajjawati from Lucknow in UP. I had called up the Rose of Sharon Church prayer tower for my sickness which I was suffering from the last 6 months. My problem was that I was getting very bad and fearful dreams. But after the prayers, I am happy to say that now I am having absolutely dream free sleep and my health is also better. I praise and thank Jesus Christ for healing me from my problems.

*Sis.Lajjawati, Lucknow

Praise the Lord. I would like to thank our good Lord Jesus for healing me through the prayer oil from flatulence in my stomach which was caused after I had lunch.   I then took the prayer oil in faith and within half an hour the pain and tightness in the stomach disappeared. I give all glory, praise and honour to our Lord Jesus for healing me through the prayer oil and thank Pastor Saroja who prays for the prayer oil every fasting prayer.

*Sis Lavina Lobo, Mira Road

Praise the Lord. My son was about to get married but there was money problem. I was thinking of taking a loan for his marriage. I told this matter to Pastor Saroja and she assured me of her prayers. By God’s grace and mercy alone the marriage happened without any problems and without me taking any loans. I give all glory and praise to Lord Jesus for hearing His daughter, Pastor Saroja’s prayers and thank Pastor Saroja for her fervent prayers.

*Sis. Bharati Mohite, Santa Cruz.

Praise the Lord. I would like to testify of God’s work in my life. I own an auto rickshaw but as I did not know driving, I had kept a driver to operate the same but the permit was in my name. Last month suddenly the driver said he has got his own permit and was going to drive his own rickshaw. I called up Pastor Saroja and told her my problem. She assured me of her prayers and told me that don’t worry, the Lord would provide a driver. I praise God that next day itself miraculously I got a driver. I thank Pastor Saroja for her prayers and praise God for giving me a good driver.

*Bro.Subramanian Pillai, Goregaon

God’s harvest.

A woman named Christa once worked for a small seed company. She loved her job. It was a source of immense wonder that each tiny seed she sold had the capacity to transform itself into something quite miraculous—a carrot, a cabbage, or even a mighty oak tree. Christa loved sitting at her computer taking orders and answering questions.

But one day she received a complaint that puzzled her. “The seeds don’t work,” the  customer said. “I bought them two months ago and still nothing.” “Did you plant them in good soil and give them enough water and sunlight?” Christa asked. “No, but I did my part,” the customer replied. “I bought the seeds. After all, they are guaranteed to grow.” “But you didn’t plant them?”  “Heavens no. That would mean getting my hands dirty.” Christa thought about this and decided that planting guidelines would have to be written. She resolved what the first guideline would be: “You must follow planting instructions for the seeds to sprout. You can’t set them on the shelf and expect them to grow.” Same way, words should implant in our heart first.

It wasn’t long before another complaint puzzled her. “The seeds aren’t producing,” a customer claimed. “Did you plant them in good soil?” Christa responded. “Did you give them the appropriate amount of water and sunlight?” “Oh, yes,” the customer insisted. “I did all that―exactly as it says on the package. But they don’t work.”  “Did anything happen at all? Did they sprout?” “Nothing happened,” the customer said. “I planted them just as directed. I was hoping to have tomatoes for dinner. Now I am very disappointed.” “Wait,” Christa replied. “Are you saying you planted the seeds today?” “Don’t be ridiculous,” the customer replied. “I planted them a week ago. I was not expecting to see tomatoes on the first day; I was patient. Let me tell you, there has been a lot of watering and waiting between then and now.” Christa knew she would have to add another guideline: “These seeds conform to the laws of biology. If you plant the seeds in the morning and expect to eat tomatoes later that week, you will be disappointed. You must be patient and wait for the work of nature to unfold before you.” Same way, we must believe the word and wait upon the Lord.

All went well until Christa received another complaint. “I’m very disappointed in your seeds,” the customer began. “I planted them  just as the package recommended. I gave them water, made sure they had sunshine, and waited until finally they produced their harvest.” “Sounds like you did everything right,” Christa said. “That’s all very fine,” the customer replied. “But what I got was zucchini!” “My records show that those were the seeds you ordered,” Christa said. “But I don’t want zucchini; I want pumpkins!” “I’m not following.” “I planted the seeds in my pumpkin patch—the very same soil that produced pumpkins last year. I praised the plants every day, telling them what beautiful pumpkins they would become. But instead of large, round, orange pumpkins, I got long, green zucchini. Tons of them!” Christa knew then that guidelines might not be enough and that it was necessary to state a principle: “The seed you plant and the time of the planting determine the harvest.” Same way, what we sow,  that  we will reap.

Pastor Saroja M

 Cling to God, He will take away our shame

Joshua 5:9 “And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.” Our Lord transformed the shame that was upon the Israelites into a blessing. Even today this is a place of blessing for us. Once upon a time we were all in pain and sorrow, there were adverse situations in our lives; but having believed in God and accepted Him as our Saviour and God, He transformed our lives. Hence the place where we are is ‘Gilgal’ for us i.e. a place of blessings. We must remember that the biggest sword the evil one uses upon God’s children is ‘shame’. Because of this shame, many people have become tired and weak and many have been lost as many of them have succumbed to such shame. But it is God’s grace alone that saves us from the shame that this world brings upon us.

From where has this ‘shame’ come upon us? It has come from Egypt. In Egypt there were many distractions for the people. Things around them looked good and attractive. They made merry with good food and drinks. Temptation for the lust of the flesh was another reason to bring shame upon them. Hence, in the land of Egypt, the people went into bondage for four hundred and thirty years. But at Gilgal, en route to Israel, the land of milk and honey, our God removed the ‘shame’ which was upon the people. John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” It is because of sin, that the Israelites were put into bondage when they sojourned in Egypt. Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Every sorrow, pain, sickness, sin and bondage that came upon the Israelites in Egypt was transformed at Gilgal which to us today, is the ‘Cross of Calvary,’ a reminder to look to the Lord who removed our shame on Mount Calvary, and rolled it away from us to be lost forever. 

The Bible says in Hebrews 13:13 “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”

We must carry our every sorrow, pain, sickness, sin and bondage to the ‘Cross of Calvary,’ and it is only after that our Lord Jesus will transform our lives, for it is at the Cross that our Lord radically alters our lives.

In the Holy Scriptures we know of the story of Rachel, a very beautiful woman loved very much by her husband. Her only sorrow and pain in life was that she was barren. Because of this she used to fight with her husband. Genesis 30:1-2 “And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.  And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?” Here we see that her husband angrily asked her whether he was in God’s place to withhold an offspring from her. But God saw her shame and delivered her out of it. Genesis 30:23-24 “And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my  reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.” God blessed her with a son and took away this shame from Rachel’s life. In the Holy Scriptures we have seen many instances where God has transformed shameful lives into a life of blessing.

We also know of Hannah’s life, and how she suffered much sorrow and pain in her life, for she too was barren. But God blessed her with Samuel and took away her shame; and later also blessed her with five more sons, thus transforming her shameful life to a life of blessings. Similarly in Elizabeth’s life in Luke 1:24-25 “And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.” Here we see how in Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth’s lives, the Lord God transformed Elizabeth’s shameful life into a life of blessing. Hence, when the devil brings about ‘shame’ upon God’s children, it is the Lord who transforms it into a blessing. We are not the first ones on whom the devil’s sword of shame has fallen upon; for in the Holy Scriptures we have seen many instances of how people have suffered pain, sorrow, shame and bondage in their lives; but because they cried unto the Lord God, He transformed each of their lives into a life of blessings. Even in our lives, however big the sorrow, pain and shame; and whatever names the world may keep for us, we must remember our Lord God will never forget nor forsake us. One day He will transform our shame into a blessing for us. Thus, in faith and prayer we must believe that God alone will transform our life.

Job 9:10 “Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.” When we believe in God, He will work wonders and transform our lives beyond the understanding of any man. It does not take time for God to transform our lives, but He will do it in His time. There is no sorrow, pain and suffering that our Lord Jesus has not suffered when He was in this world. He was the Heavenly Son sent from Heaven to Earth for our sakes. Jesus’ suffering was before all of mankind and nothing was hidden from this world. He suffered before the Pharisees, Sadducees, priests, prophets, rulers, people and even robbers on the Cross. There is no sorrow or suffering that confronts us today that our Lord Jesus did not face when He lived on this earth. Our Lord Jesus went through the greatest sufferings and pain when He lived on this earth.

Even today, we must believe that there is nothing in this world that our Lord cannot do. When I became a Pastor, no one knew the pain, sorrow, suffering and shame that I had been through. Shame came from all quarters, viz. the congregation, my family, as well as from outsiders. I faced all the shame bravely and till today I stand firmly for the Lord. My husband bad mouthed me to all my relatives in my native village as well as in my neighborhood, yet my faith was in God alone; God gave me the strength to bear this pain, sorrow and shame. I knew from the beginning that victory would be for God alone and that the loser would be the enemy, i.e. the evil one.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus crushed the devil on the Cross of Calvary and gave victory to all those who believed in God Almighty. The sword that the evil one uses is the ‘shame’ that he brings upon us. It is a test in our lives to see how strong our faith in our Lord God really is. It took twenty years for God to work this miracle in my life, leaving my husband with literally no tongue to speak; that was the punishment my Lord God brought upon him. No one will ever know and no one can count how our Lord God works in each of our lives. Our faith in God must be steadfast, only then can He work His wonders in our life. My husband eventually was baptized and He professed “Your God is my God, I am willing to worship your God now. I have lost and I surrender to your Lord.” This is what the Lord God finally wants. He is not bothered about our physical body, but He cares for our soul – He thirsts for it. Whether we are blind, dumb, deaf or lame, God does not give this importance; His only desire is to save our soul.

In my life, God took twenty years to subject my husband into His fold, but finally victory is for the Lord. Today, many of us may feel we are losers, but we must never lose our faith in God; for it is this faith alone that will bring victory one day. We should never let the sword of the evil one flower in our lives, we must never allow the ‘shame’ that the evil one brings, to prosper in our lives. When we hold steadfast to our Lord God, He will surely work wonders in each of our lives in His time, and then we can become great testimonies for His glory.

Job 9:10 “Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.”

May this message bring blessings in our lives! Praise the Lord!

Pastor Saroja M.

Praise the Lord!

During a session of storytelling, the kids were explained the story of Jonah. Post the story a quick question and answer session was conducted. The session was not only refreshing, but was also an eye opener. The two brothers Ahaz and Joshua were a surprise, as they were continually responding to each question with correct answers; and the younger one who just joined us weeks ago was most enthusiastic.

But at one point they got me surprised. When the story of Jonah was played it did not make mention of the chit (casting lots) done  by the men sailing before Jonah was thrown into the sea. It was Ahaz who prompted and said that the sailors had put a chit (cast lots) to select Jonah before he was thrown into the sea. A little thing like this might have been easily ignored, but this child ensured that each detail of the story was answered and recounted properly. When I questioned both kids as to how they were aware of it, they spontaneously responded that their Mom and Dad regularly explained bible stories to them at home.

This was a true reflection of the upbringing of these children. As mentioned in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This should be eye opener to all parents to know their responsibility of bringing up their children in the fear and way of the Lord.

This harvest let there be a harvest of the word of God in the lives of our little ones.

Happy harvest to all our readers.

Joy Salins