What Is Your Comfort?

“And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.” | Job 1: 5</b

Are you happy?

Yes! but I am not without times of sorrow and depression.

Like any human, I weep over loved ones, friends, sickness, death, and disappointment. But I sorrow not as those who have no hope. CHRIST IS MY HOPE! He loved me, gave Himself for me, and will make ALL THESE THINGS work together for my eternal good.

Are you at rest in your soul?

Yes! but I am not free from concern and conviction over my sins and my infirmities.

I love Christ but not as I should or as I desire. I am satisfied with Him, His mercy, His grace, and His love; but I will never be totally satisfied until I wake with His likeness.

Do you have peace?

Yes! but that peace with God, peace of conscience, and peace in any situation or condition is not based on my merit, feelings, nor religious duties. CHRIST IS MY PEACE! He said, “In ME ye have peace. In the world ye shall have trouble.”

Any man or woman who claims continual, uninterrupted joy, rest, and peace in this world is either not telling the truth or has no connection with reality! True joy, rest, and peace are things we enjoy in Christ IN THE MIDST of troubles, afflictions, and infirmities.

Paul’s exhortation was “rejoice in the Lord.”

When I am conscious of my weakness, failures, and sins, I rejoice in Christ, my righteousness. When I am concerned about food, clothing, and shelter, I rejoice in Christ, my provider. When I am sick, Christ is my healer. When I am grieved, Christ is my comfort. When I am faced with death, Christ is my life!

So it is not necessary to put on a false face and deceive others. We are still human; but our peace, rest, and joy is Christ.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on Thee.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Lessons Learned In Trouble”

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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: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

CHRIST IS FAITHFUL

“Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” | II Samuel 23: 5

Jeremiah wrote, “Great is THY faithfulness.”

We preach and exhort our hearers to be faithful stewards of the grace of God, faithful givers to help others, faithful in worship, prayer, and holiness. And we will be faithful by His grace and because He has given us a new heart which desires to walk with Him.

But even when we fail, fall, and make a mess of things, HE IS FAITHFUL: and our hope of life and glory is not in OUR faithfulness but in HIS faithfulness.

God is faithful to His Son, to His covenant, and to His Word. And this was David’s comfort when he lay dying – not in his works, service, nor even his faith, but in God’s faithfulness to His covenant.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Righteous Shall Hold His Way”

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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: 3 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Speaking The Truth in Love

“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” | James 3: 5-6

I wonder if when we preach or teach or witness to others, does the love of Christ and love for sinners come through in our words and in our countenance?

I am interested to know if our hearers detect from our presentation of the Gospel of sovereign grace (whether in sermon or articles) the love, compassion, and pity we should feel; or do we come across as harsh, bitter, and with a critical spirit?

Do we tend to take our disappointments in some and our conflicts with others into the pulpit, or classroom, or personal discussions, and tear into everybody?

This is not the way of Christ.

James said, “The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” It was His love that chose us, gave us repentance, and led us to faith; and if any other sinner is brought from darkness, death, and error to light, life, and truth, it will be by and through the love and grace of Christ.

We are quick to say that the whip of the law will not make a man righteous, but neither will the whip of doctrine make a man a believer.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Today Is The Day”

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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 October, 2020 | Previous post date: 31 January, 2021

Commit Thy Way Unto The Lord

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass” | Psalm 37: 5

Some of you are having great trouble and are walking a rough way.

It may seem to you right now that these sorrows are more than you can bear. Indeed, they ARE more than you can bear; but you do not have to bear them alone. David said, “Commit thy way unto the Lord”, and Peter wrote, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5: 7)

You have committed your soul to Him; then you can surely trust Him with your home, children, and business. These things are far inferior to your immortal soul.

He has promised us troubles in this world, but not without HIS SUFFICIENT GRACE to carry us through them.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Golden Precepts and Precious Promises”

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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: 12 September, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Six Stubborn Statements

I realize, as much as any of you, that we are out of step with the great parade of religion today.

I realize we are putting a question mark on some very successful religious organizations, and in conflict with all the major denominations.

I realize that we are charging some popular, recognized, powerful, and hard-working preachers and religious leaders with failure to preach the true gospel of God’s glory and grace.

We are charging them with the crime of preaching “another gospel.” This is serious; for Paul said, “If any man preach any other gospel, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1: 8) I realize that we are a very small minority compared with the vast religious movement of this day. But, to me, the issues are as clear as the sun!

  1. God is infinitely sovereign in all things, including salvation; or he isn’t sovereign at all.
  2. Man, in the fall, was rendered spiritually dead, without hope, without God, without Christ, and is shut up to the power of God to give him life; or he is not dead at all.
  3. God either elected a people to eternal salvation according to the good pleasure of his sovereign will, or he did not choose anyone, and has left the success of his purpose to save totally in the hands of the creature.
  4. Christ either sufficiently, effectually, and eternally saved those for whom he died, by his obedience and death, or he actually saved no one! The ransom was no ransom at all, only an offer.
  5. The eternal Spirit of God either effectually and powerfully quickens, regenerates, and calls the elect to repentance toward God and to faith in Christ, or extends an offer to all sinners to regenerate themselves. We must go back to the question, “Is man dead?”
  6. All the elect of God will be preserved by his grace and will persevere in the faith of Christ; or none will. For, if left to ourselves, we shall eventually fall as all creatures have.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Standing Up Under Trials”

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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: 19 September, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FELLOWSHIP TO ME

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? | Matthew 3: 7

1.) I am a believer, a son of God in Christ Jesus. God has been pleased to reveal His Son in me. He is my life, my hope, and my refuge. I live by His grace and grow on His Word. And so I must constantly be where I can hear His Word in power, in the Holy Ghost, and in assurance. I must be fed on the truth!

2.) I love Christ, He is precious to me, and so all that is of Christ (His church, His ordinances, and His people) is precious to me. I not only feel that I must be identified with them in this world but it is also my greatest enjoyment to fellowship with believers around the person of Christ. I am just not happy or content around those who do not know or rejoice in Him. Where the people of Christ go, I will go; where they lodge, I will lodge; where they die, I will die, and there I will be buried. I will not be interested by whatever temptation there may arise to leave them.

3.) I am a frail human. I am subject to fall and subject to attacks from the world, the flesh, and the devil. I am not perfect and I have not arrived. I fear indifference, sin, and coldness of heart. Therefore, I need to be exhorted daily, I need to be encouraged, I need to be comforted, and I need to be rebuked. The world and its liberal preacher who cries “peace, peace” and the religionist will not do these things for me; only the true pastor and the true believer (who know my nature and need) can be all these things to me.

4.) I am a witness. Christ said, “Ye shall be my witnesses.” I am concerned for the salvation of my family, friends, and people around the world; therefore, I desire to bring my family and friends under the word of truth and help to send pastors, evangelists, preachers, and missionaries to other towns and countries to preach Christ.

My Father, I thank Thee for this fellowship of believers. I pray you will make them a blessing to me and will make me a blessing to them!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The True Preacher & His Message”

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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: 3 January, 2021 | Previous post date: 27 January, 2021

Unto You That Believe, He is Precious

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” | 1 Peter 2: 7-8

Believers receive Christ, rejoice in Christ, and to them He is precious.

His obedience is our righteousness, His blood is our atonement.

His prayers are our intercession.

His reign is our glory.

His coming is our hope!

Christ is all and in all!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “He Is Precious”

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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: 22 March, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

Tie The Scarlet Line

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; that thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. | Psalm 94: 12-14

In most circles it is unfashionable to believe in the old gospel of substitution and atonement.

“Modern culture” and intellectualism have altered the Bible and religion until there is no real sin-offering and sacrifice left. The blood of His cross and the obedience of His life are only examples now, and not a propitiation, payment, nor imputed righteousness.

As for me, I tie the scarlet line in my window; I put the blood on my door; I stand amazed as my great High Priest enters within the veil with His own blood to make atonement for my soul.

In the midst of a thousand “new gospels” that aren’t worth the breath it takes to preach them, I hold in my heart and soul to the gospel of God concerning His Son, who was wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my iniquities, and by whose stripes I am healed.

Like Rahab of old, tie the scarlet line in your window.

If no one else sees it, GOD WILL!

If no one else is pleased – GOD IS!

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Is My Light And Salvation”

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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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 12 September, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Perfect in Him

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” | Revelation 14: 13

There is nothing that will make a NEEDY SINNER look to Christ alone or a BELIEVER cling to, and rest in Christ alone more than to realize that everything God is, everything that God requires, and everything that a sinner needs or will ever need is IN JESUS CHRIST. (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

We are perfect in Him! (Colossians 1: 21-22; Jude 1: 24)

He is perfect, and our being in Him makes us perfect. (John 1: 16-17; Colossians 2: 9-10)

This is not speaking of what we shall be, but what we are right now in Christ before God.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Light Afflictions & Eternal Glory”

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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: 5 September, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Return To Thy Rest, O My Soul

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” | Psalm 23: 2-3

Some believers are troubled because they cannot always and at all times feel the joy and comfort set forth in Psalm 23.

We should remember that, though David lived long and wrote much, he wrote only one 23rd Psalm. There are other psalms; psalms of conviction, praise, prayer, seeking, and mourning. In fact, even this Psalm closes with our walk through the valley of death.

This valley of death is our entire journey through life.

The fall of Adam put the stamp of death on everything and everyone. But we are walking through. It is not our home, and it is a valley of the SHADOW of death. Christ has removed the substance and sting of death for us. The shadow of a dog can’t hurt; the shadow of a gun can’t kill.

“I will fear no evil.”

He does not say there will be no evil; but, because He is with me, I don’t FEAR the evil.

~ Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Return To Thy Rest, O My Soul”

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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: n/a