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

Date: April 16, 2023

 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. 

·   April 12, 2023, community transmission of Covid-19 remains in the green zone in Fulton County and in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. This means that the spread of the virus is at a low level in Atlanta, and you should continue to take precautions based on for your individual health condition. 

·         Face masks continue to be recommended for individual safety based on your individual health condition and risk.  

·         Gatherings indoors is allowed without face mask, but each individual should be aware of their individual health risk.

·         Vaccinations and boosters remain the recommended most effective way for individual safety for dealing with the spread of Covid-19 according to health authorities. 

·         Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters are offered to everyone in the State of Georgia. 

      We are open for indoor in-person services. Saints will be attending with facemask and without face mask based on their individual choices.  Social distancing, temperature checks and Covid-19 testing are available when needed. Each person attending in-person services should be fully aware of their own health risk as mask may be removed during singing and speaking, and some may attend without mask. 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: 

 Cheerful Giving proves Sincere Love

by Apostle Dennis G. Smith

     Most of us give gifts to people to show them that they are an important part of our life.  We also give gifts to people to show that we care about them and their situation.  We give gifts as an expression of our love to our companion and our children. When people are important to us, we use the money that we have worked for to purchase a gift, or we may give them our money which we have labored for to help them purchase what they need or desire and expect nothing back in return from them because we care about their well-being, and we are happy that we were able to help them.

     Most of us can readily understand that if we want to be like the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it will involve giving to others and sacrificing many things in our life.  This may be the reason why the covetous and selfish individuals are easily recognized in society because to become like the Lord God Jesus Christ will cause the honest person to become a loving and giving person.  It will involve us opening up our heart to care about the wellbeing of other people and developing the wisdom to see the needs of other people and the desire to help them.  You will also need the wisdom and fortitude to resist fakers and trickers who are seeking to exploit your generosity.

     Cheerful giving is a reward in itself because it will make you feel happy that you were able to give for the work of the Lord God Jesus Christ and to help other people in need.  This will be good for your own mental and bodily health and it will increase the social working together for the community that you were able to assist.  As a result there will be many thanks and praises that will be sent up in prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ as a result of you cheerful giving.

     The Bible uses the example of planting crops in a field.  If you plant a small crop, then you will only get a small harvest when the plants have fully grown and are ready to eat.  But if you plant a large crop, then you will reap a large harvest when the plants are fully grown and ready to eat. So it is easily seen that the amount that you will benefit or gain is based on the amount that you have planted.  Also some of the bad deeds that people experience in their life is based on the bad works that they have planted. If you sow evil deeds, you will reap evil deeds in return.  If you sow or plant good deeds, you will also reap good deeds in return.  This does not in any way mean that you will not experience evil attacks by evil people even after you have sown good deeds, but it makes you aware that you do have some control over the increase of prosperous gains in your life by what you have planted.

     As a result of your giving to help others, people who are grateful will send up many prayers of thanksgiving to God for his many blessing that he has given them through your generosity.  In other words the Lord God Jesus Christ will receive many praises because of your cheerful giving.

2Corinthians 9:6 - 14 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:  2Corinthians 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever. 2Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 2Corinthians 9:11 Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 2Corinthians 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 2Corinthians 9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 2Corinthians 9:14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

     Perhaps the most outstanding gift that proves sincere love was the sacrifice of the Son of God, who was God Almighty manifested in a flesh and blood body which revealed the absolute existence of God and proved His sincere love for all mankind. 

John3:16 - 18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

     Apostle Paul knew that the promises of God for the healing and salvation of all believers was made possible by the perfect sacrifice of God in the flesh and blood natural body known to us by the name Jesus Christ.  The sacrifice of the natural body of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of all believers was a free gift that gives proof of all the goodness and love that God has for all mankind.  So, now all people can say, “Yes Lord” in assurance that they will receive the promises of God if the obey his commandments.

2Corinthians1:18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. 2Corinthians 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 2Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 2Corinthians 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 2Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

     Most people will eventually realize that giving financial offerings, volunteering you labor, donating your time to God Almighty for the work of the Church, buying gifts to help others, volunteering your time, donating money to charity at some point in your life helps you grow the community in which you live and throughout the entire planet.  Cheerful giving will bring happiness to yourself and the people around you.  It is through giving that we are able to offer baptism by immersion in water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of all believers.  This is why no one should allow themselves to be drawn into debate about their tithing and offerings given for the work of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ or their free will giving to help the people in need throughout the planet.  Simply let your giving be done from the cheerfulness in your heart.  We will expand on tithing and offering in another teaching but for now we thank the Lord God Jesus Christ for you continuing to show the proof of your love.

2Corinthians 8:24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

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 the Lord God Jesus Christ asking him for the Holy Ghost, calling on His Name which is 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 12:00 noon for the general Ministers of Jesus Christ Church services to the Saints and friends who sent in email addresses.  If you wish to worship with us, please send you email address to: info@mininstersof Jesuschrist.com and we will email you a link to join the service.  We start the zoom services 10 am each Sunday morning. 

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

       You are invited to attend and be a part of the Ministers of Jesus Christ Church Services each Sunday which are also published on Facebook through Holy Tabernacle, Ministers of Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, and Ministers of Jesus Christ Church or Dennis Smith Facebook timeline.  

 You will need to download the zoom app to your cell phone, laptop computer, or tablet to activate your connection.  Go to Google Play Store to get your free zoom app and install it on your cell phone, laptop computer or tablet.  When you see the zoom link sent to your email address, click, or tap on the link to open the connection.  Then click or tap on the camera and microphone icon to join the service and select internet.  We look forward to seeing you and worshipping with you in the Lord!  

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

  ONGOING GUIDANCE 

 (1) Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status if you are high risk for severe disease.

(2) consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public,

(3) talk to your medical provider about other precautions to take,

(4) have a plan for rapid testing if you are exposed and experiencing symptoms,

(5) talk to your medical provider about treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies. If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease: consider self-testing to detect infection before contact and wearing a mask when indoors with them. Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible. Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including testing guidance.

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

protects me.”