Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 March 25, 2012 Newsletter Number 359 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, Michelle Knowlton, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

The Pastors Corner: Maintaining Good Works. “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” Titus 3:14 When Paul told Titus to remind these folk on the Island of Crete to “maintain good works” he was saying to make good works a priority in their life. Sometimes Christians and church members forget to “maintain good works” if were not reminded often then our minds tend to wonder and sometimes to far. This is the second time in this third chapter Paul spoke of “maintaining good works” he said in verse 8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” And Paul said if we do then “These things are good and profitable unto men.” Not just to the maintainer of good works but also to other’s around us. Our good works as well as our bad works affect the way others sees Christ and the Lords church membership; therefore it is always good for the Christian to maintain good works. It is by our works that the lost world sees Christ in our hearts. James told us in James 2:18 "…I will shew thee my faith by my works." And that is by “maintaining good works” It is profitable to the Lord, it is profitable to the Lords church, and it is profitable to you the Christian in so many ways that we cannot mention them all. But with all this being said we sometime tend to look at Christians that fail in this area and wonder if they are truly saved, and that is because God said if we fail “to maintain good works” then our faith is dead. In James 2:20 it says "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" while works is not a part of salvation they are a result of salvation and when a Christian fails to live by good works they are failing to show their faith therefore allowing other Christians to question their faith. Good works can include many things and at times it can lead to sacrifice and even the “ultimate sacrifice” in James 2:21 we learn “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” Now many will misunderstand the word “justified” and relate it to salvation but that is a gross misunderstanding, the Greek word means - to render; that is, show or regard as just – Abraham showed his faith in God by offering his beloved son as a sacrifice to the Lord. This is why James concluded in verse 24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." This is why Paul concluded in Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Because Abraham was not justified in Gods sight by works but in mans sight, Abraham was justified in Gods sight by his faith. This is why Paul concluded in Romans 4:3 "… Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." God knows a mans heart but we do not, therefore we must see his works or he is justified in our sight by his works. Abraham showed his faith in God by offering to sacrifice his son allowing all the Jews around him to see. This is why we are to “maintain good works”. But not only for others to see but also “…for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” Verse 14 it keeps us from being unfruitful in this evil world. This is the only way to prevent falling into Satan’s trap of sinfulness. This is what Paul was warning us of in Ephesians 4:27 - 29 "Neither give place to the devil. (28.) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (29.) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Beloved your works are so important in so many ways and many of people; some whom you may not know and may never know could be impacted by your works. If you call yourself a Christian then act like it and “maintain good works” for the glorification of God and the edifying of others around us, other wise we show ourselves unfruitful.

Honor God: "Them that honor me I will honor" 1Sam. 2:30 Do I make the honor of God the great object of my life and the rule of my conduct? If so, He will honor me. I may for a while receive no honor from man, but God will Himself put honor upon me in the most effectual manner. In the end it will be found the surest way to honor to be willing to be put to shame for conscience' sake. Eli had not honored the Lord by ruling his household well, and his sons had not honored the Lord by behavior worthy of their sacred office, and therefore the Lord did not honor them, but took the high-priesthood out of their family, and made young Samuel to be ruler in the land instead of any of their line. If I would have my family ennobled, I must honor the Lord in all things. God may allow the wicked to win worldly honors; but the dignity which He Himself gives, even glory, honor, and immortality, He reserves for those who by holy obedience take care to honor Him. What can I do this day to honor the Lord? I will promote His glory by my spoken testimony, and by my practical obedience. I will also honor Him with my substance, and by offering to Him some special service. Let me sit down and think how I can honor Him, since He will honor me. By Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from his " Faith's Checkbook” Series

Church News: The churches next business meeting will be April 1st during the 4:00 service; please plan to attend.

Ephesians 3:17 - 21: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18.) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19.) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (20.) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (21.) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."