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

"By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." -II Corinthians 6:7 [KJV] What sign shewest thou? Shew us a miracle, and we will believe you are inspired, says an evil and adulterous generation. A sign and a miracle! Why, every regenerate soul is both a sign and a wonder to carnal men. They are born from above—They live above—their views, end, and aims are to things above. They study to approve themselves to God, who is above. These words, though peculiarly applicable to the ministers of Christ, yet are true also of every disciple of Christ.  He studies to approve himself, (1st.) by the word of truth. What is that? Where is that to be found? God’s book, the Bible. O the Bible! Say some weak heads, and deceived hearts, the letter of scripture is not God’s word. Find a surer testimony of God, and from God, if you can. We will be content to fix our faith upon this word of truth, for it testifies of our ...

"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful." -Revelation 17:14 [KJV] What an awful thing must sin, in its own nature be, which hath introduced such evil into the whole creation of God, in its consequences. One might have hoped, however, that the meek and gentle Lamb of God would have been exempt from the daring rebellion, and that sin would not have bid defiance and waged war against the peaceable, and holy, and harmless Jesus!  But so far is this from being the case, that, in all probability, war first broke out in heaven against the person of God's dear Son, as man's glorious Head and Mediator, even before the deadly malignity manifested itself against God and His Christ upon earth, in tempting the first man and his wife in the garden of Eden, to rebel against God. Pause, my soul, over this scripture. Who are they her...

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." -Hebrews 12:11 [KJV] It may be said of spiritual exercises as the apostle speaks of chastening generally, of which indeed they form a component part, that "for the present they are not joyous, but grievous; but afterward they yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby." Why the Lord suffers so many of His people to be so long and deeply tried about their interest in Christ, why He does not more speedily and fully manifest His pardoning love to their souls, is a mystery which we cannot fathom.  But I have observed that, where the first work was not attended with deep and powerful convictions of sin, it is usually the case, as if what was wanting in depth has to be made up in length, and a slow, continuous work compensates, as it were, ...

The voice said, "Cry." And I said, "What shall I cry? What shall I preach? What is the message men need to hear?" The voice said, " Get up in a high mountain, lift up your voice, be not afraid, and say unto the people, BEHOLD YOUR GOD !" John Gill said it best: “ Behold your God ! That Divine Person is come that was promised, prophesied, and expected, even Emmanuel, God with us, God in our nature, God mani­fest in the flesh, God your Saviour; and who, being God, truly God, is able to save to the uttermost" (Hebrews 7:25.)  Look to Him with an eye of faith and be saved (Isaiah 45:22). “ Behold your God. ” Behold the Son of God, the Lamb of God, who has borne our sins and taken them away (John 1:29) . Be­hold Him now, as your King and your God, on the throne, made and declared Christ and Lord, crowned with glory and honor, on the same throne with His heavenly Father, having all power in heaven and earth. And let the echo of your faith be, ...

"Kiss the Son." -Psalm 2:12 [KJV] A short command. For brevity, like the poesy of a ring: but comprehensive, like the book of God. For it compriseth all that the Scriptures require of us, and promise to us. It means, that we live in holy love, and walk in sweet friendship with the Son of God.  For, (1st.) a kiss is a token of reconciliation. Kiss and be friends, is a common proverb. “The kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6.) Christ has experienced this, by the kiss of Judas. Though sinners against Christ, yet He loved us: though enemies to Him, yet He died for us. The belief of this love destroys our enmity. The breach between God and us is made up. We are reconciled to God, and have peace with him, through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1.) How did reconciling grace operate upon the heart of that vile sinner, Mary? She kissed her Lord’s feet, while, with tears of penitential sorrow, she washed them (Luke 7:38.) O! give the reconciling Son of God, this...

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree." -Psalm 92:12 [KJV] It forms a beautiful illustration, which the Holy Ghost condescends to give of a true believer's state, as it stands before God, in the allusion not unfrequently made in scripture to that of the palm-tree. The direct tendency of the palm-tree is upward: it lifts its head, in defiance of all impediments, towards the clouds. Now a true believer in Jesus is always looking upward, and directing all his pursuits after Jesus. His person, blood and righteousness are the objects of his desire.  And as the palm-tree is said to flourish the more when trodden upon and attempted to be crushed; so the believer most oppressed for Jesus' sake, will flourish in the graces of the Spirit more abundantly. How fruitful also is the palm-tree: and how much the people of God bring forth fruit in their old age, when, after long experience, they have found that in Jesus alone their fruit is found. How much the...

"How faint the best praise!  How wandering the best prayer!  How selfish the best gift!  When we feel that we are nearest to God, how far off we are!  When we feel that we are most like God, how unlike God we are!  What did the apostle say?  “When I am weak then am I strong.”  Our strength is always Christ, never in anything we are or do." -Henry Mahan   "In Christ there is no further perfection to attain.  In Christ, a sinner is made to be everything that God requires him to be.  In Christ, wisdom is complete, righteousness is complete, sanctification is complete, and redemption is complete.  To know Him is to know it all, and to have Him is to have it all.  In Christ, we are as perfectly complete as we will ever be ( I Corinthians 1:30 ). "                            – Gabe Stalnaker      "Reli...