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 10, 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.
 
 
     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:
 
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:
 
 Actions and Teachings of the Biblical Apostles (part 10)
 
By Apostle Dennis G. Smith
 
     As we continue this series on the core teachings of the Apostle’s Doctrine, we hope that all people can recognize the simplicity of teaching what is true according to the bible. By knowing the truth all people should be able to see 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. Once again, all people should be able to achieve a bible right salvation and spread the truth to the entire world. The truth will indeed set all believers free and enable all people to recognize false prophets, false teachers, and false doctrine anywhere it is taught throughout the entire world.
 
Concerning Life after Death most Christians believe and teach that the intermediate state of the dead is a disembodied human spirit separated from the dead flesh and bone body.  This is because most define the word death as a departure of the human spirit from the physical body, the absence of the human spirit from the physical body or the unclothing of the human soul, and the sleeping of the physical human body.
     This brings up the need for understanding the entire human person.  The general understanding that most teachers put forth from the scriptures is that humans are both physical (material) and spiritual (immaterial) beings.
 
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
 
From this scripture we can see that the body or the material part of humans was formed by God out of the dust of the earth.  The spirit or the life force came into Adam as the breath of life when God breathed into him.   The soul was created by the uniting of the breath of God with the body.
 
This means that human beings are made up of a natural material human body and the immaterial human spirit and soul. Some may interpret the word soul to apply to the total human being who is both body and spirit because of the way the word is used in different biblical passages.  From this understanding death is not the end of human existence, but a change of place or conditions in which conscious existence continues. 
 
The most accepted teaching among Apostolic Pentecostal believers is that the soul is the real person, created by the union of the spirit that comes from God with the body that comes from the dust. Thus “man became a living soul.” The soul lives on after death, after the body returns to the dust and the spirit goes back to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The soul is conscious after death and, depending upon the spiritual state of the individual at death, goes either to hades(hell) or to paradise (places of unrest or rest) to await the resurrection and judgment.
 
    
     We can only iterate what the Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles taught on this matter not the opinion of men no matter how many scientific arguments and debates they may present.  The Lord Jesus Christ, the almighty God taught us to only fear him that can destroy both the human body and the human soul in hell. This means that man is made up of both a physical material body and a spiritual immaterial soul. Both parts of man have other aspects involved in them.
 
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
 
I Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
 
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
 
      From these scriptures we can all understand that all human beings have a physical material body and a spiritual immaterial Soul. Most Christians believe that the human immaterial spiritual soul of those who die believing in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, being repentant of their sins and obedient to the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ go into the presence of God or the bosom of Abraham where they experience joy and rest while they await their physical bodily resurrection.  The penitent thief was told that he would be in the presence of Jesus Christ in paradise.  This gives many people who believe and obey the commandments of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the hope of their immortal human immaterial or spiritual soul going into the present of God after the death of their natural body.
 
Luke 23:42 – 43 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
 
     But the human immaterial spiritual soul of those who die unrepentant of their sinful ways, who donot believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, or who do not obey his commandments will experience unrest in hades(hell) while they await final condemnation on the day of judgment for the deeds done in the body while they were alive.
 
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
 
      The bodies of human beings both believers, unbelievers and the wicked, after death, return to dust, and see corruption and can have no more communication with the natural material world from the natural standpoint in other words their flesh and blood existence is over and does not continue to exist but returns to dust.  But their immaterial spiritual souls, which does not die and is immortal goes to a place of rest called paradise or to a place of torment and unrest called hades(hell) while their spiritual life force which is the breath of life immediately return to God who gave it.
 
Ecclesiastes 9:3 - 6 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. Ecclesiastes 9:4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Ecclesiastes 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.
 
     What all people must note and understand from this scripture is the reference to the dead know not anything which is sometimes used by some to teach the doctrine of soul sleep.  But this scripture gives us notice that the dead human body has no more place in the land of the living by speaking of the things that are done under the sun.  Therefore this passage of scripture is not dealing with the dwelling place of the immaterial and immortal soul that cannot die.
 
     The souls of the righteous are made perfect in holiness and are received into the presence of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who ascended into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies.
 
      The souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.  Therefore paradise and hades(hell) are the only two places that the Apostle’s Doctrine teach for souls separated from their bodies by death of the natural flesh and blood mortal human body.
 
     The general summary is that at death the body returns to the earth and decays, while the immortal and everlasting soul which cannot die goes to a temporary dwelling place known as paradise now in heaven for those who die believing and obeying the Lord Jesus Christ or a temporary dwelling place known as hades(hell) for all unbelievers and wicked people to await final judgment. Each of us determines during our life what our destiny will be.  The future dwelling place of our human body and our human soul depend upon our response to redemptive plan that God designed for the sinner's deliverance from eternal doom. This summary is the depiction that the Lord Jesus Christ taught us in the parable of the death of Lazarus and the death of the rich man.
 
Luke 16:19 - 31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 
Luke 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 
 Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:  Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. Luke 16:30 And he said, Nay, Father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Those of us who believe and obey the Lord Jesus Christ may ascend to a place of peace in the presence of God, as declared by Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 5:8.
II Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

     It is possible for us to dwell eternally in a place of happiness, bliss, and contentment, knowing that our redemption has been completed, that we have finished our course in faith, and that we are being rewarded. Or we may descent into a place of suffering, there to be detained until the final judgment and then to be sentenced to the everlasting punishment of the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-15   And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Matthew 25:34 - 46 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  Matthew 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Matthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  Matthew 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Matthew 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  Matthew 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  Matthew 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Matthew 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Matthew 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

     Since we are expecting the resurrection of our bodies, the places where our immaterial and immortal soul go are temporary, for we shall wait until our soul is reunited with our body in the resurrection. These temporary places where the human soul goes has caused much debate with some declaring that no one goes to heaven or hell as soon as they die, and some have taught the sleeping of the human soul.  This is the reason each person must understand life after death and the makeup of the human being of both body and soul.  The body goes to the graves and remains asleep or dead as it decays and decomposes back into dust.  The human spirit which gives life returns to God and the immaterial human soul goes to the place of rest or the place of unrest and torment. 

     Many believe that the Lord Jesus Christ did not teach the doctrine of soul-sleep, the idea that upon death the soul immediately goes into an unconscious state and is only revived at the moment of resurrection of the body because of biblical passages of Scripture that contradict this concept and clearly indicates the consciousness of the soul while the body is dead and in the grave.

Revelations 6:9 - 11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  Revelations 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  Revelations 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Philippians 1:23 - 24 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  Philippians 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

2Corinthians 5:6 - 8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  2Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 2Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Since this matter is decided by the Lord Jesus himself based on obedience or disobedience to his commandments it is mostly pointless to go beyond the point of the resurrection of our bodies because most agree that we shall all be resurrected and stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and give an account for our deeds.

John 5:28 - 29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
 
I Thessalonians 4:14 - 18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. I Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  I Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. I Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
 
     This is speaking of the Resurrection of our human body from the graves not the place of the human soul which are waiting for the Resurrection of the body. All must understand this point to know what the future holds for your physical material human body and your non-physical immaterial human soul. 
 
     This point may cause arguments or be contentious among some of our Brethren since some writings teach from the standpoint of the death of the human body which is not conscious in the grave and not from the dwelling place of the human soul. The statements that no one goes to heaven as soon as they die and no person is in hell at this present time can only refer to the dead, sleeping, human body which has lost conscious contact with the physical world and remains in the grave and returns to dust until the resurrection of the body. The statements does not refer to the dwelling place of the human immaterial soul after death. 
 
     The human spirit received from God is the breath of God that gave the body life so that when the body dies, the life breath returns to God. The issue of whether the soul remains conscious and alert in a place of rest or in a place of torment should not be a point of debate because we should all now know that the place we go depends on whether or not we are saved.  Neither should the issue of whether the soul become unconscious when the human physical body is dead and remains asleep until the resurrection which is called soul sleep be a point of debate because we shall all rise again. These points of views are the reasons we leave the teaching of life after death to the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ as he taught in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man because some men may have an opinion based on their own private interpretation which does not really matter because it will not change the outcome of life and death, nor will their opinion cause anyone to be lost or saved. The parable of Lazarus and the rich man should cause all people to see and express their need to obey the word of God to achieve salvation because there is punishment for all that do not obey the word of God or who live enjoying sinful pleasures in life. The parable should also cause all people to understand that salvation depends on each person’s response to the one and only plan of salvation offered by God Almighty. Thus the discussion of life after death concludes with the resurrection of all men. The righteous to everlasting life or the resurrection of life and the wicked to everlasting punishment or the resurrection of damnation.
 
John 5:28 - 29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation
 
We will continue with this message series and examine the second coming of Jesus Christ in part 11……
 
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 Red 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.