|
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
|
|
Date: March 27,
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.
-
As of March 24,
2022,
the City of Atlanta, Georgia has moved to the Green Zone with community
transmission of Covid-19 trending downward below 5% community spread. This
means that transmission is lower and is trending downward and you will need
to follow reasonable guidance and caution to limit being exposed to the
virus at this time.
-
Social distancing
and face mask are recommended for gatherings to control the spread of
Covid-19 or for individual safety.
-
Gatherings indoors
is allowed but face mask and social distancing is recommended for individual
safety.
-
Vaccinations and
boosters remains the recommended most effective way to control the spread of
Covid-19 by health authorities.
-
Covid-19
vaccinations and boosters in Georgia are offered to everyone 5 years of age
and older.
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:
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:
Actions and
Teachings of the Biblical Apostles (part 8)
By Apostle
Dennis G. Smith
I
Hope that during this series all people can see that we are focusing on the
Apostle’s Doctrine. Most of the tracts and biblical literature written by
different Apostolic Church Organizations all contains similar and, in some
cases, the same statements. Because most Oneness Apostolic Assemblies teach
similar things, our writing is actually an edited version of the beliefs and
tractural writings of most Oneness Apostolic Pentecostal Church
organizations.
We focus and
emphasize the need for each generation to teach and preach the same thing
that the Apostle’s taught so that there will be no divisions or strife among
the true Apostolic believers. By emphasizing the core doctrine of the
Apostles, all people should be able to achieve a bible right salvation and
spread the truth to the entire world. This should enable all people to
recognize false prophets, false teachers, and false doctrine anywhere it is
taught throughout the entire world.
After we are saved
from sin, we are commanded, "Go, and
sin no more (John 8:11)
1Peter
1:15 - 16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation; 1Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I
am holy.
The Apostle’s
Doctrine teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this present
world. (Titus 2:12)
Titus
2:12 - 14 Teaching
us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world; TIT2:13 Looking for that
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ; TIT2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from
all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works.
The Apostle’s
Doctrine teaches us that without holiness no
one shall see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
Hebrews 12:14 - 17 Follow
peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
HEB12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any
root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
HEB12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or
profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
HEB12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the
blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he
sought it carefully with tears.
The Apostle’s
Doctrine teaches us to present our bodies as holy,
acceptable unto
God. (Romans 12:1)
Romans
12:1 - 2 I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that
ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which
is your reasonable service. ROM12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The Apostle’s
Doctrine teaches us to be holy in cleansing
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit in the fear of God.
(II Corinthians 7:1)
2Corinthians 7:1 - 2 Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2Corinthians 7:2
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have
defrauded no man.
The Apostle’s
Doctrine teaches us that
whosoever is a friend of the world is the enemy of God, therefore
we must separate
ourselves from all worldliness (James 4:4).
James
4:1 - 8 From
whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your
lusts that war in your members? James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill,
and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not,
because ye ask not. James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss,
that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James
4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the
world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James
4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth
in us lusteth to envy? James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he
saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you. James4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your
hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1Peter
4:15 - 18 But
let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or
as a busybody in other men’s matters. 1 Peter 4:16
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him
glorify God on this behalf. 1 Peter 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it
first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of
God? 1Peter 4:18
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the
sinner appear?
The Apostle’s
Doctrine teaches us that we will receive the power to live a holy
life through receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost also
known as the Holy Spirit. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you" (Acts 1:8).
Acts1:3
- 9 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many
infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God: ACT1:4 And, being assembled together with
them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait
for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ACT1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy
Ghost not many days hence. ACT1:6 When they therefore were come together,
they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the
kingdom to Israel? ACT1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know
the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. ACT1:8
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. ACT1:9
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and
a cloud received him out of their sight.
The Apostle’s
Doctrine teaches Divine Healing. It does not matter who
disagrees with
the ways in which healing occurs with or without medical treatment.
God has made Himself
known through the ages by miraculous healings and has made special
provisions in the age of grace to heal all who will come to Him in faith and
obedience. Divine healing was purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ,
especially by His stripes (Isaiah 53:5 ; Matthew 8:16-17 ; I Peter 2:24).
Isaiah 53:1 - 5 Who
hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root
out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see
him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:3
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we
esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:4
Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem
him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes
we are healed.
Matthew 8:16 - 17 When
the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with
devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were
sick: Matthew 8:17 That it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself
took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
1Peter 2:24 Who his own
self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness: by
whose stripes ye were healed.
The
Apostle’s Doctrine teaches us that the Lord Jesus went about healing all
manner of sickness and disease. (Matthew 4:23-24)
Matthew
4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and
healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. MAT4:24
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick
people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which
were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that
had the palsy; and he healed them. MAT4:25 And there followed him great
multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem,
and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
The
Apostle’s Doctrine teaches us that the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to
heal the sick. (Matthew 10:8).
Matthew 10:5 - 8 These
twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of
the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: Matthew
10:06 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew10:07
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew
10:08 Heal the
sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out
devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
The
Apostle’s Doctrine teaches us that these signs will follow those who believe
the gospel, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
(Mark 16:18)
Mark
16:17 - 19 And these signs
shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues; Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if
they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they
shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark
16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into
heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
The
Apostle’s Doctrine teaches us that
through prayer healing from sickness and miracles are available today
according to the will of God. There
is no sickness or disease too hard for God. Everyone who is a believer can
he healed by the power of God without medical aid or with medical aid
because all healing is brought about through the power of God. We can do
nothing without him!!
James
5:13 - 16 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. James
5:16 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.
“At Evening Time,
It Shall Be Light”
An edited
testimony
The purpose to restore the truth as taught by the Apostle’s Doctrine
continues to be the goal of what is commonly called the restoration
movement. The emphasis on living of a Holy lifestyle sometimes referred to
as instantaneous and progressive sanctification is that act of God by which
believers overcome the original sinful nature, or depravity, and is given a
new nature or put on the new man which brings the believer into a state of
being entirely with all their heart devoted to God.
The Believer is perfected in obedience to the commandments of the Lord
Jesus Christ and perfected in love for all mankind including enemies. This
complete holiness and entire sanctification is accomplished when the
Believer is led by the Spirit of God received by the baptism with or
infilling of the Holy Spirit, also known as receiving the gift of the Holy
Ghost with the sign following of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit
gives them utterance in which the obedient believer has a real experience
with God Almighty. The power from the Spirit of God results in the cleansing
of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy
Spirit, empowering the believer to live a holy lifestyle in the service of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Salvation and progressive sanctification is provided by the blood of
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by grace through faith. This brief summary
is what drives the Apostolic believers to restore the truth and to continue
the truth for all generations.
God performed a miracle on the earth that defied all laws of science
and logic—the restoration of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the
Faith in this present evening time. We look for light in the morning, at
high noon, or in the late afternoon, but no one for light at evening time.
We are rejoicing because, indeed, that light has come in all its
fullness and is shining brighter even unto that more perfect day!
In looking back upon our glorious past and most holy inheritance, we
see how the selected an uncertain country boy from Edge comb County, North
Carolina and raised and strengthened him in the Word of God. Within the
heart of this courageous pioneer, God set ablaze a burning light of truth
that no man could extinguish and inspired him with an undying vision of
salvation, full and free, for all of race, creed, or color.
We believe in the purpose of Apostle Johnson and many other oneness
Apostolic preachers whose goal was to preach the Whole Truth of God once
again to all the world after hundreds of years of incessant or continuing
and uninterrupted spiritual darkness.
The goal of true people of God is to give a sure witness to all people
on the earth about the totality of spiritual enlightenment returning from
the throne Of God, that divine revelation is flowing. The eyes of the blind
is beginning to see, the spiritually lame are leaping for joy, and the
corrosive forces of sin and false doctrine is still being most effectively
combated by the two-edged sword of the Word of God. The restoration and
continuation of the Holy Apostolic Church in all its power is Marching On.
Let all the Saints be reassured that
the Truth of God, the Apostle’s Doctrine is marching on and will never be
defeated!!!
The Lord Jesus Christ who is God Almighty has permitted Apostle S. C.
Johnson and others to leave The Church a most precious legacy: They willed
us the Word of God Almighty. And
we continue in the precious jewels of verbal praise that "THE VICTORY IS
OURS, IT'S ALRIGHT NOW. GIVE GOD THE GLORY."
Apostle Johnson, Apostle Shelton, and others were faithful servants of
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They served and obeyed the Lord Day after
day, week after week and year after year. Pestilence did not deter or drive
them away, neither did hunger, famine, distress, tribulation, or
persecution. But they remained at their post.
All of us who love the
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are laboring faithfully to hear him say, “Well
done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things,
I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy
lord." (Matthew 25:23)
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.
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 or before 2:00 pm to the Saints
registered 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 service
after 2:00 pm.
You are
invited to attend and be a part of the Ministers of Jesus Christ Church
Services on Zoom at/or about 2:00pm. 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! You may also give freewill offerings
through Givelify, Cash App, Visa, Master Card, American Express Credit and
Bank cards or PayPal. Use cash app link name ($MinistersofJesus935).
Currently the
following groups are eligible for COVID vaccine and boosters in Georgia:
Everyone age
5 and older. Note: Pfizer is the only COVID vaccine currently approved for
children aged 5 and older. People younger than 18 years of age are not
authorized to receive either the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19
vaccines.
ONGOING
GUIDANCE for Green Zone
• Vaccination
remains the most effective protection against COVID-19
• Practice social
distancing
• Frequently wash
hands
• Frequent
cleaning of public and high touch areas
• Practice
telework and staggered office schedules where feasible, with safety measures
• Non-essential
City facilities may open to the public. Masking will be mandated for now and
the number of persons indoors may be limited to avoid crowding
Social
Distancing guidelines:
• Social
distancing means staying away from close contact in public spaces. It
includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather and
maintaining distance — approximately 6 feet — from others.
• Social
distancing also includes minimizing contact with people when possible,
limiting nonessential travel, working from home, and skipping social
gatherings.
• All people
should practice social distancing — not just those who are seriously ill or
at high risk.
• Social
distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics.
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:
• Shopping at
essential businesses, like grocery stores or pharmacies.
• While visiting
your health care provider.
• Traveling on
public transportation.
• Interacting with
customers/clients at essential businesses.
• When feeling
sick, coughing, or sneezing.
• In all public
spaces indoors and outdoors.
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.