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: July 31, 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:
  
 
“The Power in Prayer and Fasting” (Part 1)
By Apostle Dennis G. Smith
 
    Fasting is the biblical method of increasing the faith of a person, making a person more spiritual, and connected to God.  By increasing a person's faith in God, they will gain the power to perform many great works, and nothing will be impossible for them as long as they operate in the will of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Matthew 17:14 - 21 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Matthew 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. Matthew 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Matthew 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?  Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
 
     On some days that are very hot, fasting may involve the abstinence from solid food but continuing to drink liquids to remain hydrated. On other occasions fasting may involve refraining from both eating solid foods and refraining from drinking any liquids during the period of the fast.  And when we fast, we do not want our fasting to be an exhibition of showmanship to be seen by other people, but we only want our fasting to be for spiritual strength from the Lord God Jesus Christ. So we start our fast by reading our devotional scriptures, singing our song of praise, saying our prayer, then we wash our faces and anoint our heads with blessed oil and fast for a selected time each day of the 40 days of fasting or the weekly Wednesday and Friday fast days.
 
Matthew 6:16 - 18 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Matthew 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; Matthew 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
 
     Prayer can be defined as talking to God, with words of thanksgiving, and words of worship that glorifies God and reinforces our need for Him. Through living a life of prayer, we communicate with the one that made us, all other creations and gave purpose for our existence.
 
     Prayer is our direct communication with heaven, it is the process that we use to talk directly to God. We communicate with Him, like a person-to-person phone call.  When we sing the song that Lord Jesus is on the main line tell him what you want. Lord Jesus is on the main line, tell him what you want.  If you want your body healed tell him what you want. If you want the Holy Ghost, tell him what you want. If you want deliverance, tell him what you want, Lord Jesus is on the main line now. 
 
     So our most basic definition of prayer is “talking to God, thanking and praising Him for his merciful love, goodness, and providential divine caring about our situation throughout our life.”  Each day, we face many trials, temptations, and hardships and we ask the Lord God Jesus Christ to give us the wisdom, strength, and determination to get through our daily confrontations. This is how we achieve victory over all troubles that come upon our weakness in the flesh human body.
 
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
 
     Prayer is our direct address to God, and after we have made our partitions and request known to him, we tarry are wait for him to answer our prayer request. We ask him for forgiveness, we ask him for the gift of the Holy Ghost, we ask him for protection, and to remove all sinful ways from our heart which gives us the power to live a holy lifestyle. 
 
     Prayer is the communication of the human being with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Almighty God who created the complete person consisting of the Spirit, the body, and the soul. Prayer is also the primary way for the believer to communicate their hurts and pains, and all of their emotional request to God Almighty.
 
     Because prayer is a spiritual communication between man and God, we increase our spiritual connection in our fasting to remove anything that would offset us in establishing a two-way relationship in which we not only talk to God but also learn to listen to Him by hearing that Holy voice that teaches us all things. And as we increase and grow in our spiritual connection, we realize that he is our father, so it is only natural for his children to ask their Heavenly Father for all the things that they need to live in this life and for all eternity.
 
Matthew 7:7 - 8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  Matthew 7:8 For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
 
     Prayer is recognizing the presence of God all around us that should cause us to humble ourselves and put away all forms of pride, and sinful ways, and renew our strength, which will bring us hope in every situation for which a request is made. We should now realize why the Lord God Jesus Christ said that men ought always to pray.
 
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
 
     The Saints of God must learn to include prayer and fasting in their everyday life despite of their busy schedules because their fasting and prayer will bring them closer to God.  After the scribes and Pharisees were seeking something to accuse the Lord Jesus of because healed a man on the sabbath day, the Lord Jesus himself continued in an all-night prayer to the indwelling Spirit of God which was in his flesh and blood body reconciling the world to himself and chose twelve Apostles.  The Lord did not let the fickle opposition of evil men offset him but continued in his love for all mankind.
 
Luke 6:6 - 13 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. Luke 6:7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. Luke 6:8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. Luke 6:9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?  Luke 6:10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Luke 6:11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
 
     The Lord Jesus taught his disciples to pray in secret in their private rooms, after the manner, which is commonly called the Lord's Prayer, or sometimes referred to as the disciple’s prayer as the way to have a humble communication with God and not pray like the Pharisees, whose prayer were done to be seen for recognition by men.
 
Luke 11:1- 4 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Luke 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread. Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
 
Mark11:24 - 26 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
 
Matthew 6:7 - 15 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
 
We continue with the Many Infallible Proofs for Why Pray from Apostle S. McDowell Shelton:
 
1.  Psalms 121:1 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
     Psalms 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
 
2.  Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
 
3. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
 
4. Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
 
5. Isaiah 50:9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
 
6.  Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
 
  We will continue with part 2 of this message on next week...… 
 
May the Lord Bless you and Keep you and eternally hold you in the center of his will. 
May he open your understanding so 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 9:50 am for Eternal Life Church of the Living God and 11:00 am 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 and 7:30 pm each Thursday Evening for Bible Study and Auxiliary meetings. 
 
      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 
• Vaccination remains the most effective protection against COVID-19
• Practice social distancing
• Frequently wash hands
• Frequent cleaning of public and high touch areas
 
 
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 minimizing 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 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.