Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Four Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 April 09, 2016            Newsletter Number 561 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor                          Brother Ronnie Henderson Sr., Song Leader Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com                                web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com “A Church Believing And Standing On The Truth, As The Holy Spirit Has Taught It.”

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, Ted O'Bonion, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family,  Wendell Henderson, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie and Sarah Henderson, Cindy Lane, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Children, Ricky Henderson and Family, Jacie Henderson, Velma Hammond, Charles, Don Hammond and Families, Vickie Adkins, Archie & Barbara Griffin, 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, Brandy Sullivan, Gina, Tammy Hairston and family, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Manual Seymour, Sr, Dewayne Sewell, The Harris Family, Teresa Bookout, Little Titan Thomas (Trent and Tiffane Thomas child), James – Diane and Brooke Thomas, Jace Fails, Steve Sparks, Brother Harold & Ann McSwain, 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 Gift Of An Everlasting Consolation”“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace…Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. 2 Thessalonians 2:16 – 17   You might wonder what the words “everlasting consolation” means, we will return to those two words shortly. I would like to draw your attention to things happening in the world. There is a persecution of Christians and Gods word in America today. So many are against Christians; we have been demonized by almost everyone for our belief in God’s word. I remember not too long ago, and maybe today you would see signs in business which read “we have the right to refuse service to anyone” but today that right is gone. We saw this example a few days ago when Georgia’s Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed “The Religious Exemption bill” a bill that would protect people of Christian faith from violating sincerely held Christian beliefs. The Governor cowed down to Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL who had no right to get involved in the States business. Why shouldn’t Pastors and Christians be protected? I know this, Mr. Goodell will account to Jesus Christ for his conduct along with Gov. Nathan Deal. This I do know also, Texas has this act already passed and it is law, and Mr. NFL you can keep your Super Bowl, Texas Isn’t going to cow down to you and your money. We have a God fearing Governor in Greg Abbott who will never give in to Mr. NFL or any other money pushing organization. So to the God fearing Christians in Georgia or any other of the States with weak godless Governor’s like Nathan Deal you are welcome to come to Texas. It is my fear that Christians are fearing the government so much they are afraid to speak; I pray I am wrong. We need to remember that while people like Commissioner Roger Goodell, Bruce Springsteen, or any other thug who wants to take the rights of Christians away for the rights of Gays, (who still are still an abomination to God” will account to God.  Leviticus 18:22 “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” No matter how right the world makes it, it will never be right with God. Now, please understand it is not my condemnation of Gay people, I am not their judge and therefore I pray for them. But God still sits on the throne and He will never change. As a Pastor I personally welcome all people to the Church for worship. However, please understand what God says about your life style. People ought to be protected, even Christians, therefore do not force Christians to be acceptant of anyone or any act that God calls an abomination. However, with this all being said let us now define “everlasting consolation”. It means that as Christians God has given to us an everlasting “comfort – or solace” through Jesus Christ. It is a comfort to know that God is Sovereign and all His will is always done. People like Commissioner Roger Goodell, Gov. Nathan Deal, or even the Bruce Springsteen’s of the world can persecute Christians all they want but God is still in charge and it is His Blessed Son Jesus Christ whom they will pay account to one day. What these people ignorantly do not understand is that they are condemning one group of people for another. Christians ought to have a right to bake or not bake a cake for whomever they choose, just like Gay people ought to have a right to shop or don’t shop wherever they choose. Christian, God is our protector and our comfort is in Him, therefore let us not give in to these people, let us stand firm on God’s word and not give into the pressures of the world. We need to understand that the world is not going to get better for Christians, it will only get worse and worse. When “money people” like the NFL start to stick their nose into other people’s business then it only worsens the problem. God said, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10 but as Christians our peace is in Jesus Christ.

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

Noteworthy:    “If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armour, I will tell you when Satan has left off temptation. Like the old knights in war time, we must sleep with helmet and breastplate buckled on, for the arch-deceiver will seize our first unguarded hour to make us his prey. The Lord keep us watchful in all seasons, and give us a final escape from the jaw of the lion and the paw of the bear.”   By Charles Haddon Spurgeon