Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 April 11, 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, Kirby Mollette, Kerry Pennington, Kim Butler, Danny & Nita Mollette, Verna Mae Allen, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Kevin Henderson, 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, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson and Kelley Lee, Billy and Jo Hobbs, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout and her Niece, Roger Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Alicia Lightsey, Melody Carr, Betty, Janie Capps, Scott and Gina Sillivan, Katie Norton, An unnamed child, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From Pastor Johnson: Do Right To Those Under Your Control. Colossians 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. As we go through life we should have one single mindset and that is to justly serve the Lord our God in every area in our lives. This becomes much harder as we must learn to live and work is a secular world controlled by Satan. As servants to our employers we must give them a proper day’s work for a proper days pay. And like wise with Christians in charge of both the lost and Christians. It is very difficult to be a Christian and live and work in this world but at the same time it is necessary. However we must understand as Christians no matter if we are employers, employees, or one in a supervisory role we must always respect the other people around us and always treat them in a fair and honest way. Always remembering we are not just Christians on Sunday but rather everyday of our life. We want to look at two words today, masters and servants. Let us start with the word master, this word comes from the Greek word “kurios” and it means – one who is supreme in authority or as a noun it means a controller. The word master is used not only is slavery but also in our everyday life as one who has authority over others or employers, supervisors or etc. While it is true that a lost master is not bounded to the scriptures however one that is a Christian is and therefore should reflect the scriptures in how he rules over them that are under his control. This becomes difficult when a Christian master is under the headship of a lost master himself, but if that Christian wants to hold this leadership roll in the workplace they must always act according to Gods will. Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Even if it goes against your own master, you always conduct your rulership by Gods word and if you cannot then it would be better not to serve that role. I understand that the fleshly nature we have in us has a great desire to control and rule but our spiritual nature must rule our everyday function. The greatest example of this is politics; a Christian should never be a politician because this world is controlled by Satan and therefore Christians must compromise with the lost in order to accomplish anything. They must learn to lie and sometimes give in to secular law in order to do their job, and this is going against Gods word. But to those who are employers, supervisors or etc. please remember God commanded how you treat those under you “…give unto your servants that which is just and equal…” and that means to treat those under your control as you would like your Master (God) to treat you “…knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” Now we want to spend a few words on servants. The word servant comes from the Greek word “doulos” and means a slave or one under the subjection of another. As employees God has rules for them also, Colossians 3:22 “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:” As employees are suppose to give your worldly masters an honest day of work for the entire time you are getting paid. The word “eyeservice” means - one that is sight in labor or one that must be watched in order to do your job, this is known as a manpleaser or one who only works when the boss is watching. As a Christian we all should be honest and dependable, working to please God by pleasing our employers or supervisors. A dishonest employee is dishonoring to God just as an un-respectful master is and both need to please God rather than the desires of the flesh.

The Bible’s Supreme Place: "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" Ps. 119:165 Yes, a true love for the great Book will bring us great peace from the great God, and be a great protection to us. Let us live constantly in the society of the law of the Lord, and it will breed in our hearts a restfulness such as nothing else can. The Holy Spirit acts as a Comforter through the Word, and sheds abroad those benign influences which calm the tempests of the soul. Nothing is a stumblingblock to the man who has the Word of God dwelling in him richly. He takes up his daily cross and it becomes a delight. For the fiery trial he is prepared, and counts it not strange, so as to be utterly cast down by it. He is neither stumbled by prosperity, as so many are, nor crushed by adversity, as others have been; for he lives beyond the changing circumstances of external life. When his Lord puts before him some great mystery of the faith which makes others cry, "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" the believer accepts it without question; for his intellectual difficulties are overcome by his reverent awe of the law of the Lord, which is to him the supreme authority to which he joyfully bows. Lord, work in us this love, this peace, this rest, this day. By: Charles Spurgeon

Let them alone: "They are joined to their idols—let them alone!" Hosea 4:17 God sometimes leaves men to themselves—their furious passions are unchained, and they are given up, without restraint, to the lusts of their own evil hearts! A more dreadful judgment than this, cannot be inflicted on this side of hell. Matthew Henry writes, "People go on in sin until the Lord says, 'Let them alone!' Then they receive no more warnings—and feel no more convictions. Satan takes full possession of them—and they ripen for destruction! It is a sad and sore judgment for any man—to be let alone in sin! Those who are not disturbed in their sin—will be destroyed for their sin! May we be kept from this dreadful state; for the wrath of God, like a strong tempest—will soon hurry all impenitent sinners into eternal ruin!" By John Newton, from his article “The imminent danger and the only sure resource of this nation”

Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”