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No King, No Rule, No Right, No Wrong

”In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” | Judges 21: 25

This scripture clearly describes the day in which we live.

These days there is no absolute Sovereign God being preached; no Judge; no Lord on the throne; no fear of God; so there is no right or wrong, no sin, no punishment for sin; so everyone is free to do anything they like.

Blame it on the pulpit.

Blame our sick society on the many false preachers who have told everyone for so long now, how much God loves them all, no matter who they are or what they are doing; no matter that they live like hell and hate God in Heaven… he loves you anyway. (They say.)

So men and women believe these liars and live as they please, with no fear of God, and no fear of any consequences for sin.

O’ the great and terrible surprise people are in for when they face the true and living God; the God of the Bible; the Holy and Righteous Lord and King of the universe Who hates sin.

May the same Lord unite our hearts to fear His Name, and call upon Him to have mercy on us all.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The True and False 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 20 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Symptoms Of A Fatal Disease

“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” | Psalm 39: 4-7

MOST fatal diseases do not show up immediately, nor do they kill someone overnight.

They generally begin little unsuspicious symptoms, such as a sniffle, a sore, a small lump or a brief pain. Most times the person ignores these little symptoms until they become much worse and even others notice something wrong with them. So it is most times with the fatal disease called Apostasy.

Apostasy is a fancy word for missing Christ, departing from the faith, leaving the gospel and leaving the church.

It most times begins with little symptoms, such as… no real desire to attend the worship services, (but only do so to maintain appearances) no real fellowship with believers, (quick to get in and out of services) avoidable absences from the worship service, little distractions at home, little temptations to work late, ‘little sins’ indulged, (even enjoyed) the pull and call of the world, which, at one time was resisted, now quickly and easily answered.

The symptoms are many and varied, and if ignored, they eventually break out into glaring problems. The person begins to be unsociable with God’s people, unreachable, not easily entreated. They begin to resent and avoid the calls and concerns of their (supposed) brethren. They begin to find fault with their ‘brethren’ and especially the preacher. Until finally they see no need to gather with ‘those people’ anymore, or listen to ‘that fellow’ anymore.

Little do apostates realize, but THEY HAVE MISSED CHRIST, then they leave; ‘they went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be manifest (revealed, exposed to all) that they are not all of us.’

Fact is, one who leaves never had life to begin with, never was born from above, never was quickened but was and is dead in trespasses and sins.

It is not too late if these words convict one’s conscience and prick one’s heart.

If the symptoms are recognized early it does not have to be fatal …hurtful and injurious, yes, but not fatal! If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself and are concerned, perhaps the Great Physician is dealing with you. The Lord will heal the backslidden in heart and readily receives every prodigal.

If left to our sinful selves we all would fall away.

It can happen to anyone.

Many have left and many more will do so, according to scripture.

But, by the grace of God, all who call on Him, come to Him, no matter how sinful, how fallen (or how many times), how wandering, how downcast and dirty, He mercifully receives and quickly and freely forgives.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Lord I’m so frail”

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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.

Lantana Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 2 September, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Crossville, Tennessee

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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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Sympyoms Of A Fatal Disease

“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” | Psalm 35: 5

MOST fatal diseases do not show up immediately, nor do they kill someone overnight.

They generally begin little unsuspicious symptoms, such as a sniffle, a sore, a small lump or a brief pain. Most times the person ignores these little symptoms until they become much worse and even others notice something wrong with them.

So it is most times with the fatal disease called Apostasy.

Apostasy is a fancy word for missing Christ, departing from the faith, leaving the gospel and leaving the church.

It most times begins with little symptoms, such as…no real desire to attend the worship services (but only do so to maintain appearances), no real fellowship with believers (quick to get in and out of services), avoidable absences from the worship service, little distractions at home, little temptations to work late, ‘little sins’ indulged, (even enjoyed) the pull and call of the world, which, at one time was resisted, now quickly and easily answered.

The symptoms are many and varied, and if ignored, they eventually break out into glaring problems.

The person begins to be unsociable with God’s people, unreachable, not easily entreated. They begin to resent and avoid the calls and concerns of their (supposed) brethren. They begin to find fault with their ‘brethren’ and especially the preacher. Until finally they see no need to gather with ‘those people’ anymore, or listen to ‘that fellow’ anymore.

Little do apostates realize, but THEY HAVE MISSED CHRIST, then they leave; “they went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be manifest (revealed, exposed to all) that they are not all of us.

Fact is, one who leaves never had life to begin with, never was born from above, never was quickened but was and is dead in trespasses and sins.

It is not too late if these words convict one’s conscience and prick one’s heart.

If the symptoms are recognized early it does not have to be fatal …hurtful and injurious, yes, but not fatal!

If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself and are concerned, perhaps the Great Physician is dealing with you. The Lord will heal the backslidden in heart and readily receives every prodigal.

If left to our sinful selves we all would fall away.

It can happen to anyone.

Many have left and many more will do so, according to scripture.

But, by the grace of God, all who call on Him, come to Him, no matter how sinful, how fallen, (or how many times) how wandering, how downcast and dirty, He mercifully receives and quickly and freely forgives.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Lord I’m so frail”

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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.

Lantana Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 2 September, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Crossville, Tennessee

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Out Of The Heart Are The Issues Of Life

”Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” | Proverbs 4: 23

Life begins when the heart starts beating. Life ends when the heart stops.

So it is with spiritual life.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36: 26) Spiritual (eternal) life begins when God takes away the stony heart, the heart that is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and gives “a new heart”. There is no life without heart.

The heart is the real man.

The heart is the seat of affections, convictions, desires and feelings. Real faith comes from the heart, for “With the HEART man believeth unto righteousness.” Real faith is not simply mental but is a heart love. There can be a pretended faith, a mere spoken faith, a mere intellectual belief in facts and doctrines without real heart love for God, Christ, the brethren and holiness. Doctrine only in the head will produce an unfeeling, unloving, uncaring and unemotional man. The love of God shed abroad in the heart will produce a man of many emotions. Love for God, Christ, the Truth, holiness, the brethren; is rooted and comes from the heart.

There is no life without heart.

There is no faith without heart.

Faith is founded on the Word of God and that faith has feelings.

Though we are not saved by feelings, yet no one is saved who does not have them. Feelings come from the heart. Feelings are the reaction of the heart being touched by the Word, the Spirit of God. Show me a man who does not feel his sinfulness, who does not feel a need for Christ, who does not feel joyful upon hearing the gospel, who does not feel deeply thankful and grateful for all his blessings, who does not feel sadness, pain, joy, happiness, gladness, relief, fear and all other emotions at some time upon hearing the gospel . . . the Word of Life . . and I will show you a man WHO HATH NOT LIFE.

Show me someone who never mourns, weeps nor laughs upon hearing the life giving sound, and I will show you someone who is dead. Open up a grave; laugh, cry, shout at the man and you will get no reaction. The man is dead; he has no feelings.

Laugh, cry and shout to the living and they will respond. Show me a woman who is neither cold nor hot upon hearing the gospel, and I will show you a woman whom God will spue out of His mouth. Show me a person who does not reveal a heartfelt love, a first love for Christ, His gospel, His people, and I will show you someone who loves the world and has missed Christ.

Show me a man who claims to preach the gospel, who does not go forth with weeping, bearing the precious seed, and I will show you a man who is a hireling, a pretender, who will bring in no sheaves. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126: 5-6)

Though we should not look to these feelings, trust these feelings, or seek assurance from them, (for they come and go) yet there is joy and assurance to be had, when the Word of Life is indeed a SAVOUR OF LIFE to us — “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” (Galatians 6: 4)

Savour is taste.

Savour is smell.

Savour is enjoyment.

And when the Spirit bears witness with our spirit, He makes the Word very savoury to us. He makes Christ very savoury to us, He makes the tabernacle (His church) very amiable to us, He makes the brethren to be loved by us.

Whenever the Holy Spirit was present in the early church there was fire, fear, repentance, faith, feelings of conviction, love, joy, peace, and so much more. (Acts 2) He is called Spirit for that is what He is and that is the realm he operates in.

The heart is the spirit of a man.

When the Spirit of God moves on someone, they are moved! “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11: 7)

When God gives life to a dead man, he is alive unto God and a new man!

When God saves someone, it is a glorious and obvious thing! A new (like natural) birth… crying, laughing, living, new born babe in Christ… a miracle of God’s grace and power; a wonderful thing; an obvious thing; an inward and outward work of God to the praise of His glory.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Marks of a Believer”

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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: 20 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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The Purpose Of The Church

”And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.” | 1 Kings 8: 20-21

This was Solomon’s declaration concerning the temple he built, which is the purpose of the church.

The church (people of God) is the temple of God, wherein the Name of the Lord is proclaimed, worshipped and honored.

And it is the place where you will hear the gospel of Christ… Whom the Ark of the covenant represents.

This is the sole purpose of the church, the pillar and ground of the truth; to honor God and preach Christ and Him crucified.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?”

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

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The Miracle Of Salvation

”From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” | Matthew 16: 21-23

The Lord Jesus Christ performed many miracles while upon this earth.

He cast out devils, healed lepers, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf; He raised the dead.

While these miracles certainly prove Him to be the Christ, they are also illustrations of how the Lord saves sinners.

Every sinner the Lord saves, is all these things…

…possessed by a devil;

…a sinful leper;

…deaf, dumb, blind and dead in sin.

Salvation is a miracle of God’s sovereign grace and power. Nothing more or less can save a sinner but the power of Christ; the Word Truth, the gospel.

May the Lord be pleased to perform a miracle today.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “From Cephas To Satan”

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

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True Conversion

”Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” | Psalm 143: 7-8

When the Word of GOD converts a man, it takes away from him his despair, but it does not take away from him his repentance and sorrow for sin.

True conversion gives a man full pardon from all sin, but does not make him presumptuous. He continually is “coming to Christ.”

True conversion gives a man perfect rest, but does not stop his growth in grace, works of faith and labor of love.

True conversion gives a man security and assurance in Christ, but does not allow him to leave off being watchful. “Keep thine heart, for out of it are the issues of life.”

True conversion gives a man strength and righteousness, but it never lets him boast nor have any confidence in the flesh.

True conversion makes Christian duties, service, worship, and study to be a joy and a pleasure, never burden- some nor grievous, and certainly never considered as a way to find favor with GOD.

True conversion brings a man to live FOR GOD. He does what he does for the glory of GOD. True conversion brings a man to live WITH GOD. He seeks and desires blessed communion with the Redeemer.

The most treasured times are those hours of sweet fellowship with Him and His people.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Hear My Prayer, O Lord”

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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: 26 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Since Christ Is!

“Lord, make me to know my end and the measure of my days that I may know how frail I am.” | Psalm 39: 4

He that hath the Son hath life!

WISDOM . . . to be without Him is folly. No matter how much worldly wisdom one may have, not to know Him and worship Him is to be a fool. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. For the ox or ass to not know nor acknowledge his Master would be fatal folly. The fool hath said NO GOD.

RIGHTEOUSNESS . . . to be without Him is to be unrighteous (totally wrong). No matter how right one may think they are, or others may think they are, they are wrong in all that they are and believe. Everything they do, think and say is wrong.

SANCTIFICATION . . . to be without Him is to be unholy. No matter how moral, how seemingly good before men. To be without Christ is to be counted unholy, unrighteous, self-righteous, unclean, filthy, unprofitable and totally unacceptable to God. Yes, God is that strict and holy.

REDEMPTION . . . to be without Him is to be sold unto sin, in captivity to the god of this world, worthless, vain and waiting to be cast away from God’s presence as rubbish.

THE WAY . . . to be without Him is to be headed the wrong way. There is a way that seemeth right to men, but it is all wrong and ends up in destruction. Christ is the Way . . . the right Way, the only Way to God.

THE TRUTH . . . Everything and everyone else is a lie. All religions, doctrines, beliefs, messiahs, and those who believe and follow them are living a lie. Half a truth is a lie and only Christ is whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.

THE LIFE . . . to be without Him is to be dead! No matter what kind of life one may think they have, it is no life at all without Christ. They are not living the good life who merely have an abundance of things without any troubles, but are as lambs being fattened for the slaughter. Should we envy the fat cow who does nothing but eat and sleep? No, nor should we look on anything but eternal things as being true blessings. He that hath the Son hath life!

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Waiting for something good”

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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

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Spiritual Growth By The Word

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” | 1 Peter 2: 2

One certain evidence of spiritual life is growth.

The grace of God that brings salvation causes one to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Spiritual life is the life of faith, and “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” And it is not just ‘reading the bible’ but feeding on Christ. He said, “except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood ye have no part in me.” That is faith in Christ. And that faith cometh by the hearing and reading of God’s Word.

The Word of God (gospel) is the seed that is sown in the heart and soul, bringing forth new and spiritual life. The Word of God is the food of that new soul, causing it to grow and bring forth fruit. God’s Word is called milk (for babes), meat (for strong men and women), bread, butter, honey… FOOD for the nourishment and growth of our spiritual bodies.

Just as poor diet, bad food and vices can stunt physical growth, leaving one weak and sickly; a poor diet of God’s Word, lack of hearing the preached Word, lack of fellowship, and the things of this world can stunt the growth of a believer.

Would it not be well to start the day with God’s Word?

Would it not be a good thing to supply our minds, hearts and souls with good food to go on? (Rather than fill them with junk.)

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” And even more important than the reading of the Word is the hearing of the Word preached. It is like a double portion of food; a many course meal of good food for the soul, already prepared for you. You need only come with hunger and dine. The soul who comes to the gospel table often will be fat and prospering; while the one who stays away will have leanness of soul.

“Desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby.”

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Peculiar People 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 3 August, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia