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Publisher: Faith Ritchie
Apostolic Society
Newsletter
International April A Word From… Elder Dennis Lubow Issue
2011
How to Spring Clean Your Spirit Inside This Issue A Word From Elder Dennis Lubow Writers Pen…by Brother Art Bowman Pastor Sherry’s Ponderings
Missing Person, Featured Websites, Special Note & Contact Information
Pg 1 & 2 Pg 3
Pg 4 & 5 Pg 6
While you're cleaning out closets and sweeping under the furniture, think about this: Spring cleaning, while worth the effort, will only last for a season, but spiritual cleansing could have an eternal influence. So don't just dust behind those book shelves, dust off that favorite Bible and get ready for a spiritual spring cleaning. 1) Cleanse Your Heart - Get Spiritually Healthy: The Bible encourages us to draw close to God and allow our hearts and bodies to be cleansed. This is the first step in our spring cleaning project. We can't clean ourselves. Instead we must draw near to God and ask Him to do the cleansing. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (KJV) Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (NIV) 2) Clean Out Your Mouth - Deep Clean Inside and Out: Spiritual cleansing requires deep cleaning -- it is housekeeping that goes beyond what others see and hear. It's a cleansing from within -- inside and out. As your heart gets clean, your language should follow. This is not just talking about bad language, but also negative talk and pessimistic thoughts that contradict the Word of God and faith. This includes the challenge to stop complaining. Luke 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (NIV) Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing... (NIV) 3) Renew Your Mind - Take Out the Garbage:
Quote Of The Month When the saint ceases to seek after holiness, purity, righteousness, truth; when he ceases to pray, stops reading the Word and gives way to carnal appetites, then it is that Satan comes. Smith Wigglesworth
This is one of the biggest areas of struggle for most of us -- removing the garbage from our minds. Garbage in equals garbage out. We must feed our minds and spirits the Word of God instead of the garbage of this world. Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV) 4) Repent from Hidden Sin - Clean Out Your Spiritual Closets: Hidden sin will destroy your life, your peace, and even your health. The Bible says to confess your sin tell someone, and reach out for help. When your spiritual closets are clean, the heaviness from hidden sin will lift. Psalm 32:3-5 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"—and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (NIV) 5) Release Unforgiveness and Bitterness - Get Rid of Old Baggage: Any sin will weigh you down, but long kept unforgiveness and bitterness is like old baggage in the attic you just can't seem to part with. You are so familiar with it, you don't even realize how it is hindering your life. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore ... let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress... (NLT)
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Cont->
Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV) 6) Involve Jesus in Your Daily Life - Let the Son Shine In: What God wants most from you is relationship - friendship. He wants to be involved in the big and small moments of your life. Open your life, let the light of God's presence shine into every part, and you'll have no need for a yearly spiritual cleaning. Instead experience daily, moment to moment refreshing of your spirit. 1 Corinthians 1:9 God ... is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (NLT) Psalm 56:13 For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light. (NLT) 7) Learn to Laugh at Yourself and at Life: Some of us take life too seriously, or we take ourselves too seriously. Jesus wants you to enjoy yourself, and learn to have some fun. God made you for His pleasure! Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (NIV) Psalm 126:2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." (NIV)
exä WÉÇÇtËá UÄÉz fÑÉà‹AAA Eternity, Where Will You Be ? Have you given serious thought about this!? After all, eternity is forever, as in never ending forever and ever in our human minds we cannot fathom all that God has in store for us. In Isaiah 65:17 it speaks of different places of abode, or more precise, different places in eternity. There is MORE than just "Heaven and Hell" that are very real. Isaiah says .For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. v. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 2nd Peter 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come "AS" a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. v. 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Revelation 21:1-2 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I, John saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. So there is a new heavens, right? A new earth. There IS a New Jerusalem; The New City, ALSO death and hell, will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire. That makes four eternal places of abode in Eternity. The beauty is that you get to choose! Has this ever come to your mind? Rev. 20:12, we are judged out of God`s book, opened and "according to their "works" are judged. Our faith! 1st Corinthians 15 and start reading about v. 2223 . as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be 'made alive'. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. God is a God of order all throughout the Word. Nothing is "sloppy" or 'almost' right, all is Perfect! He works, and has always by principles and order. From arranging the wood, on the Brazen Altar, in the First Tabernacle, to our Lives now. We cannot skip a few steps, no, we will end up repeating the same lessons over, and over if necessary, for our Lord Jesus to cause us to know and have it quickened, made alive, to us. Also in 1 Corinthians 15 v. 35. Paul begins to talk of different glories in the flesh. and how they differ. The night sky, each element so very different. There is the Glory of the Sun. Bright. Then the moon, wow, nothing like a full moon, you can see so plainly, yet; it can only reflect the Sun! Also there is glory of stars, one differing from another in glory, (As you look up on a clear nite, some stars "SEEM" and "appear" to be tiny, while others, that are closer, are bigger.) True? v. 42 so also is the resurrection of the dead. We know 'flesh and blood' cannot inherit - the first man is our 'natural' patterned after the 1st man the LORD God created. The 2nd man Adam, is our Lord Jesus Christ. How much of Him, His "nature" and likeness have we grown into? How much of the Word do we have quickened to our spirit man? Are we practicing ALL that we know to do!? A baby, can be 'perfect' as far as her or she is grown. A toddler may walk along slow and unsteady, needing to hold on to your hand, or furniture. That is natural for that age. If you are school age, and still in huggies, with a bottle, something is very wrong. As adults, that just meet the Lord Jesus, ask Him into our Lives, to please forgive our sins. We ask Him to be our Lord, and Master, After all, He created us, then, died to redeem, buy back, what is, all along RIGHTFULLY His. New Christians, as you know, as they are truly trying to read and grasp the Word, and put into practice what they know. They may fall, we ALL have fallen short! No condemnation in Christ Jesus. An older age Christian, well, should within a few yrs, know more of Jesus, become mature in His Word that is applied to their lives, and sharing the gospel, with others, "Look what the Lord has done for me!" Being part of a church, a Body of Believers, exercising the Gifts of the Spirit, as they go up, putting off the old man, and putting on the new. Ephesians 4:22-24. As an Individual must grow. and each one of us has to choose, for our own soul! I cannot "save" anyone! I cannot redeem! Yet, I can memorize, and put into practice those Words of Life, and continue to grow. Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Romans 14:7. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
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Writer’s Pen……By Elder Art Bowman Faith and the Law The majority of Christians cannot separate in their minds the critical difference between observing the Law of God to gain (and/or keep) their salvation, i.e., salvation by works of the Law, and their observing God's Law of God out of devotion and love (salvation illustrated by their works). When we Christians fail at some point of The Law, we have an advocate who covers us with His blood and a Spirit who continues to correct us in righteousness.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Romans 10:13-15 (KJV)
A careful review of the New Covenant scriptures will reveal that whenever there is a discussion concerning the observance of the Law and its incompatibility with one living a life of faith. The teaching presented is always an admonishment against attempting to gain, keep, or improve one’s right standing before God, i.e. to secure one’s salvation through observing the ordinances and statutes of The Law. First: Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Those who keep the Law of God in their hearts and testify to the gospel of the kingdom of God, and preach the salvation of mankind through the atonement of the Messiah, shall experience persecution for the sake of that gospel. The Law of God and the gospel are not incomparable points of view; rather, they are complementary in nature and achieve the completeness of the scriptural message (when taken together). Consider Matthew 5:17. Second: Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Here we are to put our faith into action, even as demonstrated by Abraham (Genesis 26:1-6 & James 2:17-22). Doing ‘good deeds’ are included within the precepts of the Law of God, but they are NOT the whole of it. Third, the most difficult of all to accept and to practice: Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. While the fallen nature of man, even a 'saved' Christian, precludes him from obeying the Law of God in a consistently 'perfect' manner, the desire and the effort to do so has its rewards. There is yet a connection between the Law of God and one's salvation. One cannot claim a right standing before God and continue to sin, i.e. the willful breaking of the Law. (1John 3:4, Romans 6:12 and of course Hebrews 6:4-8) Many would discount an observance of the Law because it was 'only' a school master, and Christians should no longer require a schoolmaster. What is frequently overlooked is that a person who as mastered a subject, a skill, a trade, etc. never looses the need to apply the lessons learned of the most elementary instruction - the required adherence to such instructions never go away, they only become 'automatic'. We would often refer to this process as 'maturing in the Spirit or 'growing' in the Faith. Now comes the more difficult part: What are those Laws of God that a Christian (even a Gentile) is to observe (follow, obey) and which Laws are to be ignored? Forget what you have been taught – Jesus Christ did not observe all of the Mt. Sinai Covenant Laws! What? No, Jesus did not observe the laws pertaining to women, priests, or the ’strangers’ (Gentiles living or traveling through Israel), for he was a male. Obviously, Jesus did observe the laws pertaining to children while He was Himself a child, but not when He was an adult.
This is the area where so much teaching of men enters into Christian assemblies, and the resulting false doctrines are held in higher esteem than the written word of God. There are two primary reasons for this failure in church leadership: (1) pride. The desire to hold the preeminence position within a congregation and to reap the perceived benefits from holding such a position or office, (2) A simple lack of knowledge and/or understanding of scripture. When left to their own devices, men will always pick and choose those things that they think they understand and/ or choose those passages (even partial verses/sentences) that seem to support their religious positions and doctrines. This approach to scripture study will almost always result in doing violence to the word of God and serious spiritual damage to the student, especially to those who takes upon themselves to be teachers of the word. So the question remains: What Laws of God are still in effect and applicable to Gentile Christians? Once identified, how are they to be implemented (observed, obeyed) by professing Christians? What are the expected (even promised?) results of our failure to accomplish this undertaking?
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Pastor Sherry’s Ponderinngs……... Saved By Grace Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is a gift from God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. What a beautiful promise this is...to know that it is by His Grace in which when we have faith..believe in who Jesus is and trust Him and follow after Him...we are saved. It is a gift from God...He just wants you to follow Him and believe! This takes away all the works of those that believe that you can make yourself holier by what you can do .....last night I was reading in Matthew 23:1-37 Jesus spoke of the Pharisee's and He corrected them because of their heart and attitudes...they condemned themselves in turn. Let's take a good look at this...Matthew 23:1-37 We must be careful that we that are Christians that profess to earnestly love God that we do not fall into this as Jesus said...to observe them and do, but do not ye after their works. As one that professes to be a follower of Christ...we must be careful not to condemn others and push them out of the churches because of your judgments, and do great harm to ones spirit, creating a wound that keeps them out of the kingdom of God Christ warns the people to follow good teaching, not the evil examples of the scribes and Pharisees 1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. He proclaims eight woes, against the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
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28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, This is a very sad truth today in our many churches...but you do not have to take part in these attitudes....and if you have fallen into this all you have to do is repent and turn away from this...and go back to your first love..rebuild your relationship with Jesus...but do it in understanding the scriptures...and what Jesus has spoken. 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? He prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: Today...we destroy God's people by our words, our condemnation that goes from one church to another ...rediculing, condemning others by their own judgements...that is how people kill and crucify others...cutting others off if they do not agree with them! 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Matt 23:1-37 (KJV) Jesus was asked by the Sadducee in Matthew 22:36 What is the great commandment in the law? Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang ALL the law and the prophets. May you have a blessed day! Pastor Sherry
Missing Persons
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Apostolic Society Tammy McVey Wright
Elder Dennis Lubow http://apostolicsociety.org
PRENTISS COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) Prentiss County authorities are on the lookout for a woman who has been missing since last Friday. Authorities say 45-year-old Tammy McVey Wright was last seen in Corinth around noon last Friday. If you have any information on Tammy McVey Wright you're asked to call the Prentiss County Sheriff's Department at 728- 2002.
We are a unique organization as our goal is to allow God to be the true head of the church, allowing the Holy Ghost the freedom to operate in our lives as well as the assembly of the church. Doing away with all the man made doctrines that have polluted the church, and destroyed untold numbers of hungry souls. If doctrine cannot be backed up with the entire Bible it is man made. If it is biblically sound doctrine the entire Bible will support it.
Sherry Lynn Lankford
Contact Information
Great Falls, MT ~ 42 year old woman was last seen Sunday, March 13, 2011. She has short brown hair, brown eyes, weighs approximately 135 pounds, and stand 5”7. Anyone with information is asked to call the Great Falls Police Department at 771-1180, or Annette at 590-8842.
Elder Dennis Lubow Ph: 2562303437 Email: dlubow@yahoo.com Pastor Sherry Ritchie Ph: 740 891 4992 or 740706 0230 Email: pastorsherry51@aol.com Pastor Sandra West Ph: 441793522897 Email: west.sandra@talktalk.net
Erik Ruiz
Pastor Faith Ritchie Email: sherryrose1970@aol.com
Carbon Hill, AL ~ 24 year old spoke to his girlfriend January 13, 2011. Ruiz’s cell phone was located in nearby Marion County. Anyone with information should contact the Carbon Hill Police Dept. at 205-942-441.
Pastor Sherry Ritchie
thistooshallpass.spruz.com Our ministry is all about Jesus and His love for each one of us. Encouraging and lifting each other up as we walk through the valleys, and the mountain tops in our life. We want to follow after the heartbeat of God. His will for us to walk daily in His Word and fulfil the "Great Commission".
Special Note For submissions of any articles, special requests, updates on events or anything regarding the newsletter, please send them to : Faith at : sherryrose1970@aol.com
This Too Shall Pass Ministry
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Sherry at PastorSherry51@aol.com
Important Notices Please send all your prayer needs to :
Happy Birthday
asiprayer@aol.com or ttspprayer@aol.com
We would like to wish a very We must intercede for the needs of others
People of Japan and all areas the Tsunami hit.
Happy Birthday to all whose Birthday’s are in April.
Lillie Ann & 2 yr old daughter Wanda diagnosed with leukemia Wanda has advanced stage & currently undergoing chemotherapy. Daphne Kemp, Fiona Andrews, Imogen Bentley, LaRae Durbin, Jenny Preston, Carol Archer, Hilary & Bailey, Pray for all our families in Pearls Of Grace. David Hutton, Shaun West & daughters, Ashliegh 10yrs, Erin 8 yrs. Pray for our Leaders across this world, Homeless & those that hunger. Pray for our churches that the true Word of God is preached. Pray for Abused Men, Women and Children throughout this world. Pray for Elder Dennis Lubow for health & ministry
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