Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church 1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501 Elder Randy Johnson, Pastor Bro. Ronnie Henderson, Song Director "Where The Truths Of God’s Word Are Still Taught"
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| You Were Asked To Pray For:
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, Virgil & Alice Hoskins, Grandchildren, and his daughters Liz Janis and Debbie Gray, Derrick & Alecia and sons Coty & Carson Clements, Bryndon Thomas, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Helen Maggard, Renee Jackson, Larry Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kirby Mollette, Kerry Pennington, Kim Butler, Danny & Nita Mollette, Verna Mae Allen, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Kevin Henderson, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Daughter Ashley, Vickie Sims, Debbie Farmer, Morgan Murchison, Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don & Neil Hammond, Charles Hammond, Eric Hammond, Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Kathy Rosinbaum, Brenda Galusha and Jewel, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, Luann Reynolds, Bro. & Sis. Curtis Pugh, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jim & Linda Meier, Brother David & Sister Anne Shortt, Brother Manuel Seymour & Family, Letha Langford, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson and Kelley Lee, Billy and Jo Hobbs, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout, Roger Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Gina Sullivan, Katie Norton, Imajo Tracy, Sister Jean Dodson and Family, Helen Rowe, Linda Hughes, Michael Helm, Roy Lemmon, Marshall Risinger, Jason Trout, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia. |
| TRYING TO IGNORE GOD: Please read carefully Rom. 1:21-32, then reconsider, in its context, verse 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Rom 1:28) As we read Romans 1:21-27, we are reminded that men unavoidably know of God’s existence, simply by the things that are around them. It is pointed out that great judgment is upon man both outwardly and inwardly because he does not acknowledge God. Then in verse 27, there is a summarized description of man’s horrible state of mind, and of God’s unparallel temporal judgment visited upon him for this sin. He is given over to a reprobate mind. What does that word mean? Strong defines it as unapproved, rejected, worthless, castaway. In my Word Perfect thesauruses, thirty-nine synonyms are given. Remember this is a secular thesaurus. The first synonym is degenerate, the second is delinquent, others include libertine, profligate, abandoned, apostatize, corrupt, debauchee, wanton, wicked, and wretch. These are not exactly the words you would use on a job application, or want for your character reference in a court room. However, these are the people we accommodate most whole heartedly in our society, invite into our living rooms to entertain us, elect to our public offices, and produce in our own families. God is not in all their thoughts, nor is He in ours, as He ought to be. Whether you hate me for saying it or not, we are under this judgment of God, from our homes, to our employment, to our society, and alas, throughout our churches. Surely, it is because of His mercy that we are not all consumed. I am ashamed to even speak of the wickedness in the world, and in apostatized churches, while there is so much corruption in our own homes, and "doctrinally sound" churches. How could this reprobation have fallen so generally upon us, and covered us like a net encircling a fish? Well, I believe our text answers the question clearly. "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind,...") When has our society, our homes, our government, our churches, had less taste for God. I was thinking this morning, as I listened to the local weather and heard the term "Turkey Day," how few times I have heard the term Thanksgiving used anywhere in the last few days, compared to Turkey Day. I expect the word Halloween has been used a hundred times more often, and at least, that much more recognition has been given to the day. Isn’t that strange? Not in this society! Thanksgiving implies that we owe gratitude to God, and there is no taste for God in society, homes, government, or churches, and let’s not talk much about the first three before we deal with our churches. The lack of desire for the knowledge of God was the sin mentioned in this verse. The knowledge of God is identified by the word Theology, and that is a word for ridicule in most of our churches today. Social propriety, church growth, personal success, errors being taught in other churches, personal moral excellency, and on we could go, all have great places in our pulpits today, and there is rightly a place for them, but how little time is given to teaching the holy attributes of God, and how little appetite there is for it! How shall people hunger for the knowledge of a God they do not know, and how shall they know except they hear, and how shall they hear without a preacher. Dear brethren, we will never make strong Christians if our preaching majors on Christianity. It must major on Christ, Jehovah incarnate. What a change it would make in our land if our people had the vision of Isaiah! "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up..." Let us think about it brethren, and speak up! Let us admonish those around us to retain God in their knowledge. By Brother Forrest Keener |
| A Covenant He Remembers: "He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant" Ps. 111:5 Those who fear God need not fear want. Through all these long years the Lord has always found meat for His own children, whether they have been in the wilderness, or by the brook Cherith, or in captivity, or in the midst of famine. Hitherto the Lord has given us day by day our daily bread, and we doubt not that He will continue to feed us till we want no more. As to the higher and greater blessings of the covenant of grace, He will never cease to supply them as our case demands. He is mindful that He made the covenant, and never acts as if He regretted it. He is mindful of it when we provoke Him to destroy us. He is mindful to love us, keep us, and comfort us, even as He engaged to do. He is mindful of every jot and tittle of His engagements, never suffering one of His words to fall to the ground. We are sadly unmindful of our God, but He is graciously mindful of us. He cannot forget His Son who is the Surety of the Covenant, nor His Holy Spirit who actively carries out the covenant, nor His own honor, which is bound up with the covenant. Hence the foundation of God standeth sure, and no believer shall lose his divine inheritance, which is his by a covenant of salt. |
| Food For Thought By Brother Manuel Seymour : The Apostle Paul wrote: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The logic of the Scripture is that if God is indeed working within the one professing to be saved then his heart would be a willing heart for the things of God, and his life would be a doing life according to the good pleasure of God. Professing without possessing is a common thread; but a willing heart and an obedient faithfulness to the things of God are manifestations of the uncommon work of God within. |
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Contrasting Results for Self-Exaltation and Humility
Bob Hoekstra
October 3, 2010
The importance of Jesus' teaching here can be seen in its repetition on various occasions (Matthew 23:12 and Luke 14:11). The instruction sets forth the universal inevitability of contrasting results for self-exaltation and humility. "Everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
This particular proclamation of the message was given in a parable that warns against self-righteousness and encourages humility. "He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others" (Luke 18:9). The contrasting examples in the parable are the prayers of a self-assured religious leader and a repentant publican. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector" (Luke 18:10). When the self-righteous Pharisee prayed, he was actually having a personal dialogue with himself, even though he vainly addressed his prayer to God?! "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself" (Luke 18:11a). He then appears to begin his prayer in a biblical manner, with an expression of thanksgiving. "In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). However, his gratitude was based upon the ungodly assumption that he was innately better than others, particularly, this nearby publican. "God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector" (Luke 18:11b). Then, he proceeded to elaborate upon his own virtues by reviewing his religious performance, which obviously seemed very impressive to him. "I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess" (Luke 18:12).
This self-righteous Pharisee was so assured of his good standing with God. Yet, he was measuring himself by his own eyes and in comparison to others. The Scriptures that he would claim as his guide condemned such self-righteousness. "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness" (Proverbs 30:12). Although man may have been impressed with his external behavior, God saw the abomination of his godless heart. "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15).
Morning and Evening
Charles H. Spurgeon
October 3, 2010
Angels are the unseen attendants of the saints of God; they bear us up in their hands, lest we dash our foot against a stone. Loyalty to their Lord leads them to take a deep interest in the children of His love; they rejoice over the return of the prodigal to his father's house below, and they welcome the advent of the believer to the King's palace above. In olden times the sons of God were favoured with their visible appearance, and at this day, although unseen by us, heaven is still opened, and the angels of God ascend and descend upon the Son of man, that they may visit the heirs of salvation. Seraphim still fly with live coals from off the altar to touch the lips of men greatly beloved. If our eyes could be opened, we should see horses of fire and chariots of fire about the servants of the Lord; for we have come to an innumerable company of angels, who are all watchers and protectors of the seed-royal. Spenser's line is no poetic fiction, where he sings—
"How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant
Against foul fiends to aid us militant!"
It is a common-place thought, and yet it tastes like nectar to the weary heart—Jesus I was tempted as I am. You have heard that truth many times: have you grasped it? He was tempted to the very same sins into which we fall. Do not dissociate Jesus from our common manhood. It is a dark room which you are going through, but Jesus went through it before. It is a sharp fight which you are waging, but Jesus has stood foot to foot with the same enemy. Let us be of good cheer, Christ has borne the load before us, and the blood-stained footsteps of the King of glory may be seen along the road which we traverse at this hour. There is something sweeter yet—Jesus was tempted, but Jesus never sinned. Then, my soul, it is not needful for thee to sin, for Jesus was a man, and if one man endured these temptations and sinned not, then in His power His members may also cease from sin. Some beginners in the divine life think that they cannot be tempted without sinning, but they mistake; there is no sin in being tempted, but there is sin in yielding to temptation. Herein is comfort for the sorely tempted ones. There is still more to encourage them if they reflect that the Lord Jesus, though tempted, gloriously triumphed, and as He overcame, so surely shall His followers also, for Jesus is the representative man for His people; the Head has triumphed, and the members share in the victory. Fears are needless, for Christ is with us, armed for our defence. Our place of safety is the bosom of the Saviour. Perhaps we are tempted just now, in order to drive us nearer to Him. Blessed be any wind that blows us into the port of our Saviour's love! Happy wounds, which make us seek the beloved Physician. Ye tempted ones, come to your tempted Saviour, for He can be touched with a feeling of your infirmities, and will succour every tried and tempted one.
The Faith of the Son of God
Blue Letter Bible
October 3, 2010
My Prayer: I praise You, Lord, for the awesome God that You are! Thank You for Your wonderful salvation! Continue to change my heart and make me more like You.
God's threshing
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(J. R. Miller, "Miller's Year Book--a Year's Daily Readings")
"You will have tribulation in this world." John 16:33
The word tribulation is very suggestive. It comes from a root which means 'a flail'. The thresher uses the flail to beat the wheat sheaves, that he may separate the golden wheat from the chaff and straw.
Tribulation is God's threshing--not to destroy us, but to get what is good, heavenly, and spiritual in us--separated from what is wrong, earthly, and fleshly. Nothing less than blows of pain will do this. The golden wheat of goodness in us, is so closely wrapped up in the strong chaff of sin--that only the heavy flail of suffering can produce the separation!
Many of us would never enter the gates of pearl--were it not for this unwelcome messenger, pain! "We must go through many troubles to enter the kingdom of God!" Acts 14:22