Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
1217 Dillon Dr. (Wake Village) Texarkana, Texas 75501
November 21, 2004 
Bro. Randy Johnson,  Pastor                                           Ronnie Henderson, Song Director  
Pastor E-Mail: sgmbcpastor@countrybaptist.org            Web Site: www.countrybaptist.org/sgmbc

Please Pray For:

Ronnie & Sarah Henderson, David & Lucille Wall and their Niece Vickie, Wendell & Hazel Henderson, Joe Henderson, Eddie & Lorain Murray, Larry & Linda Mollette, Donna Johnson, Virgil Hoskins, Vinson Hoskins, Rosa Graves, Danny Hammond, Bobby & Vickie Thompson and Family, Elder Davis, Raymond Hammond, Fay Johnson, Brad Hensley, Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Mansfield, Ohio, Bro. Curtis & Sister Janet Pugh, Randy Henderson, Larry Mollette II, Zee Mink and Family, Her son Bryan Armstrong and Sister – in - law Sondra Thornsberry, Bro. Kelly Hinson, And All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East.
A Thought For The Week:

"LIFT UP THE HANDS"

Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.–Heb. 12:12

Are you saying, my troubles are many, my burden is great, and hope deferred makes the heart sick? True, a faint heart makes weak hands and feeble knees; then afflictions become intolerable, duty tiresome, prayer irksome, the ordinances unprofitable, the lamp of spiritual life seems expiring, the poor sinner grows dejected and dispirited, is ready to give up hope, and to give way to despondency. The Comforter inspires a work for such, "Lift up the hands which hang down." Do you say, the advice is good, but the practice hard? Paul supposes it; for he introduces it with Wherefore. O, I dearly love these Scripture adverbs! Much courage and comfort are gained by attending to them. Wherefore, or for Which reason, lift up your weak hands, or the weak hands of others. Consider why, or wherefore, we should do this.

We have Jesus to look unto for patience. He is the author and finisher of our faith; be bore our sins; he hath for ever taken away the curse due to them; he has made our peace with God; God is in him reconciled to us. He who endured the cross for our sins, and despised the shame of being treated as a malefactor, is now before the throne of God praying for us. O, this look is reviving!

Consider Jesus, the captain of our salvation, lest ye be weary and faint. He was "made perfect through sufferings, that he might bring many sons unto glory." He is bringing you, "through much tribulation," into his kingdom. Consider the love and sorrows of Jesus for you. Look on yourself as a suffering member of a once suffering head: so shall your weak mind be strengthened and your weary mind refreshed.

Forget not, but consider the exhortation, My Son. Precious appellation! God is your Father; he loves you with the same everlasting and unchangeable love as he did his only begotten Son: he treats you in love; he chastises you as his child. Why? Because he is in wrath against you? No; but to make you more like himself in holiness. O then "lift up your hands" to your God and Redeemer in confident faith, in humble prayer. Though all within is clouded dejection, yet all above is sunshine, joy, peace, and consolation. Consider your hope. It is as "an anchor of the soul." On what is it fixes. It entereth into that within the vail, whither the fore-runner is for us entered, even Jesus." Hebrews 6:19, 20.
By: William Mason (1719-1791)

News for the week:

...A Christian film reviewer says the film industry is looking to produce more pro-Christian films. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of MovieGuide.org, says many of the major studios are planning movies that will be popular with the once overlooked demographic that gave President Bush his November 2 election victory. According to his film market resources, Baehr says, Hollywood is "calling for Christian scripts," and many agents "that never even thought about a Christian production are now thinking about reaching the 'red' part of America, which is where the audience is." The reviewer, who is also chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission, says the "big buzz" at the film markets this week is that "the best thing you can have is a film with Christian content, and if you don't have one, write one." He recalls a telephone call he received last week from a movie industry professional who averred that he was not a Christian himself, but was working on a project that he knew would tap into the current wave of pro-Christian sentiment. "I mean, there's just a flood of people that are interested in exploiting that big red area of America that means a lot of money at the box office," Baehr says. Still, he says true believers need to be cautious. When it comes to entertainment dollars, Baehr warns, Hollywood is not about to give up completely on using sex and violence to sell tickets. [Mary Rettig]
Source The Agape News Press

Reading the Bible:
by J.C. Ryle

1. READ THE BIBLE WITH AN EARNEST DESIRE TO UNDERSTAND IT.Do not be content to just read the words of Scripture. Seek to grasp the message they contain.

2. READ THE SCRIPTURES WITH A SIMPLE, CHILDLIKE FAITH & HUMILITY.Believe what God reveals. Reason must bow to God's revelation.

3. READ THE WORD WITH A SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE AND SELF-APPLICATION.Apply what God says to yourself and obey His will in all things.

4. READ THE HOLY SCRIPTURES EVERY DAY.We quickly lose the nourishment and strength of yesterday's bread. We must feed our souls daily upon the manna God has given us.

5. READ THE WHOLE BIBLE AND READ IT IN AN ORDERLY WAY.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable."
I know of no better way to read the Bible than to start at the beginning and read straight through to the end, a portion every day, comparing Scripture with Scripture.

6. READ THE WORD OF GOD FAIRLY AND HONESTLY.
As a general rule, any passage of Scripture means what it appears to mean. Interpret every passage in this simple manner, in its context.

7. READ THE BIBLE WITH CHRIST CONSTANTLY IN VIEW.
The whole Book is about Him. Look for Him on every page. He is there. If you fail to see Him there, you need to read that page again.

When you suffer and lose, that does not mean you are being disobedient to God. In fact, it might mean you're right in the center of His will. The path of obedience is often marked by times of suffering and loss. Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll