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: August 21, 2022
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 gatherings 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 indoor public spaces.
 
 
     We are continuing limited indoor, in-person services with face mask, social distancing, temperature checks and Covid-19 testing. We are also continuing online services through Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube.   In-person Baptism and prayer service are available by attending our local service on site, attending our services on Zoom, or emailing your request to:
 
info@ministersofjesuschrist.com or prayerrequest@ministersofjesuschrist.com.
 
 
      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:
 
 
 
“The Power in Prayer and Fasting” (Part 4)
By Apostle Dennis G. Smith
 
     Again we say grace and peace be unto all the Saints of God.  As always, we want all people to know that the only way to be saved is to obey the one and only plan of salvation by repenting or turning away from your sinful lifestyle and being baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which again is the only way to save yourself from this wicked and untoward generation.

     The phrase “untoward generation,” refers to all people who are bad, crooked, unrepentant, and disobedient to the divine will of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the one and only God.  The Apostles and Prophets in the bible never told anyone that they where saved by repeating a version of the so-called sinners prayer which is sometimes referred to as the prayer of repentance which also is popular among some so-called Christian Churches.

     While it is true that all must repent of sinful ways, the only way recorded in the bible that souls were added to the one and only universal Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is by repentance from the sin of rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ and turning away from a sinful life in believing and obeying the Lord Jesus Christ, baptism in water in the name of Jesus Christ and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign of tongues. In other words there is no biblical example of people repeating the words of an evangelist to be saved, but there is example of people being saved by obedient to the command of Apostle Peter in being baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:36 - 42 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 

 Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

Acts2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  ACT2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. ACT2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ACT2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. ACT2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness gladness and singleness of heart, ACT2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

     This is also the same teaching of Roman 10:9. Notice how they confessed with their mouth when they asked the question, “Men and brethren what shall we do?” And they believe with their heart that God had made the one that they had crucified both Lord and Christ and raised him from the dead. So they obeyed the command of Apostle Peter in calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in water baptism and they received salvation. It took a lot of work to baptize all these people in water calling on the Name of Jesus Christ and to save all these people because about three thousand souls were added to the Church. 

     You should now clearly see why some Churches use the unscriptural so-called sinners prayer which is quick and easily avoids all the work it would take to baptize a large or small crowd of people in water in the Name of Jesus Christ to save the souls of the people who come to God.  When preachers are not obedient to the word of God it is pure and simple deception perhaps due to the laziness and false teachings of some so-called evangelistic preachers who may be seeking an easy way to gather a following of people after themselves.  If you can get a large crowd of people to repeat the words of a prayer and avoid the work of baptizing them, you will increase your followers very quickly and easy without much work and become the representative of many disobedient Churches that spread false teaching by telling the unbaptized people to get into a church because they never became a part of the One and Only Universal Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore were never saved. The Bible is clear in saying that except a man be born of water and Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

 Romans 10:9 - 13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

     Despite of the misuse of the so-called sinners prayer which has deceived many people, prayer is our true power and communication with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the one and only God Almighty.

     We pray when we experiences afflictions from troubles in our life. We sing songs when we are happy and when we worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only God giving thanks to him for his goodness to us. We pray for healing when we are sick and call for prayer from the Elders of the Church and the Saints of God.  We pray and ask the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of our sins when we make mistakes, and we thank him for taking on flesh and blood in becoming a man who was the son of God and the son of the Virgin Mary who died upon the cross paying the death penalty for our sins.  And if we know when to pray, and what to ask for, then it should be because we know the power of prayer in speaking directly to the Lord Jesus Christ the one and only God.

James 5:13 - 15 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

     For prayer to have power it must be done in obedience to the commandments of God, according to the word of God which is the will of God.  Prayer must be upon the grounds of faith that contains no doubt or wavering. Prayer must always be done in humility as children approaching their father.

James 1:6 - 7 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

   Let us return again to the teachings of Apostle James concerning the Prophet Elijah, the man who stood up to plead for the Lord God of Israel in the mist of the wicked King Ahab. The man who risked all for the word God and depended on God to feed him and to deliver him from the hands of the wicked King Ahab and his wicked wife, Queen Jezebel who killed the Prophets of God in promoting the worship of the false god Baal.

James 5:16 - 20 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. James 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

      The once united Kingdom of Israel divided into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom after the death of King Solomon and Jeroboam became the ruler of the Northern Kingdom eventually called Samaria.  He sets up false worship places to rival the true worship of God at the temple in Jerusalem and put in place false religious practices that continued under various Kings until we come to the wickedness of King Ahab and his wicked Queen Jezebel who promotes the false god Baal which should serve as example of the false prophets and false teachers you see today tricking and deceiving the people for monetary gain and personal recognition.  But the Prophet Elijah prays to God and has complete faith in the true power of God to deliver him giving him victory in the mist of evil wicked people and showing the power of God in challenging the false prophets of the false god known as Baal which was promoted by the wicked Queen Jezebel who seeks to kill him.

              A prayer that affected the elements of the earth that was according to the will of God.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. He was called the "troubler of Israel", by King Ahab and persecuted by Queen Jezebel, who tried to kill him. But God took care of him, and he was fed by ravens, by the widow of Zarephath, and by an Angel.

1Kings17:1- 4 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 1Kings17:2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,1Kings 17:3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 1Kings 17:4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

Luke 4:24 - 26 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. Luke 4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; Luke 4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

1Kings 18:17 - 18 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?  1Kings 18:18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.

     This should serve as an example or proof to all believers about the power of prayer which is spoken according to the will of God Almighty.  After we read the complete book of I Kings, we should now arise with complete faith and confidence that all things are possible to those that believe and trust in God without wavering.

     We as Apostolic Christians must learn how to pray for other people in such a way that we bless those that curse us and we do good to those who hate us and we pray for those who despitefully use us because we know that God has said that vengeance is mine, I will repay.  In doing so we show the power of prayer which is spoken according to the will of God.

Matthew 5:44 - 48 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  Matthew 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

We continue with the Many Infallible Proofs for Why Pray from Apostle S. McDowell Shelton:
 
Many Infallible Proofs for “Why Pray.”
21. Luke 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 
 
22. Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 
 
23.  Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
 
24. Psalms 71:21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. 
 
25.  Isaiah 40:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
 
26.  Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
 
27.  Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 
 
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 you must continue in prayer to God asking him for the Holy Ghost, calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and waiting or tarrying until you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign following speaking with other tongues as the spirit gives you utterances.  This experience with God will endue you with power.
 
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.
 
Then you must 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
  
The online service Zoom link is sent out each Sunday at 9:50 am for Eternal Life Church of the Living God and 11:00 am for the general Ministers of Jesus Christ Church services to the Saints and friends who sent in email addresses.  If you wish to worship with us, please send you email address to: info@mininstersof Jesuschrist.com and we will email you a link to join the service.  We start the zoom services 10 am each Sunday morning and 7:30 pm each Thursday Evening for Bible Study and Auxiliary meetings. 
 
      You are invited to attend and be a part of the Ministers of Jesus Christ Church Services each Sunday which are also published on Facebook through Holy Tabernacle, Ministers of Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, and Ministers of Jesus Christ Church or Dennis Smith Facebook timeline.  
 
You will need to download the zoom app to your cell phone, laptop computer, or tablet to activate your connection.  Go to Google Play Store to get your free zoom app and install it on your cell phone, laptop computer or tablet.  When you see the zoom link sent to your email address, click, or tap on the link to open the connection.  Then click or tap on the camera and microphone icon to join the service and select internet.  We look forward to seeing you and worshipping with you in the Lord!  
 
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 ONGOING GUIDANCE 
• Vaccination remains the most effective protection against COVID-19. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters 
• Frequently wash hands
• Frequent cleaning of public and high touch areas
(1) Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status if you are high risk for severe disease.
(2) consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public,
(3) talk to your medical provider about other precautions to take,
(4) have a plan for rapid testing
(5) talk to your medical provider about treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies. If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease: consider selftesting to detect infection before contact, and wearing a mask when indoors with them. Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible. Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including testing guidance.
 
Because 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.