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

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." -II PETER 1:10-11 [KJV] I believe many of God's people, if not most, have much ado to "make their calling and election sure." They are not a people to take things for granted; they cannot sit at ease and say, "I have no doubt that I am a child of God;" they want something powerful, something applied, something spoken by the mouth of God H imself; and short of that, they must be exercised with doubts and fears as to their state before H im. Now let conscience speak; let us turn over the leaves of conscience. What says that faithful W itness? Has God spoken with power to your soul? Has H e pardoned your sins? Has H e given you a sweet testimony of your interest in the Son of ...

A statement is received in the mail informing you that such-and-such an amount is due by some specific date. Should you choose to do so, you could destroy the bill in a paper shredder so that you no longer see it. You may decide, in fact, not to even think about the obligation again, ignoring and discarding every reminder of your indebtedness. Your refusal to acknowledge and take care of your financial responsibility, however, does not make the indebtedness go away. It is, however, an entirely different thing to pay the debt and enjoy the peace of mind in knowing that it has been expunged from your record. You and I may choose to ignore our spiritual indebtedness to God for our sinfulness, but that does not make the debt go away and, consequently, there can be no real peace of heart in knowing it has been removed. How different it is to believe the Word of God that declares to every sinner who trusts the blessed Savior that their entire obligation to divine justice w...

“ Do you know anything what it is to groan for mercy, to sigh under a sense of your sinfulness, your inability to help your own soul, and feel a spiritual thirsting for God? If you do, you know what it is to do the will of God. If you do not know this, the Lord has not taught you to see and feel your own ruin; and whatever external 'piety' you imagine you have, it is but self-deception, if you in any measure trust it.” -Gospel report by preacher Wm. Gadsby, 1842 A.D.

Let praises come from every tongue To God our Savior, Three in One; Who in His blessed Trinity Did move in grace to set us free. Blessed be our God and Father great Who did for His own glory’s sake, Both love and choose in Christ alone All He predestined and made known. Oh glorious Christ, Oh God the Son; Who came to earth in flesh and won The victory by His own death And brought in perfect righteousness Sweet Spirit of the Holy One, Who gave us life when we had none. And through the gospel He revealed, Christ to the faith He gave and sealed. All glory to the One in Three Who saved a sinner such as me; And by His sacred Persons all, Rescued us from the Adam fall. -words by Gospel preacher Gary Shepard

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed." - II CORINTHIANS 4:8 [KJV] The saint of God is "troubled on every side," because he has on every side on which he may be troubled, a spiritual side as well as a temporal side, a side in his soul as well as a side in his body, a side in his supernatural as well as in his natural life, a side in his new man of grace as well as a side in his old man of sin. And as it is necessary for him to be conformed to the suffering image of Christ, trouble comes upon him on every side and from every quarter, to make him like his blessed Lord. Nay, his troubles are multiplied in proportion to his grace, for the more the afflictions abound the more abundant are the consolations; and an abundance of consolation is but an abundance of grace. Thus, the more grace he has the greater will be his sufferings; and the more he walks in a path agreeable to the Lord, and in conformity to His will and word, the more...

Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11 are most revealing: “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” First, Paul, like all of us, was not naturally content, he had to learn it. Secondly, his state seemed to change often in this world as does ours. Thirdly, the contentment he then possessed, he had to be taught. Fourthly, God alone could teach him this contentment which is a fruit of His Spirit and grace. Lastly, the school in which God taught him was the school of tribulation, trials and affliction! Contentment is defined by sufficiency. My we hear the promise of our gracious God: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Grace in Christ! We are in a state of unchanging justification in Christ, let us be content! -Gospel report by preacher Gary Shepard

“ It is easy for Him who made all things out of nothing to help His redeemed children. The Almighty Creator, ruler, and governor of the world-what can He not do?” - Gospel report by preacher Thomas Manton