EACH & EVERY DAY:

1) Maintain close fellowship with Christ using 1 John 1:8-10. If there is no confession viz. agreement with God on these sin matters, there is no forgiveness or cleansing. Keep in mind, this is NOT the JUDICIAL forgiveness and cleansing you received when you trusted Jesus for salvation. That forgiveness takes place only once when you were saved from the penalty of sin once for all and forever. In 1 John 1:9, it is speaking of regular parental forgiveness granted upon confession of sins to God in order to maintain close tender fellowship with the Father and to continue to walk in the light.

We have sins of omission – things I ought to have done but failed to do. We have sins of commission – things I should not have done that I committed. There are secret sins, public sins, sins of thought, and sins of act. Charles Spurgeon has said, “We sin numberless times daily. Transgressions and debts of which we may or may not be aware, yet we are guilty.” This is why when we agree with God about the sins of which we know, He yet cleanses us from those that we do not know. 1 Cor 11:31 “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” This daily 1 John 1:9 practice foils defeat in the Christian life. It is, in itself, the way of victory for the believer!

Ignore those pompous “Bible teachers” who wrest (distort and twist) this Book and passage out of its context claiming this is unnecessary, when God has plainly and literally stated it is essential to walk in the light of fellowship and holiness with the Father and to experience fulness of joy. 1 John 1:4-7.

1 John 1:9 – Use this infallible promise from our loving God! Now, if this 1st point is not done, all the following points will lose the power they could have had in giving you a victorious Christian life!

2) Die to self and renew your dedication to the Lord- Gal 2:20 Rom 12:1. Yield to God, asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit – Eph 5:18 Luke 11:13. Lee Roberson had a very famous saying for the victorious Christian life, i.e. ” Die to self; be filled with the Spirit! .. Die to self; be filled with the Spirit!” There is to be a conscious deliberate “by faith” denial of self and a renewal of one’s dedication to live for Christ. Present yourself afresh and anew to be used by the Lord. By faith ask the Holy Spirit to fill and control you. You are simply obeying instructions and commands given to us by our Lord Jesus and they can only be obeyed by faith.

3) Feast on the Bible; meditate on It throughout the day-Psalm 119:9-11; Romans 12:2. There is just no substitute for time in the Word. We are to saturate our minds and hearts with the Bible. It is then we are saturated with the mind and heart of God.  2 Timothy 3:15-17.

4) Have a season of prayer. Hebrews 4:14-16 .Again, there is just no substitute for fervent, focused, honest prayer time with your only high priest, and loving Shepherd Jesus Christ! 1 Peter 5:7; Matt 7:7-8.

5) Walk, witness & love by faith asking God to arrange and schedule your days – Ephesians 5:15-17. When we put our God and Saviour Jesus Jehovah Christ FIRST in our life, we will receive amazing direction and wisdom. We will have a ready witness on our lips. We’ll see needs otherwise we’d have missed.

Mark 12:29-31; 16:15. The great commandment and the great commission will then be a conscious and revival way of living.

*****

The heart with unrelenting pride will eventually lie, steal, even murder and destroy others for their own agenda and purpose. Therefore, this type of person is malignant (harmful to others without trying) and malevolent (hurtful on purpose).

The Lord Jesus tells us in His Word that there is a real creature with the worst dosage of pride ever – Satan, the Devil. And all of the above things he is guilty of and more. See Isaiah 14, John 8, Rev. 13.

But what about when the Lord’s own people are prideful and then won’t face the facts to get help? Read and think on Revelation 3:17 and Isaiah 66:2 and 1 John 1:8-10 and James 4:6-10.

Children of God, our Lord Jesus is attracted to genuine humility, confession of our sins, and an honest expression of our total need of Him. God is not only attracted to but blesses brokenness of spirit and obedience to His Word.

Yes, God loves us and is concerned enough to have more thoughts toward us than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5 However, don’t lose sight of reason for which He has saved us “unto good works”. The big thing is the Big Commission = Missions across the street and across the sea.

We, Churches, are to be serving corporately and cooperatively in the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Shoulder-to-shoulder, arm-in-arm, loving, deferring, assisting, forgiving, encouraging one another to get the work of the ministry accomplished.

Following is one of the greatest stories that illustrates how working together like a local NT Bible Believing Great Commission Church should work together endeavouring to carry out our Lord Jesus Christ’s mandate to us.

Reported some years ago in a big city newspaper was the following:

“At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the the starting line for the 100-yard dash.

As the gun fired, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back … everyone of them.

One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.” Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line ! ! ! !

Everyone in the stadium stood; the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story…Why? Because, deep down, we know this one thing: What really matters in this life is much more than just winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, too.”

Therefore, as genuine Christians and as authentic NT Churches we all want to hear, “Well done thou good and faithful servant” from our God and Saviour Jesus Christ! We will, if we serve Christ “in one spirit with one mind” working TOGETHER!

Disappointed, he staggered back. He noticed off to the side an old jug. He looked at it, wiped away the dirt and dust, and read a message that said, “You have to prime the pump with all the water in this jug, my friend. P.S.: Be sure you fill the jug again before you leave.”

He popped the cork out of the jug and sure enough, it was almost full of water! Suddenly, he was faced with a decision. If he drank the water, he could live. Ah, but if he poured all the water in the old rusty pump, maybe it would yield fresh, cool water from down deep in the well, all the water he wanted.
He studied the possibility of both options. What should he do, pour it into the old pump and take a chance on fresh, cool water or drink what was in the old jug and ignore its message? Should he waste all the water on the hopes of those flimsy instructions written, no telling how long ago?

Reluctantly he poured all the water into the pump. Then he grabbed the handle and began to pump, squeak, squeak, squeak. Still nothing came out! Squeak, squeak, squeak. A little bit began to dribble out, then a small stream, and finally it gushed! To his relief, fresh, cool water poured out of the rusty pump. Eagerly, he filled the jug and drank from it. He filled it another time and once again drank its refreshing contents.
Then he filled the jug for the next traveler. He filled it to the top, popped the cork back on, and added this little note: “Believe me, it really works. You have to give it all away before you can get anything back.”

That is the essence of genuine faith! It is not a risk, but it is a challenge to human reasoning. Faith will call on us to do the unthinkable so that we might receive the impossible!

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

The world’s wisdom says. “I’ll believe it – when I see it.” God’s wisdom from His inspired Word, the Bible, tells us to BELIEVE HIM (HIS BIBLE PROMISES) THEN YOU’LL SEE IT. Psalm 27:13 “I had fainted, unless I had BELIEVED TO SEE the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”

THERE ARE THREE THINGS YOU CAN KNOW FOR SURE…

1) THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN.. 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.

2) THAT YOUR LIFE WILL BE CHANGED WHEN YOU GET SAVED …2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

3) YOU WILL NEVER LOSE YOUR SALVATION…John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

So what is keeping you from getting saved?

God the Father wants you saved. John 3:16

Jesus Christ wants you saved. Romans 5:8

The Holy Spirit wants you saved. John 16:7-11

Victory Baptist Church wants you saved. 2 Corinthians 4:5

Satan does not want you saved. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Likely your unsaved family or unsaved friends & associates don’t… OR couldn’t care less if you got saved.  It boils down to you & your choice.  Take a courageous stand and get saved then get baptized and join the local Bible-Believing Great Commission (Independent Fundamental Baptist) Church.

Listen to God through His Word-He’s not willing that you go to Hell ! 2 Peter 3:9

Why-why then are you ??

“But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he
shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the
land which thou shalt see.” Deuteronomy 3:28

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you…
Encourage me, and I will not forget you.—W.A.Ward

CBS News anchor Dan Rather admits he was always fascinated by the sport
of boxing, even though he was never good at it. “In boxing you’re on your own;
there’s no place to hide,” he says. “At the end of the match only one boxer has
his hand up. That’s it. He has no one to credit or to blame except himself.” Dan,
who boxed in high school, says his coach’s greatest goal was to teach his boxers
that they absolutely, positively, without question, had to be “get up” fighters.
“If you’re in a ring just once in your life—completely on your own—and you get
knocked down but you get back up again, it’s a never-to-be-forgotten experience.
Your sense of achievement is distinct and unique. And sometimes the only thing
making you get up is someone in your corner yelling.”

We all need someone in our corner “cheering us on” in life, because we all face
tough times. Some are right now facing unfair situations. Someone falsely accused
accused them at work or are being threatened with legal action over something they
didn’t do or family keeps disappointing them. Everyone faces injustices yet we can
just focus on our small problems when others are dealing with far bigger situations.

The word encourage has been defined as “to give courage to.” When others are
fearful of the future or uncertain of what to do, God desires that we would put
courage in their hearts by encouraging them, by cheering them on in their corner.

Think about the times you’ve had difficulties or felt apprehension. Was there
someone who encouraged you to keep going? Think of what a difference they
made in your life. You might not be where you are today without them! Everyone
needs an encourager. Everyone needs someone to give them an encouraging word,
through a simple phone call, a note or card to say you prayed for them, or an
encouraging Bible verse. Anything can be encouraging when you take time to show
you love & care. Who could use some today? Who is going through a difficult time
or facing a problem? Take time today to encourage! You never know when your
word of encouragement will make a difference. Determine today to be that someone
who stands in the corner, encouraging people through the ups and downs of life.

2) Be Biblically Immersed (baptized) by a Bible-Believing Great Commission Church (I F Baptist).

3) Understand the Christian (life) Race is not a Sprint but a Marathon. (Plan to pace yourself, stay in the race “run with patience ..looking unto Jesus..”)

4) Take time to Encourage Others In Their Own Race!

5) Remember, even if you start out right, you can fall along the way. (A good start does not guarantee a good finish.)

6) The Downward Slope is Gradual but Slippery and It Picks Up Speed (as You Plunge to the Bottom- so Do Not Start Down off the path of Righteousness!)

7) Your Direction Will Determine Your Destination!  Are you going God’s direction?  Why not?

Conclusion: Stay on (or get on) the right path going the right direction. Be committed, loyal & consistent. You’ll then have victory & finish well.

I said “But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din”
But He wept as He sent me back,
“There is more … there is sin.”

I said “But the air is thick,
And fogs are veiling the sun”
He answered “Yet souls are sick,
And souls in the dark undone.”

I said “I shall miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say”
He answered me “Choose tonight
If I am to miss you, or they.”

I pleaded for time to be given
He said “Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide.”

I cast one look at the fields
Then set my face to the town
He said “My child, do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?

Then into His hand went mine
And in power came He to me
And I walk in the light Divine
The path that I feared to see.

-MacDonald (edited)

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE OUR GOD

They cannot bomb His city

Nor dynamite His throne;

They cannot nuke His Heaven

Nor rob Him of His own.

They cannot take Him captive,

Nor strike Him deaf or blind;

Nor starve Him to surrender,

Nor make Him change His mind.

They cannot cause Him panic,

Nor cut off His supplies;

They cannot take His kingdom,

Nor hurt Him with their lies.

Though all the world be shattered,

His truth remains the same;

His righteous laws still potent,

CHRIST JESUS IS HIS NAME!

He is a Friend to sinners,

He came to shed His Blood;

To die and pay our sin debt,

And so prove His awesome Love.

The third day He arose,

His power o’er Death and Hell,

Proving He’s Jehovah

Soon to ring Judgment’s bell.

Those who repent of their sin

Put trust in Christ alone,

Will be given righteousness

And heaven as their Home.

Now we fight devil and sin,

And feel their darts and rod;

But we know above all conflict

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE OUR GOD!

-anonymous

There is no doubt about it; the Christian life is a changed life. The change comes from God Himself. When a person gets saved the Bible way, viz. it’s the only way one can truly get saved, God Himself comes in the heart. The Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence; His Divine Nature is imparted to us. “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 2 Cor 1:21-22

It is the “obtaining of like precious faith … through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ … partakers of the divine nature..” See 2 Peter 1:1-4 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” 2 Cor 5:17, See 1 Thess 1:9. This authentic change within comes out in the life of the genuine Believer.

For this reason my dad, no longer hung around after work to drink beer. He also stopped allowing alcohol into his house or into his body. Of course, relatives, friends, and associates thought he had flipped.. was a nut now, etc.. It took him longer to get over his cussing. But now he WANTED to stop the sinful things. Before there was no reason to quit or desire to stop doing these things that displeased the Lord Jesus.

He not only quit the ungodly things but he also started a bunch of godly things. He began reading the precious Word of God everyday. He began praying daily to Jesus Christ his God and Saviour. He started going to Church taking his kids to Sunday School and anyone else that he could get to come. This was another new good habit. He also began talking about His Saviour to most everyone that was willing to listen. He began memorizing Scripture. He learned there is power in the Word of God.

Lonnie Edwin Spence Sr. knew now, there was really a life worth living and loving. Now things made sense. Now there was purpose and joy and strength to live and please Christ. A great God and Saviour to lean upon Who is trustworthy and faithful was “above all that [Lonnie] could ask or think”.  Eph 3:19-20

What about you, dear Reader? Have you honestly turned TO the Saviour the LORD Jesus and FROM your life without Christ serving self and your own works? Do you see it is time to get saved? Then call upon the LORD Jesus to save you and He will !! Tell Him you are a sinner deserving judgment. Tell Him you believe that He died on the Cross and shed His blood to pay for all your sin debt. Tell Him you know He rose from the dead on the third day and is alive for evermore. Ask Him to forgive your sin and to come in your heart and save you. Tell the LORD Jesus you want to live for Him. Then, Thank Him for saving you! Amen. Romans 10:9 says, “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.”

What about the reader that is saved but there are many things in the life that displease the Lord. Quit them! and replace them! with the godly habits and practices. Then, you’ll truly, live and love life as Christ intended.

We both know that help, encouragement and direction is sometimes needed to do the above. It would be my joy to do what I can to assist you in these vital matters. Let me know: ask@experiencevictory.org