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: November 8, 2020

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 to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.  In some places wearing face mask is mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public spaces.  

     At this present time, the City of Atlanta, Georgia remains in Phase II of the Reopening Plan.   Large gatherings of more than 50 people are banned in Georgia unless there is at least six feet between each person. We are continuing limited in-person gatherings to maintain the requested social distancing and online service through Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube. The medically fragile are advised to continue to shelter in place.  Baptism and prayer service is continuing using personal protective equipment.

 

     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:

Remaining Steadfast in Until the End (Part 2)

By Apostle Dennis G. Smith

     Deacon Stephen not only was a man of faith and honest report, but he also knew the history of the Church which was in the wilderness.  He gives a summary of many of the actions of Moses and the tribes of Israel recorded in the books of the law.  When he rehearsed to his accusers the accounts of the betrayals of the Prophets and now also the Lord Jesus Christ the result was anger from the accusers and not contrition and sorrowful hearts.

 

Acts 7:38 - 41 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:  To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.  And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

 

This is what many Saints today have witnessed when speaking to those who reject the truth and do not receive the word of God with “Gladness”.  If they are not glad about turning from sin, the usual result is madness and the desire to harm the messengers of truth.  You must learn to let them go if they choose evil rather that good, you must learn to shake the dust off of your feet from their houses and cars.  After you have done what you can to reveal the truth to those you love, you can be assured that their outcome will be based on their own decisions.  And so, Deacon Stephen speaks of God giving them over to their own choices.

 

Acts 7:42 - 43 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?  Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

 

     We can recognize the choices of people in the buildings and edifices that they build for worship.  Though it is a good thing to build places to accommodate the convocation and gathering of the people, we must understand, that the building itself is not the dwelling place of God.  There is no need to worship the building nor any of the relics it contains because God does not dwell in places made with the hands of man.  Once people began to see a manmade structure as the dwelling place of God, they are usually blinded by its accommodations and cannot see the true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  As a result, they began to love the building and not the Saints or people of God, those who are filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost who are the actual Church of the Living God.  When you understand the indwelling and power of the Holy Ghost, you will stand fast on the word and know that signs will always follow those who believe and are filled with the Spirit of God.  When a Saint is led by the Spirit of God, there are things that they simply will or will not do!  So, Deacon Stephen then declares it plainly that there are those who resist the Holy Ghost…

 

Acts 7:51 - 60 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:  Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,   And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

 

     What can we learn from the example of Deacon Stephen?  We can witness that he was steadfast until the End. That he did not move from the word of God.  This is why we sing the song “Nothing Shall move me from the word of God.”  We can see also that his wisdom and knowledge of the truth did not change those who resisted the Holy Ghost but rather made them angry enough to kill him.  We can clearly see that when people label you as paranoid for your cautiousness with evil people because of the harm that they can bring upon you physically they themselves are mislead by their desire to be accepted by the world.  Though we do not fear them, the bible clearly tells us to beware of them.  Beware means to be cautious and alert to the dangers of evil people.  To be aware of them means to know about them and what they can and will do so that you are steadfastly following the Apostle's Doctrine.

 

Matthew 10:17- 22 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;   And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

 

Some may say they believe but may be deceived by saying that these scriptures do not apply to the Church which is the reason you must beware of them and be aware about them!!


 We continue with a Message from Apostle Shelton…Let Him That Is on the Housetop, Not Come Down…

 

LET HIM THAT IS ON THE HOUSETOP, NOT COME DOWN (part 2)

(Matthew 29 :17)

By Bishop S. McDowell Shelton

 

     During this time, many will deny the faith and we will experience that great falling away that is recorded in the scripture.  Many thought that after Bishop S. C. Johnson died, that the great falling away would come upon us.  But, oh NO!   That was just a few hypocrites and loose people who wanted some freedom and finally did what they have been wanting to do for a long time.  But the great falling away will a phenomenal situation, where many will deny the name of Jesus Christ.  Many will deny the knowledge of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Before that time, however, there will be a great outpouring.  All nations shall begin to flow, and God is going to make up His number. There shall be a great upsurge and inflowing.  There shall be a great prosperity in the Church as it was in the time of Israel. There shall be a great blessing and ease in Zion. People will begin to backslide in their hearts, because of the prosperity. They are going to forget the times of suffering; they shall forget the times of small things. It must come.  Along with the refinement and popularity, people begin to prosper and they begin to get worldly in most cases.  The Church is going to be established through the entire world.  You are now listening to the voice of prophecy concerning Gods people. When we reach our peak state, then our persecution shall come.  I want you to write this on the tablets of your heart, so that you might say to your children or your grandchildren that one night during the Divine Healing Services, the chief prophet of the Church, Bishop S. McDowell Shelton told us of these days that were to come.  Tell them that this prophet preached from the Words of Jesus telling us what was to come in the future.

 

"Then shall they deliver you up to afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my names sake." (Matthew 24:9)

Did you think for one second, because you sit in your field houses; because you are allowed certain portions of religious freedom that you are going to escape the fate of the early New Testament Church?  ... When they were hailed in their houses; they were beaten, driven, and scattered abroad.   That which was, shall be again.

 

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”  

 

The weak, the hypocritical, the insincere, the ones who do not have the stamina to stand against trying times.  Persecution shall become offending.   People shall betray one another.  They are going to tell the authorities and the powers that be, where they might find a saint, one who has been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; where they might find one who is praying.  

 

     They will try to change their religious costume so they will not be recognized.  Someone will say to the authorities, "I know where a saint lives."  They are going to betray one another.  I see it happening even now.   Some are so close to the world; they are so loquacious or mouthy; so poor in their judgment until they will tell anything.  Why do you think those who are enemies of the Church know what happens in the services, because iniquity already works?  Never fear.  Judas sits in the midst of the congregation.  He lurks in the dark corners and in the crevices.  His eyes are upon the holy people.  The material is already here.  Prayer keeps him or her bound.  


     I am noticing the old-time love and concern that saints had for one another, is dying until the fire has come to such low ember.  You can now barely feel the heat of once a great fire.   There was once such a great bold between the of God, that if one member suffered, all members suffered.  No one is concerned; no one cares; no one put themselves out; no one searches out who is in need; everyone is too busy or to engrossed with their own affairs; everyone is too critical.  They are so quick to look at the defects and at the shortcomings of one another---rather than to see that there is another human being in distress. 

    

     They have no more patient with those who are becoming to become Saints!  It is not that we are all Saints when we first start out.  And for many, it take years to become a Saint.  Who takes this into consideration?  What shall we do with the transgressors?  Stone them!  Kill them!  Destroy them before they have a chance to go on to perfection?  If I listen to the self-righteous overtones of some people, I would cast out members every day.  One night preached a message, which my publisher handed to me before I came to the microphone, “Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work.” 

 

 Matthew 24:11 “And many false prophets shall rise and deceive many.” 

 

     My dear friends, my dear children, let me tell you this: God has so constructed His Word that it takes all you can do to live up to it. The choir sings a song "We Will Hold the Line".  When you hold the line in every aspect of your life, this has taken every minute of your awaking day and even your sleep at night, to come up to this high and holy calling.  I should really think that now is the time for God's people, all of my wonderful family of children through the entire world to join their hands in prayer and fasting.  They should join hearts in love and concern to pray for the body of Christ everywhere that God will undertake in our behalf and count us worthy to escape; to make us strong for the future for what is coming.  We must pray that the Lord will increase the faith.  

     It is becoming more difficult every year for our young to hold the standard in school, of requirements of taking off head gear before entering.  Of course, we have the testimony that women should keep their covered.  Whatever testimony we have, there is an encroachment.  As soon as a child enters school, there is our testimony against medical care to be confronted.  There is an enforcement of vaccination and other types of inoculations.  And so there shall be more and more encroachments against the testimony of the church.  There will be a time when the pressure will be so great, if the Lord would not help us at that time, no one would be able to stand.  But we have the blessed assurance that some are going to be standing and enduring until the end.

"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:11-13)


 The scripture would not have said, “he that endure until the end,” if someone was not going to endure until the end. Somebody is going to have the testimony that they have fought a good fight.  Someone is going to have the testimony that can cry out from the depths of their heart, "Even so, come Lord Jesus".  Somebody will be up on the housetop waiting for the second coming of the Lord.  And so, in my conclusion, if you are high in the Spirit and up in the Word of God; up in the standard of the Apostle’s Doctrine where He teaches you of His ways; up on the Mount of Prayer; up in His pavilion of safety and salvation. 

 

"Let him which is on the housetop not come dawn to take anything out of his house.” (Matthew 24:17)


 Watch and pray. Keep looking and longing; don't let the devil come and tempt you and lure you down. Whatever he offers you, remember the testimony of Jesus when He was taken up to the pinnacle, when He was offered so many things. Remember the Word of God and GET UP THERE AND STAY! GET UP T HERE, IF YOU HAVE TO LAY DOWN; IF YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE, STAY UP. If you have to cry, STAY UP! If you have to be afflicted, STAY UP!   LET HIM WHICH IS ON THE HOUSETOP NOT COME DOWN… in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  May God bless—YOU, one and all.

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

 

Coronavirus outbreak in Churches from health reports:   November 8, 2020

A Fitchburg, Massachusetts church service has been linked to nearly 200 COVID-19 cases.  As of last Monday, the Crossroads Community Church was linked to about 30 positive cases of the virus. Days later, that number skyrocketed to 150.  Fitchburg has seen 1,126 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of March, and 85 residents have died, according to an update.


Present Guidelines for Individuals and Businesses in Phase 2:

·         Small private gatherings of no more than 10 people, with social distancing.

·         Large Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned in Georgia unless there is at least six feet between each person.

 

 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.