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The Significance of the Pool

“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. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.” | John 5: 1-9

Some say the pool at Bethesda was a superstitious pool and had no virtue in its water. Others say that it was blessed of God by the presence of an angel who troubled its water and gave healing virtue to the first to plunge into the pool.

I personally see this pool as a picture of both. But the real significance of Bethesda’s pool is the sovereign King of Glory who graced it with His presence. The only reason for it to be preserved or mentioned at all; the only value to it or virtue it could claim is that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before He appeared or after his appearance, he is still the source of its virtue and the magic of its water.

I thought as I studied these passages how much this applies to all that we are and do.

  1. As your pastor: I have no reason to be honored, listened to, obeyed, or followed except for Christ. If Christ be in me and in my ministry and in my life then this office has honor but without Him it is just another hollow form of religion.
  2. The building we meet in: There is nothing special about this building or the grounds. But if this place is used to honor God’s King, He will also honor this place. If Christ be here, I had rather meet here than in the greatest cathedral in the world.
  3. This assembly: Of what value is a crowd if Christ is not in their midst? A huge multitude gathered on the outskirts of Canaan without Christ and accomplished nothing except to bring down the wrath of God on their heads.
  4. Worship: Who will bring us to the Father? Who will take our pitiful gifts and make them acceptable? Who will show us the Father that we might know him and be stirred to worship?
  5. Reading the scriptures: “To Him give all the prophets witness”, Take Christ out of the Bible and it is just another book.
  6. Preaching: Oh, what a pitiful exercise would preaching be if it were not for Christ. What could you say to perishing sinners? What comfort could you give to the suffering? What hope could you offer to the lost?

The real significance of the pool is that which God has attached to everything that is – The Lord Jesus Christ. “All things were created by Him and for Him” (Colossians 1: 16)

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “A Preachers’ Preacher”

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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 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Grow In Grace

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To HIM be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” | 2 Peter 3: 18

The apostle’s exhortation to us as God’s people who have been called by faith to believe on Christ is, “grow in grace.”

When God‘s people “grow in grace,” they grow in the doctrine of grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

They grow in the object of grace – which is Christ Himself!

“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)

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2: 1)

And when God‘s people “grow in grace,” they grow in the practice of grace.

Psalm 111: 4 says, “…the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” And all who “grow in grace” say, “As He is, I desire to be.”

True growth in grace says with David, “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with THY likeness.” (Psalm 17:15)

The doctrine!

The object!

The practice!

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To HIM be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3: 17,18)

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Goodness of 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 25 October, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

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Wise To Consider The End

“O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” | Deuteronomy 32: 29

Do we ever think about our souls at all?

Millions of people, I fear, cannot answer that question satisfactorily. They never give the subject of religion any place in their thoughts. From the beginning of the year to the end they are absorbed in the pursuit of business, pleasure, politics, money, or self-indulgence of some kind or another.

Death and judgment, eternity, heaven, hell, and a world to come, are never calmly looked at and considered. They live on as if they were never going to die, or rise again, or stand at the bar of God, or receive an eternal sentence! They do not openly oppose religion, for they have not sufficient thoughts about it to do so; but they eat, and drink, and sleep, and get money, and spend money, as if religion was a mere fiction and not a reality.

They are neither Roman Catholic, nor Socinians, nor infidels, nor High Church, nor Low Church, nor Broad Church.

They are just nothing at all, and do not take the trouble to have opinions.

A more senseless and unreasonable way of living cannot be conceived; but they do not pretend to reason about it. They simply never think about God, unless frightened for a few minutes by sickness, death in their families or an accident. Barring such interruptions, they appear to ignore religion altogether, and hold on their way cold and undisturbed, as if there were nothing worth thinking about except this world.

It is hard to imagine a life more unworthy of an immortal creature than such a life as I have just described, for it reduces a man to the level of a beast. But it is literally and truly the life of multitudes in the world; and as they pass away… their place is taken by multitudes just like them.

~ J.C. Ryle

Click here to listen to the message “As In The Days of Lot”

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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

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Christ, Our Advocate

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: | 1 John 2: 1

No trial or suffering is easy.

If trials were without pain and discomfort, they would not accomplish the purpose for which they are sent. (James 1: 2-4)

But, when we look at all of earth’s sorrows, sufferings, and trials in the light of His eternal glory; when we shall be like Him, enjoy His presence, and partake in His perfect kingdom, then we will look on these present inconveniences as nothing. They are not worthy to be compared to that glory. (1 John 3: 1-3)

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Christ, Our Advocate”

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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 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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A GOD READY TO PARDON

“Thou art a God ready to pardon” | Nehemiah 9: 17

God, as He has revealed Himself to us in the scriptures, delights to shew mercy and to pardon guilty sinners. He has not left us to guess about His character.

David said of Him, “Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86: 5) His readiness to pardon is seen in His long-suffering to Israel. God’s dealings with national Israel are very typical of His dealings with spiritual Israel. Though we are no more deserving of mercy than they were, yet God in Christ Jesus has been pleased to choose, justify and pardon His elect. (Romans 3: 24-26)

God’s readiness to pardon His people is seen in the following points:

1) In His Eternal Purpose! (Ephesians 3: 8-12) We must never think that Christ Jesus died to make God merciful. The death of the Lord Jesus is the result of the eternal purpose and love of God. (Revelation 13: 8) Before Adam’s rebellion ever took place, the remedy and redemption of the sheep of Christ was absolute and certain. (1 Corinthians 15: 22) Before Adam ever fell, Jesus Christ stood as the Surety and Mediator of the covenant of grace. (Hebrews 13: 20)

2) In His Gracious Provision! (Galatians 4: 4-7) God, at great cost to Himself, from His own bosom gave His only begotten, well-beloved Son. (John 3: 16) God, in His holiness and strict justice, cannot simply give the sinner pardon without honoring His justice. (Ezekiel 8: 20) Therefore, God took to Himself sinless humanity. Living as our representative, He perfectly obeyed the law for us in all its precepts & penalties. (Romans 8: 1-4)

3) In His Satisfying Propitiation! (Hebrews 2: 16-18) How can God be just and yet justify the ungodly; be a just God and Saviour? That is the vital question of the hour, that nobody is asking. The only way is for God Himself to satisfy His own justice. (Isaiah 53: 10) This is what happened at Calvary. The Lord Jesus Christ died in the place of His people, as the sinner’s Substitute. Bearing the sin of His people being laid upon Him, (Isaiah 53: 6) He suffered for them to satisfy God’s justice. (2 Corinthians 5: 21; 1 Peter 3: 18) The atonement doesn’t change the character of God, it honors and glorifies His justice and His mercy. (Psalm 85: 10)

4) In Preaching The Gospel! (1 Corinthians 1: 17-21) God, in His infinite wisdom, has devised very simple means to call out His elect. (Romans 10: 13-17) God effectually calls out His sheep through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (John 10: 27) Wherever His people are, whoever they are, God will cross their path with the truth of salvation revealed in Jesus Christ. (Acts 8: 26-40; 1 Peter 1: 23-25; James 1: 18)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Conversion Of A Sinner”

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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: 6 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Five Things About Manna

“And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.” | Revelation 19: 3-6

There are five things pictured in the heavenly manna as it is given in figure of Christ the true bread of God. (Exodus 16: 1-31) These are things which every believer shall come to know in the sweet experience of grace.

First: He will come to see that this true manna was provided by God alone. It did not rise up out of the cursed ground or evolve on the herb bearing grass; it was divinity given. “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” (John 6: 31) “He commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven and rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them the corn of heaven.” (Psalm 75: 23-24)

Second: This manna must be discovered. All those who did not look did not discover the manna. The manna fell where God said it would. The manna fell in the assemble of God. The manna was easy to find. Most men do not find Christ because they do not look where the manna is revealed.

Third: The manna must be gathered. Manna on the ground did no good to anyone. Simply hearing about the manna satisfied no mans hunger. It must be gathered. Who gathered this manna? Hungry souls sought it out and gathered it in.

Fourth: The manna must be processed. Israel did not just scoop it up by handfuls and eat it like jelly beans; it was ground in the mills or beaten in a mortar and then baked into bread. (Matthew 11: 8) The gospel of Jesus Christ is processed by the inward working of the Spirit. (I Corinthians 2: 10-14) It must be heard, considered, understood, and believed.

Fifth: The manna must be eaten. Manna in a basket will not give life. It must be chewed and swallowed. It must be taken within where God, the Holy Spirit, makes it one with us and creates faith and life and hope.

Christ is our manna! May God be pleased to guide us where he can be found, reveal him to our hearts, cause us to gather to ourselves the full measure God has given, help us to process what we have gathered, and eat to the full what God has given. Amen

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “Christ The Omnipotent Reigneth”

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

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AN INGLORIOUS RUIN

“Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.” | Psalm 16: 1-3

“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” (Psalm 39: 5)

The human race does not realize nor recognize its ruin.

Unregenerate people naturally cannot see their lost condition for they are spiritually dead to God. For the most part, people see themselves in a rather glorious light.

However, this is not how God sees the human race.

God sees the human race as it is, lost, dead in trespasses and sins and in constant rebellion, and the way God sees it is the way it is.

Take any man at his best state, when he is praying, giving, reading God’s word, it is altogether vanity apart from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is my worth and my completeness before God. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2: 10)

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “Not Everyone is Saved”

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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: July 22, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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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

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SALVATION IS OF THE LORD

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD” | Psalm 37: 39

We have all heard of putting the cart before the horse. That summarizes man’s religion.

It inverts the divine order. It makes forgiveness the end rather than the beginning of salvation.

Man’s religion says you must believe before you can have life, rather than you believe because you live. It says God will if you will, rather than God will and you shall. It makes man the deciding factor rather than God. Anything that has man as the deciding factor is doomed for failure.

Thank God, “Salvation is of the Lord”

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “The True Jew”

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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: 6 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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This Man Receiveth Sinners

“And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” | Luke 15: 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.

What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him (John 6: 44) and then to have ears to actually hear a word from Him. (Act 10: 33) His words are words of life. (John 5: 24) His words are words of salvation. (Romans 1: 16; 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. (Romans 10: 1-4)

No man will ever come to Christ while he is resting in the deeds of the law for salvation. (Romans 3:1 9-20) 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. (John 5: 21; Ephesians 2: 1; 1 John 5: 1)

This Man receives sinners! What a miracle of amazing grace.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “I’ll Never Despair of Anybody”

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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: 17 January, 2021 | Previous post date: 19 January, 2021