Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

There Shall Come Forth A Rod

The word means a KING shall come forth.

But the word “rod” teaches us so much more than if the Spirit had said a scepter or a king.

We just saw how the LORD cleared his vineyard, his garden, made bear the land because of the haughtiness and pride of the stouthearted rebels who refused to bow to him.

Then the KING of kings and LORD of lords is described as a “rod.”

Do you know what a king used to show his power and authority – a golden scepter.

Earthly kings liked a scepter because it made them appear to be more in authority and to have more power.

But why wasn’t the word “king” or “scepter’ used here, instead of the word “rod”?

Way back starting with Moses and Aaron, God chose for his prophet, and his priest to be recognized, not through the use of a scepter but a rod.

God commanded Moses to use only a rod – which was likely an unattractive piece of wood compared to Pharaoh’s golden scepter.

But such was the rod God chose to perform all the mighty signs of God’s power upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

It was of the earth and there was nothing necessarily attractive about the rod itself, but it was filled with the power of God.

We read “and Moses took the rod of God in his hand”

”And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.” (Exodus 4: 20)

Aaron cast his rod on the ground and it became a serpent.

”For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” (Exodus 7: 12)

God commanded Moses to have Aaron smite the waters with that rod and he turned the waters in Egypt into blood.

He made lice in the earth and upon man when the rod smote the earth.

The rod was held up by Moses and the children of Israel prevailed against the Amalekites.

The LORD used this rod to show that he was with Moses his prophet.

Then when Korah and his men rejected Moses and Aaron, it was a rod that the LORD used to reveal who it was he had chosen as his High Priest.

Twelve rods – a rod for each tribe with their names on the rods was set out.

Aarons’ name was on the rod for the house of Levi.

”And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you. And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.” (Numbers 17: 4-6)

(All set forth by God by a rod–Aaron’s rod that budded and brought forth fruit–almonds.)

”And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod. And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.” (Numbers 17: 7-10)

It was by holding up the rod that the Red Sea parted and the children went over on dry ground.

”And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.” (Isaiah 10: 26)

The LORD just said through Isaiah that this is how he would destroy the enemies of his people.

The kings of the earth preferred a golden scepter.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “First Be Reconciled” (43:00 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: 22 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Grace, Grace, And More Grace

“And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” | Acts 8: 3-35

Absolutely no one will cry out for God’s mercy until the Holy Spirit makes them see that they are spiritually bankrupt!

Then, and only then, are they ready to receive Jesus Christ as their only hope; as their Savior; as their Sovereign Lord; AS THEIR ALL IN ALL!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not ‘God has done His part, now the rest is up to you.’ The Gospel is not what the sinner can do for God, but what Jesus Christ has done for the sinner. “Christ… hath 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)

When Jesus Christ died, He, by Himself, purged our sins; “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: 3)

He reconciled us to God. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5: 10)

Our Savior was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification.”

“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4: 25)

Christ suffered and died for our sins THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD!

The risen, exalted Christ of God is not trying to find His lost sheep.

In the Person of God, the Holy Spirit, our sovereign Lord will seek and save all those He suffered and bled and died for.

He MUST bring them to Himself.

They MUST hear His voice.

He said so. “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”> (John 10: 16)

God the Father has put all things under the feet of His glorified Son and has given Him power over all flesh.

By the quickening power of our risen Savior, He gives eternal life to as many as His Father gave Him. “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17: 2)

He gives us a new heart to come to Him by faith, a heart that rejoices in His glorious Gospel.

Sinners have not come to God if they have not bowed down to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

They have not come to God if they’re trusting in something they have done to try and merit God’s grace, including their socalled free will.

We come to God when we come to the Christ of Holy Scripture; when we believe that He suffered for our sins that He might bring us to God; when we believe that being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Sinners come to God when we, by His gift of true saving faith, bow down to the risen, glorified Son of God, confessing Him as our Sovereign Lord and Saviour.

Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

But absolutely no one will call upon the name of Jesus Christ until they hear and believe the true Gospel of God‘s sovereign, amazing grace.

Brethren, God the Holy Spirit is the one who sends His preachers to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in those areas where His lost sheep are. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”> (Romans 10: 13-15)

Under the preaching of the Christ of Holy Scripture, the sovereign power of the risen, glorified Son of God is manifested for the glory of God the Father when He delivers His chosen, redeemed children from the prison-house of unbelief, bringing them into a living union with Himself.

~ Pastor Gene Harmon

Click here to listen to the message “Grace, Grace, and More 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 30 May, 2021 | Previous post date: 21 July, 2021