Tree of Life Christian Fellowship East

609-618-8942 or 609-879-9113
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver Proverb 25:11

Rest or Apostasy?
Psalm 127: 1-3, Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

There is a generation of Christian much like the woman in the New Testament named Martha. Martha was always so busy for the Lord and always doing something for the Lord instead of waiting at the feet of the Lord Jesus listening to hear His voice. Now if we look carefully at the meaning of the name Martha we find it is Aramaic for mistress or she was rebellious, this shall be importantly telling as we move on. Many times the people of God are so busy working for the Lord that they miss the mark God wants them to hit. Consequently, if you notice as Martha did so shall we; accuse our brethren before the Lord of not being spiritual enough. However, as you read on notice how the Lord corrects her for her error. (Luke 10:41-42)

True and devoted service to and of the the Lord must always come out of our being held close to His precious heart; lest we miss a beat and become led astray by our own activity and deceitful human heart. I believe the apostle Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 9:27, But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Castaway is a very terrifying word! It lends to the idea of being set aside unfit for the Potters use. Silver dross. (Ezekiel 22:18) There are roughly 350,000 religious congregations in the United States alone, but with so many zealous worshippers of God have you ever wondered where is the Glory of God? Should not the Glory of God be where He is truly honored? The Glory of God always changes men and society, there is not real authentic, lasting inward change without the Glory of God moving on the face of humanity. Our Great land sits unchanged, unsaved, unconverted and full of wickedness and hypocricy. Even the sinner and the ungodly can see that this country is getting worse and worse. The American church has mainly become impotent! Could it not be said of the American church which was proclaimed over Israel when the lampstand had been put out in the First Tabernacle? 1 Samuel 4:21a, And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel. Or could we be found as Israel in Ezekiels revelation where the Glory of God departs from His own house and temple? We abide in a land of the professing Christian, but what about the tangible Glory of God in His Church? Could the following prophecy be being fulfilled before our very eyes? And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach (Isaiah 4:1). I believe the seven women represent the church (Revelation 2 and 3) and the man is the Lord Jesus. Could the American church be guilty of living the Christian life in its own strength on its own terms by its own set of rules, and not after Gods straight and narrow gate? But still wanting to be free from judgment? When the church stops being close to Jesus it ceases from being intimate, and when it ceases from being intimate it is on its way to being given a bill of divorcement (apostasy). None is immune from being a castaway or falling under the spell of a reprobate spirit. Are we not given warning from Gods

Holy Word, Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1). These are the times we live in! But thanks be to God at the same time Gods Glory departs from His house, He searches to find a Samuel to restore His Prophetic Word to His Israel. And likewise, when His Glory goes up from Jerusalem and from His temple as His Israel is gone into captivity in Babylon: His Glory moves upon His Heavenly Jerusalem! And He begins to show the earthen house of Israel (the church) The true Heavenly House of Jehovah Shamma, The Lord is there!! This is a dreadful (Holy and full of trembling) place this is the true house of God! But, God is doing it His way always on His terms by His chosen Son and never will He be moved from that position. Praise His Holy Name!! Our Sovereign God is always moving forward always moving on with or without us .Towards His revealing of His Glorious Son in His heavenly Church, teaching all creation along with every demon and foul spirit Who He is!! Isaiah chapter 66: 1-2 states His heart and mind very clearly, Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. The Lord is after a people of His Rest ceasing from all their own work, from being a rebellious, mistress named Martha. And, become a beautiful bride adorned with His Own Self weeping contrite, with His own Humility at His feet: Gods Rest and ours must be one in the same, this rest is only found in a Person our redeemer Christ Jesus. This is where Gods Glory rests in His Son with those that tremble at His Word, with the spirits of just men and women made perfect by the blood of Jesus! His blood sprinkled on our human spirits broken and contrite in union with the Man of Sorrows. If we want to truly be like Him, and to be safe from being led astray, that our love for Him would not wax cold as we see iniquity and sorrow abound? Then, we must let this pure ministry to come into our hearts.

The Ministry of the fellowship of His sufferings. Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

In His service, Pastor Douglas Smith

Jesus Christ is Lord!!!