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

I realize that faith is evidenced by works. It is written, “ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26) . Having said that, we must understand that even if we could perform miracles like the prophets and the apostles, yet we must never trust our labors, but be content to be accepted, saved and justified solely on the basis of the grace of God through the blood and righteousness of Christ . -preacher Jim Byrd http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=13thstbaptist

“ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” -Ephesians 1:3 [KJV] Think about the magnitude of this statement describing the blessings God has freely and unconditionally bestowed upon His people in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. And consider that none of us who are blessed in this way are deserving of the least of these blessings. In fact, if any of us received what we have earned or deserved, it would be the penalty of sin which is eternal death and damnation. All these blessings were bestowed upon us IN CHRIST before the foundation of the world and based upon HIS obedience unto death to save us from our sins. They are all the fruit of Christ’s righteousness imputed ( charged, accounted ) to us, and this includes the blessings of spiritual life and faith (Ephesians 2:8-10) . No blessing is excluded. No blessing is earned or deserved. This is truly God’s amazing grace! — preacher Bill P...

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."   -Hebrews 4:15, 16 [KJV] What heart can conceive or tongue recount the daily, hourly triumphs of the Lord Jesus Christ's all-conquering grace? We see scarcely a millionth part of what He, as a King on His throne, is daily doing; and yet we see enough to know that He ever lives at God's right hand, and lives to save and bless.   What a crowd of needy petitioners every moment surrounds His throne! What urgent wants and woes to redress; what cutting griefs and sorrows to assuage; what broken hearts to bind up; what wounded consciences to heal; what countless prayers to hear; what earnest petitions to grant; what stubborn foes to subdue; what guilty fears to quell! What clemency, what kindness,...

  Questions I’d like to Ask,  and Answers I’d Love to Receive. D.G. Miles McKee Each week I try to give you, my reader, some aspect or other of the gospel.  The reason for doing this is my desire to be a part of a large company of believers, worldwide, grounded and established in the Finished Work of Jesus.  Today is check-up day.  I would, therefore, like to ask you some basic, yet profound, questions and give you the kind of gospel-based answers I would love to hear.  Here goes! Q) Do you see yourself as being a sinner, deserving of God’s punishment, but do you also see that Jesus is your living, loving Saviour? A) Yes, I see that outside of Christ I’m an entirely lost, ungodly sinner in the Lord’s sight.  I also see that, in myself, I am utterly helpless, lost and in need of His grace and mercy (Ephesians 2:12-13). Q) Is there anything else you’d like to add to this answer? A) Yes, I believe that Jesus loves me, that He gave Himself for...

  "We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to enquire. We know that THE WAGES OF SECRECY ARE CORRUPTION. We know that in secrecy ERROR, undetected, WILL FLOURISH AND SUBVERT." -J. Robert Oppenheimer, as quoted from an address to the Science Talent Institute, March 6th, 1950 A.D. And in regards to todays nation-wide Elections, with us casting our "lots" or votes, remember that it's written, "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole DISPOSING (Hebrew for 'verdict,' 'sentence,' 'formal decree,' & 'divine law') THEREOF IS OF THE LORD." -Proverbs of Solomon 16:33 [KJV] Cheers, friends

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."   -Hebrews 4:15, 16  [KJV] What heart can conceive or tongue recount the daily, hourly triumphs of the Lord Jesus Christ's all-conquering grace? We see scarcely a millionth part of what He, as a King on His throne, is daily doing; and yet we see enough to know that He ever lives at God's right hand, and lives to save and bless.   What a crowd of needy petitioners every moment surrounds His throne! What urgent wants and woes to redress; what cutting griefs and sorrows to assuage; what broken hearts to bind up; what wounded consciences to heal; what countless prayers to hear; what earnest petitions to grant; what stubborn foes to subdue; what guilty fears to quell! What clemency, what kindness...

Flee to Christ JESUS today, "The LORD our righteousness!" Hammer-Time is Inbound. "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." -Psalm 118:8-9 [KJV] "Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9c [KJV] "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." -Romans 10:13 [KJV] "...Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: and He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him." ---Daniel 2:20-22 "For the kingdom is the LORD's: and He is the governor among the nations." ---Psalm 22:28 "For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, t...

  "Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away."   - II Corinthians 3:16  [KJV] The blessed Spirit, as a needful preparation for His own divine instruction, convinces us of our ignorance, of the veil of unbelief that is by nature spread over our heart, and of our utter inability to take it away. So great is this darkness, as a matter of personal inward experience, that like the darkness in Egypt, it may be "felt;" so deep this ignorance that all knowledge or capability of knowledge seems utterly gone; so strong, so desperate this unbelief that it seems as if thoroughly incurable.   And yet amidst all this deep and dense cloud of ignorance, darkness and unbelief, rays and beams of light every now and then break through, which, though they seem at the time  only to shew the darkness and make it deeper, yet really are a guiding light to the throne of God and the Lamb. There Jesus sits enthroned in glory, not only as an ...

"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city." -Hebrews 11:16 [KJV] In desiring a better country these ancient pilgrims wanted something heavenly, something that tasted of God, savoured of God, smelt of God, and was given of God; a heavenly religion, a spiritual faith, a gracious hope, and a love shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost; something which came from heaven and led to heaven; which gave heavenly feelings, heavenly sensations, heavenly delights, and heavenly joys, whereby the heart was purified from the love of sin, carnality, and worldliness by having something sweeter to taste, better to love, and more holy to enjoy.   It is these heavenly visitations, droppings in of the favour, goodness, and mercy of God, which keep the soul alive in its many deaths, sweeten it amidst its many bitters, hold it up amidst its many sinkings, and keep it from being drowne...

 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." -Psalms ch. 19 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the King hear us when we call ." -Psalm ch. 20 "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." -Psalm 118:8-9 [KJV] Cheers, friends...

  "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased ." -Matthew 3:17 [KJV] The message of God’s glorious Gospel is found in these amazing words that God spoke one day from His heavenly throne. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” God is well pleased with His beloved Son! This is the sinner’s only hope of redemption. God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11) ! Yet the Holy Father is not only pleased, but He is WELL PLEASED with His beloved Son. There has never been a time that God was not well pleased with the Lord Jesus Christ. Before the beginning of time, He has always been by Him, brought up with Him and was daily His delight (Proverbs of Solomon 8:30) . This is the message from God that gives hope and life to the helpless and lost. God is well pleased with His precious Son. God can never be pleased with sinful men and women in their works of self-righteousness. But God is well pleased with Christ. This...

    There is a good picture of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ as it is in this world to be found in the “inn” to which the Good Samaritan (a picture of Christ) took the man he found by the wayside, beaten and bruised.  He “went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee .” (Luke 10:34-35)  That inn became a hospital for this wounded man.  This is what the Church is, a hospital for sinners!  It is where sinners who have been saved by Christ (sojourners, pilgrims, not of this world) find more care from Christ through those He has also saved by His infinite grace and mercy.  There, with others of like precious faith, they worship and praise the One who res...

"But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?" -Job 19:28 [KJV] In almost every plant it is at the root that disease begins. If ever you see even a plant in a flower-pot unhealthy, depend upon it there is something wrong at the root. It is overwatered or underwatered, or from some other cause the root has become diseased, and what is called "root-action” is suspended or unhealthy. So it is in religion: if there is anything wrong with a man, it is almost sure to be something wrong at the root. "The root of the matter," Job said, "is found in me." Job could appeal unto God that the root of his religion was right.     If "the root" had been wrong, "the matter" would not have been right; but as long as the root was sound, like "the teil tree" of which the prophet speaks, though "it cast its leaves, the substance would still be in it," to put forth in due time boughs l...

The rich man in hell, realizing his torments would never end, immediately became concerned for the safety of his five brothers. His desire was that Lazarus be sent to preach and warn them lest they too should descend into the place of never-ending agony and pain. Note that he was only interested in his family members and says nothing about the glory of God in the salvation of his brothers. Not one word is spoken about Christ being magnified as God’s sacrifice for sin nor did he indicate any awareness of the necessity of the Spirit’s work in the hearts of his brothers. His motivation did not involve the Lord at all! Notice Abraham’s response, which speaks volumes. “ They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them” (Luke 16:29) . There is something far better than someone coming back from the dead and preaching about the reality of hell and that is the proclamation of “ the Word of God that liveth and abideth forever…and this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (...

  I WILL   Men and women love to speak of God in generic terms and broad statements. They do this that they might have the acceptance of all and offend none. Yet, what men fear to say about God, He is not afraid to say about Himself. He does not hesitate to take the credit or the blame as some would think it, He worketh “ all things after the counsel of His own will.” He declares Himself to be the God Who “ doeth according to His will in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth and one can stay His hand or say unto Him, what doest Thou?” This being the case, the first thing that we are confronted with if He is ever our Savior it is His right as God to do what He will with His own creatures, especially us! The tree in the midst of the garden represented God’s right to be God and govern His creatures as He would. Adam rebelled against this but not successfully. He rebelled at great cost to himself and his race. To defy the Almighty is death. This is the etern...

“ The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” -Proverbs 18:10 [KJV] "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." -Psalm 37:7 [KJV] We cannot pretend to proclaim and believe the gospel message which gives all glory to God in Christ and still involve ourselves in the godless methodology of false religion. These methods are Satan-inspired to exalt man rather than Christ Jesus. The recognition of men and women, the programs and practices which are not only unbiblical but anti-biblical were never ordained of God nor will they be blessed of God. The preaching and the practices are to be the same, giving glory to God for His grace in Christ. If Christ is all in the salvation of His people then He is all in their worship services. “ Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy t...

"Through the tender mercies of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us." - Luke 1:78 [KJV] By "day-spring" is meant the day-dawn, the herald of the rising sun, the change from darkness to light, the first approach of morn, in a word, the spring of the day. But what is this "day-spring" spiritually? It is the intimation of the rising of the Sun of righteousness. It is not the same thing as the Sun of righteousness; but it is the herald of His approach; the beams which the rising sun casts upon the benighted world, announcing the coming of Jesus, "the King in H is beauty."   This expression was singularly applicable in the mouth of Zacharias. The Lord of life and glory had not then appeared; H e was still in the womb of the Virgin Mary. But H is forerunner, John, had appeared as the precursor, the herald of H is approach, and was sent to announce that the Sun of righteousness was about to arise. "There was a man sent f...

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands(25-27SEP20) 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: “ God does not save any man because there is anything in that man that deserves salvation. He saves sinners because He delights to show mercy. The reason for redemption is found in Him, not in us. His mercy planned salvation, His grace chose us, His love gave Christ to redeem us, and His power keeps us. "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy" (Romans 9:16). If you have been looking for some reason in yourself why God should show mercy to you, you look in vain! If you have weighed your works and considered your contributions to the kingdom in order to merit God's favor, you'll only be disappoint...

When God moves in salvation, He lays hold of a sinner and makes him a preacher. He lays hold of another sinner and makes him a hearer. He puts a message in the preacher, and gives him the ability to preach it. He puts faith in the hearer, and gives him the ability to believe it. And when the transaction is finished, ALL parties give God ALL the glory for ALL of it! The preacher cries: "Salvation is of the LORD!" The hearer cries: "Salvation is of the LORD!" The preacher takes no credit for the message! The hearer takes no credit for believing the message! They both in complete agreement say: "To God be the glory, great things He hath done!" -preacher Gabe Stalnaker

"I am H e that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." -Revelation 1:18 [KJV] O what a mercy that He who was dead lives at God's right hand! that He lives as a risen head; that He is not a dead Saviour; but a Saviour that lives for evermore; that can and does bless; that can and does comfort; that can and does bring the soul safely through all. He is not a Saviour that stands as it were upon the brink of a river, and pulls us out when we have swum half way out ourselves; He is not a Saviour that will take us half way to heaven, and then, as Rutherford says, let us "fend" or shift for ourselves. He must take us to heaven throughout. We are nothing, we have nothing without Him. He must be, as He is, our "all in all." We value Him in His death, nothing but His death could reconcile us to God; we value Him in His life, nothing but His life can save. We want salvation now; salvation in th...

NO WORRIES! ” 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 so often don’t believe it is there.  An epidemic of worry and anxiety seems to have invaded the homes and hearts of numerous believers.  Many followers of the Lord are now having sleepless nights and anxious days. The word ‘careful’ is also translated “worry.”  Worry, according to the dictionary definition, means “to slay, kill or injure by biting and shaking the throat" (as a dog or wolf does), from Old English ‘wyrgan’ "to strangle.  ‘Strangle!’ That’s what worry does to our faith. But consider the Lord Jesus, He could have worried about the Pharisees or Herod or the Sadducees or Judas Iscariot or others of the disciple...

"But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets" -Acts 24:14 [KJV]   Just because one is called a heretic doesn’t mean they are one.  Men thought Paul’s doctrine was heresy and they said that made him a heretic. As a matter of fact, God’s people have been called heretics many, many times over the centuries by religionists of every kind. On one occasion, for their own gain, some men cried out in the midst of a crowd, “Naboth blasphemed God!”   It is easy to say such an awful thing and many are likely to believe it as they did concerning Naboth.  But Naboth was not a blasphemer. He was a believer and worshiper of the living God. He was faithful to the birthright given him as all believers are to the birthright of God’s free grace to them in the Lord Jesus Christ. He would not abandon his inheritance. God’s elect have an inheritance...

"The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." - I Corinthians 4:20 [KJV] It is through the word of God in the hands of the Spirit, that this kingdom is set up in the soul. All God's people are agreed on this point, that they have no more religion than they have inward power. And all the living family are sighing, each according to his measure and season, after the manifestation of this divine power in their souls. Those that are under the law, and toiling under heavy burdens, are sighing after relief, and for that relief to come in divine power—power that shall cast all their sins into the depth of the sea. Those who having tasted that the Lord is gracious have lost their first love, are at times breathing out their inmost desire after power to revive their souls. Those who are beset with powerful temptations, and struggling, often ineffectually, with base lusts, are crying after power to deliver their feet from the fowler's snares. Those who are hard, need p...

  Redemption is the ransom of chosen sinners out from under the curse of God's broken law and offended justice by the sacrificial, substitutionary, sin-atoning death of our Lord Jesus. Redemption is the satisfaction of justice by the blood of Christ and the deliverance of God's elect from all possibility of condemnation (Eph esians 1:7; Gal atians 3:13; Col ossians 1:14; I Peter 1:18-20) . The redemption of our souls by Christ's shed blood also includes and guarantees the redemption ( deliverance ) of our souls from the bondage and dominion of sin (Isaiah 53:10-11) ; and the redemption of our bodies from the grave at the resurrection (I Cor inthians 1:30; Eph esians 1:14; 4:30) . ALL WHO WERE REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST MUST AND SHALL BE SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE IN HIM.   -preacher Donnie Bell https://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=dleeb

"For we are strangers before T hee and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding." - I Chronicles 29:15 [KJV] If you possess the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and, Jacob, you, like them, confess that you are a stranger; and your confession springs out of a believing heart and a feeling experience. You feel yourself a stranger in this ungodly world; it is not your element, it is not your home. You are in it during God's appointed time, but you wander up and down this world a stranger to its company, a stranger to its maxims, a stranger to its fashions, a stranger to its principles, a stranger to its motives, a stranger to its lusts, its inclinations, and all in which this world moves as in its native element.   Grace has separated you by God's distinguishing power, that though you are in the world, you are not of it. I can tell you plainly, if you are at home in the world; if the things of time and sense be y...

"Be thou in the fear of the L ORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off." -Proverbs 23:17, 18 [KJV] The Lord is here addressing Himself to a soul labouring under temptation, and passing through peculiar exercises; and this is the exhortation that he gives it: "Be thou in the fear of the L ORD all the day long;" watching His hand, submitting to His will, committing everything into His care and keeping; not hardening your heart against Him, but looking up to Him, and worshipping Him with godly fear; "for surely there is an end."   You may be tempted, exercised, and surrounded with difficulties, and see no outlet; but "surely there is an end;" and, when the end comes, it will make all plain and clear. This quiet submission, this watching and waiting, a man can never be brought to unless he has seen an end to all perfection; an end of his own strength, wisdom, and righteousness. To sit still...

Once while listening to a “televangelist” on TV, I heard him say as he was supposedly praying for his listeners, “ I release unto you the efficacy of the blood of Jesus.” I thought, what blasphemy! Then, the thought occurred to me, that’s what most preachers today are telling people to do! This is the very essence of modern 'freewill' works religion. It is the basis of the decisionism that false religion promotes today. Neither man’s work nor man’s will shall be allowed to determine the success of God’s purpose or the efficacy of Christ’s blood. The truth is, the efficacy of the blood of Jesus is what releases us! If it hasn’t, then we are yet in bondage and shall remain so for all eternity. Faith does not release the efficacy of the blood of Jesus, it realizes it, receives it and relies upon it as the single ground of our salvation. Christ made peace by the blood of His cross. His blood obtained eternal redemption for us. He purchased the church with His own blood. The bloo...

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." -Luke 19:10 [KJV] "The Son of man is come."  What a blessed coming! The Lord Jesus seems to have taken to Himself, with the tenderest condescension to our wants, that gracious title, "the Son of man." He was the Son of God, and that from all eternity; but He delights to call Himself the Son of man. We want one like ourselves, wearing the same nature; carrying in His bosom the same human heart; one who has been, "in all points, tempted like as we are, yet without sin;" and therefore able to sympathise with and to succour those that are tempted.   A sinner like man, when made sensible of his pollution and guilt, cannot draw near unto God in His intrinsic, essential majesty and holiness. Viewed as the great and glorious Being that fills eternity, Jehovah is too great, too transcendently holy, too awfully perfect for him to approach. He must therefore have a Mediator; and th...