Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Three Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 January 11, 2015 Newsletter Number 499 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com Web Site: www.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, Johnnie Stephens, Alecia Stephens, and children, Frankie Baldridge and daughter, Buckie Thompson, Frank & Sonya Trusty, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry & Martha Mollette and Her Family, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Doris Hammock, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, 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, James and Luann Reynolds, Timothy Fails, Nathan & Claire Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jerry Hughes, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Rosie Tomlin, James and Lynn Tomlin, Pat Abercrombie, Donna Jones, Dale Trahan, Ricky and Margaret McCoy, Brother David O’Neal, James, Diane & Brooke Thomas, Gina Peel, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Melissa Elliott, Megan Whitaker, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, Mr. Hedges, Danny Hammond, Claire’s friend, 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 Though From Your Pastor: Confidence “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6 The word “confidence” means to have assurance in something or someone. It is used here as a verb and as a verb it carries the meaning of – trust – which is something we all lack in this world. When we think about it we find very little we can have trust or confidence in, period. However, we are not speaking of just anyone or anything here we are speaking about God. He is the only One we can have trust or confidence in, period. If we put our trust in man he will in some way fail us, but God never will. This is trust we can have and must have in God and in Him alone. God is sovereign and His blessed will is always done and without failure. God has a reason for doing whatever He does. It is not necessary that you and I understand some or all of what God is doing but that whatever happens it is God’s will. The conclusion to our thinking is if God has willed it, He will also see it through. God can be trusted in this that if He starts a work He will see it through without interruption or failure. Sometimes, well most times I will start a project and fail to finish but not with God, He can be trusted to see it through. We must also remember that God controls everything from our birth to our death. You might wonder why things happen in life and you think you should have died but you lived, well it is because God has ordained your days of life and nothing can change His ordained will. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” The word “season” means appointed time. The preacher goes on to tell us in Ecclesiastes 3 some of the things that have appointed times and birth and death are two of them. And remember what God has started He is will also finish. Ecclesiastes 3:2 “A time to be born, and a time to die…” Please be assured that noting happens that God does not ordain or see through. I know that many things happen that we may not understand, illnesses happen, disasters happen, horrible things happen, and even death happens, but God controls them all. Some like to believe that God did not know something was going to happen or even that things happen that God could not control but please be assured God controls everything and noting happens he does not ordain or control, He even controlled the death of Hid beloved Son Jesus Christ. Paul said in Romans that there is no power except it is ordained of God, and yes this includes Satan. Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” I know that things happen in life that we would like to put on our blinders and believe that God had noting to do with something that has happened, but we lie to ourselves if we do. Paul went on to say in Romans chapter 3 and in verse 2 “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” The word “damnation” means punishment, it does not necessarily mean eternal damnation it could be a chastisement on this earth. But even with the resistance on our part it does not mean it will not get done because it absolutely will because if God has ordained it, it will come to pass. In conclusion let me say God is in control and noting can change His ordained will, ever. If God has elected it to be, then it will be. This is who God is, a Supreme, Sovereign, being who always ordains and will always see it through.

A Thought For The Week: That unclean donkey is yourself!"You must redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb. But if you do not redeem it — you must kill the donkey by breaking its neck!" Exodus 34:20 Every firstborn creature must be the Lord's — but since the donkey was unclean, it could not be presented in sacrifice to Him. What then? Should it be allowed to go free from the universal law? By no means! God admits of no exceptions. The donkey is His due — but He will not accept it; He will not abate the claim — but yet He cannot be pleased with the unclean victim. No way of escape remained, but redemption — the donkey must be saved by the substitution of a lamb in its place; or if not redeemed, it must die! My soul, here is a lesson for you! That unclean donkey is yourself! You are justly the property of the Lord who made you and preserves you — but you are so sinful that God will not, cannot, accept you! It has come to this: the Lamb of God must stand in your stead — or you must die eternally! Let all the world know of your gratitude to that spotless Lamb who has died for you, and so redeemed you from the fatal curse of the law! Must it not sometimes have been a question with the Israelite, as to which should die — the donkey or the lamb? Would not the man pause to estimate and compare the values of these animals? Assuredly there was no comparison between the value of a sinful man — and the spotless Lord Jesus! Yet the Lamb dies — and man the donkey is spared! My soul, admire the boundless love of God to you! Vile worms are bought — with the blood of the holy Lamb of God! Dust and ashes are redeemed — with a price far above silver and gold! What a doom would have been mine — had not plenteous redemption been found! The breaking of the neck of the donkey was but a momentary penalty. But who shall measure the eternal wrath to come — to which no limit can be imagined! Inestimably dear is the glorious Lamb — who has redeemed me from such a doom! By Charles Spurgeon

A Quote To Remember: To say that God is sovereign, is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in Heaven and earth — so that none can . . . defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will. Whatever takes place in time — is but the outworking of that which He has decreed in eternity. "But our God is in the heavens — He has done whatever He has pleased!" Psalm 115:3 By Arthur Pink