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If God The Holy Spirit Calls All…

”Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” | Psalm 110: 3

How often have your heard a preacher say, “God has done all he can to save you, and now it is up to you”?

Think about that for a minute.

If God has done all he can to save all men, if God the Holy Spirit is gracious alike to all, if he calls all alike, if his power is exercised upon all alike for the saving of their souls, and some yet perish in unbelief under the wrath of God and are forever lost, what does the power, grace, will, and call of God the Holy Spirit have to do with anyone’s salvation?

Absolutely nothing!

If the Spirit of God strives to regenerate and save all men alike, if he seeks to bring every man and woman in the world to life and faith in Christ, and some are not saved, then it must be concluded that he has no power to give life to anyone, that he has no grace to regenerate anyone, that he has no ability to save anyone. In a word, it must be concluded that the eternal God is a frustrated, dismal failure, incapable of accomplishing anything!

To say that God loves all people alike, that he wills the salvation of all, that Christ died to redeem and save all, that the Holy Spirit strives to save all is to declare, “Salvation is not of the Lord at all, but rather it is the response and work of man that saves!” It is to declare, as multitudes do, “God has done all that he can do, but salvation is altogether up to you!” Such thoughts are utterly blasphemous!

Caused to Approach

It is written, “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple” (Psalm 65: 4) Regeneration, the new birth, eternal life is the gift and work of God the Holy Spirit, the operation of his omnipotent grace. (John 3: 5-8)

Every chosen, redeemed sinner is, at God’s appointed “time of love,” graciously born of the Spirit, made willing in the day of Christ’s saving power, and caused to approach him in faith. It is not the sinner’s willingness to come to Christ, or his coming to Christ in faith that causes him to be born of God.

Can a spiritually dead sinner rally his will and alter it, muster faith in himself and bring himself to Christ?

What nonsense!

By the new birth and the revelation of Christ in the heaven born soul, the sinner is given a new nature and a new will, a new heart with new inclinations, and is sweetly, irresistibly, effectually caused to come to Christ in faith.

More than Religious Knowledge

The new birth is more than a change of mind. It is more than the mere acquirement of religious knowledge. Anyone who is familiar with the Word of God knows that all men and women have some awareness of God, of sin, of life, of death, of judgment, and of eternity. (Romans 1: 18-20; Romans 2: 14-15)

Man is by nature a very religious creature. (John 5: 39-40) And unsaved religious people often recognize and believe some true facts about God and Christ and salvation. (John 3: 2) But the quickening, regenerating work of God the Holy Spirit is much, much more than embracing facts about God and salvation. As John Owen wrote…

“Of all the poison which at this day is diffused in the minds of men, corrupting them from the mystery of the gospel, there is no part that is more pernicious than this one perverse imagination, that to ‘believe in Christ’ is nothing at all but to believe the doctrine of the gospel!’”

In the new birth Christ is revealed in the chosen sinner. (Galatians 1: 15-16) God the Holy Spirit gives impotent, dead sinners eternal life. (John 3: 5-8; Ephesians 2: 1-5) And the life he imparts is Christ himself. (Colossians 1: 27; 2 Peter 1: 4) Revealing Christ in the heart, he convicts and convinces sinners of sin, righteousness, and judgment, (John 16: 8-15; 1 Corinthians 2: 7-10; Zechariah 10: 12) and effectually draws sinners to Christ and makes them willing to come. (John 6: 44-45; Psalm 110: 3)

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “A Great Savior For Great Sinners”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 9 June, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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What Do I Do Now?

”And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” | Genesis 17: 1

What do I do when I am under severe trial, enduring pain of body and mind, and am full of fear?

What do I do when dying seems to be easier than living with the circumstances the Lord has given me?

The answer for the believer is simple: do the same things you do when the Lord blesses you: worship publicly, pray, and read God’s Word. What do I do when I don’t understand what God is doing or how He could possibly bring good out of my painful situation? Go to the house of the Lord in the public worship service just like you do when the Lord blesses you. “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” (Psalm 73: 16-17)

What do I do when I am so full of fear?

Trust the Lord just like you do when the Lord blesses you. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56: 3)

What do I do when I feel hopeless and helpless?

Look to Christ just like you do when the Lord blesses you. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” (Psalm 121: 1)

What do I do when I don’t think I have the strength to endure for one more minute?

Trust the Lord to be your strength. “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick.” (Ezekiel 34: 16)

No matter what our circumstances may be at the moment, let us say with David, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34: 1)

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Walking Before God”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 14 November, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Praise With My Whole Heart

”It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:” | Psalm 92: 1

We have so much to be thankful for.

It is a good thing to (as often as we can) just stop and remind ourselves of how many wonderful things our gracious God has given us to be thankful for.

How could we ever say thank you enough for the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that He abundantly shed on us to put away all of our sin?

How could we ever say thank you enough for the mercy that begins brand new every morning?

Every plate of food that we eat, every drop of water that we drink, every breath of air that we breathe, all of it has been generously given to us by the Lord our God. He protects us, He cares for us, He leads us and guides us only in His good and right way. He will keep us until our journey through this life ends, and then He will bring us home to an eternal inheritance in glory where we will forever be with Him!

Every time a chosen child of God is reminded of the abundance of mercy and grace that has been shown to him (in that moment of remembrance) all of the murmuring and complaining goes away. All of the fear and doubt goes away. All of the self-pity and wallowing in misery goes away.

Yes, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord”!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Praise With My Whole Heart”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 8 December, 2019 | Previous post date: n/a

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Repentance, The Missing Note

”Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.” | Luke 24: 45-48

Preaching repentance is not something apart from the Gospel, the cry of repentance is in the gospel message.

It is that cry in the Gospel that makes the Gospel become good news.

The grace of repentance as it effectually works in the heart causes a man to take sides with God against himself and confess that he and his sin is an obnoxious thing to a thrice Holy God. He is made to see that in his nature and practice he is a heinous thing and must repent or perish, turn or burn.

I am sincerely afraid that great multitudes of professing Christians are no more than that, “Professing Christians”. I am fearful that they have done no more than accepted someone’s proposition and merely agreed with a “simple plan of salvation,” that at best can only produce a false hope. In such cases the heart hasn’t been smitten with conviction of sin, and neither has there been a development of “godly sorrow,” creating remorse and confession of the heinousness of sin before a Holy God.

The modern concept of “soul winning” has produced an easy-believe type of religion that has only populated the churches with a mass number of poor misguided souls that are “twofold more the child of Hell” than before.

The earnest prayer of this pastor is that God will be pleased to pour out upon this religious, but lost world the spirit of grace and supplication. And that those who parade themselves on the “Broadway to destruction,” blindly convinced that they are in the straight and narrow may be brought into the dust of repentance.

As an old minister of long ago said, “There is no going to the fair haven of glory without sailing through the narrow strait of repentance.”

~ Terry Worthan

Click here to listen to the message “Cleanse Your Hands And Purify Your Hearts”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 13 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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The Difference In: No Faith; Weak Faith; And Strong Faith.

“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” | Luke 17: 5

When a person has no faith at all, he looks to his own flesh for all of his confidence before God.

He believes that God will be satisfied with him by what he sees in himself – his actions, his words, and his thoughts.

When a person has weak faith, he looks to himself for a little bit of confidence before God.

He knows that he will never be able to satisfy God outside of the blood of Christ, but something in him still thinks that he must produce good actions, good words, and good thoughts along with Christ’s blood before God will accept him.

When a person is strong in faith, he does not look to himself at all.

He knows that he can have absolutely no confidence in his flesh. When it comes to God accepting him, all of his hope is in Christ’s actions, Christ’s words, and Christ’s thoughts.

He firmly believes that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief!” And “He is made unto (me) wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”

Christ is all I need!

In summary…

No faith – has all confidence in the flesh.

Weak faith – has a little confidence in the flesh.

Strong faith – has NO confidence in the flesh at all!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Lord Keep Us!”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 24 May, 2020 | Previous post date: 9 April, 2021

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In Spirit and Truth

”God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him, Must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth,” | John 4: 24

Here are two principles of worship without which all worship of God is vain.

God must be worshipped in spirit – a heart worship – as opposed to mere forms and ceremonies, going through the motions with body and lip service, etc.

If the heart does not pray it, the prayer is not accepted. IF the heart does not sing it, the song is not accepted. If the heart does not believe it, it is vain to profess it.

Those who worship God, must worship in spirit. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10: 10)

Those who worship God in spirit must also worship Him in truth.

God has revealed Himself in His Word of truth as who HE is; how HE saves; by whom HE saves; the way in which any one must approach unto Him to worship.

All worship that is contrary to truth is vain worship.

All who worship God must worship Him in truth.

Someone has said, “How astonishing is the fact, that man dares to introduce his miserable inventions to deform the scriptural simplicity of divine; as if God who makes all things perfect, had, in this most important institution, forgotten to direct the use of altars – magnificent vestment – pomp and ceremonies. When will man, with child-like simplicity, follow gospel rules?”

~ Pastor Bruce Crabtree

Click here to listen to the message “What is it that really matters”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 15 June, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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To Die Is Gain

”For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” | Philippians 1: 21

Believers are not at risk of losing anything in death.

What they lose is this cursed flesh that has been nothing to them but a plague from the day they were born.

What they lose is an old nature that has warred against their spiritual minds from the day they were born of God.

What they lose is all the soap bubble dreams of a cursed world that promises everything and gives nothing but heartache and disappointment.

In death they lose corruption and put on incorruption.

In death they lose mortality and gain immortality.

For the believer death is gain because death is swallowed up in victory.

Death to the believer is gain because he will leave this sinful world and immediately be ushered into the presence of his beloved Savior.

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “Passing From Death Unto Life”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 14 November, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Training

”And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not” | Hebrew 12: 5-7

As I ponder the words of these blessed verses in Hebrews chapter 12, I must admit that I too had forgotten this great exhortation and encouragement. First, it is a great encouragement to me because it is spoken to me as a child, a son of the living God. How beautiful are the words, “My son,” when they fall from the lips of God Almighty.

Sometimes things get rough and tough for the believing child of God. Often we get discouraged in these trials and troubles. But we shouldn’t! They are nothing more than the “chastening of the Lord.” This chastening comes from His hand. I find it very interesting that the word “chastening” in the original Greek means “training.” God is training us as His children. He is training us to trust and rely on Him no matter what He sends our way.

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth…” He trains, teaches, and reveals to us His will, purpose and providence, because He loves us. What must we do to assure our place as the children of God? Simply endure this chastening, (this correcting, this training) knowing that God always does what is best for those whom He loves and who love Him! When we endure all that God sends our way, we have the peace and comfort in knowing that God is dealing with us as His children, “for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”

The next time you find yourself in trouble or facing a hard trial, remember that it is your heavenly Father that has sent it, He has sent it for your good and for His glory, and thank Him for it.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “The Success of The Gospel”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 December, 2019 | Previous post date: n/a

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A God Ready To Pardon

”And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.” | Nehemiah 9: 17

God, as He has revealed Himself to us in the scriptures delights to shew mercy and to pardon guilty sinners.

He has not left us to guess about His character. David said of Him, “Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86: 5) His readiness to pardon is seen in His longsufferings to Israel. God’s dealings with national Israel are very typical of His dealings with spiritual Israel. Though we are no more deserving of mercy than they were, yet God in Christ Jesus has been pleased to choose, justify and pardon His elect. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3: 24)

God’s readiness to pardon His people is seen in the following points.

1). IN HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE! “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” (Ephesians 3: 8-12)


We must never think that Christ Jesus died to make God merciful. The death of the Lord Jesus is the result of the eternal purpose and love of God. (Revelation 13: 8) Before Adam’s rebellion ever took place, the remedy and redemption of the sheep of Christ was absolute and certain. (1 Corinthians 15: 22) Before Adam ever fell, Jesus Christ stood as the Surety and Mediator of the covenant of grace. (Hebrews 13: 20)

2). IN HIS GRACIOUS PROVISION! “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4: 4-7)
God at great cost to Himself, from His own bosom gave His only begotten, well beloved Son. (John 3: 16) God in His holiness and strict justice cannot simply give the sinner pardon, without honoring His justice. (Ezekiel 8: 20) Therefore, God took to Himself sinless humanity. Living as our representative He perfectly obeyed the law for us in all its precepts and penalties. (Isaiah 42: 21) (Romans 8: 1-4)

3). IN HIS SATISFYING PROPITIATION! “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2: 16-18) How can God be just and yet justify the ungodly; be a just God and Saviour? That is the vital question of the hour, which nobody is asking. The only way is for God himself to satisfy His own justice. (Isaiah 53: 10) This is what happened at Calvary. The Lord Jesus Christ died in the place of His people, as the sinner’s Substitute. Bearing the sin of His people being imputed to Him, He suffered for them to satisfy God’s justice. (2 Corinthians 5: 21) (1 Peter 3: 18). The atonement doesn’t change the character of God, it honors and glorifies his justice and mercy. ( Psalm 85: 10)

4). IN PREACHING THE GOSPEL! “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1: 17-21)


God in His infinite wisdom has devised very simple means to call out His elect. (Romans 10: 13-17) God effectually calls out His sheep through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (John 10: 27) Wherever His people are, whoever they are, God will cross their path with the truth of salvation revealed in Jesus Christ. (Acts 8: 26-40) (1 Peter 1: 23-25) (James 1: 18)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Behold The Lamb Of God”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 15 June, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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God’s Word Shall Lead You

”When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.” | Proverbs 6: 22

These are the words of a father and mother to their children concerning the written Word of God.

This parent, a believer in Christ, is persuaded of the ability of God’s Word, with His blessing to lead, keep, and talk. They would impress this upon their children.

God’s Word shall lead you.

It will LEAD you out of the way “which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” The way of works religion seems right, but man’s works being imperfect will always end in death.

The Word shall lead you to the way, the Lord Jesus Christ that is also the truth and the life, the only way to God.

It shall KEEP you when you sleep. The believer in Christ being reconciled through Him to God is able to lay down and sleep in peace. “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4: 8)

It will also TALK to you. God’s word speaks to us as we read and hear it. I don’t know how many times I have been told after a service something to this effect. “God answered my question in your message,” or “You dealt with something in your message that has troubled me.”

I brought a message recently from Proverbs, and could not help but think after the message, “I wish that all of our young families with children had heard this message.” It seemed to me such a shame that they missed it.

Every service that a person misses he cheats himself of necessary food.

He misses that opportunity of hearing God speak to him from that passage.

~ Pastor David Pledger

Click here to listen to the message “Practical Truths”

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 13 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia