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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Date: October 2, 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 open for 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 tree that
produces no righteous fruit is cursed
By Apostle
Dennis G. Smith
The Cursing of
the fig tree is another example which indicates that those who do not
bear good fruit or produce results of righteousness will be condemned. All those
who truly believe will produce the fruit of righteousness and holy living.
But those who do not believe will not produce good fruit and will be cursed and
withered into eternal damnation.
The people, who
have not believed that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Almighty God, and the Savior
or Messiah will clearly be cursed and doomed to eternal suffering. This
should make all people see that we must produce good fruit as a result of our
belief and not return to sinful ways while still proclaiming that we are
Christians. Figs are used for an example or symbol of the people who are good
fruit and evil fruit in the Old testament. The good people or good figs
will know who God is and will be his people, but the bad people or evil figs
will be destroyed.
Jeremiah 24:1 The LORD shewed me, and behold, two baskets of figs were set
before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had
carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and
the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had
brought them to Babylon.
Jeremiah 24:2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first
ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they
were so bad.
Jeremiah 24:3 Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said,
Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten,
they are so evil.
Jeremiah 24:4 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jeremiah 24:5 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so
will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent
out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.
Jeremiah 24:6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them
again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will
plant them, and not pluck them up.
Jeremiah 24:7 And I will give them an heart
to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their
God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Jeremiah 24:8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil;
surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his
princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that
dwell in the land of Egypt:
Jeremiah 24:9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the
earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in
all places whither I shall drive them.
Jeremiah 24:10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among
them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their
fathers.
The cursing of
the fig tree is another example that teaches us that those who do not believe,
will not produce fruit that leads to a holy lifestyle which will cause them to
be condemned in judgement. Even the Jerusalem Temple which should have been a
place for salvation and prayers had become a place of making money, a place for
those who steal from people, a marketplace to sell and exchange merchandise, so
the Lord turned over the tables because the temple did not produce righteous
results. And the Jerusalem Temple was eventually destroyed.
The cursing of
the fig tree also teaches us the power of prayer and faith in God so that all
obstacles can be overcome if you pray and have faith in God. Perhaps one
of the greatest obstacle or mountain to overcome is to learn to love our enemies
which all can defeat by prayer and faith in God.
Mark 11:11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he
had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went
out unto Bethany with the twelve.
Mark 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
Mark 11:13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he
might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but
leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
Mark 11:14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee
hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.
Mark 11:15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began
to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of
the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
Mark 11:16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the
temple.
Mark 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be
called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of
thieves.
Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might
destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his
doctrine.
Mark 11:19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
Mark 11:20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up
from the roots.
Mark
11:21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig
tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Mark
11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
MAR11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain,
Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his
heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he
shall have whatsoever he saith.
The Lord
Jesus Christ performed many miracles of healing, casting out devils, feeding
many thousands as proof of his merciful love, but He also gave proof of the
things that true faith would produce in causing people to overcome sinful ways
that may appear as mountains or immovable obstacles and stumbling blocks and he
revealed the justice and punishment that nonbelievers would receive for their
sins. In other words there will be consequences for all of our actions in
believing in the Lord Jesus, and there will be punishment for unbeliever which
will be seen by signs.
Matthew 17:14 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.
Matthew17:17 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.
Matthew17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the
child was cured from that very hour.
Matthew17:19 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.
If the fig tree
is seen as an example of the people who claim to be the people of God and also
all sinners, then in cursing the fig-tree, the Lord Jesus Christ reveals to us
that he will carry out justice on the sinners who do not turn from their sinful
ways and bring forth the good fruits of a holy life in overcoming their sinful
ways. This is the reason why we constantly remind all people that you must
confess and repent of sins and continue steadfastly until the end. You
cannot turn back to your old habits. And if you turn back, you will be
lost even if you think that you are a Christian. Christians must not return to
the sinful ways of the world, or they will become backsliders who have lost
their way. The Lord Jesus commands us that except we all repent, we will
likewise perish. God commands from us the fruits of righteousness and holy
living.
The
Lord Jesus Christ teaches the power of faith and prayer to remove all obstacles
which all true believers have to overcome the mountain of sin in their life.
And the Lord Jesus warns us all that if we do not repent of our sins and
overcome our sins, we will perish.
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 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. This experience with God will endow you with power.
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
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ONGOING
GUIDANCE
(1) Wear a
well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status if you are
high risk for severe disease.
(2) consider
avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public,
(3) talk to
your medical provider about other precautions to take,
(4) have a plan
for rapid testing if you are exposed and experiencing symptoms,
(5) talk to
your medical provider about treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and
monoclonal antibodies. If you have household or social contact with someone at
high risk for severe disease: consider selftesting to detect infection before
contact, and wearing a mask when indoors with them. Maintain improved
ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible. Follow CDC recommendations
for isolation and quarantine, including testing guidance.
Everyone should
remember the phrase: “My mask protects you; your mask protects me.”