Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 January 19, 2014            Newsletter Number 448 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, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Junior Baldridge, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, BuckieThompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette, LarryMollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, Robert Riggs, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma 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, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan and Family, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, The Walker family, Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, James and Lynn Tomlin, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Robert, Megan Whitaker, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan and the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania, and Bro. SergeyMochalov and the Churches in Russia.

Church News: We have many folks out traveling and on vacation; please pray for all that they might be safe.

From Our Pastor: Strengthened In Christ! "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 What can you do through Christ? "all things" Doing things through Christ means you do not do it on your own. Salvation is a good example; it is through Christ and not through any merit of our own. Paul made a profound statement in Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it isthe gift of God:" the gift of God through Christ. Prayer is another example; "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John 14:14. People are always attempting to go around Christ but it is imposable. Christ is our all and in all; we see Paul also write in 1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but one God, the Father, ofwhom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." We do not just have strength in Christ Jesus but we have all things in Christ and without Him we have nothing. Therefore, we must conclude that salvation is not salvation except it being totally in Christ. Prayer is not prayer if not prayed in the name of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is concluded that outside of Christ and His strength we are powerless. We see so many today attempting to by-pass Christ in all of these areas, but that is a big mistake, because outside of Christ there is nothing but weakness and simply glorious words spoken in prayer and without Christ there cannot be salvation because it is only in His blood that sins as cleansed. "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:13 works are not part of salvation because if salvation is by works then God is a liar. "Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:9 and in 2 Timothy 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," and not of baptism because Jesus Himself called baptism a work. "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him." Matthew 3:15 Baptism is an act of righteousness and we are not saved by ACTS of righteousness. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us..." Titus 3:5 With all of this said we must conclude that without Christ, we can do absolutely nothing, but through Christ, we can do all things. We can be saved, we can speak directly to God in prayer, and we can even have the strength about us to give our own life for God, the doctrine of the bible, and even for the Lords churches. Yes, folk in Christ we can have all things as long as it is Gods blessed will for us. Never say, you can't do it; just do it in Christ and it will surprise you what Christ will give you the strength and ability to do. Paul said in his conclusion to the church at Ephesus, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10 When people try to do by themselves they fail, when people work for their salvation they will find themselves without, when people try to preach on their own and without Christ's glory, they will loose. Stand in Christ, lean on him and you will win, because there are no powers outside of His. Only if we totally go through Christ can Christ receive all glory due His blessed name.

For Our Weekly  Meditation: Words in Season (Part 2)"Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come." Psalm 71:17-18 "Since my youth, O God, you have taught me." How encouraging it is to look back to our early life, and recognize the goodness of God in its varied events! He was our Guide, our Instructor, our Father. He restrained us from evil; counseled us in difficulty, directed us in uncertainty; preserved us through danger. All theknowledge which we have gained of his character, of his will, of ourselves, of futurity — he has communicated to us. And how gradual, how wise, how gentle are his teachings! How patiently has he borne with our ignorance and forgetfulness! how tenderly has he imparted his most difficult lessons! And though we have been dull and wayward scholars, though we have not profited as we might have done by his Divine instructions, yet we know, if we are disciples of Christ, that we have so learned of him as to find rest unto our souls. We have learned to rely upon his strength, to depend upon his faithfulness, to trust in his righteousness. "And to this day I declare your marvelous deeds." Grateful for his favors towards us, we have striven to live to his praise and show forth his glory. It has been our aim to communicate to others the knowledge which we have received. "We have spoken of his goodness to those around us. We have not been ashamed of his gospel, nor indifferent to his honor. "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God." Those who have been taught of God from their youth, and have made it the business of their lives to serve and honor him, may be sure that he will not leave them when they are old and gray-headed. "In early years you were my guide,  And of my youth the friend;  And as my days began with you,  With you my days shall end." By: Anonymous Editor's added note: this will be an ongoing series for several weeks. This is aimed at our senior members and non-members. Many have failing health and I thought this might be a blessing to them. But let s all remember we are all getting older with the passing of each and day.