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The Glorious Gospel of The Blessed God

”This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” | 1 Timothy 1: 15-16

Suppose that an ‘accident’ should take away our lives; I smile to think that the worst thing that could happen would be the best thing that could happen.

If we should die, we should but the sooner be “forever with the Lord.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “The Glorious Gospel of The Blessed 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 6 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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I Kill And I Make Alive

”See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.” | Deuteronomy 32: 39

THERE is no greater comfort for the believer than this. This blessed truth will deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2: 15)

Our Lord is the Author (giver) of this life and the Finisher (taker) of it.

God tells us this about man: “Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass” (Job 14: 5)

The bounds He has set for us are the place, the time, and the instrument of our death to this world. The day, the hour, the moment, the means of our passing is set by the Lord. Though it may be sickness, old-age, bullet, sword, car-wreck… no matter; God determined it for each of us before the world began.

“I Kill”, saith the Lord. What a comfort that is.

Our God in His wisdom, takes us in His good time, according to His will and pleasure. We are immortal until it’s our time.

There is nothing and no-one to fear.

The Lord encourages every believer in this, saying: “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;” (Psalm 91: 5)

Let the unbelievers of the world fear terrorists; but let the people of God fear no one but God. “Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” (Psalm 91: 6-7) This is God’s command to His people: ‘Fear not!… Thou shalt not be afraid.’

We wouldn’t be flesh and blood if we had no fears, but too much fear and worry dishonors our God and leaves us in distress and anxiety. Rest in this thought: the Lord gave us this life as it pleased Him and the Lord will take it when He pleases.

I had my old dog put down the other day and personally buried his body. Though I had another give him the injection that put him to sleep, I was the one who determined it. It was completely my decision. I was his master. He was my dog. I was the one who chose him as a pup, picking him out of all the rest, purchased him, brought him home, fed him, nurtured him, taught him, loved him. He was my dog. No-one knew him as I did. I knew when it was time and I gave the command. So it is with our Master.

Our Lord and Master chose His people before the world began, brought them into this world, led, fed, taught, bought and cared for them all the days of their lives. And in His good time… He puts them to sleep.

There is no death for those in Christ. He takes them home.

What peace there is in believing that our kind Master in His infinite wisdom and eternal purpose wounds and heals, kills and makes alive.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Words of The Preacher”

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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: 6 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Greater Things Hereafter

”Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” | John 1: 50-51

Isaiah said, “I saw also the Lord…” “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6: 1)

Sinners only see the Lord through faith by revelation from God. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1: 16-17)

John tells us it was the glory of Christ the Lord which Isaiah saw. (John 12: 36-41)

The glory of Christ which Isaiah saw is the glory which sinners are brought by grace to behold through faith.

How did Isaiah describe his glory?

1. Sitting. The Lord Jesus Christ finished the work given him by the Father before the world began. He fulfilled all prophecy concerning him, he honored and magnified the law of God as the Representative of his people in righteous obedience; as their Substitute as God’s Lamb he laid down his life that they might become dead to the law. He cried, “It is finished.” When he had by himself purged our sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1: 3)

2. Upon a throne. Isaiah saw Jesus Christ as he is, the Living Lord. He is LORD of lords AND KING of kings. He reigns with God the Father from his heavenly throne “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3: 21)

3. High. Isaiah beheld who the Lord Jesus is. Christ Jesus is THE SON OF GOD. The child born, is also a Son given, also the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. He is indeed the great I AM which was before Abraham. If we are going to be brought low, we must first behold him HIGH. Our Savior is God Almighty.

4. Lifted up. We must see that God the Father is well-pleased with him and that, by God the Father he was and is lifted up. He is the preeminent Captain, the Author and Pioneer of faith, the Faithful One, he faithfully obeyed and gave himself to be lifted upon the cross and God the Father is well-pleased; God the Father lifted him up glorified in heaven “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1: 4)

“For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (2 Peter 1: 17)

5. His train filled the temple. His train signifies his dominion and glory as our King Priest. Isaiah beheld that his dominion reaches not just around his throne but fills his whole temple in heaven and earth. He reigns in the midst of his church.

May the Holy Spirit be pleased to reveal in us the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Greater Things Hereafter”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 9 November, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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For All His Benefits To Me

”I said in my haste, All men are liars. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” | Psalm 116: 11-15

The work which God gives into the hands of his pastors is God’s work.

The work he gives into the hands of his witnesses is God’s work.

The Sovereign of heaven and earth will soon discover this to us through enemies which he has foreordained that we face.

We will face some who appear so full of light that if it were possible they would deceive even the elect of God.

Yet God will expose them to be enemies of the righteousness of God and he will conquer them before us.

There will be times when some within will depart from us and break our hearts.

But God will use those things to reveal to us that there is absolutely no sufficiency in us for this work.

He is not depending upon the strength of men; he teaches us not to depend upon men, not even those who profess to trust him.

We love our brethren, we receive one another without doubting, but we are to look only to Christ.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9)

Our strength is the grace of our God alone.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “For All His Benefits To Me”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 9 November, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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The Lord Hath Been Mindful Of Us

”And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” | Acts 13: 39

I have often thought, how very gracious it was in God the Holy Ghost, in directing his servant Paul thus to teach the church.

The Lord well knew how many of his people of little faith are at times sharply exercised, by reason of the slenderness of this principle; so as sometimes from the temptations of the enemy, and their own misgiving hearts, to call in question whether they have the least measure of faith.

And what a relief to the souls of all such ought it to be, and no doubt hath frequently proved, when they are here told, and from an authority which cannot err, that all that believe; whether strong believers, or weak believers; whether babes in Christ, or fathers in God: all are alike justified from all things, by Christ.

And the reason is given.

It is by Him.

Yes! Christ’s Person and Christ’s blood and righteousness, are the sole causes of justification; and perfectly distinct from, and unconnected with, any other circumstance whatever.

It is indeed a very blessed thing, and calls for great thankfulness in the hearts of those, whom grace gives the power to enjoy it; when a child of God is strong in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

But it never should be forgotten, at the same time, that it is not our faith, but Christ’s salvation, which is the whole security of the Lords’ people, and the weakest believer, as well as the strongest, are alike safe in Christ Jesus.

“That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.” (Isaiah 14: 25)

In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

~ Robert Hawker

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Hath Been Mindful Of 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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 9 November, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Christ Himself Is Our Hope

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. | Hebrews 6: 19-20

Hope is an earnest desire for an object, accompanied with the expectation of obtaining it.

Spiritual hope includes that, but it also includes something natural hope does not.

It includes the sure and steadfast assurance that we shall receive what we hope for.

The object of the believer’s hope is Christ.

Our expectation is to be with Christ in glory in His perfect righteousness.

The assurance of our hope is Christ, who himself is our Hope.

Our hope is sure and steadfast because in and by Christ all God’s covenant-promises are fulfilled for us, apart from our works.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Wherefore Commit Ye Evil?”

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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: 29 December, 2019 | Previous post date: n/a

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Consider Him

”For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” | Hebrews 12: 3

The Greek word for “consider” is translated in another place, “proportion.”

It is a mathematical term, signifying to compute by comparing things together in their due proportions.

Consider who Christ is in light of who you are.

Consider what Christ endured in light of what you endure.

Consider how Christ endured in light of how you endure.

Consider who he is. This is God in human flesh, the second person in the Trinity; the Lord of glory; Creator of heaven and earth. This is the Son of God, the Beloved of the Father.

Consider who you are in relationship to him. He is the believer’s Redeemer and we are his Possession. The believer is his willing bond-servant; he is our Master.

Consider why he endured suffering. He was called on by God the Father to suffer here on earth — in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4: 15)

Believer, he suffered for the purpose of obeying God’s law as our Representative Man.

He was born to suffering that he might die in agony as the Substitute of his people, that God might be just and the justifier of all who believe on him. He suffered in order to make his people perfect and complete.

Christ finished this work by first being born and then living in a world of sin and sin’s consequences, despised and rejected of men. Is it a strange thing that you and I should be called on to endure a little suffering in his service. “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (John 15: 20, 21)

Consider what he was accused of.

He was accused of being a deceiver: “And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.” (John 7: 12)

He was accused of perverting the people: “Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:” (Luke 23: 14)

Religious people essentially accused him of being without the law because of those he received into his company: “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” (Luke 15: 2)

He was accused of being a law-breaker: “And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.” (Mark 3: 2)

He was accused of healing sinners by the power of the devil: “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.” (Matthew 12: 24)

He was looked down upon as a lowly, uneducated, uncouth Nazarene from Galilee: “Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?” (John 7: 41)

He was called a “glutton and a winebibber.” “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” (Matthew 11: 19)

He was falsely accused of speaking against Caesar: “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.” (John 19: 12)

When we are reviled, rebuked, treated spitefully by men, we quickly become offended.

All too often we are quick to let folks know why we do not deserve to be spoken to in such a manner.

Then after we have wrestled with the accusations of others in our minds and gloated in how “we told them,” all we have done is weary ourselves to the point of fainting from this gospel of Christ. Oh, we’re somebody aren’t we!

Every grain of wisdom you and I have is total darkness in proportion to the infinite Wisdom of Christ Jesus.

Every good thought or deed you and I have ever done has been full of enough wickedness to send a million men to eternal hell; he was Holy from conception to the cross.

We flatter ourselves with the idea that we treat others the way we want to be treated but fact is our obedience makes the golden rule look like unpolished brass; he left the riches of heaven for you, believer.

The very presence of every single person he came into contact with stunk with such abomination of sin to him by just their very presence.

That is not to mention the cruelness, the venom, the ignorance and the rejection that foamed up out from beneath our tongues toward him the entire time he walked this earth.

Yet he opened not his mouth but trusted God to deliver him. “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” (1 Peter 2: 19-23)

Are you, believer, disheartened by the hard usage you are receiving from men, yea, from the religious world?

Are you fearful as you anticipate the persecutions which may yet attend your Christian profession; or, are you too ready to show resentment against those who oppose you?

Then consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself.

Do you desire to be strengthened by Christ as you strive against sin?

Consider him, look to him, and commit yourself to him that judgeth righteously.

What are our trials when compared with His agonies!

I want to blush with shame because of my murmurings.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “O Wretched Man”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 2 November, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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It Pleased The Lord Through Preaching

”Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” | Acts 13: 1-3

In this text, we have the account of how the Lord faithfully sent forth Barnabas and Saul to the Gentile world.

God has an elect people whom he has determined to save OUT OF all corners and people of this world in Christ Jesus.

This was the Lord’s word to Abraham: “In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed” (Christ the Seed) ‘shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22: 17-18)

The gospel of Christ the Seed was preached to Abraham: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3: 16)

“And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” (Galatians 3: 8, 9)

This same gospel shall be preached to all God’s elect scattered throughout the entire world.

God uses his church to do so.

The very wisdom of God which chose his people in Christ, the very wisdom which accomplished the work whereby mercy and peace have met in harmony in Christ our Substitute, is the same wisdom of God which chose that the instrument he would use to proclaim his gospel would be his church in this world. The believer — who is perfectly complete in Christ to enter glory right now – remains in this world because God choose to use saved sinners to carry his gospel to his elect and save them through the gospel of our glorified Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“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: 21)

Just as the work of election, of redemption, and of regeneration is the work of our triune God even so the work of raising up and equipping his vessels of mercy is the work of our Lord. God’s ambassadors’ are called of God; God gives his saints a heart to recognize his messengers and to support them in God’s work; God separates them to the work he would have them to do; God’s messengers are filled and led by the Spirit of God.

Thus they go forth preaching the gospel of Christ and him crucified.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Consider Him”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 26 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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All Scripture

”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” | 2 Timothy 3: 16

Imagine forty persons of different nationalities, possessing various degrees of musical culture, visiting the organ of some great cathedral and at long intervals of time, and without any collusion whatever, striking sixty-six different notes, which when combined yielded the theme of the grandest oratorio ever heard; would it not show that behind these forty different men there was one presiding mind, one great Tone-Master?

As we listen to some great orchestra, with its immense variety of instruments playing their different parts, but producing melody and harmony, we realize that at the back of these many musicians there is the personality and genius of the composer.

And when we enter the halls of the Divine Academy and listen to the heavenly choirs singing the Song of Redemption, all in perfect accord and unison, we know that it is God himself who has written the music and put this song into their mouths.

~ A. W. Pink

Click here to listen to the message “Person and Work of the Holy Spirit”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 26 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Made Holy

“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” | Romans 14: 4

Every believer has been made holy in Christ.

This does not mean that a believer does not commit sin.

A believer constantly sins but the scripture says that the Lord does not impute sin to the believer because He imputed that sin to Christ at Calvary and Christ put that sin away by the blood of His sacrifice.

That is what David said in Psalm 32:1-2. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Don’t Judge Your Brother”

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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: 4 February, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a