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

"The eternal God is thy refuge." -Deuteronomy 33:27 [KJV] There is, to my mind, much sweetness in the contrast betwixt the eternal God being the refuge of His people, and the lying refuges that most hide their heads in. God's people want an eternal refuge. They have a never-dying soul; and unless they have a never-dying refuge, it is not sufficient for a never-dying soul. Works! these are for time; the never-dying soul wants something to stand when works and wonders cease. Doctrines, opinions, sentiments, ordinances, the good opinion of men, the applause and flattery of the creature—these are of the earth, earthy; they fail when a man gives up the ghost.   But a child of God wants a refuge, not merely that his soul may anchor in it in time, but that when time is ended, when the angel proclaims, "There shall be time no longer," and his liberated soul escapes its prison-house, and is wafted into the presence of the eternal God, it may find in Him at that sole...

An Important Two Letter Word D.G. Miles McKee   I want to talk about a very weighty little word, though, if taken by itself, it has scarcely any significance. It’s the word ‘No’. Let us look briefly at a few of the times this little word is used in Scripture. First, let me draw your attention to the book of Psalms where we read, “ The fool has said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 53:1). The words “ there is” are in italics. That means they are not in the text but have been provided by the translators. The verse simply then reads, “The fool, has said in his heart, no God." NO God! That’s the language of the fool! But the God whom the fool says does not exist knows the fool’s heart. Nothing is hidden from Him. To say “No God” is something akin to madness yet there are many clever, well educated people who are, by this standard, fools. It’s foolish that people should want to get rid of the God who seeks and saves us for His own glory. To say, “No God,” is to s...

Give Me Christ, Whatsoever He Cost When a man is soundly killed to all his sins, to all his righteousness, to all his comforts whatsoever; and sees that there is no way but the devil must have him, but he must be damned in hell, if he be not clothed with Jesus Christ; ‘O! Then, (says he) give me Christ on any terms, whatsoever H e cost; though H e cost me friends, though H e cost me comforts, though H e cost me all that ever I have!’ Like the wise merchant in the Gospel, they will sell all to get that pearl (Matthew 13:46) . I tell you, when a soul is brought to see its want of Christ aright, it will not be kept back; father, mother, husband, wife, lands, livings, nay life and all shall go, rather than the soul will miss of Christ. Ay, and the soul counts Christ a cheap Saviour, if it can get Him upon any terms. Now the soul indents no longer (as a man bargains for the terms of his impending servitude). ‘Now, Lord, give me Christ, upon any terms, whatsoever He cost; for I am a...

  "I HAVE FOUND A RANSOM." -Job 33:24 [KJV] "Then He is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him (let the sinner be rescued) from going down to the pit (of everlasting destruction) :  I have found (devised and secured) a ransom (propitiation, satisfaction) ." The ransom the Father found was none other than His only begotten Son. He found our Surety before the world was made and appointed Him not only to be the Redeemer of His elect people, but the price of redemption as well.  Behold Him sent forth by the Father in marvelous grace and given as the ransom for the deliverance of chosen sinners from the claims of the law in His sufferings, agonies, death and resurrection. Who else except an infinitely wise God could have ever found so glorious, so precious and so worthy a ransom as this. Christ was the Priest Who offered the Sacrifice, and He was the Sacrifice Who was offered. In the ransom of sinners, Christ is all. -preacher Jim Byrd http://www.ser...

"Praise waiteth for T hee, O God, in Sion; and unto T hee shall the vow be performed." -Psalm 65:1 [KJV] What a sweet thing it is to bless and praise God! There is no feeling upon earth equal to it. But how often are we in that state when we can neither pray nor praise, when sullenness, frowardness, and peevishness seem to take such complete possession, that, so far from praising God, there is no power even to seek His face; and so far from blessing Him, there are even dreadful things working up in the heart against Him, which awfully manifest the enmity of the carnal mind. Those who are painfully exercised with such feelings are certain, therefore, that it is God's work to enable them to praise and bless His holy name.   And does not the heaven-taught soul come sometimes into this spot, "O that the Lord would give me something to praise Him for, would bring me out of this trial, break this wretched snare, remove this awful temptation, lift me out of this providen...

All deserve to be rejected, Yet Jehovah has elected, Multitudes to be perfected, In the Son of God . Christ to save us from all danger, Condescended to a manger; To the world He was a stranger, Lowly Son of God . Jesus Christ the only Savior, Came to bring us to God’s favor, Son of Man, the Mediator; Blessed Son of God . With His blood the Savior bought us, And in time He came and sought us, Of His gospel He has taught us, Gracious Son of God . When we see Him, we will know Him, And together we will show Him, That eternal praise we owe Him, Jesus, Son of God . -to the tune of the old hymn: “ Praise the Savior” Words by preacher Jim Byrd   http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=13thstbaptist

"Wherefore H e is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by H im, seeing H e ever liveth to make intercession for them." -Hebrews 7:25 [KJV] If the gracious Lord did not live to make intercession for us, He could hardly be said to save us to the uttermost. But as He ever lives at God's right hand and is ever interceding, ever presenting the perfume of His acceptable mediation, this gives us a certain pledge of His love, His pity, and His power. Is not this very encouraging to all who come unto God by Him? And may we not say, "Such are we, O Lord; we do come, we daily come to T hee by Jesus Christ?" And do we not need all the encouragement that God may give us out of it? for we often sink very low through temptation and trial and the manifold afflictions of the way.   How blessed, then, it is if you can only trace this mark of grace in your soul when others seem almost lost out of sight. If you know anything of internal work, you know th...