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

Paul, in the book of Romans, reminds us that “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace” ( Rom ans 11:1-6 ). A “remnant” is a part of a greater piece or body. It may be a small piece but it is still a part of the whole. Paul makes reference to Elijah who sat down under a juniper tree in despair and discouragement and begged God to die, thinking that he alone was left who truly believed and served the living God. God’s words to Elijah revealed just the opposite. “Yet I have left M e seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him” ( 1 Ki ngs 19:18 ). Not everyone had bowed to the idolatry of the day, not everyone had been deceived by the false prophets of the age and not everyone had gone in the cowardly way of unbelief. There was still a “remnant.” And so it is in this hour, “there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” God in His sovere

" Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." -Psalm 29:2 [KJV] How can we glorify Him? Praise the perfections of the Trinity. Adore and respectfully speak of the Lord and His attributes. Micah 7:18, "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy." Exalt the Trinity. Rejoice in the salvation God decreed, accomplished, applies and consummates. "Salvation is of the LORD" in its purpose, purchase, power and perfection. The Father chose us unto salvation, the Son redeemed us and the Spirit regenerated us and keeps us safe till we see Christ face to face. Believe Christ in Whom all the fulness of the Godhood dwells bodily. Nothing so honors the Lord like believing His Incarnate Word and His written Word. Walk by faith. Be faithful to attend the se

“ The LORD shall reign for ever and ever .” -Exodus 15:18 [KJV] This world is not a kingdom without a throne, a throne without a sovereign, or a sovereign without a scepter; by no blind accident are the affairs of this planet governed. God is in the history of the world its past, its present, and its yet unshapen future. The statesman and the politician may not recognize this fact; but it is so, God rules the kingdom of providence. His hand is moving and controlling all events and circumstances, national and social, public and private; giving birth, and shape and tint to those phenomena in the history of nations, and to those affairs in the history of individuals, which to human perception are often enshrouded in mystery so dreadful and profound. Let this view of God's providential reign hush all murmurings at our lot, making us content with such things as we have, assured that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Let it bow our soul in

“ YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM…” -Colossians 2:10 [KJV] The believers standing in Christ does not fluctuate with his feelings, not even the increase or decrease of his faith or understanding or anything else. He stands complete in Christ. God would never trust any of His children to stand before Him at any time in their own selves; that is, in their merits or certain good frames of mind. He knows our frame. He remembers that we are yet dust. Therefore, He has on purpose provided for them this perfect standing in Christ Jesus. “Ye are complete in Him , ” the Holy Ghost said. He says in another place, “Ye are perfect in Christ Jesus” ( Col ossians 1:28 ). The very nature of our God requires us to be perfect and complete before Him at all times. He, out of necessity, therefore provided all this for His children; a perfection, a completeness, which can never be diminished. It is as unchanging as God Himself, ( Hebrews 6:17; 13:8 ). Every true believer may walk through thi

“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and H e shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” -Psalm 27:13-14 [KJV] Someone wrote that Martin Luther’s strength and confidence lay in the fact that he believed so strongly that the ministry in which he was engaged was not his own but the Lord’s. He often prayed, “Lord, this is Y our cause, not mine.” What would this persuasion do for you and me? Is not most of our depression and unhappiness caused by the desire to SEE more than we are seeing, DO more than we are doing, HAVE more than we have, and to BE what we are not? If this is THE LORD’S CAUSE AND NOT MINE, then I ought to be content to serve diligently where He has placed me, with the gifts He has given me, doing all that I find to do, and rejoicing in His love. “ For w here two or three are gathered together in M y name, there am I in the midst of them. ” Enoch wal

"For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." - I Timothy 2:5 [KJV] No sooner has living faith embraced the Person of Jesus (and that is the first object which faith lays hold of), than it embraces H im as the divinely-appointed Mediator. And how sweet and suitable is such a Mediator to a poor, sinful, crawling reptile, a wretch defiled, morning, noon, and night, with everything foul and filthy, who has broken the law of God a million times, and cannot keep it a single moment! "How can I," argues the soul, "so full of sin and depravity, how can I approach with acceptance the great, glorious, and holy Jehovah? I cannot, I dare not!" But when it sees, by the eye of faith, a divinely-appointed Mediator, a glorious Intercessor, a great High Priest over the house of God: One that has shed H is blood to put away sin; One who has righteousness to justify, and has a fulness of grace and glory to give to the poo

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (25-27JAN19) Heads-Up --- Please find enclosed encouragement in "SO GREAT SALVATION" by the perfect and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor - from their sins and from Hell: “ The apostle Paul tells us that God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. All the world's wisdom is but foolishness if it doesn't answer the question or resolve the problem of how an infinitely holy and just God can justify sinners such as we are. All wisdom is foolishness that does not consider this the most important question of eternity. All wisdom is folly that does not consider this matter immediately and urgently! I was traveling in another state to preach in a meeting when I saw a sign by the road that said, "Jesus Is The Answer." I thought, "How true...but the problem is that very few even know the question.

“ The book of life, or decree of election, is the marriage-register of the saints; in which their everlasting espousal to Christ stands indelibly recorded by the pen of God's free and eternal love. As the gold of which money is made is the king's property even before it is struck into coin, and before it visibly bears the royal image and superscription; so the unregenerate elect are God's own heritage, though they do not appear to be such, until the Holy Spirit has made them pass through the mint of effectual calling, and actually stamped them into current coin for the kingdom of heaven. The elect are betrothed to Christ from everlasting in the covenant of grace; they are actually married to Him, and join hands with Him, in conversion; but they are not taken home to the bridegroom's house until death dismisses them from the body.” -Gospel report by preacher Augustus Toplady

“ Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him” -Psalm 37:7 [KJV] Child of God, repose your soul upon the Lord; quietly submit to His will. Rest in Him Who surrounds you with His presence. “Wait patiently for Him” because time is nothing to the Lord, therefore let it be of no consequence. When we read a story, we wait for the end to clear up the plot. Be patient, the Lord has ordained the end from the beginning and like the hymn writer said, “In heaven’s clearer light I’ll see, all things worked out for good!” As He goes before you to lead the way so goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. You say your troubles are mighty, but is not your Savior the Almighty God? Do not allow your heart to be agitated by difficult circumstances. Are they not meted out and controlled by your infinitely wise Lord? It is true that “the wicked are like the troubled sea that cannot rest” but you aren’t wicked, you are righteous in the Lord your righteousness, so don’

For many years I have tried to set forth before my hearers the truth of the gospel of the free grace of God in Christ crucified. I have sought to tell the truth to eternity bound men and women about what God in His word says that we are: sinners, lost, hopeless and helpless in ourselves and void of any good or any righteousness. I have endeavored to set forth the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Hope. I have insisted upon His righteousness imputed to the sinner and received by God-given faith as the only basis upon which a holy God can accept such sinners as we are. I have shown how His cross death was the full payment price of redemption, how His work in life and death was the finished work of righteousness and salvation and how He fully satisfied the law and justice of God on the behalf of every believing sinner. I have insisted upon God’s willingness to receive any sinner who comes to Him trusting Christ alone and repenting of all others and all else. I have urged men and wo

"... b y Whose stripes ye were healed" - I Peter 2:24 [KJV] We must not think that by self-loathing, self-deprivation or self-humiliation we will be healed of the disease of sin. The healing of the soul is in the humiliation of Christ, not in ours; in His agonies, not ours; in His death, not ours. To rely on or trust in anything other than the crucified Redeemer is to set up a rival to Christ. Do not beat up on self, thinking that God will be more pleased with you. God is only pleased with His Son. Look outside of sinful self to the crucified, buried, risen and exalted Christ . Spiritual healing is by the stripes of the Savior, not the stripes of the sinner. - Gospel report by preacher Jim Byrd

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." - II Timothy 3:16-17 [KJV] On all subjects connected with our most holy faith, it is most desirable to have clear views. Every point of divine truth is laid down with the greatest clearness and precision in the word of God. The darkness, the ignorance, the confusion which prevent us from seeing it are all in us. But as we search the Scriptures, as we meditate upon them, as we by prayer and supplication draw light, life, and wisdom out of Him "in W hom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" and, above all, as we mix faith with what we read, there is often, if not usually, a gradual breaking-in of light; and as we follow up its heavenly rays, it shines more clearly and broadly, and the truth stands out more fully and prominent

"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." -II Corinthians 10:12 [KJV] In reference to the false preachers and their followers who judged or measured themselves by themselves, the Apostle Paul declared that they “are not wise.” A more literal translation would be that they were “without understanding.” What understanding do they lack? Paul spelled this out for us in his letter to the Romans as he wrote concerning his fellow kinsmen saying, “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, ( they are religious ) but not according to knowledge” (Rom ans 10:2) . They were without understanding. What is the understanding or knowledge they lacked? “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness o

"A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee ." -Psalm 91:7 [KJV] When Noah was shut up in the ark, Noah and the favoured few, you know how they were tossed about, the rains coming down from heaven, the waters rushing and dashing below. The windows of heaven were opened and the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and while they were thus dashed upon the waters, not a drop came in unto them that were within. "It shall not come nigh thee." So you see the believer may be surrounded with troubles, and yet it shall not come nigh him. And there is something more in the expression used in reference to the making of the ark: "And shalt pitch it within and without with pitch" ( Genesis 6:14 ). Now, it is a most remarkable fact that the word pitch in Hebrew (the word is Gopher) signifies also atonement. Now see, the slime or pitch with which the ark was daubed within and without kep

“ THY PEOPLE shall be willing in the day of Thy power” -Psalm 110:3a “ ... as many as received [ *to get hold of ] Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” - the Gospel of John 1:12-13 “ S ALVATION IS OF THE LORD.” -Jonah 2:9c [KJV] “ You don't have to teach a *drowning man what to say. We preach THE GOSPEL and the Holy Ghost will be left to work in men's hearts. There's no pressure, no persuasion, and no psychology to get professions or joiners or decisions. The preacher will preach the Gospel; he will preach the Word of God and will leave people alone. They will leave them in the hands of the Holy Spirit.” - Gospel report by preacher Henry Mahan

"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in T hee: yea, in the shadow of T hy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." -Psalm 57:1 [KJV] The Psalmist speaks of what he calls “these calamities.” All people experience “these calamities” of life whether they be afflictions, trials or troubles. The difference that grace makes among men is demonstrated in where or to whom one goes to for comfort, help and refuge. This is said to be a psalm of David when he was in the cave while hiding as Saul pursued him to take his life. David’s calamities were his alone as are ours. But notice his plea, it is for God to be merciful to him. He did not deserve God’s mercy as I don’t but, in Christ and through Him, we seek it and find it. His trust was in God alone and as we know, God blessed him as He does all who trust in Him alone. We have no confidence in the flesh and our trust, being God-given faith, relies solely upon Him.

"There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immanuel's veins, And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day; And there have I, as vile as he, Washed all my sins away. Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood Shall never lose its power Till all the ransomed Church of God Be saved to sin no more. E'er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme And shall be till I die. When this poor lisping, stammering tongue Lies silent in the grave, Then in a nobler, sweeter song I'll sing Thy power to save." -brother William Cowper (1731-1800 A.D.)

"For the L ORD God is a sun and shield." -Psalm 84:11 [KJV] Is not the sun made to shine? It is his office to do so. So it is with the Sun of righteousness; He is made to shine. And does the natural sun lose any of his light by shining? Why, the more he shines, the more light he seems to have. For ages he has shone as brightly as now. His beams were as glorious before we had birth or being, and will be as glorious when the eyes which now see him are mouldering in the dust. Thousands of harvests has he ripened, millions and thousands of millions has he fed; but he shews no sign of exhaustion or decay. And does Jesus lose anything by communicating His light, life, love, and grace? He is all the more glorified thereby; and the more you look to Him as the Sun, that as such He might shine into and upon your soul, the more you glorify Him as the Sun of righteousness . When in the morning we throw the shutters back, or draw up the blinds, it is to receive the sun into t

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (18-20JAN19) Heads-Up --- Please find enclosed encouragement in "SO GREAT SALVATION" by the perfect and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor - from their sins and from Hell: "The miracle announced by the Gospel is that God comes to the ungodly with a mercy that is righteous, and in spite of all their depravity and rebellion, enables them through faith ( on the ground of Christ’s righteousness ) to enter into a new and blessed relation with Himself." -unknown author

"His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me.” - Song of Solomon 2:6 [KJV] Our salvation in Christ is sure, safe and certain as the powerful hands of God ( Dan iel 4:35; John 10:27-30 ). Believer, you are in good hands with Christ, being made one with Him ( John 17:22 ). His hands are sovereign hands able to save. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" ( Heb rews 7:25 ). His hands are strong hands able to keep us from falling. "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" ( Jude 1:24 ). His hands are tender hands able to teach us the way of salvation. "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find r

"The L ORD lift up H is countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." -Numbers 6:26 [KJV] When we offend a person, his face is not toward us as at other times. It was so with Laban towards Jacob; and if we have in any way incurred a friend’s or superior’s displeasure, we watch instinctively his countenance. Is it down or up? Does it wear a frown or a smile? Is it looking upon us with the eye of affection, or are the eyes averted? We can tell in a moment if we know the countenance. Thus is the blessing asked, "The L ORD lift up H is countenance upon thee" as a kind and affectionate parent upon an obedient child, as a fond husband upon a loving, devoted wife; for such is God to His children— Father and Husband . And do we not, as children, often provoke Him to look upon us with frowning brow, or rather, not to look upon us at all, to "hide H is face," as we read, "that we cannot see H im"? The prayer then is, "The L ORD lift u

I confess That I am a great sinner, but Jesus is an even greater Saviour. ( Ephesians 2: 8-9 ). I confess That I need a Saviour and that Jesus is the Saviour I need ( 2 Timothy 1:10 ). I confess I am guilty, prone to wander but, by the Gospel, I am justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ( Romans 3:24 ).   I confess I had ruined myself by sin, and, apart from grace, I would stand exposed to divine retribution. But I rejoice in the Gospel because by the Gospel I continually learn that Jesus was made ( reckoned ) sin for me, that I might be made ( reckoned ) the righteousness of God in Him ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 ). I confess I am now a child of God. Because of the Gospel, I am made alive, adopted, justified, accepted, and clothed in righteousness. "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Galatians 6:14 ).   I confess I have been raised from spiritual death. Spiritually speaking,