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From Heaven Through His Church

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” | Isaiah 2: 1-3

The passage speaks of all nations flowing unto the Lord’s house.

We read that many people, not just his elect from among the Jews, shall go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.

Also, note that it is the Lord who shall do the teaching; that he shall teach, not of man’s ways, but of his ways.

The prophet says that when he teaches his people they will walk, not in the path of the little obstinate-stiff-necked hills, but in the Lord’s paths.

All this is because the law and the word of the Lord are going forth out of Zion from the top of the mountains and out of his Jerusalem.

“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23: 1-8)

After our Lord established and exalted his church by his life, his sacrifice and his ascension, God the Father gave him all power in heaven and in earth to send forth the gospel from heaven through his church on earth that he might rule in the midst of his enemies.

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110: 1-4)

From his throne in the mountain of glory, Christ Jesus the Lord is now establishing his church by drawing his redeemed people from the north, the south, the east and the west; an elect people out of all nations.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)

From heavens Zion our victorious King Prophet is teaching his people through the local assemblies and pastors which he has established and raised up.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (Colossians 1: 21-23)

His people rejoice to hear of his way of electing grace, of establishing them complete in God’s presence in righteous judgment by his own wisdom, righteousness and holiness.

They delight in his way of regenerating his spiritually dead children when he comes in power and grace to each of them; his way of preserving them by the word of his power and of faithfully fulfilling his every promise.

“Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.” (Zechariah 8: 1-3)

As he draws them to his house one-by-one, it is not a grand spectacle or something even noticed by the world of religion who reject the gospel for another jesus.

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.” (Micah 4: 1)

Yet, by the work that he alone is performing, his elect, hear his voice from heaven through his church on earth and they follow him.

“Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.” (Micah 3: 9-12)

Christ has made the path free of all thorns of sin and stones of ignorance; they know he is the Way and therefore they walk in his path.

“Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 51: 25-26)

This is the second manner in which the Lord establishes and exalts his house above the insignificant hills of falsehood.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Faith’s Confidence” (17:15 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: 1 August, 2008 | Previous post date: 28 August, 2021 | Ewing, New Jersey

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Blessed Assurance

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” | John 15: 16

Assurance of salvation and a saving interest in our Lord Jesus is not a feeling cultivated by thinking good thoughts and doing good deeds.

Paul calls it “full assurance of faith.” It has to do with faith, with believing God!

Assurance is born of confidence in the Father as our covenant God; “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

Assurance is born of confidence in the Son as our just God and Saviour; “By His stripes we are healed.”

Assurance is born of confidence in His promises; “Abraham was fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.”

“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Hebrews 4: 11)

So your assurance of redemption is not enhanced by the more you work, but by the more you trust in Him.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain” (39:07 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: 11 February, 2018 | Previous post date: 10 June, 2022

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The Eternal God Is Thy Refuge

”The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” | Deuteronomy 33: 27

As I get older and look back over my life, the one thing that becomes so important to me is not that I have lived for Christ; but that Christ lived, died, rose again, and ascended on High for me.

What a great future I have ahead of me.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “The Eternal God Is Thy Refuge” (29:45 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: 12 June, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Can These Bones Live?

”And this is the will of him that me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” | John 6: 40

Christ will never have finished his work upon believers till he has raised their bodies from the grave and glorified them like his own resurrection body.

He will never cease from the work which he has commenced on any one of his people till he has laid the top stone in the glorious perfections of heaven; and this truth is the joy of our hearts even now.

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Can These Bones Live?” (23:51 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: 27 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Sin, Righteousness, Judgment

“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.” | Psalm 32: 5-6

The Holy Spirit convicts every sinner, for whom Christ died for of these three things.

Sin: Sin is what I am, not just the things I do or don’t do.

Sin is my nature, “I was born in sin and shapen in iniquity”.

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51: 5)

He gives to those whom He saves a right understanding of sin.

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” (Psalm 51: 4)

Righteousness: First. I don’t have righteousness.

Second. Jesus Christ is all my righteousness; “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”

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

Christ’s obedience, even unto death is the righteousness of the saints.

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10: 12-13)

Judgment: I deserve the judgment of God’s wrath, that’s true.

The Holy Spirit takes every sinner whom He saves to the Cross and reveals to them God’s judgment on them in their Substitute, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 36)

My judgment passed on Him and I am free.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 1)

Therefore we conclude; “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “Unto The Praise Of His Glory” (43:09 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: 1 June, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a

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Sin And Forgiveness

”Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” | 1 John 4: 9

We love to hear the gospel that tells us of sin forgiven, of being washed from our sin in His precious blood.

Sin is too familiar with us.

We have committed it, we are affected by it daily, and it is our daily trial.

Sin of our past, sin is our burden today, sin as it is, is our own affliction until we enter into our eternal rest.

”In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1: 7)

It is a battle we have entered into that is a war without and within… but, thank God His word says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin”.

How?

“According to the riches of his grace!”

Forgiveness of sin, what a joy, what greater news can a sinner hear?

God’s free grace gave us His son to redeem us by His own blood.

God’s free grace came and effectually applied that blood to our souls!

”Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5: 20)

It was free grace that forgave us all our sin; “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Herein Is Love” (28:11 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: 27 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Preaching Versus Debating

”For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” | 1 Corinthians 1: 21

No spiritual good will ever come from debating doctrinal points of view.

God never has and never will save or feed His people by debating.

God saves His people through the preaching of Christ alone.

”And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,” (Luke 1: 76-77)

Rather than debate what it means that Christ was made sin for His people, let’s declare there is full remission of sins for God’s elect because Christ took their sin away by His sacrifice for them.

”Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.” (1 Chronicles 16: 24)

Rather than debate the sovereignty of God, let’s declare God, as He has been pleased to reveal Himself in the Bible, who saves whom He will, when He will.

”Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13: 38-39)

Rather than debate when is the moment a man is justified, let’s declare there is justification for sinners in Christ.

Debating never blesses anyone because the goal of debating is the glory of the flesh when we think we have proved our point.

Preaching Christ always blesses God’s people because the goal of true preaching is to glorify Christ.

May the Lord be pleased to keep our eyes on the ball.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “The Believer’s Road to Glory” (33:47 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: 2 October, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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God Delights To Show Mercy

”Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” | Micah 7: 18

Do not try to come to God through your religious ceremonies and traditions.

God does not delight in outward shows of religion.

”To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1: 11-15)

Do not try to come to God through the strength of the flesh.

God does not delight in the works of the flesh.

”He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.” (Psalm 147: 10)

Come to God begging His mercy for guilty sinners.

God delights to show mercy to sinners.

Nothing glorifies God more than showing mercy to sinners through the sacrifice of Christ.

”The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” (Psalm 147: 11)

God delights in mercy and He delights in those who come to Him begging mercy.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Our Mediator” (54:16 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: 24 July, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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The Only Man Who Can Plead For Us

”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? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 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: 32-34

We should always read the Old Testament with a desire to find something in it about Jesus Christ.

We study this portion of the Bible with little profit, if we can see nothing in it but Moses, and David, and Samuel, and the Prophets.

Let us search the books of the Old Testament more closely.

It was said by Him whose words can never pass away, “These are they which testify of Me”.

~ J. C. Ryle

Click here to listen to the message “Holy Hands & Modest Apparel”

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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: 9 February, 2020 | Previous post date: 30 April, 2022

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What A Contrast Between “I AM” And “I Am A Worm!”

”But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” | Psalm 22: 6

This verse is a miracle in language.

How could the Lord of glory be brought to such abasement as to be not only lower than the angels, but even lower than men.

”My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.” (Psalm 22: 1-2)

What a contrast between “I AM” and “I am a worm!” yet such a double nature was found in the person of our Lord Jesus when bleeding upon the tree.

”But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22: 3)

He felt himself to be comparable to a helpless, powerless, down trodden worm, passive while crushed, and unnoticed and despised by those who trod upon him.

”Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.” (Psalm 22: 4)

He selects the weakest of creatures, which is all flesh; and becomes, when trodden upon, writhing, quivering flesh, utterly devoid of any might except strength to suffer.

”They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.” (Psalm 22: 5)

This was a true likeness of himself when his body and soul had become a mass of misery — the very essence of agony – in the dying pangs of crucifixion.

”But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” (Psalm 22: 6)

Man by nature is but a worm; but our Lord puts himself even beneath man, on account of the scorn that was heaped upon him and the weakness which he felt, and therefore he adds, “and no man.”

”All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” (Psalm 22: 7-8)

The privileges and blessings which belonged to the fathers he could not obtain while deserted by God, and common acts of humanity were not allowed him, for he was rejected of men; he was outlawed from the society of earth, and shut out from the smile of heaven.

How utterly did the Saviour empty himself of all glory, and become of no reputation for our sakes!

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “The Mission of the Messiah” (43:31 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 8 April, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky