Date: October  3, 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 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.

 

          ·   As of September 22, 2021, the City of Atlanta, Georgia remains in the Red Zone due to high community transmission of Covid-19.   

          ·     Social distancing and face mask are mandatory for gatherings to control the spread of Covid-19 or for individual safety.   

         ·   Limited Gatherings to avoid crowding with mandatory face mask and social distancing are allowed.

         ·   Vaccinations remains the recommended most effective way to control the spread of Covid-19 by health authorities. 

         ·   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.  Vaccines for Children below 12 are in the process of approval.

 

     We are continuing limited 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:

 

 Humble as a Little Child (part 1)

 

By Apostle Dennis G. Smith

 

Matthew 18:1 - 4 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?   And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 

     When we humble ourselves as a little child we achieve the empowerment to submit to the will of God in love and obedience which will save us from our selfish, sinful ways.  When we learn to respond to each other with the humble attitude of a little child we exercise the empowerment to submit to each other in love which will give us the ability to form and maintain many family and friendly relationships with other people.

 

     The Bible teaches us of the arrogance and pride of the Pharaoh of Egypt who would not submit or obey the command of God Almighty to release the Children from slavery and let them go.  So God sent many plagues as a result of his stubborn pride.

 

Exodus 10:1 - 3 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:   And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.  And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

 

Deuteronomy 8:2 - 3 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.  And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

 

     In order to focus on the words of God, we must learn the ability to suffer humiliation which is the outwardly expression of our inward commitment to living a holy lifestyle.  When we are able to admit our mistakes and shortcoming to other people and to tell other people we are sorry for the wrongs that we have done we show our ability to humble down as a little child. 

 

     Humility is widely understood as a virtue which centers on each person's ability and willingness not to focus on self-promotion, self-preoccupation, self- centered attitudes, arrogance, or pride.  This is because the proud stubborn person in most cases will never commit to obedience to the Word of God.

 

     The Prophet Moses was a humble man which empowered him to obey the command of God and lead the Children of Israel, the nation of Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt and to the “Promised Land”.  His humbleness reveals his obedience and Godly strength and purpose.   Even when Aaron the High Priest and Prophet of Moses and his powerful Sister Miriam spoke against him because he married an Ethiopian woman, the bible calls him the meekest man upon the face of the Earth. 

 

Numbers 12:1 - 11 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.  And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)  And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.  And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?   And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.  And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.  And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

 

 Because of their dislike for whom Moses had married in their arrogance they had the audacity to imply that God did not only speak by Moses as a way of lifting themselves up which angered God Almighty.  This should serve as an example to us that we should not speak according to the arrogance of our thoughts when thing donot go the way we would like for them to go.

 

Now let us consider the plagues of Egypt and the disobedient, stubborn pride of Pharaoh and compare it to the pride and disobedience of those who love the world today and we will see the need to be humble and pray and seek the face of God to be forgiven for our sins.

 

Exodus 6:28 - 30 And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt, That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.  And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

 

Now notice the Humble question of Moses, My speech is not polished, or I am not a good speaker or I have no recognition among Pharaoh and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?  

 

Exodus 7:1 - 2 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.  Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

 

 So, God almighty exalts Moses and makes him a god over Pharaoh which reveals to us the exaltation of the humble man by God almighty.  Nevertheless God hardens the heart of Pharaoh the man of pride which makes him even more stubborn and disobedient.  We can see this in the hardening of the hearts today of those that love the world.

 

Exodus 7:3 - 5 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.  But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

 

We can see the obedience of the humble man in Moses as he obeys the command of God when he is eighty years old and Aaron his prophet is eighty-three years old.  This shows us that humble old people can be obedient in doing new things if they submit their way to the Word of God.  In the Miracle and plagues of Egypt we all can clearly the power of God, the obedience of the humble person and the disobedience of the arrogant proud person as they attempt to duplicate the power and in putting forth their own desire to control issues in life.

Exodus 7:6 - 7 And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.  And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

 

 1.The miracle of Aaron's Rod becoming a serpent which swallows up the serpents of the Egyptian magicians. Exodus 7:8 - 13

 

2.  Moses and Aaron turning waters of Egypt into blood and Egyptian duplication of the event. Exodus 7:14–24

 

3. Moses and Aaron causing the waters of Egypt to bring forth frogs which covered the land and Egyptian magician duplication of the event.   And when Pharaoh requested and the plague ended, he returned to his old ways. 

Exodus 8:1– 15

 

4. Moses and Aaron causing Lice to come from the land and The Egyptian magicians could not duplicate this plague, so they declared to Pharaoh that it was the finger of God which made him harden his heart.

Exodus 8:16 - 19 

 

5. The Lord sends a Swarm of flies and Pharaoh makes a request to Moses to go offer a sacrifice to God Almighty to end the plague, then returns to his old stubborn way when the plague is ended.  Exodus. 8:16–32

 

 6. The death of the cattle and livestock of Egypt but the cattle of the Children of Israel is not harmed which further hardens the heart of   Pharaoh.  Exodus 9:1–7

 

7. The Boils with blains upon the Egyptian people, upon their animals, and upon their magicians which further hardens the heart of Pharaoh. Exodus 9:8–12

 

8. The rainstorm of grievous hail and fire in which a warning is given for the Egyptians to move their animal to shelter and everyone who did not obey animals were killed by the rainstorm of hail. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.  And the plague was ended because Pharaoh admitted these sinful ways, he returned to his hardened heart. Exodus 9:13–35

 

9. The Locusts that covered the earth and ate the crops. Exodus10:1–20

 

10. The Darkness over the land of Egypt that could be felt three days, but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Exodus10:21–29

 

 11. Death of firstborn that ye may know that God put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. Exodus 11:1–10 and Exodus12:1 - 36

 

     Before the plague of the death of the firstborns, God commands Moses to tell the Israelites to mark a lamb's blood above their doors in order that the Angel of Death will pass over them so that they would not be touched by the death of the firstborn.  And those who obeyed were passed over by the death Angel. Remember the Blood of Jesus Christ, he is our passover if you will humble yourself as a little child.  There is a difference between the people of world and the Saints of God.

 

      How long will you refuse to humble yourself before the one and only God Almighty?  How long will you refuse to humble yourself as a little Child and worship the Lord Jesus Christ who is God Almighty? How long will you refuse to repent and be baptized in the Name of the Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins?

 

     We continue with a Message from Apostle S. McDowell Shelton … “Humble Yourself And Pray” ………

 

 

HUMBLE YOURSELF AND PRAY (part 1)

By Bishop S. McDowell Shelton

 

      The scripture says, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."     2 Chronicles 7:14

 

     If my people who are called by my name And who are these people? These are the people who today are called the people of God, the "Jesus Only" folks or the "Jesus Christ" folks. These are the people who have the name of God in their life, who have the name of God in their baptism.  Someone might ask: "Can a person without the Holy Ghost pray?" Oh, my yes! You are called by His name. You have the name of Jesus Christ in your life. That name, itself has power.  In His name you are going to cast out devils and speak with a new tongue.

 

     "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they case out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:17-18.

 

     When you have the Holy Ghost, you have Him living within; then you have that power which comes from Jesus Christ.  That is the advantage of those who have the Holy Ghost; they have that indwelling power.  Of course, you don't make out too badly with just the name, you know; that is, those who are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  You have more confidence once you get the Holy Ghost.  If you do not have the Holy Ghost, you might feel or say, "Well, if I haven't spoken with a new tongue, will I be able, in His name, to cast out the devils and to do all the other things?" Having the Holy Ghost gives you power and gives you confidence. Then it gives you something to keep you, to preserve you.

 

      If my people who are called by my name ... Should they just pray only? No! I have some other qualifications: I want you to PRAY; but before you get down to pray, I want you to humble yourself. There is a whole lot of difference between just praying and humbling yourself.  Why do I want them to humble themselves? Because when they come to me, I want them to feel the need of me.  If they come before me so independent, if they come before me arrogant, if they come before me feeling that they are doing me a favor, I cannot have the feeling toward them that I want to have.  I want them to come before me as pitiful children before their father.  I want them to come believing in me.  I want them to come without any sort of barrier between me and them. I don't want any obstructions.

 

     Quite frequently, it is easier to pray than to humble yourself.  Did you know that? One can easily go off to his corner and pray thus with himself: “…. God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men …..”(See Luke 18:10-11) 

 

     He can go into his corner and tell God how wonderful he is when God searches the deep things, when God knows what you have done and what you have thought.  God does not want you to come to Him in any pretense.  He says, "Yes, come! Come like you are.  Come naked before me.  Don't come with a disguise before me.  Come plainly before me.  Come pure-hearted before me."

 

      One of the wonderful remedies of prayer is that when one prays to' God, you do not have to be ashamed.  Didn't you know that? This is the one time you can be honest with yourself.  You don't have to pretend.  You don't have to put on a front.  You don't have to put on a veneer of being such a big, strong, gallant man. You can express your weaknesses and not be ashamed.

 

     God. does not laugh at His people when they humble themselves and pray. Some of the things that you would say to someone else might seem so ridiculous, might seem so trivial, but He is there waiting for the small request, for the things that seem so tremendous.  And you know, you can tell it just like it is. You don't have to select your words when you come to God and humble yourself and pray. He is not concerned with your grammar, whether it is correct or not or whether your pronunciation or your choice of words is in order.  He understands all dialects and all tongues and all speech.  He just wants you to search your heart to see if you have humbled yourself.

 

       It makes no difference how preposterous your prayer might seem to others. That is why it is very good not to always tell other people what you are praying for.  Everyone does not see things like you see it.  When you pray, you can take your petition and you can spread it before the Lord. It is not even always good to tell someone who is doing wickedly, "I am praying for you." Don't you know, that devil in that one will often make them do worse if they feel that you are praying for them? 

 

     It is very good to enter into your secret closet, into your secret place and offer up prayers with a humble heart.  Those prayers that you pray will move that individual and he will not know why he is being moved.  It will move that child; it will direct him.  There will be a power and a force directing their path. Your prayers can act the same as a remote control.  You can turn on switches. You can operate.  You can control and you can push things forward from your prayer room, and from your private altar. 

 

       What other benefits does it have? The greatest one is, to my mind, that one should humble himself.  This is good for everyone.  Regardless to how high we think we are, there comes a time when you must humble yourself.  Oh, and it is a hard job, believe me.  Jesus Christ, himself, humbled himself. They tell me.

 

      "In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth." Acts 8:33  He was humiliated. Not only did He humble Himself, but He was humbled.  It is much easier to humble yourself than to be humbled.  Being humiliated means that somebody else humbled you. God knows, I would rather humble myself.  I would rather take low than to be put low. He came here and He humbled Himself.  He submitted Himself to the death of the cross.  He did not come in shining armor.  He did not come in great pomp and pageantry, but He came in an humble situation.

 

     He could pray and He did pray.  Not only did He humble Himself, but He let others humiliate Him.  Most folks can't stand to be humiliated.  If you ever do anything to humiliate them, do you know what they are going to do? Take revenge. They are going to hold it forever.  If it takes them twenty years, they are going to get even. But He wants you to humble yourself.  If you do not humble yourself, you may as well leave your gift at the altar.

 

     Who is going to come, before God, and who is going to try and show him how great they are when the cattle upon a thousand hills are His? He has what you need.  Don't you know that? So, you may be a millionaire, you may have power, you may be a king, but He is the King of the entire universe.  He has patience and He can wait because one day you are going to stand before Him.  You may as well humble yourself now because He is going to humble you. The dead, small and great, are going to stand before God and give an account of every deed that you have done. The books are going to be opened and you are going to be judged. That is why He wants you to turn from your wicked ways.

 

     In other words, the writer of the books of Chronicles wrote:  “….then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

 

      He said, "Yes, I will forgive your sins.  I want to do that.  I will heal your land. I will heal your body. I will change conditions. I will make you prosperous; but first, humble yourself." Pray; yes, but turn from your wicked ways.  For what advantage is it if you pray and come back from the Holy Mount with the same slackness that you had before you went? What advantage is it to you if you go up to the Holy Mount and have no change in your attitude, no change in your resolve? What good is it if you go up weak and come back weak; if you go up resentful and come back resentful?

 

     There should be some change, an alteration in your personality and in your spirit. There should be a higher reach and a deeper resolve: for when you get up from your knees, one should know from your conversation, yea from your          presence, that this man or this woman has just left “speaking with God—that they have been in the presence of the King.

 

     One of the greatest advantages in prayer is that it gives you a discipline. It   disciplines you so that you can stay there and suffer it through, separate yourself from all the worldly activity for the “period of time” that you set aside for this Godly exercise.  That you, during this time, will learn that beautiful lesson: how to deny the flesh its wants.  While you are there, for sure thirst will come, but you will say to yourself, "l will not leave this holy altar nor will I give in to the needs of my body." Deeds that you have done will come before you, as well as conflicts that have arisen at home and on the job.  Even your own shortcomings will come before you, for there is time to reflect.  There is time to think deep inside yourself, inside your life and about your environment.

 

We will continue with these messages in part 2…….

 

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 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 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.

 

 

 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.