Ministers of Jesus Christ
Church of The Lord Jesus Christ
Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith
Atlanta, Georgia - USA
Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer

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APOSTLE'S MESSAGE

Date: October 4, 2020

To all the Saints of God,

Grace and peace be unto all the Saints of God around the World.  As this Coronavirus Pandemic continues, we are continually reminding the Saints of God that we are obeying the magistrates and following the guideline of the health and governmental authorities for the safety of all people. 

 

     Health authorities and governmental officials continue to strongly encourage people to wear face coverings in public and use social distancing, wash your hands, and get tested to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.  In some places wearing face mask is mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public spaces.  

     At this present time, the City of Atlanta, Georgia remains in Phase II of the Reopening Plan.   Large gatherings of more than 50 people are banned in Georgia unless there is at least six feet between each person. We are continuing limited in-person gatherings to maintain the requested social distancing and increasing our online service through Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube. The medically fragile are advised to continue to shelter in place.  Baptism and prayer service is continuing using personal protective equipment.

 

     As we obey the Magistrates, we have complete faith that God will continue to hear our prayers and provide a way for us through these uncertain times.

 

Romans 13:2-4 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

 

TITUS 3:1-2 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.  
    

This week’s encouraging words of growth focuses on:

Comfort Yourselves Together and Edify One Another

     There is a comforting thought for all of us who are striving to overcome all sin in our lives,  who hate the very stain of sin in our mind and body; that one day the Lord will come back again and a holy time will come for those who desire to live life without sinful ways.  For those of us who hate sinful ways but love the brethren and all mankind, we comfort ourselves in knowing that the sinful systems of the world will be brought to an end when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to take away his Church and set up his physical reign on the Earth.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

Sometimes it seems hard for worldly people to understand that when it comes to true Saints of God you are dealing with people who hate sin.  So that when they try to tempt us to do evil, our natural response is hostility toward the evil suggestion but compassion toward a repentant heart.  We hate evil because we have the Spirit of God living within us and He hates evil ways, conduct, or thought because he is Holy and there is no darkness in him at all.

 

Amos 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

 

When you are experiencing trials, persecutions, scorning, and ridicule you must be able to reflect on positive outcomes for your sufferings and pain.  For sure we are comforted knowing that we will rise again from the grave and that our spirit will be always with the Lord Jesus Christ if we should die before he comes back again, but we also take comfort in knowing that the ways of evil the world will be brought down and the way of righteousness shall prevail for  all eternity….

 

Hebrews 1:8 - 9 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

 

When we all know that anyone who condones sin, will not inherit the Kingdom of God, we can fully understand and explain to all men that turning from their sinful ways is a part of the salvation message of forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ. It should not matter who tries to deceive people by telling them that repentance in not a part of salvation. 

 

     Most of us define repentance of our sins as turning away from sin because this is the final result of a repentant heart that is converted and regenerated.  This is also the final result of the change of mind when one is sorry or regrets the sin in their life……To go beyond this simplicity leads to a lot of word battles over the struggle with sin in the life of a Christian.  This is perhaps the same word battle that goes on with perfection.  Neither of these points or issues mean an absolute sinless life because we all make mistakes and fall short at various times for various reasons, but we continuously ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us for our trespasses as we forgive those that trespassed against us.   All should come to realize that the indwelling Holy Spirit has no sin in him, and imparts a new nature that has no sin in each of us who receives the gift of the Holy Ghost.  And when we surrender all to his control and abide in him, we will not desire to commit or practice sin.  If we practice sinful ways or lust after sinful ways we are not allowing the Holy Ghost to lead us and it is all the same as not knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ or not receiving the Holy Ghost at all.

 

1John 3:5 - 10 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

 

     In our repentance, we have a new mindset and new heart to overcome all unrighteousness, we have no desire to commit or practice sinful ways.  We should come to realize also that the proof of conversion and regeneration by the Holy Ghost is a life lived in righteousness set apart or separated from worldly sinful desires so that we continually rely on Faith in the blood of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost to help us to overcome all of our shortcomings which comforts us as we press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.  Anyone that practices sin is led by the devil!!!

 

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

 

     We never endorse people feeling good about committing sin or continuing to willfully practice sin in their Apostolic Christian lifestyle.  The endorsement of sin is a thing that is hated by the Lord Jesus Christ.  The teaching of doctrines of seduction using idols and fornication leading to the practice of sensual desires is a complete departure from the Apostolic Christian Faith.  Many Church historians describe the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which is hated by the Lord Jesus Christ as a form of fornication or adultery in sharing wives or married people engaging in wife swopping.  

 

     We see this happening today with people in essence trying to justify different forms of fornication such as same sex partners in the Church.  Any attempt to make people feel satisfied with sinful ways or accept sinful ways is a thing hated by the Lord Jesus Christ.  People accusing others of judging them when their sinful lifestyle is rejected is in essence condoning a lifestyle that will lead to eternal damnation.

 

Revelations 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Revelations 2:14 - 15 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

 

All of these terrible things will come to an end because the Day of the Lord will come, and he will deliver us from the pains on sin and we will be glorified and spend eternity with him.  We can be comforted knowing that if we press on, enduring as a good soldier, we are not appointed to the wrath of God which those who are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will receive in the day of the Lord.

 

1Thessalonians 5:1 – 11 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

 

We continue with a Message from Apostle Shelton…………..The Day of the Lord……………………

 

"The Day of the Lord"

By Bishop S. McDowell Shelton

 

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall away with a great noise… (11 Peter 3:10)

 

Let us be reminded lest we forget the purpose of it all; the reason we have made sacrifices, and why we continue to make sacrifices and to deny ourselves:

cause we still believe that "The Day Of the Lord" will come!  This second epistle, beloved, I write unto you…Peter was writing this second epistle because people always need to be reminded about something that is spiritual.   People never forget, or it is hard for them to forget something that is natural or carnal. 

 

'This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken by the Holy Prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts," (11 Peter 3:1-3)

 

There will be some that will trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ. There will be many things that shall rise up, but you must hold the confidence that Jesus Christ promised and declared:

 

that “…upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) 

 

I do not care how much hell seems to be pounding against the doors or if it seems as if the Church is going tumble over—God's Word is sure.  We told you previously that evil seducers shall wax worse.  We do not look for times to get any better; they are going to get worse. You had better prepare yourselves before they come.  Only those who are sincere, those who have completely surrendered and have their minds made up, will be able to stand in that time of trouble.

 

     There are some that say "Where is the promise of His coming?”  “We have heard about His coming.”  They look on it as being some fictitious story.   In this time of great learning when they are ever learning, but never coming into the knowledge of the Truth (scientific experiments).  When you tell them that God is coming to destroy the whole earth, they look on you as if you are superstitious----as if you are mad.   But nevertheless,

THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME.   And how is it coming?  Will there be an announcement?  Will there be a notice in your local paper? On your radio? Or On your TV?  No announcement!  You will at your job doing your work—"one" will be taken and “the other” left.  'Two" in the "Same room, in the same bed, (husband and wife) "one" taken and "the Other" left: for in a moment . . . There will no time to confer one with the other.

 

"He that is unjust, let him unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him filthy still: and he that is let him still: and that is holy, him be holy(Revelations 22:11)

 

No time for repentance! No time to change your mind! No time to make a decision for Christ! It will an instantaneous, a action: the day Of the Lord.  Someone may ask, "Is this referring to twenty-four hours?”   No!   It refers to a very long period: a period that shall precede it. 

 

This shall start off with a time of trouble as Daniel talked in Daniel 12:1.. and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  

 

Jesus it also in Matthew 24:21 to let us know that there has never a time like this, and indeed it shall become more intense.

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 

 During this time of trouble, the Church shall be caught away.  Then that "wicked one" that "man of sin" recorded in Thessalonians is going to have his full sway.

 

Thessalonians 2:2 - 12 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:   Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:   That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

The daily sacrifice will have been taken away: the prayers of the saints (the ones who are baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ and have continued in the faith). They have not gone out to seek some other way to appease what they want to do, Or what they think is right. They have stayed in the holy place. They have not gone out and founded a church, themselves, and then try put Bishop Johnson's name on it as Founder.

Bible says, “…all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: …(Revelation 21 :8)

Those who are baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and have the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues and have continued steadfastly, are going to be with the Lord in the mid-air. Those who are "just baptized" will NOT be there!  And let me make that clear. I thought that would wake you up. THOSE WHO ARE JUST BAPTIZED WILL NOT BE IN THE BRIDAL FEAST WHEN WE ARE UP THERE WITH THE LORD.

This is an exclusive feast; this is an exclusive affair. The only ones that are invited must be born again of both the water and the Spirit. Nobody else can come. One tried to come in who was not right and was "How cometh thou?”  How are you coming in here and you do not have your wedding garment on?

 Not dress right.  You better make sure you are dressed right or you will not be able to in………………….   

 

“….when the king came in to see the guest he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment : And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a garment? And he was speechless.  Then said the king to his servants, bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:11-13)

 

Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection.  However, the Lord is going to be merciful and he is going to judge those that are righteous. He is not going judge holy folks.  Anytime you are to be judged, you are not going to make it (in the first resurrection). You should judge yourself when you are holy because you are to have the job to be judges with the Lord.  As princes and rulers, you are going to reign with Him.  All the righteous dead, the old testament saints—those who came through great tribulation.  Those who are baptized in Jesus name and do not have the Holy Ghost, but have done everything they know is right to do (tarried every day and every night, all the time continuously). They are coming along with the righteous dead because they are only righteous; they are not holy, yet.   That will be after the battle of Armageddon.

     After this time, there will be the great war between the holy and the unholy forces, and the Lord shall come back on the earth and destroy all the wicked with the brightness of His coming. "Then will be a time. The righteous shall come on later.

 

Revelation 7:9 - 14 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;   And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 

This is a part of this long day, but the revenge has not ended yet.  During the time in tribulation there shall great suffering and the waters shall turned to blood.  They shall be smittened by the sun and by sores which will not heal.  They shall bite their tongues for pain.  They shall be smittened with blindness and other things: from this darkness shall come the various beasts that shall be pestilence, and the other things that shall come them.   And yet, with all this, they shall not repent: They have taken the mark of the beast and have worshipped his image.

 

     But the day of the Lord will come and during the time of the Millennium reign which shall follow tribulation.  Tribulation is in between the "end" of the

dispensation of grace and "just before" the Millennium reign.  For grace Shall end, oh yes it shall. They are going to seek Him, but they will not find Him. They shall call, but He shall not answer.  Why is it?  Because "grace" has ended. The mercy door will be closed.  There was a cry in the street saying, “Behold the bridegroom cometh,” and you did not go in.  Knock on the door----too late.

 

     After a thousand years are finished then Satan shall be loosed for a short season.  He is going to gather together these wicked folks. Still with all of this, with all the experience, with all the Word—they shall not change. You know there is a wickedness that will not change.

 

"And I saw an angel standing in the Sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the mist of heaven, come and gather yourselves together unto the Supper of the Great God.” (Revelation 19:17)   

A great feast: the dead that die in the war between the righteous and the unrighteous forces.

“That ye may eat the flesh of kings,…” (Revelation 19:18)  

Rulers are going to die; great men are going to die; poor men.  People that no one knows their  name, but those who were there when they were born.  Obscure, but his faith will the same as one who is known the world over, if he is wicked.

 

Revelations 19:19 - 21 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

 

The sword preceded out of His mouth--- the sword of the word.  All God has to do is speak it.  If he says “live,” you live.  If he says “die,” you die.

 

Revelations 20:1 - 4 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

 

You know the Bible is written in a way that you have know it all to understand it. One would think that the fire was already burning from the 20th verse on, because it says, “They were cast into the lake.”  But actually, the fire will not start until after the thousand years is over. Satan is going to be bound: he cannot be cast into the fire until he loosed a season.  He will held in check during the thousand-year reign when a holy people shall live on this earth. 
They shall be born holy as God intended for it to be in the Garden of Eden. God’s purpose is going to be worked out —His original purpose, because Satan will not be here tempt. "And when the thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. (Revelations 20:7)

 

Revelations 20:7 - 15 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  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.  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

   Do not be deceived for the “Day of the Lord" will come. It is going to last forever and ever.  There will no more returning. You shall be lying in hell calling for mercy— mercy ended. PREPARE YOURSELF!

 

2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

 

May the Lord Bless you and Keep you and eternally hold you in the center of his will, may he open your understanding that you will come to know that you must repent of your sins and be baptized by immersion in water in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, then continue in prayer, tarrying until you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign following speaking with other tongues as the spirit gives you utterances.  Then you must leave the principles of the doctrine and go on to perfection overcoming the love of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s Doctrine remembering always that he that endures until the End, the same shall be saved.  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God Almighty. Amen


With perfect love,
Apostle Dennis G. Smith

 

Coronavirus outbreak in Churches from health reports:   October 4, 2020

·       Most are now following the COVID-19 outbreak among President Donald Trump and the Whitehouse.

 
Present Guidelines for Individuals and Businesses in Phase 2:

·         Small private gatherings of no more than 10 people, with social distancing.

·         Large Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned in Georgia unless there is at least six feet between each person.

 

 Social Distancing guidelines:

When to Wear a Mask:

Those who are staying home and have no close contact with people who are infected with COIVID-19 do not need a mask most of the time. However, wearing a nonmedical or homemade mask may be helpful in certain situations or for certain populations. Wear a Mask when:

Because homemade masks protect everyone else from the droplets created by the wearer, it is important that as many people as possible wear these masks when leaving their homes. This helps prevent those who may be infectious but are only mildly symptomatic or not symptomatic from spreading the virus to others in the community.

Everyone should remember the phrase: “My mask protects you; your mask protects me.” By increasing the overall number of people who are containing their coughs, sneezes, and other droplets, it will help us control the overall spread of the virus.