Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever. Psalm 28:6-9

The Grand Design
THE GRAND DESIGN of the Heavenly Father in creation, providence, and salvation is to have a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, populated by a holy people out of all nations, perfectly conformed to the likeness of His Son. This work He gave to our Lord Jesus in the eternal council and covenant to accomplish, to perfect, and to deliver to Him at the end. And "He shall not fail nor be discouraged ' til it is done." Pastor Henry Mahan

All The Counsel Of God
Paul said to the Ephesian Elders, “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” By that he did not mean that every time he preached, he attempted to cover all the various doctrines of the Gospel. He meant that he never held anything back.

In a courtroom, the witness is required “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” This is necessary because we can tell a lie by means of telling only half the truth! This is an attempt at deception while technically telling the truth. But you know as well as I do that only half the truth is a lie!

How many preachers in our day say many good and true things, yet they only tell half the story. It is called perjury in our court systems. In the great court of heaven it is treason! Pastor Todd Nibert

THE WORD OF GOD
“So Shall My Word Be That Goeth Forth Out Of My Mouth: It Shall Not Return Unto Me Void, But It Shall Accomplish That Which I Please, And It Shall Prosper In The Thing Whereto I Sent It.” – Isaiah 55:11

THE WORD OF GOD is the power of God. Scripture says He “upholds all things by the Word of His Power.” Scripture says “It SHALL ACCOMPLISH that which I please, and It SHALL PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent It.” Who can say that but God? What mortal can say that he or she can say anything that will definitely come to pass, or anything that will convince anyone of anything or change anyone or anything. No one! Only God!

How frustrating it is in trying to talk to someone and convince them of something, when they may not be listening. And how exasperating it is for someone to ignore you, or worse, to not believe you. God is never frustrated nor disappointed. How many times have you heard someone say, “God is trying to tell me something.” Well, their god may be trying to get their attention, but The God Who is God, The God of the Bible, Who spoke and the universe was created, never tries to do anything, let alone try to get someone to listen. NO! NO! If He speaks to you, you will hear Him. If He tells you to do something, you will do it. “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, “Get thee out . . . So Abram departed, AS THE LORD HAD SPOKEN TO HIM” (Gen.12:1-4).

This is the preacher’s comfort and encouragement (as well as everyone who witnesses the truth to others). No matter how insufficient we may feel, no matter how incapable, how dead, how dry, how frustrated, how bound up . . . God’s Word shall not return void! God’s Word shall accomplish something. We always triumph in Christ when we preach the Word of Truth. That is why we preach the Word, in season or out of season. That is why we use so much of the Word, shooting many of God’s arrows, knowing that one of them is bound to hit its mark. That is why we lean on the staff of God’s Word. We lean on it, hide behind it, run to it, take refuge in it, lay hold of it, embrace it, love it, depend upon it. God’s wonderful Word. The Power of God; the saving, convincing, keeping, comforting, motivating, moving, inspiring, manipulating, directing, sustaining, restraining, constraining Word of the Most High God! What a wonder It is! Pastor Paul Mahan

STRIVE TO ENTER IN
“Strive to enter into the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:24

WHAT does it mean to Strive for a soul to enter the Strait Gate? Our Lord Jesus says there are many who will not enter, why won't they be able to enter? Because they do not strive to enter. What is it to strive? It is to contend, to fight, to engage in conflict, to strive as in a contest for a prize, straining every nerve to attain the object. Christ is the prize and all the spiritual blessings that are in him, so why would someone not "Strive" to enter? The Apostle said; "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" – Philippians 3:14

It appears to me that many are not striving, that there is no effort, no contending, there is no engaging in conflict. Who are we to contend with, who are we to engage in conflict, who and what are we to strive against? The flesh, the world, sin, and our deceitful hearts all keep us from entering in. There are some who believe they have entered but there is no striving, they don’t even strive to attend the hearing of the gospel. There must be a striving against slothfulness, against making excuses and justifying ourselves for our lack of faithfulness. There must be a striving against pride, hard heartedness, and self- righteousness. Why would anyone entertain a hope of having Life in Christ, when there is not even a striving to come and hear Christ preached? Remember our Lord said; "for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Pastor Don Bell

“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Romans 9:16
The Word of God declares, with unmistakable clarity, that it is the will of God alone that is the cause of our salvation in Christ (John 1:11-13; Romans 9:16). If salvation depended upon the will of man, no one would ever be saved. What is the condition of man’s will? It is the same as man’s condition. —Spiritually dead! —Depraved! —Perverse! —In Bondage! This is the doctrine of Holy Scripture (John 5:40; 6:44; Romans 3:10-12). It is not the sinner’s will that brings him to Christ, but God’s will (James 1:18; Ephesians 1:3-5, 9, 11; John 6:37-39). If God almighty willed the salvation of all, all would be saved (Isaiah 14:24; 46:9-11; Daniel 4:34-35). —“The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have thought, so shall it stand!” Pastor Don Fortner

June 10th, 2007
Sunday Worship
Bible Study 10:30 A.M.
Morning Service 11:15 A.M.
Kingsport service 3:00 P.M.
Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M.

Radio (Sundays):
WXCC 96.5 & 98.1 FM (new time and staion) 8:15 A.M each week