Archive by Author
27
Jesus Christ Spoke Much On Life & Having Life More Abundantly
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Mark 8:35-36 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
The most important part of the tombstone epitaph is the dash between the date of birth and death for it represents a lifetime. What does your dash stand for? There are really only 2 choices on the shelf – pleasing God or pleasing self!
1) You can’t split your life. Matt.6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
2) To keep your life is to lose it. You can consume it in selfishness, OR waste it in foolishness, or defile it in impurity or bitterness.
3) To give your life for Jesus Christ is to gain it. You can give it away to others for the Gospel’s sake – then you will be fulfilled !
When you come to the end of your life you’ll say either: “I sure wish I had.” OR “I’m sure glad I did.”
“Lord, help me to live from day to day,
In such a self forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for others.
Help me in all the work I do,
To ever be sincere and true
And know that all I’ll do for you,
Must needs be done for others.
And when my work on Earth is done,
And my new work in Heaven begun,
May I forget the crown I’ve won,
While thinking still of others.
Others, Lord, others,
Let this my motto be.
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like Thee.
“For to me to live is Christ; and to die is gain.” Philp.1:21
12
A Cowper Poetic Reminder
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God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
William Cowper, 1731-1800
10
A Needed Repeat: Children-A Reward & A Blessing!
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This brief article is being repeated for it is about one of the more misunderstood but supremely necessary institutions in our day and age. When society’s concept of the “family” has gone so far as to think that the subnormal and abnormal is the normal, it’s high time to review God’s intentions for the high role the family is to play.
Too many have never known the joy of a close and happy family in the LORD! This type of family IS possible when Jesus Christ is the Centre and Head. We are not speaking of sinless perfection but a family where each member is making spiritual progress in their personal relationship walk with the Lord Jesus Christ as each genuinely seeks to honour God with their lives!
Psalm 127 “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Children are God’s blessing to a Mother and a Father. How awful when children are looked upon as a burden or a bother. HOW SELFISH ! Isn’t it a good thing that our parents took the time and money to help US grow up?! This must be motivated by genuine love – the unselfish giving of oneself to meet some one else’s needs.
So much of the world is motivated by lust – that can’t wait to “GET and USE”. Those who want to live the way the Lord Jesus Christ intended us to live – can’t wait to “GIVE and NURTURE”. Face it, we have such a small amount of time to love and care and enjoy the reward and blessing of our children – we better do it now and do it God’s way, the Bible way. Ephesians 6 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 6 “The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
(Mothers): Titus 2 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Ephesians 6 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother…”
07
What We Do Believe
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“What do you believe …?.. was the question asked.” Good Question, because if we believe right (like the Bible, viz. like God) then we know how to live right and also how to die right. . Right beliefs/right thinking brings about right living and right dying! Therefore, Here Is What We Do Believe:
We believe Jesus Christ is God as well as the Holy Spirit and the Father. We believe they are the triune Jehovah, the Godhead, the trinity, one living and true God revealed in three distinct persons, eternal in existence, and equal in every Divine perfection, essence and attribute. Creation (the universe) had this living and true God as the Creator, with the Lord Jesus Christ being the chief active Agent: Colossians 1:16-17 “For by him [Jesus] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
We believe God is not willing that any human being should perish in the eternal Hell. Salvation must be accepted God’s way to miss hell and go to Heaven. John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Hence, Jesus the only begotten Son voluntarily came, as the Father gave Him, and the Holy Spirit glorified Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Saviour ever for all peoples for all ages. Salvation is a gift that Jesus Christ Himself paid for by dying for all mankind’s sins and shedding His blood on Calvary’s Cross. He satisfied the holy wrath and justice of God and purchased our salvation by living a sinless perfect life. He died our death for us enduring our Hell on the Cross (the awful cost of sin) shedding His precious blood. He was buried and rose from the dead on the third day; He was seen by hundreds and is alive for evermore! Not only that, but He will complete His will for the universe for – The Lord Jesus Christ IS coming back again.
The Lord Jesus has left His faithful Churches to carry out His Commission to preach the Gospel to every creature, here and abroad. We are to tell folks everywhere the whole message about Jesus Christ. When folks get saved by believing on Jesus Christ, we are to then baptize the saved and disciple them to mature Christians to do likewise.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Hence, salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, plus nothing, minus nothing. Salvation is a Person – Jesus Christ alone. Salvation as well, is the gift Jesus Himself obtained when He paid the penalty for our sins. He purchased, prepared and provided this gift proving His incomparable love. This is the mercy and grace of God. This expresses His loving undeserved, unmerited favour toward mankind. Another way to say it is, “God doing for us what we do not deserve, and that we could never do for ourselves.”
This salvation by grace through faith by Jesus Christ is a gift offered to all, that is given upon acceptance by faith (come to the Lord Jesus believing On Jesus Name and receive Him personally once and for all as the only qualified and possible Saviour ever!) Any man, woman, boy or girl that would realize they are a sinner before God because they admit to Jesus they have done wrong and broken God’s laws; and that all their good deeds/works will never get them any closer to Heaven; and that eternal salvation is based solely on what Jesus Christ has already done for them on the Cross they can be saved. How? If that one would turn from their “good works” and their “bad deeds” and place their trust in Jesus Christ alone believing His death, burial and resurrection is the only sufficient way of salvation then they would get saved once and for all and forever at that very moment. And then the promise of going to Heaven when they die is their very own. Romans 10:9 & 13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
We believe the Bible is the living inerrant, infallible Word of God, God’s mind on every subject relevant to life and eternity! The Bible is God’s Words, given and kept for every generation, as He promised. We believe for those who read and speak English, the Authorized King James Version is the complete Word of God. Some other Saved Christian Believers like to express it this way: “we use the King James Version because of centuries of textual continuity on which it is based.” If by that statement it means the LORD Kept And Keeps His Own Word(s) because He keeps His Promises He has given about His Bible – then – OK! See Psalm 138:2 “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”
This is not exhaustive but likely it’s enough to give you the heart of what we believe and for Whom we live! -Pastor Spence
03
Following a Multitude To Do Evil
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God said to His chosen people, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Exodus 23:2 What relevant advice this is still. Today many are “kicking over the traces” and “doing what feels good .. their own thing”.
Never in the history of Western Civilization has it been so easy to do evil and still be respected. If you want to get drunk, smoke pot, cheat on your spouse, use God’s Name in vain, peruse porno, you will not be made to feel guilty by TV, any media or even your peers; because they are either doing the same thing or promoting it. The results are that one of the most important factors our society has had in keeping moral standards is just about gone — that of peer pressure!
However, if you are truly SAVED, you still have plenty of incentive to NOT follow the evil crowd.
1st: As a new creature in Christ, you (the Saved Christian Believer) have a new nature (“Christ in you”). Your new nature desires to do right always. When tempted, the Divine nature within, produces a “heart voice” that will warn you against following the crowd to evil & remind you to turn to Jesus for power & wisdom! 2nd: The HOLY Spirit in you is HOLY= pure, sinless & only dedicated to truth, good, and what’s right & best for you. 3rd: Your Heavenly Father is watching over you & you do not wish to disappoint HIM! 4th: The Bible God’s Word directly forbids evil conduct.
It may seem like “everybody else is doing it” and you may feel pressure to “follow”. You may weaken a bit and wonder if not doing “it” with them really makes a difference. You may be made fun of, even despised for keeping your Bible standards. Hallelujah! -you’ll have a clear conscience & God will reward you. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Be hold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 22:12 & 3:11
15
Children – a Blessing – a Reward !
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Psalm 127:3 “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Children are God’s blessing to a Mother and a Father. How awful when children are looked upon as a burden or a bother. HOW SELFISH !
Isn’t it a good thing that our parents took the time and money to help US grow up?! This must be motivated by genuine love – the unselfish giving of oneself to meet some other one’s needs.
So much of the world is motivated by lust – that can’t wait to “GET and USE”. Those who want to live the way the Lord Jesus Christ intended us to live – can’t wait to “GIVE and NURTURE”. Face it, we have such a small amount of time to love and care and enjoy the reward and blessing of our children – we better do it God’s way, the Bible way.
Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
19
FRIEND Day – March 22
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Every year we have several very special events. We have an annual Missions’ Conference in January. This is a highlight for our Church and a wonderful way to start the new year thinking about the many needs of others for the Gospel of Jesus Christ all around this planet. In autumn we have Anniversary Revival Meetings. This gives us a unique time to re-focus our vision on our God and His priorities for our lives.
There is also FRIEND Day in the spring. We want our community to know they have a friend in Victory Baptist Church; and of course, above all things, to let all know the greatest Friend a human being could have is in the Lord Jesus Christ!
On our FRIEND Day we change things up a bit. We do ONE big Sunday Service @ 10:15 AM rather than our regular two morning ministries. This year our Men will be providing our special FRIEND Day music. We will be having Dr. Eldon Martens of California giving our FRIEND Day message. There will be a delicious complimentary lunch for all who attend the 10:15 am service.
In all, we are praying that it will be a refreshing, helpful time of God’s blessings on all present. So consider yourself personally invited! Sunday March 22 10:15 am sharp! We look forward to seeing you and yours there! Sincerely, Pastor Spence
13
Welcome to experiencevictory.org
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Welcome to Victory Baptist Church. We are glad you have dropped by to check us out online. It is our hope that your online experience will give you a taste of who we are and why we love this place and this community. If you choose to join us in church this weekend, we will make every effort to create an experience for you as our valued guest.
No matter where you are or what season of life you are in, you are welcome here. Victory Baptist Church is located in Langley, BC at 19869 Fraser Hwy. between Langley Bypass and 200 Street. We hope that you will come visit with us this weekend!