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 April 05, 2015 Newsletter Number 510 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 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, Gene Rosinbaum, James, Diane & Brooke Thomas, Gina Peel, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Megan Whitaker, Tammy Hairston, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, Mr. Hedges, Danny Hammond, 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:: Constantly Persecuted. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (9.) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9 As Christians we have so much to feel blessed about, and our blessings are innumerable. As Christians we do not have to wonder if persecution is coming but rather when and how it is coming. We have seen much in the news this last week about some Americas hatred for Christians. We had two states and two Governors in deep trouble for attempting to protect the Christian business owners. We saw a Pizza place in Indiana shutdown because they said they would never cater a Gay wedding. I believe it is unbelievable that some American people find it necessary to threaten Christians just to get their point across. Christians are not obligated to serve the ungodly people in this world. Just because the Government may choose to allow Gays to marry it does not mean Christians must service them. As a Pastor I will never perform a wedding ceremony for a Gay couple, nor will our church ever allow them to join or serve in our church. Some people attempt to equate the persecution of blacks with Gays but they are not the same. God never declared it an abomination to be black, but He did with being Gay. With this being said one cannot compare the two. When God has so much condemnation over one act it will always be condemned by God. With this being said, as Christians we are acting ungodly in accepting the sin as just. It is not my job to condemn anyone for any act, in fact God told us to love our enemies and to pray for them that despitefully use us. It is my job to preach the word of God and to tend to the Lord’s local flock that God has chosen for me to oversee. As a Pastor I will preach to anyone, including Gays. We do not disallow anyone from attending our services but that is as far as we will allow it to go. Neither I, nor our church condemns anyone, we hate no one, we simply as Christians adhere to Gods word like the pizza place in Indiana. But we will all be persecuted by many haters of God right here in America for standing on Gods word. The Lord reminds us in John 15:18 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." This is why Paul told these folks at Corinth “We are troubled on every side…” because Satan controls the world system and he will control it to be Anti-God. The world hates Christians but is also hates the Jews, why, they are not the same as we are. The Jews are not Christians; they totally reject Jesus Christ. They are nothing like Christians, so why, why are they persecuted along with Christians? It is because of the world’s hatred for God. He is our one of very few things we have in common with the Jews. They hate us because of God. Paul went on to say “…yet not distressed…” The word means – Anguished – which means tormented or agonized – why would we be? As Christians we understand much more than the lost and we know what is going to be in years to come. We know that vengeance belongs to God and He will repay them. "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:19 Paul went on to say “…we are perplexed…” which means - to have no way out, that is, be at a loss – because while we disagree so much with the ungodliness there is nothing we can do but to allow it in the world. We see so much hate for Christians and must wonder why. Why would they want to close or burn down a pizza place because they will not service Gay weddings, because they are Christians? Yes, indeed and it is perplexing. However while we may be at the point of being perplexed, Paul said “but not in despair;” which means - to be utterly without a way – Because we know God has a way to resolve our persecution. If the States will not protect Christians then God will. I do not trust government, I trust only God, and I know that He has the power to protect me as His child. Paul concluded in verse 9 by saying while we are persecuted, God will not forsake us and while we may be cast down, we will not be destroyed, no matter how much they may hate us. Therefore I applaud the folks at the pizza place in Indiana and God has rewarded them with love gifts of almost a million dollars to continue. Folks, don’t be afraid to standup for God and the scriptures, because His power is greater than theirs.

A Though For Your Bible Study: Market-Driven Christianity"Am I now trying to win the approval of men — or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men — I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10 Religion in America is big business. Scads of money, powerful personalities, huge egos, and positions of prominence, influence, and recognition are at stake in the business of religion, just as they are in any other business. There was a time when the concern of churches and preachers in this country was the glory of God and the truth of God. Today, like any business, the concern is for success. Christianity today is market-driven. The goal of all marketing is to make both the buyer and the seller satisfied. Consequently, market-driven churches, in utter abandonment of God’s glory and God’s truth, in their insatiable quest for success and recognition — do whatever it takes to win customers and keep them. Be warned! False doctrine and worldliness always go hand in hand. Worldliness usually leads the way. The early modernists did not aim at destroying biblical Christianity. They simply tried to make Christianity palatable to an unbelieving world. It cannot be done. When Christianity becomes acceptable to unregenerate people — it has ceased to be Christianity! "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing!" 1 Corinthians 1:18 By Don Fortner

Church Notices: There will be a Church Business meeting at 4:00 this afternoon. Happy Anniversary to Danny and Sister Nita Mollette Sunday April 05

A Lasting Thought: Because God is righteous— His judgments fall upon those who rebel against Him. Because God is faithful — the solemn threatenings of His Word are fulfilled. Because God is omnipotent— none can successfully resist Him, still less overthrow His counsel. Because God is omniscient— no problem can master Him and no difficulty baffle His wisdom. -By Arthur Pink, "The Sovereignty of God"