Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 January 24, 2010 Elder Randy Johnson, Pastor Bro. Ronnie Henderson, Song Director Pastor E-Mail: sgmbcpastor@baptistsonline.org Web Site: www.baptistsonline.org/sgmbc "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Are Still Taught"

You Were Asked To Pray For: All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry, Virgil & Alice Hoskins, Grandchildren, and his daughters Liz Janis and Debbie Gray, Alecia Clements, Bryndon Thomas, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Helen Maggard, Renee Jackson, Larry Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Linda Mollette, Kirby Mollette, Kerry Pennington, Kim Butler, Danny & Nita Mollette, Verna Mae Allen, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie Henderson Jr, Donnie Henderson, Kevin Henderson, Ricky Henderson, Rosalie Graves, Terry Hanson, Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don Hammond, Charles Hammond, Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Wanda Fowler, Kathy Rosinbaum, Brenda Galusha and Jewel, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, Luann Reynolds, Bro. & Sis. Curtis Pugh, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jim & Linda Meier, Brother David & Sister Anne Shortt, Brother Manuel Seymour & Family, Doris Hammock, Letha Langford, Leacho Tittle, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson and Kelley Lee, Billy and Jo Hobbs, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout and her Niece, Pastor G. L. Burr, Alicia Lightsey, Melody Carr, Betty, Janie Capps, Kathy Johnson, Doyle Thomas, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From Pastor Johnson: Helping those with burdens Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” The Lord Jesus Christ has a commandment for all believers; "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34. Yes He said for us to love one another and this is not a suggestion but rather a commandment. And as we look here at Galatians 6:2 we are instructed to bear the burdens of other believers. Sometimes we are quick to condemn our brethren for act of unrighteousness but beloved let us all understand there is a time for church action and a time to love and help those in need. The Lord calls this "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time means buying the time or buy this opportunity. When the Lord gives us opportunity to help our brethren in their time of need then that is our opportunity to redeem the time. If we have a brother or sister in need of spiritual help then that is our opportunity to spiritually help them because of our love for our brothers and sisters. Sometimes (for many reasons) we tend to jump to a conclusion and cause a great divide between ourselves and therefore failing to buy our opportunity to help those with a burden and failing to redeem our time. The Lord gave us the right as a church to bring certain one before the church for expulsion but only if they neglect to hear the warnings and refuse to accept our help, however there should be much love and kindness given first. Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be much patience given by some to help bear their brothers burdens. Patience is a virtue in that it comes with experience and growth as a Christian. With this being said let us see what the Lord says; “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." Luke 8:15. Isn’t it our prayer that God be patient with us? “The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” Matthew 18:26, Thank God He is not as quick on condemnation as we sometimes are. Beloved we are all in the same world and sometimes the very same temptation in life and although we may not all react the same we are all subject too. Beloved no Christian is above sin and not all will fall to the same temptation but in this life we will all fail in something. So next time a fellow Christian fails to over come temptation and has some spiritual burdens in life, then help them bear those burdens, and if the time for expulsion presents itself then as a church do what you must. I know as a Pastor there have been time when I have been quick to bring some before the church and I also must learn to be more patient with those who simply need more love and help. Romans 15:1 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” “…and so fulfil the law of Christ.” This is the law of Christ in that it is what He taught us all to do. We all who are Christians seek to fulfill His law and this one is no exception. The key to fulfilling this law is love "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Galatians 5:14. Beloved sometimes when one falls it brings a great amount of disappointment to us however as we quickly overcome our disappointment then it is time to bear their burdens with them and redeem the time that God has given us opportunity too. Let us not forget the church is a body and when one member of that body suffers the rest of the body also suffers. We must tend to the hurting arm before you exclude it from the body. 1 Corinthians 12:26 “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”

A Challenge For The Pastors, By Charles Spurgeon: If the Holy Spirit does not come, and give spiritual life, we may preach until we have not another breath left, but we shall not raise from the tomb of sin even the soul of a little child, or bring a single sinner to the feet of Christ. Look sir, you may study your sermon; you may examine the original of your text; you may critically follow it out in all its bearings; you may go and preach it with great correctness of expression; but you cannot quicken a soul by that sermon. You may go up into your pulpit; you may illustrate, explain, and enforce the truth; with mighty rhetoric you may charm your hearers; you may hold them spellbound; but no eloquence of yours can raise the dead. Another voice than yours must be heard! Other power than that of your thought or persuasion must be brought into the work, or it will not be done. You may organize your societies, you may have excellent methods, you may diligently pursue this course and that; but when you have done all, nothing comes of it if the effort stands by itself. Only as the Spirit of God shall bless men by you, shall they receive a blessing through you. Whatever your ability or experience, it is the Spirit of God, who must bless your labour. We are nothing; you are nothing. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts," is a message that should make us lie in the dust, and utterly despair of doing anything in and of ourselves, seeing that all the power is of God alone. It will do us good to be very empty, to be very weak, to be very distrustful of self, and so to go about out Master's work.