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

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." -John 3:3 [KJV] True religion begins with an entrance into the soul of supernatural light and supernatural life. How or why it comes the soul knows not; for "the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth, so is every one that is born of the Spirit." The wind itself is not seen, but its effects are felt. The sound of a going is heard in the tops of the mulberry trees, where God Himself is not seen. The voice of the LORD, powerful and full of majesty, was heard by those who saw no similitude (Deut eronomy 4:12) . Thus effects are felt, though causes are unknown.   Streams flow into the heart from a hidden source; rays of light beam into the soul from an unrisen sun; and kindlings of life awake in us a new existence out of an unseen fountain. The new-born babe feels life in all its limbs, though it knows not yet the ear

The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to “preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” ( II Timothy 4:2) . The “word” here is the Word of God (the Scriptures) as it reveals and pertains to the glory and greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great salvation HE has attained for and gives to His people by the free, sovereign grace of God. To “preach the Word” is to “preach Christ crucified” ( I Corinthians 1:23) , to “preach Christ’s Gospel” ( II Corinthians 2:12) , both the glory of His Person as God with us and the power of His obedience unto death as our Surety, Substitute, and Redeemer, the Lord our Righteousness. All instructions in righteousness, faith, repentance, obedience, love, and worship are to be taken directly from God’s Word and not man’s opinions and preferences. Let us pray that our lives be motivated by His love and grace in Christ and guided by His Word as it is in Christ. -preacher B

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." -Hebrews 2:14-15 [KJV] It is only because of the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ that believers may face death without fear. Death, the penalty of sin, has already been endured for us by the Savior. In fact, rather than us dying, the Savior said to Martha, in John 11:26, "And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this? " When believers pass from this life, they "sleep in Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:14); the soul goes to paradise and the body sleeps in the dust, awaiting a glorious resurrection. "Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because the everlasting dawn has finally arrive