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: November 22, 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. 
 

     As of November 12, 2020, the City of Atlanta, Georgia remains in Phase II of the Reopening Plan.   Georgia’s “shelter in place” orders have expired for the majority of Georgia businesses. However, statewide orders state that businesses must continue to operate with social distancing and sanitation rules to keep customers and employees safe. The Public Health State of Emergency remains in effect through December 9, 2020.  

     We are continuing limited in-person gatherings to maintain the requested social distancing and online service through Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube.  The “shelter in place” order has expired for Georgians over the age of 65 unless they are “medically fragile.  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:

Sound Doctrine That Cannot Be Condemned (Part 2)

By Apostle Dennis G. Smith

Romans 12:1 - 3 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.  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.  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

The outward or external profession of Godliness seems to be so difficult for some people.  But when there is an inward change by a renewed mind it should produce an outward expression of that change.  We can see this in the human body.  Usually when a person is happy on the inside it produces a smile on the outside of their face which can be seen by all people.  When a person is angry on the inside or in their mind, it produces a frown on the outside that everyone can see.  Even though smiles and frowns can be faked, we know that there is an outward expression to the way we feel.  This should also take place in our walk with Christ.  When we change to having holy thoughts by a renewed mind, it should produce a holy appearance that everyone can see.

 

    Saints should not want to reflect the look of the harlot unless the desire for fornication is in your heart or mind.  There should be no debate about the reflection of what we believe or who we are.  When we look in the mirror who is looking back at you the Child of God, or the Child of the devil.  The doctor dresses in medical attire, so also the nurse.  The police dresses in the attire of law enforcement officers. The Judge dresses in the court room attire.  Then why are so-called Christians proclaiming they do not understand.  The word tells us to beware of false prophets that come to you in sheep clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

 

MAT7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

 

This shows us that the false individual will dress to appear to be someone that they are not within.  Likewise, someone who dresses like the world, behaves like the world, resisted righteous and holy ways is not a child of God even if they put on Godly attire and appear holy in appearance.  Why? Because their outward conduct indicates that they are not who they appear to be.  And yet someone with a holy conversation in speech that sounds Godly yet dresses like the harlot is not true to what is coming out of their mouth.  This is why holiness standards are encouraged in order to teach us to reflect who we are.  The standards do not save us, but they reflect that we are true and committed to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We present our bodies, and our life as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God which is our reasonable service.  We reflect righteousness, holiness, love, and long suffering in our appearance and conduct.  This is sound teaching that cannot be condemned.  It makes no different what false teacher say that you do not have to reflect holiness in your attire, conduct, and lifestyle you can see clearly that they are not teaching sound doctrine.

 

1Peter 2:1 - 5 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

 

The True Saints of God are not hypocrites, fakers, and pretenders but we have genuinely put away all evil ways and grow by feeding on the word of God.

We reflect in our life that we have changed and turned away from the ways of the world.  We promote the things that produce righteous attitudes and Godly conduct.  When the people who proclaim to be Saints of God do not reflect Holy conduct and appearances, they must examine themselves asking the question, “Is this acceptable to God?”  Since we are all a spiritual House, then all who are a part of that house should teach and reflect the same thing.

We continue with a Message from Apostle S. C. Johnson ……...ADD NOT!!………

 

Add NOT! (part 2)

By Bishop S. C. Johnson

     Now hear me, here is what everybody is to do.  Everybody.  What is written in the book is written in the book for you, sister.   It is written in the book for you, brother.  It is in the book and who is it for?  It is here for everybody.  Just like that red light hanging up there.  It is hanging up there for everybody. There was a man—a colored man once who ran over a red light and then tried to play ignorant.  The officer got at him.  He said, didn't you see that red light—Why did you run over it?"  The man said, "Officer, I thought it was for colored folks."  It was put up there for everybody.  And everybody whether you are colored, brown-skinned, black, red or whatever you are, you will stop at that red light.  If you do not, you are going to have trouble.


     Here is the Word of God handed down from heaven through the apostles and prophets and at last God has come with it. God came down after the prophets and gave it to the Apostles.  Who is going to obey this?  WHO IS GOING TO OBEY THIS?  You are going to do it.  If you do not do it… some people say some time, "I will, never do it; I will never be baptized.  I do not believe Jesus is God.  I do not believe in washing feet."  And it is written in the book. You are just a fool.  You are going to get baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ.  You are going to do it gladly. Sometimes the women hear this gospel at my mouth, they say, "I never wear those old dresses.  Oh yes, you will or go to hell.  “Those old hot cotton stocking,” hell will be hotter than the cotton stockings.  You are going to obey what the Word says.  Why do we have to do it?  Because the Bible says to dress modestly.


"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in with shamefacedness and sobriety; . . . (I Timothy 2:9)

 

And to be modest, it means you keep back from the extreme.  You go after the things that will kill you.  Nylons give you life.  All right!  Here is what everybody is going to do.  Nobody is going to get away. 

     You all of these little old churches, big churches, medium churches, everything.  Man has jumped up and made up some. He takes a piece of crayon and marks on a "church".  He takes a piece of cardboard (a big old cardboard box) and marks up on that—he sticks a sign up "church". 


      Let us see what Jesus said here.  "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)   Are they here?  You know they call me; they write to me. They get so angry with me sometimes. They write to me and say the Bible says, "Many false prophets shall come…" I say, "It is not talking about me. I am not many, I am only one."  I am not in that class.  There is nobody else like me.  You have not found one yet.  Have you?  If you do, tell me.  Just say, "l have found one."  But this does touch me.  


     Walk through this city and look at the little signs stuck up with "church" on the front door; "church" in the store front; "church" everywhere "church." On the corner "church." church, church.  Why is it?  Here it is: “And many false prophets…”  Not one of them speaks the same thing.  Why?  Because Jesus said, “…many false prophets shall rise…” (Matthew 24:11)   He did not say many true prophets would come. That is the reason when they get here, all of them have lies in their mouths.   Each one speaks something different.  Each one has something different to tell you. One comes along and tells you one thing, another changes it and tells you something different, another comes along . . . This is the fulfilment of what Jesus said.  "And many false prophets shall arise."  Are the people following them?  They like them. 


     Oh, they will flood the little place over.  If it does not hold but twelve, they will be in their singing—following an old false prophet.  What is that—that is the fulfilling of the scripture.  

Bible says… “after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall turned unto fables." (II Timothy 4:3 - 4)


The people want a preacher today that will tell them what they believe.  “I do not want you to tell me what I do not believe and convert me, I will not follow you. If you want me to follow you, tell me what I believe and I will follow you.”  That is what the scripture meant when it said, "They heap to themselves teachers. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…." (II Timothy 4:2 - 3)   Is that the truth?


     My God, you might think when I got here in this city, why you could not get through the streets.  You know why you get through so easily? The city is full of hypocrites. If people were here that meant it, and loved the Word of God, my God why you would not get a place standing.  No, but when I got here, they knew I was here. Some came to look me over; to see what I like: how old I was; how big, how tall.  Whether I was brown skinned or dark.  Curiosity—and they up and go on back their false church, and play the television and the smack chewing gum, paint their lips, and wear their spike heel shoes—do whatever they want.  For those who are not familiar with the Holiness Standards during the decades of the 1940’s, 1950’s, and most of the 1960’s these activities was promoted in the lifestyle of worldly people at that time.  The doctrinal emphasis was non-conformity to the world, modest apparel and moderation in all things which transcends all decades, ages, and cultures.  The Holy people of that day shunned and avoided many things that would give them a worldly appearance.  Though most of us have televisions and other media technology today, we view them with cautiousness and maintain modesty in the use of cosmetics, wearing apparel, and moderation as the eternal standard of doctrine.

     "I just went out to see him. He looked just like I thought he would."  All right and walk away and on your way to hell.  Oh, God, but I am warning you. .I am here to tell you the truth. You are going to come in this.  You that have been baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ and say you have the baptism of the Holy Ghost, you know what you are going to do—and you will do it if you are real.  You are going to come into this according to what is written here and get the "right hand of fellowship" in the Truth and then walk with it.  If you do not come in, you are going to hell.  If you come in and go out, you are going to hell. I want to leave this with you, Now, throw it off and say, "Oh, I do not believe that.  All right!  That is all right, it is written though.


Galatians 2:1 - 9 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.  But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

(Galatian 2:1- 9) Is ship that written?  Well, what is it written for?

People now jump out—one jumps out here—a little bunch, he gets a name; another jumps out here—talking about representing God.  God is going to get all of them together; and get them under what He ordained.  When you come under what God ordained then you are right.  That is the reason Paul had to go to Peter, James, and John because God called them and sent them, and they were right.  And for Paul to be right, Paul had to get with them. That is what you have to do and you are going to do it.  Don't you go to anybody's church. Don't go to anybody's church anymore!


     Many false prophets ... Many.  Is that true? Are they here? My God, they are here now. The country is infested with false prophets. When they hear the

truth of God, the false prophets do not believe it and neither do the folks.  But God said what?  "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:11)  Why deceive many?  Because the people rather have a lie preached. Paul said they would be turned unto fables.  “…they turn away their ears from the truth, and shall turned unto fables. (II Timothy 4;.4)

Lies! Is that true. Look at the world-—not just this city.  Look at the world.  Every time you turn your head, you look at a false church.  Every time you turn, you look at a false church.  Look behind you—false church. I was in Los Angeles the other day; there were three churches side-by-side.  And they were all different.  But here is the fulfilling of it.  Oh, God, but in the midst of it; God has raised the truth up. 


We will continue with these messages next in part 3……………

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

 

Present Guidelines for Individuals and Businesses in Phase 2:

·        Stay home except for essential trips

·        Wear face coverings in public

·        Frequent hand washing

·        Social distancing followed and enforced where practical

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

·        To-go and delivery orders from restaurants

·        Continue practicing teleworking

·        Frequent cleaning of public and high touch areas

 

 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.