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. 

• As of October 21, 2022, Covid-19 data is now reported about every two weeks. The latest report indicated that community transmission of Covid-19 remained in the green level which indicates that community spread is low. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has not declared that the pandemic has ended.
• Face masks are recommended in public gatherings for individual safety based on your individual health condition and health risk.  
• Gatherings indoors is allowed without face mask, but each individual should be aware of their health risk.
• Vaccinations and boosters remain the recommended most effective way to control the spread of Covid-19 by health authorities. 
• Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters are offered to everyone in the State of Georgia. 

      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:

Our Hope is in The Lord God Jesus Christ

By Apostle Dennis G. Smith

      When we turn away from living a sinful life and turn to the Lord God Jesus Christ, it changes the way we view the events in life.  People who saw each day as another day to commit actions to survive their surrounding conditions will change and speak to the Lord God Jesus Christ about whatever situation they are confronted with.  They will change from expecting things to go wrong and produce bad results to a person who now believes that all things will work together for their good.

   This is the positive, optimistic outlook on life in every situation we face when we look to the Lord Jesus for our help in life.  Because we believe in salvation, healing, deliverance from our shortcomings, and victory over evil, then we approach every matter with hope.  Parents will look upon their kids with hope of a better future because they have prayed to the Lord God Jesus Christ about their children’s situation in the schools.  Children will look upon their parents with great joy because they know that they can talk to the Lord Jesus about every issue in their family life.

 

   Hope may be defined as optimistic or positive state of mind in which a person expects thing to produce good outcomes in the daily happening throughout their life.  In other words, even bad situation will eventually work out for the good of all those who love the Lord God Jesus Christ.  This is why we can love enemies and bless those that curse us because we know that the Lord God will gives us victory.

      From this biblical story we can learn from a situation that had many tragic events that occurred in their life and looked bad from the nature eye but is turned into something good because of her determination to remain with Naomi even though she could not produce any more sons for her to marry and produce a family.  She commits to the outcome no matter what they were facing in their life.

      Naomi heard that the famine in Judah had passed and decided to return home. She told her daughters-in-law to return to their mothers' houses and marry again because her sons were dead.  At first, both Orpah and Ruth refused to leave her, but Naomi told them that she was too old to have another husband and therefore could not have any more sons that Orpah and Ruth could marry. They all wept, and Orpah decided to leave Naomi and return to her people.

      Naomi again began to try to persuade Ruth also to go back to her homeland and find another husband to produce a family, but Ruth told Naomi that "where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried."  So, Ruth is determined to remain with Naomi to the end of her life even though there is no hope of future sons from Naomi. 

      Here we see that Ruth is able to remain committed to a person and to hope in something that she cannot see with the natural eye or that would not make sense to someone looking at the situation through the normal ways of life and yet she remains committed. Naomi explains to her that even if she could have additional sons, she asked Ruth the question in other words, “Would you remain until they have reach an adult age?”  Naomi is trying to make Ruth see the natural side of life, yet Ruth is still determined to remain with her. 

Ruth 1:8 - 18 And. Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. Ruth 1:9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice and wept. Ruth 1:10 And they said unto her, Surely, we will return with thee unto thy people. Ruth 1:11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 

Ruth 1:12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Ruth 1:13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. Ruth 1:14 And they lifted up their voice and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her. Ruth 1:15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law. Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:  Ruth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Ruth 1:18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

     This is perhaps a strange way of looking at the future, but Ruth is stedfast in her expectation to remain with her Mother-in-law even though her son who was Ruth’s husband had died.  You may ask yourself the question, “what is she expecting to happen by remaining with her Mother-in-law?  This can be an example of love, and commitment, but it clearly reveals a person who is willing to remain with another person even unto death in expectation of something that they cannot see with natural observation.  Most of the time we do not commit to someone unless we can see a future benefit.  Ruth apparently is expecting a future benefit by remaining with her Mother- in- law. It is from this example of faith and love of a Moabite woman for her Mother-in-law that the plan of salvation is brought to past because King David and the Lord God Jesus Christ in the natural body descended from this linage of hope.

 "Hope" can also be defined as a strong and confident expectation of a future benefit or reward.  We are expecting eternal life and so we are determined to remain with the Lord God Jesus Christ until we die if he does not return in our nature lifetime.

 Titus1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

 Because we are willing to trust God in expectation of a better day we will never be moved.  In this you can see that hope produces a determination to continue a chosen path even when we cannot see with our natural eye the finished result, yet because we are hoping for good things we will remain on course even when we are faced with oppositions and tribulations producing hard times.

 Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; Romans 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 Trusting in the Lord God Jesus Christ and waiting on him clearly shows that we are saved by hope!!!

 Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,  Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

 Psalms 62:5 - 6 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Psalms 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

 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.