Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 March 11, 2012 Newsletter Number 358 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, Ricky Henderson and Family, 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, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout, Justin Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Lee Mollette’s Daughter & Granddaughter Kristal, Dale Barnes, Tammy Hairston, Tommy Lee Walker, Leon Wyckoff, Linda Mollette – Linda at the thrift store - Shawn - his girls – and Eric, 15 year old boy with cancer, James and daughter Brooke Thomas, Kimberlee McCool, Ricky McCoy, Pat and Waymon Abercrombie, Barbara Brewer, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

The Pastors Corner: Are Pastors Under-Appreciated? "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. (18.) For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward." 1 Timothy 5:17 - 18 As I began this article please allow me to clarify that it is not pointed directly at the church I am Pastor. However it is directly pointed to all churches and all church members. The question is; is your pastor appreciated for being your pastor. The church has many members and she also has many officers but she only has one Pastor. Outside of her head Jesus Christ the pastor is the single most important person in the Lords church. This is proven out in the fact that there is only one in a church; he may have some more ministers under him but one is the pastor. He is a man called of God not to only preach the gospel but to also pastor a church. Please allow me to speak boldly here; your pastor spends many hours every week in order to fulfill the work that God has appointed him too. He cannot be replaced except by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself replacing him with another man. However there are men in the churches that has the learning, the ability, and the goodness in their heart to teach and fill in for a pastor if need be, however they are not called pastors and therefore they cannot replace the pastor. Beloved your pastor is there by the grace of God and can be removed at any time. I have always believed any church that is doing things right in Jesus Christ in their hearts will never need. God will supply any needs they have. This includes their Pastor, only Jesus Christ can call one because it is He whom builds the church. Pastors are not a dime a dozen and neither do they fall off of trees. Since a Pastor is one of a kind and since they are appointed to spend their lives studding to teach the membership so they can grow in the Lord, shouldn’t they be most appreciated? The Lord said they are to be “…counted worthy of double honour…” do you as church members double appreciate your pastor. Is he worthy of double honor, the Lord also declared “…elders that rule well...especially they who labour in the word and doctrine…" Honor can be anything; it could be a pat on the back, it could be a thank you, it could be telling him how much you love and appreciate him, and it can include a raise in pay or a simple bonus. While honor can be shown many ways it is counted more honorable and worthy if it comes from the heart. Doing any of these things for your pastor is good but it is extremely more honorable if he can tell it comes from the heart. But beloved church members let me tell you an absolute truth “…The labourer is worthy of his reward." And please understand you will never do too much for your pastor, if he is worthy. True appreciation comes from the same place true worship comes, the heart. One cannot be truly saved, cannot truly worship God, nor can they truly appreciate a pastor unless it comes from the heart. 1 Timothy 4:6 "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained." Beloved be sure to let your pastor know your appreciation for him, if you feel in your heart to do so. I would never want anyone to do anything for me without it comes from the heart. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - 13 "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; (13.) And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves."

Nine evils which death will put an end to: "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" Philippians 1:23 It is the desire of a true saint to be gone from this present world, "I desire to depart." What a wicked man fears — that a godly man hopes for! The worldling desires to live in this present world forever; he knows no other heaven but earth — and it is death to him to be turned out of his heaven. A wicked man does not go out of this world — but is dragged out! But a soul enlivened and ennobled with a principle of grace, looks upon the world as a wilderness wherein are fiery serpents, and he desires to get out of this wilderness! The bird desires to get out of the cage, though it is made of gold. Just so, the saints of God have looked upon themselves as imprisoned in the body, and have longed for a jail-delivery. "Oh, that I had wings like a dove, that I might fly away and be at rest!" (Psalm 55:6). It is no wonder that a true saint is so earnest to be gone from this present world — if we consider how beneficial death is to a child of God. Death puts an end to all his evils! In particular, there are nine evils which death will put an end to: 1. Death will put an end to a believer's SINS. 2. Death will put an end to a believer's TEMPTATIONS. 3. Death will put an end to a believer's FEARS. 4. Death will dry up a believer's TEARS. 5. Death will put an end to a believer's TROUBLES. 6. Death puts an end to a believer's CARES. 7. Death will put an end to all our NATURAL imperfections. 8. Death will put an end to the imperfections of GRACE. 9. Death will put an end to a weary PILGRIMAGE. Though death is a bitter cup, there is sugar at the bottom. Death is the believer's best friend; for it brings him to Christ, which is far better. "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" By Thomas Watson, from his "The Saint's Desire to be with Christ”

Church News: Pastor Johnson will be speaking at a Bible Conference on March 16 – 18 in Oakdale, La. At the Northside Baptist Church. Brother Steve McCool from Sulphur Springs, Texas and Brother Justin Bookout will fill in for Pastor Johnson for the services on March 18th. The churches next business meeting will be April 1st Please plan to attend.

Happy Anniversary: James and Dina Thomas – Tuesday March 13th