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Rejoicing In The Lord

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” | Philippians 4: 4

Believers in the Lord Jesus do rejoice in the Lord always.

They rejoice that His grace is always sufficient, that His blood ever cleanses them from all sin, that by His righteousness imputed to them they are justified before the law, that His love for them never fails, that by His providence He continually works all things together for their good, to them who are the called according to His purpose, that His intercession before the Father on their behalf is continual and rejoice that their names are written in heaven.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Sinner’s Story Of Salvation” (24:30 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 11 February, 2018 | Previous post date: 14 June, 2022

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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

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What Do We Think of Christ?

”For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” | 2 Corinthians 2: 15-16

Every time I am about to preach, I pray the Lord would give me the ability to speak to every soul there as if no one has ever heard of the Lord Jesus Christ – that every person is lost and must come to Christ for life!

”If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3: 1)

AND I pray that He enables me to tell of our Great God’s faithfulness and promises to His people, with all comfort and assurance – as though every person there has come to Him and was surely His child!

”Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3: 2)

Then I ask – “Who is sufficient for these things?”

”For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3: 3-4)

If we preach only Christ and Him crucified, the Word of God, His person and His work – HE will accomplish both!

Not me.

~ Pastor Kevin Thacker

Click here to listen to the message “What Do We Think of Christ?” (32:23 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: 12 June, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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A Man Is Justified By Faith

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” | Romans 3: 28

Most preachers, church members, and Bible teachers agree with this statement, “A man is justified by faith.”

But when we define, from the Scriptures, what Paul is actually saying here, we have great disagreement.

“John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:” (Luke 3: 16)

1.) WHO JUSTIFIES? “It is God that justifieth.” Salvation is of the Lord from origination to consummation.

2.) WHOM DOES HE JUSTIFY? “The ungodly.” There are not a lot of folks standing in line to take this title unto themselves.

3.) HOW DOES HE JUSTIFY? “By grace through faith in Christ.” His blood and righteousness is our peace and holiness. By His doing and dying He – alone – enables God to be just and justifier!

4.) WHERE DOES SAVING FAITH COME FROM? “It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Yes!

I do believe a man is justified by faith!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “It’s All About Him” (28:53 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: 20 July, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a

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From Heaven Through His Church

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” | Isaiah 2: 1-3

The passage speaks of all nations flowing unto the Lord’s house.

We read that many people, not just his elect from among the Jews, shall go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.

Also, note that it is the Lord who shall do the teaching; that he shall teach, not of man’s ways, but of his ways.

The prophet says that when he teaches his people they will walk, not in the path of the little obstinate-stiff-necked hills, but in the Lord’s paths.

All this is because the law and the word of the Lord are going forth out of Zion from the top of the mountains and out of his Jerusalem.

“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23: 1-8)

After our Lord established and exalted his church by his life, his sacrifice and his ascension, God the Father gave him all power in heaven and in earth to send forth the gospel from heaven through his church on earth that he might rule in the midst of his enemies.

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 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. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110: 1-4)

From his throne in the mountain of glory, Christ Jesus the Lord is now establishing his church by drawing his redeemed people from the north, the south, the east and the west; an elect people out of all nations.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)

From heavens Zion our victorious King Prophet is teaching his people through the local assemblies and pastors which he has established and raised up.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (Colossians 1: 21-23)

His people rejoice to hear of his way of electing grace, of establishing them complete in God’s presence in righteous judgment by his own wisdom, righteousness and holiness.

They delight in his way of regenerating his spiritually dead children when he comes in power and grace to each of them; his way of preserving them by the word of his power and of faithfully fulfilling his every promise.

“Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.” (Zechariah 8: 1-3)

As he draws them to his house one-by-one, it is not a grand spectacle or something even noticed by the world of religion who reject the gospel for another jesus.

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.” (Micah 4: 1)

Yet, by the work that he alone is performing, his elect, hear his voice from heaven through his church on earth and they follow him.

“Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.” (Micah 3: 9-12)

Christ has made the path free of all thorns of sin and stones of ignorance; they know he is the Way and therefore they walk in his path.

“Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 51: 25-26)

This is the second manner in which the Lord establishes and exalts his house above the insignificant hills of falsehood.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Faith’s Confidence” (17:15 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: 1 August, 2008 | Previous post date: 28 August, 2021 | Ewing, New Jersey

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Don’t Cling To Shadows

”And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” | Colossians 2: 15-23

The more we are in the presence of Him Whom our souls love, the less we can bear to be out of it.

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “Don’t Cling To Shadows” (27:36 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: 12 June, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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What Is The Gospel?

”But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” | 1 Corinthians 1: 23

“We preach Christ!”

The gospel is a Person!

”For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1: 16)

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.”

What do we preach about the Lord Jesus Christ that causes it to be the “good news” of the gospel?

“How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

We preach the Lord Jesus Christ crucified.

”For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2: 2)

We preach the accomplishment of the cross.

”But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6: 14)

We preach the finished salvation of ALL of God’s elect people, through the blood of the cross.

”When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19: 30)

We preach the grace, mercy, and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ that has been freely given to His people through the redemption of the cross.

”That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5: 21)

We preach His glory, His praise, His honor, His worth, His work – everything that is owed to Him!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “They Preached Jesus Christ” (44:58 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 2 October, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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Blessed Assurance

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” | John 15: 16

Assurance of salvation and a saving interest in our Lord Jesus is not a feeling cultivated by thinking good thoughts and doing good deeds.

Paul calls it “full assurance of faith.” It has to do with faith, with believing God!

Assurance is born of confidence in the Father as our covenant God; “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

Assurance is born of confidence in the Son as our just God and Saviour; “By His stripes we are healed.”

Assurance is born of confidence in His promises; “Abraham was fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.”

“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Hebrews 4: 11)

So your assurance of redemption is not enhanced by the more you work, but by the more you trust in Him.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain” (39:07 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: 11 February, 2018 | Previous post date: 10 June, 2022

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The Husbandman And His Fruitful Vine

”Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.” | Isaiah 10: 33, 34

The LORD created all things to glorify his name.

Husbandry is one such thing.

”And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:” (Isaiah 11: 01)

The LORD’s church is compared to a garden of God’s planting.

”I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3: 6)

Often the metaphor of trees, of a fruitful field, is used to describe the Lord’s people, the church of God.

”Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.” (Isaiah 10: 33)

We see this metaphor of a garden, of trees, of the LORD planting and uprooting throughout the book of Isaiah.

Whenever the elect of God had become overrun with false prophets, the strangers from outside Israel had been allowed in – though Judah appeared to prosper materialistically the LORD said of his elect:

”And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 1: 8-9)

By God’s grace, his garden is well-watered, ever-green.

On the other hand, false religion only appears green.

Idolaters worshipped under groves — under green trees where it was shady and attractive to the flesh – thus called “pleasant places.”

But God said they were dry because the grace of God was not there to water them.

Thus the LORD says that the false husbandmen — the maker of their falsehood shall be the spark and the people shall be the tow, or tinder – for the fire.

”Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.” (Isaiah 1: 27-31)

God hates a proud look.

Throughout Isaiah’s prophecy he spoke of those who refused to submit themselves to God’s way of salvation in a Substitute, in the Lamb of sacrifice which he provides, as being proud and lofty.

He describes them like they saw themselves – cedars of Lebannon and oaks of Bashan.

”Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15: 2)

But the LORD promised to cut those trees down.

”The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,” (Isaiah 2: 11-13)

There is a song (Isaiah 5: 1-7) which again speaks of God and his vineyard: “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.”

”What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.” (Isaiah 5: 4-6)

So when the LORD withheld the rain they found that they had nothing good in themselves wherein to produce fruit.

”Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 5: 24)

The LORD sent Isaiah to declare that he is burning off the garden, chopping down all the mighty oaks, taking the hedge down from around the vineyard, he is consuming the chaff, but as he does so he speaks of his sovereign, electing grace in saving a remnant.

”And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.” (Isaiah 6: 9-13)

So how would the LORD our Husbandman burn off his vineyard and clear this forest of haughty, proud, lofty trees?

”And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.” (Ezekiel 34: 29)

He did a great deal by taking down the hedge and allowing the wild beasts to come in and eat it up.

”And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.” (Isaiah 10: 17-19)

But as for the mighty trees, the LORD used an ax to cut down the mighty cedars and the tall oaks in his garden — the ax as you remember was the king of Assyria because he turns the kings heart whitersoever he will – but then he cut down the forest of the king of Assyria as well:

”Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.” (Isaiah 10: 33-34)

Now concerning all the haughty, lofty, cedars of Lebanon as well as the mighty oaks of Bashan, both in Israel and Judah, all his land, the LORD says:

”But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” (Matthew 15: 13)

Get the picture of this land.

It is all cleared off, the chaff which grew up from the bad seed has been burned, the haughty, proud cedars of Lebannon, the mighty oaks of Bashan, the LORD cut it back, chopped it down to the roots, so that all that is left of the nation is a stem – a stump.

”For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.” (Job 14: 7)

But remember He said there was a Holy Seed — Substance, Life – yet in this stump of a tree.

”And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:” (Isaiah 11: 1)

The LORD promised: a plant of renown!

The LORD promised: No more hunger!

The LORD promised: No more shame!

That must be some beautiful plant!

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Salt of the Earth” (31:33 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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 22 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Baptism

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” | Acts 8: 35-37

Baptism is for everyone who believes the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:” (1 Corinthians 15: 3-5)

Philip asked the eunuch one question when he requested to be baptized. “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.”

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5: 9)

He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” (Ephesians 1: 19-20)

You know the rest of the story, Philip baptized the eunuch and “he went on his way rejoicing.”

“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matthew 16: 21)

Baptism is for believers, it is their public confession of faith in Him.

“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 3: 21)

Peter says it is an “answer of a good conscience toward God”.

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” (Acts 2: 23)

Baptism is identification with the Lord in His appointed and sacrificial death, in His appointed burial and in His appointed resurrection from the dead.

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13: 48)

We only believe the gospel by the Lord’s appointed power and 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)

Believers are not baptized to be saved; they are baptized because they have been saved by the Lord’s grace.

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9: 26)

Believers are not baptized to put away our sin, they are baptized because Christ has already put away their sin by His sacrifice unto death.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5: 17)

Believers are not baptized to be regenerated or sanctified, they are baptized because they have already been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and made new creatures in Christ. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” (Ephesians 2: 1-4)

“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)

Believing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a powerful miracle of the Lord’s mighty and sovereign grace.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1: 16)

Those who are brought to Christ in saving faith are not ashamed to own, submit and identify with Him, His gospel and His people.

“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: 12)

It is always the believer’s delight and joy to obey the Lord in believer’s baptism.

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16: 16)

While it is not essential to salvation, it is essential to our obedience to the Lord who commanded every believer to be baptized.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Gospel Question” (36:59 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: 20 July, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a