"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." -John 15:5 [KJV] Without a union with Christ, we have no spiritual existence; and we may boldly say that we no more have a spiritual being in the mind of God independent of Christ, than the branch of a tree has an independent existence out of the stem in which it grows. But you will observe, also, in this figure of the vine and the branches, how all the fruitfulness of the branch depends upon its union with the vine .  Whatever life there is in the branch, it flows out of the stem; whatever strength there is in the branch, it comes from its union with the stem; whatever foliage, whatever fruit, all come still out of its union with the stem. And this is the case, whether the branch be great or small. From the stoutest limb of a tree to the smallest twig, all are in union with the stem and all derive life and nourishment f...

Is Jesus Enough to Keep You  from Worrying? Part II  by D G Miles McKee   ” Be careful (anxious) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”   -Philippians 4:6-7  What a wonderful scripture.  It’s a pity that we often don’t apply it to ourselves.  At times, many of us can experience an epidemic of worry and anxiety.  But if you have a moment, listen to this.  The word ‘careful’ in this verse is also translated “worry.” That means we are distinctly told not to worry about anything.   The word which is translated worry comes from the Old English word ‘wyrgan’ which refers to how a wild dog or a wolf will kill or injure its prey by biting and shaking the throat. It also means to strangle. ‘ Strangle!’   That’s what worry does to our faith...

The child of God who is “keeping his heart with all diligence” will not, cannot have a joy, in intimacies with the unregenerate.  Alas, how often is the seeking or the accepting of close friendship with unbelievers the first step to open departure from Christ.   The path which the Christian is called upon to tread is indeed a narrow one, but if he attempts to widen it, or leave it for a broader road, it must be in contravention of the Word of God, and to his or her own irreparable damage and loss. -Arthur Pink , Exposition of Hebrews , p.1129

"...One mediator between God and man, the man CHRIST JESUS." -I Timothy 2:5 [KJV] O my fellow sinners, I heartily congratulate your soul and my own for this blessed truth! Lord help us to live upon it in our consciences from day to day. For it is not a speculative, but an experimental truth. It enters into the very essence of our faith, is the very life of our hope—lies at the foundation of our peace—and is the very source of every blessing and comfort.  If we are not continually looking to this ONE mediator JESUS, we lose the peace of faith, the comfort of hope, the fellowship of love, and get into perplexity of mind. Then, we do not draw nigh to God with confidence, stand before Him with boldness, nor cheerfully walk with Him in love and holiness.  Consider, (1st.) A mediator stands as a middle person, interposing between two parties at variance, to make peace and reconciliation. This, Christ hath perfectly done. He hath for ever made peace by the blood of His...

"But He answered her not a word." -Matthew 15:23 [KJV] Mark, my soul, this feature in thy Redeemer's conduct towards the poor woman that so long and so earnestly entreated him— "Jesus answered her not a word." And yet, from the close of the subject, nothing can be more evident, than that the Lord had determined, not only to grant her petition, but to throw the reins of government, concerning herself, into her hands so completely, that it should be as she would. Learn then from hence how to interpret silence at the throne upon every occasion of thine. In every dark providence, under every dispensation of grace, never forget that Jesus' love is the same . What though He answereth not a word; yet His whole heart is towards His redeemed. Whatever frowns there may be in outward things, there can be none in what concerns the real happiness of His people. Jesus may try, as in the instance of this poor woman, the graces He gives. Faith may be hard pu...

"The gospel of the grace of God."   -Acts 20:24 [KJV] What does the word "gospel" signify? Gospel is a good old Anglo-Saxon word, sprung from that pure Anglo-Saxon stock which forms the bulk, as well as the most expressive and precious portion of our noble language, of that language of which the daily lengthening line is gone throughout all the earth, and its words to the end of the world, our mother tongue, in which God seems to have set a tabernacle for the Sun of the gospel, whose going forth is from the end of the heaven and its circuit unto the ends of it.  Its literal meaning is either "God's word" or message, or rather, "good news," or "good tidings," which is more agreeable to the original. But if it be "good news," it must be good news of something and to somebody. There must be some good tidings brought, and there must be some person by whom, as good tidings, it is received. In order, then, that ...