A Fallen Saint

“Peter went out and wept bitterly.” | Luke 22: 62

Peter had sat in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

He had walked on the water to go to Him. He had lived in the full assurance that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. “We believe and are sure,” he said, “That thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” the words of blood redemption had gone to Peter’s heart from the very lips of Jesus Christ Himself. (John 6: 68) Peter had seen the power of the Lord when he spoke to the raging waves of the sea and stilled them – the Lord Jesus saved Peter’s life that day, and Peter knew it too.

Now this same Peter has denied the Lord he loved and believed – even cursed and swore he never knew him. Look at him now as he goes off in the darkness sobbing as he goes. Imagine the guilt and fear that weighed upon his afflicted conscience? Imagine the suggestions from Satan, the prince of darkness, saying to him, “There is no hope for you now.” Only those who have experienced such a thing know how Satan can work with a guilty conscience to drive it to despair.

I am sure Peter thought, as many have since, “There is no way out of this dilemma I find myself in.” A poor soul like this can despair of ever being recovered. He sank in deep mire where there was no standing. I will tell you this, if Jesus Christ does not make intercession for such a person and strengthen his faith, and send some light into his darkness, Satan will sift him. Those who dream they are a match for Satan’s accusations are ignorant of his devices.

Does our Lord Jesus know all this? Of course he knows. His intercession had already secured Peter, not from falling but from falling away. Not from bitter weeping but from final despair. Peter had a sad and fearful fall, but he had a fearless and faithful Advocate with the Father. Peter fell, but just about the time the enemy began to rejoice over him, he rose up again – forgiven and restored.

Dear fallen saint, don’t despair. Maybe you see no way in your present darkness to be restored, but Jesus Christ can see for you, He is the way. Look out of your wet eyes to him. Your heart is aching but the Lord Jesus feels it. Trust him. Wait upon Him. Your weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning.

~ Pastor Bruce Crabtree

Click here to listen to the message “Who killed Jesus, I want to know”

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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 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

And All Flesh Died

“And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, AND EVERY MAN” | Genesis 7: 21

The number of them (men) is supposed to be as great, if not greater, than the present inhabitants of the earth, by those who are skillful in the calculation of the increase of men. It is thought it may be easily allowed, that their number amounted to eleven billion; and some have made their number to be 80 billion.

~ Matthew Henry

Click here to listen to the message “God Shall Avenge His Elect”

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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: 20 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Our Righteousness Keeps Us Apart

“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. | Matthew 13: 15

There is not a sin upon you that the blood of Christ cannot wash clean.

There is not an offense that the gracious God cannot forgive.

The great obstacle that lies between you and God is not your sin so much as your righteousness! It is true that our sins have separated us from our God, but it is our righteousness that keeps us apart.

There is a remedy for sin in the gospel, so our sin is no hindrance to our salvation in Christ. However, our righteousness will keep us from simply receiving God’s grace in Christ; and that will prevent our being saved.

If you have not trusted the Lord Jesus to save your soul by His blood and righteousness, it is because you yet have hope in your own righteousness: either a righteousness you have already performed or one that you hope to perform in the future. How subtle is self-righteousness!

God grant you and me grace to see it for what it is and forsake it in favor of Christ who is our righteousness.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “Who Do You Think I Am?”

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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: 18 May, 2012 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentucky

There Was A Division Because of HIM

“And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.” | Numbers 10: 31-32

There was a division because of Him” (John 7: 43; John 9: 16; John 10: 19)

In this religious world you will hardly find anyone that is “for” drunkenness, immorality or abortion. You can eliminate all the bars, houses of prostitution and even all abortions, but you have not even touched the real issue!

The real issue, as in these passages, is where Christ is being challenged or His authority questioned or His right to rule and redeem those whom He has chosen! We can agree upon all the previously mentioned areas and still not come close to telling sinners the “Truth” about who God is, how He is satisfied and how vile rebels can be made just with the Holy God.

If you look at each of these passages those religious people were divided regarding “HIM.” They would rather hear about the moral issues of the day or the economy of the hour or even the “moral majority” platform and what it is doing for our country.

Paul said I am determined not to know anything among you except Christ and Him crucified… and the moment we pursue any other issue we have fundamentally turned our back on The Gospel.

No sinner was ever saved by being in agreement with or not being in agreement with the world on the issues of the day. I’m not saying these causes are not important. I am saying that these are never THE ISSUE and we are simply to confess Christ in this Christ-less generation and confessing Christ is telling people the good news of the redemption in and by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

~ Pastor Drew Dietz

Click here to listen to the message “Listening for the Sound of the Trumpet”

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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: 17 May, 2012 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentucky

Election is Sovereign – “The Purpose of God”

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” | Romans 8: 29-30

The Bible reveals God to be sovereign in creation, providence, and salvation.

When men object to God’s sovereignty exercised in election, we do well to point them to the apostle’s words in Romans 9: 20-21, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?”

Men have been told for so long that God is in their hands, it is no wonder that many are astonished to hear that the Bible says it is just the opposite.

~ Pastor David Pledger

Click here to listen to the message “Jehovah My Shepherd”

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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: 16 May, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

“That Is The Problem”

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” | Romans 16: 25-27

A believer related a story to me about a discussion he had with another man (a very religious man) concerning the doctrine of election.

When the man disagreed with the doctrine of election, the believer told him to search the scriptures of which the man replied, “I don’t need to search the scriptures.” I replied, “That is his problem.”

People believe what they want to believe regardless of what the word of God teaches.

Most try to make the word of God fit what they believe instead of believing what it says.

The only warrant and foundation for all that we believe is the word of God.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “What Have We Learned”

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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: 16 May, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

FRATERNITY OF BRETHREN

“But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” | John 16: 6-8

It was the grace of God which taught Saul of Tarsus how to say “brother.” 

If the Lord had not brought this proud Pharisee down, his Jewish pride would never have condescended to call a Roman “brother.” But by the grace of God, there is in the heart of this “Hebrew of Hebrews” such love for all believers of every race and nation that he calls them all “my brethren.” 

Someone said, “Grace joins believers in a common brotherhood and makes the prominent man embrace the poor and confess his love for them; grace weaves the threads of separate individualities and personalities into one undivided family!” 

Let the gospel be learned in the heart and it will mark the end of selfishness, it will bring down the proud from their elevated positions, and it will lift the young, the weak, and the old to their common rights and position as sons of God also. 

“Liberty, equality, and fraternity” may be heralded in the Bill of Rights; but only the gospel can make us truly free, make us all equal in the person of our Lord Jesus, and give us the fraternity of brethren in God’s family.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Missing Note In Present-Day Preaching”

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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 May, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Lord, What Will You Have Me To Do?

“Lord, what will you have me to do?” Acts 9: 6

This is Paul’s question on the road where he met the sovereign Christ.

It was not, ‘what do I think is best for me?’ Or ‘what will afford me the most pleasure and comfort?’ Or even ‘what do other people do?’ But “Lord, what will YOU have me to do?”

In every case enable me, by Thy grace, to do what is pleasing in Thy sight and that which will bring glory to Thy name.

Where we get in trouble is putting our wills and ways before His!

It is not I but Christ, His gospel, His church, His kingdom, His glory, which must be considered.

When this is settled “I” will fall in the right place and though the way may not be easy; in the end it will be pleasant.

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3: 6)

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “God Created Man”

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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 August, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

HE NEVER CHANGES

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” | Hebrews 13: 8

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 “Particular Redemption”

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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 December, 2020 | Previous post date: 1 January, 2021

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: n/a