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

"Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?"   - John 20:15 [KJV]   Profession of Christ, without affection to Him, leaves the heart in dead formality. What is religion without the affections? What the highest pretension, the greatest depth of knowledge, without love to our dear Saviour? Here poor Mary discovers her affection to her Lord, by weeping for, and seeking after His crucified body. The fire of love in the heart carries out the soul beyond itself. Tell me, Sir, says she to Jesus (supposing Him to be the gardener) where Thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away . Poor weak being, her affections went beyond her strength. But to her inexpressible joy and comfort, Jesus manifested Himself to her. This was written for our instruction. Come ye weeping, seeking souls, learn a lesson of encouragement and comfort to-night, from your sister’s conduct, and your Lord’s dealings with her.    Observe, (1st.) Christ’s beloved disciples have their weeping and the...

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." -Revelation 12:1 [KJV] My soul! as the beloved apostle was invited to see those precious visions, which the Lord favoured him with, for the church's good, so do thou, this evening, attend his ministry, and gather, under divine teaching, instruction from this great wonder, which John saw. Surely, the woman here spoken of, means the church, the Lamb's wife, clothed in her husband's righteousness; and the moon, like that planet which ministers to our world, under her feet: and the crown, with which her head was adorned, sets forth how the church is made glorious by the ministry of the twelve apostles in the gospel of salvation: for what can be more suitable for the church to be crowned with, than the blessed truths contained in their writings?   Now, my soul, as every representation of the church not only ...

"Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of." -II Timothy 3:14 [KJV]   Various hindrances meet the child of God in his path heavenwards. And their tendency is such, that but for the grace of God, they would effectually succeed in driving him from the faith. When, then, he has to meet a head wind blowing right in his teeth, when the storm and hail beat roughly upon him, when the waves rise high and the stream runs strong, there seems no getting on; and he fears that he shall be like "the children of Ephraim, who, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle."     And yet there is that grace implanted in his heart, there is that faith which God the Spirit first created and still keeps alive in his soul, that though he may for a moment be driven aside, he yet never turns his back upon the truth; though retarded for a moment, his face is still Zionwards. I can say for myself, that all the trials I have ...

"For the LORD hath called thee, as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God."   - Isaiah 54:6 [KJV] This was literally fulfilled, when Christ’s church was first gathered to Him in the days of His flesh. Scarcely were the disciples called and married to Christ, the loving Bridegroom, by faith, but He was taken away from them by a sudden and violent death. They were then like a woman, bereaved of her affectionate husband, who mourned and grieved for her great and affecting loss. They were then as a wife of youth, just married, and soon became as widows, whom the world refused and rejected.    But here lay all their comfort of faith, and joy of hope,— the Lord had called them, and He would never forsake them . Though death’s relentless arm snatched Christ from them, yet his power could not hold Him. By His own omnipotent power, Jesus raised Himself; and because of His everlasting love to them, He appeared...

"And it came to pass as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, Oh thou man of God, there is death in the pot ! " -II Kings 4:40 [KJV] It was at a time of great famine, that the prophet Elisha ministered among the sons of the prophets at Gilgal; no wonder, therefore, that their diet was reduced to a dinner of herbs. During the season of persecution in our kingdom, somewhat more than a century and half since, there was a spiritual famine, not of bread or of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord: and so precious was the word of the Lord in those days, that our good old fathers used to remark, "bread and water, with the gospel, was choice fare."     We find, in the household of Elisha, that wild gourds by the ignorance of him that gathered the herbs, were served up in the pottage of the people, which, as soon as they were discovered, occasioned the cry to the prophet, "O thou man of God, there is death in the pot!"...

"But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."   -Job 23:10 [KJV]   Believer, do you have any burdens, worries, anxieties, concerns or fears? If you're reading these words you do. We may try to convince ourselves or others that we are so spiritually stable, faithful, and grounded that we are beyond the reach of these plagues of the old man. But to you who have been made honest and willingly admit the battle that rages within, remember these words of comfort, "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you" (I Peter 5:7). -preacher Marvin Stalnaker  

"O Lord, by these things men live; and in all these things is the life of my spirit." -Isaiah 38:16 [KJV] When Hezekiah said, "By these things men live," he meant that by these trials and deliverances, by these sinkings and risings, strippings and clothings, emptyings and fillings, "by these things men," that is, spiritual men, "live." It is a mystery, but a great truth, that just in proportion as we die to the world, to self, to sense, to nature, and to false religion, the more the life of God is strengthened in our conscience. The Lord, perhaps, has taught some of you this truth through great afflictions. But when these trials came upon you at the first, it seemed as though they would entirely overwhelm you; they took away your standing, and it appeared as though they had destroyed your faith and hope. But though these floods of temptation passed over the soul, they swept away nothing but rubbish, which till then was mistaken fo...

     When the Lord God took Elijah up into heaven, Elisha took up the mantle of Elijah, smote the waters, and cried, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" (II Kings 2:14) . Where is He? He is in the heavens; He is in Christ Jesus; He is in His Word; He is on the throne of grace; He is in the midst of those who believe and worship Him; He is in every act of providence; He is in every breeze, every cloud, every moment, every heartache, every tear, every joy; He is in all who believe, for "Lo, I am with you always." -preacher Henry Mahan  

Message preached by brother Henry T. Mahan (42 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqaphK7PdLI   How should a sinner approach Jesus Christ to receive mercy?  In Matthew 8:1–4, we meet a leper who came to Christ in complete helplessness and cried, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” This powerful message explains how we are to come to Christ—not trusting in ourselves, our works, our religion, or our ability, but coming to Him in worship, submission, faith, and dependence upon His mercy. The leper’s approach to Christ gives us a beautiful picture of the Gospel. He recognized who Jesus is, what Jesus can do, and what his greatest need was: to be made clean.  The message centers around five important words: WORSHIP — LORD — WILL — THOU — CLEAN . If you are burdened by sin, struggling with doubts, facing trials, suffering, or seeking assurance of salvation, the answer is not found in yourself. Everything God has for sinners is in Christ. Jesus Christ...

"Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."   -Jude 3 [KJV]   When St. Paul was preaching the most important truths of the everlasting gospel at Corinth, he was brought before the judgment seat, and accused for his doctrine. Poor Gallio would not concern himself about the matter. He considered it all as a strife of words, and a contention about names. I will be no judge, says he. He cared for none of these things. His heart was totally unacquainted with the faith of God’s saints. But art thou a partaker of like precious faith with the Apostles? and canst thou be a Gallio too? Know, if thou wilt not contend for the faith, hell and earth are in arms, to contend against. What is the faith here spoken of?    (1st.) The doctrines of faith revealed in the word: the whole scheme of evangelical truths, inspired by the Spirit of God. These are received by faith: are the rule, the warrant, the support, and the glory and joy of faith...

"A good man shall be satisfied from himself." - Proverbs 14:14 [KJV] My soul! what is this scripture, and what is the design of the Holy Ghost in it? Art thou satisfied in thyself? Alas! every day makes me more and more dissatisfied with myself. How can I, indeed, be satisfied, who carry about with me such a body of sin and death, which is everlastingly fighting with, and opposing my better part? What satisfaction, then, is it, that is here meant? Scripture is best explained by scripture: hence the satisfaction that a believing soul finds from himself, is not from his own attainments, nor his own righteousness, but from the witness of the Holy Ghost, that he is born of God, and brought out of nature's darkness into God's marvellous light.   The apostle John hath given, in a single verse, a full illustration of what the wise man here saith, of a good man (that is, a child of God) being satisfied with himself: "He that believeth on the Son of God , ...

"And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel." -Exodus 25:22 [KJV] What heart can conceive or tongue describe the blessedness of this heavenly truth that at all times, under all circumstances, and in all places there is provided a mercy seat, a throne of grace, at which the God of all grace and a sensible sinner may freely meet without let or hindrance, if indeed there be any spirit of prayer in the petitioner's breast? As no place, so no circumstance is too dark for His eye not to see; as no covering is too thick, so no circumstance is too obscure for His sight not to pierce through: "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord."     So felt the Psalmist: "If I say, Surely the d...

       In the midst of Job’s miseries, he found comfort in knowing that the Lord knew both where he was and the way that he took. Though the future is dark and unknown to us, it is a great consolation to every believer to be reminded that all the steps of life have been arranged according to the infinite wisdom of our covenant God. He Who chose me unto salvation and redeemed me by the blood of His Son, Who has declared me to be the righteousness of God in Christ, long ago determined “the way that I take.”   With unlimited knowledge, in unfathomable love and with unerring accuracy He leads me in the path He ordained. The way I must go has been marked out by my all-wise and all-caring Guide. It is true that I cannot see the path ahead, yet it is enough for me to know that my loving Father determined it. And how comforting to be assured that the fiery trials of life cannot destroy me. “I shall come forth as gold.” “The King’s daughter is all glorious wi...

  Hands Up All Ye Self-Righteous Part I By D G Miles McKee   An old Anglican Bishop once remarked, “Everywhere the Apostle Paul went they had a riot. Everywhere I go they make cups of tea.” I would suggest that if the Gospel is preached correctly the preacher may very well get fewer cups of tea, for if preached correctly, the Gospel will annoy and anger a certain group of church people… the self- righteous. We need to guard against becoming self-righteous and it is only by the Gospel that we can be preserved from such a fate.  But what do I mean by ‘self-righteous’? There are three types of self-righteous people which we want to consider. The “Not sure that I’m really a sinner self righteous person”  The most easily distinguished group of self-righteous generally subscribe to the theory that they are indeed sinners, but quietly they are not sure that they have their facts straight on the matter. The adherent to this class of self-righteousness is the per...

"The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit."   -II Timothy 4:22 [KJV]   A most precious benediction! How blind are all who deny the divinity of Christ! how miserable are all who live without the presence of Christ! how ignorant are all who know not that such a blessing is to be enjoyed! how stupid are all those who seek it not! Art thou not, O Christian, too negligent in not more earnestly seeking and constantly praying for more of the presence of thy Lord? Consider, what is implied in this wish? It is heaven in the heart, glory in the soul, to have Christ with our spirits. It disposes and qualifies the soul for heavenly glory.    For, (1st.) Christ’s presence restrains our bad tempers, and subdues our unruly passions. Boisterous waves are changed into a profound calm; rough winds are at peace; foaming billows are still: there is the calm sunshine of heartfelt joy within: all is serene and happy without. Christ’s presence causes haughty pride and furious ...

"And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast Thou so evil entreated this people? Why is it that Thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all ." -Exodus 5:22, 23 [KJV]   My soul! ponder over this scripture, and the history connected with it, and behold what a blessed volume of instruction it affords. The Lord sent Moses to deliver His people out of Egypt. He had heard their groanings, and graciously promised to redress them. The people believed the Lord, and bowed their heads, in token of their view of His love, and their own happiness, which was now to follow. But behold, the oppression under which they had groaned, instead of lessening, began to increase. In this state they grow desperate, and charge God foolishly. Yea, Moses himself, who had talked with God at the bush, and seen the miracles in confirmation of his commission there shew...

"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy; He will not always chide; neither will He keep His anger for ever." -Psalm 103:8, 9 [KJV] God is angry and justly angry with the sins of His people. He hates sin with a perfect hatred. He cannot but entertain unceasing wrath against it. It is so contrary to the purity and perfection of His holy nature, that wherever He meets with sin His indignation flashes out against it. And till we have some discovery and manifestation of Christ to assure us of an interest in His precious blood and finished work, we cannot separate the anger of God against our sins from the anger of God against our persons. But when the Lord is pleased to reveal a sense of His goodness and mercy in the Person and work of His dear Son, then we can see by the eye of faith that though He is angry with our sins, He is not angry with our persons, but accepts us in the Beloved, having chosen us in Him before the foundation o...

 -message by bro. Henry T. Mahan (27 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWSfz47Y5s8

The Appellation of John Knox from the Cruel and Most Unjust Sentence Pronounced Against Him by the False Bishops and Clergy of Scotland, to the Nobility and Estates of Scotland (1558 A.D.). "I say, your duty is to hear the voice of the Eternal your God... and to defend your brethren from the mouth of these cruel lions. ... For it is no less crime to give place to an open tyrant, than it is to join hands with him... Therefore, it is your bounden duty, and the duty of all magistrates, not only to correct and punish the manifest wicked, but also to deliver the innocent from their hands ."   -preacher John Knox of Scotland  

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12) .     If we have Christ, we have His blood for pardon, His righteousness for justification, His fullness to supply all our needs, His promises to cheer us, His strength to support us, His wisdom to guide us in all our ways. We have Him in all the offices He sustains, as Prophet to teach and instruct us, as Priest to atone and plead for us, and as King to rule over us and in us. We have Him in all the blessed characters He bears, as our Shepherd, our Captain, our Bread of Life, Water of Life and the Wine of God to cheer us. We have Him in the endearing relationship He sustains as our Elder Brother.  And, which is more endearing than all, we have Him as our Husband; and He does not take His bride as we are in the habit of taking ours, for better or for worse. O no!...

"But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter."   -I Samuel 20:39 [KJV] Had any one asked this lad, what Jonathan was doing in the field? he would doubtless have replied, only shooting arrows for his amusement, and I ran and brought them to him. But, O! there was a much greater matter here: no less than the precious life of David was at stake. Love directed these arrows: the voice of love proclaimed by them, David’s danger, or his safety. The fatal word, Is not the arrow beyond thee? reminds David of his danger, and warns him to flee for his life.    Observe, (1st.) Never did more generous, faithful love dwell in a mere human breast, than in Jonathan’s to David. But it diminishes, like the light of the stars when the sun appears, compared to that infinitely greater, and more intense love, which dwells in the heart of our spiritual Jonathan, i.e., the gift of the Lord: this Jesus is to all His Davids, i.e., beloved ones.    ...