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It Is Good For Me That I Am Afflicted

”It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy ways.” | Psalm 119: 71

God’s ways and God’s word are best learned by experience and in time of trouble.

When our Lord is pleased to lay his hand heavily upon us, we do not soon forget the lessons learned.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3: 19)

When the Lord singles out a believer or a church for special affliction and adversity, it is not for punishment nor lack of love for them; it is for eternal blessings and because He does love them.

“Whom the Lord loveth” he chastens, corrects, and teaches!

When Job sat before his friends, who was afflicted?

The one God loved!

When Paul stood before King Agrippa, who wore the chains?

The one God loved!

Humanly speaking, which path of life would you prefer to live on earth, that of Esau or Jacob?

Esau had the life of prosperity and ease; Jacob was full of trouble and conflict.

But God loved Jacob!

Thank God he has not left us alone!

Thank God he has loved us in Christ and is pleased to teach us his ways by dealing with us in such a way that we are weaned from the world and find our life, comfort, and hope only in him.

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12: 8)

A person who measures his blessings and relationship with God by his prosperity, health, happiness, and worldly comforts makes a fatal mistake.

Paul wrote, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

He who sends the trial for his glory and my good will supply the grace sufficient.

Those who know the Redeemer also know that when we are weak, we are strong; when we are poor, we are rich; when we are empty, we are full; and when we die, we live!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Joy After Chastening” (44:48 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: 3 March, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

”Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” | John 14: 1

Besides the royal command, we have the cure for heart trouble.

It is faith!

”Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

There is no want He cannot supply.

There is no sickness He cannot heal.

There is no danger He cannot prevent.

There is no misery He cannot remove.

There is no sin He cannot forgive.

There is no enemy He cannot defeat.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” (Psalms 42: 5)

Christ is God in our nature — so near at hand and so accessible to our faith.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Fear Not — I Am With Thee”

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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: 20 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Lift Up My Eyes Unto The Hills

”Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word; It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” | Psalms 119: 67; 71

There are times when the believer needs the sunshine and there are times when we benefit from the storm.

The psalmist declared, “before I was afflicted I went astray… It is good for me that I have been afflicted.”

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “Lift Up My Eyes Unto The Hills”

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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: 20 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Wait On The Lord

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” | Psalm 27: 14

Waiting on the Lord is an attitude that is completely foreign to the natural man.

That’s why the new man struggles while he truly desires to wait on the One who loves him and gave Himself for him.

He knows that the Lord is working all things after the counsel of His own will and that whatsoever comes to pass has been eternally purposed by the Lord for His glory and the eternal good of His elect and shall not fail to be brought about.

But though these truths are known and loved by the people of God… still they experience the battle within to take matters into their own hands.

O may the Lord help us to wait upon Him.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Wait On 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 11 April, 2021 | Previous post date: 19 June, 2021

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But The Lord Is Faithful

”But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” | 2 Thessalonians 3: 3

No physician ever weighed out medicine to his patients with half so much care and exactness as our God weighs out to His children every trial.

Not one grain too much does He ever permit to be put in the scale.

Click here to listen to the message “But The Lord Is Faithful”

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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 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Rest From Thy Sorrow

“And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,” | Isaiah 14: 3

May we have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones, knowing that “…the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow;”

Click here to listen to the message “We Will Rejoice In Thy 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Lord Gave And The Lord Hath Taken Away

”And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” | Job 1: 21

When God had sent Job severe trials he fell down upon the ground and worshipped.

In his worship he magnified his Lord as the absolute sovereign in all things.

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11: 36)

Some people would only recognize that the Lord gives, which He abundantly does.

“Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40: 5)

However, the believer rejoices that the Lord gives and that the Lord does take away.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16)

The Lord Jesus Christ does abundantly give His people all things in salvation, “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)

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Corinthians 2: 12)

The believer can also rejoice that the Lord does also take away, He has taken away all our sin, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1: 29)

“But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9: 26)

Believers like Job, bow before the Lord and worship Him.

We do rejoice that our great God does all things well, as David said, “As for God, His way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22: 31)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Sovereign Mercy Demonstrated”

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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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 11 January, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

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What Is Your Heart Set On?

“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: 6

Here is great comfort for the child of God, especially under trials.

God will not forsake the work of his grace.

He will perform the work begun till we stand in His presence complete, without spot or blemish.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “What Is Your Heart Set On?”

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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: 23 August, 2020 | Previous post date: 23 May, 2021

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Comfort In Trouble

”Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” | Jeremiah 17: 5-8

Being a believer in Jesus Christ and resting in His good providence does not exempt us from trouble, trial, sorrow and heartache in this life.

Our Lord said, “In this world you shall have tribulation” “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)

But here is our comfort and help, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” “[[To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.]] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46: 1)

Our blessed Lord said, “Come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 16)

Our gracious God has promised wisdom to understand the trial. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1: 5)

Grace to endure and bear the trial. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9)

Faith to trust and believe God through the trial. “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4: 19-20)

Peace to rest in His purpose, knowing that this trial works to our eternal good. (Romans 8: 28-35) http://blb.sc/00F5OJ

Hope to rejoice in our Lord and Saviour, Who said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13: 5)

Surely, we must conclude that we are needy and sinful creatures and that the Lord Jesus Christ is our only resource of help and hope! “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 19)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Cursed In The Flesh, Blessed In Christ”

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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: 27 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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What Do I Do Now?

”And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” | Genesis 17: 1

What do I do when I am under severe trial, enduring pain of body and mind, and am full of fear?

What do I do when dying seems to be easier than living with the circumstances the Lord has given me?

The answer for the believer is simple: do the same things you do when the Lord blesses you: worship publicly, pray, and read God’s Word. What do I do when I don’t understand what God is doing or how He could possibly bring good out of my painful situation? Go to the house of the Lord in the public worship service just like you do when the Lord blesses you. “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” (Psalm 73: 16-17)

What do I do when I am so full of fear?

Trust the Lord just like you do when the Lord blesses you. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56: 3)

What do I do when I feel hopeless and helpless?

Look to Christ just like you do when the Lord blesses you. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” (Psalm 121: 1)

What do I do when I don’t think I have the strength to endure for one more minute?

Trust the Lord to be your strength. “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick.” (Ezekiel 34: 16)

No matter what our circumstances may be at the moment, let us say with David, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34: 1)

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Walking Before 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 14 November, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a