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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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Date: June 6,
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 encourage people to wear face coverings
in public gatherings and use social distancing, wash your hands, and get
tested for the
Covid-19 virus.
Though some restrictions on gathering and face mask are being lifted, in
some places wearing face mask is still mandatory in indoor and outdoor
public spaces.
· As
of June 2, 2021, the City of Atlanta, Georgia remains in Phase 3 of the
Reopening Plan
· Social
distancing is recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to control
the spread or for individual safety. Small, limited gatherings with face
mask are allowed.
· Covid-19
vaccinations in Georgia are offered to everyone 12 years of age and
older. Note: Pfizer is the only COVID vaccine currently approved for
children aged 12 and older.
We are
continuing limited in person services and continuing online service through
Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube. In person Baptism and prayer service are
available using social distancing and personal protective equipment by
emailing your request to:
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:
Are You
Damaged by False Teaching? (part 2)
By
Apostle Dennis G. Smith
2Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who
privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction.
Heresy is usually understood to be different from backsliding and
apostasy. Backsliding and apostasy implies returning to your past sinful
ways or the rejection of your religious principles, your religious beliefs
or in some cases your religious actions, attitudes, and behavior.
Backsliding, also known as falling away is sometimes
described as "committing apostasy", which is a term used by Christians to
describe the process by which an individual who converted to Christianity
reverts back to their old sinful unrighteous habits and lapses or falls back
in into a sinful lifestyle. This mostly refers to any person who turns from
God to pursue their own sinful desires.
Anyone who returns back to sin or wrongdoing, who lapses and returns back
to bad attitudes, bad conduct, and bad behavior will receive eternal
damnation in the lake of fire.
Some Christians believe that if you continuously declare with your
mouth that, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you are faithful and you
are saved from
your sins.
Romans 10:8 - 11 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy
mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever
believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
They may also thus believe that backsliding is when you revert back to your
state of unbelief or cease to believe in what you have declared with your
mouth which indicates to them that you then were never saved when
you spoke with your mouth the
first time, that you were just a professor but not a believer.
Oneness
Apostolic Pentecostal Christians mostly believe that backsliding is a state
which any free-willed believer is capable of committing if they do not
continue to live a holy lifestyle each day of their lives. The backslidden
individual is in danger of eventually going to Hell if he does not repent or
cease the practice of sinful ways because his salvation is conditioned on
his continuous belief and obedience to the word of God usually referred to
as the doctrine of Conditional Security. This belief is rejected by those
teaching the doctrine of unconditional eternal security who endorse the
doctrine of the perseverance of the saints which may seem to imply to some
people that they can continue to practice sinful behavior. The
Doctrine of unconditional eternal security is rejected by most Oneness
Apostolic Believers as not correct teaching concerning salvation and the
Parable of the Prodigal Son is generally understood by
some to
be a biblical account of a backslider that repented.
2Peter 2:20 - 22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to
the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that
was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Blasphemy
is usually understood as speaking against or acting against the Holy
commandments of
God Almighty with
insults, lack of respect, lack of honor, lack of worship, and in some cases
lack of love concerning the sacred things of God.
As
we go through our daily life, we must constantly be aware of the false
teachings and disrespectful behavior of evil people who may try to offset us
in our walk with Christ or
in our determinations
to overcome all of our short comings and sinful ways. People make a choice
to live holy without practicing sin or live unholy continuing to practice
sinful ways on
their own but can
influence the people who love them in detrimental ways. Though we may find
it hard to accept the fact that those we love may try to mislead us, we must
also be able to recognize heresy as the individual choice to follow or
teach a doctrine or a gospel other than the Apostle’s Doctrine.
Titus 3:8 - 11 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou
affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to
maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But
avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings
about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A
man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing
that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
A divisive person, a person who is deliberately trying to stir up
confusion, strife, conflict, or a person who by his individual choice is
against the Apostle’s Doctrine should be warned twice before separating from
him. Though we wish all people
would turn from their evil ways we also know we must hold to correct
teaching and sound doctrine not only because it builds us up in the
faith, but because it protects us against
the corrupting influence of false teachers no
matter who they may be. False teachers may be our beloved natural family members or our enemies.
Though we function in love for all mankind we must point out the teaching
that are not taught by the Apostles of God Almighty.
1. Jewish
teachings that Jesus was not the Christ and Savior is called heresy by all Christian
believers.
2. Many
view the concept of Apostolic Succession from the Catholic Church as heresy.
Most believe that God calls and Chooses whomever he will. God is not limited
to the Bishop of Rome.
3. Heresy
among some Christians most commonly refers to those beliefs declared
heretical by the first seven Ecumenical Councils usually referring to the
Catholic Church. One should examine this declaration based on what the
Apostle’s Doctrine of the Bible teaches.
4. The
doctrine of antinomianism – the belief that Christians were free from the
moral law contained in the Ten Commandments is known as heresy. Most believe
that the Law of God is the knowledge of sin and continues to guide people in
how they were to live before God. The Law is fulfilled in Christ and love.
5. Denying
the reality of the incarnation, or teaching against the manifestation of God
in the Flesh, or the denying Christ's divinity, or teaching against the true
fact that Jesus Christ is God Almighty is also known to most Christians
believers as heresy. 1Timothy
3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was
manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto
the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
6. Teaching
that there is more than one God. Or teaching that the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost are three separate Gods is pure heresy to all true Christians. Thought
this is explained in different ways. Denying the doctrine of One
God revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost known as the Oneness of
the Godhead and referred to as the
Trinity by
some is
considered heresy by most Christians.
Some
consider Modalism or Oneness a form of Economic Trinity since the teaching
emphasizes the one God revealing himself and known in the Bible as Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost which is summarized by some teachers who use the non-biblical word “trinity”
which means three titles or three manifestations of one God to most oneness
believers.
The Oneness doctrine opposes the use of the word phrase separate
and distinct persons because it implies three Gods and the baptism using the titles
Father, Son and Holy Ghost rather than the singular Name Jesus Christ
because they were never taught by the Biblical Apostles.
Most Apostolic Oneness believers are seen as non-trinitarian because they
baptize as the Apostles of the Bible did using the singular name of Jesus
Christ.
7. Once
again Baptism using the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost was not taught or
carried out by the Biblical Apostles in the Historical Book of Acts of the
Apostles or anywhere else in the Bible which gives us an account of the
things that Apostles taught and did.
Acts 8:14
- 17 Now when the
apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of
God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down,
prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was
fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Ghost.
8. Teaching
that it is wrong to wash feet or to have a Foot Washing Service is heresy.
9. Teaching
that it is wrong to pay Tithes and offerings is heresy.
10. Teaching
that it is wrong to play musical instruments during the Church Service is
heresy.
11. Teaching
that the 12 Apostles with the Lord Jesus Christ while he was in the flesh
were the only ones to speak in tongues is
heresy.
12. Teaching
against speaking in tongues or that speaking in tongues is not for the
Church today is heresy.
13. Teaching
that divine healing and miracles is not for the Church today is heresy.
14. Teaching
that we must take communion or serve the Body and the Blood every first day
of the week called Sunday is
heresy.
15. Teaching
the sonship of God as to proclaim that there is a separate Human Bodily
presence of the Father and a
separate Human Bodily presence of the
Son in Heaven as to imply that there are two Gods or to imply that Jesus
Christ is in the role of Sonship now is heresy.
These are teachings that you must learn the truth about as many of them seem
to come up again and again during each generation and causes great damage to
some people who follow false teachings making and agreement with hell.
We
continue with a Message from Apostle S. McDowell Shelton …. “An Agreement
with Hell” ………
By Bishop S. McDowell Shelton
You have no power over death” because you would not take the power in your
salvation. Jesus said: “……All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth." (Matthew 28:18) You should have taken his name into
your salvation; that name of Jesus who indeed is the Christ. It was
testified of him that he was the Christ. That same Jesus was the Rock which
followed the children of Israel.
1Corinthians 10:1 - 4 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be
ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed
through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the
sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same
spiritual drink: for they
drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
If you had taken His name into your salvation, then after the Holy
Ghost came upon you, you would have had power. This is the same Jesus who
came in the manifestation of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God
gave the people utterance. Since He is no longer coming to sit on your
shoulder as a dove, He came as the Holy Ghost, as a witness, that He was
inside—outwardly shown by the speaking of other tongues. He comes as the
wind. With all of your vision, you cannot see the wind itself; you only
feel the effects of it and see the signs of its Likewise was a sign given to
follow them that believed-----they would speak with new tongues.
I do not care who you are or how self-righteous you may feel, the
Bible says: "Verily.
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God.’ (John 3:5)
If you do not have both, the water’ and the spirit, you will not enter
into God’s kingdom. I am not talking about “some kind of emotion” that you
feel you have — a nervous condition, I am talking about the Spirit of God
when God himself comes and dwells in you. That is what I am talking
about.
When
the Spirit of God “enters into” your life, a change takes place. You are
motivated differently. You undergo a complete and absolute change. A new
man emerges out of the ashes of the old man. From the grave of the water,
from the grave of repentance and casting aside all the weights and all of
the former habits, emerges a new man to walk in the new life—in the good
life. A man who was in past times a creature habit, a creature of weakness;
but now he is a creature who has strength, power, and hope. Now he is a
creature who is fighting the good fight.
Out
of the watery grave emerges a man who once fought rowdy brawls and sought
sensual vengeance, but now without carnal weapons, he fights. Now, without
the shedding of innocent blood, he fights. Though he fights, yet in his
sweep he destroys principalities and powers; he pulls down things which are
not of God but does not destroy the fabric of society. He destroys the
power of the devil which rules in it and in turn, builds it up on a strong
and sure foundation.
"For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and
the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it." (Isaiah 28:20)
Here he lays. Uncomfortable. Here he lays and cannot really cover
himself, exposed, where there is no help and no rest. He is tormented day
and night. "For the
Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley
of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring in pass his
act, his strange act." (Isaiah 28:21)
No wonder people cannot believe it. It is a strange act. It is not
something you can just sit down and accept every day. "Now
therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have
heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the
whole earth. Give ye ear and hear my voice: hearken and hear my speech."
(Isaiah 28:22, 23)
Hear
the word of the Lord and be baptized every one of you in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins today!
"Doth the plowman plow, all day to sow: doth he, open and break the of his
ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad
the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the
appointed barley and the rie in their place?" (Isaiah 28:24, 25)
The
scripture is saying that the plowman is not always loosening up the ground.
He is not always “protesting against” society and not offering anything to
build it up again. It is all right if you are going to open the ground but
put a little seed in there so something can grow out of it. If you break it
up and do not plant anything in it, then the rain is going to come and wash
the soil away.
"For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach
him." (Isaiah 28 :26)
When
God is teaching you, then He will give you some discretion; some sense on
how to use good judgment and how to be discreet. This is the same thing to
those who are saved. If you had any God in you at all, it would tell you to
stop going all through town with that sweetheart; stop displaying your sin
and put on a dress long enough to hide your nakedness. It would tell you to
stay out of those tap rooms and out of those ( fornication and
pornography)movie lines. You would not be so bold, having no discretion.
"In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of
glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, and for a
spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them
that turn the battle to the gate. But they also have erred through wine,
and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have
erred through strong drink, are out of the way; the priest and prophet have
erred through drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they err in vision they
stumble in judgment." (Isaiah 28:5-7)
If
the people erred through wine, what will they do through LSD and reefers?
Your preacher has erred, that is why he has a need for prestige. He is
drunk with the desire to get his false doctrine over and because of his
drunkenness, he sees three persons in the Godhead. He errs in his vision
and stumbles in his judgment. They are all out of the way through strong
drink.
"For all tables
are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean." (Isaiah
28:8)
You talk about having found something else. I do not care how much
you have found. What can you find? There is nothing else. The only reason
you can be satisfied with something other than the Truth of God is because
you are a vomit lover.
You come to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ today and be baptized
in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and
receive the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives
you utterance.
May the Lord bless you; may the Lord keep you. May the Lord lift, up
His countenance upon you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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
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 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 and 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 in Georgia:
Everyone
age 12 and older. Note:
Pfizer is the only COVID vaccine currently approved for children aged 12 and
older. People younger than 18 years of age are not authorized to receive
either the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
Present
Guidelines for Individual and Businesses in PHASE 3: MAINTAIN (GREEN ZONE)
· Limited
trips outside; vulnerable populations should continue to stay home
· Wearing
a face mask in public is a mandate
· Frequent
hand washing
· Social
distancing
· Limited
occupancy in food and retail establishments to accommodate social distancing
· Continue
practicing teleworking where feasible.
· Frequent
cleaning of public and high touch areas
· Small
gatherings with social distancing
· Non-essential
City facilities remain closed to the public
· City
continues to accept special event applications subject to COVID safety
requirements
· Continue
communication with local and State authorities to monitor public health
metrics
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.