Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 Celebrating 50 years as a Church of Jesus Christ October 29, 1961 – October 29, 2011 November 27, 2011 Newsletter Number 344 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director Pastor E-Mail: sgmbcpastor@baptistsonline.org Web Site: www.baptistsonline.org/sgmbc "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty Years”

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, Sister Alice Hoskins, Joyce Gomez , Frank & Sonya Trusty, Bryndon Thomas, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd,, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Son Kevin Henderson, Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don & Neil Hammond, Charles Hammond, Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Kathy Rosinbaum, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, Luann Reynolds, Brother Curtis Pugh, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jim & Linda Meier, Brother Manuel Seymour, Letha Langford, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson and Kelley Lee, Billy and Jo Hobbs, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout, Justin Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Gina Sullivan, Katie Norton, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Marshall Risinger & wife, Lee Mollette’s Daughter & Granddaughter Kristal, Dale Barnes, Keith Johnson, Tammy Hairston, Tommy Lee Walker, Leon Wyckoff, Billy Smith, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

The Pastors Corner: Christians Do Not Hide Their Light. Matthew 5:15 - 16 “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16.) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The Lord reminded us last week that if we are saved; if we are Christians; if we are believers in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, then we are the light of the world and if we are then we are like a city that sits on a hill all lite up where all can see. One thing that is easy to decipher is a Christian from a lost person if the Christian is letting their light shine. The problem we face today is so many Christians are dimming their light so much that it is almost, if not altogether impossible to see their light. If you were to look on the hilltop you would never see the city because the light was too low. This is a great mistake on these Christians part because the blessings missed will be theirs. The Lord reminds us in verse 15 not to hide our light by “putting it under a bushel” but instead lift it on a “candlestick” so that the light can be clearly seen by all and yes even your friends. The Lord even goes a little further here and tells us “…and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” That your light by itself is giving light to the entire house by itself. Now imagine this; why if every church member allowed their light to so shine that it would light the entire house then how bright would 15 lights or 20 lights or etc. be? How is your light? Is it bright? Well now is the time to test it because once you die or once Jesus Christ returns then it is too late to brighten the light. God never meant for a lit candle to be hid; Luke 8:16 “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.” No man and especially God, He saves every sinner for a reason or purpose, what is His purpose in saving you? Do you know? God said in verse 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works” your good works is your light shining. That is, that seeing your good works, they may be moved to love and serve God likewise. Why would they want to repent and move to an entire different direction in life if you works are no different than theirs? You light should be an example to them that life on the other side of salvation is different. Christ saves people to do His earthly work. Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” How is your “zeal” for the works of Christ? “…and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Ah this is the entire purpose of all our lights shinning, of all our good works, not for our glory but for the glory of God. Only a selfish person would want the glory for something God does and all our good works are by the power of God and for His glory. Any preacher that is any good at all would never want the glory for their sermons and neither would even the greatest of all preachers. God is always to get the glory because it is God work in us. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The devil is most daring: Truly nothing daunts him. His case is hopeless, therefore he is reckless. Paradise was divinely pure, but still undaunted he rushes in. When man was heavenly as heaven, boldly he addresses him. Is he more timid now? Far otherwise. There is no place so pure, that his foot fears to tread it. There is no holiness so holy that he ventures not to touch. His hand will open the sacred gate--his foot will pass the boundary of every sacred enclosure. The sanctity of Jesus scared him not. No heaven-appointed ordinances repel his step. He whispers to the praying saint. He mounts the pulpit-steps. He joins the worshipers in hallowed courts. He is by the side at sacramental feasts. Sacred is the saint's dying chamber; but he shoots his arrows there. His daring cannot be exceeded. Believer, labor to grow in grace. Each day put on more of the Lord Jesus. Agonize for nearer conformity to His image. Fly with quicker wing to the heights of holiness. But bear in mind, that as you rise, the tempter will pursue you still. By Henry Law from his article "The Serpent"

Church News: The Church will observe the Lord’s Supper this morning after the preaching service. December 11th will be the churches next business meeting. Please plan ahead to attend.

From Every Sin: "He shall save his people from their sins" Matt. 1:21 Lord, save me from my sins. By thy name of Jesus I am encouraged thus to pray. Save me from my past sins, that the habit of them may not hold me captive. Save me from my constitutional sins, that I may not be the slave of my own weaknesses. Save me from the sins which are continually under my eye that I may not lose my horror of them. Save me from secret sins; sins unperceived by me from my want of light. Save me from sudden and surprising sins: let me not be carried off my feet by a rush of temptation. Save me, Lord, from every sin. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Thou alone canst do this. I cannot snap my own chains or slay my own enemies. Thou knowest temptation, for thou wast tempted. Thou knowest sin, for thou didst bear the weight of it. Thou knowest how to succor me in my hour of conflict; thou canst save me from sinning, and save me when I have sinned. It is promised in thy very name that thou wilt do this, and I pray thee let me this day verify the prophecy. Let me not give way to temper, or pride, or despondency, or any form of evil; but do thou save me unto holiness of life, that thy name of Jesus may be glorified in me abundantly. By Charles Haddon Spurgeon from his “Faith's Checkbook” series.