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Partakers

”I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.” | Psalm 145: 1-4

Being a “partaker” can be a wonderful thing depending on who you are taking part with.

To “partake” simply means to “take part.”

It means to “share” with, to “partner” with, and to be a “companion” with someone.

It means to “belong” to someone.

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” (Hebrews 3: 14)

How glorious then is the thought of being a “partaker of Christ Jesus?”

In Jesus Christ, God’s elect people are:

Partakers of the Heavenly Calling. “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;” (Hebrews 3: 1)

Partakers of the Holy Ghost. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,” (Hebrews 6: 4)

Partakers of God’s Amazing Grace. “Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.” (Philippians 1: 7)

Partakers of spiritual things. “It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” (Romans 15: 27)

Partakers of the benefit. “And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.” (1 Timothy 6: 2)

Partakers of Christ’s Divine Nature. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1: 4)

Partakers of Christ’s Holiness. “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” (Hebrews 12: 10)

Partakers of His Inheritance. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” (Colossians 1: 12)

In Jesus Christ, God’s elect people are made partakers of Christ.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “A Way That Seems Right But Not” (42:31 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 25 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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God Is Patient With The Tares

”What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles” | Romans 9: 22-24

God is patient with the tares that He might have mercy on the wheat.

In Matthew 13 our Lord referred to these “vessels of wrath fitted for destruction” as “tares”, and He referred to His “vessels of mercy” as “wheat”.

He gave a parable of “a man who sowed good seed in his field… But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.”

The man’s servants wanted to pull up the tares and cast them out, but the man said, “Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.”

What do we learn from this?

Our God is patient with the “tares” that He might have mercy on the “wheat”!

He endures with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy!

If this is our Lord’s way, may it be ours too.

He said: “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Gospel Is For The Guilty” (28:20 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: 29 July, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Rejecting God In The Name Of Obeying God

”The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.” | John 19: 31

Legalistic Antinominism.

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10: 4)

Removing the body of God’s chosen Sabbath from off the cross in the name of observing God’s law manifests the natural mind’s backwardness of imagining acceptance by law-obedience rather than through faith in Christ who is the end of the law for righteousness.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Warnings from the Master” (45:37 minutes)

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 29 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Much To Be Thankful For

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” | Philippians 1: 3-6

Brethren, do we not have so much to be thankful for?

God, the Heavenly Father chose us before the foundation of the world to save us from all of our ruin and sin.

God, the glorious Son gave His life to pay the price for all of our ruin and sin.

God, the Holy Spirit has called us out of our darkness into the glorious light of the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

We have been given the word of God.

We have been given the gospel of God.

We have been given each other – the people of God.

We have been given spiritual eyes to see Christ.

We have been given spiritual ears to hear Christ.

We have been given spiritual hearts to believe on Christ.

We have been given a place to worship Him.

We have been given freedom to worship Him.

He has given, and given, and given to us.

What do we have that has not been freely given to us from Him?

Even our trials have been given for the purpose of bringing good to us.

We have no reason to complain about any of our Lord’s dealings with us; only reason to give thanks to Him.

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 107: 1)

May our Lord put a spirit of thanks in our hearts, and a word of thanks on our tongues both now and forever more.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Seek Ye The Lord” (29:14 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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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: 14 September, 2021

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Why Did God Choose The Poor Of This World?

”And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.” | Exodus 14: 19-20

The Spirit of God moved James to write the word “hearken” meaning that the following statement is a matter of great importance, worthy of the attention of every believer.

”Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor.” (James 2: 5-6)

It pleased God that the majority of those he chose to save in Christ Jesus be poor in temporal possessions.

Why is that worthy of our attention?

One reason may be that a lack of temporal riches is an example of the natural spiritual condition of all those Christ redeemed.

By disobeying God, our earthly father Adam, wasted all his spiritual substance thus leaving the family of mankind in the poverty of sin and spiritual death.

Every elect child of God for whom Christ died is spiritually ungodly in the worst of all poverty outside of God’s grace.

Yet, our heavenly Father chose to bestow the riches of faith freely upon sinners who are temporaly poor in this world to further manifest the riches of his super-abounding grace toward those so destitute in spiritual poverty that they possess no ability to produce anything of spiritual worth by their own works.

The riches of God’s promise become truly unsearchable when revealed in the hearts of sinners bankrupt of any righteousness whatsoever.

Only a wretch living in the slums of sin truly understands that it was purely the choice of his sovereign King to reserve him a seat at his table in his kingdom for all eternity.

It is not that God did not choose to give some of his saints material wealth in this world.

Yet, like king David when giving of his treasure for the building of the temple, all those enriched by God’s grace are brought to confess that our every earthly possession is only that which God has lent us to be used for the further exaltation of his Son and the care of his poor saints in this world.

When we consider the love of Christ who for our sakes became poor that we might be made rich, his love constrains us, not to despise his poor saints, but to share God’s riches, both temporal and spiritual.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “When God Isn’t There” (51:36 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: 26 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Things That God Has Prepared

”But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” | 1 Corinthians 2: 9

Preaching that is most blessed to my heart is that which is declared from a man truly taught of God…

…one who proclaims only the glory of Christ, but sees himself as one who desperately needs to be taught…

…a man who prayerfully considers the Divine truth of God’s word and plainly proclaims it in such a way that the Lord Jesus receives all the honor, glory and praise and therein, needy sinners can hear and feast upon the Bread of Heaven Himself.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Things That God Has Prepared” (28:45 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 25 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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There Is No Rejection In Election

”But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” | 2 Thessalonians 2: 13

All men and women are born into this world spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins”.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2: 1)

All are under the curse of the law, and all are deserving of eternal damnation.

“But God”!

God chose to show mercy to some sinners through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Had God not chosen to do that, not one soul would have been saved.

Contrary to what many may believe, there is no rejection in election.

God did not chose for some to be saved and some to be damned.

Mankind was already damned.

God elected to save His people from damnation, and He reveals who He chose to do this for through The Holy Spirit giving a sinner “belief of the truth”.

Therefore, all who have been given this faith to believe on the saving work and blood of Christ alone are bound to give thanks to God for choosing to save them before the foundation of the world.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Every One Written In The Book” (29:00 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: 22 July, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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His Name Is Lord Jesus Christ

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” | Ephesians 6: 1-3

It is most grievous to me to hear those who profess to fear, know and love the Lord… refer to Him simply as ‘Jesus.’

It is not intimacy, it is ignorance and irreverence, no matter who does so; though we or an angel from heaven. (Though no angel would do so!)

His disciples did not!

His disciples, who were closer and more intimate with the Lord than anyone, never called Him Jesus but always called Him Lord.

He said they did well in doing so. “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” (John 13: 13)

I was very intimate with my earthly father but never referred to him as Henry, still don’t.

I had/have too much respect for him.

The unbelieving world refers to the Lord Jesus simply as Jesus.

The devils referred to Him as Jesus – “Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.” (Mark 1: 24)

“And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” (Acts 19: 15)

The Pharisees called Him Jesus.

Some Greek men wanted to ‘see Jesus.’ Well, they never did. He didn’t give them audience. He did not speak to them.

If you want to see the King you must refer to Him as such.

He that cometh to God must believe that He is and must call Him so.

A.W. Pink once said: ‘The Holy Spirit can refer to the Lord Jesus as Jesus in scripture, like the queen can call the king (George) by his first name, but His servants and subjects must always call him King George.’

Paul wrote: ‘We see Jesus, made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.’

He was a man named Jesus in order to die, but since He died, He is now ‘crowned with glory and honor… high and lifted up… seated in the Heavens and upon hearing the name of Jesus, you are to always call Him LORD Jesus.

Those who truly fear Him, reverence Him and love Him call Him Lord.

‘Lord’ is the name above every name.

Jesus, though a worthy name, a wonderful name, which means savior, is the name of His humanity, His humiliation… another man bore that name… Joshua.

You may refer to Joshua as Jesus, but never as Lord.

No one bears the Name Lord but the Lord of lords.

Every single person in scripture who was called by Him, saved by Him, came to know Him… called Him Lord.

Christ’s Most Intimate Disciples Call Him ‘Lord.’

Listen to brother Matthew Henry’s comment on John the apostle, who was closer and more intimate with the Lord than all the disciples… “He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto Him, Lord who is it?”

“He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?” (John 13: 25)

Though John whispered this in Christ’s ear, yet he called him ‘Lord’; the familiarity he was admitted to did not at all lessen his respect for his Master.

It becomes us to use a reverence in expression, and to observe a decorum even in our secret devotions, (which no eye is a witness to) as well as in public assemblies.

“And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:” (Genesis 18: 27)

The more intimate communion someone has with Christ, the more sensible they are of His worthiness and their own unworthiness, as Abraham, though the friend of God, says, “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes”.

~ Matthew Henry

Click here to listen to the message “Children, Servants, Masters” (38:32 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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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: 11 September, 2022 | Pikeville, Kentucky