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

"I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you?" -Nehemiah 6:3 [KJV]   My soul, a very blessed instruction is held forth to thee, in these words. Nehemiah met with sad interruptions in his service, while building the Lord's house. Various were the attempts made by the enemies of God and his cause, to call him off from his labours. But this was his answer to all. Now, my soul, thou hast many enemies also, both from within and without; the world, and the powers of darkness, and thine own corruptions, are all in league to interrupt thy pursuit of divine things.    When, therefore, the Sanballats and the Geshems of the day invite thee to the villages, in the plain of Ono, here is thine answer: "Why should the work of the Lord cease, when the King's business requires dispatch?" Wherefore should the body, with all its corrupt affections, drag down the soul? Is it reasonable, is it proper to...

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." -I Timothy 1:9 [KJV]   Have you any testimony that God has called you by His grace, quickened your soul into divine life, brought you under the curse of a condemning law, given you repentance for your sins, raised up a sigh and a cry in your breast for a sense of His pardoning love, brought you to the footstool of mercy, given you faith to believe in His dear Son, with any sweet hope that He has begun a gracious work upon your heart?    Can you look back upon any never-to-be forgotten period when the Lord, by His special and omnipotent grace, quickened your soul into divine life? for I do believe we never can forget the first sensations of the Spirit of God in His quickening movements upon the soul; when He, to use the figure of Moses, fluttereth over it as an eagle which stirreth up he...

"Who are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation."   -I Peter 1:5 [KJV] The wicked, who are totally ignorant of the doctrine of grace, assert this truth by their common saying, “They only are well kept, whom God keeps.” Many, who profess to preach the gospel, do not hold forth such sound divinity as this. Consider, these three points: Who are thus kept? How are they kept? Unto what are they kept?    (1st.) Who are kept? St. Paul tells us, they are the elect according to the foreknowledge of God.    (2d.) “Sanctified by the Spirit unto obedience.” They obey the Father’s voice: they hear and believe on His beloved Son. Hence,    (3d.) Sprinkled by the blood of Christ from the guilt of sin in their consciences.    (4th.) “Begotten to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to an inheritance reserved in heaven for them.” The work of the glorious Trinity has passed upon them.    (5th.) Christ calls them, “M...

"The day-dawn, and the day-star." -II Peter 1:19 [KJV]   And what is "the day-dawn, and day-star," arising in the hearts of God's people, but Jesus, "the dayspring from on high, visiting us?" Is not Jesus "the bright and morning star, the light and the life of men?" Yea, is He not "the Sun of righteousness arising with healing in His wings?" And when He ariseth on our benighted minds, may He not be called, "the day-dawn, and the day-star?" Pause, my soul, over the sweet thought. It was all darkness in the creation of God, until Jesus arose. And His coming was as the breaking forth of the morning, the sure harbinger of day. Indeed, Jesus was "the day-dawn, and the day-star," in the light of redemption, before the world was formed: for in the council of peace, as man's light and salvation, He carne up, at the call of God, from all eternity. And in time, during all His eventful ministry upon earth, was no...

"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." -I Thessalonians 5:8 [KJV] Sobriety in religion is a blessed gift and grace. In our most holy faith there is no room for lightness. The things which concern our peace are solemn, weighty matters, and if they lie with any degree of weight and power on our spirit, they will subdue that levity which is the very breath of the carnal mind. But sobriety implies not merely the absence of all unbecoming levity in speech and conduct, but the absence also of all wild, visionary imaginations in the things of God. It denotes, therefore, that "spirit of a sound mind" which the apostle says is the gift of God.    Vital godliness, it is true, has its mysteries, its revelations and manifestations, its spiritual and supernatural discoveries and operations; but all these come through the word of truth, which is simple, weighty and solid, and as far rem...

Can You Believe God? / What Is Saving Faith? / Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!  Message preached by Henry Mahan (28 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV0FOdUXJsw Can you truly believe God? What does it mean to have genuine saving faith? In this message, “Can You Believe God?,” the focus is on the biblical meaning of faith and what it means to truly believe, trust, and rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. Using Abraham as an example, the message shows that “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:23 –24) .  This sermon explores the difference between simply believing that God exists and actually believing God, trusting His Word, relying on His promises, and committing your life to Christ. The message explains that genuine saving faith is not merely an outward profession. True faith knows Christ, trusts Christ, receives Christ, rests in Christ, and produces a life of obedience. As James teaches, faith without works is dead . The...

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of GOD."   -John 1:12 [KJV] Man lost paradise by receiving a gift from Satan: there is no way to regain it, but by receiving Christ, the gift of God. Am I one of the many, who have received Christ? This question is of eternal moment. If I have not, no matter what I profess, by what name I am called, what I think of myself, or others think concerning me; for I am certainly in a state of wrath, exposed to eternal damnation. What answer does conscience return to this important question? God may this night require my soul. I may be in eternity before the morning light. Have I received Christ or not? What is it to receive Christ? Many precious souls are sadly perplexed and greatly distressed here.    But why should they? St. John plainly tells us, to receive Christ, is to believe on His name, that He is the anointed Saviour of lost sinners. Do you receive this truth into your heart? Does your mind go out af...