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

The preaching of the Gospel, the prayers, service, and obedience of the saints, are all God-given, Holy-Spirit wrought means for the accomplishment of God’s sovereign, predestinated purpose. We walk in the light we have been given, and we trust Christ and His righteousness alone for our whole salvation. We follow His commandments as He speaks to us by His Word and as He drives and motivates us by His sovereign grace and mercy.  We must not walk and act by our own reasoning and logic. The man who concludes that if God is absolutely sovereign, and if His will cannot be changed or thwarted, then there is no use for preaching, praying, and obeying the Lord, does not know the God of the Bible . He does not know himself, and he does not know Christ, the true Lord and Savior of His people.   —preacher Bill Parker

1. I was drifting away on life’s pitiless sea, And the angry waves threatened my ruin to be, When away at my side, there I dimly descried, A stately old vessel, and loudly I cried: Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy! And loudly I cried: Ship ahoy! 2. ’Twas the old ship of Zion, thus sailing along, All aboard her seemed joyous, I heard their sweet song; And the captain’s kind ear, ever ready to hear, Caught my wail of distress, as I cried out in fear: Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy! As I cried out in fear: Ship ahoy!   3. The good Captain commanded a boat to be low’red, And with tender compassion He took me on board; And I’m happy today, all my sins washed away In the blood of my Savior, and now I can say: Bless the Lord! Bless the Lord! From my soul I can say: Bless the Lord! 4. O soul, sinking down ’neath sin’s merciless wave, The strong arm of our Captain is mighty to save; Then trust Him today, no longer delay, Board the old ship of Zion, and shout on your way: Jesus saves! Jesus s...

" I know that my Redeemer liveth." -Job 19:25 [KJV] Matters are sometimes brought to a close point between God and the soul. It is stript of all its comforts. The soul is in heaviness (I Peter 1:6.) It is broken in the place of dragons, and covered with the shadow of death, as the Psalmist most emphatically paints the scenes of horror and affliction (Psalm 44:19.) So that he says, “I had fainted, unless I had believed” (Psalm 27:13.) Nothing within, nothing without, for the soul to stay itself upon, but the word of the Lord, and the Lord revealed in the word. Then is that sweet promise fulfilled. “They shall hang upon Him all the glory of His Father’s house” (Isaiah 22:24.)   This was Job’s tried, tempted, afflicted, yet blessed state. Though all his comforts were dead, still his Redeemer lived. In the midst of all his losses, he had not lost this blessed knowledge. I know, it is a matter of the greatest certainty to my soul, I am as sure of it as my exist...

  Son of God, one of the Trinity, Came to earth, a wondrous mystery; He descended by divine decree. O praise His Name!  Chorus   Chorus:   Jesus saved His chosen family, Paid our debt of sin on Calvary; By His grace He saves eternally, O praise His Name.   On the cross He bore our misery, Died from sin to set His people free; By Himself He won the victory, O praise His Name!   Chorus   Now for us the Savior intercedes, Unto Him the Holy Spirit leads; Every blessing from His throne proceeds, O praise His Name!  Chorus   Soon will come the long-awaited day, Christ will come and take His bride away; Never from His blessed side to stray, We’ll praise His Name.   Chorus   Then together in a perfect place, All the ransomed shall behold His face; Evermore to sing amazing grace, And praise His Name!   Chorus       PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS Tune: “At Calvary” 9.9.9.4. w/chorus Words by Jim Byrd

The events recorded in Acts ch. 15 reveal the issue that every succeeding generation has faced, and what every believer faces throughout his lifetime.  The sufficiency of Christ alone.   Satan attempted to call this into question in the early church, and he has and is attempting to do it now !  The men who came from Jerusalem taught the brethren that physical circumcision was necessary for salvation.  In other words, “Christ Alone” was not enough.  Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument with those who taught this.  It was determined that they would go to the apostles in Jerusalem about this issue.  Paul was not going there to see if he was mistaken about this issue, but to demonstrate that all of the apostles were at agreement with Him.    When they arrived, they gave the apostles this message. “There rose a certain sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and command them to keep th...

" Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest." -Luke 22:60 [KJV] No, Peter! Why he speaks plain enough. He is confident of thy person, knows thy voice, and the very brogue of thy tongue. He boldly affirms, “Of a truth thou wast with Jesus.” This is a downright lie, to say, “I know not what thou sayest.” Peter is ashamed of his Lord. Is he not ashamed of himself? Not yet. He lied horridly. Next, he cursed and swore bitterly.  Might we not expect to hear next, he was damned eternally? He deserved it. Was he here now, he would confess it from the very ground of his heart. But he is above, confessing his desert of damnation, and ascribing salvation to God and the Lamb. For, “the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.” O who can say, what there was in that turn, and that look! Lord, give us to feel some of the grace and power of it, that we may improve it.  Consider, (1st.) sin is sin, in God’s saints, as well as others. Yea, their sins exceed all others. Yes, and God...

Why should the righteous fear, The pow’rs of earth or hell? Our Savior is the Lord of lords,   We safely in Him dwell.   Let nought disturb our rest,   In Christ we are secure;   When troubles like a mountain rise,   Through Him we shall endure.     Should sickness smite the flesh,   If all things should appear   To be against you, yet believe,   Trust God and do not fear.   For Christ our Savior reigns,   His providence is wise;   The Lord Who loves us without end,   Reigns over earth and skies.     May we not fearful be,   But in our Savior rest;   For in the LORD our Righteousness,   We are forever blessed.   All pow’r belongs to Him,   He rules with sovereign might;   He guards us in the light of day,   And through the darkest night.     Tune: “This is My Father’s World" SM/double Words by Jim Byrd