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

"Whereas the LORD was there."   -Ezekiel 35:10 [KJV]   Edom's princes saw the whole country left desolate, and counted upon its easy conquest; but there was one great difficulty in their way-quite unknown to them- "The LORD was there" and in His presence lay the special security of the chosen land. Whatever may be the machinations and devices of the enemies of God's people, there is still the same effectual barrier to thwart their design. The saints are God's heritage, and He is in the midst of them, and will protect His own. What comfort this assurance yields us in our troubles and spiritual conflicts!    We are constantly opposed, and yet perpetually preserved! How often Satan shoots his arrows against our faith, but our faith defies the power of hell's fiery darts; they are not only turned aside, but they are quenched upon its shield, for "The LORD is there." Our good works are the subjects of Satan's attacks. A saint ...

Golgotha   “They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which being interpreted is The Place of the Skull).”   -Mark 15:22     I have sometimes heard people talk about the sacrifices they have made for Christ.   I´m not impressed with that.  I would rather focus on Christ´s amazing sacrifice for us rather than on anything we have done for Him.  I´m reminded of the faithful missionary, David Livingstone, who sacrificed everything to bring the Gospel to the continent of Africa, yet he said,  “I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of 'sacrifice' when we remember the great sacrifice which Christ made for us.”   Indeed, the heart of Christianity is neither about us nor our sacrifices, it is about Jesus.   As P. T. Forsyth, the Scottish theologian said, " Christianity is not the sacrifice that we make; it is the sacrifice we trust ."   Consider this, on the day of His death, the Lord Jesus was brought to Golgotha...

Beloved of God let we who are the born-again blood washed saints of God marvel at the truth of the scriptures which proclaim that before the foundation of the world God chose a people in Christ . Marvel at verse 4 of Ephesians chapter 1: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.    What blessed truth is set before as before there was ever a sinner there was a Saviour the Word of God the second person of the trinity the blessed Lamb of God marvel that He is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world: And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8.)     Beloved of God note the security of every believer in Christ all by the electing grace of God we are secured in Christ our names are in the Lamb’s book of life therefore neither Satan, or ...

"Hope looks forward and lives in the promises; it glories beforehand in the certainty of their fulfillment.  Bright hopefulness is one of the elements of a healthy Christian life – one of the surest preservatives against backsliding.   This hopefulness must be cultivated; diligence must be given unto the fullness of hope – a hope that embraces all the fullness of God’s promises, and that fills all the heart.  And all to this end, with a patience and perseverance that knows no weariness, that waits God’s time, and seeks in patience till the fulfillment has come."   -preacher Andrew Murray , excerpt from ‘The Holiest of All,’  p. 213

"Now abideth—hope."   -I Corinthians 13:13 [KJV]   Gospel faith and Christian hope are twin graces in the heart: they are inseparable. Faith exists not without hope. Hope has no being without faith. Such as a man’s faith is, such is his hope. They both flow from God’s word, as light and heat from the sun. Take away a word spoken, and faith has no being. Without a promise made, hope has no existence. Faith receives and takes possession of Christ, as set forth in the word: hope expects all promised blessings, comforts, and joys in Him, with Him, and from Him, according to the word. “The word of God liveth and abideth for ever” (I Peter 1:23.) Jesus, who is the essential word, “is our hope” (I Timothy 1:2.) He is the cause of our hope; the object of our hope; and the life of our hope. Therefore, our hope abideth.    Yea, though all in nature fails; all in sense forsakes us; and all, as to outward appearances, are against us;—though corruptions rage and f...

"A citizen of no mean city."   -Acts 21:39 [KJV] It certainly was very laudable in Paul, in a moment of danger, to avail himself of the common privileges of his freedom, in the common rights of men. But it would have been a sad thing for the apostle, had he not, at the same time, been also "a fellow citizen with the saints, and of the household of God."  He, like the patriarchs, knew his right in that city "which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." My soul! see to it, this evening, that thy name is enrolled among the citizens of those who are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner-stone. And if thou canst find evidences of this high calling, thou wilt know also, as well as Paul, that thou art "a citizen of no mean city."  Now a city that hath "foundations, and whose builder and maker is God,"  differs totally from all the cities founded among men. A...

"Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption." -Psalm 130:7 [KJV] "Let Israel hope in the LORD."  Has she ceased to hope in the creature? Does she despair of salvation from any other source or quarter but the blood of the Lamb? Is she crying, sighing, longing, panting, and begging of the Lord to appear in her soul? "Let Israel,"  then,  "hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy."  He will not spurn His waiting Israel from His feet; He will not smite her with the lightnings of His wrath; He will shew mercy to the poor, guilty sinner that comes with dust upon his head, clothed with sackcloth and ashes, mourning and lamenting his vileness before the Lord. There is no wrath in the bosom of the Lord against him; there is mercy, pardoning mercy in the bosom of Jehovah for Israel; therefore "let Israel hope in the LORD."  If Israel look to herself, she cannot have on...