Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty-Five Years” 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 January 01, 2017            Newsletter Number 601 Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor                   Brother Ronnie Henderson Sr., Song Leader Pastor E-Mail: pastor@sgmbaptist.com                                          Web Site: www.sgmbaptist.com “A Church Seeking To Please God In Prayer, Song, Preaching, And Worship.”

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, Tyrell Loyd, Bonnie, Ted O'Bonion, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Adcock, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, The Muncy Family, Lee & Mary Mollette, Wendell Henderson, 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, 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, Linda Hughes, Donna Jones, Brandy Sullivan, Gina, Tammy Hairston and family, Brother Kelley and Sister Hinson, Manual Seymour, Sr, The Harris Family, The Morris Family, Teresa Bookout, Little Titan Thomas (Trent and Tiffane Thomas child), James – Diane and Brooke Thomas, Jace Fails, Steve Sparks, Sister Ann McSwain, Brother Archie and Barbra Griffin, Brother Curtis Pugh, Brother Dan Sullivan the work in Thailand, Brother Raul and the work in Romania.

A Thought From our Pastor:   Fear Not!“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32      Life is full of fears, as Christians we will never know what Satan and the World’s Government has in store for us. We will continually be hated of the world because of Satan and his control of the world system. We know the world in which we live and we know it is not our home in its current state. The world is evil and it hates God, and because it does, it will always hate God’s children. We saw a great example of this hate in the move the United Nations made against Israel, God’s chosen Nation. Beloved, never trust the world or the system of it because it is controlled by the devil himself. As we open a New Year, we need to be ever prayerful to God for peace for His beloved children and churches. It is true to hope that Jesus will return this year, and please let us be in earnest prayer for His return.    Now, let me say, fear not little flock. Fear not because God has the control of everything, even evil and Satan. God has promised us that in Christ Jesus we are His. Let us be reminded that even as bad as things look, as much as Satan and the world may want our destruction, our God is Omnipotence itself. There is no power other than that of God. God spoke and the world existed, heaven existed, the universe existed, and yes Satan, hell, and evil existed. But as you look into the universe and see as big as it is, just be reminded, our Heavenly Father controls it all. Beloved, this is why we have no reason to fear. It is God’s will to give us much, and much we will receive. History tells us that God will allow the sacrifice of His own to receive glory about something. God allowed His Own Son Jesus to die for His glory of redeeming His chosen people. God has allowed many of those that followed Jesus to die horribly at the hands of man to bring glory to His blessed name. God has always allowed his people to suffer throughout history for His glory, fifty million or more in the years of 500ad thru 1500ad. These believers died for many reasons and the most notable was the preservation of the churches and the doctrinal truth of the bible. It was funny to hear this current Pope speak about persecution of today compared to the persecution in history. The Pope said we are more persecuted today than they were then. Well maybe for the Catholics who were the persecutors and murders of any non-Catholic Christian. History tells us that Catholicism is the worst aggressors of persecution than any other worldly group. It is possible with this Pope being as liberal and unintelligent about the bible, that he could help the world lead another persecution against true believers in Jesus Christ. I would just ask all Churches and believers to watch him and his actions, and certainly make it a matter of prayer. We do not need to let our arms down with the insertion of a new President after the New Years. Let us not forget that God is leading the world into the Tribulation Period, and Mr. Trump is just another piece of the puzzle that God is using to accomplish His will. Beloved as the New Year comes in today let us look more earnestly to God in prayer, and for answers. We do not know what God has in store for believers and churches, but the road to the Tribulation Period is still being traveled. Times for us could get worse and worse and most likely will, so prepare for the worst. Paul in writing to young Timothy wrote, “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto…For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.” 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4    Fellow Christian, enjoy the New Year and have hope that this may be the year that Jesus shall return. Be in constant prayer for yourself and other believers and churches alike. For we know until Jesus comes, we are subject to more persecution. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution...But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived...But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them...And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:12-15

A Meditation For The New Year.By Charles H. Spurgeon   “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5) I should not wonder . . . if the mere words of my text should sound like a pleasant song in your ears; but I am thankful that their deeper meaning is even more joyful. The newness which Jesus brings is bright, clear, heavenly, enduring. We are at this moment specially ready for a new year. The most of men have grown weary with the old cry of depression of trade and hard times; we are glad to escape from what has been to many a twelve-months of great trial. The last year had become wheezy, croaking, and decrepit, in its old age; and we lay it asleep with a psalm of judgment and mercy. We hope that this newborn year will not be worse than its predecessor, and we pray that it may be a great deal better. At any rate, it is new, and we are encouraged to couple with it the idea of happiness, as we say one to another, “I wish you a happy New Year.”

Biblical knowledge. By Thomas Brooks   "Reader, remember this: “If your biblical knowledge does not now affect your heart, it will at last, with a witness, afflict your heart. If it does not now endear Christ to you, it will at last provoke Christ the more against you. If it does not make all the things of Christ to be very precious in your eyes, it will at last make you the more vile in Christ's eyes."

Quotes For Your thinking. By Thomas Wilcox   "Search the Scriptures daily as mines of gold in which the heart of Christ is laid open." "A Christless, formal religion, will be the blackest sight next to hell that can be."

Church Notices:   Happy Birthday - Sister Donna Johnson Monday January 02 Happy Birthday - Sister Sarah Henderson Tuesday January 03  Happy Birthday - Brother Ronnie Henderson Wednesday January 04