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The Prayer Of Faith

“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” | James 5: 15-16

James assures us that the prayer of faith, the prayer that is born of and caused by faith in Christ, shall save the sick.

Of course the word “save” means “deliver.”

The prayer of faith shall, most assuredly, deliver the sick from his sickness.

What is “the prayer of faith”?

The next verse tell us: “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

“THE PRAYER OF FAITH IS “EFFECTUAL”.

The word used by James means “in wrought”.

It is a prayer wrought in, or produced in the heart of a believer by the Spirit of God.

“For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.” (2 Samuel 7: 27)

It is a prayer that is found in the heart, produced by the work of God and based upon the Word of God.

Without question, the prayer of faith willingly submits to the will of God.

But there is more to it than that.

“And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8: 27)

The prayer of faith discerns what the will of God is by the illumination of the Holy Spirit in his heart.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5: 14)

And the prayer of faith is according to the will of God.

THE PRAYER OF FAITH IS “FERVENT”.

Faith is importunate.

“I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Luke 11: 8-10)

It will not give up its plea until it obtains the mercy it seeks.

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Matthew 15: 28)

Like the Syrophenician woman, faith cannot be turned away.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7: 25)

THE PRAYER OF FAITH IS THE PRAYER OF “A RIGHTEOUS MAN”, one who has been made righteous by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to him and by the cleansing of his blood.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14: 15)

It is the prayer of one who draws near to, calls upon, and is accepted of God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH “AVAILETH MUCH”.

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” (Proverbs 15: 8)

The prayer of the righteous is God’s delight; therefore “he heareth the prayer of the righteous.”

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” (1 John 5: 1)

We have what we desire, because what we desire is what our heavenly Father desires – his will and his glory.

“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” (Proverbs 15: 29)

We gladly subject all our desires to these two things.

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4: 3)

The prayer of faith is free of selfish desire and personal want.

The prayer of faith wants what God has purposed.

Therefore, it is always effectual.

If my will is subject to and in harmony with my Father’s will, I may, and most assuredly shall have what I will.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Baptist, The Bride, & The Bridegroom” (45:01 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: 11 August 2008 | Previous post date: 8 March, 2022 | Ewing, New Jersey

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The Spirit Of Grace And Supplications

”He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” | Isaiah 53: 11

I am not satisfied with anything that has my fingerprints on it.

I can only find satisfaction in that which God finds satisfaction in.

“He shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied.”

God is completely satisfied with the work of His Son.

He is perfectly satisfied with all for whom Christ died!

Christ is satisfied with what He did in their behalf.

That is why He sat down at the right hand of God.

He left nothing undone!

”Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10: 15-17)

The Spirit is satisfied with the work of the Son.

“By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified, whereof also the Holy Ghost is a witness to us.”

If the Father, Son, and Spirit are completely satisfied with what Christ did, I am too!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “The Spirit of Grace and Supplications” (34:30 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 9 October, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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Go Forth Unto Him!

”Let brotherly love continue.” | Hebrews 13: 1

If you confess to this world that all your hope is — not in yourself – but in Christ Jesus your Lord whose suffering without the camp made you holy and accepted with God eternally then you will be an offense to this world.

Glorying in the cross of Christ means renouncing any sanctifying, justifying work that you, or any other man, has or can perform.

Glorying in the cross of Christ is to give yourself, your time, your energy, your all to worship and witness of Christ Jesus your Lord and Savior.

”Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3: 12)

If you leave behind this self-serving, self-righteous, will-worshipping generation and go forth unto Christ without the camp then you shall bear reproach.

You will bear it from unbelieving fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, friends and family, but the Lord stated that if we love any more than him we are not worthy of him.

You will bear scorn from the religious world.

Remember: the reproach which Christ suffered was at the hands of religious men and women — religion excommunicated him, kicked him out of the camp, because they would not confess their sin, let go of their self-righteous deeds, and confess him to be Lord and Savior.

The political, secular world rejected him because faith in Christ requires no compromise and the world’s system requires you to compromise to the world’s government, business, and popularity.

It is fine with the world if you serve Christ and the world; but Christ is clear that it is an impossibility to do so.

Yet if Christ makes you know in spirit that he was suffering for you then you will find that there is not anything which is too much to suffer for Christ!

Either we go without the camp and bear his reproach or we compromise with the enemies of Christ.

We can not do both.

”Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” (Hebrews 13: 13)

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Unbelief and Faith” (59:19 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: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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What Is Your Comfort?

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” | Psalm 23: 4

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.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on Thee.” (Isaiah 26: 3)

We are still human; but our peace, rest, and joy is Christ.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Believer’s Comfort” (27:27 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: 11 August 2008 | Previous post date: 1 September, 2021 | Ewing, New Jersey

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Adam, The First And The Second

”Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” | Romans 8: 34

We fell in the first Adam through no fault of our own, we rise in the second Adam through no merit of our own, so we rise in the same manner as we fell, only in a different person.

It is in the Free Grace of God that we are taken back into His favor.

I wish we could understand that just as we were condemned in Adam and came under the just sentence of death, if we believe in the Lord Jesus, we shall be cleansed from our many offenses, and God will look on us as perfectly just in Christ Jesus.

”And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8: 27)

We shall by faith have peace with God and there shall be good reason for peace, for everything which made God angry with us shall have been put away, and we will be able with confidence to say, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

”What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8: 31)

Even if the devil was base enough to fabricate a charge against the believer, yet we could say, “It is God that justifieth who is He that condemneth?”

”He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8: 32)

Since Christ has died and risen again, and now sits at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us, what judgment have we to fear?

Glory to God for that free gift!

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “Consider These Things” (43:10 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 9 October, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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The Just Shall Live By Faith

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” | Matthew 17: 20

The phrase the just shall live by faith is in the scriptures four times:

“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2: 4)

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1: 17)

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3: 11)

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10: 38)

The just shall live by faith must be important since it is in scripture four times, but what does it mean?

Three things immediately spring to mind.

First, the just shall live by faith means that a sinner is justified by the faithfulness OF Christ to obey the law as a man as the representative of His people and to make the sacrifice that puts away the sin of His people without any help from the sinner.

Second, the just shall live by faith means that a sinner is justified through faith IN Christ without any of our works contributing in any way.

A sinner is justified by relying on the Lord Jesus Christ to do all the work it takes to justify them.

Third, the just shall live by faith means that the justified ones live believing the Word of God.

The justified ones believe everything the Word of God says.

The justified ones believe every promise of God.

They do not try to live on what they think God might do.

They live relying upon what God says He WILL do in His Word.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Don’t Despise Humble Beginnings” (32:25 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: Special | Previous post date: 21 June, 2021

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True Faith

“And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” | 2 Samuel 11: 26-27

True faith throbs in a man’s pulse, it looks out of his eyes, it lights up his countenance, it softens his touch, it mellows his voice, it bows his head, it bends his knee, it opens his hand, it soft-pedals his tongue, it breaks his heart, it orders his steps, and it gives him a hearing ear.

He lives for Christ; and, if necessary, he would die for Him.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Has Put Away Your Sin” (57:52 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: Special | Previous post date: 14 June, 2021

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Six Things Believers Will Do

“O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.” | Psalm 79: 8-9

1). Believers so trust Christ as to renounce every other ground of confidence. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3: 7-9)

2). Believers glory only in the righteousness of Christ and count their own to be filthy rags. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64: 6)

3). Believers rejoice in the cross of substitution, glorying in nothing else. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6: 14)

4).Believers love the Lord Jesus supremely and will so order their lives as to avoid commitments and associations which hinder fellowship with Him. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14: 26-27)

5). Believers will continue in the faith, for true believers never quit. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1 John 2: 19)

6). Believers obey the Lord’s commandments, not in order to gain His favor but because they love Him and dwell in His favor. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5: 14-15)

Believers trust Christ, glory only in Christ’s righteousness, rejoice in the cross, love the Lord Jesus, continue in the faith and obey the Lord’s commandments.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Who Is God?” (40:37 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: Special | Previous post date: 7 June, 2021

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The Façade Of Religion Covers The Smiling Face Of The Devil

“They That Observe Lying Vanities Forsake Their Own Mercy” | Jonah 2: 8

WHAT are the lying vanities of which the scripture speaks?

The wise man wrote: “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, ALL is vanity.” (Proverbs 12: 8)

The flesh, the world and the devil promise many things, but are all liars!

Riches are deceitful¸ promising happiness and contentment, when in fact they gender the opposite.

The world talks of wisdom, knowledge, enlightenment, when in fact they lie about most things (not revealing the facts, bringing up false ‘witnesses’, manufacturing ‘findings’ and ‘sources’).

David said in his haste “All men are liars.”

God’s people are not liars, but the world is so full of them, that all seem to be so.

And David’s son said: “Money answereth all things” i.e. behind every lying scheme is the love of money.

The devil, who is the father of lies, perpetrated and is perpetuating all his lies in the name of truth.

Behind the façade of religion is the smiling face of the devil, who has his ministers of righteousness, who are all liars, evil men and seducers, waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

And money is behind it all.

For us to observe lying vanities, is to listen to the world and put stock in what it is saying.

It is to listen to the experts, the wise men and women of this world rather than God.

To observe lying vanities is to listen to and participate in the world’s religions.

To observe lying vanities is to walk with, talk with and commune with the liars of this world (evil communications corrupt good manners), for you cannot really believe anyone except a true believer, one who has the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them and leading them.

The natural man is out for himself, not truth, not the good of others.

To observe lying vanities is to think that anyone or anything in this world can be of some good to us.

Fact is, there is nothing truly good in this world except the things of God and the people of God.

God says of this world, “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, NO, NOT ONE!” (Psalm 14: 3)

He said, “Love not the world, neither the things of this world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.”

He said, “They (false prophets) are of the world: therefore speak they of the world (health, wealth, material things) and the world heareth them.” (1 John 2: 15-16; 1 John 4: 5)

To forsake our own mercy is to absent ourselves from the preaching of God’s Word, which exposes all lies within us and without us, and reveals to us the vanities of this world.

The Word of God is His mercy to hell-deserving sinners.

It is our mercy to hear and heed it.

It is full of warnings, rebukes, reproofs and corrections to save us from perishing with this world . . . to save us from this untoward generation.

To observe the lying vanities of science, medicine, politics, which tell us to stay in the ‘safety’ of our homes and not gather with God’s people, is a terrible lie that robs us of mercy.

To observe the lying vanity that there is peace, happiness, and comfort in the home with our family, rather than worship with God’s family, is a terrible lie and deception; for all homes and families will soon be gone and only God’s house and family will remain.

“See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12: 25-29)

Yes . . . They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

To listen to, pursue and court the things of this world and the people of this world rather than God, the things of God, and the people of God . . . is to cut your own throat . . . it is to cut off your own life-line . . . it is to commit spiritual suicide.

Wherefore . . . “Flee Idolatry” . . . “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord” . . . “Come thou with us and we will do thee good” . . . “Desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby” . . . “Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity.”

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Intercession For A Sinner” (30:04 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: Special | Previous post date: 7 May, 2021

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Not Far From The Kingdom Of God

“And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” | Mark 12: 34

Not far from the kingdom of God is still not in it.

This is a miserable place to be.

It is to have the knowledge of God, Christ, and sin, yet not able to lay hold of Christ by faith as my all in all.

O what misery, to know and not have.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “The Certainty of the Words of Truth” (43:42 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: Special | Previous post date: 8 April, 2022