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I Have All

”But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” | Philippians 4: 18

This is the testimony of a man who spent years bound by the Romans, hated and hounded by the Jewish leaders.

A man whose temporal possessions were probably no more than a few clothes, some books… yet he says: “I have all, I am full.”

Here is a man who is happy, content, and full of joy and peace.

There sits a King with wealth untold, with power, living in the lap of luxury, people waiting on him, to fulfill his every desire and command, yet he is not happy, he has no joy, he is not full, he does not have all.

What is the difference in these two men?

Paul has Christ; he knows Christ and is a joint heir with Christ. When the apostle surveys his wealth, he says, I possess the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” He knows the riches that he possesses in Christ are eternal. When he says, “I have all, I am full,” it is neither a wish nor a want; even then he was in full enjoyment of his wealth, for “Christ is all and in all.”

The worldling is never full, he never has enough, he never possesses all he wants, he never knows contentment, never knows what it is to be full.

The Lord Jesus asked, “how long will you labor for the meat that perishes?” How long will you make silver and gold your idol? Until you drop off into a Christless eternity? O, child of this world, you will never have ALL you aim for, you will always want more.

This man Paul has more than you have; HE HAS ALL! HE IS FULL! He says he can contain no more.

Christ is his PORTION, the riches of His grace, the riches of His glory.

Christ, who has ALL and does ALL, was his… “I AM FULL.” He desired no more than Christ, for in Christ he possessed ALL. “And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3: 23)

Beloved, let the world say “I want, I want,” but let us as Christ’s beloved say, “I AM FULL, I HAVE ALL.”

We shall soon hear, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25: 34)

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Solomon and Queen of Sheba” (43:45 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 13 January, 2022 | Previous post date: 3 March, 2023

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Sin And Forgiveness

”Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” | 1 John 4: 9

We love to hear the gospel that tells us of sin forgiven, of being washed from our sin in His precious blood.

Sin is too familiar with us.

We have committed it, we are affected by it daily, and it is our daily trial.

Sin of our past, sin is our burden today, sin as it is, is our own affliction until we enter into our eternal rest.

”In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1: 7)

It is a battle we have entered into that is a war without and within… but, thank God His word says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin”.

How?

“According to the riches of his grace!”

Forgiveness of sin, what a joy, what greater news can a sinner hear?

God’s free grace gave us His son to redeem us by His own blood.

God’s free grace came and effectually applied that blood to our souls!

”Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5: 20)

It was free grace that forgave us all our sin; “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Herein Is Love” (28:11 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 27 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Perfection in Christ!

“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” | Colossians 1: 28-29

Perfect, complete, without blemish, holy, blameless, spotless; these are just a few of the words the Scriptures use to describe Gods saints.

We do not feel that we are any of these things in ourselves, but this is what God says about us.

Do we believe what we see in ourselves or what God says about us?

God describes us with these glorious words because of what our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished for us by His holy sinless life and His sacrificial death for us on the cross.

God’s word describes us as what we are in Christ.

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “It’s Either: Self Righteousness or Mercy” (34:06 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 March, 2020 | Previous post date: 15 April, 2022

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His Blood Alone

“Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.” | Romans 11: 3

The vital thing to understand about the blood of Christ is this: IT IS ENOUGH!

Nothing else is needed to accomplish the salvation of all for whom His blood was shed.

Not His blood plus my works; not His blood plus my “decision”; not His blood plus the ordinances; not His blood plus church membership; not even His blood plus my faith – His blood purchased my faith.

“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)

HIS BLOOD ALONE paid the price required by His justice, and His blood alone can make a sinner clean. “By His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having OBTAINED (not made possible) eternal redemption for us”

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Our Hope And God’s Glory” (30:44 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 25 February, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a

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Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?

“And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” | John 6: 65-69

Believers often are very concerned over their spiritual state; they grieve over the condition of their hearts and minds of the way they act and react to their Lord Jesus and his word and dealings with them.

Our Lord asked a pointed and poignant question to the twelve, “Will you also go away”? Why would he ask such a question?

Because there were many defections from him! “From that time many of his disciples went back”.

Have you ever wondered if you would go back, or where would you be a year or five years from now?

Simon Peter makes a blessed declaration of faith, even in the midst of defection and betrayal. “Lord to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are SURE that thou art that CHRIST”.

Here is a humble confession, maybe even a hint of fear, or urgency.

Everyone who is anyone has turned thumbs down on you …but to whom shall we go?

What would we gain by forsaking you?

Where could we show our faces without feeling every eye on us and every thought accusing us?

Lord you have spoken WORDS OF LIFE to us. Words of forgiveness, words of peace, words from the Father and you said, we could come unto him by you.

You said; “I AM HE”, the true vine, the light of the world, the water and the bread of life which came down from heaven.

To whom shall we go to find peace of heart, peace with God?

To find hope of eternal life, forgiveness, justification, righteousness, sanctification, redemption…O Lord to whom shall we go?

To find comfort in our trials, courage in our fears, strength for our weakness, light for our darkness, understanding for our ignorance.

Lord to whom shall we go?

However sorry and poor our love, zeal, faithfulness, and service, Lord to whom we go?

You have the WORDS of eternal life that holds up my soul.

Lord to whom shall we go?

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “No tears in heaven” (47:08 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 April, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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I Will Love Them Freely

”I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” | Hosea 14: 4

Do you understand “freely’?”

This is the message of salvation in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. Love flows from heaven in this way.

If God did not love us “freely” then He would not love us at all.

We did not deserve His love, we did not purchase His love, and we did not even seek after His love.

What does “freely” mean?

We use it for that which is given without money and without price.

There is no bargaining in it.

A man gives “freely” when he gives hoping for nothing in return.

This is how God gave.

He said, “I will not accept their works in exchange for my love; I will not receive their love as recompense for mine; I will love them all unworthy and sinful though they be.”

Men give, but no man ever gives freely.

There is always some return or honor or recognition attached to men’s giving.

But God gives to those who can confer no honor and have no position to cause the giving.

They are destitute paupers with nothing in their pockets and no pockets to put anything in.

The Lord gives that which is unsought.

He does not give grace to those who seek it, because none ever seek grace until grace has already come.

Sovereign grace does not wait for man.

Religion says that man is running after God.

We say that man is running after all manner of sin and evil, and they do not seek God until His love comes upon them.

As the effect of God’s love, men begin to seek Him.

We do not entreat the Lord, because we hate Him.

His love comes “freely.”

Have you ever asked the sun to shine?

No, the sun shines its rays on the earth “freely.”

It comes on the blasphemer as well as the child of God.

It falls on the farm of the wicked as well as the righteous.

The rain falls upon the rock as well as upon the field.

Such is the grace of God.

It does not come because we ask it, much less because we deserve it.

His love is always first.

He does not love because Christ died, but Christ died because the Father loved.

It comes from His own infinite heart of goodness, simply because He chose to do so.

Thank God, He loves me FREELY. I can live with that.

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Judgement” (69:42 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 18 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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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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The Pity Of God

”Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him” | Psalm 103: 13

God pities His children, because they are pitiful. To pity someone, it has to come from the heart and from the affections.

God Almighty pities His children from His heart and from His affections.

Pity also means to have compassion, to be tenderhearted.

Our covenant God showed His affections, His compassions and His heart in sending His Blessed Son into this world to be our Savior, to redeem us by His own blood.

OH what love, what compassion was shown toward those for whom Christ died, to accomplish a perfect, complete salvation for His people!

Thank God for His pity, His affections and His compassion given us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “An Ordered Betrayal”

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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: 25 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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Too Many Things To Choose From

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” | Isaiah 42: 1-4

Have you ever made a phone call and a voice comes on and says push one or two or four, then when you push that number it starts all over again?

How frustrating.

In every part of life there are too many things to choose from, in going to a restaurant, in choosing a car, what kind of computer should I get, on and on it goes.

But there is one thing in which there are no options:

SALVATION from sin and condemnation.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 1)

God in His Holy Word has made it plain and straightforward; ‘This is my beloved Son, hear Him.’

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14: 6)

God says there is ONE WAY to come unto Him.

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17: 1-2)

God says there is One who has the power to give eternal life.

“What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” (Romans 9: 22-23)

God says there is One who has the power to make God the Father known.

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1: 6)

God says there is One in whom a sinner can be accepted.

“The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.” (Psalm 98: 2)

The Holy Scriptures tell us there is One Righteousness;

“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.” (Romans 1: 16)

The Holy Scriptures tell us there is Onee Savior of sinners,

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2: 5)

The Holy Scriptures tell us there is One Mediator between God and men, ‘The man Christ Jesus’.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (Psalm 119: 156)

The Holy Scriptures tell us there is One who has the power to give life and quicken whom He will.

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1: 2)

God says there is One whom He appointed heir.

“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)

God says there is One by whom He will be addressed.

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8: 6)

God says there is One by whom He will address sinners, One – JUST ONE.

God will give no man any wiggle room here, freewill won’t do, works won’t do, merit has no place, and law keeping won’t be accepted.

The Lord God said it this way, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3: 36)

I am so thankful that God the Father brought me to the place where there was no way out from under the guilt and condemnation of my sin and revealed the ONE WAY in which He would accept and make me righteous.

That Way is through and by the Lord Jesus Christ.

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “How Sinners Come To Christ” (40:23 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 25 July, 2021 | Previous post date: 9 September, 2021

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A Fountain Opened

”In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” | Zechariah 13: 1

Preachers are more interested with telling their folks what to do, instead of telling them what Christ has done.

When they know what He has done they will stop telling folks what to do.

For they will be saying; “more about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show, more of His saving love to see, more of His love who died for me.”

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “A Fountain Opened”

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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: 13 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a