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

According to Eli's instruction, this was to be the answer of young Samuel if he heard the Lord call again in the night … " S peak, L ORD ; for Thy servant heareth" [I SAMUEL 3:9] . This was Samuel's response and it is the response and longing of every regenerated saint made sensitive to the voice of the Lord Jesus. The believer truly desires to hear from his great Shepherd as He speaks to the heart through His word. The hearts of God's sheep burn with gratitude and appreciation for His mercy as He opens unto them the Holy Scriptures. The realization that God Almighty, in the power of His Holy Spirit, through the blessed Scriptures would graciously speak peace and comfort to an undeserving sinner for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ is a glowing ember of joy to the redeemed saint. Truly, He speaks and those that are of the truth hear His voice [JOHN 18:37 ] . - Gospel report by preacher Marvin Stalnaker Katy Baptist church of Fairmont, West Vi...

"Hold T hou me up, and I shall be safe."   - PSALM 119:117 [KJV] We are surrounded with snares; temptations lie spread every moment in our path. These snares and temptations are so suitable to the lusts of our flesh, that we shall infallibly fall into them, and be overcome by them but for the restraining providence or the preserving grace of God . The Christian sees this; the Christian feels this. He has had, it may be, a bitter experience of the past. He has seen how, from want of walking in godly fear, for want of circumspection and standing upon his watch-tower, he has been entangled in times past in the snares of death. He has rued the consequences, felt the misery of having slipped and fallen; the iron has entered into his soul; he has been in the prison house, in bondage, in darkness, and death; in consequence of his transgressions he has been "the fool" described in Psalm 108, as "afflicted because of his iniquity," and can ...

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (24-26JAN20) Heads-Up --- Please find enclosed encouragement in SO GREAT SALVATION by the perfect and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor - from their sins and from Hell: “ Every sinner chosen to salvation and redeemed BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST WILL BE REGENERATED AND EFFECTUALLY CALLED TO BELIEVE ON THE BLESSED SAVIOR. Abram was an idolater, but being one of God’s elect, he was sought and found in Ur of the Chaldees. Rahab was a harlot, but before her city could be destroyed, she must be rescued from the destruction which was to come. The Son of Man found Zacchaeus up a tree in the accursed city of Jericho. The dying thief was a convicted felon, just a breath away from eternity, yet at the appointed time the Savior revealed Himself to his heart. Saul of Tarsus was called out of self-righteous Pharisaism. Dionysius and Damaris...

"He MUST Increase, but I MUST Decrease" -J OHN 3:30 [KJV] This was spoken of the Redeemer by His forerunner John. And it is not to be considered as the language of complaint or sullen agreement as if he would say, "I dislike it; but it is unavoidable. It is my grief; and I must bear it." No. It was as agreeable to his feelings as it was firm in his belief. And it showed a fine and a noble soul in John. The spirit that is in us lusteth to envy. We love to be distinguished above others. We wish to rise, even by the fall of others. It is trying, even to a good man, to withdraw, and see a successor filling his place better than himself, and, as the honors he has worn are transferred to another, to say, "He must increase, but I must decrease." It is not an easy thing to go down well, or for a setting star to exult in a rising sun. But it was thus to John. He knew his rank and approved his place. He was the servant, not the Master: the friend, ...

Often people ask this question to find out about our religious background and heritage. As if to say that it doesn't really matter what persuasion we are or what we believe, just as long as we are sincere and make some sort of confession. Those to whom the Lord has been pleased to reveal the gospel, are fully convinced and totally persuaded of what God in His grace has been pleased to teach them from the scripture. Believers are no longer tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, they are committed and addicted to the truth [EPHESIANS 4:14 ] . Have you been fully persuaded by God the Holy Spirit? It is not presumption to believe all the precious promises of God [II PETER 1:3 ] . It would be presumption to believe that God is going to save wretched sinners, if He did not tell us in His Word that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners [MATTHEW 9:13 ] . Let me give two examples of believers who were fully persuaded. Abraham did not pres...

"Man's goings are of the L ORD ; how can a man then understand his own way?" -P ROVERBS 20:24 [KJV]   Does not your heart sometimes quake with fear lest you have nothing but a nominal profession, lest the god of this world be blinding you, and lest your conscience be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin? It is good to have such fears. He who feareth not, who has no solemn apprehensions, no anxious inquiries, who is never exercised with some internal trepidation of soul, it is much to be feared has never known what it is to have "the candle of the Lord searching the inward parts of the belly."   But if God has quickened your soul into spiritual life, and you have ears to hear, I would just put two questions to you: Have you obtained righteousness by a manifestation of Christ's righteousness; pardon by the application of Christ's blood; love by a shedding abroad of love; deliverance by a discovery of God's outstretched hand? M...

  Is there a difference between regeneration and justification? If we live in the poisonous fog of false doctrine we will answer…NO! Some folks view regeneration ( being born again ) as being the basis and ground for approval before God…. But this cannot possibly be so. True, the Holy Spirit regenerates us, sets us apart and gives us faith. But this is not basis of our acceptance before God. This is not the gospel. The gospel is objective. It happened outside of us, in history. It is finished! Much popular preaching, nevertheless, tells us that the gospel is about God changing the heart of the sinner This theory, however, is but a regurgitation of medieval Roman Catholic teaching on salvation. It´s alarming that our condition and state should once again be the overwhelming preoccupation of much of our thinking today! The great truth of justification by faith, however, does not deal with the acts of God within the believer, but rather with the saving acts of God outside of ...