"in Christ" - "It is finished" - "amazing grace" - "I am with you always"

Pastors do not angle for a call but let a call seek them. Then if difficulties arise, they will not have to blame themselves for getting into the situation. Rather they want to be able to say, "I am here because the Lord put me here. What I suffer I suffer according to his will, and he will see me through."

"saints," one of the terms which we ought to retain as part of our Christian vocabulary.

-- it is by grace you have been saved

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Ro 8:32 NIV)

God's plan concerning us was formed in advance, before we had set foot upon this earth.

God did not predestine anyone to damnation. If some are damned, they have only themselves to blame.

If the tribulations preceding the end of the world threaten to become so overwhelming that the elect are in danger of losing their faith, God will shorten the days so that the elect will not fall (Mt 24:22)

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Ro 8:28 NIV)

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Ps 103:12)

God carries out his plans

It is significant that Paul begins his prayer by thanking. We often are quick to ask, but slow to thank. Paul struck the proper balance. He thanked first and then asked.

"Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world" (Mt 25:34 NIV)

the more we search his Word, the more shall we discover what the details of glory are: eternal life and security (Jn 10:28)

In moments of weakness one may wonder whether he still has faith, but he need never wonder whether Jesus died for him.

For it is by that grace that you are saved ones by faith -- and that not of you, the gift is God's -- not of works so that none might boast (Ephesians 2:8-9)

When the last of the elect will have been added and the building is complete, the end of the world will come.
if we earnestly long for our Lord's return, we need to suit our actions to our words and do what we can to get the gospel out to all men, so that the last of the elect may quickly be reached.

Our people grieve us, disappoint us, discourage us, even tempt us to give up on them. Still our Lord calls us to minister to them and to keep on ministering to them.

God is able to do anything that we ask. He can even go beyond, beyond anything that might come into our minds. There are limits to what we ask or think of asking. God is able to perform far beyond those limits.

If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink (Ro 12:20 NIV)

The world has a way of sugar coating its vices by using terms that sound innocent enough, e.g., meaningful relationship, alternate life style. The Christian is to expose sin for what it is and call it by its right name.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Php 4:13 NIV)

once we have become believers in the word, we are left here on earth and not taken home to heaven in order that we might share the word with others.