Faith’s Companion: Trial

”My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience’… “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” | James 1: 2, 3; 1 Peter 1: 6,7

Every Child of grace knows for certain that these things are true, we have but to look at that great chapter of faith in Hebrews 11 to see that faith has a companion and her name is ‘trial.’

So my dear weak one what are we to do when a drop of His sweet honey blessing comes our way for to follow it is surely a trial?

What are we to do my dear lowly brother, sister as our God shines upon us this day for we know that tomorrow a cloud could possibly draw near?

Well, David tells us this for sure: “Wait upon the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27: 14)

“I have done so preacher and I am still frightened that I will fall anyway, I have no peace concerning my waiting and my looking.” Oh, my companion in the faith and in this trial, do not look to yourself or even your waiting.

Hear another word which will close the issue at least on this side of glory, “but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not,” this settles it does it not.

Our Saviour says these words to every one of His sheep, though they be tried and cumbered about with much difficulty!

Rest in Him, Rest in His words, Rest I say and do nothing else.

Look to Him who is the object, the cause and the reason for our faith.

~ Pastor Drew Dietz

Click here to listen to the message “How Free Is 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: 7 October, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

He Never Changes

“HE NEVER CHANGES” | Hebrews 13: 8

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

I am so thankful that as I grow older and things change, inside and out, that there is One who never changes.

  1. His love never changes with time, for He loved me with an everlasting love that knows no change.
  2. His power never changes. He is just as able to keep me from falling today as when I first began.
  3. His Word never changes: “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23: 19) Has He not magnified His Word above His Name?
  4. His election of me shall never change. He will never cast off those whom He has chosen, for they will never do anything that He did not know about and has not already taken care of.
  5. The power of His blood shall never change. It still cleanses from all sin. No matter how deep the stain has gone, His blood washes it away.
  6. His Sacrifice will never change, it will never lose its effectiveness because it is always fresh in the midst of the Throne of God: “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain…” (Revelation 5: 6)

We have a living sacrifice standing in the midst of the Throne of God.

When we rise out of our beds in the morning and go through our changes, just remember that there is One who remains the same yesterday, today and forever: The Rock Christ Jesus.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “A Message For The Needy”

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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 September, 2020 | Previous post date: 13 March, 2021

Enable Me to Pray

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. 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: 8-10

Lord, enable me to pray for communion with my great Physician – instead of physical health.

Enable me to pray for the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of my God – instead of the riches of this world.

Enable me to pray for peace and rest in my soul found in Christ my Sabbath – instead of peace and rest in this body of death.

~ Pastor Kevin Thacker

Click here to listen to the message “Where is 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: 19 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

The Simplicity of Christ, A Resting Place

”Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.” | Hebrews 10: 7

There is, in the simplicity of Christ, a resting place for the weary soul, a place of calm in the tempest.

In the press of life we can lay our burdens at the feet of Him who rules all things. In the grievous experience of our own failures, we can find comfort in Him Who cannot fail.

But I find in the simplicity of Christ another area of rest which I so greatly cherish.

Often, I struggle to understand the things of God. In particular, I feel this struggle when I engage with those who deny some aspect of the gospel.

Often I have read or heard of some theory of this or that doctrine and have immediately recognized it as false. But when I engage to refute it, I am overwhelmed with the complexity which the enemy inserts into the debate. It seems there are always more questions than I can answer. I get confused. It is then that I find such comfort and rest in the simplicity of Christ.

I may not know WHAT all the answers are, but I know WHERE they are; and I rest in the knowledge that God will reveal what I need to know when I need to know it, and the knowledge He reveals will always be found with in that category of “the simplicity of Christ.”

Therefore, I can walk happily in the light I have and likewise leave others to walk in the light they have.

I can cease from fretting over how well I am doing in the battle knowing that “the battle is the Lord’s,” and not mine.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “The Reason for Jesus”

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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: 12 October, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

Things Which God Hath 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

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 “Things Which God Hath Prepared”

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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: n/a

Rahab The Harlot

”By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” | Hebrews 11: 31

In our congregation (Bible Baptist Church, Madisonville, Kentucky) we have, Paul the engineer, Sharon the nurse, Jeff the contractor, Matthew the welder, LuAnn the secretary, and Noah the student.

Oftentimes we are identified with our occupation, or what we do in this life.

I don’t suppose that is a bad way to be remembered, unless, of course, you have an undesirable occupation.

Such was the case with Rahab. She was a harlot.

What a title to be stuck with some three thousand years after her death.

She wouldn’t deny it, that is what she was.

Yet, her name and title is recorded in “The believer’s hall of faith,” as one who had trusted in Christ and perished not.

In the end, it will not matter what my occupation was, or what I did. All that will matter is what Christ Jesus, the One who died to put my sin away, did for me.

With the believer, in heaven’s glory, the title, “Child of God,” will follow each of our names.

-Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Spiritual Cataracts”

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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: 26 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

True Conversion

”Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” | Psalm 143: 7-8

When the Word of GOD converts a man, it takes away from him his despair, but it does not take away from him his repentance and sorrow for sin.

True conversion gives a man full pardon from all sin, but does not make him presumptuous. He continually is “coming to Christ.”

True conversion gives a man perfect rest, but does not stop his growth in grace, works of faith and labor of love.

True conversion gives a man security and assurance in Christ, but does not allow him to leave off being watchful. “Keep thine heart, for out of it are the issues of life.”

True conversion gives a man strength and righteousness, but it never lets him boast nor have any confidence in the flesh.

True conversion makes Christian duties, service, worship, and study to be a joy and a pleasure, never burden- some nor grievous, and certainly never considered as a way to find favor with GOD.

True conversion brings a man to live FOR GOD. He does what he does for the glory of GOD. True conversion brings a man to live WITH GOD. He seeks and desires blessed communion with the Redeemer.

The most treasured times are those hours of sweet fellowship with Him and His people.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Hear My Prayer, O 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: 26 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

In Everything Give Thanks

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” | 1 Thessalonians 5: 18

Every time you insist that I am a sinner, you call me to remember the benefit of Christ my Redeemer, upon whose shoulders, and not mine, lie all my sins.

So when you say I am a sinner, you do not terrify me, but comfort me immeasurably.

~ Martin Luther

Click here to listen to the message “In Everything Give Thanks”

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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: 13 September, 2020 | Previous post date: 1 March, 2021

My Grace is Sufficient For Thee

”And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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: 7-10

GRACE IS WHAT I NEED – God’s free, abundant, satisfying, sanctifying grace!

I need grace to believe God and to continue in that faith.

I need grace to give and forgive, grace to love and be loved, grace to live and grace to die.

If I have little grace, the fault is mine; for His grace is called, “abundant grace.”

The Lord may not give gold, but He will give grace.

He may not give ease in life, but He will give grace in proportion to my need.

He will certainly send me trials, but never without the grace to overcome.

I may ask God for something which is not for my good and therefore He is not pleased to give it, but I may ask for as much grace as I will, and it will never be refused; for His throne is literally a throne of grace!

“Lord, fill me with Thy grace, make me an object of Thy grace, let my lips speak of Thy grace, and let my life be lived as a trophy of Thy grace!”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Is It to Die In 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: 2 January, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

That I May Know Him

THAT I MAY KNOW HIM

“The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.” | Hosea 1: 2

Before the Apostle Paul’s conversion, he knew the law, he knew the traditions, and he thought he knew God.

But when the Lord crossed his path on the Damascus Road, and revealed himself to Paul, then he found out who Christ is.

He was never the same.

And from that day forward Paul’s aim and desire was to know more about the one who knew him.

It was all about knowing a person, not just knowing a doctrine. “I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1: 12)

Paul was not afraid to preach the one he knew, he was not ashamed of him, because the one He knew was not ashamed of him. This gave him a boldness to preach his Gospel, and he wanted others to know this one that he knew. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1: 16)

~ Pastor Mike Walker

Click here to listen to the message “A prophet and a prostitute”

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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: 8 March, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a