Sovereign Grace Missionary BaptistChurch 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 November 18, 2012 Newsletter Number 392 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com "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, Frank & Sonya Trusty, 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. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Archie & Barbara Griffin, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Lee Mollette’s Daughter & Granddaughter Kristal, Dale Barnes – Kathy Johnson and their mother, Pat and Waymon Abercrombie, Barbara Brewer, Donna Jones, Frank Roberts, Dale and Linda Trahan, Linda Mollette – Shawn and girls, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, Todd Fifield, Robert, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From Our Pastor: “The Good In People Is Misleading.”“For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” Romans 6:20 When we look at the average person we think we see good, we think we see righteousness, but in reality all we see are people that are free from righteousness. The word “free” here means exempt; it means there is none righteousness nor should we expect to see righteousness in people. On the surface we may look at a person and they may seem to be good but if you dig just a little bit you will find the evil in their heart. God said it all when He concluded “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10 none; not even one single person. Therefore this is explained to us much clearer when God says that they are exempt from righteousness. Job asked this question “How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?” Job 15:16. This is not the bad people of the world but people in general, or everyone outside of Christ. This is called “total depravity” and it means that mankind are depraved from head to toe. God went on to say through John “…Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34 we serve sin because we are sinners, and we cannot change what we are. I saw a sign this week in a small town here in Texas that belongs to the Methodist and it said something like this “Fall is here and it is time to turn over a new leaf” this I found to be misleading because man cannot “turn over a new leaf” because he (in his lost state) is a servant of sin and they are exempt from righteousness. But God went on to say in Romans 6:22 “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” While the lost person is free from righteousness; the believer in Christ is free from sin, what a difference. Now the Greek word here in verse 22 “free” is just a little different and it means - to liberate, that is, (figuratively) to exempt – to be liberated is to be set free, and that setting free must come from another source; and that source is Jesus Christ. But God went on to explain in Romans 8:1, 2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” There is no condemnation because we have been liberated by Jesus Christ from sin or that is from the penalty of sin. While we as Christian’s sill have sin we are not charged with it nor are we a slave to it as the lost are. The lost serve sin because that is all they can do; the believer serves sin because we allow it to overcome us. God went on to say in James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil...” if the Christian is “submitting himself to God then the Devil will be of none effect on him. God never tells the lost man to resist the devil because he cannot. God went on to say in John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Who was God speaking of here; He was speaking to all the lost, their father is the devil and unless they come to have faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour they will join their father in eternal hell fire. Folks this is the bottom line for lost people that are exempt from righteousness, none are righteous, they cannot do good, and their father is the devil, with this being said, I must ask the question; how good are people? They are totally depraved and there is no good in them. Matthew 13:38 “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;” There are two sets of children; the Christian and the lost, whom are you a child of.

For Our Weekly Meditation: Regulated Chastisement"I will correct thee in measure" Jer. 30:11 To be left uncorrected would be a fatal sign: it would prove that the Lord had said, "He is given unto idols, let him alone." God grant that such may never be our portion! Uninterrupted prosperity is a thing to cause fear and trembling. As many as God tenderly loves He rebukes and chastens: those for whom He has no esteem He allows to fatten themselves without fear, like bullocks for the slaughter. It is in love that our heavenly Father uses the rod upon His children. Yet see, the correction is "in measure": He gives us love without measure, but chastisement in measure." As under the old law no Israelite could receive more than the "forty stripes save one, which ensured careful counting and limited suffering, so is it with each afflicted member of the household of faith -every stroke is counted. It is the measure of wisdom, the measure of sympathy, the measure of love, by which our chastisement is regulated. Far be it from us to rebel against appointments so divine. Lord, if thou standest by to measure the bitter drops into my cup, it is for me cheerfully to take that cup from thy hand, and drink according to thy directions, saying "Thy will be done." By Charles Spurgeon from his Faith's Checkbook series

Happy Anniversary: Ronnie & Sarah Henderson – Monday November 19th

Christ Exalted! He is the only WAY, which leads from sin, condemnation, and wrath — to life, holiness, and heaven! He is the HEAD, which thinks, plans, and contrives for the welfare of the whole of His mystical body. He is the FOUNDATION on which all must build for eternity, and which alone is able to support our hopes and sustain our souls — amidst the wreck of matter and the crash of worlds! He is the CORNER-STONE, which unites, beautifies, and strengthens the whole building of divine mercy. He is the ALTAR, which sanctifies both the gift and the giver. He is the VINE, which communicates life, nourishment, and fruitfulness to all its branches. He is the ROSE of SHARON and the LILY of the VALLEY — fragrant, lovely, attractive, perfuming, and unequaled in beauty and grace! By James Smith 1855