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The Only True And Eternal Treasure is Jesus Christ

”Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.” | Genesis 18: 4-5

I read an article concerning the mysterious pyramids of Egypt.

King Cheop’s great pyramid is the only of the seven wonders of the ancient world still surviving. It covers an area of thirteen acres, originally was four hundred eighty one feet high and contained six and one half million tons of stone.

At Cheop’s death, his body was preserved, adorned with gold mask, precious necklaces and jewels and laid in the middle of his large pyramid.

His coffin was surrounded by valuable Egyptian furniture.

By careful planning and much labor the one and only exit was forever sealed. No one was to ever enter this royal tomb.

I had to chuckle when I read the close of the article, “Despite all these precautions, the burial chamber suffered the same fate as most of the royal tombs in Egypt: it was stripped of its treasures.”

I know many people just like old King Cheop.

All the treasures they possess are worldly, and they will soon be stripped of it.

The only true and eternal treasure is Jesus Christ and his benefits.

If you possess Christ, you are rich indeed and your riches are secure. They dwell where no thief can ever enter or break through and steal.

In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6: 20-21)

~ Pastor Bruce Crabtree

Click here to listen to the message “Rest yourselves under the Tree”

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

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The Revelation of Jesus Christ

“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead” | Revelation 1: 17

John saw Him as the Great High Priest and fell at His feet as dead… and is this not how we, who know Him by faith, fall in our hearts before Him?

Many saw Him in the days of His humiliation but never saw His beauty, honor, or glory. But when John saw Him with the eye of understanding and faith, knowing Him to be the only Mediator before God for men, he knew Him as the only One able to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

John fell at His feet in submission as one dead to self and in total need of mercy… and may we do so today.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Revelation of Jesus 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 3 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Faith Is Essential, But Not Meritorious

“Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” | Hebrews 11:6

Faith in Christ is essential to salvation.

No man will ever be saved, accepted with God, apart from true faith in Christ. You must believe on Christ, or you will perish.

But do not ever think that your faith is meritorious with God.

Faith is the instrument by which we receive God’s blessings, but it is not the meritorious cause of those blessings.

The blood of Christ alone merits God’s favor toward us.

We are never said to be saved and justified because of faith, but through faith.
– Faith receives Christ, but it does not merit Christ.
– Faith receives salvation, but it does not merit salvation.
– Faith receives grace, but it does not merit grace.
– Faith receives justification, but it does not merit justification.
– Faith receives forgiveness and righteousness from God, but it does not merit anything from God.

Faith is essential. Without it you will never be saved. But faith is not meritorious.

Faith, too, is the gift of God’s grace.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Where Is Your Evidence?”

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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: 3 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” | Galatians 4: 6

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8: 15)

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8: 26-27)

This is too wonderful for me!

But it is so because God says it!

In Galatians 4: 6 it is the Spirit of his Son himself within our hearts, crying Abba, Father. In Romans 8: 15 the Spirit of adoption makes us cry. Then in Romans 8: 26 when we cannot pray, the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which we cannot utter and God, who knows our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit within us because the Spirit makes intercession according to the will of God.

Is this not the only reason why the apostle Peter’s faith failed not?

Is it not the only reason our faith fails not?

Even when Peter appeared outwardly to have denied the Lord, Christ prayed for him, not only at God’s right hand but also within his heart.

This is an illustration of what Paul meant when he said, “the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the FAITH OF THE SON GOD…” The Spirit of God’s Son within us is the Faith of our faith, even when unbelief makes it appear we believe not.

With the Spirit of Christ in us we are so one with Christ that by the Spirit of the Son crying, Abba, Father we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit within makes intercession for us even when we know not what we should pray for as we ought and cannot utter a word. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 that we have the mind of Christ.

Here he says God who knows our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit within us because the Spirit makes intercession for us according to God’s will. This is more than this sinner can understand. But I am so thankful it is so!

Christ is the Faith of our faith and the Intercessor of our prayers.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Not Bondage But Adoption”

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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: 3 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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CHRIST IS FAITHFUL

“Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” | II Samuel 23: 5

Jeremiah wrote, “Great is THY faithfulness.”

We preach and exhort our hearers to be faithful stewards of the grace of God, faithful givers to help others, faithful in worship, prayer, and holiness. And we will be faithful by His grace and because He has given us a new heart which desires to walk with Him.

But even when we fail, fall, and make a mess of things, HE IS FAITHFUL: and our hope of life and glory is not in OUR faithfulness but in HIS faithfulness.

God is faithful to His Son, to His covenant, and to His Word. And this was David’s comfort when he lay dying – not in his works, service, nor even his faith, but in God’s faithfulness to His covenant.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Righteous Shall Hold His Way”

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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: 3 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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TRUE OR COUNTERFEIT FAITH

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” | Hebrews 3: 12)

Here, the Holy Spirit gives us the evidence of that God-given faith of God’s elect, and the evidence of counterfeit faith which the flesh produces.

True faith will take heed to the warnings of scripture, and search the heart for evidences of unbelief and cry out to God for aid. On the other hand, sham faith is full of presumption and looks to something other than Christ for assurance.

True faith will persevere to the end because it is fastened to a living person, Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 2: 4) while imitation faith will end in failure because it is resting on some false grounds of hope. (Isaiah 28: 17)

True faith in time of trial will bring the believer closer to His Lord, knowing the trial is from His hand and for our good. (Romans 8: 28) On the other hand bogus faith in time of trouble will result in the person departing from the gospel and from those who believe. An evil heart of unbelief is always manifested by departing from the living God. John said, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for had they been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (John 2: 19)

Let us not be afraid to examine ourselves to see whether we be in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13: 5)

True faith is willing to submit to the word of God because it is the foundation of faith. (John 6: 66-69)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Heirs According to the Promise”

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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: 31 August, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Faith, Hope And Love

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” | 1 Corinthians 13: 13

What great blessings the Lord has freely and eternally given unto His church. (Romans 8: 32)

Indeed, Christ has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. (Ephesians 1: 3) The apostle Paul makes mention of these three great and spiritual blessings that abide in every believer; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Why would Paul say that? Because it is true!

Every believer lives by faith, (Romans 1: 17) walks by faith (2 Corinthians 5: 7) and will die in faith, (Hebrews 13: 5) always looking and trusting Christ. (Hebrews 12: 2) But one day faith will end in perfect and complete sight, when we behold the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. (1 John 3: 2)

Likewise, every believer lives with a fervent hope, a living hope and a blessed hope; (Titus 2: 13) because it is a good hope through grace. (2 Thessalonians 2: 16) Hope springs from faith in Christ, (Hebrews 11: 1) for He is our hope. (Colossians 1: 27; 1 Timothy 1: 1) But the good hope we have in Christ, that too will one day come to an end in the certain expectation of the reality of that hope being predestinated to be just like the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:29-30)

But the greatest of these gifts is love; the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5: 5) will never end. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. (Romans 8: 38) Our love for the Lord Jesus Christ had a beginning but it will never have an end. We only love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4: 19) When did the Lord start loving His own? From eternity in the covenant of grace! (Jeremiah 31: 3) The Lord’s love for His church is a sacrificial love. (Ephesians 5: 25; 1 John 4: 10) He laid down His life for His church. (John 13: 1) Oh how precious is that love for us.

May God grant us to be always thankful for this gift of His love unto us and may He cause it to grow in such a way as to glorify Him now and forever. One day soon every believer will sing forever; “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen! (Revelation 1: 5-6)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Jesus Came To Save 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” | 1 Corinthians 13: 13

What great blessings the Lord has freely and eternally given unto His church! (Romans 8: 32)

Indeed, Christ has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. (Ephesians 1: 3) The apostle Paul makes mention of these three great and spiritual blessings that abide in every believer; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Why would Paul say that? Because it is true!

Every believer lives by faith, (Romans 1: 17) walks by faith (2 Corinthians 5: 7) and will die in faith, (Hebrews 13: 5), always looking to and trusting in Christ. (Hebrews 12: 2) But one day faith will end in perfect and complete sight, when we behold the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. (1 John 3: 2)

Likewise, every believer lives with a fervent hope, a living hope and a blessed hope; (Titus 2: 13) because it is a good hope through grace. (2 Thessalonians 2: 16) Hope springs from faith in Christ, (Hebrews 11: 1) for He is our hope. (Colossians 1: 27; 1 Timothy 1: 1) But the good hope we have in Christ, that too will one day come to an end in the certain expectation of the reality of that hope being predestinated to be just like the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8: 29-30)

But the greatest of these gifts is love; the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5: 5) will never end. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. (Romans 8: 38)

Our love for the Lord Jesus Christ had a beginning but it will never have an end. We only love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4: 19)

When did the Lord start loving His own? From eternity in the covenant of grace! (Jeremiah 31: 3) The Lord’s love for His church is a sacrificial love. (Ephesians 5: 25; 1 John 4: 10) He laid down His life for His church. (John 13: 1) Oh how precious is that love for us!

May God grant us to be always thankful for this gift of His love unto us and may He cause it to grow in such a way as to glorify Him now and forever.

One day soon every believer will sing forever; “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen (Revelation 1: 5-6)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Preach The Word Of God”

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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

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Four Fundamentals of Faith

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 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, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” | 2 Timothy 1: 7-12

1.) A NEED – Men and women come to Christ because they need Christ! “The well have NO NEED…” (Matthew 9: 11-13)

2.) THE WORD – Faith’s one foundation is the Word of God. We have no reason to believe anything except what God hath said. <“Faith cometh by hearing the Word.” (Romans 10: 17)

3.) CHRIST – The sole object of saving faith is Christ, (Isaiah 45: 22; Hebrews 12: 2) our Lord. He, of God, is made unto us all things that we need. We believe, look, trust, and rest in HIM. (Colossians. 2: 9-10)

4.) GRACE – Both the will to believe and the power to believe are the gifts of God, “not of works.” (Ephesians 1 :19; Ephesians 2: 8-9)

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Four Fundamentals of Faith”

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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 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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True Faith

“And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” | 2 Samuel 11: 26-27

True faith throbs in a man’s pulse, it looks out of his eyes, it lights up his countenance, it softens his touch, it mellows his voice, it bows his head, it bends his knee, it opens his hand, it soft-pedals his tongue, it breaks his heart, it orders his steps, and it gives him a hearing ear. He lives for Christ; and, if necessary, he would die for Him.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Has Put Away Your Sin”

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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: 2 May, 2020 | Previous post date: 1986 | Pikeville, Kentucky