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

"In deaths oft."     -II Corinthians 11:23  [KJV] What did the apostle mean by this expression, but that from living in Christ, he was always on the lookout for dying in Christ; so that death could make no change of state, whatever change it made of worlds; for that living or dying, he was still in Christ? Paul seems to be speaking out his whole soul in the thought. It seems as if the conscious sense of his union and interest with Jesus was so inwrought in His very nature, that he was "in deaths oft," hoping that this providence, or that appointment, would be found the messenger to call him home to his Redeemer, to be with Him for ever.     My soul! As every night the bed of sleep to thy wearied body becomes a representation of the night of death, and the chamber of the grave, sit down this evening, and look over the memorandums of thine heart, whether there are some of the same sweet testimonies, and arising out of the same blessed source, as the apostle's, th...

"Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."   -James 5:11 [KJV] The words translated "endure" and "patience" are the same in the original; and in fact, the example of Job is given as an instance of the happiness of those who endure. The same word is also used by our blessed Lord, where he says, "He that  endureth  to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 10:22) . We have need then of endurance. As he that runs a race needs not so much swiftness as enduring strength to hold out to the end, never to give up as long as he can drag one limb before another; as the British soldier must never suffer himself to be beaten; so it is in the Christian race: we must never give up; we must never say "die;" we must never allow ourselves to be beaten by sin or Satan.  If God Himself seem to thrust us away from His throne,    we mus...

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (21-23JAN22) 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: IT IS FINISHED When Christ was dying on the cross for the sins of His people, He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). What was finished (brought to its full and final completion and culmination)? Consider the following: The whole will of God in regard to the salvation of the elect and the ground of redemption (Hebrews 10:7). The whole work His Father had given Him to do in saving His people from their sins (1 Timothy 1:15). The Old Covenant law and all types and ceremonies (Hebrews 10:9-14). The righteousness of God performed, perfected, and which is imputed to believers (Romans 3:19-24; Romans 10:4; II Corinthians 5:21). The proof of the accomplishment of all tha...

"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves, groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our body."   -Romans 8:23  [KJV] It is blessed to receive from the Holy Ghost such gracious interpretations of His own most holy word as bear a correspondence with what we feel in a life of grace. We know that our adorable Jesus is the Saviour of the body as well as the soul; but we know also that these vile bodies of ours are not regenerated, as the souls of His redeemed are. In this tabernacle, therefore, we groan, being burdened. "I know," saith Paul, "that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." And I too often know, to my sorrow, the same.     Pause, my soul, this evening, over this solemn scripture, and look up to the great Author of it, to unfold its sacred truth to thy comfort. I hope I can humbly adopt the language, and say, that I "have the first fruit...

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD." - Hosea 6:3 [KJV] "To know the Lord" is to know experimentally and spiritually the power of Jesus' blood and righteousness; to know our eternal union with Him; to know Him so as to be led by the Spirit into soul communion with Him, that we may talk with Him as a man talketh with his friend; to know Him so that the secrets of His heart should be revealed to us, and we enter by faith into the length and breadth and depth and height of the love of Christ which passeth knowledge; to know Him so as to drink into His spirit, and to have His image stamped by the Holy Ghost upon our souls; to know Him as coming down into our hearts out of His glorious sanctuary, filling our souls with His presence and His love; to know Him as formed in us the hope of glory, making our bodies His temple, dwelling in us, breathing Himself into us, speaking in us, moving as it were every affection of our heart and every faculty of ou...

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."   -Romans 8:5 [KJV] None but those who are partakers of a heavenly birth feel heavenly realities to be their choice element, holy things their sweetest meditation, and the solemn worship of God their supreme delight. Look at this mark as a touchstone of divine life; for to be spiritually-minded a man must be spiritual, and to be spiritual he must have received the Spirit and been made  a partaker of that "kingdom of God which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost"   (Romans 14:17) .    Have you never found in reading the Scriptures a sweet peace distil over your soul, as the glorious promises came forth one after another as the stars in the evening sky, each one brighter and clearer, and you felt a blessed persuasion of your interest in them? When at the throne of grace, favoured with liberty of spirit and access to y...

    Only Two Worldwide Religions! by D.G. Miles McKee   It is estimated that there are around 10,000 religions in the world, but the truth is they break down into just two categories.  The first category of religion is comprised of those who demand performance (on the adherent’s part).  Salvation for them is a matter of doing one’s best or obeying a set of rules.  For example … ‘Don’t eat this and don’t eat that.’  ‘Pray at this time.’ ’Take part in this ceremony or that sacrament’. ’Perform this or that good work’. This is the religion of ‘DO.’ It is by far the more popular of the two. The other category of religion is really a non-religion and is summarized by the word DONE.  Membership comes about by being given the gift of eternal life by God. Since it is a gift, it cannot be earned or deserved. As we have said many times, “Without Christ, we can do nothing” (John 15:5). That’s true, but the flip side is also accurate …  with Christ, the...