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John Kent’s Dying Testimony

“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

We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

That portion cut me to the heart, while at the same time it has been my hope.

If I am to stand by myself to give an account, I am lost forever; but it is the judgment seat of Christ.

He is my surety and has paid all demands.

I shall be tried there by a covenant of grace, not a covenant of works.

Blessed be God for His great Salvation.

I bless God that the promises of the gospel met me in all my wants, wounds, and wretchedness.

I wish to die with “God be merciful to me a sinner” upon my lips.

Click here to listen to the message “Appearing With Christ In Glory” (34:02 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 March, 2020 | Previous post date: 21 September, 2021

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God So Loved The World

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” | John 3: 16

We warn you against those who say that “God loved the world” means “God loved every one alike.”

They tell people indiscriminately that “John 3: 16 means that God loved you. You may substitute your name for the word world in John 3: 16.”

They know this is not true!

“I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.” (Malachi 1: 2-3)

For example, they know that God Himself declared, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated”.

“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Romans 9: 13)

Despite knowing this, we can imagine them saying to Esau, as they say to all others, “Smile, God loves you – for God loves everyone! When you read John 3:16, change the word world to your name, so that it reads ‘For God so loved Esau ….’”

Hear me well!

Neither Esau nor all the other unrepentant and unbelieving wicked people whom God declares that He hates are in the world loved by God, and to which He gave His only begotten Son for their salvation.

Furthermore, there is more than one world on this earth.

And the world loved by God is distinguished from another world in the High Priestly prayer of Jesus Christ to His Father recorded in John chapter seventeen.

“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” (John 17: 6-9)

That other world is the world for which Jesus Christ refused to pray, and the world from which God removed His people and gave to Christ in order that He might save them: “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me… they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1: 3-6)

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6: 16-19)

They who misrepresent God’s love to His world should remember that among the people God hates and abominates is “a false witness who speaks lies”.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him; And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him; We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4: 9, 16, 19)

All who are in this world loved by God will confess: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. … We love Him because He first loved us”.

Is this your confession?

~ Pastor Daniel Parks

Click here to listen to the message “Even So, Amen” (35:28 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: 1 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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The Pity Of God

”Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him” | Psalm 103: 13

God pities His children, because they are pitiful. To pity someone, it has to come from the heart and from the affections.

God Almighty pities His children from His heart and from His affections.

Pity also means to have compassion, to be tenderhearted.

Our covenant God showed His affections, His compassions and His heart in sending His Blessed Son into this world to be our Savior, to redeem us by His own blood.

OH what love, what compassion was shown toward those for whom Christ died, to accomplish a perfect, complete salvation for His people!

Thank God for His pity, His affections and His compassion given us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “An Ordered Betrayal”

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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 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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Waiting On The Lord

“Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” | Micah 7: 7

Here are three reasons why God’s people are happy to wait on their Lord:

  1. Our example and reason for waiting – which is Christ! He waited on us that He might be gracious to us, and have mercy upon us. “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” (Isaiah 30: 18)
  2. The danger of NOT waiting! When we do not wait on the Lord for the direction of His will and purpose, we bring nothing but heartache to ourselves. Israel “…soon forgat His works; they waited not for His counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psalm 106: 13-15)
  3. The promises from God at the end of waiting! “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart…” (Psalm 27: 14) “…those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” (Psalm 37: 9) “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.” (Isaiah 64: 4)

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “We Will Rejoice In Thy Salvation” (28:12 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: 5 August, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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It Is Good For Me That I Am Afflicted

”It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy ways.” | Psalm 119: 71

God’s ways and God’s word are best learned by experience and in time of trouble.

When our Lord is pleased to lay his hand heavily upon us, we do not soon forget the lessons learned.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3: 19)

When the Lord singles out a believer or a church for special affliction and adversity, it is not for punishment nor lack of love for them; it is for eternal blessings and because He does love them.

“Whom the Lord loveth” he chastens, corrects, and teaches!

When Job sat before his friends, who was afflicted?

The one God loved!

When Paul stood before King Agrippa, who wore the chains?

The one God loved!

Humanly speaking, which path of life would you prefer to live on earth, that of Esau or Jacob?

Esau had the life of prosperity and ease; Jacob was full of trouble and conflict.

But God loved Jacob!

Thank God he has not left us alone!

Thank God he has loved us in Christ and is pleased to teach us his ways by dealing with us in such a way that we are weaned from the world and find our life, comfort, and hope only in him.

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12: 8)

A person who measures his blessings and relationship with God by his prosperity, health, happiness, and worldly comforts makes a fatal mistake.

Paul wrote, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

He who sends the trial for his glory and my good will supply the grace sufficient.

Those who know the Redeemer also know that when we are weak, we are strong; when we are poor, we are rich; when we are empty, we are full; and when we die, we live!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Joy After Chastening” (44:48 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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 3 March, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Seeking God’s Will

“Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” | Isaiah 40: 10-11

Every believer desires to do the Lord’s will.

He wants to do what the Lord’s Word says.

And I believe that for every situation we face and every decision we are to make there is a scriptural example or principle given.

If we seek diligently we will find the answer to every question regarding what the Lord would have us to do.

Like the faithful Father that He is, He never leaves His children without clear instruction.

His Word is a “lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path.”

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3: 6)

If we really want direction from the Lord, He will give it.

Most of the time we have not because we ask not, and sometimes we ask not because we may already know the answer and do not really want to do what we know should be done.

It is sad but that is the flesh.

May God deliver us from it and make us willing and obedient to do His will.

I submit three things that I believe can be applied to every decision we need to make; every situation which arises that we need an answer as to what to do. Examine everything using these criteria…

  1. IS IT FOR GOD’S GLORY? — Is what I am about to do or where I am about to go in the best interest of God’s glory? Will God receive more glory in this way or another? “Whether we eat or drink, do all for the glory of God.”
  2. IS THIS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHURCH? — How is this decision going to affect the church of which I am a member and vitally joined to? No believer is independent, but is a member of the body. Everything we do affects the church. We need to guard against anything which may bring reproach upon our God and His church, and we need to seek ways to serve the body and not ourselves. “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” “And all that believed were together, and had all things common.”
  3. HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT MY FAMILY’S SPIRITUAL GOOD? –- If I have a husband, wife, son or daughter; everything I do, every decision I make affects them in some way. I must lay aside my personal desires in favor of them. I must do what is best for their spiritual good. “…as Christ loved the church.”

The very last consideration (and perhaps no consideration at all), is my own personal desires or happiness.

“Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ.”

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Arm Of The Lord” (37:21 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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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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When We See The Lord

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” | Hebrews 12: 15

A sight of Christ by faith brings peace to the conscience.

There is ever a war within, between the flesh and the Spirit, grace and nature, the old man and the new: the motions of sin in our members are ever warring against the law of holiness in our minds: wicked nature is like the troubled sea, which cannot rest; it is continually casting up mire and dirt: but the winds and seas of corrupt nature obey Christ.

He says, Peace, be still, and there is a great calm in the soul; for Christ is our Peace, he hath made our peace with God by his blood; he makes and keeps peace in our souls by his presence; our stubborn lusts will fight and reign if Christ be absent from our hearts; therefore, we cannot but be glad when we see the Lord.

~ Pastor David Pledger

Click here to listen to the message “Keep Looking To Jesus” (35:00 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 22 March, 2020 | Previous post date: 18 September, 2021

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Blood Before The Lord

”Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.” | Exodus 12: 5-7

Note in the scriptures how many times the blood is said to be “before the Lord.”

Whether any man saw it or not was of small account, for it was offered for sin “before the Lord.”

“And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.” (Leviticus 16: 18)

When the passover lamb was slain in Egypt, where was the blood placed?

It was on the OUTSIDE of the door “before the Lord.”

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12-13)

He said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2: 9)

The suffering and death of Christ on behalf of His people was “BEFORE the Lord,” UNTO the Lord, to declare the Lord’s righteousness, to satisfy the Lord’s justice, to fulfill the Lord’s purpose, to glorify the Lord’s character, to enable the Lord to be both just and justifier.

The atonement does not change the NATURE and CHARACTER of God, but rather the atonement HONORS and MAGNIFIES the character of God.

“Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 38: 23)

The death of Christ is NOT the cause of God’s love, but the result of it.

God is not merciful because Christ died; Christ died because God is merciful.

“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (2 Chronicles 20: 21)

In order that every attribute might be expressed, glorified, and honored, God gave His Son to be the Saviour of the chosen people!

Thank God we have an atonement “before the Lord.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Christ’s Blood Speaks” (34:48 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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 3 March, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Constrained By Love

”For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead” | 2 Corinthians 5: 14

Why do you folks read the Bible, pray for one another, attend worship services and support the preaching of the gospel so faithfully and generously?

Why do you help one another, comfort one another, and encourage one another?

Why do you share your blessings, work at the church, seek the well-being and happiness of others, and invite others to your homes and tables?

I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU!

All believers in the Lord Jesus are under the SWEETEST and STRONGEST constraint to do what they do; they are motivated by the LOVE OF CHRIST; His love for them and their love for Him! “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4: 19)

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9: 11-12)

It is not fear of hell, desire for reward, nor concern for acceptance that excites us to duty, devotion, and works of faith, but Christ’s eternal love which led Him to redeem us by His life and death.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Humility of Preaching” (28:48 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: 25 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a