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

What a Magnificent Name , Part II by D G Miles McKee   The Greek word for Lord is ‘ Kurios’  and means quite literally ‘Supreme Authority’. In the Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Septuagint) this word was consistently used to translate the four-letter Hebrew name for Yahweh.  The Christians, knowing the usage of this word Kurios, in scripture, refused, therefore, to swear an oath of allegiance to the Roman Emperor.  People were required to declare, “Cesar is Lord.”    You see, in the AD 90s, the Emperor Domitian ruled over Rome and insisted he be worshiped as God. The Roman state saw this declaration as an affirmation of political loyalty, but the Christians saw it quite differently.  They saw this as an act of betrayal and idolatry.  To them there was but one Kurios --- Jesus!  There could be only one supreme authority.  Since there is no authority higher than that which is supreme, the Christians knew...

"Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father ." -Romans 8:15 [KJV] The Spirit of God never was, never is, nor ever can be the Spirit of bondage to any soul. Some have asserted it, but it is a mistake. It is contrary to H is name, the Comforter. He is a free Spirit, a Spirit of liberty to the soul. It is inconsistent with His office, He takes of the things of Christ, and shews them to us—testifies of Christ—brings us into the liberty of Christ— enables us to glory in the adoption of children, and to call God Father, in the faith of Christ.  When He convinces of sin, it is not to bring the soul into bondage, but to break the bondage of sin, of the law, of death, and of Satan, in the conscience, and to cast away the cords thereof, that the soul may be united to Christ by faith. In all this, He is the Comforter. What then is this Spirit of bondage? It is the Spirit of the law. Just as the Egy...

"But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ships pass thereby." -Isaiah 33:21 [KJV] See, my soul, how thy God condescends to represent Himself to thee as thy God, under various similitudes, so as to strengthen thy faith and thy confidence in Him. He that is thy gracious  Lord, is also thy glorious  Lord; for He is both a sun and a shield; and He that gives grace, will give glory; one is the earnest of the other. Well, then, this glorious Lord will be there. Where? Why in Jesus, in thy Jesus, God in covenant with Him. "He will be unto thee a place of broad rivers and streams." What is that? Why as Jerusalem had no navigable rivers, or seas, to defend her from the approach of enemies all around; so God's people are unprotected by nature, or by art, and lie open to their foes. But what they want in nature; shall be abundantly made up to them in grace. And as they hav...

"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God." -Psalm 42:2 [KJV] Has your heart ever panted after the Lord Jesus as the hart panteth after the water brooks? Do you ever lie in the dust mourning over your sins against such bleeding, dying love? Do you ever ask God to kindle in your soul an intense desire to have Jesus as your Christ, that He may be your delight here and your portion for ever? Surely there is that in Him which is not in anything below the skies, and which if not found here will not be found hereafter. If you have no love or affection for Him, why is it but because He has not endeared Himself to your soul? But if He has manifested Himself to you, you have seen and felt enough of His blessedness to convince you that there is no real peace or happiness out of Him. It is true that you may have many trials and temptations to encounter; many perplexities and sorrows may be spread in your path; but be not dismayed, for the love of Christ, if you have ever felt that...