Ministers of Jesus Christ
Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith
Atlanta, Georgia - USA
Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer
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Ministers of Jesus Christ Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith Atlanta, Georgia - USA Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer |
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To all the Saints of God,
Grace and peace be unto all the Saints of God around the World. As this
Coronavirus Pandemic continues, we are continually reminding the Saints of God
that we are obeying the magistrates and following the guideline of the health
and governmental authorities for the safety of all people.
Health authorities
and governmental officials continue to strongly encourage people to wear face
coverings in public and use social distancing, wash your hands, and get tested
with or without symptoms.
In some places wearing face mask is mandatory in all indoor and outdoor
public spaces.
Health authorities are indicating that
the covid-19 infection data for the City of Atlanta, Georgia is continuing to
rise at this present time, therefore we have canceled the in-person services
until further notice. Our city is maintaining the rollback to phase 1 of its
reopening plan which require people to stay -at-home or shelter-in-place at
their homes and only leave for essential tasks.
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:
The Modern Apostolic Church part III
The Modern
Apostolic Church must know to stay with the doctrines or teachings of the
Biblical Apostles, continually reviving and renewing the same doctrine and not
conform to the sinful ways of unbelievers. The Church should follow holiness
standards that profess that we are Godly people and welcome all people from
every walk of life into the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many rules may
seem like good ideas but are not practical in the modern society. Whereas it may
be best to never wear any jewelry but this the question that will be asked, “Is
all jewelry sinful and prideful? “And the answer is no... “Is all makeup or
cosmetics sinful and prideful?” The
answer is no… From this you can
fully grasp the meaning of a women adorning or decorating themselves with the
shamefacedness, meekness, or humbleness, avoiding the loud, sensual, wanton,
lustful, appearance, but instead putting forth the Godly appearance or
decoration. Most women should know to
avoid cleavage, naked thighs, and form fitting tight clothing because they know
even from little girls that these are worn for sensual, sexual attraction which
excites lust in men or other people for reasons other than marriage which is
sin. And Saints should not dress
to encourage sin.
Matthew 5:27- 28 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman
to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Most people will
grow to understand the Apostle’s doctrine if we are patient with them and will
learn what is acceptable items of clothing and what is unacceptable items of
clothing. They may not all have the
same taste of choice in outfits, but they will know what is modest and what is
for the opposite sex (male or female) which is what the doctrine teaches.
Notice that Modest Apparel, shamefacedness, meekness, sobriety, or
alertness being aware of your intentions and surroundings, transcends all ages
and all cultures. Clothing or
Apparel has changed through the years, but the doctrine remains the same.
We must
recognize that some clothing is worn for different activities.
Today women are more that homemakers and housewives. This is why some
women today wear female pants or slacks.
For women engineers, welders, construction inspectors, electricians,
etc.… where they are climbing ladders or crawling into confined spaces, a long
dress would be inappropriate and, in some cases, dangerously unsafe.
While it is true that some female slacks resemble male pants, the issue
for the Church should be whether or not the woman is wearing a female version of
the item which is Modest not the item itself.
We must sometimes suffer the change in society as a Modern Apostolic
Church which allows women to come to Church with female pants on in order to
reach those that are lost. Though
we do not encourage women to wear female pants to Church, and would prefer that
they wear dresses, but we do not prevent them from entering into the building if
they are wearing pants as we once did in the past.
We do this because it may not be practical or justice to exclude women in
pants when we send out missionaries in vans to invite and pick up all people to
come to the Church when all the people coming are living in sin and seeking to
overcome sin. The doctors, nurses,
policewoman, phone service women, schoolteachers, childcare workers, etc.… would
have to all be excluded in other words, even those who were working for our
health and welfare. As a result, many
children would be unable to come if their mothers were excluded because she wore
pants. In dealing with these subjects some
will accuse all of us of lowering the Standard which is not the truth.
You should
clearly see now that though some of the rules had the intention of different
items in clothing for male and female, they may not be practical in reaching a
lost world. Rather than different
items of clothing for male and female, we must now focus on gender distinction
of all items like male and female hats, male and female coats, male and female
shoes, male and female pants, male and female jackets with an emphases on Modest
Apparel.
Apostle Paul is
not here in the flesh today so how do we follow him?
We follow the intention or context of
his teaching which is summarized in the word modesty without costly array, not
decorating ourselves in an immodest, prideful way as to attract lustful
attention.
Apostle Paul said Be ye followers
of me, even as I also am of Christ…Notice the focus on following the Apostle’s
teaching…
Philippians 3:17 - 20 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which
walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is
destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who
mind earthly things.) For our
conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ:
1Thessalonians 1:6 - 7 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having
received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that
ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
Hebrews 13:7- 9 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto
you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their
conversation. Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, and today, and forever. Be
not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that
the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited
them that have been occupied therein.
3John 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He
that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
1Corinthians 4:15 - 17 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ yet
have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the
gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be
ye followers of me. For this cause have
I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who
shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ,
as I teach everywhere in
every church.
1Corinthians 11:1 - 7 Be ye followers of me, even as I
also am of Christ. Now I praise you,
brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I
delivered them to you. But I would
have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is
the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth
his head. But every woman that
prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that
is even all one as if she were shaven.
For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a
shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the
image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
Ephesians 5:1 – 2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk
in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
Apostle Paul's
doctrine and discipline was the same in every place and he taught what he had
received from Christ thus he taught the same thing in all the Churches….
"As I teach
everywhere in every church".
When we obey and follow the Apostle’s doctrine, we can be assured that we are
following God.
We continue with the message from Apostle Shelton written during his lifetime
dealing with various cultures……
There is another sociological term that we want to familiarize you with. It is
called "cultural
lagged". This deals with the institutions in every society. Most of us
think of an institution as an insane asylum or a prison; however, the actual
meaning does not necessarily mean a building.
It is a framework of operation or function.
You have the institution
of the family, which is the first and foremost institution. It is the
basic institution. We do not care what you have (even though our families are
very loosely knit) everything in your society springs from the family. It is
nothing you can think of that is dealing with humans that did not start directly
or indirectly with the family. Can you think of anything? Even God used the
family when he started his plan with mankind. He had a man and a woman. It is a
fact. It is a religious fact. It is a doctrinal fact that the family is
the foremost institution in the world. God made a man, then he made a
woman. And what to them afterwards? They had children. This is the starting of
the family. Sin started from the family. It is a natural thing that they
committed sin. As far as we are concerned sin could have been in the devil
forever. But. if Adam had not sinned, we would not have been under the curse.
(Read Genesis 3:17-20)
Genesis 3:17 - 20 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the
voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee,
saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow
shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles
shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground;
for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou
return. And Adam called his wife’s
name Eve because she was the mother of all living.
You have your
economical institutions. They carry on the commerce. Then you have your
religious or social institutions, your schools, and your political institutions.
They carry on the government.
But in your cultural
lagged, the
slowest change takes place in your religious institution.
Whenever there
is a change it causes upheaval. It caused so much upheaval until those people
picked up dust and threw it into the air. (See Acts, 22nd chapter)
Acts 22:21- 24 And he said unto me, depart: for I will send thee far hence unto
the Gentiles. And they gave him
audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, “Away with
such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live”.
And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into
the air, The chief captain
commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined
by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
They threw Paul out of the city and beat him. They locked up the Apostles and
they crucified Jesus Christ. The change brought so much upheaval until they
preferred a thief to Jesus Christ, who would and could set forth this new
doctrine.
It
is mainly the political and religious institutions on our society that causes
the largest majority of your unrest and upheaval.
The third one you might add is your
educational institution. Of course, your education is influenced by your
political and religious institutions. If you teach birth control in the schools,
it is the religious institutions that cry out. If you teach physiology or
biology where you discuss the human body, you hear an outcry. Even if you teach
them to pray, someone will cry out, what is the political affiliations of the
instructor? The family puts pressure in the Parents and Teacher Association as
to who should go to school with their children, and in turn the family puts
pressure on the school and if they get no satisfaction, they put pressure on the
senator or congressman who tells the pastor to speak out in their congregation.
You then have a whole church against it. And if the pastor does not do what the
congregation says, they get another pastor who agrees with them.
Do you think
most of the politicians either believe in civil rights or wrongs, or what have
you? A large majority of them, particularly on the National level (and some on
the local level) have a sense of rightness or a sense of law, but they must vote
according to their constituents or the people who put them in office. They must
act according to how their constituents feel.
Not too long ago under a certain president, it was popular to vote "yes"
on a Civil Rights Bill. Now when there are riots, it is popular to vote against
the Civil Rights Bill. What is the politician's primary function? To get votes
regardless to who it hurts or helps. All of these fine platitudes about the good
of humanity, etc., are really to justify his existence in his office, he wants
to get votes.
This is the
reason the Apostolic Church has dim views on entering politics. We would not be
at all opposed to it if we had an Apostolic mayor or an Apostolic governor or an
Apostolic president. We could not be opposed to it then because the Apostolic
Church would be better understood. But
it would be more different than the theocratic society which we discussed under
the law, where the high priest and the prophet had a rule over the religious and
political affairs. In any city where there is a strong religious movement,
regardless to what name it is; whether it be of the two larger groups of
division, or where these pastors or faiths predominate, it will affect the
political life of that city. Any
politician who goes against that feeling had better for another place to run for
office. Yet, on the surface, we do actually have a separation of church and
state.
Here Apostle Shelton explains that the dominate religious view affects all walks
of life in a particular local city or state.
Whenever
political idea or any social idea entrenches itself into a society or into group
of people, it takes years of change to correct it. People are afraid to stick
their neck out. People have so many customs. There are things in our society
which are completely idealistic, meaning that they are beautiful ideas, but not
practical ones. It would have been beautiful if all we had to do was push a
button for religion. It would have easier on us, if we could just have been an
administrator, and you only had to push a button to hear a recorded message, and
the Church would have functioned. It does not grow that way. We have grown, and
we have expanded even with all of those who have backslidden and left. We have
grown and prospered more than any of them. Why? Because whenever you have a
group of people, you must have central authority. It is a part of your
government. This central authority can either be weak or strong, in respect to
how the members are which it rules, whether it is a church, club, government, or
in a country. Your central government is only as strong as the people will
surrender their obedience, identify with it, admire and respect it. If you have
a central government which does not assert its authority (that simply sits
behind the scenes, and permits a former government to be in ascendancy, to
greater than itself) it can never rule.
Here Apostle Shelton emphasizes the rule of the central government. Which should
lead or guide the people to greater heights by preaching the same Apostle’s
doctrine. Many of the people did
not want to hear or listen to any other preacher other than Bishop Johnson but
in the example of Joshua after the death of Moses, God told Joshua to lead the
people to the promised land the same goal he gave Moses.
God gave this
example in a most beautiful fashion. Even though Moses (this great prophet whom
God used in a great way died, and the people only mourned about for 30 days.
After that Joshua led the people to higher heights. These people require more of
us than God required of Joshua. God told Joshua to get those over Jordan. (see
Joshua, 1st chapter) We are using modem English.
The Lord said that "I am going to magnify you."
What about Moses? Was not he one of the
meekest Prophets whoever lived on the earth? Is not he the one who was the
pioneer or who had the fathership of taking this great people out of Egypt? Do
you mean that God would dare to tell another person that?
Joshua 1:1 - 8 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to
pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou,
and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children
of Israel. Every place that the
sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto
Moses. From the wilderness and this
Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the
Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your
coast. There shall not any man be
able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I
will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide
for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from
it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou
goest. This book of the law shall
not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that
thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then
thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Regardless to
what people shall claim that you deviated from or that you weakened the faith,
which is not true, this generation is asking for fact. Most people who try to
argue against our having become Bishop, say Joshua was Moses' minister. Was he a
minister? All of the young people's officials are cur ministers. While some of
them may be preachers, others are not.
You have a type of minister who ministers the gospel.
Our secretaries are our ministers, who type our letters—they take care of
the administration. The scripture does not say that Joshua had to be a preacher.
He was a minister. Who can deny that we were the first minister; in the sense
that we were general secretary of the whole movement—a minister of Bishop S. C.
Johnson. He was the president.
The sign of a healthy Church is
clearly when you understand the Apostle’s doctrine, and have the same salvation
plan taught by different preachers, taught by different ministers, in different
local areas, during different times, perhaps by different administrations, and
in different cultures.
When you
understand these things, you are able to explain yourself and not have any
doubt. We were going to say as we
started that this is one of the healthy signs of any church. This means that it
is sure. Our enemies might say well why are we unable to question you? We have
no objections. They can ask questions all day. Our only objection is that they
will not act orderly. When you restrain them, they are like those civil rights
marchers and all those people who call themselves looking for civil right. That
is the lie they tell. It is a chance to steal people's property. It is no civil
right to destroy property or steal belongings. What does that have to do with
what school your children are going to? You see the falseness in it.
These people
argue to say they want to question us on the doctrine, and they are not really
in questioning us at all. We are talking about the people who left this Church.
They want to satisfy an anger, by trying to embarrass this Church. They are not
interested in any doctrinal difference. Because if those hypocrites believed
that everything necessary to stop our mouth was in Bishop Johnson's tapes, (they
have an opportunity to play his tapes) then, we would be stopped.
We trust you will understand the place of the Apostolic Church in this
modern society. If you do not understand why we are here, ask God to open your
understanding.
You might ask yourself the question, why all the fighting for organizational
control? Perhaps you can now see
that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. It is Jesus Christ who told Joshua
what to do at the death of Moses. It is Jesus Christ who chose and instructed
the Apostles. It is Jesus Christ who is presenting unto himself a Holy Church...
When many of the worldwide organizations and local Churches stop
emulation and competing for membership and work together for the salvation of
the human family, they will see the body of Christ and come to the unity of the
Faith.
Ephesians 5:26 - 27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not
having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish.
Jude 1:3 - 4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common
salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men crept in
unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God,
and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
There is always backlash, criticism, and accusation when we change our rules to
adjust to the modern world to continue preaching the gospel to every creature
even though we preach the same Apostle's Doctrine. You must set yourself to move
forward with love toward all people despite of the hardness you may encounter.
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
Guidelines for Individuals in Phase 1:
Guidelines for Businesses in Phase 1:
Guidelines for City Government in Phase 1:
Social Distancing guidelines:
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:
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.
Atlanta entered Phase 2 at the end of May:
· which
allowed for small, private gatherings of no more than 10 people with social
distancing and allowed for to-go and curbside pickups from restaurants
(previously allowed in Phase 1) and retail establishments. The gathering size
was increased to 50 people with social distancing.
· Phase
1 is implemented when the percent of hospital and critical care capacity remains
above 50%.