Hallowed Be Your Name

”After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” | Matthew 6: 9

God’s name is highly regarded and greatly respected by Himself and His people.

His law commanded, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20: 7)

His people pray “hallowed be Your name,” (Matthew 6: 9) expressing their desire that His name be sanctified and made holy.

Holy Scriptures speak of His “holy name” many times.

He rebukes those who profane (the English verb profane is from the Latin profanare = “to desecrate, render unholy, violate”) His holy name.

“And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36: 20-23)

The world is notorious for profaning God’s name, especially in its euphemisms and minced oaths.

The name “God” is profaned with: egad; gawd; golly; gosh.

The name “Lord” is profaned with: lordy; lawzy.

The name “Jesus Christ” is profaned with: cheese and rice; crikey; cripes; gee; gee whiz; Jeebus; jeepers; jeez; Jiminy Christmas; Jesus H. Christ; Judas Priest.

We also hear them speaking profane terms such as: begorra; (by God) bejabbers; (by Jesus) dadgum / dagnammit / goldern; (God damn) drat; (God rot it) gadzooks; (God’s hooks – the nails of Christ’s crucifixion) omigosh / omigod / omg (O my God); suffering succotash; (suffering Savior) zounds. (God’s wounds)

May He find His people never profaning His name, and ever among those who pray and practice “hallowed be Your name”!

~ Pastor Daniel E. Parks

Click here to listen to the message “What Jesus Christ Is To Me”

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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

And God Said

”And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” | Genesis 1: 3

Have you ever given any thought to the first recorded word that God ever spoke in the Scriptures?

It seems very proper and fitting to me that it would be the word “LET.”

That is a word that truly belongs to God. Over and over again in the creation of the world, God creates something out of nothing by simply speaking, “Let there be.”

When God says, “Let,” (allow, permit, give, grant, empower, enable, entitle) the result is always the same. AND IT WAS SO.

Let there be light AND THERE WAS LIGHT.

The creation of the world declares the sovereign power of God.

God but speaks such a simple word, yet, when spoken by Him, it is always effectual. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55: 11)

One day in sovereign power and love God spoke to my void, formless, dead and dark heart and said, “Let there be light” and there was light.

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4: 6)

O rejoice dear child of God!

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Thus sayeth the 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: 20 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Vanity Of Vanities

”The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” | Ecclesiastes 1: 1-3

Believer, if you are looking for comfort, don’t look within yourself.

If you look within, all you will find is doubt, confusion, ignorance and unfaithfulness.

But to the one in need of mercy… the Spirit of God moved upon the prophet Isaiah to declare hope to such who are wretched sinners: ‘Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.’

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Vanity of Vanities”

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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: 13 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

From Whence Cometh My Help

”[[A Song of degrees.]] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” | Psalm 121

Believer, our help is Christ.

Our help comes from the hills — His holy hill in heaven and that hill where Christ has given his gospel.

His help is personal help — MY help. “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2: 17-18)

In all our troubles remember the truth revealed in Psalm 121.

The Lord Will Not.

First, the Lord will not allow the feet of his redeemed child to be moved. “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” (Psalm 121: 3)

Many times “our feet are almost gone, our steps well-nigh slipped.” But God our Savior will not allow our feet to be moved. “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.” (Psalm 62: 2)

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91: 11-12)

Secondly, the LORD will not slumber nor sleep. “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121: 3-4)

God never forgets his children.

We can’t remember what to forget and we keep forgetting what we should remember. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 13-14)

“We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick” (Numbers 11: 5)

“Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?” (Matthew 16: 9-10)

But God never forgets his child—neither slumbers nor sleeps. God never ceases to consider his child of grace. “But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.” (Psalm 40: 17)

Each child is always at the center-focus of Gods thoughts. There is never is a moment, night or day, in which the great mind of the Eternal ceases to think of the child he has everlastingly loved in Christ Jesus. “He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

The Lord Is.

The Lord is the keeper of his child. “The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.” (Psalm 121: 5)

Christ is our shade of righteousness and our shade of defense, the shade upon our right hand is Christ our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption — our ALL! “The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.” (Psalm 121: 5-6)

“And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” (Isaiah 4: 5-6)

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4: 10)

“That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1: 29-30)

Christ is able to give his help because Christ is God who created all things but even better, Christ is our Redeemer who by his blood makes all things new. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained” (Psalm 8: 3)

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3: 13)

“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.” (Isaiah 66: 22)

The Lord Shall.

First, the Lord shall preserve each of his children. “The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.” (Psalm 121: 7)

There would be no perseverance of the saints where it not for the preserving of our Lord. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1: 13)

Secondly, notice what the Lord shall preserve his child from—all evil. I found 569 references to evil in the bible. Here are a few:

Evil of the heart. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6: 5)

Evil of your doings; evil report. “And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.” (Numbers 13: 32)

Evil beast; evil congregation. “I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.” (Numbers 14: 35)

Evil place. “And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.” (Numbers 20: 5)

Evil generation. “Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers” (Deuteronomy 1: 35)

Evil diseases. “And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.” (Deuteronomy 7: 15)

Evil name. (Slander) “And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid” (Deuteronomy 22: 14)

Evil spirit; evil dealings; evil understanding. “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28: 28)

Evil time. “The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.” (Psalm 37: 18)

The LORD shall preserve thee from ALL evil. (Job 5: 19-27) http://blb.sc/00G1MH

Also, the LORD shall preserve your soul. “The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.” (Psalm 121: 7)

He shall raise our bodies incorruptible from the dust of the grave, but the soul how important! the soul. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16: 26)

“The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.” (Psalm 34: 22)

Furthermore, the Lord shall preserve our going in and coming out, that is, all our ways. “The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” (Psalm 121: 8)

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3: 6)

When will the LORD start doing this? From this time forth! “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6: 31-34)

“Cast foreboding cares away, God provideth for today.” “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5: 8)

But for how long will the Lord preserve me?

Even for evermore.

The end of this life is just the beginning.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Precious Death That Humbles”

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

Two Important Evidences

”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

Two important truths are obvious in this verse.

First, the only way anyone can believe on Christ the Savior is to be born again with a new nature. Our old nature can never believe on Christ or love Christ. The only thing the new nature can do is believe and love Christ.

Second, anyone who is born again loves God and loves other believers. A child of God loves the other children of God. The family of God loves the family of God.

Where faith in Christ and love for believers is lacking, there is no evidence of the new birth.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Walking Rejoicing”

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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: 13 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

The Blood

”But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” | 1 Corinthians 1: 23-25

The Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed blood atonement.

He said the blood has been shed.

It was God’s blood…

…holy blood,

…precious blood,

…it was divinely sent blood,

…saving blood,

…redeeming blood.

The blood atonement means the life laid down, it means the offering up of the Lord of glory!

And He said this was the only basis on which a Holy God could deal with sinful men.

Not upon your goodness, but upon the basis of His life laid down.

That’s how God deals with sinners.

~ Pastor Rolfe Barnard

Click here to listen to the message “The Preaching of the Cross”

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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

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

The Glorious Gospel of The Blessed God

”This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” | 1 Timothy 1: 15-16

Suppose that an ‘accident’ should take away our lives; I smile to think that the worst thing that could happen would be the best thing that could happen.

If we should die, we should but the sooner be “forever with the Lord.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “The Glorious Gospel of The Blessed 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: 6 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Works, Dead or Good

”And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” | Ruth 1: 16-17

Dead works are those things men do and look to for the hope of their salvation.

Good works are those things believers do when they are looking to Christ alone for all the hope of their salvation.

Dead works are things men glory in.

Good works are never acknowledged by those who do them.

Dead works are performed out of obligation and for reward.

Good works are willing acts of service done out of love for Christ.

Lord, purge our conscience of dead works to serve Thee, the true and living God. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9: 14)

Make us a peculiar people unto Thyself, zealous of Good works. “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2: 14)

Which Thou hast ordained that we should walk in. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2: 10)

~ Pastor Greg Elmquist

Click here to listen to the message “Every Believers Testimony”

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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: 20 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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