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 30, 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 are now advising people to wear face mask in public gatherings, use social distancing, and get vaccinated for your own health and safety from the Covid-19 virus.  In some places wearing face mask is no longer mandatory in indoor public spaces. 

      We are open for 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:

Crucify the Flesh with its Affections and Lust

 by Apostle Dennis G. Smith

 

      Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

    Most people in their natural body desires comfort and pleasure.  When we speak of affections and lust, we are referring to the passions and desires that people in their sinful ways and lifestyles seek to satisfy.  

     This is why so many people will give in to or succumb to the sinful temptations of adultery, fornication or any form of sexual sensual contact outside of marriage between one man and one woman, uncleanness, lasciviousness or multiple sexual partners, Idolatry or the worship of false gods, witchcraft or the association with demons, devils, trickery and evil spirits, hatred or dislike for other people, variance or contentions  disobedience to Godly order, emulations or sinful competitions that excites jealousy, anger or rage, wrath, strife arguments and debates about personal opinions, seditions or divisions of groups of people who chose wrongful behavior, heresies of false man made religious teaching, envying or desiring with the intent to take what others have or harm them to prevent their growth, murders or killing innocent people who have cause no harm, or killing people who are not a threat to the life of other people , drunkenness or excessive consumption of alcohol or excessive and illicit use of drugs, revellings or wild parties that involve drunkardness and fornications, which Apostle Paul teaches us that they are the works of the flesh.  Apostle Paul makes us to know that those who do these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

     Apostle Paul gives us this list of attitudes, conduct and behaviors that will prevent any person who continues to engage in these behaviors from inheriting the kingdom of God. 

     It does not matter whether or not you prayer the so-called sinner’s prayer of repentance which is nowhere given in the bible as a method to be born again or as a method of salvation.  If you have not repented of your sins by stopping you sinful conduct and have not been baptized by immersion in water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission on yours sins and have not received the gift of the Holy Ghost for the power to overcome you sinful ways, then you have entered into the Kingdom of God and will not enter in the Kingdom of God and receive salvation.

    Therefore Apostle Paul reminds us that we must crucify these sinful ways.  That means we must stop this sinful conduct if we want to inherit the kingdom of God. This is what real repentance is.  

     You will have real and genuine truthful repentance when you stop practicing sin, and turn from your sinful ways. And if you should fall short or make a mistake in committing sin, you must immediately stop the sinful behavior and confess your fault.  

     This is how you put off the old sinful nature, put on the new man, the new nature of the Holy Ghost and walk in the newness of life which means to live without practicing sinful ways.  This is the simple way of understanding what it means to crucify the flesh with its desires that are not righteous.  

     All true believers must crucify the flesh if they want to be saved.  If you pray a prayer and never turn from practicing sinful ways you will not be saved, you are not born again, and you will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

     Prayer is a request to God, asking him for forgiveness of our sins through His Blood which He shed on the cross as payment for our sins.  But we must never mistake the fact that we must turn from our sinful ways.  If you ask for forgiveness while you are chewing on a stolen apple or while you are living on stolen money without stopping your sinful conduct, you have not repented of your sin and therefore cannot be forgiven.  This is the reason the Lord God Jesus Christ said, “Except you repent you will likewise perish”.

Luke 13:2 - 3 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Galatians 5:19 - 21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

      To Crucify the flesh is a deliberate action that all true believers must do to put to death the old sin nature.  All believers must learn to practice the act of denying their old selfish, sinful ways.

Mark 8:34 - 38 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.  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?  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

     Taking up the cross is generally recognized as a figure of speech to express or teach us to crucify or kill the works of the flesh. Believers are to put to death all of our selfish and sinful desires.

     We crucify the flesh through repentance of sin, which means to turn away from the old way of life, by continually saying no to the selfish, sinful passions and desires old our old sinful nature of the flesh.

     We must all come to understand that repentance is not simply praying a prayer as many has been misled to believe, but it is the actual practice of refusing to commit sinful acts during our everyday life.  We grow each day, so that every day with the Lord God Jesus Christ is sweeter than the day before.  Our love for the Lord and all mankind will grow sweeter day by day as we learn to overcome our old sinful nature walking in the Spirit of God.

     In putting to death the desires of the flesh we can expect to experience some pain and suffering, but we must meditate and think about the fact that we will experience eternal joy with the Lord God Jesus Christ when we are victorious. We must realize that the flesh and the spirit are in continual conflict and battles with each other, so our daily efforts must be to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.

     As we daily put to death our old sinful nature and stop our sinful ways, we will begin to walk in victory our carnal nature and fleshly desires. We will defeat hatred for others,sensual sexual provocative dress to entice others into sinful pleasures through our growth in Godly love and increase in desiring good things for all people. To conquer the flesh is what Apostle Paul teaches as walking in the Spirit!!

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

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 endow 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. 

  We also start the Thursday Evening Bible Study and Auxiliary meetings at 7:30 pm.  You should attend the meetings for as long as you can to learn all the Doctrines and Rules of the Church and to participate in the operation of the Church. Thank you.

       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!  

 You may also give freewill tithing and offerings through Givelify, Cash App, Visa, Master Card, American Express Credit and Bank cards or PayPal.  For cash app use the cash app link name ($MinistersofJesus935).

  ONGOING GUIDANCE 

 (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 if you are exposed and experiencing symptoms,

(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 self-testing 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.

 Everyone should remember the phrase: “My mask protects you; your mask protects me.”