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The Plague Of His Own Heart

“What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:” | 1 Kings 8: 38

When a child of God begins to speak of the “plague of his own heart,” this poor blind and religious world does not understand.

They think within themselves, “What on earth is this man doing? What ever it is he ought to stop it.”

But little do they know, it’s not what he’s doing, but what he feels himself to be.

He is sin.

He has an open wound that is always running and stinking.

This wound is his heart, his nature, who he is, in and of himself.

This heart is an incurable plague.

Not even the Lord God can cure it.

Yet this is the only people who are accepted of God in Jesus Christ.

Those who know the plague of their own heart are the only ones God acquits of all charges.

These are the only ones who truly rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in their stinking flesh.

It’s knowing the plague of their own heart that makes them to know their need of a new heart and imputed righteousness and to rejoice with exceeding great joy to believe that God has been pleased to freely give them what they need, all for the mere sake of His Dear Son.

So while they cast contempt upon themselves, they rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

~ Pastor Bruce Crabtree

Click here to listen to the message “Imputed Righteousness and a Weak Faith” (48:26 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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Good News For The No Good

“I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” |

The man who trusts so much as a single hair’s breadth to his works has missed Christ!!!

We cannot trust partly to our works and partly to Christ.

We must feel that we are utterly stripped of everything.

I love to find those who have nothing good about them.

Some preachers like to find something good in men before they preach to them, but I like to find men who know there is nothing good in them and then preach God’s sovereign mercy to them.

If you were in the hospital and wanted the attention of the physician, what would you do?

Would you write over your bed or tell your doctor you were in pretty good condition?

Actually, you would be inclined to appear worse than you really are.

You certainly cannot exaggerate your low and sinful condition, for we are all “chief of sinners.”

~ C. H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Potentate, King, & Lord” (34:16 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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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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Christ’s Atonement

”These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” | John 17: 1-3

Some people love the doctrine of universal atonement because, they say, “It is so beautiful. It is a lovely idea that Christ should die for all people on the earth.”

They say, “Universal atonement commends itself to the instincts of human nature; there is something in it that is beautiful.”

I admit there are some times when beauty may be associated with error; but while natural men admire the doctrine of universal atonement, I will show you what such a supposition involves.

  1. If Christ on the cross intended to save every person by His death, then He intended to save people who were already dead and in eternal condemnation; for there were myriads already cast away because of their sins for which (you say) He died.
  2. If it were our Lord’s intention to save all people, how deplorably has He been disappointed; for we have His own testimony, “Broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and MANY THERE BE WHICH GO IN THERE AT.”
  3. To imagine for a moment that our Lord was the substitute for the sins of all men and that God, the Father, having poured out His wrath on their substitute, afterwards will punish the sinners themselves for the same sins for which Christ died, seems to conflict with ideas of divine justice. In fact, to hold that Christ offered an atonement and satisfaction for the sins of all men, and that some of those people will be condemned for those same sins, appears to be monstrous inequity! God forbid that we should attribute such conduct to our just and wise God!

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Christ’s Prayer and Work” (15:30 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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But By Me And Except The Father

“Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” | Psalm 85: 10-11

“Salvation is of the Lord.”

Many in religion today preach often from the passage found in John chapter fourteen, verse six, where our Lord Jesus proclaimed that He alone is salvation. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” however many who preach stop there without finishing the rest of the verse.

I certainly understand why they do that, and I believe that they feel as though they have a good reason as to why. Those who believe that sinners are saved by man’s will, man’s work, and man’s worth, know and understand that our Lord’s words, “But by me,” destroy their theology and belief of “Salvation by works.”

Dear reader, Christ said, “No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” That means that sinners are saved only by the work of righteousness that Christ provides for God’s elect. That is why our Lord also said in John chapter six, verse forty-four that, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”

That means the same thing. I love those little words like “but” and “except,” don’t you?

There is no salvation for me, “But,” by Christ.

There is no hope of me ever coming to Christ, “Except,” God the Father which sent God the Son draw me to Him by the cords of love, mercy and grace.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “For The Scripture Saith” (39:48 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: 13 December, 2024 | Previous post date: 28 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

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The Problem And The Solution

”O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” | Psalm 136: 1

We won’t make much headway in finding a solution if we don’t understand the problem.

A cure is not likely to be found if we have no knowledge of the disease.

In the matter of salvation, the problem is man’s sin; the solution is God’s grace.

The disease is moral depravity and spiritual inability; the remedy is God’s mercy in Christ.

If a man is near-sighted, he only needs corrective glasses, but if he is blind, he needs the miracle of sight!

If a man is sick, he only needs medicinal aid, but if he is dead, he needs the miracle of life!

If man has only strayed from the way, he needs directions, but if he is completely lost, he needs to be found!

So here is the question that must be settled by preachers and people alike: “What happened in the garden?”

When one feels obliged to come to some conclusions on the subjects of election, irresistible grace, and particular redemption it would be wise for him to first determine the condition of the sinner who is to be saved.

If man was only wounded by the fall he needs only assistance; if he is dead in sins, he needs to be resurrected and that by the purpose and power of the God of life.

If fallen man still has his moral ability and power of choice, then let us wait for him to choose and seek God, but if fallen man loves darkness and will not come to Christ, then Christ must love and come to him.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “A Study of the Fall” (44:33 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

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Honouring The Lord With Our Substance

“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” | Proverbs 3: 9-10

Modern false preachers promise great returns on your money if you will but send it to them; much like one would invest in the stock market for quick and easy gain.

But the believer’s motivation for giving is God’s grace and charity toward him or her.

Since everything we have has been freely given (loaned) to us, therefore we give back a portion of what belongs to the Lord anyway.

The believer gives out of heartfelt gratitude and a desire to see the work of the gospel prosper.

The believer gives because he wants to, needs to, and because he knows it is his reasonable service.

The Lord will bless those who give in this way.

Although we are not to give in order to be blessed, yet the Lord will bless those who give willingly, lovingly and cheerfully.

Didn’t He say, “It is more blessed to give than receive”?

David, the king, observed the people giving willingly and generously (as did he) and thanked the Lord that they did so. “Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.” (1 Chronicles 29: 10-17)

“Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.” (Psalm 110: 3)

When God saves someone, He makes them willing in the day of His power; He makes them willing worshippers, subjects, servants, followers and supporters.

Someone said, when God saves a man he saves his wallet too; meaning, when a soul is liberated that person becomes liberal with their money.

Know something?

It is not our money, but a loan from our Lord.

The above scripture is a promise from God Who cannot lie.

He tells us to give the first fruits… not what is left over.

Why is it we do not have anything left over to give?

Along with our own covetousness and greed, perhaps it is because we do not first honour the Lord with our substance.

If this be true with us, we should not wonder at our financial difficulties.

God is not going to bless someone who first thinks of himself and lavishes himself with things, while reluctantly or grudgingly giving a little (if anything) back to the One Who gave it all.

How can this be? Consider what He gave… Himself.

“God loves a cheerful giver.” God honours His word and honours those who honour Him by doing what He says.

Listen to the following scripture, better yet, turn to it and read it for yourself.

Listen carefully… “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3: 8-10)

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “O’ Our God, We Don’t Know What To Do” (45:57 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: 24 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Tie The Scarlet Line

Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; that thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. | Psalm 94: 12-14

In most circles it is unfashionable to believe in the old gospel of substitution and atonement.

“Modern culture” and intellectualism have altered the Bible and religion until there is no real sin-offering and sacrifice left. The blood of His cross and the obedience of His life are only examples now, and not a propitiation, payment, nor imputed righteousness.

As for me, I tie the scarlet line in my window; I put the blood on my door; I stand amazed as my great High Priest enters within the veil with His own blood to make atonement for my soul.

In the midst of a thousand “new gospels” that aren’t worth the breath it takes to preach them, I hold in my heart and soul to the gospel of God concerning His Son, who was wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my iniquities, and by whose stripes I am healed.

Like Rahab of old, tie the scarlet line in your window.

If no one else sees it, GOD WILL!

If no one else is pleased – GOD IS!

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Is My Light And 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: 12 September, 2021 | Previous post date: 11 September, 2022 | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Mercy Rejoiceth Against Judgement

”So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” | James 2: 12-13

Carnal reasoning shows partiality to one while neglecting another based on outward adornments.

God chose those who were too poor in sin to provide righteousness for themselves.

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?” (James 2: 5-6)

Evil judgments exalt those who appear to offer a return and reject those who have nothing.

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2: 1-4)

God rejects those who come in the goodly apparel of their own righteousness but freely gives the vilest wretch the riches of faith, making him an heir of his kingdom.

Unjustified religionists rejoice to draw men before the law.

“Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (James 2: 7-9)

God satisfied his own justice in the person of his Son and therefore he delights to show mercy.

Carnal men blaspheme the name of God, setting themselves up as gods, rejecting those rich in grace because by outward appearance they seem vile.

We rejected the Just One for the same reason.

Yet, it is by that worthy name that sinners are called and made the very righteousness of God in him.

Brethren, one of the worst enemies we face is the old, legal, unjust judge that resides within each of us.

We may try to justify such legalism by saying that our partiality was an effort to fulfill the royal command.

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” (James 2: 10-11)

Yet, when we begin to vainly imagine that we have kept ourselves unspotted from the world, the Holy Spirit reminds us that one evil thought is enough to convict us as transgressors before the whole law of God.

Is your rejoicing in that soon you will stand alone before the thrice holy God in unbending justice?

Or is your rejoicing that you are now complete by faith in Christ through God’s abounding mercy?

Therefore, as believers, having beheld the wrath due to us poured out on our Substitute at Calvary, let us speak and do as they that shall be judged in the Lord our Righteousness.

Brethren, having received mercy from God instead of what we deserved may he give us grace to rejoice in the same mercy toward one another!

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Sanctification Illustrated” (51:15 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: 25 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey