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Not Eloquent, Why?

“And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” | Exodus 4: 10-11

The LORD made Moses slow of speech.

Think of all God had given Moses since birth: he delivered Moses out of the river, raised Moses in Pharaoh’s house, directed his steps to where he was now, and gave him all these sure promises.

The LORD could have given Moses eloquence but he did not. Why?

The glory in delivering his people is the Lord’s. “This is the word of the LORD… Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4: 6)

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Success Of The Gospel” (40:30 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: 15 June, 2014 | Previous post date: 21 July, 2021 | Ewing, New Jersey

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We Glory Only In Jesus Christ

“I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.” | Romans 15: 17

Paul was very careful throughout his ministry not to glory, boast or brag in the flesh.

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3: 7-9)

He taught others not to do this and certainly he would not glory in himself; not in his religious heritage, nor in his attainments or gifts, nor in his labors and success in the ministry but only “through Jesus Christ”.

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6: 14)

All the apostles and those who truly believe the gospel of God’s grace only glory “in those things that pertain to God.”

As a result of Adam’s sin, rebellion and fall into condemnation, we have absolutely no reason to glory in the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5: 19-21)

The things that pertain to our sinful nature give us no motivation to glory or honor the old man and his deeds.

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” (Colossians 3: 9)

We are told in scripture to, “put off the old man with his deeds”.

We truly can only glory in those things that pertain to God.

What are those things?

1). We glory in Christ incarnate as the only hope for sinners. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3: 16)

2). We glory in Christ crucified as the only remedy to put away our sin. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3: 18)

3). We glory in Christ Jesus Who is all our sufficient righteousness and acceptance before a thrice holy God. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1: 6-7)

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalm 17: 15)

4). We glory in Christ Jesus exalted and seated at God’s right hand as all our justification before God. “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4: 25)

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3: 1-2)

5). We glory in Christ Jesus coming again as all our hope throughout eternity. When He comes we shall not only see Him as He is, but we shall also be made like Him forever. Every believer can say with David, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34: 1-4)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “A Living Hope” (35:45 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: 1 December, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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In The Beginning

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” | 1 John 1: 1

The other Gospel writers begin with Bethlehem.

John begins with “the bosom of the Father.”

Luke dates his narrative by Roman emperors and Jewish high-priests.

John dates his “in the beginning.”

With those words, he carries us into the depths of eternity, before time or creatures were.

Both the Book of Genesis and the Gospel of John start from “the beginning.”

Genesis starts with “the beginning” and works downward, telling us what followed.

John starts with “the beginning” and works upward, telling us what preceded “the beginning.”

Before the beginning, Christ the Word, our God and Savior, already was.

The Beginning

John’s Gospel opens with these three simple words that are full of instruction: “In the beginning.”

In First John, this same Apostle used similar language to describe our Savior and speaks of him as, “That which was from the beginning”.

But what is he talking about?

Certainly, he is not talking about the beginning of eternity, for eternity has no beginning.

Rather than trying to determine the meaning of these words for ourselves, let’s look at them as they are used in other places by the Spirit of God.

“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” (Proverbs 8: 22-23)

Our Savior asserts, “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was”.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46: 9-10)

He who alone is God identifies himself as God with these words: “I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure”.

“And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;” (Acts 15: 18)

Our Lord Jesus Christ is “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence”. “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1: 18)

“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)

The Spirit of God declares to you who believe on the Lord Jesus, “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”.

We read: “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:” (Hebrews 1: 10)

Our blessed Savior is “the beginning” and “him that is from the beginning”. “I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” (1 John 2: 14)

Beginning before the Beginning

As these words are used in Holy Scripture, and specifically as John used them, “the beginning” speaks of the beginning of the manifestation or Jehovah’s purpose of grace, the beginning of his great work of saving his elect by the Lord Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior, whose “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”.

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5: 2)

It seems to me that he is telling us that there was a beginning before the beginning of time. Our blessed Savior went forth from the beginning as our covenant Surety to save us from our sins.

In John 1: 1 the Holy Spirit teaches us to look upon the Son of God, both as the Essential Word and as the Revealed Word, standing forth in the everlasting councils of the triune God as our Surety, and set up as the Wisdom of God from everlasting. He says of himself: “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.” (Proverbs 8: 22-31)

Done in the Beginning

The whole work of our salvation was accomplished “in the beginning.” “In the beginning,” before ever the earth was made, Christ stood forth as the Word in and by whom the Lord God would make himself known in the salvation of chosen sinners. He was not only the Word from the beginning, but “in the beginning.”

“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” (Ephesians 1: 12)

He stood forth “in the beginning” as our covenant Surety, and assumed all responsibility for our souls before the triune God. The triune God trusted him as the Surety of his elect “in the beginning”.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1: 3-7)

Our Lord Jesus Christ was accepted as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” His blood and sacrifice reached all God’s elect, as John Gill put it, “from the beginning of the world, for the justification of their persons, the atonement of their sins, and cleansing from them, for the remission of sins.”

“Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.” (Psalm 89: 19)

Every sinner saved in time in the experience of grace was saved “in the beginning” by the purpose and will of God, chosen, accepted, blessed and redeemed in Christ from “the beginning”.

“For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” (Hebrews 4: 3)

When the Son of God stood forth as our Surety “in the beginning,” the triune Jehovah laid help for our souls upon our Mediator as “One that is mighty”, and finding satisfaction for our souls in him, “the works were finished from the foundation of the world”.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “You Cannot Make Him King” (24:16 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 April, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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Knowing God

”God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” | Hebrews 1: 1-3

How much religion, tradition, and ceremony can a man know and observe and yet not know God?

Well, the Jews observed thousands of Passovers yet never saw Christ, our passover.

They slew thousands of lambs yet never saw Christ, the Lamb of God.

They kept thousands of sabbaths yet never knew the rest of Christ, our Sabbath.

They ordained thousands of priests yet never saw Christ, the Great High Priest.

They actually carried the mercy-seat on their shoulders yet never came to Christ, our Mercy-Seat.

They ate the manna and drank from that Rock, yet never tasted the Bread and Water of Life – Christ Jesus.

Oh, Lord, open my eyes to see Him who is all and in all!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “In Him Was Life” (24:14 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 31 March, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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It’s Simple

“If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” | 2 Corinthians 11: 30

One of the old writers once said: “Do not look for that in the law which can only be found in the gospel; do not look for that in ourselves which is only to be found in Christ; do not look for that in the creature (i.e, man) which can only be found in the Creator; and do not look for that on earth which can only be found in Heaven.”

~ William Jay

Click here to listen to the message “We Will Be Known By Our Fruit” (34:34 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 August, 2021 | Previous post date: 30 September, 2021

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Jesus, The Example

”Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” | Hebrews 12: 1-3

I am sure that some who lived in the days of our Lord’s visitation to earth, and many who heard the Gospel from the apostles, and the faithful preachers who followed them, could tell you the exact day they met the risen Redeemer, and bowed to His sovereign rule.

I have never felt that it was important for a person to be able to tell when he was saved, but rather that he was able now to state he has experienced repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that now he is looking to Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King, and is now resting in his righteousness, and an effectual sin-offering.

Too often men and women like to establish a time of conversion and an experience, in order to have something to look back upon for comfort and assurance.

This is dangerous!

We are not to look to anything or to anyone but Christ for our hope, our assurance, and our comfort.

Paul said something about “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward onto those things which are before,” and, “looking unto the Lord Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.”

Most of us came through the confusion, errors, and false professions of modern fundamentalism and had so much to unlearn, so many false foundations which had to be destroyed, that it is difficult to set an exact hour when our eyes were turned, totally from our idols of religion to our living Lord — when our hearts were weaned from the pride of our religious works and professions and brought to rest in him alone!

This is the unaided work of the Spirit of God, and the Word of God; and this is a living union which shall never be dissolved.

This is accomplished when sinners hear the Gospel of God‘s grace and glory.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Paul’s Doxology” (49:48 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 18 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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A Thankful Person

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” | James 5: 7-8

A thankful person is truly a happy person.

It is not possible to be unhappy and thankful at the same time.

If a person is truly thankful to the Lord for saving their soul, that person is also truly happy.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “The Proper Attitude of Believers Regarding Trials” (40:09 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 17 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Then Sings My Soul!

“He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” | Isaiah 42: 4

There is a beautiful song in our hymnal titled: “How Great Thou Art.”

The third verse of that song says, “And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in – that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin… Then sings my soul!”

Once salvation is revealed to a child of God, from that moment forward the soul of that child sings the glory and greatness of the God who saved him or her.

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3: 11)

The body may break, but the soul will never stop singing!

The heart may ache, but the soul will never stop singing!

Everything about the physical, mental, and emotional state of the child may be silenced under the overwhelming weight and oppression of sin, but knowing what the blood of Christ has done for sinners will cause the soul of that child to never stop singing, “My Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art, How great Thou art!”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “It’s All Because of Him” (34:54 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: 28 March, 2021 | Previous post date: 23 September, 2021

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John Kent’s Dying Testimony

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” | Colossians 3: 11

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

That portion cut me to the heart, while at the same time it has been my hope.

If I am to stand by myself to give an account, I am lost forever; but it is the judgment seat of Christ.

He is my surety and has paid all demands.

I shall be tried there by a covenant of grace, not a covenant of works.

Blessed be God for His great Salvation.

I bless God that the promises of the gospel met me in all my wants, wounds, and wretchedness.

I wish to die with “God be merciful to me a sinner” upon my lips.

Click here to listen to the message “Appearing With Christ In Glory” (34:02 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 March, 2020 | Previous post date: 21 September, 2021

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Forgiveness And Fear

”Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” | Psalm 133: 1

It will help us solely rely upon Christ if we think about what a weighty responsibility he gave us when he said with one spirit and one mind strive together for the faith of the gospel while at the same time we think about how powerless we are to do it without him.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Forgiveness & Fear” (32:55 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