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

  "Having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." - I Timothy 4:8 [KJV] True religion lies deep; it is not a balloon hovering over us miles up in the air. It is like truth—it lies at the bottom of the well. We must go down, then, into religion, if we are to have it really in our hearts. The Lord Jesus Christ was "a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief." He took the lowest, last, and least place. He was always down; so that if we are to be companions with the Lord Jesus Christ, we must go down with Him—down into the valley, down into suffering, down into humiliation, down into trial, down into sorrow. When we get puffed up by worldly joy, or elated by carnal excitement, we do not sympathise with the Lord Jesus Christ in His suffering manhood; we do not go with Him then into the garden of Gethsemane, nor behold Him as "the Lamb of God" on the accursed tree. We can do without Jesus very well when the world smiles, and carnal...

  “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” - II Timothy 3:1 [KJV] I imagine most people would say that we are living in perilous times right now. These are not perilous days because of the pandemic gripping the world. These are not perilous days because of civil unrest caused by man’s hateful nature. These are perilous days because of the many issues that take our attention off of Christ. May God be pleased to stop us from becoming obsessed with society’s issues and make us obsessed with KNOWING AND TRUSTING CHRIST. May God be pleased to give us the wisdom to not become obsessed with how to govern the world: “Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth” (Isaiah 45:9) and make us obsessed with the preaching of Christ and Him crucified. May God be pleased to make us obsessed with knowing Christ and resting in Him. In a few short days all of these earthly events will be forgotten, but knowing Christ will still be all important to our sou...

The grace of God must come from the “ God of all grace.” Grace is like God Himself and comes from Him alone. We only preach and believe the gospel of grace when we preach and believe “ the true grace of God.” When the apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 1, he testifies to the grace of God that precedes even time itself. God goes before and acts in grace, initiating all the blessings of His grace to His people when He chose them in Christ before the world began. God’s grace is characterized by His action and power and is truly omnipotent grace. Since grace cannot be merited and only comes from God, it must be accurately described as His free and sovereign grace. He is gracious “ to whom He will be gracious.” Paul again in Ephesians 1 speaks of God’s grace to us in another way saying that all of salvation is, “ To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). What a full expression of God’s grace to God’s elect.  First, wh...

"Godliness is profitable unto all things." - I Timothy 4:8 [KJV] What is "profitable?" I may define it in one short sentence—that which does the soul good. Now "godliness" is profitable unto all things, as doing the soul good in all circumstances. Here it stands apart and separate from everything of a worldly nature. Here it is distinguished from the "bodily exercise that profiteth little." It is "profitable unto all things." In sickness, in health; in sunshine, in storm; upon the mount, in the valley; under whatever circumstances the child of God may be, "godliness" or rather the "exercise" of godliness is profitable. And it is drawn out by these circumstances. It lives in the face of trials; it is strengthened by opposition; it becomes victorious through defeat; it gains the day in spite of every foe: "Stands every storm, and lives at last."   It does not die away like "bodily exercise;" i...

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands ( 07-09AUG 20) 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: “The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice” (Psalm 97:1). Surely, in this world of trouble, there could not be a greater encouragement for a child of God than this, “the LORD reigneth.” When trials befall us, let us remember, “The LORD reigneth.” When our world seems to be turned upside down and sorrow makes the heart heavy with grief, let us remember, “The LORD reigneth.” When events come to pass that we do not understand, when it seems evil is on the rampage and wickedness abounds, still let us remember, “The LORD reigneth.” This is what the Israelites celebrated when the Lord brought them out of Egyptian bondage and through the Red Sea, “the LORD shall r...

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." - I John 5:7 [KJV] A spiritual knowledge of the Trinity lies at the foundation of all vital godliness. To know Father, Son, and Holy Ghost by special teaching and divine revelation, is the sum and substance of spiritual religion, and is eternal life; according to the Lord's own testimony, John 17:3, "And this is life eternal, that they might know T hee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom T hou hast sent." Thus, sooner or later, the Lord leads all His people into a feeling acquaintance with, and divine reception of this glorious mystery; and thus they come to know the Father's electing love, the Son's redeeming work, and the Spirit's inward testimony; and that these Three are One .   But how opposed to nature, sense, and reason is this glorious mystery; and how they all rise up in rebellion against it! How can Three be On...

"He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth H is mercy and H is truth ." -Psalm 57:3 [KJV] And where is God's mercy revealed? Outwardly in the word of God; inwardly in the heart. And it is by sending His mercy into the conscience, shedding abroad His love in the soul, manifesting His pardoning favour within, that God "saves from the reproach of him that would swallow us up." Man may say, 'I do not doubt your religion; surely you have marks and testimonies of being a child of God!' Ministers may come and endeavour to soothe you, and often by their soothing make more mischief than they mend: 'O, no doubt, if you are exercised with these things you are a child of God;' as though a man could be satisfied with exercises, and because he is hungering and thirsting after the Lord, could be contented with his famine and his drought. No; these things do not touch the secret ma...