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

Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul the apostle, experienced the mighty work of God’s Spirit. God brought this rebel sinner to bow before Him in the dust and revealed Himself in Paul. He gives confession of this in his letter to the Galatians: “ But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood ” (G ALATIANS 1:15,16) . This all came to pass at God’s appointed time ( “when it pleased God” ) and according to His purpose and power of grace ( “called me by His grace” ). But what did God do in this man and what was the result of this great work? God revealed the Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul says, “in me.” The result was that Paul never stopped talking about, believing in, glorying in and preaching the Lord Jesus Christ. At the center of his experience was the revelation of Jesus Christ! While his experience was ...

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after T hee, O God ."   -P SALM 42:1 [KJV] What a striking figure has David made use of in these words. Conceive a wounded stag, with the arrow in his flank or pursued by a crowd of hunters and hounds, all eager to pull him down; conceive him to have run for some space of time under a burning sun and over heaps of sand; and conceive that at a distance this poor wounded or hunted animal sees water gently flowing along. Oh, how it pants! How its heaving sides gasp, and how it longs for the cooling stream, not only that it may drink large draughts of the fresh waters and lave its panting flanks and weary, parched limbs, but, by swimming across, may haply escape the dogs and hunters at its heels. How strong, how striking the figure. And yet strong as it is, how earnestly does David employ it to set forth the panting of his soul after God. We cannot, perhaps, rise up into the fulness of this figure; we c...

"Perplexed, but not in despair." -II CORINTHIANS 4:8 [KJV]   OH! WHAT A MERCY, amidst every degree of inward or outward perplexity, to be out of the reach of Giant Despair; not to be shut up in the iron cage; not to be abandoned, as Judas or Ahithophel, to utter desperation and suicide, and, after a long life of profession, concerning faith to make awful shipwreck! Now the child of God, with all his doubts, fears, sinkings, misgivings, and trying perplexities is never really and truly in despair. He may tread so near the borders of that black country that it may almost be debateable land whether he is walking in despair or upon the borders of it; for I believe many children of God have at times come to the solemn conclusion that there is no hope for them, for they cannot see how they can be saved or have their aggravated sins pardoned. And though this be not black despair, nor such utter, irremediable desperation as seized Saul and Judas, for there still is a ...

“ How can we know whether we have gone, not only from ignorance to knowledge, but also from knowledge to submission? It is primarily revealed in this: we cease from establishing our own righteousness before God. We glory in nothing other than Christ's cross, soothe our conscience with nothing but His blood, and rest our hope for favor with God on nothing other than Christ's acceptance before the Father.” -Gospel report by preacher Joe Terrell  

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (2 8 - 30 JUN19) 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: "But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: He is their strength in the time of trouble." -P SALM 37:39 Times of trouble try the saint of God, and they are meant to do so; that is the very purpose why they are sent, for "the Lord trieth the righteous." Still the promise holds good: "He is their strength in the time of trouble." When He breaks up the fountains of the great deep of sin and iniquity, He strengthens His people that they may not be carried away by the flood. When He hides his face, He strengthens them to say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." When temptation besets th...

"...and H e is the propitiation for our sins." - I JOHN 2:2 [KJV]   What is "propitiation?" By propitiation we are to understand, a sacrifice acceptable to Jehovah; by which God, or rather the attributes of God are propitiated; whereby God can be favourable; whereby mercy, grace, and pardon can freely flow forth. Now sin, and the law condemning sin, barred out, barred back, the favour of God. They were the opposing obstacle to the love of God. For God cannot, as God, love sin and sinners; therefore, the sin of man, and the holy law of God, the transcript of His infinite and eternal purity barred back, so to speak, THE FAVOUR OF GOD. It was needful, then, that this barrier should be removed, that a channel might be provided, through which the grace, favour, and mercy of God might flow: in a word, that sin might be blotted out, and that the law might be accomplished and fulfilled in all its strict requirements, that God "might be just," r...

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer...I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." -P SALM 4:1, 8 [KJV] Reader! LET US NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE LORD JESUS while reading this Psalm. He is “ the L ORD our righteousness” and therefore, in all our approaches to the mercy seat, let us go there in a language corresponding to this which calls Jesus the Lord our righteousness. While men of the world, from the world are seeking their chief good, let us desire His favor which infinitely transcends corn and wine, and all the good things which perish in the using. Yes, Lord, Thy favor is better than life itself. Thou causest them that love Thee to inherit substance, and fillest all their treasure . Oh! Thou gracious God and Father, hast Thou in such a wonderful manner set apart one in our nature for Thyself? Hast ...

"And patience of hope." - I THESSALONIANS 1:3 [KJV]   What is meant by the expression "patience?" It means endurance; as though hope had to endure, faith to work, and love to labour. It is the "patience of hope" that proves its reality and genuineness. Hope does not go forward fighting and cutting its way. Hope is like a quiet sufferer, patiently bearing what comes upon it. Hope is manifested in enduring, as faith is manifested in acting. For instance: when the Lord hides H is face, when testimonies sink out of sight, when signs are not seen, when Satan tempts, when the work of grace upon the soul seems to be all obscured, and in consequence a feeling of despondency begins to set in, then the "patience of hope" is needed to endure all things—not to give way, but to maintain its hold. It acts in the same way, according to the beautiful figure of Paul, as the anchor holds the ship. What is the main value, the chief requisite in th...

How can we be sure that the ransom demanded by justice for the release of the Lord’s captive people has been rendered? What evidence is there that sin has been put away and everlasting righteousness has been brought in? What truth certifies that Christ crushed Satan’s head at the cross? What proof is there that the holy law of God has been honored, our transgressions have been punished and our souls are safe forevermore? How do we know that those in whose stead He died are reconciled to God and freely justified? What guarantee do we have that the work of redemption is finished and that all who believe Him are freed from all fear of condemnation? As we face the reality of physical death, what reason does our Lord give to enliven hope that these bodies will someday put off mortality and live again? The resurrection of our Savior is the answer to all these questions. No wonder, then, that this truth is set forth frequently in the Word of God and verified by many w...

  “ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am .” - JOHN 8:58 [KJV]   According to the Old Testament, the ultimate name of God is “I AM” (E XODUS 3:14) . This same “I AM” appeared in the New Testament calling Himself Jesus. It is no wonder then that many of the Jews, in those days, thought Christ to be demon possessed. Others thought Him mad: n o sane man could come up with the audacious utterances that flooded from the lips of this carpenter! The Jewish leaders knew fine well that when Jesus announced, “Before Abraham was I am ” He was claiming to be God. Every Hebrew who knew his stuff was aware that the ‘I AM’ was none other than Yahweh ---the One True and living God who had spoken to Moses at the Burning Bush. But now this brash upstart of a Nazarene tradesman dares to walk around claiming to be Him. The lead up to Jesus’ claim of being the Covenant God of Israel, the ‘I Am,' is fascinating. The troubled Pharisees were,...

"I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock." -Z ECHARIAH 11:7 [KJV] In this chapter the Lord gives us a contrast between the idol, foolish and false shepherds (Zech.11:15-17) and the Great (Heb. 13:20) , Good (John 10:14) and Chief Shepherd (1Peter 5:4) of the flock, the Lord Jesus Christ. We see the charge given to the true Shepherd of Israel in verse 4, "Thus saith the LORD my God; feed the flock of the slaughter." Here we see the Lord Jesus Christ as our Surety and Mediator of the covenant of grace ready to undertake and carry out all the responsibility given to Him by the Father, to redeem His elect and secure their salvation (Matt. 1:21; Heb. 7:22) . Now in verse 7 we see the Lord Jesus answers back with firm resolve, "I will feed the flock of slaughter," that is He will care, provide, shelter, lead ...

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" -H EBREWS 4:16 [KJV]   We are coming not to a throne of law nor to a throne of strict justice, but to a THRONE OF GRACE. The words "throne," "majesty," "power," and "omnipotence" all leave me awed and frightened; but the soft, gentle word "GRACE" stirs my spirit and heart to venture nigh in sincerity, humility, and hope! For though there are a thousand defects in my prayers, it is a throne of GRACE. Though there are many defects in my knowledge, it is a throne of GRACE. Though there are so many weaknesses in my spirit, it is a throne of GRACE. Though my faith is so weak and dishonoring to the King, it is a throne of GRACE. Grace loves, grace forgives, grace abounds, grace is sufficient; and His grace is greater than all my sins. - Gospel report by preacher Henry T. Mahan ...

"Blessed are the poor in spirit." - MATTHEW 5:5 [KJV]     Spiritual poverty is a miserable feeling of soul-emptiness before God, an inward sinking sensation that there is nothing in our hearts spiritually good, nothing which can deliver us from the justly merited wrath of God, or save us from the lowest hell. And intimately blended with the poignant feelings of guilt and condemnation, there is a spiritual consciousness that there is such a thing enjoyed by the elect as the Spirit of adoption, that there are such sweet realities as divine manifestations, that the blood of Jesus Christ is sprinkled by the Holy Ghost upon the consciences of the redeemed to cleanse them from all guilt and filth. And thus by comparing its own wants with their blessings, and having an inward light wherein the truth of God's word is seen, and an inward life whereby it is felt, a soul wading in the depths of spiritual poverty, is brought to feel that it must be the manifestati...

“ WE DARE NOT hope to be accepted with God because of anything that is in us by nature or may be infused into us by grace: we are accepted in the Beloved, and apart from Him we look not to be found accepted. Even what the Holy Ghost works in us does not furnish us with any merit which we can plead, for it is a gift of grace, and no part of our justifying righteousness. W E REST UPON JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED ( His imputed righteousness, atoning blood and Mediation alone ), and not upon our faith, repentance or prayers .” - unknown Gospel preacher

“ The wheels of God's justice grind slow but they grind exceedingly fine. Nothing escapes them. The pace of God's purpose may seem slow to us but His footsteps are placed firmly and orderly in time and place and fashion in such a way as to glorify His name and save and preserve His people. He marches on with feet of iron but reaches down to deliver His people before Him. Oh the mighty footsteps of our holy God!” -copied

"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." -P SALM 103:13-14 [ KJ V] Oftentimes we shock ourselves in our failures and surprise ourselves and others in our weakness and sin. We do this because we naturally think more highly of ourselves than we ought. We are full of self-righteousness and far overestimate our strength, knowledge and wisdom. But though we surprise ourselves and others in our failures and weakness, we never surprise God! We may not know what we are but He does! The word He uses to describe us is “ dust. ” Dust is our origin: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (G ENESIS 2:7) . Dust is what we’ll become again: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, ...

"Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." -P SALM 84:7 [KJV] As the Lord is true, no spiritual pilgrim will ever fall and die in the valley of Baca. Some may fear that through temptation their strong passions or boiling lusts will one day break out and destroy them. No, not if they are pilgrims. "Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." Others may think they never shall have a testimony; they never shall read their name clearly in the Book of Life; the Lord will never appear in their heart or bless their soul; they never shall be able to say, "Abba, Father." If Jesus is theirs, they shall. But are they spiritual pilgrims? Do they find it a vale of tears? Are their faces Zionward? Have they come out of the world? Do they sometimes make the valley of Baca a well? And does the rain fill the pools? And have they ever had strength made perfect in weakness? Then every one of them will appear before God in Zion. Blessed end! ...

A mind at perfect peace with God, O what a word is this! A sinner reconciled through blood! This, this indeed is peace. By nature and by practice far, How very far from God! Yet now by grace brought nigh to Him, Through faith in Jesus' blood.   So nigh, so very nigh to God, I cannot nearer be! For in the person of His Son, I am as near as He. So dear, so very dear to God, More dear I cannot be! The love wherewith He loves the Son, Such is His love to me!   Horatius Bonar, 1868-1930 A.D.

"They go from strength to strength." -PSALM 84:7 [KJV] "They go from strength to strength." It is in the margin, "from company to company." I rather think, that the meaning implied is, "they go from halting place to halting place." There were certain fixed spots where the whole company rested at night; as we read, when the infant Jesus tarried at Jerusalem, his parents knew it not: they supposed that he was "in the company;" that is, had gone on with the traveling pilgrims; but when night came, and they looked for him, he was not there. These halting places were certain spots where the caravan of the traveling pilgrims rested at night; by these successive haltings their strength was recruited, and they were enabled to bear the long journey, rising in the morning refreshed with their night's rest. The Psalmist viewing it spiritually says, "They go from strength to strength." At each halting place the...

Providence is used once in Scripture. Tertullus was hired by the enemies of Paul to accuse the apostle before Felix. The famous orator began his speech by flattering the Roman governor of Judea. "Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness" (A CTS 24:2) . By providence Tertullus was referring to the government and authority of Felix. He said the people were thankful for such a good ruler. His words of praise to Felix were insincere of course. The Jews despised all Roman authorities. By divine providence we mean God’s unlimited dominion and active management of all creation by which He carries out that which He decreed, for the honor of His Name and the benefit of His people chosen in Christ unto grace and glory . God governs the world to accomplish His eternal designs; He is bringing His sovereign will to frui...