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

"...sat by the highway side begging." - Mark 10:46   My soul, learn a lesson from the beggar this morning. And Oh Thou blessed friend of beggars, do Thou sweetly make the view gracious to my soul. What was it led this poor man to the high-way side to seek alms? Surely his poverty, wretchedness, and a sense of want. And art thou come forth, my soul, from the same cause, and on the same errand? I presume this poor creature came forth empty; for had he been full he would never have come. And art thou so, my soul! for otherwise it is certain, they that are full in themselves never seek Jesus. But amidst his want and poverty, had this poor beggar hopes that the passers by would commiserate his case and relieve him? Yes, no doubt: though some might overlook and disregard him, all would not.     But, my soul, thy case far exceeds his. Though all disregard, Jesus will not: and thou art sure He will pass by, and not only behold thy misery, but give thee needed relie...

"A certain Samaritan." -Luke 10:33 [KJV] Look, my soul, beyond the letter of the parable, and see if thou canst not instantly discover who it is that is here meant. Mark how he is described: "A certain Samaritan." Not any indifferent undetermined one among the whole mass of men called Samaritans, but an identical certain one: and who but Jesus answers to this character? "Said we not well, (said the Jews) that Thou art a Samaritan?" Yes, truly, thus far ye said right; for our Jesus is the true Samaritan, that came a blissful stranger from His blessed abode, to deliver us from our lost estate, for His mercy endureth for ever. And, my soul, observe how exactly corresponding to all that is said of this certain Samaritan in the parable, thy Jesus proves to have been. Our nature, universally speaking, was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when it fell among thieves, and when it was left more than half dead by the great enemy of souls; for we ...

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth inMe, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth, and believeth in Me, shall never die. Believest thou this?" -John 11:25, 26 [KJV] Pause my soul, over those divine, those glorious, those soul-quickening, soul reviving words of thy Almighty Redeemer! What man, what prophet, what servant of the Lord, what angel but He that is the angel of the covenant, one with the Father, over all, God, blessed for ever, could assume such a language, and prove that assumption as Jesus did, both by His own resurrection and that of Lazarus? And mark, my soul, the many precious things contained in this sweet scripture.     Observe the blessing itself, even resurrection and life . Observe the source, the Author, the Fountain of it. Jesus, thy Jesus. Observe for whom this stupendous mercy is designed, and to whom conveyed; namely, the dead in trespasses and sins, and for the dying languishin...

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands   (07-09MAY21) 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  our  sins and from Hell: SECURITY IN CHRIST If my security in Christ and my final entrance into glory were dependent in any way on my works, before or after conversion, I would have no security. But, blessed truth, salvation is not in ANY way dependent on my works. Christ is my security and He alone will be the cause of my entrance into glory. There are three things that cause the security of my salvation and final entrance into glory: 1). The sovereignty of God . If He loves me now, it is because He always loved me, nothing in me caused His love. He loved me simply because He would. And if He loves me now, He will never cease to love me. "I am the LORD, I chang...

"And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt." -Genesis 45:4     What an interview was this, in the first manifestation the governor of Egypt made of himself to his brethren! We are told that he wept aloud. His bowels yearned over them. He had long smothered in his own bosom those he now manifests himself to every poor sinner, whom, by his grace, he makes partaker in the first resurrection on whom the second death hath no power? I am Jesus, your brother, saith that adored Lord; but he doth not add, whom ye sold for worse than a slave. There is no upbraiding, nothing of our baseness and sins. And yet we have all not only sold him, but by our transgressions crucified him. What a beautiful feature this is in the Redeemer; and how much even the love of Joseph falls short of Jesus! And what endears it still more, is the peculiar attention the Redeemer manifesteth upon the occasion.     If there be one of his brethren more distressed and di...

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?" -John 14:10 [KJV] My soul, thou wilt never sufficiently contemplate this blessed oneness between the Father and the Son, in the great work and glory of redemption. Pause this morning, and observe for the confirmation of thy faith, that as Jesus is one with the Father in all the essence and attributes of the Godhead, so God the Father is one with Jesus in all the offices of redemption. God was in Christ's human nature; for He is said to have been "God manifest in the flesh." God was in every name of Christ, every work of Christ, every word of Christ, every office of Christ, every attribute of Christ. And hence, in seeing Christ, we truly see God; in all His grace, mercy, love, salvation, and every blessing connected with our present, future, eternal happiness.     And what a sweet thought is that, my soul, for thee to dwell upon; that as the Father is in Jesus, and in Him dwelleth...

Full Assurance of Faith : Part 2 by D.G. Miles McKee.   We cannot possibly come to a place of personal assurance of salvation if we don’t believe the Bible to be the Word of God.   Consider what the Bible says about itself.  We read, “ Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart ” (Jeremiah 15:16).   Then in Psalm 119: 7-10,  “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether."   And again,  “Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart"  (Psalm 119:111).   Jesus taught , “Man shall not live by bread alone but by ev...