“We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.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. Psalm 39:4-5
PASTOR’S NOTE Pastor Don Fortner is scheduled to preach for the folks in Kingsport, Tenn. on Thursday, Oct. 4, Friday Oct.5 at 7:00pm and Saturday, Oct. 6 at 11:00am.
THE GOSPEL PRODUCES A HUMBLE AND LOVING SPIRIT The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ produces a humble and loving spirit; but religion without Christ (even though quite orthodox) fills the mind with pride, vanity, and self-esteem. These people often spend their time in controversy, disputes, and strife over words, ordinances, laws, church discipline, and government. Their ministry and contact with others produce quarrels and dissension, insults and suspicion, envy and jealousy. "From such withdraw thyself." The true grace of God holds and proclaims the gospel of His glory in the spirit of our Lord and will bring His people together in righteousness, joy, and peace. Pastor Henry Mahan
GOD IS GOD One of the most flagrant sins of our age is that of irreverence,the failure to ascribe the glory which is due the august majesty of God.Men limit the power and activities of the Lord in their degrading concepts of His being and character.Originally, man was made in the image and likeness of God, but today we are asked to believe in a god made in the image and likeness of men.The Creator is reduced to the level of the creature: His omniscience is called into question, His omnipotence is no longer believed in, and His absolute sovereignty is flatly denied.Men claim to be the architects of their own fortunes and the determiners of their own destiny. They know not that their lives are at the disposal of the Divine Despot. They know not they have no more power to thwart His secret decrees than a worm has to resist the tread of an elephant.They know not that, "The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth overall" (Psalm103:19). A. W. Pink
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18.10 The names of the Lord are many, and each of these names is a strong tower to the one who trusts in Him.Are we overwhelmed with sin and guilt?Then Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness, is a strong tower to which we can run for refuge.Do dangers surround us?Immanuel – God with us – shall preserve us.Are we troubled?Let us run to Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord our Peace.Do we feel sick in body, mind or spirit?Then Jehovah-Rapha – The Lord that Healeth Thee is the name to which we must run.
But most of all, in any time of any kind of trouble, we may run to the Tower of that most blessed name of all, Yehowshua, Joshua, Jesus – The Lord our Savior.In this blessed name we find all the names of Jehovah rolled into one glorious Person.He is our Righteousness, our Immanuel , our peace, our health – He is all.Having Him we lack nothing.In Him, we are in danger from nothing. Pastor Joe Terrell
ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD ROMANS 11:36 “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom(God) be glory for ever.” Here is a glorious and comforting truth to the believer, who is resting in the Lord Jesus Christ, all things are of God .This truth echoes throughout the pages of inspired scripture (Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 5:18) and declares that God is God, beside Himthere is no other (Isa. 45:22).The Apostle clearly states that, “all things are of Him,” God is the first cause and last end of all things (Isa.45:7).He also says that, “all things through Him,” God in time executes His wise decrees to His own will and pleasure (Isa. 46: 9-12).Further he says that, “all things are to Him,” our sovereign God is working all things to an eternal end that will glorify Himself.We can apply this three fold rule to many things, such as creation and providence, but lets us consider them in salvation.
1). ALL THINGS IN SALVATION ARE OF GOD! Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9).None but God could have devised such a way of salvation such as the gospel of Jesus Christ presents, wherein God can be just and the justifier of the ungodly (Rom. 3:26).God ordained the hour when the Saviour would come (Gal. 4:4).God ordained the hour when He would die as the believers substitute for sin (2 Cor. 5:21).God ordained the hour when Jesus Christ would be raised from the dead and exalted to glory (Rom. 4:25).
2). ALL THINGS IN SALVATION ARE THROUGH HIM! Salvation is a work given to Jesus Christ by the Father to accomplish.He did not fail to complete the task He was given (Isa. 42:4). He prayed and declared in John 17:4, “I have glorified thee on the earth:I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” In the fulfillment and accomplishment of salvation man has no part in it. Carefully read this scripture: “When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).Every spiritual blessing we enjoy comes to us through Jesus Christ alone (Eph. 1:3).God apart from Christ is a consuming fire (Heb.12:29).
3).ALL THINGS IN SALVATION ARE TO HIM! What is the grand design of God in the salvation of His people?His glory!Our eternal God is wisely and rightly working all things to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God” (Rom. 15:7).The motive of God to save His people from their sin is found in Himself, and that motive and purpose is His glory.“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive, power, and riches, and wisdom and honour, and glory” (Rev. 5:12).
September 30th, 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