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

  THY GOD REIGNS   O what a glad, delightful sound, Within the Word of God ‘tis found; The Lord our God reigns over all, The Sovereign over great and small.   Ye children of the Father’s love, Rejoice!  He governs from above! All things that happen, He ordains, The Lord of glory ever reigns.   By day and night and year by year, Jehovah reigns, so do not fear; Be calm, O anxious, troubled soul, Thy God still reigns, may this console.   O yes He reigns forevermore, With grateful hearts, His Name adore; And though His will we faintly see, Trust Him who reigns eternally. Tune:  “From Every Stormy Wind” LM Words by Jim Byrd     -------O-------     NATURAL BLINDNESS          “For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”   (II Corinthians 4:6) .        ...

This was an impossible situation which met Ezekiel’s eye. A valley filled with bones, and the bones were “very dry,” destitute of life. And Ezekiel was to realize that this was a picture of the Israel of God. If ever there was a setting forth of impossibility, it was this. “Can these dry bones live?” The prophet  did not answer with the obvious “No” but, realizing the greatness of God, replied, “O LORD God, Thou knowest.”   And then a miracle took place. Ezekiel had to prophesy to the bones and to prophesy to the wind (in other words: preach, but cry to the Holy Ghost that the word might be a life-giving word). Then the dry bones stood up an exceeding great army. God is still the same – His mercy, His power. If it be His holy will, He can still make the dry bones live. Is not this our language? “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our  parts” (Ezekiel 37:11) .   What a mercy if the LORD should say, “Behold, O My people, I will open your gr...

In Holy Scripture, God’s foreknowledge is declared in four ways:   (1) God’s foreknowledge is His act and decree of Fore-ordination. There is no need to speculate here. Since scripture is the interpreter of scripture, in this same context the very same Greek word which is translated foreknowledge in verse two is translated foreordained in verse twenty (I Peter 1:20) .   (2) God’s foreknowledge of His elect is His everlasting love for us in Christ (Jeremiah 31:3; John 17:23-24) .   (3) Divine foreknowledge is divine approval. “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1:6.) “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6.)   (4) God’s foreknowledge of us is our absolute safety and security in Christ. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ dep...

There is a power, an actual, substantial, intrinsic power, in the blood of the Lamb. As a divine ordinance and appointment, of course God Himself will not disregard it; but the power of the Saviour’s blood is not typical, or shadowy, or ceremonial, or merely the result of Divine appointment. The power of Christ’s blood is living, legal, meritoriously, absolutely and necessarily saving. Its power comes from the dignity, worth, and greatness of the Person that shed it. All His dignity and glory are inseparable from the life He lived, and the death He died.  —preacher John Hazelton (1822-1888 A.D.)

 Is there a sinner here below, Who looks to God above? And as the object of His grace, Can sing redeeming love? Is there a soul from sin set free, Now broken and contrite; Who from a heart now thankful made, Can praise our God aright? Is there a tongue which once was filled, With every word so vile; That now can speak Jehovah’s praise, Before His gracious smile? Are there not many in our midst, Made clean by Jesus’ blood; Then lift each voice and send abroad, God’s praises like a flood!  -To the tune of, "O For A Thousand Tongues" Words by preacher Gary Shepard   God the Holy Spirit is the sovereign, powerful Agent Who brings about the new birth in God’s people. In this new birth, He applies the resurrection life of Christ both in regeneration (giving them spiritual life) and conversion (turning them to Christ by God-given faith and turning them away from themselves by God-given repentance).  He uses the Gospel message making it the power of God unto salvation by the...

 "Seeking the LORD" preached by Henry Mahan (under 28 minutes) Ref: Psalm 27:4-8 [KJV] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNk_M-qaODY  

"Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."   -I Corinthians 10:12 [KJV]   Formal professors of His name are called the Lord’s people, as well as those who are possessors of His love. The former for want of love to God, have no zeal for His glory. Hence, they are careless of their walk, and are liable to fall from the height of a towering profession, into the bottomless pit of perdition. Possessors of God’s love are also liable to fall, though not out of the hands of Christ into hell, yet into many things which may wound their souls, bring a hell into their consciences, a dishonour on the name and gospel of Christ, and give the enemies thereof an occasion to blaspheme that worthy name by which they are called. O, Christians! see to your standing. You are called upon, as you love your dear Saviour, as you value the peace of God, and the comfort of your souls, “To take heed lest you fall.”  Be not high-minded, but fear. You stand b...

"And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.”   -Psalm 106:15 [KJV] Here is a very solemn subject to exercise the mind of a child of God. My soul, take it for thine own exercise this evening. In the part of the church's history alluded to, it should seem that they were just arrived on the borders of Canaan: they had been all along fed and sustained by God's bounty; and the manna, as usual, came fresh and pure from heaven every morning; but tired and dissatisfied with the table of God's providing, they demanded flesh to eat, and the Lord gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. Happy would it have been for the church of God, if such rebellions had been confined to that period of its history. But, alas! in all ages, God's children too often manifest the like temper. My soul! bring the subject home; thy God, thy Jesus, hath appointed thee the very path best suited for thee . Had a synod of angels been convened to ...

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."   -I Peter 1:13 [KJV] Hope chiefly regards "the end;" —for that is "better than the beginning,"  the crowning consummation of all that faith believes, hope expects, and love enjoys. But through what dark and gloomy seasons has hope often to look before this end comes, being sometimes sunk so low as almost to despair even of life! How it has in these low spots to muster all its evidences, look back to this and that Ebenezer, this and that hill Mizar, this and that deliverance, manifestation, and blessing; how it has to hang upon the word of promise, cry out for help, and that mightily, as if at its last breath, and hope against hope in the very face of unbelief, infidelity, and despair. An end must come to all our struggles, trials, exercises, afflictions, and conflicts. We shall not be alway...