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

“If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things?" -John 3:12 [KJV] Was there ever condescension like that of Jesus, to accommodate Himself to the dull and senseless capacities of His people? Kind, compassionate, indulgent Teacher, I would say, how shall I sufficiently admire or adore Thy love? Oh! that a consciousness of my ignorance would endear to me Thy wisdom! And Oh! that a sense of the deep things of God would induce in me a temper and frame of mind suited to the docility and humbleness of a weaned child!  Now, my soul! mark from these words of thy Jesus to that master in Israel, Nicodemus, that so sublime are the wonders of redemption, even in that part of it which is connected with earthly things, that our capacities, until opened and fitted for the apprehension of divine truths by grace, cannot enter into the enjoyment or belief of them. And how then shall the glories of eternity, which are reserved for unfold...

"But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him."   -I John 2:27 [KJV] Have you ever had a solitary drop of this holy anointing oil fall upon your heart? One drop, if it be but a drop, will sanctify you for ever to the service of God. There was not much of the holy anointing oil used for the service of the tabernacle, when we consider the size and quantity of what had to be consecrated, for Moses had to anoint therewith the whole of the tabernacle of the congregation, as well as all the vessels, with all their various appurtenances. When he went through the sacred work, he touched one vessel after another with a drop of oil; for one drop sanctified the vessel to the service of the tabernacle. There was no repetition of the consecration wanted; it abode. So if you ever had a drop of God...

The Blessing of Knowing we are Lost! by D.G. Miles McKee   The only person who ever fulfilled the Law of Moses was the man Christ Jesus.   In actuality, He could do nothing else, for He was the thrice-holy God in human flesh appearing.  We, on the other hand, could do nothing other than break the Law, for we are, by nature ungodly sinners (Romans 5:8). However, we must remember the Law was never given to save anyone or to be a source of life; it was given to show us what we are in ourselves … ungodly, lost sinners.  Our inability to keep even the first commandment demonstrates that we are hardened lawbreakers with no ability to love God the way we should. So then, why did God give the Law? One of the major reasons was to demonstrate to ourselves that we are lost.  Why did He do that? He did it because God only saves lost people (Luke 19:10). That’s right! … Lost people! And on account of that, we are delighted that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was l...

“In that day shall the L ORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and he that is feeble among them at that day, shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the L ORD before them." -Zechariah 12:8 [KJV] My soul! in the calculation of times and seasons, thou art entering this day upon a new month; stand still and consider what progress thou art making in the spiritual path. Here is a sweet promise for the gospel dispensation. It is an old testament promise to be fulfilled in a new testament day. The weak and feeble, in our spiritual David, being really and truly in David, shall be as David, that is, strong in the grace and strength that are in Christ Jesus. And the whole house of David, every true believer in Jesus, shall be as Jesus; that is, so accounted before God, as one in Christ, and accepted in Him the Beloved; for in the eye of God, and of His holy law, they are one and the same.   But what a sad consideration is it that the progress in ...

"They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them."   -Jeremiah 31:9 [KJV] Until God is pleased to pour out upon us the spirit of grace and of supplications, we cannot worship Him aright; for God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth; nor can we without this spirit offer up that spiritual sacrifice which is acceptable to Him through Jesus Christ. When this spirit has been once given and kindled in a believer's breast, it never dies out. It is like the fire upon the brazen altar, which was first given by the Lord Himself from heaven, and concerning which God gave this command: "The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out" (Leviticus 6:13) . This fire might sink low; it might be covered with the ashes of sacrifice, but it never was suffered to go out for want of supply of fuel.   So at times it may seem to you as if there were scarcely any spirit of prayer alive in your bosom; ...

“And above the firmament, that was over their heads, was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stones and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it." -Ezekiel 1:26  [KJV] It forms the most satisfying consideration to the breast of the faithful that every event and every providence concerning the people of God is as much directed, arranged, and determined, as the purpose of redemption themselves. The covenant is "a covenant ordered in all things and sure." He who hath undertaken and completed salvation for them, hath no less secured the means that shall infallibly accomplish the end; and all things, how unpromising soever on the first view, shall work together for good to them that love God.     When the Holy Ghost would graciously lead the church into the proper apprehension of this great truth, the prophet is directed to the contemplation of a vision by the river Chebar, which opened before him. There...

"Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will."   -Ephesians 1:11 [KJV]  By these words the apostle brings before our eyes God's omnipotent power as carrying into effectual performance the counsel of His own will towards the objects of His distinguishing favour. An especial blessing is couched in this. Next to a believing view of the purposes of God's grace, and a sweet persuasion of our interest in them, nothing is more strengthening and encouraging than a realising apprehension of the power of God to carry them into full execution. Feeling, as we do, our own miserable helplessness, sinking under the pressure of our daily weakness, mourning over continual failures, and grieving on account of perpetual backslidings, encompassed by foes, and distressed by fears, how strengthening it is to our faith, thus tried to the utmost, to believe that He who has purposed has power to perform.  This persuasion of the almighty power of God was the support and strength o...