Monday 30 June 2014

This cross is heavy to bear

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(Thomas Reade)
Jesus said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
This cross is heavy to bearwhen worldliness, or pride, or selfishness work in the heart. But when the heart is filled with love to the Savior, then the greatest cross is light, and even pleasant to endure.
"For the love of Christ compels us!" 2 Corinthians 5:14
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Lock your hand in His!

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(Octavius Winslow, 1866)

"Our Father in Heaven." Matthew 6:10

"Father!" It is the language of the believing heart.

Oh, it is a marvelous fact, a stupendous truth--that God should be our Father! Higher than this, the soul cannot rise. Love then reaches its deepest yearnings. Only realize this fact, that God is your Father, and it explains . . .
every chapter of your history,
every event of your life,
every sentiment, feeling,
and desire of your soul.

All that is omnipotent in strength,
all that is profound in wisdom,
all that is tender in sympathy,
all that is rich in infinite plenitude--
is bound up in the endearing epithet, "Father!"

That Father is yours!

You were His child from eternity!

Stupendous thought!

His love to you,
His choice of you,
His purpose to adopt you,
His plan to redeem, sanctify,
and bring you to glory--
are eternal acts of His sovereign grace!

Believe that all that your Father does is for your best; that your highest interests are all in His hands, and in His hands are all secure.

Lock your hand in His, as your little child links its hand with yours--willing to be led, unquestioning, confiding, meekly, just where your Father leads.
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Sacrificial Faith on Display


"In the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead" (James 2:25-26).

It's understandable that James would use Abraham as an illustration of living faith—especially to his predominately Jewish readers. Rahab, however, is a different story. She was a Gentile, a prostitute, a liar, and lived in the pagan city of Jericho. How could such a person illustrate true faith?
Rahab knew very little about the true God but what she knew, she believed, and what she believed, she acted on. She believed that God had led His people out of Egypt and defeated the Amorite kings (Josh. 2:9-10). She openly confessed that the Lord "is God in heaven above and on earth beneath" (v. 11). Her faith was vindicated when she aided the Hebrew spies who entered Jericho just prior to Joshua's invasion.
Both Abraham and Rahab valued their faith in God above all else. Both were willing to sacrifice what mattered most to them: for Abraham it was Isaac; for Rahab it was her own life. Their obedience in the face of such great sacrifice proved the genuineness of their faith.
James calls each of us to examine ourselves to be sure we have a living faith. The acid test is whether your faith produces obedience. No matter what you claim, if righteousness doesn't characterize your life, your faith is dead, not living. James likened that kind of faith to hypocrites who offer pious words to the needy but refuse to meet their needs; to demons, who believe the truth about God but are eternally lost; and to a lifeless, useless corpse. Those are strong analogies, but God does not want you to be deceived about the quality of your own faith.
I pray that you are rejoicing in the confidence that your faith is genuine. God bless you as you live each day in His wonderful grace.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask God for the grace and courage to face any sacrifice necessary as you live out your faith.
For Further Study:
Read Joshua 2:1-24; 6:1-27; and Matthew 1:1-5.
  • How did Rahab protect the spies?
  • How did God bless Rahab?


From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

Sunday 29 June 2014

God's Promise to Fight for His People

June 29

Bob Hoekstra

The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes . . . No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.  (Deu_1:30 and Jos_1:5)
God's promises had guaranteed that Israel would be delivered from bondage in Egypt. Here, God promises to fight for His people, assuring them of victory in battle as they entered the Promised Land.
There would be many battles as God's people went into the land. Ungodly nations would persistently oppose them. Moses, as God's spokesperson, expresses the Lord's commitment to do battle for Israel. "The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you." The Lord had done mighty things for Israel in bringing them out of Egypt. Now, Moses assures them that God will act again on their behalf "according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes."
Later, the Lord Himself reassured Joshua of similar truth. "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life." Many would try to come against the people of God under Joshua's leadership. Yet, God pledged the same faithfulness to Joshua that Moses had enjoyed. "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you." Then, the Lord added the ultimate words of reassurance. "I will not leave you nor forsake you." When facing the certainty of battles, there is nothing greater than having God committed to always be present to fight against the enemy. The battle report in one region of the Promised Land gave testimony to God's faithful promises. "All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel" (Jos_10:42).
We are also engaged in warfare, spiritual warfare. "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2Ti_2:3). As spiritual soldiers, we must use spiritual weapons. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (2Co_10:3-4). The promises of God are part of our spiritual weaponry. Paul stood victorious in battle by the promises of God. "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you . . . And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them" (Act_18:9-11).
Dear Lord, the battles rage hot and heavy so often in my life. I thank You for Your promises to fight for me. I rest in Your presence in my life here in the midst of this battlefield called earth, Amen.

Enjoying Friendship with God


"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone" (James 2:21-24).

Can you imagine life without friends—those precious people who love you despite your failings and who stand by you through joys and sorrows—those to whom you've committed yourself and whose companionship you treasure? They are without question one of God's greatest gifts, yet there is an even greater gift: friendship with God Himself.
Jesus spoke of such a friendship in John 15:13-16, describing it as one of intimacy, mutual love, sacrifice, and commitment. In verse 14 He says, "You are My friends, if you do what I command you." That's the kind of friendship Abraham demonstrated when he obeyed God and prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:3-10). Isaac was the son through whom God's covenant to Abraham would be fulfilled. Killing him would violate that covenant and call into question the character of God, whose Word forbids human sacrifice (Deut. 18:10). It took unquestioning trust for Abraham to obey God's command. When he did, his faith was on display for all to see.
The Greek word translated "justified" in James 2:21 has two meanings: "to acquit" (treat as righteous) or "to vindicate" (demonstrate as righteous). James emphasized the second meaning. When Abraham believed God, he was justified by faith and acquitted of sin (Gen. 15:6). When he offered up Isaac, he was justified by works in that his faith was vindicated.
Faith is always the sole condition of salvation, but saving faith never stands alone—it is always accompanied by righteous works. That's the test of true salvation and of friendship with God.
As a friend of God, treasure that relationship and be careful never to let sin rob you of its fullest joy.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Praise God for the privilege of being His friend.
For Further Study:
Read Genesis 22:1-19, noting the faith and obedience of Abraham.


From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

The true secret of spiritual prosperity!

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(J.C. Ryle, "Thoughts For Young Men")

In Christ alone, there is a full supply of all that we require for the needs of our souls. Of ourselves we are all poor, empty creatures . . .
empty of righteousness and peace,
empty of strength and comfort,
empty of courage and patience,
empty of power to persevere in the way of holiness,
or make progress in this evil world.

It is in Christ alone, that all these things are to be found--grace, peace, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It is just in proportion as we live upon Him, that we are strong Christians.

It is only when self is nothing and Christ is all our confidence--that are we armed for the battle of life, and shall overcome. Only then are we prepared for the journey of life, and shall move forward.

To live on Christ,
to draw all from Christ,
to do all in the strength of Christ,
to be ever looking to Christ--
this is the true secret of spiritual prosperity!

"I can do everything," says Paul, "through Him who gives me strength!" Philippians 4:13
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Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Two Years”
1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501
June 29, 2014
Newsletter Number 471
Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: ww.sgmbaptist.com

Our Prayer Request:

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, Helen Maggard, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Junior Baldridge, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, 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, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan & Claire Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, James & Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, James and Lynn Tomlin, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, 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. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From Pastor Johnson:
It is better to suffer for the Lord than to profit in this world.“For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” 1 Peter 3:17
This is something a lot of Christians have a problem coping with, suffering is good. Most people and a lot of Christians don’t understand why believers are not always profitable. Well the truth of the matter is that they do, but the rewards are not always in this world. The scriptures are very clear that Christians and even the best of Christians suffer in this world. People fail to remember that Christ suffered in this flesh and not just in His death but His entire earthly life was full of sorrow. Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Christ was not sent to profit in this world but rather to suffer shame for our shame. Matthew 8:20 "And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Jesus Christ came from riches to rags in order to suffer His entire life for us. He never had peace; they were searching for Him even at His birth. Believers, let us not be dismayed when life on this earth seems difficult and hard. God never promised us earthly riches nor did He promise profit at all in this world. It is because our rewards are set up in glory and not this world. Christians are also people of sorrow in this life, but be assured that while we suffer like Christ in this world; we will also glory with Him in eternity. 2 Timothy 2:12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him..." We will have only soul and spirit when we die and when the rapture come we shall have a glorified body to be a tri-fold once again. Believer there is only one more thing we will carry into heaven from this earth, and that will be the worthy works we have done for the Lord during our earthy stay. We will carry no other treasures from this earth. Our rewards are built in heaven and in heaven we will receive them. Matthew 6:19 - 21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20.) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21.) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." If you are a Christian and it seems like your troubles are as bad as or even worse than that of a lost person, that’s ok God said it would be. Matthew 5:45 "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

Now, what if we suffer for righteous sake, why if we suffer for doing right? Well, the Lord said it is better, that’s right it is better to suffer for doing the right thing. Jesus Christ suffered unjustly, that’s right Pilate said of Christ in Luke 23:4 "Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man." But He still was crucified. We do not know God’s blessed will for us, unless God manifest it to us; however it is God’s will for us to suffer in this life, even for doing right. God has a purpose for everything, and we would be well served as Christians to worry less about our suffering and more about serving God. God blesses us believers every second of everyday, we just most of the time do not know how his blessing are coming. Beloved, it is better to suffer than to have riches in this world, if it is for the Lord. We all need to be more like John and Peter. Acts 5:41 "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." They counted it joy that they worthy to suffer for the Lord. I pray to God that I too am worthy to suffer for the Lord.
A Thought From Former Pastor Oscar Mink:
True Churches And Their Worship Houses
"Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste." Isaiah 64:11

While true churches cannot go the route of extravagance in erecting their meeting places, they should not be guilty of the other extreme either. There is an area between the two extremes wherein adequate and comely church buildings may be built without creating a financial hardship for the members. What true churches need to keep in mind is that no church building be it ever so humble or magnificent can serve as a substitute for the inward beauty which the redeemed soul is to be adorned with. The beauty and physical comforts of the church house serve to make the worshippers feel good, but that in itself is not enough, for many commercial and public buildings provide the same or better. The deception to avoid is, when people feel good they are prone to think they are good. Many a poor deluded soul has pointed toward their palatial church home, and said, “The Lord is really blessing us.” The Lord blesses truth wherever it is preached regardless of The circumstances under which it is preached, but to have the power to have a suitable building to worship in, and not exercise that power may tend to circumscribe the blessing.

A beautiful, comfortable, and adequate building while affording a good feeling for the assembly can only enhance the worship service when it is kept in mind from whence these blessings have come, for what purpose they are granted, and when the heart is filled with gratitude to God for giving them. When this state of worship is achieved the service is lifted up in spirit beyond the beautiful surroundings of the carnal building to the celestial and incomparable grandeur of the palace of the King Eternal. Then too, the church needs to keep in mind that its primary work is not the construction of church buildings, but the building up of the spiritual house of God is the chief work of the Lord’s churches. We are not to build expensive edifices at the expense of missionary work, on the other hand no church should let their building become so dilapidated as to bring a reproach on the church, and thereby impair its effectiveness in its own community.
These days of sin and temptation, by John Fawcett:
I daily search for Jesus in my retired devotions. There I tell Him all my heart—in secret groans and cries. He knows what my sighs mean, and what are my fears, and my painful sorrows. There I blush before Him—for my secret sins, and pour out the tear of penitential sorrow. There I utter my bitter complaints—of the disorderly passions I daily feel within me. I lament over the vanity of my thoughts, and spread before His eyes—all my soul's sores and diseases. I lay myself low in the dust at His feet, and tell Him with humble confusion of face—how much I have done to dishonor Him, how unworthy I am of His notice, and yet how I long for communion with Him.
O when shall these days of sin and temptation, these tedious seasons of absence and distance from my God and Savior—have an end? I breathe out from time to time, the most earnest desires after Him, and after the endearing sensations of His love.

HUMILITY

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"Learn from Me--for I am gentle and humble in heart." Matthew 11:29
None so high and glorious as Christ; yet none so gentle and humble.
To be low is the safest and loveliest posture for sinful creatures.
It is the creature's honor to abase himself before the most high God.
If men did but know themselves more, they would be more humble.
Those who are humble, are content and thankful.
A humble spirit is a charitable and quiet spirit.
When Paul was a Pharisee, he thought he was blameless.
When he was a Christian, he thought he was the chief of sinners.
Neither all the devils in Hell nor all the temptations of the world can hurt that man who keeps himself humble and depending on Christ.

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

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Saturday 28 June 2014

These eternal fountains!

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(William Nicholson, 1862)

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes!" Revelation 7:17

"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes!" Numerous are the sources of sorrow here on earth--but God will dry them all up in Heaven. There will be no mourning Christian to drop tears there, "for all sorrow and sighing shall flee away!" There is nothing in that happy residence to distress or annoy.

Jeremiah will utter no plaintive language there.
Transgressors will grieve the holy no more.
Bartimeus is the poor blind beggar no more.
Lazarus's sores have been replaced by immortal beauty.
The weeping widow is no longer crushed to the dust by the heavy hand of poverty.
The orphan child is no longer forsaken and homeless.
Pinching poverty and wasting disease are unknown.
The distressing complaint will never accost the ear, "I am sick!"
The sting of death and the terrors of the grave will never present themselves there.
There are no graves in the land of eternal life.
There is no death of friends there.
Martha and Mary go to no beloved brother's grave to weep.

Yonder, there is . . .
no deceitful heart,
no secret foe,
no fascinating world,
no artful Satan!

The former things have passed away, and the era of immortality has arrived.

God shall give them everything calculated to secure, continue, and increase their happiness. "He will lead them to springs of living water," which shall never be exhausted. A spring is termed living water, because constantly bubbling up, and running on. These "springs of living water" indicate endless sources of happiness, which Christ will supply to His redeemed people from His own infinite plenitude.

These eternal fountains will make an infinite variety for the enjoyments of the blessed. There will be no sameness, and therefore no weariness to the spirit. Every moment will open a new source of pleasure. And as God is infinite, so His attributes are infinite, and throughout infinity more and more of those attributes will be unveiled--and the discovery of each will be a new fountain of enjoyment. These sources will be ever-opening through all eternity--and yet, through all eternity, there will still remain, in the absolute perfections of the Godhead, an infinity of them still to be opened!

Such bliss is enough to make the Christian say, "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" Philippians 1:23
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God's Promise to Deliver Israel

June 28

Bob Hoekstra

I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt . . . I will certainly be with you . . . I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt . . . to a land flowing with milk and honey . . . So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go.  (Exo_3:10, Exo_3:12, Exo_3:17, Exo_3:20)
Again, we see our God of promises pouring out His guaranteed plans like a cascading river. They encompass God's promise to deliver Israel. These promises build upon God's fundamental commitment to Abraham to call out a people for His own glory and purposes. The central promise reveals the rescuing heart of God, who wants to deliver people from bondage, and bring them into blessing. "I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt . . . to a land flowing with milk and honey."
Our God is a God of compassion. When Israel was in cruel bondage in Egypt, God's heart was moved with concern. "And the LORD said: 'I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows' " (Exo_3:7). The prophet Isaiah put it this way: "In all their affliction He was afflicted" (Isa_63:9). Thus, the Lord committed Himself to deliver them. "So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go."
When the Lord Jesus walked upon this earth, He demonstrated the same compassion. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." (Mat_9:36). This same loving compassion led Jesus all the way to the cross to deliver us from the bondage of sin.
The delivering work of God for Israel was not only from bondage; it was to substantial blessing: "to a land flowing with milk and honey." Israel was not only rescued from great heartache, but they were brought into a joyous bounty. When Joshua and Caleb saw the land, they described it as "an exceedingly good land" (Num_14:7). This same pattern (from bondage, to blessing) is how Jesus works on our behalf. He delivers us from spiritual death to fullness of life. "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (Joh_10:10).
Dear Lord, my deliverer, I praise You for rescuing me from the bondage of sin. I rejoice that You have brought me into the richness of fellowship with You. What a gracious plan You have provided — to make all of this available by means of Your faithful promises!

Dead Faith Versus Demonic Faith


"Someone may well say, 'You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?" (James 2:18- 20).

In recent years there has been an alarming rise in the number of professing Christians who believe that there's no necessary relationship between what they believe and what they do. They say you can't judge a person's spiritual condition by what he or she does because salvation is a matter of faith alone—as if requiring works violates the principle of faith.
It was that kind of reasoning that prompted James to issue this challenge: "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18). The Greek word translated "show" means "to exhibit," "demonstrate," or "put on display." His point is simple: it's impossible to verify true faith apart from holy living because doctrine and deed are inseparable.
Can you know if someone is a Christian by watching his behavior? According to James, that's the only way to know! In verse 19 he says, "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." In other words, affirming orthodox doctrine isn't necessarily proof of saving faith. Demons believe in the oneness of God, and its implications fill them with fear, but they aren't saved. The phrase "you do well" is intentionally sarcastic. The implication is that demonic faith is better than non-responsive faith because at least the demons shudder, which is better than no response at all.
You can't be a Christian in creed only—you must be one in conduct as well! James makes that very clear. Don't be confused or deceived by those who teach otherwise. Continually aim your life at bringing glory to God through obedient application of biblical truth.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Reaffirm to the Lord your commitment to abide by His Word.
For Further Study:
Read John 8:12-47. Make a list of doctrines and deeds that characterize dead faith and a corresponding list of those that characterize true faith.


From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

From those deep wounds!

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(David Harsha)
"And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Isaiah 32:2
Here, sinner, is your hiding place! Under the shadow of Him who once groaned and bled on Calvary, you can find eternal repose!
While passing through this weary land, through this wilderness world--lean on Him, who will guide you safely to glory. In Him, you will experience that joy which the world cannot impart; and that peace of God, which passes all understanding.
By that blessed side which was once pierced with the soldier's spear--you will enjoy the favors and smiles of a reconciled God. From those deep wounds that were inflicted on the Savior's immortal form--fountains of joy, as inexhaustible as the ocean of divine perfection itself, will flow in the richest streams of grace, to refresh, invigorate and animate your soul.
O! there is something about Calvary so mysterious in its nature--and so glorious in its results. Time can never disclose, nor vast eternity unravel, those things connected with that affecting scene, displayed when the Son of God bowed His head and exclaimed, "It is finished!"
Go to Calvary, that life-giving mount, where the unbounded love of God for sinners once glowed in the bosom of His Son with more than human splendor; where it beamed forth in all the effulgence of the divinity--when the holy Jesus hung a suffering, bleeding, victim on the ignominious cross.
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Friday 27 June 2014

God's Promises to Abraham

June 27

Bob Hoekstra

Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."  (Gen_12:1-3)
These are some of the most strategic promises in the word of God. They are repeated to Abraham (Gen_13:14-18; Gen_15:5; Gen_17:1-8; Gen_22:17-18). They are confirmed to Isaac (Gen_26:2-4, Gen_26:24) and to Jacob (Gen_28:13-14; Gen_35:9-12). They are woven throughout the Old Testament (Neh_9:7-8; Psa_105:6-11; Isa_51:2). They are elaborated upon in prominent chapters of the New Testament (Romans 4 and 9; Galatians 3 and 4; Hebrews 6, 7, and 11). Ultimately, we will see that these promises are at the root of the new covenant of grace.
These promises to Abraham flow forth one upon another. This is so typical of our God of promises. He does not merely sprinkle His word with a promise here and there. He pours them out like a cascading stream. Included within these divine commitments are some of the monumental purposes of God: namely, a Promised Land, the nation of Israel, the Messiah, and worldwide missions.
First, God's promises included a Promised Land. "Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you." This new land would be spacious, with bountiful provision: "a good and large land . . . a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exo_3:8). Then, in that land of blessing, God would develop the nation of Israel. "I will make you a great nation." Eventually, through that nation, Messiah would be birthed, fulfilling the promise to bring God's blessings to all who would believe. "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." The Lord Jesus would be that specific, individual seed that would offer God's blessed salvation to all the world. "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ" (Gal_3:16). This promise contained the gospel. "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed' " (Gal_3:8). The gospel is the good news of God's saving grace. This good news is for all the world to hear.
Lord God of majestic promises, what a grand plan You have laid out in only a few sentences! Help me to read Your word with alertness regarding Your promises. Please shape my thinking and my expectations by Your mighty promises, in Jesus name, Amen.

Exposing Dead Faith


"What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (James 2:14- 17).

Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). Your righteous deeds illuminate the path to God by reflecting His power and grace to others. That brings Him glory and proves your faith is genuine.
Your deeds also serve as the basis of divine judgment. If you practice righteousness, you will receive eternal life; if you practice unrighteousness, you will receive "wrath and indignation" (Rom. 2:6-8). God will judge you on the basis of your deeds because what you do reveals who you really are and what you really believe. That's why any so-called faith that doesn't produce good works is dead and utterly useless!
James illustrates that point in a practical way. If someone lacks the basic necessities of life and comes to you for help, what good does it do if you simply wish him well and send him away without meeting any of his needs? It does no good at all! Your pious words are hypocritical and without substance. If you really wished him well, you would do what you can to give him what he needs! Your unwillingness to do so betrays your true feelings. Similarly, dead faith is hypocritical, shallow, and useless because it doesn't put its claims into action—indeed, it has no divine capacity to do so.
I pray that your life will always manifest true faith and that others will glorify God because of your good works.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Perhaps you know someone whose claim to Christianity is doubtful because his or her life doesn't evidence the fruit of righteousness. If so, pray for that person regularly and set an example by your own good works. For Further Study:
Read John 15:1-8.
  • What illustration did Jesus use for spiritual fruitfulness?
  • What is the prerequisite for fruitfulness?


From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

One Day at a Time!

   ~ ~ ~ ~

(Annie Johnson Flint)

"As your days--so shall your strength be!" Deuteronomy 33:25

One day at a time, with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain, and its burden of care;
One day at a time, we must meet and must bear.

One day at a time, to be patient and strong,
To be calm under trial, and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass, and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time--but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong,
O piteous Christ, be near all the way;
Give courage and patience, and strength for the day.

Swift comes His answer, so clear and so sweet;
"Yes, I'll be with you, your troubles to meet;
I will not forget you, nor fail you, nor grieve;
I will not forsake you; I never will leave."

Not yesterday's load, we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care;
Why should we look forward, or back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day.

One day at a time, and the day is His day;
He has numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient, we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He gives His own.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spurgeon & Chambers Devotions June 26th

Morning, June 26

“Art thou become like unto us?”
Isaiah 14:10
Charles Spurgeon
What must be the apostate professor’s doom when his naked soul appears before God? How will he bear that voice, “Depart, ye cursed; thou hast rejected me, and I reject thee; thou hast played the harlot, and departed from me: I also have banished thee for ever from my presence, and will not have mercy upon thee.” What will be this wretch’s shame at the last great day when, before assembled multitudes, the apostate shall be unmasked? See the profane, and sinners who never professed religion, lifting themselves up from their beds of fire to point at him. “There he is,” says one, “will he preach the gospel in hell?” “There he is,” says another, “he rebuked me for cursing, and was a hypocrite himself!” “Aha!” says another, “here comes a psalm-singing Methodist—one who was always at his meeting; he is the man who boasted of his being sure of everlasting life; and here he is!” No greater eagerness will ever be seen among Satanic tormentors, than in that day when devils drag the hypocrite’s soul down to perdition. Bunyan pictures this with massive but awful grandeur of poetry when he speaks of the back-way to hell. Seven devils bound the wretch with nine cords, and dragged him from the road to heaven, in which he had professed to walk, and thrust him through the back-door into hell. Mind that back-way to hell, professors! “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.” Look well to your state; see whether you be in Christ or not. It is the easiest thing in the world to give a lenient verdict when oneself is to be tried; but O, be just and true here. Be just to all, but be rigorous to yourself. Remember if it be not a rock on which you build, when the house shall fall, great will be the fall of it. O may the Lord give you sincerity, constancy, and firmness; and in no day, however evil, may you be led to turn aside.
My Utmost for His Highest
June 26th
Always now
We … beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 Cor. 6:1
Oswald Chambers
The grace you had yesterday will not do for to-day. Grace is the overflowing favour of God; you can always reckon it is there to draw upon. “In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses”—that is where the test for patience comes. Are you failing the grace of God there? Are you saying—‘Oh, well, I won’t count this time?’ It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you; it is taking the grace of God now. We make prayer the preparation for work, it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God. Don’t say—‘I will endure this until I can get away and pray.’ Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need. Prayer is the most practical thing, it is not the reflex action of devotion. Prayer is the last thing in which we learn to draw on God’s grace.
“In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours,”—in all these things manifest a drawing upon the grace of God that will make you a marvel to yourself and to others. Draw now, not presently: The one word in the spiritual vocabulary is Now. Let circumstances bring you where they will, keep drawing on the grace of God in every conceivable condition you may be in. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be humiliated without manifesting the slightest trace of anything but His grace.
“Having nothing …” Never reserve anything. Pour out the best you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful about the treasure God gives. This is poverty triumphant.
Evening, June 26

“Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
2 Peter 1:4
Charles Spurgeon
Vanish for ever all thought of indulging the flesh if you would live in the power of your risen Lord. It were ill that a man who is alive in Christ should dwell in the corruption of sin. “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” said the angel to Magdalene. Should the living dwell in the sepulchre? Should divine life be immured in the charnel house of fleshly lust? How can we partake of the cup of the Lord and yet drink the cup of Belial? Surely, believer, from open lusts and sins you are delivered: have you also escaped from the more secret and delusive lime-twigs of the Satanic fowler? Have you come forth from the lust of pride? Have you escaped from slothfulness? Have you clean escaped from carnal security? Are you seeking day by day to live above worldliness, the pride of life, and the ensnaring vice of avarice? Remember, it is for this that you have been enriched with the treasures of God. If you be indeed the chosen of God, and beloved by him, do not suffer all the lavish treasure of grace to be wasted upon you. Follow after holiness; it is the Christian’s crown and glory. An unholy church! it is useless to the world, and of no esteem among men. It is an abomination, hell’s laughter, heaven’s abhorrence. The worst evils which have ever come upon the world have been brought upon her by an unholy church. O Christian, the vows of God are upon you. You are God’s priest: act as such. You are God’s king: reign over your lusts. You are God’s chosen: do not associate with Belial. Heaven is your portion: live like a heavenly spirit, so shall you prove that you have true faith in Jesus, for there cannot be faith in the heart unless there be holiness in the life.
“Lord, I desire to live as one
Who bears a blood-bought name,
As one who fears but grieving thee,
And knows no other shame.”

Thursday 26 June 2014



Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Two Years”
1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501
June 15, 2014
Newsletter Number 469
Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: ww.sgmbaptist.com

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, Helen Maggard, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Junior Baldridge, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, 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 Fails, Nathan & Claire Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, James & Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, James and Lynn Tomlin, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, 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. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From Our Pastor:
Not All Who Say They Are Christian Are. Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22.) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23.) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
There are many who believe they are Christians when they are not. He we see (I believe) the Great White Throne judgment of the lost. We see these people calling the Great Judge Jesus Christ “Lord” so therefore we see how they recognize Him. Secondly, they speak of their great works while on the earth. “…have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” But it will all be for nothing. The Lord Jesus will tell them “…I profess unto them, I never knew you…” in other words “I never knew you as mine”. One must make sure that their salvation is real, without doubt, because once one dies it is all over. There are millions who confess to be saved who are only deceiving themselves. There are a lot of folks being told they are saved when it simply is not true. So let’s put away all the church doctrine, all the tradition, and all the misconceptions, and learn the truth. Are you saved? How do you know, has God told you that you are saved? I am saved and the reason I know I am, is because the Bible has told me that I am. God said in John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Don’t ask your Pastor, parents, friend, or anyone else, search the scriptures! What do the scriptures say about how to be saved? John 3:15 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Now don’t listen to anyone else, God has just told you how to be saved. If you believe in Christ you SHALL have eternal life, period. God never added anything else to this, just believing. Christ is all you need; you will never need anything but Christ for salvation. Now are you going to be one of these in Matt. 7 or are you really known of Christ?
A Thought For The Week:
The Faithful Pastor

Sunshine or bitter cold the air,
The pastor's work is always there.
He is often the object of scorn,
His labors with contempt adorned.
Yet, he never ceases to care,
Ever seeking man's eternal welfare.
At the end of the week
Sunday's service complete,
The pastor spent and weak,
Yet, strong in his love for the sheep,
And thankful to God for their keep.
The Lawyer's profession do not decry,
MD's in their field faithfully try.
Educators are great we agree,
And police officers are good to see.
They are all mighty fine,
Helping with problems of time,
But it is the faithful pastor,
Who warns of eternal disaster.
The worldly no eternal danger can see,
With them, life is but one great spree.
No hurdles in the race they run,
Evil they do not shun,
Their time spent in revel and fun,
Soon life on earth is over and done.
Then the hell they lament,
Our life on earth in pleasure spent,
To the faithful pastor we did not look,
And cared nothing for His Holy Book.
Divine wrath our hearts have rend,
God's pastors warn of this awful end.
Young men with souls so frail,
On a downward trek toward hell.
Young girls so fair of face,
Doing despite to the Master's grace.
The pastor calls, "O, reckless youth,
Behold Jesus, the Way, Life and Truth."
No man has more in his stores,
Than a pastor with a flock he adores.
In face of much struggle and strife,
He pursues the work of his life.
Upon the church he has often leaned,
And from them much strength gleaned.
Then one day by amazing and free grace,
The pastor beholds his Shepherd's face,
And is drawn into the Saviour's embrace.
Standing with the pastor at his right,
His precious flock, who walked in light, Having escaped the dark and eternal night.
-By Elder Oscar B. Mink now in glory; A former Pastor of our church.
Church News:
Happy birthday to Sister Nita Mollette on Tuesday June 17th

Bible Conference News:
We praise the Lord that five of our six invited speakers have confirmed that they intend to speak at our 11th Annual Bible Conference on Friday September 19 and Saturday September 20. Our speakers this year include; Pastor Jerry Dodson, Sr. The Grace Bible Baptist Church - Denham Springs, LA. / Pastor Kelly Hinson The Landmark Sovereign Grace Baptist Church - Ft. Worth, Texas. / Pastor Ronnie Miller The Divide Baptist Church - Divide, Texas / Pastor Larry Wilson Northside Baptist Church – Oakdale, LA. / and Pastor Jimmy Nelson The Landmark Baptist Church - Ft. Worth Texas. Please continue to pray that it is God’s blessed will that all these men are able to attend and speak at the conference. All five speakers will speak twice with two speaking twice on Saturday. Pastor David O’Neal had a prior commitment in California and could not be here.
Happy Fathers Day to all you Dad’s
Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Two Years”
1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501
June 22, 2014
Newsletter Number 470
Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: ww.sgmbaptist.com
Our Prayer Request:
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, Helen Maggard, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Junior Baldridge, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, 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 Fails, Nathan & Claire Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Teresa Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, James & Diane Thomas, Gina Peel, James and Lynn Tomlin, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, 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. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

A Thought From Pastor Johnson:
Is God Sovereign? "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (14.) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid." Romans 9:13– 14
I have asked the question is God sovereign, and I asked it for a reason. I believe that most people say that God is sovereign but in their hearts they refuse to believe that He is. They act as if God can do nothing, cannot think ahead, can not ordain anything, or that He cannot control His own creation. They act as though God’s entire being and will depends on us, mankind. I have heard some “Christians” (and I use the word loosely here) speak of God as though our will overrides His will. Because of man’s free will God must wait on us to make a decision on something before He can proceed forward. I almost regurgitate every time I hear some preacher say “God can’t change your will”, well if God is truly sovereign, then this is a very ignorant statement at best. The very word “sovereign” itself means - One who has supreme power or authority; having supreme rank, and also is preeminent, and indisputable. – This does not sound like one who bends to man’s will. If God is truly sovereign then we must accept the fact that He can do His will without the assistance of others. The day that God’s will depend on what man wills is, is the day God is no longer God. God said in our text verses that He loved Jacob and hated Esau but my question is, why? God said He was not a respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 "...Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" Which means God does not accept man on any good in them, race, creed, or nationality, God accepts man because He chooses too. God had no reason to love Jacob more than Esau except that He chose too. Even though Esau tried to make himself acceptable to God, he never changed Gods mind. Election in the bible is God’s choosing and not man’s choosing. We are like Jacob and Esau God chooses one and not the other. Paul quoted and Old Testament scripture when he wrote in Romans 9 "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" verse 21 The question is, does God have the right to make (from one lump of clay) two vessels one that is honorable and the other junk? Sure He does, He is God and He can always do as He chooses without question. Paul went on to say in verse 18 of Romans 9 “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." God never has to have mercy on anyone and those that He does He chooses too. Some people act as though God owes them something, but please understand the truth, He has to do nothing except as He chooses. One might ask “then what about one who chooses to follow God? Well if one chooses to follow God then it is God who causes them to repent. Paul went on to say in verse 16 of Romans 9 “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Who ever said that man would choose Christ? Who ever said that man would ever choose God over sin? Sinfulness is their nature, it is what they choose, it is their ever desire. If it came to the point when man had to choose Christ or sin they would choose sin every time, God made it very clear that man would never choose Christ over sin. "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Romans 3:11 No one ever was told in the scriptures to choose Christ or God over sin in a lost state. In Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve..." God is speaking to His people not to unredeemed people. This scripture is very used out of context. Folks the choice is not ours, it is God’s and you had better hope He has chosen you. You may have chosen something but it was not salvation. Jacob did not choose God and neither did we. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." 1 John 5:1 The word “begotten” means – caused to be delivered.
A Thought From Former Pastor Oscar Mink:
Grace, Faith, And Good Works
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them,” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Good works which accord with the Scriptures are evidences of saving faith, and there is always, as we thus judge, a critical need for the manifestation of good works. Grace, faith, and good works wrought by the Holy Spirit, can never clash, but all works manufactured by the flesh are diametrically opposed to every overture of the Spirit. Notwithstanding, the work of the Holy Spirit CANNOT be in any degree deterred, but He will not honor any work that is not in perfect accord with the record that God gave of His Son (I John 5:11). A sermon or a Bible lesson may be spell binding, emotionally uplifting, and challenging, but if it does not magnify the truth of God’s salvational grace, it is not a good work, and will be found at the mercy seat of Christ; as having no light in it (Isaiah 8:20).
The primary heresy in which all religious lies are grounded, is the most ancient, the most successful in deceit, and the greatest devourer of lost souls. The heresy of which I speak, is that devious artifice of the devil, whereby he dupes the unsuspecting, and causes them to believe that salvation of the soul is the product of faith AND good works. This clever ruse of the devil whereby he attempts to destroy the distinction between saving faith and sanctifying faith, merging them, and making them both essential to salvation, is a most dangerous one! The only antidote to this soul damning doctrine is the preaching of the sovereign and all sufficient grace of God. There is NO deficiency in any of God’s works. All of His works are absolutely perfect, and cannot be deprived nor plused with the works of His holy angels, much less that of totally corrupt man.
Regenerative faith is instantaneous, and is experienced by all of God’s elect (Titus 1:1). But sanctifying faith is progressive, and is the instrument whereby the Holy Spirit conforms the believer unto the image of Christ (Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 6:19-20). Generally speaking, where there is saving faith, there is some measure of good works, as with the thief dying by crucifixion on the right hand of Christ. He was saved, and rebuked the thief on the left hand of Christ for his unbelief (Luke 23:39-43). This “thief” will be at the mercy seat of Christ, and will be recognized for his good work. While the good work of the thief is single, it will be rewarded, but there will be multitudes standing there who anticipate great rewards, yet owing to the faulty foundation of all their works none could pass the censorship of God’s infallible word and they will walk away crownless. So it is, some people will go to heaven over and against their utter lack of good works, and their presence in heaven will eternally magnify the sovereign and free grace of God.

Church News:
Happy Birthday to Brother Larry Mollette on Monday June 23rd
Happy Birthday to Pastor Randy Johnson on Friday June 27th