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

Newsletter
Todays mainstream Christian church in all its efforts to be a light to this fallen world and in its attempt to fulfill the Great commission has made things only worse. For the most part the popular church and its major denominations and factions have attempted to build a kingdom for God upon the earth. We are not called to be kingdom builders; but faithful men and women like Abraham who looked for a city already prepared in the heavens for us. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10). This is a kingdom that has been waiting for us to enter into since before the world was ever formed, the foundations of the world. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:34). However, this kingdom is chiefly not an outward work, but an inward formation in our human spirits joining us to an unseen heavenly kingdom. This is our Lords Gospel and blessed Rest we are to enter into, which Moses was not able to attain since he was the embodiment of the law. However, Joshua (Jesus) spoke of this rest that awaits the children of God, this we must strive to enter into. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest; although the works were finished from the foundation

of the world (Hebrews 4:3). This heavenly calling to rest in a completed work has been a snare that many a well-intentioned Christian has fallen into. Do you not recall the scripture that says that in six days God created the heavens and the earth and on the seventh day He rested from all His works, they were finished! Jesus Himself stepped out of eternity and said, I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do (John 17:4). When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost (John 19:30). The rest we are to enter into is a Person and a Kingdom the man Christ Jesus. This kingdom has been prepared in Gods heart and mind before the first blade of grass grew on the face of the earth. This kingdom awaits and is already completed; we can add nothing to it! We cannot lay one stone nor hang one door upon her walls this house and kingdom is built without our hands. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinth 5:1). Being a light to a fallen world can only come by being joined to the True Light of the world. In him was life; and the life was the light of men (John 1:4). I am the light of the world; he that followed me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12). We must be careful not to be producing our own artificial light source unless we are found reprobates. We as the church are only to abide in the One who is the Light and who shall be our eternal Light source. And, to those whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundations of the world. We, Gods building are not to imitate Gods glory (Jesus), but we are to reflect His beauty in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. In His service, Pastor Douglas Smith

Jesus Christ is Lord!!!