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The Eternal God Is Thy Refuge

”The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” | Deuteronomy 33: 27

As I get older and look back over my life, the one thing that becomes so important to me is not that I have lived for Christ; but that Christ lived, died, rose again, and ascended on High for me.

What a great future I have ahead of me.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “The Eternal God Is Thy Refuge” (29:45 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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We Have An 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: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” | 1 John 2: 1-2

This scripture recognizes our frail, sinful human nature.

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7: 24-25)

A believer does not love sin, does not excuse or justify sin, but grieves over sin and desires to be without sin.

Yet he owns and confesses his sin!

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” (Psalm 51:4)

As Spurgeon once said, “Sin is my name, sin is my nature, and to deny is to deny the Word, deceive myself and call God a liar. My old nature is such that I will sin until I die, for sin pollutes the best things I do.”

This scripture encourages the believer to trust and hope in the mercy of God AT ALL TIMES!

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3: 5)

It does not say, “If any man is holy, prayerful, and almost faithful, he has an advocate;” but IF ANY MAN SINS, he has an ADVOCATE with the Father.

It does not say, “IF any man sins he forfeits his right to Christ’s advocacy.”

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3: 9-11)

Grace that can be forfeited because of human failure is not GRACE at all.

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1: 2-5)

Mercy that is conditioned upon the merit of the creature is not mercy at all.

“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. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1: 16-17)

If my title to glory rests upon my works, either BEFORE OR AFTER conversion, it is a total failure.

This scripture declares that at all times, under all conditions, Jesus Christ is our righteousness, our sanctification, our advocate and our redemption.

So when I sin, when I consider my past or present, and come creeping to my closet with a guilty conscience and an aching heart, I can rejoice in the mercy of my Father; for I have an ADVOCATE, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Grace & Peace Multiplied” (31:49 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 13 July, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a

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Go Forth Unto Him

”Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.” | Hebrews 13: 9-11

If you are will believe on Christ Jesus the Lord then you must leave behind all ceremony, legalistic, human works, worldliness, and every other falsehood, and identify ourselves as being one with Christ.

It will mean reproach from those who yet attempt to come to God some other way, but it is reproach worth bearing if we believe that Christ is all.

Atonement ‘at’ ‘tone’ ‘ment’ – God is holy.

God’s elect are sinners.

In order for God to accept a sinner, God must make that sinner holy.

Atonement makes a sinner, holy, so he can be at one with holy God.

God declared how atonement is made for a sinner.

A spotless, sinless, innocent sacrifice is made to be sin for that sinner.

Then the sacrifice dies in the place of that sinner.

Its blood — wherein is the life of the sacrifice – is offered to God upon the mercy seat in the holiest of holies.

Only the High Priest could enter the holiest of holies with the blood.

God prepared a body like ours for his Son.

He took upon him flesh and blood like those he came to save.

He was made under the law of God like those he came to save in order that he might show himself to be perfect in thought, word and deed.

He is the perfect, sinless, spotless, Lamb which God provided to take away the sin of his people.

He had to be perfect or he would not be fit to take our sin.

In order to pay the debt his people owed to the law’s justice, it was a must for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who had never done any sin, to be made sin for us, to made a curse for us.

And it was a must that he suffer all the consequences of our sins until God’s justice was fully satisfied.

It meant Jesus had to suffer the fire of God’s holy law and wrath.

It had to be because God can not show you or me mercy unless his law is first honored and his justice first satisfied toward his people.

Do you see how holy God is?

He will by no means clear the guilty.

God is so holy that he sent his only begotten Son to bear the guilt of his people.

God is so holy that when sin was found on the Lamb he provided, he would not hold back his holy fury.

God is so holy that he will not accept his people until there sin be completely put away and they be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

That is why Christ was made a curse for his people

But we see in this, not only the suffering our Lord endured under the fire of God’s holy, unbending justice, but we see also the shame and reproach he endured by being made sin for us.

If you confess to this world that all your hope is — not in yourself – but in Christ Jesus your Lord you will be an offense to this world.

Glorying in the cross of Christ means renouncing any sanctifying, justifying work that you or I or any other man can perform.

Glorying in the cross of Christ is to confess that Christ sanctified me, made me holy and without blame by his one offering without the camp.

If you leave behind this self-serving, self-righteous, will-worshipping generation and go forth unto Christ without the camp, you shall bear his reproach.

And you will bear it most of all from this religious world.

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate – in that shameful, reproachful place where the cursed leper was separated from the camp.

Remember: the reproach which Christ suffered was at the hands of religious men and women – religion excommunicated him, kicked him out of the camp, because they would not confess their sin and let go of their self-righteous deeds.

But if he makes you know that he was suffering for you then you will find that there is not anything which is too much to suffer for Christ!

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Teaches Lydia the Gospel” (42:14 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: 15 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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In The Last Days

“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.” | Isaiah 2: 1

The Lord Jesus Christ alone must establish and exalt his house.

He has and he shall.

This is the word which came from the Lord God of covenant promise delivered by his messenger Isaiah.

Christ’s church, made up of the small remnant of his elect in that physical nation Israel as well as his elect from the four corners of the earth, shall be established and raised.

In the last days that the Mosaic system of worship existed the Son of God was made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4: 4, 5)

Christ bought the remnant of his elect children who were natural descendants of Abraham out from the Mosaic law so that they now are free to approach God through Christ the Lamb rather than an earthly sacrifice by the law of commandments.

At the same time, for both his elect Gentiles and his remnant in national Israel, Christ judicially delivered them from sin and death earned by the first Adam in the garden.

By his holy person and his righteous obedience Christ established an everlasting righteousness which his people could never do for themselves.

Being made sin for us, he who knew no sin satisfied God’s justice, reconciled us to God and established us before God.

When he was exalted to God’s right hand in resurrection glory his church was exalted in him.

This is what the word “established” and “exalted” means.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “From the Country of Moab to the House of Bread” (40:53 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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 31 July, 2008 | Previous post date: 25 August, 2021 | Ewing, New Jersey

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Trusting God

”Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” | Hebrews 3: 1

Most of us don’t know God well enough to trust Him.

Are you persuaded that God has complete control in reference to the things, which excite our anxiety?

Are you persuaded that He will use this control in the best way as far as we are concerned?

If I am to cast my cares on Him, I must know Him to be my Father; I must know Him to be my Friend; I must know Him to be my Protector, my Shepherd, my Guide, my Righteousness, and my Salvation.

I must believe His testimony that He loves me for Christ’s sake.

He careth for you.

It’s a small thing for God to care for us.

He provides for the cattle on a thousand hills, all the wild beasts, an army of birds, fish and insects.

Your needs and mine are scarcely a crumb from God’s table.

If He says, “I will care for you,” then He WILL.

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “Consider These Things” (43:10 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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We Believe And Are Sure

”Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” | John 6: 68-69

From the standpoint of God’s eternal decree, it may be truly said that believing sinners will not turn away from Christ because they cannot.

But from the standpoint of the believer’s experience, it may just as truly be said that believers cannot turn away from Christ because they will not. And this is not presumption.

It is the simple, saving, childlike faith and trust of a believing sinner, a true believer.

”Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” (Psalm 57: 1)

The desperate need of his soul can only be satisfied in Christ Jesus the Lord!

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “A Covenant of Peace With Them” (27:17 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: 27 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Whosoever Will, Take It Freely

”He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.” | Psalm 62: 6

Have you any other rock but Christ?

I do not ask you whether you have a feeling of enjoyment of it.

I know you will rejoice in Jesus when the Holy Spirit enables you.

But have you any other refuge?

Can you go out into eternity resting upon any other rock but the Lord Jesus Christ?

Have you any other righteousness but His?

Can you lean upon, desire, or want any other than Christ’s righteousness?

“No,” says the soul, “None but Christ! None but Christ!”

Bless your poor heart, then, you shall have it as sure as God has wrought the desire in your conscience and brought you to trust alone in Jesus for refuge, for righteousness, for salvation, by stripping you of all false props and dependencies.

Such a soul as this will trust in the Lord, overcome all opposition, and be more than a conqueror through Him that hath loved him.

~ John Warburton

Click here to listen to the message “A Covenant of Peace With Them” (27:17 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: 21 May, 2022

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The Glory In Trials

”Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” | Romans 5: 1-5

Faith believes God’s promise to perform all that is necessary to justify us and make us the righteousness of God.

That is what Abraham believed.

How does it say Abraham gave glory to God?

He staggered not at God’s promise through unbelief.

But was fully persuaded — that is what faith is – being fully persuaded.

Fully persuaded that what?

That what God promises, God is able also to perform.

God promised Abraham righteousness by the work Christ Jesus the Son of God would perform on Abraham’s behalf – and Abraham believed God’s promise, fully persuaded he was able to perform it.

Through faith, God imputed — charged or laid to his account – the very righteousness God requires.

”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3)

When you do not believe that God is able to perform all the work necessary to justify you and bring you to himself, without you helping him, then you are in a constant warfare against God.

God is your enemy.

You fight to deny the very being and perfections of God.

You fight to deny that justification is accomplished by Christ.

Faith believes that my peace with God is by Christ.

Faith also believes that it is by Christ that I continue in the perpetual care of God’s unchanging favor – His grace.

This word stand, means, that true God-given faith shall endure because God’s grace in Christ Jesus continually makes us to stand.

”As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalm 17: 15)

We can rather glory in tribulations, in our infirmities, in suffering, for when I am weakest that is when I behold the more that I shall be saved by his life.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The Glory in Trials” (51:16 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 15 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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A Broken Heart

”The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” | Psalm 34: 18

One cannot see in a broken mirror; one cannot drink from a broken glass; one cannot work with a broken arm; one cannot walk with a broken leg.

ONLY THE HEART IS AT ITS BEST STATE WHEN IT IS BROKEN!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Thus Saith The Lord” (29:24 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: 27 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Behold Your God!

“O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!” | Isaiah 40: 9

The God of the Bible, that great God with whom we have to do, is a God of will, purpose and determination, and His will is never thwarted.

“He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”

“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4: 35)

“He is of one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth”.

“But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.” (Job 23: 13)

He declares, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure”.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46: 9-10)

“He worketh ALL THINGS after the counsel of his own will”.

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” (Ephesians 1: 11)

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are ALL THINGS”.

“Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?” (Romans 11: 35)

Whatsoever comes to pass in the whole creation is under God’s rule and dominion.

Whether something comes to pass by Divine, efficient cause or by Divine permission, it is under God’s control and a part of His overall will and purpose; and, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world”.

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15: 18)

God is so sovereign and wise in His rule over all things, in His mysterious providence, that His people bow down in awe, wonder and admiration.

“And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 45: 4-8)

All of the “misfortunes” in the life of Joseph were under the rule of this great God, to fulfill His wise and loving purpose of covenant grace.

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50: 20)

All of the terrible “catastrophes” in the life of Job (1:20); and every hand that moved against the darling of His heart, His only begotten Son, were under His rule and control.

“Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.” (John 19: 11)

No wonder the apostle Paul could write, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8: 28)

What safety and security, peace and rest it is to be in His loving, almighty hands.

“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)

And take it to heart, believers, those things which befall you in this life come not only from the almighty hand of God, but from the infinite heart of God, your infinitely wise and loving Father.

“And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” (Acts 4: 23-28)

Now read Psalm 23 – The LORD is my shepherd – The LORD is MY shepherd – what peace these words should bring to our hearts.

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “A Covenant of Peace With Them” (27:17 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 13 July, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a