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 May 31, 2015 Newsletter Number 518 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, James, Diane & Brooke Thomas, Trent and Tiffane Thomas, Gina Peel, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Megan Whitaker, Tammy Hairston and family, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, James Hedges, 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:: God’s Correcting Tool!“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16 I am sometimes amazed when some visitors visit our church and compliments the sermon and how it was delivered, some will say “I wished my pastor taught like that” or “I wished my pastor preached that way”. And I must say the compliments are nice but why don’t they come back? It makes me wonder if it is the style or something in the deliverance they like. But most those who do return, often fail to return because as soon as they hear another sermon all of a sudden their opinion has changed, all of a sudden they are not as in love as they thought. I think people are accustomed in most places of worship of enjoying the speaker and not so much the message. Folks, the speaker is nothing; because a sermon is not the delivery is in the subject manner of the sermon. Or maybe they love the sermon as long as it has no hurting subject manner. So maybe if I would stop preaching the meat of the word, the doctrine of the word, then maybe people would be more in love with our services, but then, what would be the reason we call ourselves a CHURCH? We are a church because we worship God; we worship her head the Lord Jesus Christ, and not the pastor. A sermon is not a sermon from God until the speaker is irrelevant to the sermon. The bible cannot be cut so that a sermon does not tell a lost sinner they are going to hell, or that their ways of living will cause God to chasten them. A sermon is not a sermon until the truths of the bible are elevated to the top of the sermon. If a pastor is not preaching the doctrine of the bible then he is not preaching. If preachers are not upsetting people who may not be serving the Lord and the church then he is not preaching. There is a lot to preach about on the loving subjects of the bible, but there is also a lot not being preached on the harsh subjects. It is when these people hear these truths that I go from a good preacher to a devil in their minds. Folks, the bible was written for our learning DOCTRINE, for our REPROOF and CORRECTION in living life, and for our INSTRUCTION in life. Preaching is not about the preacher but about the message, if someone likes me or any other preacher for any other reason than we are preaching the truths of the bible, then they like us for the wrong reason.

A Though For Your Bible Study: HOW FAR, AMERICA? (Part four the Conclusion ) “How Far, America?” Not how far will wicked men go, but how far will God allow wicked men to go in moral filth and doctrinal evils? Probably farther than you or I would allow! But certainly they will go no farther than God has planned for them to go! We can be absolutely confident that God is not concerned with time: rather He is concerned with His elect for we read that the restoration of national Israel will follow that time when, “the fulness of the Gentiles be come in,” (Romans 11:25). In other words, God shall turn again to little Israel when His elect from among the Gentiles are regenerated and sanctified to the point He has predetermined. Then God will be acting in a different manner toward these United States. Two things here: (1) sometimes folk will say that this last phrase quoted means that “when the last elect Gentile is saved... etc.,” Our reply is this: God did not take you to heaven immediately after your were converted so what makes you so sure that God may not leave His last saved elect Gentile here on earth for a while after they are born again? May He not leave them here awhile to witness to the world and to experience that sanctification needed by each of His sheep? (2) In turning to Israel God shall bring to pass the “time of Jacob's trouble,” (Jeremiah 30:5) which has absolutely nothing to do with Christ's congregations. From the Book of Revelation we see that all the evidence points to the fact that when God's end-time judgment upon this world begins, His congregations (made up of principally Gentile peoples) will be with Him and not on the earth at all. Always keep in mind the God-given outline of the Book of Revelation found in chapter one, verse nineteen. Matthew chapter twenty-four is a record of our Lord's prophecy regarding the end of this age and the tribulation to follow. His counsel to the disciples was as follows: “...Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows,” (Matthew 24:4-8). The Lord's words in this passage indicate that the danger to the saints of God at this time is twofold: (1) being deceived: the Lord said, “Take heed that no man deceive you,” and (2) “be not troubled.” These two dangers – being led astray and being alarmed or frightened – are the dangers of our time. Radio and TV preachers as well as some “big time pastors” and some not so big ones are busy at this very moment leading people astray. Some of them gain followers and make huge amounts of money off the alarm felt by most people – i.e., the notion that America is heading in the wrong direction and that things cannot continue long in this direction without catastrophic national or even worldwide consequences. Recently at least one governor, Jindal of Louisiana, has warned of the possibility of a “rebellion” and of a “hostile takeover of Washington, D.C., to preserve the American Dream for our children and grandchildren," (quote from Gov. Bobby Jindal's keynote address at a recent Faith and Freedom Coalition event). But, lulled to sleepiness if not outright sleep by our toys, treasures and pleasures, we Americans for the most part are only vaguely uneasy about our Social Security, Medicare, and 401Ks. Will some of us live to see such events as Governor Jindal speaks? Possibly. Some would even say probably. In light of these things, the Words of the Holy Ghost to Timothy are appropriate: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them,” (2 Timothy 3:14). These words follow those quoted above regarding the proliferation of evil men and deceivers in these days of apostasy. What shall we who believe in the absolute sovereignty of God in all things do? What shall we do who hold to “mother-church daughter-church succession?” “Continue thou!” Stay with the Word of God! Believe God's Book and practice accordingly! What better advice can be given? Do not jump overboard when it seems the old ship of Zion is about to be overwhelmed and the seas of apostasy and opposition are tossing her about. Do not panic! Let us remain faithful to Christ and to the system of doctrine taught in the Bible! In that we shall not err. God has not changed, does not change, and will not change: why should we? You can view the full article online at: http://gracebbc.dyndns.org:81/HowFarAmerica-Pugh.html By Curtis Pugh Missionary to Poteau, Oklahoma

The wonders of His providence!

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(Charles Spurgeon, "Esther Defeats her Enemies")

"In his heart a man plans his course--but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

"Many are the plans in a man's heart--but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

"A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?" Proverbs 20:24

Do not judge divine providence in little pieces--it is a grand mosaic, and must be seen as a whole.

The Lord's wisdom is seen in arranging the smallest events so as to produce great results. We frequently hear people say of a pleasant or a great event, "What a providence! This is the finger of God!"--while they are silent as to anything which appears less important, or has an unpleasant savor.

But the place of the flower upon the hillside--is as fixed as the station of a king! And the dust which is raised by a cart-wheel--is as surely steered by divine providence as the planet in its orbit!

There is as much providence in the creeping of an insect upon a rose leaf--as in the marching of an army to ravage a continent!

Everything, the most minute, as well as the most magnificent--is ordered by the Lord who has prepared His throne in the heavens, whose kingdom rules over all.

Whatever the event may be, the attentive eye will as clearly see the Lord's providential hand.

I am sure that God is in the world, yes, and is at my own fireside, and in my chamber--and manages my affairs, and orders all things for me, and for each one of His redeemed children. We need no miracles to convince us of His working, the wonders of His providence are as great marvels as miracles themselves.

"We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28

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Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 31, 2015

And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:3-5)

We are promised that our sufferings will bear a fruit greater than the power of the suffering: we are promised genuine hope that does not disappoint! What glorious fruit! So then is suffering counted by Paul a reason for rejoicing!

Secret kisses!

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(Thomas Brooks, "The Privy Key of Heaven" 1665)
When a Christian is in a wilderness, which is a very solitary place--then God delights to speak affectionately to him. "Behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak tenderly and to her heart."Hosea 2:14

"When I have her alone," says God, "in a solitary wilderness--I will speak such things to her heart, as shall exceedingly cheer her, and comfort her, and even make her heart leap and dance within her!" Certainly the soul usually enjoys most communion with God--in secret. "But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:6

A husband imparts his mind most freely and fully to his wife when she is alone; and so does Christ to the believing soul. Oh . . .
the secret kisses,
the secret embraces,
the secret visits,
the secret whispers,
the secret cheerings,
the secret discoveries,
which God gives to His people when in secret prayer.

"But as for me, it is good to be near God." Psalm 73:28

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

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Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 30, 2015

Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)

The crown of life is a promise that God grants to those who love Him. Though we endure tremendous trials and tribulations, we will not be crushed. Our suffering will end in the glory of Jesus Christ and we will receive the crown of life. What a beautiful ending for this life! May God be glorified in our daily trials. May we seek His face and continue to be molded into His perfect image.

Spurgeon & Chambers Devotions May 29th

Morning, May 29

“Thou hatest wickedness.”

Psalm 45:7

Charles Spurgeon

“Be ye angry, and sin not.” There can hardly be goodness in a man if he be not angry at sin; he who loves truth must hate every false way. How our Lord Jesus hated it when the temptation came! Thrice it assailed him in different forms, but ever he met it with, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” He hated it in others; none the less fervently because he showed his hate oftener in tears of pity than in words of rebuke; yet what language could be more stern, more Elijah-like, than the words, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer.” He hated wickedness, so much that he bled to wound it to the heart; he died that it might die; he was buried that he might bury it in his tomb; and he rose that he might for ever trample it beneath his feet. Christ is in the Gospel, and that Gospel is opposed to wickedness in every shape. Wickedness arrays itself in fair garments, and imitates the language of holiness; but the precepts of Jesus, like his famous scourge of small cords, chase it out of the temple, and will not tolerate it in the Church. So, too, in the heart where Jesus reigns, what war there is between Christ and Belial! And when our Redeemer shall come to be our Judge, those thundering words, “Depart, ye cursed” which are, indeed, but a prolongation of his life-teaching concerning sin, shall manifest his abhorrence of iniquity. As warm as is his love to sinners, so hot is his hatred of sin; as perfect as is his righteousness, so complete shall be the destruction of every form of wickedness. O thou glorious champion of right, and destroyer of wrong, for this cause hath God, even thy God, anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

My Utmost for His Highest

May 29th

Undisturbed relationship

At that day ye shall ask in My name … The Father Himself loveth you. John 16:26, 27

Oswald Chambers

“At that day ye shall ask in My name,” i.e., in My nature. Not—‘You shall use My name as a magic word,’ but—‘You will be so intimate with Me that you will be one with Me.’ “That day” is not a day hereafter, but a day meant for here and now. “The Father Himself loveth you”—the union is so complete and absolute. Our Lord does not mean that life will be free from external perplexities but that just as He knew the Father’s heart and mind, so by the baptism of the Holy Ghost He can lift us into the heavenly places where He can reveal the counsels of God to us.

“Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name …” “That day” is a day of undisturbed relationship between God and the saint. Just as Jesus stood unsullied in the presence of His Father, so by the mighty efficacy of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we can be lifted into that relationship—“that they may be one, even as We are one.”

“He will give it you.” Jesus says that God will recognize our prayers. What a challenge! By the Resurrection and Ascension power of Jesus, by the sent-down Holy Ghost, we can be lifted into such a relationship with the Father that we are at one with the perfect sovereign will of God by our free choice even as Jesus was. In that wonderful position, placed there by Jesus Christ, we can pray to God in His name, in His nature, which is gifted to us by the Holy Ghost, and Jesus says—“Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” The sovereign character of Jesus Christ is tested by His own statements.

Evening, May 29

“Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho.”

Joshua 6:26

Charles Spurgeon

Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jericho, much more the man who labours to restore Popery among us. In our fathers’ days the gigantic walls of Popery fell by the power of their faith, the perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel trumpets; and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed system upon its old foundation. O Lord, be pleased to thwart their unrighteous endeavours, and pull down every stone which they build. It should be a serious business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error which may have a tendency to foster the spirit of Popery, and when we have made a clean sweep at home we should seek in every way to oppose its all too rapid spread abroad in the church and in the world. This last can be done in secret by fervent prayer, and in public by decided testimony. We must warn with judicious boldness those who are inclined towards the errors of Rome; we must instruct the young in gospel truth, and tell them of the black doings of Popery in the olden times. We must aid in spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for priests, like owls, hate daylight. Are we doing all we can for Jesus and the gospel? If not, our negligence plays into the hands of the priestcraft. What are we doing to spread the Bible, which is the Pope’s bane and poison? Are we casting abroad good, sound gospel writings? Luther once said, “The devil hates goose quills” and, doubtless, he has good reason, for ready writers, by the Holy Spirit’s blessing, have done his kingdom much damage. If the thousands who will read this short word this night will do all they can to hinder the rebuilding of this accursed Jericho, the Lord’s glory shall speed among the sons of men. Reader, what can you do? What will you do? 

Orthodox in creed--but heterodox in life!

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(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

When we hear of men living in sin and yet claiming to be Christians, we are disgusted with their pretenses--but we are not deceived by their professions.

In the same manner, we care little for those who are orthodox Christians in creed--if it is clear that they are heterodox in life. He who believes the truth, should himself be true. How can we expect others to receive our religion--if it leaves us foul, false, malicious, and selfish?

We sicken at the sight of a dirty dish, and refuse even good food when it is placed thereon. So pure and holy is the doctrine of the cross, that . . .
he who hears it aright will have his ear cleansed,
he who believes it will have his mind and heart purged,
he who preaches it should have his tongue purified.

Woe unto that man who brings reproach upon the gospel by an unholy walk and life!

Lord, evermore make us vessels fit for your own use, and then fill us with the pure juice of the grapes of sound doctrine and wholesome instruction. Do not allow us to be such foul cups as to be only fit for the wine of Sodom!

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Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 29, 2015

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11)

Rejoice, O believer! Rejoice in the unaccountably vast treasure of mercy the Lord showers upon His bride! He is the King of All and is faithful to reward His children. He has given you a throne! A robe of righteousness! A crown of victorious glory! Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places is yours by the Father's hand. Give thanks, sing "Hallelujah," and proclaim the joy of His resurrection!

Spurgeon & Chambers Devotions May28th

Morning, May 28

“Whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Romans 8:30

Charles Spurgeon

Here is a precious truth for thee, believer. Thou mayest be poor, or in suffering, or unknown, but for thine encouragement take a review of thy “calling” and the consequences that flow from it, and especially that blessed result here spoken of. As surely as thou art God’s child today, so surely shall all thy trials soon be at an end, and thou shalt be rich to all the intents of bliss. Wait awhile, and that weary head shall wear the crown of glory, and that hand of labour shall grasp the palm-branch of victory. Lament not thy troubles, but rather rejoice that ere long thou wilt be where “there shall be neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” The chariots of fire are at thy door, and a moment will suffice to bear thee to the glorified. The everlasting song is almost on thy lip. The portals of heaven stand open for thee. Think not that thou canst fail of entering into rest. If he hath called thee, nothing can divide thee from his love. Distress cannot sever the bond; the fire of persecution cannot burn the link; the hammer of hell cannot break the chain. Thou art secure; that voice which called thee at first, shall call thee yet again from earth to heaven, from death’s dark gloom to immortality’s unuttered splendours. Rest assured, the heart of him who has justified thee beats with infinite love towards thee. Thou shalt soon be with the glorified, where thy portion is; thou art only waiting here to be made meet for the inheritance, and that done, the wings of angels shall waft thee far away, to the mount of peace, and joy, and blessedness, where,

“Far from a world of grief and sin,

With God eternally shut in,”

thou shalt rest for ever and ever.

My Utmost for His Highest

May 28th

Unquestioned revelation

And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. John 16:23

Oswald Chambers

When is “that day”? When the Ascended Lord makes you one with the Father. In that day you will be one with the Father as Jesus is, and “in that day,” Jesus says, “ye shall ask Me nothing.” Until the resurrection life of Jesus is manifested in you, you want to ask this and that; then after a while you find all questions gone, you do not seem to have any left to ask. You have come to the place of entire reliance on the resurrection life of Jesus which brings you into perfect contact with the purpose of God. Are you living that life now? If not, why shouldn’t you?

There may be any number of things dark to your understanding, but they do not come in between your heart and God. “And in that day ye shall ask Me no question”—you do not need to, you are so certain that God will bring things out in accordance with His will. John 14:1 has become the real state of your heart, and there are no more questions to be asked. If anything is a mystery to you and it is coming in between you and God, never look for the explanation in your intellect, look for it in your disposition, it is that which is wrong. When once your disposition is willing to submit to the life of Jesus, the understanding will be perfectly clear, and you will get to the place where there is no distance between the Father and His child because the Lord has made you one, and “in that day ye shall ask Me no question.”

Evening, May 28

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.”

Lamentations 3:21

Charles Spurgeon

Memory is frequently the bond slave of despondency. Dispairing minds call to remembrance every dark foreboding in the past, and dilate upon every gloomy feature in the present; thus memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup of mingled gall and wormwood. There is, however, no necessity for this. Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. That same recollection which in its left hand brings so many gloomy omens, may be trained to bear in its right a wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron, she may encircle her brow with a fillet of gold, all spangled with stars. Thus it was in Jeremiah’s experience: in the previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of soul: “My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me;” and now this same memory restored him to life and comfort. “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” Like a two-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with one edge, and then slew his despair with the other. As a general principle, if we would exercise our memories more wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress, strike a match which would instantaneously kindle the lamp of comfort. There is no need for God to create a new thing upon the earth in order to restore believers to joy; if they would prayerfully rake the ashes of the past, they would find light for the present; and if they would turn to the book of truth and the throne of grace, their candle would soon shine as aforetime. Be it ours to remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, and to rehearse his deeds of grace. Let us open the volume of recollection which is so richly illuminated with memorials of mercy, and we shall soon be happy. Thus memory may be, as Coleridge calls it, “the bosom-spring of joy,” and when the Divine Comforter bends it to his service, it may be chief among earthly comforters. 

My heart leaps within me!

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(James Smith's autobiography, "Marvelous Mercy!" 1862)

"Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

Jesus is . . .
an ocean of delights,
a sea of pleasure,
a fountain of bliss!

There is enough in Jesus, and in the happiness which we shall eternally enjoy:
to comfort the most dejected saint,
to soothe the sorrows of the most tried soul,
to strengthen the weakest, and
to stimulate the most feeble to press onward in the path of tribulation!

O for . . .
more spirituality of soul,
more conformity to His lovely likeness,
more unreserved dedication to His holy service!

I often try thus to praise His dear name--but am hindered . . .
by this heavy clog of clay,
by my evil heart of unbelief, and
by Satan presenting something to the mind to alarm, or draw me aside.

But shortly--understanding, mind, will, and affections--will all be sweetly engaged and employed in ascribing, "Blessing and honor, thanksgiving and power--to Him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever!"

My heart leaps within me at the thought of thus giving perfect and perpetual praise to my beloved Lord!

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Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 28, 2015

The LORD [is] good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7)

Not only is the Lord an unbreachable defence to those who find their identity and righteousness in Christ, but He knows intimately each whom He defends. He is aware of our every need and every weakness, and thus, we, His people, can be supremely confident in His ability to bolster us in the face of even the fiercest enemy. Rejoice, O believer, for He is our great shield and high wall of bastion!

Spurgeon Devotions May 27th

Morning, May 27

“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem:

for he did eat continually at the king’s table;

and was lame on both his feet.”

2 Samuel 9:13

Charles Spurgeon

Mephibosheth was no great ornament to a royal table, yet he had a continual place at David’s board, because the king could see in his face the features of the beloved Jonathan. Like Mephibosheth, we may cry unto the King of Glory, “What is thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?” but still the Lord indulges us with most familiar intercourse with himself, because he sees in our countenances the remembrance of his dearly-beloved Jesus. The Lord’s people are dear for another’s sake. Such is the love which the Father bears to his only begotten, that for his sake he raises his lowly brethren from poverty and banishment, to courtly companionship, noble rank, and royal provision. Their deformity shall not rob them of their privileges. Lameness is no bar to sonship; the cripple is as much the heir as if he could run like Asahel. Our right does not limp, though our might may. A king’s table is a noble hiding-place for lame legs, and at the gospel feast we learn to glory in infirmities, because the power of Christ resteth upon us. Yet grievous disability may mar the persons of the best-loved saints. Here is one feasted by David, and yet so lame in both his feet that he could not go up with the king when he fled from the city, and was therefore maligned and injured by his servant Ziba. Saints whose faith is weak, and whose knowledge is slender, are great losers; they are exposed to many enemies, and cannot follow the king whithersoever he goeth. This disease frequently arises from falls. Bad nursing in their spiritual infancy often causes converts to fall into a despondency from which they never recover, and sin in other cases brings broken bones. Lord, help the lame to leap like an hart, and satisfy all thy people with the bread of thy table!

Evening, May 27

“What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?”

2 Samuel 9:8

Charles Spurgeon

If Mephibosheth was thus humbled by David’s kindness, what shall we be in the presence of our gracious Lord? The more grace we have, the less we shall think of ourselves, for grace, like light, reveals our impurity. Eminent saints have scarcely known to what to compare themselves, their sense of unworthiness has been so clear and keen. “I am,” says holy Rutherford, “a dry and withered branch, a piece of dead carcass, dry bones, and not able to step over a straw.” In another place he writes, “Except as to open outbreakings, I want nothing of what Judas and Cain had.” The meanest objects in nature appear to the humbled mind to have a preference above itself, because they have never contracted sin: a dog may be greedy, fierce, or filthy, but it has no conscience to violate, no Holy Spirit to resist. A dog may be a worthless animal, and yet by a little kindness it is soon won to love its master, and is faithful unto death; but we forget the goodness of the Lord, and follow not at his call. The term “dead dog” is the most expressive of all terms of contempt, but it is none too strong to express the self- abhorrence of instructed believers. They do not affect mock modesty, they mean what they say, they have weighed themselves in the balances of the sanctuary, and found out the vanity of their nature. At best, we are but clay, animated dust, mere walking hillocks; but viewed as sinners, we are monsters indeed. Let it be published in heaven as a wonder, that the Lord Jesus should set his heart’s love upon such as we are. Dust and ashes though we be, we must and will “magnify the exceeding greatness of his grace.” Could not his heart find rest in heaven? Must he needs come to these tents of Kedar for a spouse, and choose a bride upon whom the sun had looked? O heavens and earth, break forth into a song, and give all glory to our sweet Lord Jesus. 

The god of this generation!

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(Arthur Pink, "The Attributes of God")

"Our God is in Heaven--He does whatever He pleases!" Psalm 115:3

Ah, my reader, the God of Scripture is no make-believe monarch, no mere imaginary sovereign; but King of kings, and Lord of lords! To countless thousands, even among those professing to be Christians, the God of the Scriptures is quite unknown.

The god of this generation no more resembles the Supreme Sovereign of Holy Writ, than does the dim flickering of a candle, the glory of the midday sun!

The god who is now . . .
talked about in the average pulpit,
spoken of in the ordinary Sunday School,
mentioned in much of the religious literature of the day,
and preached in most of the so-called Bible Conferences--
is the figment of human imagination, an invention of mushy sentimentality!

The heathen outside of the pale of Christendom form gods out of wood and stone--while the millions of heathen inside Christendom manufacture a god out of their own carnal mind! In reality, they are but atheists, for there is no other possible alternative between an absolutely supreme God--and no God at all. A god whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated, possesses no title to Deity--and so far from being a fit object of worship, merits nothing but contempt!

"I know that You can do anything, and no plan of Yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2

"The Lord does whatever He pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths." Psalm 135:6

"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!" Revelation 19:6

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Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 27, 2015

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Implicit in Peter's direction to the believer to cast away all cares to the feet of God is the truth that God Himself will care for them. God is powerful! He is sovereign, calling all matters into submission to His will! And He cares for us! If such a powerful God cares for us and our needs, can we fail to cast mastery of our cares and worries into His mighty hands?

Spurgeon & Chambers Devotions May 26th

Morning, May 26 

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.”

Psalm 55:22

Charles Spurgeon

Care, even though exercised upon legitimate objects, if carried to excess, has in it the nature of sin. The precept to avoid anxious care is earnestly inculcated by our Saviour, again and again; it is reiterated by the apostles; and it is one which cannot be neglected without involving transgression: for the very essence of anxious care is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting ourselves into his place to do for him that which he has undertaken to do for us. We attempt to think of that which we fancy he will forget; we labour to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if he were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to his plain precept, this unbelief in his Word, this presumption in intruding upon his province, is all sinful. Yet more than this, anxious care often leads to acts of sin. He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God’s hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help himself. This sin leads to a forsaking of God as our counsellor, and resorting instead to human wisdom. This is going to the “broken cistern” instead of to the “fountain;” a sin which was laid against Israel of old. Anxiety makes us doubt God’s lovingkindness, and thus our love to him grows cold; we feel mistrust, and thus grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers become hindered, our consistent example marred, and our life one of self-seeking. Thus want of confidence in God leads us to wander far from him; but if through simple faith in his promise, we cast each burden as it comes upon him, and are “careful for nothing” because he undertakes to care for us, it will keep us close to him, and strengthen us against much temptation. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.”

My Utmost for His Highest

May 26th

Think as Jesus taught

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess. 5:17

Oswald Chambers

We think rightly or wrongly about prayer according to the conception we have in our minds of prayer. If we think of prayer as the breath in our lungs and the blood from our hearts, we think rightly. The blood flows ceaselessly, and breathing continues ceaselessly; we are not conscious of it, but it is always going on. We are not always conscious of Jesus keeping us in perfect joint with God, but if we are obeying Him, He always is. Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life. Beware of anything that stops ejaculatory prayer. “Pray without ceasing,” keep the childlike habit of ejaculatory prayer in your heart to God all the time.

Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer; He had the boundless certainty that prayer is always answered. Have we by the Spirit the unspeakable certainty that Jesus had about prayer, or do we think of the times when God does not seem to have answered prayer? “Every one that asketh receiveth.” We say—‘But …, but …’ God answers prayer in the best way, not sometimes, but every time, although the immediate manifestation of the answer in the domain in which we want it may not always follow. Do we expect God to answer prayer?

The danger with us is that we want to water down the things that Jesus says and make them mean something in accordance with common sense; if it were only common sense, it was not worth while for him to say it. The things Jesus says about prayer are supernatural revelations.

Evening, May 26

“Continue in the faith.”

Acts 14:22

Charles Spurgeon

Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great Napoleon: he said, “Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must maintain me.” So, under God, dear brother in the Lord, conquest has made you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must be, “Excelsior.” He only is a true conqueror, and shall be crowned at the last, who continueth till war’s trumpet is blown no more. Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies. The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if she can but tempt you to cease your pilgrimage, and settle down to buy and sell with her in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you, and to prevent your pressing on to glory. “It is weary work being a pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to be indulged? Give me at least a furlough from this constant warfare.” Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service: he will insinuate that you are doing no good; and that you want rest. He will endeavour to make you weary of suffering, he will whisper, “Curse God, and die.” Or he will attack your steadfastness: “What is the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as do others, and let your lamp go out as the other virgins do.” Or he will assail your doctrinal sentiments: “Why do you hold to these denominational creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are removing the old landmarks: fall in with the times.” Wear your shield, Christian, therefore, close upon your armour, and cry mightily unto God, that by his Spirit you may endure to the end. 

Therefore I will flee to my one Refuge!

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(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)

"I have seen his ways, and will heal him!" Isaiah 57:18

I am glad that He sees my ways, before He heals me. It is a great satisfaction to feel that there is One Who comprehends perfectly the worst of my nature and my conduct. I am concealed to a certain extent even from my nearest human friends. The disclosure would be too terrible--it would force the most forbearing and the most forgiving to flee from me in horror!

Yet to my heavenly Father, everything is as clear as the sunlight:
my self-seeking,
my pride,
my envy,
my loathsome sins!

He understands . . .
my sevenfold corruption,
my festering leprosy,
my filthiness, and
my idols!

He reads me through and through. No black veil curtains any corner of my being from His all-seeing eye. Yet He pardons me of all my evil--and clasps me to Himself!

He meets the evil King Manasseh, who has made the streets of Jerusalem run red with innocent blood--and He receives Him to His household and His heart.

He draws the sinful woman to the Savior's feet in penitential tears, and the Savior bids her go in peace.

He has room and welcome for me, although my transgressions, ten thousand times ten thousand, are before His all-seeing eye! There is no stain that tarnishes His justice when He so wonderfully forgives; for He has laid my iniquities and all their doom on the Son of His love! I go free with the consent of His holiness, as well as of His grace.

His omniscience is penetrating and all-inclusive, missing none of my shortcomings and none of my sins--yet His compassions are infinite!

Therefore I will flee to my one Refuge! Nowhere else am I safe from condemnation. Nowhere else am I at home.

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Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 26, 2015

Thou wilt prolong the king's life: [and] his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, [which] may preserve him. (Psalm 61:6-7)

Christ Jesus, the King of all kings, will sit unopposed upon His throne for all eternity. His reign will be kept unto everlasting. His goodness and glory shall ever be the light of His realm. And joy! We shall reign forever with Him (Ephesians 2:6)! Righteous is our way and righteous is our Lord!

God's attributes

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(Stephen Charnock, "The Attributes of God")

Power is God's hand or arm.

Omniscience is God's eye.

Mercy is God's heart.

Eternity is God's duration.

Holiness is God's beauty.
Without holiness . . .
His patience would be an indulgence to sin,
His mercy would be a sentimental fondness,
His wrath would be a madness,
His power would be a tyranny,
His wisdom would be an unworthy subtlety.
Holiness gives balance to all of God's attributes.

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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 May 23, 2015 Newsletter Number 517 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, James, Diane & Brooke Thomas, Gina Peel, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Megan Whitaker, Tammy Hairston and family, Manual Seymour, Sr., Brother Jerry and Sister Jean Dodson, Mr. Hedges, 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:: God Said There Is None Righteous! "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one...There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God...They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Romans 3:10 – 12 This scripture was not written about a certain remnant of people, it was written about all of mankind with the exception of Jesus the Christ, the Son of man. We as people look at people as good, we believe there are morally good people and morally bad people and this is what separates us from good and bad. People often see God talking about the wicked and most people thinks God is not speaking about them because they are good. The bottom line is that here God is speaking about all mankind. Outside of Christ there is none righteous, none that understands God and His ways, and there is none that seek the Lord God. God also said that altogether we are unprofitable and no one ever does anything good. I understand that some may read this and wonder how this is possible when the world is full of good hearted and good natured people. However, God is not looking at our good moral ways but at our heart, and what God sees is total wickedness. God said we are all “… shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Psalms 51:5 What this means is that we are all born in total depravity which means there is no good in us which is what Paul just said in Romans 3. The Preacher went on to write in Ecclesiastes 7:20“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." Not one single person including the one who pinned this book. We as sinners look at people as good but God is not a man and looks at the depraved heart and sees everyone different than we do. All mankind have evil hearts by birth and that is something we can’t see in those we think are morally good people. You can take the most moral good person you know and if you look deep enough even you can find evil of some sort. This is why there are none righteous on the earth, because all are evil even though we may not see it. However, there are some good souls and they are those who have believed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who believe that the blood of Jesus cleanses all their sins away. This is the only way to ever please God, the only way to ever be good. The good in us (as Christians) is Christ, and none else. If Christ was not there we would also be evil at heart. But He is and brought to us a new heart. How is your heart, is it in Christ, or are you evil and never pleasing God. Romans 5:9 "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

A Though For Your Bible Study: HOW FAR, AMERICA? (Part Three) At the time of this writing, the United Methodist Church is wrangling over whether or not to uphold the defrocking of one of their clergy: a man who performed the “marriage” of his son to another man. The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. has by vote of her governing body voted to divest herself of financial investments that benefit Israel. And a new poll of the people living in these United States indicates that some fifty-two-percent of us now favor same-sex “marriages.” (This writer insists on putting the word “marriage” and “marriages” in quotes when used of religious or civil ceremonies which supposedly join two persons of the same sex in some kind of ungodly perverted “union.”) And the Baptists? Where are they? Probably about five years behind the rest of the world. Already some Southern Baptist Convention Churches have women “ministers” and the popular jargon is for preachers among them (and their wives) to say, “we pastored in such-and-such a place for x number of years, etc.” The Bible has news: God does not call women to preach or to pastor! Neither does He call men and women to somehow “pastor” together. While we are on the subject of God's calling, the Bible never indicates that God ever called any man (or woman) to a “music ministry,” or as a “worship leader,” or any number of modern Baptist innovations! Strange, is it not, that the truths in your Bible are always throwing monkey wrenches in the best laid schemes of the religious crowd! It is now the popular thing for “churches” to be “welcoming congregations” - i.e., welcoming sodomites! Is there a connection between what the “same-sex-marriage” advocates are saying and doing and what the religious crowd in America is saying and doing? We think both are instances of just what the Bible said would come to pass. We are not so much concerned with recent Protestant escapades. The Methodists and the Presbyterians are among the daughters of the Harlot and are only behaving like what they are. The Protestants may have cried “sola Scriptura,” but they never meant it and do not follow only the Bible now. While there doubtless exist some congregations within the Southern Baptist Convention who reject the claim, the SBC continues to boast that they are the “largest Protestant denomination.” Let them be Protestants if they wish. It is nothing of which to boast! But their untaught or falsely-taught unregenerate membership has their flesh tickled: if they are big they must be right! Hear this! Absolutely nothing good, came out of the Protestant Reformation! The filthy Roman Harlot gave birth to her little-less-filthy and slightly more attractive daughters who teach the same damnable doctrines of baptismal regeneration and works for salvation. And most “Baptists” are running a parallel course with their equally damnable doctrine of decisional regeneration which is just another form of works for salvation. We think this departure from the truth by the majority of Baptists cannot be anything other than the prophesied apostasy of 2 Timothy 2:1-4: “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” Notice these things: (1) this prophecy speaks of the return of Christ to the earth, not the rapture of His saints and her bridesmaids: (2) the Greek for “falling away” is “apostasia” from whence our word apostasy: a willful departure from the truth: (3) Paul clearly states that “the day of Christ” is not “at hand,” i.e., there is a significant intervening time before Christ will return to establish His earthly kingdom. If we understand the Scriptures aright, we are in this time of apostasy even now. Later in this same epistle Paul states, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,” (2 Timothy 3:13). This present apostasy is not being successfully opposed! It is thriving and growing and shall continue to do so. And the pressure is constantly applied to remain in fellowship with deviants from the faith. To Be Continued…. You can view the full article online at: http://gracebbc.dyndns.org:81/HowFarAmerica-Pugh.html By Curtis Pugh Missionary to Poteau, Oklahoma

Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
May 25, 2015

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: (Exodus 19:5)

Once we have placed our faith in Christ, we are exhorted to follow His commands and allow Him to rule in our lives. From that moment, we are considered God's own possession and treasure. There is tremendous hope and peace in the promise to be called "a particular treasure" for the Almighty King who is lacking in nothing. How amazing is His gracious lovingkindness toward us!

Wash me, gracious Lord!

   ~ ~ ~ ~


(John MacDuff, "Evening Incense" 1856)

O my God, I desire to approach the footstool of Your throne of grace. Glory be to Your holy name that I can enjoy freedom of access into Your presence, and with the confidence of Your child, unburden and unbosom to You . . .
all my needs and sins,
all my sorrows and infirmities,
all my perplexities and cares.

Lord, how unworthy I am of the least of all Your mercies! What righteous cause have You to cut me down as a cumberer of the ground. How cold my love, how infrequent my prayers! How full is my heart, of pride and vain-glory, self and sin! How little have I habitually realized Your nearness, and sought Your favor as my chief good! There is enough of coldness and formality in my best approaches to Your footstool--to lead You in Your wrath to spurn me forever away!

Let me see all my sin--in the light of Calvary's cross!

I cast myself as a worthless unworthy sinner, at the feet of Jesus. I need daily, hourly washing at that fountain which He has opened for sin and for uncleanness. Wash me, gracious Lord--fully, freely, and forever. Let me know the blessedness of "no condemnation." I come with all the great burden of my great guilt--to my great Savior! I seek to bring the unrighteousness of an unworthy creature--to the infinite righteousness and everlasting faithfulness of my loving Redeemer.

You have borne with all my obstinacy, all my perverseness, and waywardness, and ingratitude. I am at this hour, the monument of a divine love--as wondrous, as it is undeserved.

Where would I have been, Blessed Jesus--but for You! All that I am, and all I have--I owe to Your free, sovereign, unmerited grace!

Whom have I in Heaven but You--and there is none in all the earth I desire besides You. You alone can fill up the aching voids of my heart. In vain can I look to a transient world, or to the perishable creature--for solid peace and permanent enjoyment. You are the only refuge for my sin-stricken, woe-worn spirit.

I rejoice in the inexhaustible riches treasured up in You--that Your fullness is adequate to supply all my necessities; and out of that fullness I may still continue receiving, and that forever and ever!

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