Don’t Believe It, He’s Not There

”And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.” | 1 Samuel 2: 1

The twenty-forth Chapter of Matthew has been the source of much speculation by men trying to predict the time of the Lord’s return.

The tragic irony is that most of the discussion and debate has been by the very ones our Lord was warning us to avoid.

Right in the middle of this glorious prophecy is a description of the “false Christ’s” and “false prophets”.

“Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” (Matthew 24: 26)

Here is the standard of measure we can use to try the spirits.

All false gospels declare Christ to be either in the desert or in the secret chambers.

Don’t believe it.

He will not be found in the desert of law keeping, the arid landscape of ceremony, or the dry lifeless soil of free-will.

Nor will He be found in the secret chambers of higher knowledge, deeper life, or an “anointed” charismatic experience.

No, when our Lord returns it will be just like when He comes to one of His elect in salvation.

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24: 27)

He comes suddenly, sovereignly, and surely.

Look for Him in His free, sovereign, simple gospel of accomplished substitution and full satisfaction.

That is the only place He will be found, and He will be found there.

~ Pastor Greg Elmquist

Click here to listen to the message “Rejoice 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 14 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Clean And Unclean Animals

”And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.” | Leviticus 11: 1-4

When God told Noah to fill up the ark with animals, He distinguished between the “clean and unclean.”

Clean animals were designated as those which “parteth the hoof… and cheweth the cud”

There were some animals which had cloven (parted) hooves but did not chew the cud, and there were some which chewed the cud but did not have the parted hooves.

These were declared unclean.

Why these distinctions and what are their significance?

When God creates a “new creature in Christ”; when He makes him “holy, righteous… CLEAN”, that new person then exhibits two characteristics: he parteth from his sin and cheweth on the gospel.

Repentance and faith is what I am talking about.

Every regenerated person has been given both repentance and faith; every one born of God repents and believes.

If not, he or she is not clean.

There is no true conversion without a “turning to God… “turning from sin” and “believing on the Son”… belief of the Truth.

Repentance and faith (parting and chewing) are lifelong characteristics.

Also, most of the “unclean” animals were FLESH EATING.

The new creature in Christ, the child of God, the true circumcision… “puts no confidence in the flesh.”

Brother Nibert said of the Raven which never returned to the ark, “it represents the religious man who… is satisfied with the dead, rotting works of the flesh.”

But the believer is only satisfied with Christ and His Gospel!

When he hears the gospel of Christ, he feeds on that gospel, he feeds on Christ Himself, and then chews upon it as a cow chews his cud, over and over, the same blessed gospel, which gets better the more you chew on it.

What about you?

Do you desire to part with your sin and do you love to chew upon the gospel?

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Salvation By Covenant Mercies”

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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: 3 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Sheep Of Thy Pasture

“How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.” | Psalm 79: 5-8

Like the Israelites who were bitten by the fiery serpents, because of the judgment of God, were perishing, so all of us were perishing under the sentence of death because of sin.

But God graciously provided the remedy.

The serpent of brass, having the form of a serpent, but having no poison, was lifted up on a pole for all to see.

Everyone who looked upon it was healed.

Even so, Jesus Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh, but had no sin.

He was lifted up by God upon the cross in the place of sinners.

And, behold, every sinner who looks upon Christ with a believing heart is healed!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Gospel In One Verse”

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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: 11 June, 2021

The Blood Of Jesus Christ

”The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.” | 1 John 1: 7

Oh, what good news the gospel of Jesus Christ declares to sinners!

We are by birth and nature children of darkness, loving darkness rather than the Light of the truth. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3: 19)

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2: 12)

However, by the marvelous power of God through the gospel of Christ, “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) God has delivered us from the power of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Colossians 1: 13)

That we should show forth the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4: 6)

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2: 9)

Furthermore, the gospel declares unto all that believe, that the precious blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9: 26)

Not the blood of bulls and goats, not the ceremony and traditions of men, but the glorious blood offering of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, nothing less and nothing more, cleanses from all sin.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1 Peter 1: 18-20)

Original sin, actual sin, spiritual and natural sin, ALL sin forever!!

Oh, the glory of this perfect, full and finished salvation we are blessed to possess and enjoy through our victorious Lord.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15: 57)

“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Freewill or Free Grace?”

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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 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Salvation Is For Sinners

”The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” | Matthew 11: 19

The Pharisees called our Lord, “The friend of sinners.”

They thought to brand Him with shame and hold His name up to ridicule; but what they thought to be shame is His chief glory. He is indeed, “the friend of sinners.”

Thank God He is!

This is what makes the gospel good news.

This is no sham gospel that we preach, but it is real salvation for real sinners. It is real grace for real guilt.

We preach no gospel of merit for moralists.

We preach good news of pardon and forgiveness for men who are nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing!

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Jesus – Friend of Sinners”

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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

Forsake All or Be Forsaken

”If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple… Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” | Luke 14: 26, 33

The Lord is not telling us to hate our families, for He gave commandment to love one another.

He is telling us that nothing and no one is to have preference over Him; that we are to love Him above all, and be willing to forsake all for Him.

This is the true love of God shed abroad in the hearts of all His true people. It is supernatural, born again love that the world does not have and cannot understand; accusing those who have it of not loving their families (hate).

When brother Groover was taking his family to the Mexican mission field, a few unsaved relatives accused him of not loving his family. So it will be with all who love the Lord supremely and forsake their flesh and blood to go where He is, where His gospel is; all who would rather be with God’s family than their own.

On the other hand, any man or woman who forsakes Christ; (and to “forsake the assembling of ourselves…” to forsake the gospel, is to forsake Christ) anyone who ignores Christ for any reason, should not think it unreasonable that He will someday ignore them.

One who forsakes Christ to further their career, should not think it unreasonable that He would forsake them for His own glory. One who is more interested in making money than hearing the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ, should not think God to be cruel when He takes everything away from them someday.

One who forsakes Christ for their family, should not think it wrong when he forsakes them in favor of His family.

One who forsakes the assembly of the church on earth, should not be surprised when Christ does not allow them into the assembly of the saints in Heaven.

One who is not interested in the worship and fellowship of Christ now, should not complain when He has no interest for them in the end.

One who is unmoved and unfeeling upon hearing the gospel of Christ’s unspeakable love, sufferings and sorrow, should not think Him hard when He is unmoved by their cries of misery at the judgment.

NO, NO!

It is not the Lord who is unreasonable, hard and uncaring, it is the unbeliever.

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;” (Proverbs 1: 24)

If you end up without Christ someday, do not blame Him, for He “called and you refused. He warned and you would not listen.

“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.” (John 10: 25)

“I told you”, He said, “and ye believed not”.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Praise Ye The Lord in the Congregation”

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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: 10 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Christ Is All

”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

“I AM”

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3: 14)

To His elect people God is everything all the time.

He has always been God and He will always be God.

Yet, there is nothing more comforting and assuring to the saved sinner than to know that God is the ever-present “I AM.” He declares Himself to be “I AM” leaving what follows to be unwritten since He is the believer’s everything.

Jesus Christ is God and concerning His elect God says:

They are weak, “I AM” their strength.

They are poor, “I AM” their riches.

They are in trouble, “I AM” their help and comfort.

They are sick, “I AM” their healing and their health.

They are in darkness, “I AM” the Light of the world.

They are lost sheep, “I AM” the Door and the Good Shepherd.

They are unrighteous, “I AM” their righteousness.

They are unholy, “I AM” their holiness.

They are ungodly, “I AM” their God.

They are nothing, “I AM” their everything.

They are hungry, “I AM” the Bread of Life.

They are in darkness, “I AM” the Light of the world.

They are unprofitable branches, “I AM” the True Vine.

They are dead, “I AM” the Resurrection, the Way, the Truth, the Life.

As a preacher of the Gospel, the message I am to preach is clear and plain. “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I AM the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 18: 2)

Dear sinner, if you are in Christ, God is all these things to you.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Is All”

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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: 10 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Moses Typical Of Christ

“And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.” | Exodus 2: 1-3

Election is sovereign – the purpose of God.

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 honour, and another unto dishonour?”

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 “Moses Typical of 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: 15 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Christ Is Precious To Those Who Believe

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” | Luke 15: 1-2

While the self-righteous Pharisees and scribes withdrew from the Lord Jesus Christ and then harshly criticized Him, many publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him.

“Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.” (Act 10: 33)

What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6: 44) and then to have ears to actually hear a word from Him.

His words are words of life. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5: 24)

His words are words of salvation. “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)

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4: 12)

The worst thing the Pharisees and scribes said of the Lord, “This man recieveth sinners, and eateth with them;” is the best thing any sinner could hear.

It is not sin that keeps a man from hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ, it is his presumed righteousness he is going about to establish by his religious deeds. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10: 1-4)

No man will ever come to Christ while he is resting in the deeds of the law for salvation. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3: 19-20)

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2: 1)

It is only by the almighty power of His sovereign grace that will effectually quicken us and make us alive in Christ that will cause us to draw near to Him, to hear Him and to believe Him. “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” (John 5: 21)

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” (1 John 5: 1)

This Man receives sinners!

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (2 Timothy 1: 9)

What a miracle of amazing and sovereign grace.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Is The Rose Of Sharon”

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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 April, 2021 | Previous post date: 6 June, 2021

The Lord Is My Shepherd

”The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” | Psalm 23: 1-6

The important question is, “Have you come to Christ?”

It is not to which church you belong, but if you belong to Christ.

It is not if we believe in a church, but if we believe in Christ.

It is not if we go to church, but have we come to Christ.

It is not have we bowed at some altar, but have we bowed and confessed the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not professing religion, but professing Christ.

Christ said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to Me” He does not say you will be religious, good folks, Bible readers, hymn singers, hand clappers, or loud and long prayers, but that “You will come to Christ.”

~ Pastor Milton Howard

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Is 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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 22 January, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky