Sovereign Grace Missionary BaptistChurch 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 January 20, 2013 Newsletter Number 401 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, Junior Baldridge, 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 Abercrombie, Barbara Brewer, Donna Jones, Dale and Linda Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work inThailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From Our Pastor: Is The Lord Church A House Of Prayer? Mark 11:17 “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.” What is church to you? Why do you go to church? A church service is a time of prayer, song, and worship and anyone who attends for any other reason attends in vain. We understand that the lost is not knowledgeable on what church is for, but even some of them have more understanding than some who call themselves Christians and even some that call themselves Pastors. The church is a place of song, prayer and worship only and anything else is hypocritical and wrong. The church is not neither a place of business nor a place for profit. Many today have turned what should be a place of song, worship, and prayer into a business. Most are businesses rather than houses or prayer because it is all about the mighty dollar and these are Hypocrites using God for profit. John warned us in John 2:16 "And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." or a mart for profit. Folk’s church is not about money just as a Pastor is not about money and if it becomes that then it is about a profit and not about prayer and worship and song of praise. It is wrong to use the church for profit in any way, child care, yard sales, businesses of any sort at the church should be forbidden. People trust churches and when business goes wrong people look down on the church because of it. When a day care worker abuses a child in anyway it reflects on the church, when someone buys something from a church yard sale and it is bad it reflects bad on the church, and etc, etc. We must understand profit is profit and worship is worship and we cannot mix the two just as we cannot serve two masters. Churches are to be self supported by tithes and offerings and no offerings are to be accepted from questionable sources. A church must know from whom her monies come from, and to refuse money from sinful sources. T. V. programs are a blessing, radio programs are also a blessing but to ask for money on them is simply wrong. If a church can support a broadcast then it is a blessing to the church and the Lord, however for a church to beg for money is wrong, let us not forget, a church is self supported. We do not need to turn the house of God in to a house of profit which will turn it into a house of thieves. Jesus ran the merchandisers out and let’s keep them out. Matthew 21:12 “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,”

For Our Weekly Meditation: Missing the Gift of God“But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” (Mk. 6:4) Because some folk are too close to something, it is said that they cannot see the forest for the trees. It is not that the forest is not there, but the closeness severely limits the vision to the near trees, and the view of the whole forest is hindered. The Scriptures teach that Jesus “led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. … And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers”. (Eph. 4:8, 11) These are the precious gifts of the Lord Jesus Christ endowed with Holy Spirit anointing and certain heavenly graces. The heavenly hosts know them as “men of the Almighty God” and “servants of the Lord of Glory.” These gifts are no small matter in the hand of the Living God; and He is most jealous of them. The world as a whole has always vehemently loathed the beloved gifts of the Eternal One, and has sought to annihilate them; but they knew not what they were doing. Randomly, some throughout the ages have received them with gladness. Yet, overwhelmingly, closeness or familiarity has clouded many eyes to the gift of the Lord Jesus in their midst. What the eyes see is not always what the whole reality is. The gift is of the spiritual and in the spiritual; yet, its presence is as sure as the Christ of Glory. Families and friends are most often the greater offenders and abusers of the gift the Lord has given. This is probably due to being too close to the tree to see the forest. The gift may be a father, a husband, a son, or a family member; and nature, being what it is, cannot conceive the possibility of it. Hence, the heavenly gift is hidden from the eyes. It is sad that many a gift from the Lord has gone unnoticed by those nearest him. The wound is his, but the loss is theirs. A tender heart of grace amongst the thorns soon bleeds when the winds of evil thrash the thorns about him. By Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

Conquest To Victory "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" Rom. 16:20 This promise follows well upon that of yesterday. We are evidently to be conformed to our covenant Head, not only in His being bruised in His heel, but in His conquest of the evil one. Even under our feet is the old dragon to be bruised. The Roman believers were grieved with strife in the church; but their God was "the God of peace," and gave them rest of soul. The arch-enemy tripped up the feet of the unwary, and deceived the hearts of the simple; but he was to get the worst of it, and to be trodden down by those whom he had troubled. This victory would not come to the people of God through their own skill or power; but God Himself would bruise Satan. Though it would be under their feet, yet the bruising would be of the Lord alone. Let us bravely tread upon the tempter! Not only inferior spirits, but the Prince of darkness himself must go down before us. In unquestioning confidence in God, let us look for speedy victory. "SHORTLY." Happy word! Shortly we shall set our foot on the old serpent! What a joy to crush evil! What dishonor to Satan to have his head bruised by human feet! Let us by faith in Jesus tread the tempter down. By Charles Spurgeon from his Faith's Checkbook series.

Notice: Don’t forget our churches next business meeting will be February 03 please plan to attend. We need to decide soon what upgrades we want to do to our building. Also the financial and clerk readings are due.