When the Gospel is preached, there are two things always taking place (even though most are unaware of it); some are being prepared for glory, others are being hardened. Some are being brought to the light; some are left sitting in darkness. Some see Christ and His glory; others see no beauty about Him. Some who hear the Gospel have their hearts made tender towards sin; others have their hearts hardened in sin. No wonder we say, “Who is sufficient for these things?” The question we should all be asking is, “How is the preaching of the Gospel affecting me?”

Pastor Don Bell, Latana Grace Church, Crossville, TN USA

I cannot see how true humbleness of mind can be attained without a knowledge of election . . . for if we deny election, we must, partly at least, glory in ourselves; but our redemption is so ordered, that no flesh should glory in the Divine presence; and hence it is, that the pride of man opposes this doctrine, because, according to this doctrine, and on other, ‘he that glories, musts glory only in the Lord’.

Election is a mystery that shines with such resplendent brightness, that, to make use of the words of one who has drunk deeply of electing love, it dazzles the weak eyes even of some of God’s dear children; however, though they know it not, all the blessings they receive, all the privileges they do or will enjoy, through Jesus Christ, flow from the everlasting love of God the Father: “But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”

-George Whitefield

The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, destitute of good, and prone to evil. This is the character of mankind universally, and those who are made partakers of grace are renewed but in part; the evil nature still cleaves to them, and the root of sin, though mortified, is far from being dead. While the cause remains, it will have effects; and while we are burdened with the body of this death, we must groan under it.

But
we need not be swallowed up with over-much sorrow, since we have,
in Jesus—a Savior, a Righteousness, an Advocate, a Shepherd. “He
knows our frame, and remembers that we are but dust.” If sin
abounds in us—grace abounds much more in him. Nor would he allow
sin to remain in his people—if he did not know how to over-rule it,
and make it an occasion of endearing his love and grace so much the
more to their souls.

The Lord forbid, that we should plead his goodness as an encouragement to sloth and indifference! Humiliation, godly sorrow, and self-abasement, befit us; but, at the same time, we may rejoice in the Lord. Though sin remains in us—it shall not have dominion over us; though it wars in us—it shall not prevail against us. We have a Mercy-seat sprinkled with blood; we have an Advocate with the Father; we are called to this warfare, and we fight under the eye of the Captain of our salvation, who is always near to renew our strength, to heal our wounds, and to cover our heads in the heat of battle.

-John Newton

Spurgeon rightly said that Psalm 46 has for its subject the “holy confidence” of God’s saints. He here names three things in which every believer in Jesus Christ should find confidence concerning our safety and security.

God is our refuge. All who were chosen by the Father in Sovereign election were put in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-4). We were represented by Jesus Christ when he forever obtained our everlasting righteousness and eternal redemption (Daniel 9:24; Hebrews 9:12). And now by the power of the Holy Spirit, we have fled to Him by faith for refuge. We being sinners are much like that manslayer who was pursued by the justice of God. But God has prepared for us a city of refuge which is Jesus Christ. So we fled to Him by faith and he is our refuge from the wrath of God.

God is our strength. When we were by nature without strength, in due time Christ died for our sins (Romans 5:6). So all that the Father gave to Christ he has redeemed by His blood. And all of those for whom Christ died shall come to him by faith. Therefore we who were without strength, by the grace of God were given spiritual life (John 3:3; Ezekiel 37:4-11). We were by nature like those dry bones in Ezekiel 37. We were dead and without strength to give ourselves life. But God in the power of the Holy Spirit gave us life and strength to believe on Christ (Psalm 110:3). And now we are kept by the power of God in faith safe until Christ returns (1 Peter 1:5).

God is our present help in trouble. Though chosen of the Father, redeemed by the Son and quickened by the Holy Spirit we are not exempt from trouble (John 16:33). But here is our comfort and confidence — that God is a very present help in trouble. Our God who has ordered the trouble and who controls the trouble will also be our present help so that we shall not fail or fall away from faith in Christ.

Therefore let this be all our confidence and song that Christ is our refuge from the storms of God’s justice and the storms of life. Be assured that God who was thy strength in the new birth will be thy strength to keep thee until you receive all your inheritance. Let us stand fast in Hope that God is our constant help in every trouble and from every trial.

He who you carry in your own bosom—your daily, hourly, and ever-present companion, that entwines himself in nearly every thought of your heart—that . . .  sometimes puffs up with pride, sometimes inflames with lust, sometimes inflates with presumption, and sometimes works under feigned humility and fleshly holiness.

God is determined to stain the pride of human glory. He will never let self (which is but another word for the creature) wear the crown of victory. 
It must be crucified, denied, and mortified.

Now this self must be overcome. The way to overcome self is by looking out of self to Him who was crucified upon Calvary’s tree—to receive His image into your heart—to be clothed with His likeness—to drink into His spirit—and “receive out of His fullness grace for grace.”

-J.C Philpot

Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:6)

We gather today in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior believing his promise that he is in our midst. What a privilege and blessing it is to gather with others who trust and love Jesus Christ our Saviour.

False religion teaches men to trust in an experience or in certain doctrines and creeds. The Scriptures teach that salvation, eternal life, the forgiveness of sins is not in a creed or doctrine. We acknowledge that good sound doctrine is very important because it always points to Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God’s salvation for sinners is in a Person. “He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life” (1 John 5:12). He is the one and only mediator between God and men. His blood is the only remedy that puts away sin, His righteousness is the only righteousness that justifies, and his death is the only means that reconciles to God. I’m thankful for the privilege to join today with all of you who know the Lord Jesus Christ and for us to worship Jesus Christ our Savior, who conquered death for us.”

-David Pledger, Pastor of Lincoln Wood Baptist Church, Houston, TX U.S.A

27:46)

Let us devoutly consider Jesus as passing through this eclipse of His soul, and receive the holy instruction and comfort the spectacle was designed to convey.

to have faith in God. “Who is among you that walks in darkness, and has no light? let him trust in the name of the lord, and stay upon his God.” Stay yourself upon His covenant faithfulness and unchanging love, and believe that Jesus intercedes for you in heaven, and that soon you shall reach that blissful world where your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself.

Octavius Winslow

There is no learning of Christ apart from Divine Truth (Matt. 11:28-30; John 17:3; 2 Cor. 4:6; 1 John 5:20), yet one may be able to summarize and recite all of the revealed facts concerning Christ and His accomplished redemption and still be unreconciled to God and under His curse. What I am saying is this: It isn’t the mere knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus that saves the soul, but a love of Christ in that truth (2 Pet. 2:19-22; 2 Thess. 2:9-12). It isn’t a mere intellectual belief and ritualistic confession through which guilty sinners enter into a saving interest in Christ, but a “believing with the heart” (Rom. 10:10), a meeting, a welcoming, a loving, and an embracing of Christ in the truth; and as the truth, as the Gospel (Rom. 10:8-17).

-Maurice Montgomery

He who you carry in your own bosom, your daily,
hourly, and ever-present companion, that entwines
himself in nearly every thought of your heart that . . .
sometimes puffs up with pride,
sometimes inflames with lust,
sometimes inflates with presumption, and
sometimes works under feigned humility and fleshly holiness.

God is determined to stain the pride of human glory. He will never let self (which is but another word for the creature) wear the crown of victory. It must be crucified, denied, and mortified.

Now this self must be overcome. The way to
overcome self is by looking out of self to Him
who was crucified upon Calvary’s tree — to receive
His image into your heart — to be clothed with His
likeness — to drink into His spirit — and “receive out
of His fullness grace for grace.”

-J.C. Philpot

I will keep My mercy for him forever, and My covenant shall stand fast with him. (Psalm 89:28)

 There is no end to the inventory of God’s mercies! May He who has given so much to me, and done so much for me—add the crowning mercy of a thankful heart! Though I can talk of thankfulness, I feel much insensibility and hardness of heart; but, I know that, while sin dwells in me, it will have such effects. Sin will distress—but it cannot condemn, those who believe in Jesus!

-John Newton