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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, Alecia Clements, Bryndon
Thomas, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston,
Helen Maggard, Renee Jackson, Larry Mollette, Larry
Mollette II & Family, Linda Mollette, Kirby Mollette, Kerry Pennington,
Kim Butler, Danny & Nita Mollette, Verna Mae Allen, Wendell Henderson,
Judy Dunn, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd, Ronnie Henderson Jr,
Donnie Henderson, Kevin Henderson, Ricky Henderson, Rosalie Graves, Terry
Hanson, Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don
Hammond, Charles Hammond, Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Bro.
& Sister Bob Keller, Wanda Fowler, 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, Doris Hammock, Letha Langford, Leacho Tittle, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson and Kelley Lee,
Billy and Jo Hobbs, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout and her Niece, Pastor
G. L. Burr, Alicia Lightsey, Melody Carr, Betty, Janie
Capps, Kathy Johnson, Doyle Thomas, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov
and the Churches in Russia. |
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A Thought From Pastor Johnson: Hold yourself off from a view that is evil. I think I remember writing about this scripture sometime back, however
new light concerning it has come to view. Most Baptist preachers equate this
with an act of evil or to something that appears to be evil; however I
believe this verse goes much deeper than just that one point. As it was so
brilliantly pointed out in a commentary I was looking at; this scripture
taken in its context has another side to it and that is its main reference is
to doctrinal issues. Without belittling what has been and is so often
referred to with this scripture let us take it in the actual context in which
God has planted it. Verse 19 “Quench not the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit
controls our biblical education, verse 20 “Despise not prophesyings.”
That is don’t make light or reject the teaching of
old, and verse 21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” Prove all
the doctrine and stand firm on that which the scripture teaches. And this
brings us to verse 22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil” now if we take
two words in verse 22 “Abstain” which means - to hold oneself off, that is,
refrain” - and the word “appearance” which means - form or a view – and take
in the context of the verses before verse 22 the main reference is to the
teaching of the word of God. Therefore, it is suggested this verse is
teaching us to “Hold yourself off from a view that
is evil.” That is anything outside of what the Holy Spirit teaches, despising
not the teachings of old, proving all things scriptural to be truth, and
standing firm on those truths which is good. The Lord never promised us they
would ever be good to the ears of the religionist or of modern day assemblies
but always to His chosen few. Beloved it is our reasonability to the Lord to
obey His commandment and stay away from anything that sounds or appears to be
contrary to His word and this includes modern day teachings. The reason for
this is not to allow ourselves get caught up in the teachings of the world
and to focus on the truths of God’s Holy Scripture. And in verse 23 we see
the reason for this “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I
pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To keep ourselves blameless unto the coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we allow ourselves to be led away from God’s
truths we will suffer great loss in rewards and therefore being less in God’s
kingdom because we have no rewards before the King’s throne. In Isaiah 33:15, 16 we read “He that walketh
righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes,
that stoppeth his ears from hearing of
blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
(16.) He shall dwell on high: his place of defence
shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall
be sure.” Those that stand and walk according to God word will dwell higher
than those who left the truth for worldly gain. Beloved the Lord has always
rewarded those who are faithful to Him and being faithful to the Lord today
is standing on truth and not even viewing other doctrine at all. I know the
thought today is you have to hear all sides and then make up you’re mind to
what is truth or not and I say hog wash, the Lord say not to even view what
they have to say because Satan is a great deceiver and a greater liar and
will draw us all into his web of lies if we give him a chance. It is not our
concern what they are teaching and therefore we are to look the other way
when they are teaching. So here it is “it is not ok to give any attention to
false teachers at all” because that means you are viewing evil teaching. |
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Accusations Against an Elder, By Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.: It is written: “Against an elder
receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” (I Tim.
5:19) Sadly, we live in a generation of false accusers who have no conscience
before God. The common thought is “All
I have to do is raise the question, then it will be
up to you to prove you are not guilty.”
Such assertions are ungodly reasonings! They
are full of vile wickedness that only serves the purposes of Satan. It is unscriptural, evil, wicked, and gross
ungodliness. Yet, far too many
churches allow it to exist amongst them.
Many a pastor has been crucified by the tongue of a disgruntled
member, or someone wanting his position as pastor of the church. Regretfully, much confusion and damage has
been brought to a church by just “raising the question.” The Holy Scriptures are very explicit - DO NOT RECEIVE ANY ACCUSATION
AGAINST A PASTOR UNLESS THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO WITNESSES. Not just any so-called witness will do;
they must be good sufficient honorable witnesses. Hear say will not do, the witness must be
credible and have verifiable first hand knowledge of the facts. The church must not easily receive any
accusation against its pastor. It must
guard the office with extreme care. This rule is given because the honor of the office of pastor and the
church is at stake. Even if he is
eventually cleared, the damage is already done in the membership and in the
community. Satan is acutely aware of
this fact. “Just raise the question!”
and the damage is done, because there will always be those who will believe
and want to believe any scandal regardless of the truth. Ungodly people relish any hint of evil
against a man of God.. They are enraged like sharks with a hint of
blood in the water. The destruction of
the cause of Christ is a joy to the wicked.
Anything to stir a feeding frenzy excites their jaws. There are many enemies to the Gospel of Christ. There are many wolves in the midst of the
sheep. We must not be blind and ignorant
of this fact. A church must always be
on guard for its honor and the honor of the Pastor’s office. Jesus purchased the church with His own
blood; therefore, God will not hold them guiltless who attempt to bring harm
to it and its Pastor. We must ever be
careful not to receive accusations against a Pastor without credible and
verifiable witnesses. |
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Quotes: “I always find I can preach best when I manage to
lie and soak in my text, and after I have bathed in it, I delight to lie down
in it, and let it (the Bible) soak into me. - C. H. Spurgeon “A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to
someone who isn't” - C. H. Spurgeon |