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: April 11, 2021
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  April 8, 2021, the City of Atlanta, Georgia remains in Phase 2 of the Reopening Plan due to the infection rate of the coronavirus.   
·        Social distancing is recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to control the spread or for individual safety.
·         Covid-19 vaccinations in Georgia are offered to and open for everyone 16 years of age and older.  Note: Pfizer is the only COVID vaccine currently approved for children aged 16 and older.
 
     We are continuing online service through Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube.   Baptism and prayer service are available using social distancing and 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:
 
What is the Truth About the Celebration of Easter? (part 2)
 By Apostle Dennis G. Smith
 
     Commemoration is defined as recalling and showing respect for someone or something.   To celebrate or to acknowledge a happy day or happy event with a social gathering or enjoyable activity.  To perform a religious ceremony publicly.  Holidays appear to have been a part of Christianity from the beginning, with the Lord's Day (Sunday Worship) and Easter being the oldest holidays. The earliest Christians encouraged the observance of holidays as a way to be reminded of important spiritual things.  Thus, Easter and the celebrations leading to it was designed to depict or portrait the biblical happenings in the earthly life of Jesus Christ leading up to his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

     Some Christian groups feel that Easter is something to be regarded with great joy: not marking the day itself but remembering and rejoicing in the event it commemorates—the miracle of the resurrection of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In this spirit, these Christians teach that each day of the year should be kept holy, or that we should live holy each day of our life according to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  They support this textually with reference to the letter to the Colossians 2:16–17: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is of Christ."   These Christians do not see this scripture as teaching against holidays, but rather as teaching against using holidays as points of judgements or calling a holiday or any day itself as a sinful day.

Colossian 2:16 - 17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

     When we examine the Easter Celebration, we find the word "Easter" to be the name used by some bible translators for the word meaning "passover".  Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover celebration because according to the Bible, the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Resurrection took place during the time of the Jewish Passover.

       In most European languages the Passover Feast is called by the word used for the translation of "passover" in those languages; and in the older English versions of the Bible the term Easter was the term used to translate the word "Passover".  Since Apostle Paul said that Jesus Christ is our Passover and the Lord Jesus Christ kept the Passover Feast and instated Communion Service to do in remembrance of him on earth in flesh and blood, it is for these reasons that many observe this celebration during this time of the year.

Acts 12:2 – 5   And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.  And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)   And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.   Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Matthew 26:1- 2   And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

 1Corinthians 5:7- 8   Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Matthew 26:17 - 19 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?   And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.  And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Matthew 26:26 - 30 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

     Easter, also called Resurrection Sunday, is the Christian festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.    Easter and the holidays that are related to it are moveable feasts which do not fall on a fixed date in the Gregorian (Christian Calendar) or Julian calendars which follow only the cycle of the Sun.    Its date is set from the date of the Passover and is therefore calculated based on a lunisolar calendar similar to the Hebrew calendar. The First Council of Nicaea (325) established rules for setting the date for Easter in an effort to have all Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ on the same day.  The point of this, is to recognize that Easter does not claim to be the actual day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, only the recommended day for all Christians to commemorate and celebrate his resurrection.

     Because the word Easter is also the word used to designate springtime in some places, many worldly and non-Christians groups also observe this time of the year with worldly festivals and pagan traditions which are sometimes incorporated into and made a part of family gatherings and social convocations. Additional customs are associated with Easter and are observed by both Christians and some non-Christians groups that include egg hunting, the Easter Bunny, and Easter parades.  There are also various traditional Easter foods that vary regionally.
     Many Puritans saw traditional feasts of the established Anglican Church, such as All Saints' Day and Easter, as an abomination.   The Puritan rejection of Easter traditions was (and is) based partly upon their interpretation of 2 Corinthians 6:14–16.

2Corinthians 6:14 - 18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?   And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

     Some believe that if a religious practice or celebration is not actually written in the Bible, or not taught by the Apostle’s Doctrine the commemoration or celebration is a later development and is unnecessary.  And since it is unnecessary for salvation or worship, it is up to each individual in the choice of observing the celebration if it contains no sinful acts or pagan traditions.

     Some Christians as a part of their testimony against observing the times and seasons, do not celebrate or observe Easter or any traditional feast days of the Catholic Church, believing instead that "every day is the Lord's day”, and that elevation of one day above others suggests that it is acceptable to do un-Christian acts on other days or the need to live holy everyday is unnecessary.   Some Christians have been persecuted for non-observance of special Holy Days while choosing to live holy every day of their life instead of on special days.

Some Christians reject the celebration of Easter, seeing it as originating in a pagan spring festival taken over by the "Roman" Catholic Church.  Some of those Christians believe that Easter was simply a spring festival to the goddess Eastra, which came around the time of the Jewish Passover and was later incorporated into the backslidden church.

Some Christians believe that the Communion and Foot Washing Service in Luke 22:19–20 and 1 Corinthians 11:26 is a commandment and ordinance to remember the death of Christ.

1Corinthians 11:23 - 26   For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:   And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
 
From this scripture reference you can see that Communion Service also called the Eucharist was instituted during the Passover Feast or what some called the Easter Feast.

          Easter customs vary across the Christian world, and include sunrise services, Paschal greeting or greeting each other on Easter with the saying, "Christ is Risen and the response ,"He is risen indeed", clipping the church which is members holding hands forming a circle facing outward around the Church, and decorating Easter eggs as symbols of the empty tomb.     

     Despite early concerns about paganism infiltrating Christianity, it is written that some Christians began to develop a different perspective on the matter of pagan holidays.  Rather than seeing pagan holidays as a threat to Christianity, pagan holidays and customs came to be viewed as a way to encourage and ease conversion to Christianity.   Some early Church fathers were careful to emphasize that Christian holidays should be very unlike pagan holidays. They were to be characterized by serious devotion and good conduct as a way to be reminded of important biblical spiritual teachings, biblical events and as a way to combat or fight against and defeat the riotous and sinful conduct of pagan celebrations.
 
 
We continue with a Message from Apostle S. McDowell Shelton …. “Easter—To What End Is It All?” ………
 
"EASTER—TO WHAT END IS IT ALL?" (Part 2)
 By Bishop S. McDowell Shelton
    
 Where were all these palm-layers and garment-throwers then, at that so crucial time? Where were their mouths, then? Where were their hosannahs, where were all of the praises? Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem was a symbol of betrayal.  In fact, it was the ultimate in betrayal!   

     This is what you are actually celebrating when you celebrate your so-called "Palm Sunday".   You are celebrating the lowest level in man—the level of his baser self: deception and hypocrisy. This is what you are really celebrating. You are celebrating people who prayed to Him and praised Him one day and did not stand up for what they prayed to and praised a little while later! You are honoring inconsistency and all of those lessor and baser elements in man. You are not celebrating greatness in man.   You are not even celebrating anything pertaining to Christ, for He did not go into Jerusalem to set up His kingdom.  His kingdom is not of this earth. The only kingdom He has now is in our minds and in our hearts, as the inner man.  It is there that He sets up His room, and in His Church, But the time is coming that He is going to come and set up His kingdom all over this earth and it will not be long, God willing.  It was of no avail to Christ that they broke off the branches of palm to give to Him, even though they did perceive that He was a prophet.

       Let us make it perfectly clear that His entrance into Jerusalem was at the beginning or around the season of the Feast of Tabernacles and of Unleavened Bread when it was customary to take the branches of the trees and make sitting booths of them. So, they did nothing extra special when they strewed the palm Branches in Jesus' path! It was merely an old custom—the custom of the Feast of Tabernacles, when they made brooms, and booths in which to sit, and heard the law, along with meditating in sackcloth and ashes and all the other things.  Eventually, some of them would have cut down branches from the palm tree anyhow, so it was no big thing!   

     Of all the days during this pagan holiday, "Palm Sunday" is the worst! "Palm Sunday" is the most senseless!  But also, "Ash Wednesday" shares in this ridiculousness! (For further reference concerning the palm branches, the booths, and the meditation, read Leviticus 23 :29, Leviticus 23:39-40, and Nehemiah 8:15)

     But to what end went He into Jerusalem?  Was it to establish a "Palm Sunday"?  We think not; in fact, we know not!  So, to what end went He into Jerusalem?  Was it to have a parade?  Was it to have a party?  Not at all, because before He went, He knew His reason for going, and it was not for an occasion of which the flesh could glory.  So, again, to what end went He into Jerusalem?  Just to ride on His donkey, to ride upon an ass?  Not so!    He made Himself clear to His disciples.   He knew where He was going, and He knew why He was going. 

     In Matthew, the 20th Chapter, He told them: "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called but few are chosen.   And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the Chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him and the third day he shall rise again. " (Matthew 20:16-19)

     Please note that He did not tell every-body this: He told His disciples because He knew they were strong enough to take it. But even if they did not have the endurance that time, they were going to get it. within them, and then after having done all to stand—they would stand!  But even they (the disciples) would not stand with Him when it would come time for Him to die. They were going to disappear at the time of His peril.

       So, He took His disciples apart and said unto we go up to Jerusalem". But to what end are you going up there, Jesus?  Every time we go up there, they chase us out or something else happens.   And that old chief priest was talking about it's expedient this year that one man should die for the people, and that we shouldn't preach anymore in that name (Jesus' name).   And so, are you still going up to Jerusalem, Lord?   You are going up to Jerusalem and you know that they had already locked up John (the baptizer) and have cut off his head, and you mean you are still going?  What are you going to do at Jerusalem?  Or are they going to treat you any better than they did any do the other prophets?   Won't you; like all the Other prophets, suffer an ill fate?   To what end are you going up there?   Won't you come to say, Lord, that this same people, this same city whom, upon your entrance, cut down branches and spread their garments in your path, moved you to cry out, "0h, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not." (Matthew 23:37)   

     Yes, He looked upon them as His children, and they were. The whole world was and is.  He would have gathered them together, but each one went his own way and had his own idea. "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed He was going not to have "Palm Sunday" !   He was not going to Jerusalem for someone to buy Him a new suit and to put palm in His lapel. Or for a woman to buy a new outfit and put palm somewhere on her.
       
     You may have come out of the ground, but you are not a palm tree growing out of it: He was going to Jerusalem to what end?  To be betrayed!  Not for these trivial Spring festivals that mankind has tried to affiliate with His death and resurrection.  

     They tried to incorporate this pagan Spring festival into the so-called Christian calendar, particularly those of the eastern provinces whose feasts of unleavened bread or passover came very close to the time in which they had selected for their vernal equinox, which is called the adoration to the goddess "Eastra" or the goddess of Spring, commonly known to you as "Easter". 

     They had seven days of the unleavened bread and the so-called Christians of that time did not want to be out done, so they said—well,  He entered into Jerusalem a little before He arose, so we will approximate that period of time (from the time He entered into Jerusalem to the time He arose) to be around eight days and call it "Holy Week". And ever since, they have incorporated Christ's entrance into Jerusalem as part of this "Holy Week".

     But we would like to ask—where are the holy folks to keep it?  Oh yes, these folks who initiated Easter used the palm, but they left out the true reason why He entered into Jerusalem.  To what end? To be betrayed!   To this same end was He born, that. He might redeem man back to the holy state that he had lost in the Garden of Eden.  This is why He went; this is why He existed in the flesh, because in His spirit form, He exists from everlasting to everlasting!  "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

     With Him when it would come time for Him to die. They were going to disappear at the time of His peril.  So, He-took His disciples apart and said unto we go up to Jerusalem". But to what end are you going up there, Jesus? Every time we go up there, they chase us out or something else happens. And that old chief priest was talking about it's expedient this year that one man should die for the people, and that we shouldn't preach anymore in that name (Jesus' name).

      And so, are you still going up to Jerusalem, Lord? You are going up to Jerusalem and you know that they had already locked up John (the baptizer) and have cut off his head, and you mean you are still going? What are you going to do at Jerusalem?  Or are they going to treat you any better than they did any ('f the other prophets? Won't you; like all the other prophets, suffer an ill fate? To what end are you going up there? Won't you come to say, Lord, that this same people, this same city whom, upon your entrance, cut down branches and spread their garments in your path, moved you to cry out,
          "0h, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stones them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not." (Matthew 23 :37)

     Yes, He looked upon them as His children, and they were. The whole world was and is. He would have gathered them together, hut each one went his own way and had his own idea. "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed He was going not to have "Palm Sunday" ! He was not going to Jerusalem for someone to buy Him a new suit and to put palm in His lapel. Or for a woman to buy a new outfit; and put palm somewhere on her.

       You may have come out of the ground, but you are not a palm tree growing out of it: He was going to Jerusalem to what end? To be betrayed! Not for these trivial Spring festivals that mankind has tried to affiliate with His death and resurrection. They tried to incorporate this pagan Spring festival into the so-called Christian calendar, particularly those of the eastern provinces whose feasts of unleavened bread or Passover came very close to the time in which they had selected for their vernal equinox, which is called the adoration to the goddess "Eastra" or the goddess of Spring, commonly known to you as "Easter". They had seven days of the unleavened bread. The so-called Christians of that time did not want to be out done, so they said—well, He entered into Jerusalem a little before He arose, so we will approximate that period of time (from the time He entered into Jerusalem to the time He arose) to be around eight days and call it "Holy Week". And ever since, they have incorporated Christ's entrance into Jerusalem as part of this "Holy Week".

     But we would like to ask—where . are the holy folks to keep it? Oh yes, these folks who initiated Easter used the palm, but they left out the true reason why He entered into Jerusalem. To what end? To be betrayed! To this same end was He born, that. He might redeem man back to the holy state that he had lost in the Garden of Eden. This is why He went; this is why He existed in the flesh, because in His spirit form He exists from everlasting to everlasting!

'"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:  if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."  (John 18:36)

     They wanted to know was He king of the Jews, but He replied that His Kingdom was not of this world.  His kingdom was coming from another place, and not from this earth.
            "Pilate, therefore said unto him, Art thou a King, then?  Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king.  To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." (John 18:37)

     Pilate had asked Him was He a king then, and Jesus answered, “Thou sayest that I am a king." For once Pilate told the truth!  But that was not what Jesus was interested in at that time, for He came in the form of a servant. He was not utilizing His rightful kingship. He would put this flesh (His body) on the cross to die, but we do not see in the Holy Scriptures where it occurred on a day dubbed "Good Friday".  This was to shed its blood, be buried, and would rise again after three days and three nights. Then, it would be glorified and ascend into heaven, where it could be caned king again. 

     He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, for He indeed is God, especially after He had taken off the form of a servant. But for that present time and place He did not come to be a king.  He came to be a servant. That is why on the cross you hear the flesh talking to the Spirit. The Spirit kept the kingship, but the flesh took on the role of a servant.

        "Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king." (John 18:37)   And believe us, Jesus was no idiot! For Him to say that He was a king would be malefactory against Caesar.  And even though He did not say that He was a king they trumped up false witnesses against Him and convicted Him, even though none of the witnesses could agree with one another.  They charged Him with malefactory; and malefactory—being a civil matter—should have taken to the Roman Court, but they tried Him in the Jewish court instead, which' was a religious court and He had not even committed a religious crime! They had Him in the wrong court, but of course, the whole thing was a set-up from the beginning! The whole thing was a setup, and you mean you would actually celebrate a set-up?  Of course, you would because you are a flunky anyhow, and you would celebrate anything!  Poor thing, you don't know any better! Here, you are celebrating a set-up.  They were setting up Christ the Lord! and did! He came into Jerusalem meek; He came into Jerusalem with death on His brows, He came into Jerusalem to be betrayed—knowing that one who would sit at meat with Him would kick up His heels against Him.  And you claim this was a time for joyous, celebration?

          "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." (John 18:37) To what end was He born? To bear witness unto the truth. And why did He go into Jerusalem? To be betrayed.

"And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and, said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. "(Matthew 20:17-19)

     They were going to condemn Him to death! He had come to His own, and His own received Him not.  He found out (as if he did not know it already) that a man's enemies are those of his own household.  When He went into Jerusalem, he was going to see all those folks who had known Him and who had known His family, but nevertheless the prophecy was going to be fulfilled that they were going to cry, "Crucify him."   

     Not only were they going to do that, but they were going to deliver Him to the Gentiles to be tortured, as was the sport—the sadistical sport of the ancient Romans.  They would put helpless victims in arenas and watch as wild beasts mauled them to death.  Or have them fight against someone, without a sword or any other weapon.  And before they died, these ancient Romans would obtain a horrible sadistical enjoyment watching them suffer. 

      And so they condemned Christ to death, and delivered him to the Gentiles to be mocked. The Gentiles, however, were not necessarily aware of the Prophet Isaiah's prophecy that—"For unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end ..
(Isaiah 9:6-7)

Indeed, the Gentiles were not necessarily aware that the Holy Scriptures had already proclaimed—"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

The Gentiles were not necessarily aware that the Scriptures had already said—
'"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
 (Isaiah 40:1-3)

The Gentiles were not aware of these things, neither were they necessarily aware of the prophecy which had gone out that strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35:4-6)   

     But the Jews were aware of these Scriptures, for it was one of their own prophets who had prophesied concerning this, and they had observed what Jesus had done! They were very much afraid of Jesus' popularity and His power. They were extremely afraid that their craft was being set at naught, and that the old order and the old system was being done away with; for these were High Priests, and if a new priesthood were introduced, they knew it would no longer be the old order of the Levitical priesthood.  

     Christ was bringing in a new and holy way, and those guys would have been out of a job, so to speak! You can look through the Bible all you want, but you will never find where God ever selected any of the priests of the Old Testament systems to be priests or Apostles in the New Testament.  He went and selected a fisherman, and got this one doing this, and this one doing the other, but never a chief priest or any of those other priests.  And these priests were well learned in the Scriptures, but He chose not a one!  How could He tell or teach them anything, when they would be telling Him about what Moses said or did, or the other?  (But Christ told them—"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad." (John 8:56)   Christ was before Moses!

     Jesus went and got individuals who were never preachers before, so He could make them and mold them, these disciples were not plagued by ordinances; they were not plagued by ' 'have-been" and "used-to-be's."
To what end is all of it?  The Scriptures shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Matthew 20:19)   

     He was going to rise again He was telling His disciples this, but. it takes patience.  So, are you finally getting the picture—that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to be betrayed, to be condemned to death and to be crucified?

   As we close out these messages, we hope that we all come to realize that we must fully understand the truth about Easter, the springtime celebrations of the year, and the need to continue to live a holy lifestyle each day of the year.  We must examine the things that we do and allow to be done each day of our life, always following righteousness and continuing in love for one another.  The Holidays we celebrate are not points of judgment but we must understand our own individual choice and avoid all sinful conduct.     So, we commemorate and are thankful for the miracle of the Resurrection of The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ each day of our life including the time and season of the year or day called by the name or word as" Easter".

 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
 
Currently the following groups are eligible for COVID vaccine in Georgia:
·         Everyone age 16 and older
 
 
 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 of 6 feet recommended where practical according to CDC Guidance.
·        To-go and delivery orders from restaurants.
·        Continue practicing teleworking.
·        Frequent cleaning of public and high touch areas
 
 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 by avoiding public transportation 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.