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 February 01, 2015 Newsletter Number 502 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 For Your Bible Study: Perfect Peace "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isa. 26:3). What is signified by a mind "stayed on" the Lord? At least three things. First, to make the Lord the Portion of my soul. All around us are those vainly seeking contentment in things: such as money, and what it can buy, social prestige, fame, pleasures, etc.—all of which are broken cisterns which hold no water. Only the One who made us can satisfy the heart; only as our affection is set upon "things above" do we drink of the Fountain of living waters. Just in proportion as "Delight thyself also in the LORD" (Psa. 37:4) will "perfect peace" be mine now. Second, to receive from God's hand whatsoever enters my life. I need to cultivate the habit of looking beyond all secondary causes, all intermediary agents and human instruments, recognising that "of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are ALL things" (Rom. 11:36). "Cease ye from man" (Isa. 2:22); conclude no more it is Satan who is seeking to disturb your rest; but say, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it!" (John 18:11). Just in proportion as we are enabled to say from the heart "It is the LORD: let Him do what seemeth Him good" (1 Sam. 3:18) will "perfect peace" be ours in this world of sin and turmoil. Third, to leave the future entirely with God. And why not? Are not my "times" in His hand (Psa. 31:15)? Has He not graciously cared for me and faithfully supplied my every need hitherto? Then why be fearful of what lies ahead? Has He not promised never to leave nor forsake me! Just in proportion as I live a day at a time, and "Take therefore no anxious thought for the morrow" (Matt. 6:34) will "perfect peace" be mine even now. But each of these three things is dependent upon the exercise of FAITH; as the text says "because he trusteth in Thee." O to know more of this experimentally. By Arthur W. Pink

A Thought From Our Pastor:: When Times Are Tough; God Is There! Psalms 119:21 - 23 "Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. (22.) Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. (23.) Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes." As Christians it is easy to believe the Lord owes us something. It’s like we are entitled to blessings from God. It’s like “I can’t believe God as allowed or done this to me”. I often hear Christians sometimes say “why did God allow this to happen to me; I’m a Christian”. Folks, just because God has saved us does not mean we are exempt from bad things in life. In fact because you are a Christian you could very well suffer more than the lost. This is most truthful; God does as He pleases in heaven, the earth, and beneath the earth, no matter what. God is concerned with accomplishing His will above all other things, and His will has and will continue to be accomplished no matter what the cost. I am simply amazed when I hear preachers tell some folks what God wants for them and their family, how do they know what God wants? This I can and will promise, God will give you what he wants you to have and what He wants for you may be very little. Some Christians live very painful lives. Beloved, just because we are Christians does not mean we have entitlements with God, He owes us nothing. We are saved by grace and live by grace and we will only receive of God what His grace will give us. Let us understand this, just because we worship and live for God everyday does not mean we deserve special blessings from God. I don’t know what God wants for your life but this I do know God will manifest to us all in time what He wants for us, and then we will all know. Anytime a Preacher tells you what God wants for you, you might want to ask yourself, how does he know? The Psalmist David prayer to God “Remove from me reproach and contempt” the word “reproach” means - disgrace – and the word “contempt” means – shame. Although the Palmist had just followed these two words with this phrase “for I have kept thy testimonies”. The Psalmist did not feel entitled to Gods blessings or graces just because he was a “good child of God”. The Psalmist prayed for these blessings because He understood that God could allow him much suffering. The world rulers sit and spoke against him even though he belonged to God. Folks please understand that God owes you nothing and for you to say He does is hypocritical on your part. God does not have entitlements for us. God has promised us many things, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, faith, and etc, etc, etc. but not on this earth but in Him. Please understand the reason life is hard, illnesses may come, people may hurt you, you may suffer greatly in this world, but God has allowed these things because they are His will for you. You may ask why, because it is His will. God never promised you total happiness in this life, but did in the life to come. Preaches will tell you what God wants for you and they are all heavenly things, what God has promised you here on this earth is totally the opposite. He promised you persecution 2 Timothy 3:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”, He promised you tribulations, He has even promised us death, but a utopia on this earth fell with the fall of Adam and will only be seen again in heaven. Do not be dismayed when bad things happen and you must suffer, your just living the life God has ordained for you. Prayer is our greatest access and comfort in times of trouble. This is what the Psalmist did and it is what we did. This is what God did promise, He promised to love us, keep us, protect us, to give us faith, and to never forsake us. Even those closest to Jesus were murdered and suffered greatly, so what make us think we are exempt?

A Thought From Jonathan Edwards: True Excellency! Worldly men imagine that there is true excellency and true happiness in those things which they are pursuing. They think that if they could but obtain them, that they would be happy. But when they obtain them, and cannot find happiness, they look for happiness in something else, and are still upon the futile pursuit. But Christ Jesus has true excellency, and so great excellency that when they come to see it they look no further, but the mind rests there. "Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16