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The Remedy For The Fear of Man

”The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” | 2 Samuel 23: 3-4

The fear of God… drives away the fear of man , which brings a snare.

Christ says, “Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which, after He hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him” (Luke 12: 4-5)

Christ Himself proposes the fear of God as the great remedy for the fear of man.

Nor is there any other that is found adequate.

But this is enough.

How justly does God rebuke that fear of man: “Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor?” (Isaiah 51: 12-13)

It is not possible for us to fear God too much or man too little.

So surely as we have just conceptions of the eternal power and majesty of God, we shall have no tormenting fear of the puny arm of mortals.

~ William Plumer

Click here to listen to the message “Words to Live & Die By” (32:11 minutes)

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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: 15 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Live In An Attitude Of Thanksgiving And Prayer

”Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” | 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

The Apostle Paul says, “Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing and give thanks to God in all things”.

This is the will of God; that we rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks.

What we are, what we have, where we are, and all that happens in the life of a believer are all according to the will of God for us.

Let us rejoice in prosperity or adversity, and live in an attitude of thanksgiving and prayer, even when we have no particular request.

Very ungrateful is the man who does not set so high a value on the love of God, the righteousness of Christ, and the hope of eternal life that he allows anything in this life to overshadow that wonderful gift of grace.

How can I murmur and complain when I am a child of the King of kings?

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Saved and Gathered to Praise Him” (37:21 minutes)

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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: 17 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Blasphemous Modern Preaching

”For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” | Malachi 2: 16-17

Modern preaching in mainstream religion is this: ‘God loves you and wants to save you if you will let him, and he sent Jesus to die for your sins. So if you will accept him as your personal savior and start living right and coming to church, you will be saved.’

This is the so-called gospel of every false preacher and false church throughout the world.

That false gospel is not only blasphemous and dishonoring to God and His Son, but is completely contrary to the Word of God and the Truth of the Gospel.

It is also contrary to good sense.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1: 21)

What kind of ‘god’ is he, who wants to do something but cannot because puny man won’t let him?

That’s no ‘God’ at all, but a pathetic failure and an idol.

If I am more powerful than him, I am more god than he is.

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” (1 Corinthians 13: 8)

What kind of god is he who needs to be ‘accepted’ by mortals?

Man is the one on trial, not God.

It is up to God to accept man, not vice versa.

And what kind of love is it that is helpless to do anything for me, or worse yet, stands by while I am perishing and will not save me?

Why, my love for my child is not that weak!

If I see her fall, I go pick her up.

If I see her in danger, I go save her from it.

And if the blood was shed for every person and some are now in hell, what good did it do?

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9: 12)

Listen to what scripture says of God, Christ, His love and salvation. ‘GOD WILL WORK AND WHO SHALL LET IT?’ “Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?” (Isaiah 43: 13)

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Where Is The God of Judgment” (15:43 minutes)

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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: 22 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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He Leadeth His Dear Children

”Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” | 2 Corinthians 12: 14

The silent influence of parental conduct is far greater, either for good or for evil, than most parents are aware of.

You teach by what you say, you influence by what you do; and also by what you do not say, and do not perform.

O parents, parents!

Take care what you are teaching your children by your example.

You are always influencing them for good – or evil.

You are leading them to Heaven – or to Hell.

Not a day passes, but you produce impressions, perhaps permanent impressions… either good or bad!

~ Pastor Bruce Crabtree

Click here to listen to the message “He leadeth His dear children” (40:13 minutes)

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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: 22 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Faith, A Gift Of God

”Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” | Romans 4: 16-17

Before any sinner can or will come to Christ, he must be born again.

Faith is the result, not the cause of the new birth.

That faith by which we receive God’s salvation in Christ is the gift of God.

“Salvation is of the Lord,” in its entirety!

It is not of works at any time in a believer’s life, God will never be brought into debt by the works of any man, He will never owe a blessing, all is of grace.

Faith in Christ is as much the gift and work of God’s free grace as election, redemption, and regeneration.

“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” (Philippians 1: 29)

If you believe, it is because God has given you faith.

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,” (Ephesians 1: 19)

You “believe according to the working of his mighty power.”

Faith is not the work of the sinner’s imaginary “free will.”

Faith is the gift of God’s sovereign grace, the result of God’s operation upon the heart.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Foundation’s of Faith” (38:42 minutes)

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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: 22 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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When God Is Displeased With A People

”And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” | Luke 18: 7-8

When God is exceedingly displeased with a people, it is not necessary, in order to their punishment, that He should bury them alive by an earthquake, or destroy them by lightening.

If He only leaves them to themselves, withdraws His blessings from their counsels, and His restraint from their passions, their ruin follows of course, according to the necessary order and connection of causes and effects.

If God gives up a people to the way of their own hearts, they will, they must, perish!

When a general corruption of morals takes place, when private interest extinguishes all sense of public virtue, when a profligate and venal spirit has infected every rank and order of the state, when presumptuous security and dissipation increase as danger approaches, when, after repeated disappointments, contempt for God, and vain confidence in imagined resources of their own, grow bolder and stronger, then there is reason to fear that the sentence has already gone forth, and that the execution of it is at hand.

~ John Newton

Click here to listen to the message “God Shall Avenge His Elect” (34:08 minutes)

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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: 1 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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God So Loved The World

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” | John 3: 16

We warn you against those who say that “God loved the world” means “God loved every one alike.”

They tell people indiscriminately that “John 3: 16 means that God loved you. You may substitute your name for the word world in John 3: 16.”

They know this is not true!

“I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.” (Malachi 1: 2-3)

For example, they know that God Himself declared, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated”.

“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Romans 9: 13)

Despite knowing this, we can imagine them saying to Esau, as they say to all others, “Smile, God loves you – for God loves everyone! When you read John 3:16, change the word world to your name, so that it reads ‘For God so loved Esau ….’”

Hear me well!

Neither Esau nor all the other unrepentant and unbelieving wicked people whom God declares that He hates are in the world loved by God, and to which He gave His only begotten Son for their salvation.

Furthermore, there is more than one world on this earth.

And the world loved by God is distinguished from another world in the High Priestly prayer of Jesus Christ to His Father recorded in John chapter seventeen.

“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” (John 17: 6-9)

That other world is the world for which Jesus Christ refused to pray, and the world from which God removed His people and gave to Christ in order that He might save them: “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me… they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1: 3-6)

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6: 16-19)

They who misrepresent God’s love to His world should remember that among the people God hates and abominates is “a false witness who speaks lies”.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him; And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him; We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4: 9, 16, 19)

All who are in this world loved by God will confess: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. … We love Him because He first loved us”.

Is this your confession?

~ Pastor Daniel Parks

Click here to listen to the message “Even So, Amen” (35:28 minutes)

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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: 1 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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It Is Good For Me That I Am Afflicted

”It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy ways.” | Psalm 119: 71

God’s ways and God’s word are best learned by experience and in time of trouble.

When our Lord is pleased to lay his hand heavily upon us, we do not soon forget the lessons learned.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3: 19)

When the Lord singles out a believer or a church for special affliction and adversity, it is not for punishment nor lack of love for them; it is for eternal blessings and because He does love them.

“Whom the Lord loveth” he chastens, corrects, and teaches!

When Job sat before his friends, who was afflicted?

The one God loved!

When Paul stood before King Agrippa, who wore the chains?

The one God loved!

Humanly speaking, which path of life would you prefer to live on earth, that of Esau or Jacob?

Esau had the life of prosperity and ease; Jacob was full of trouble and conflict.

But God loved Jacob!

Thank God he has not left us alone!

Thank God he has loved us in Christ and is pleased to teach us his ways by dealing with us in such a way that we are weaned from the world and find our life, comfort, and hope only in him.

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12: 8)

A person who measures his blessings and relationship with God by his prosperity, health, happiness, and worldly comforts makes a fatal mistake.

Paul wrote, “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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

He who sends the trial for his glory and my good will supply the grace sufficient.

Those who know the Redeemer also know that when we are weak, we are strong; when we are poor, we are rich; when we are empty, we are full; and when we die, we live!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Joy After Chastening” (44:48 minutes)

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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: 3 March, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Blood Before The Lord

”Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.” | Exodus 12: 5-7

Note in the scriptures how many times the blood is said to be “before the Lord.”

Whether any man saw it or not was of small account, for it was offered for sin “before the Lord.”

“And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.” (Leviticus 16: 18)

When the passover lamb was slain in Egypt, where was the blood placed?

It was on the OUTSIDE of the door “before the Lord.”

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12-13)

He said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2: 9)

The suffering and death of Christ on behalf of His people was “BEFORE the Lord,” UNTO the Lord, to declare the Lord’s righteousness, to satisfy the Lord’s justice, to fulfill the Lord’s purpose, to glorify the Lord’s character, to enable the Lord to be both just and justifier.

The atonement does not change the NATURE and CHARACTER of God, but rather the atonement HONORS and MAGNIFIES the character of God.

“Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 38: 23)

The death of Christ is NOT the cause of God’s love, but the result of it.

God is not merciful because Christ died; Christ died because God is merciful.

“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (2 Chronicles 20: 21)

In order that every attribute might be expressed, glorified, and honored, God gave His Son to be the Saviour of the chosen people!

Thank God we have an atonement “before the Lord.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Christ’s Blood Speaks” (34:48 minutes)

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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: 3 March, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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The Miracle Of God’s Irresistible Grace

”And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.” | Exodus 12: 26-27

Reader!

If you are a parent, learn from hence how to encourage your little ones to seek information concerning the great things of God.

If they ask you what is meant by the Christian Passover (I mean the service of the Lord’s Supper) Oh! tell them that it commemorates his precious sufferings and death, by whose stripes we are healed.

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2: 24)

Tell them of the distinguishing mercies of God in Christ, that while we merited death as much as any Egyptian, the Lord passed by and saved us when Egypt was destroyed.

“He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.” (Psalm 57: 3)

And do, my brother, if you can, tell your children also, how in numberless instances, both in providence and in grace, the Lord hath passed over you and your house, and not suffered the destroying angel to come in, while you have seen many on the right hand and on the left, swept away in sudden destruction.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3: 24)

Oh how sweet is the contemplation of distinguishing mercy!

~ Robert Hawker

Click here to listen to the message “The Miracle of Grace” (36:17 minutes)

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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: 3 March, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey