Victory Blog

Spurgeon: The Danger of Prosperity

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:20:55 +0000

“The Christian far oftener disgraces his profession in prosperity than in adversity. It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the refining pot of prosperity. Oh, what leanness of soul and neglect of spiritual things have been brought on through the very mercies and bounties of God!” – C. H. Spurgeon

Spurgeon: God My Compass

Pastor Stevens — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:04:57 +0000

“Learn from David to take no step without God. Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, if we would leave to his sovereign will to choose and to command.” C. H. Spurgeon

Spurgeon: Sin Subdued

Pastor Stevens — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:37:42 +0000

“Professor! is sin subdued in you? If your life is unholy your heart is unchanged, and if your heart is unchanged you are an unsaved person. If the Saviour has not sanctified you, renewed you, given you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness, he has done nothing in you of a saving character. The grace which does not make a man better than others is a worthless counterfeit. Christ saves his people, not in their sins, but from them. ‘Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.’ ‘Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’” – C. H. Spurgeon

MacArthur: My Response to Godly Authority

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:40:30 +0000

“To the saints . . . including the overseers and deacons” (Phil. 1:1).

Paul’s salutation includes the “overseers and deacons” at Philippi. That probably is not a reference to elders and deacons as we know them, but a general reference to all the Philippian saints, which included spiritual leaders (overseers) and those who followed (servants).

That implies unity and submission within the church, which brings joy to leaders and followers alike. Hebrews 13:17 emphasizes that point: “Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Spiritual leadership is a sacred responsibility. Leaders are to lead, feed, and guard the flock of God, which Christ purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28). They are accountable to God Himself for the faithful discharge of their duties.

You have a sacred responsibility as well: to obey and submit to your leaders. Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” Paul adds in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, “Appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and . . . esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

Sadly, our society encourages criticism and mistrust of anyone in authority. Verbal assaults and character assassinations are common. Many within the church have adopted that attitude toward their spiritual leaders, whom they view as functionaries or paid professionals. Consequently many churches today are weak and ineffective from disunity and strife. Many pastors suffer untold grief from disobedient and ungrateful people.

You must never succumb to that mentality. Your leaders deserve your appreciation and esteem not because they are exceptionally talented or have winsome personalities, but because of the sacred work God called them to do.

Your godly attitude toward spiritual leaders will contribute immeasurably to unity and harmony within your church and will allow your leaders to minister with joy, not grief.

- John MacArthur

Rogers: Only Christ

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:33:20 +0000

“God’s plan is not that Christ have ‘a place’ in your life or that He have prominence in your life. Jesus Christ deserves and even demands preeminence in your life. That means there is no rebuttal, no refusal, and no rival.” – Adrian Rogers, www.lwf.org

Stowell: Rewards

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:44:38 +0000

“When it comes to living for Jesus, faithfulness never ultimately puts your life in a deficit position, regardless of what it costs.
But we don’t serve Jesus for the rewards. When He died for us on the cross, He did far more for us than we deserve. Loyalty to Him is an act of worship that expresses our loving gratitude for His love toward us. In return, He delights to encourage us with the assurance that ultimately His rewards will outweigh whatever we have given up for Him.” – Joe Stowell

Spurgeon: Heaven

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:37:38 +0000

“Christian, meditate much on heaven, it will help thee to press on, and to forget the toil of the way. This vale of tears is but the pathway to the better country: this world of woe is but the stepping-stone to a world of bliss.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Adult Sunday School, 02/05/12, Ps 51

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:23:31 +0000

Mr. John Knittle, Victory Baptist Church, 02/05/12, Sunday School

The Question Is: Who Are You Following? Part 2

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:20:29 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 02/05/12, AM Service

MacArthur: Exalting Christ

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:21:20 +0000

“Even when imprisonment prevented Paul from ministering as effectively as he desired, and when others usurped his apostleship and preached Christ out of envy and strife, he remained undaunted (Phil. 1:18). His circumstances were secondary to the priority of exalting Christ.
Is that your perspective? It can be! If your priority is to exalt Christ in every circumstance, whatever furthers that purpose will bring you joy.” – John MacArthur

Adult Sunday School, Ps 51, 01/29/12

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:40:14 +0000

Mr. John Knittle, Victory Baptist Church, 01/29/12

The Question Is: Who Are You Following?

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:53:31 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 01/29/12, AM Service

MacArthur: God’s Power

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:41:58 +0000

“No matter how weak or ill-equipped you may at times feel, realize God ‘is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that [you] ask or think, according to the power that works within [you]‘ (Eph. 3:20). So keep striving according to that power (Col. 1:29), but do so with the confidence that ultimately God will accomplish His good in your life.” – John MacArthur

Spurgeon: Godly Wonder

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:05:23 +0000

“Let your soul lose itself in wonder, for wonder is in this way a very practical emotion. Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Spurgeon: Loving Obedience

Pastor Stevens — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:42:34 +0000

“The obedience which God’s children yield to him must be loving obedience. Do not go about the service of God as slaves to their taskmaster’s toil, but run in the way of his commands because it is your Father’s way. Yield your bodies as instruments of righteousness, because righteousness is your Father’s will, and his will should be the will of his child.” – C. H. Spurgeon

MacArthur: Unity

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:41:53 +0000

“The world is full of discord, animosity, bitterness, and resentment. If in the midst of the world there is an oasis of unity and harmony, people will wonder what we have. Then we have the opportunity to say, ‘This is what Christ can do.’ The world needs to see that the church is not just another social club, but an institution of God, supernaturally born, supernaturally sustained, with a supernatural destiny.” – John MacArthur

Spurgeon: Remember God’s Blessings

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:12:19 +0000

“Or if the love of thine espousals be forgotten, there must surely be some precious milestone along the road of life not quite grown over with moss, on which thou canst read a happy memorial of his mercy towards thee? What, didst thou never have a sickness like that which thou art suffering now, and did he not restore thee? Wert thou never poor before, and did he not supply thy wants? Wast thou never in straits before, and did he not deliver thee? Arise, go to the river of thine experience, and pull up a few bulrushes, and plait them into an ark, wherein thine infant- faith may float safely on the stream.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Not Self Control, but Spirit Control, Galatians 5:22-25, Part 2

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:33:43 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 01/22/12, AM Service

MacArthur: Patience

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:00:50 +0000

“Walk . . . with patience.” – Ephesians 4:1-2

Patient Christians endure negative circumstances, cope with difficult people, and accept God’s plan for everything.
In our instant, microwave, drive-through, “I want it now” culture, patience is hard to come by. We get upset if we have to wait too long in the supermarket line or get stuck behind the guy driving ten miles per hour under the speed limit.
But today’s Scripture tells us that our lives need to be marked by patience. The Greek word translated “patience” literally means “long-tempered.” A patient person doesn’t have a short fuse or lose his temper.
There are three aspects to biblical patience. First, patience never gives in to negative circumstances, no matter how difficult. God told Abraham He would make him into a great nation and give Canaan to his descendants (Gen. 12:2, 7). When God made this promise, Abraham and Sarah had no children. They had to wait far past their childbearing years before God gave them a son. But Hebrews 6:15 says, “Having patiently waited, [Abraham] obtained the promise.” “He did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Rom. 4:20). He trusted God and patiently waited for Him to fulfill His promise. A second aspect of patience is coping with difficult people. Paul tells us to “be patient with all men” (1 Thess. 5:14). This is applied gentleness—a spirit that refuses to retaliate. Our normal reaction is to be defensive when provoked. But a patient person bears insult, persecution, unfair treatment, slander, and hatred. You can’t start a fight with a patient person. He defends God, not himself, knowing that He will repay all wrongs at the right time.
Third, patience accepts God’s plan for everything. It doesn’t question God. A patient person says, “Lord, if this is what You have planned for me, that’s all right.” Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Since God is in control, we can be patient, waiting for Him to work out His will. – John MacArthur

Rogers: The Good for the Best

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:01:40 +0000

“The devil would love to get you distracted and get you off the course on which God has placed you. God has something He wants you to do and you had better not substitute the good for the best.” – Adrian Rogers, www.lwf.org

Faith and the Impossible

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:46:40 +0000

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” ¹

Matthew 17:20

Not Self Control, but Spirit Control, Galatians 5:16-21, part 1

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:20:04 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 01/15/12, AM Service

Jesus’ Presence

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:11:56 +0000

“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”” ¹

In my little boat, the tumults of life can be so over whelming. The winds are rough, the waves are high and my boat is rapidly filling with water. My being tends to be intensely focused upon the storm and it effects. I get discouraged and lose hope.

…Then Jesus comes, calmly walking upon the waters. His presence moves into my boat. He tells me, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” And all of a sudden, my heart knows peace. And comfort. And rest. I am in the presences of Jesus, God Almighty. The One who controls and sustains all. The One who even loves and cares for me…

Matthew 14:27

Creation Seminar – Allen Dunckley

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 01:13:55 +0000

February 18-19, 2012

Saturday

Session 1 – 10:30 AM
Session 2 – 11:30 AM
Fellowship Meal
Session 3 – 1:30 PM

Sunday

Session 4 – 10:45 AM
Fellowship Meal – Noon
Session 5 – 1 PM
Session 6 – 2 PM

Spurgeon: Begin with Prayer…

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:48:26 +0000

“But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”” ¹

“Sinking times are praying times with the Lord’s servants. Peter neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late was not too late. In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox hides to its hole for protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety. Heaven’s great harbour of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail.” C. H. Spurgeon

Matthew 14:30

Spurgeon: Iron will Swim

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:30:10 +0000

“And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.” ¹

“Believe thou in the Lord of hosts! Approach him pleading the name of Jesus, and the iron shall swim; thou too shalt see the finger of God working marvels for his people. According to thy faith be it unto thee, and yet again the iron shall swim.” – C. H. Spurgeon

2 Kings 6:6

The Danger of Getting What You Want

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:41:09 +0000

“And he gave them their request; But sent leanness into their soul.”¹

Someone has said, “If you badger God long enough, He will give you what you want, but you will miss what you need.”

Psalm 106:15

Matthew 11:28–30

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:50:10 +0000

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Maclaren: They See Us

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:41:32 +0000

The nineteenth-century preacher Alexander Maclaren once said, “The world takes its notion of God most of all from those who say they belong to God’s family. They read us a great deal more than they read the Bible. They see us; they only hear about Jesus Christ.”

Rogers: Being There

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:37:43 +0000

“I heard about a fellow who courted a girl by writing her a beautiful love letter every day for two years. He thought that would be a wonderful way to court her. Do you know what happened? She married the mail carrier!
There is nothing like being there. There is nothing like personal contact. There is a sense in which Jesus Christ is present when His people gather that’s not in any other sense. You cannot get it the same way at home.” – Adrian Rogers, www.lwf.org

Spurgeon: Joyful Obedience

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:11:18 +0000

“That obedience which is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looketh at the heart, and if he seeth that we serve him from force, and not because we love him, he will reject our offering. Service coupled with cheerfulness is heart-service, and therefore true.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Thomas: Any Old Bush

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:40:11 +0000

Major Ian Thomas has imagined Moses saying something like this when he encountered God in the burning bush, “Would you look at that bush? It just keeps on burning for God. I wish my life could burn for God like that and keep on burning.”

Then Major Thomas imagined God replying, “Moses, you think this bush is so wonderful? Do you see that bush over there? I could do the same thing with it. Moses, it’s not the bush—it’s God in the bush. Any old bush will do.”

Audio Sermon: There Are Lots of Personalities, but Only ONE Personality, Heb 3:1-6

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:58:42 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 01/08/12, AM Service

Spurgeon: God’s Hands

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:31:49 +0000

“That glorious right hand which moulded the world can new-create my mind; the unwearied hand which bears the earth’s huge pillars up can sustain my spirit; the loving hand which incloses all the saints can cherish me; and the mighty hand which breaketh in pieces the enemy can subdue my sins.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Rogers: Criticism

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:25:25 +0000

Have you ever been criticized? Maybe blamed for something you didn’t do? Or been unjustly slandered? You are not alone. Jesus was the whipping boy of much criticism and slander in His day. Was He worried? No.

You too must not worry when others speak falsely. Just give that to the Lord. Author/Pastor Peter Lord told me one day, “When anybody says anything bad about me, I just say, ‘Thank God they don’t know any more.’ ”

Jesus tells us, “When they criticize you, just roll that over onto Me. I understand and I am in charge. You just trust in Me.” – Adrian Rogers, www.lwf.org

Rogers: Your Source of Joy?

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:34:20 +0000

“What is bringing you joy today? You say, ‘The Lord is making me happy.’ How do you know it’s not that nice automobile? Or that ‘special someone’? Or your good looks? Or your bank account? Or your popularity? Here’s how you can know. By the process of elimination. Let God take away your health, your home, your job, and if you still have joy, then you know it is Jesus.
If you lose your joy when you lose any of these things, you are an idolater because that is where you are getting your joy. I don’t mean that you cannot be temporarily upset over the loss, but if the joy goes out of your life, you weren’t getting your joy from the Lord.
You’ll never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” – Adrian Rogers

Audio Sermon: The Only Real Passion is a Passion for Jesus, Phil 3:12-16

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:47:36 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, New Year’s Message, 01/01/12, AM Service

Spurgeon: A Better End

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:34:26 +0000

“You must bear the cross, or you shall never wear the crown; you must wade through the mire, or you shall never walk the golden pavement. Cheer up, then, poor Christian. ‘Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.’” – C. H. Spurgeon

MacArthur: God Came to Earth

Pastor Stevens — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:13:42 +0000

“Man is certainly interested in knowing about the universe that Christ created. That is evident, for example, by his exploration of space. Manned space capsules photographing the earth rising over the lunar horizon and satellites beaming pictures to us of planets at the outer edges of our solar system leave us in awe and wonder. Even more amazing is, not that man has gone into space, but that God came to Earth. In Christ, the invisible God who created everything and everyone became visible to man. How sad that while man looks into space, He refuses to look at the One who came to Earth.” – John MacArthur

Spurgeon: Hitherto…

Pastor Stevens — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:04:06 +0000

“For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes ‘hitherto,’ he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus’ likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fulness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy ‘Ebenezer.” – C. H. Spurgeon

MacArthur: God in Human Flesh

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:44:19 +0000

“[Christ] is the image of the invisible God.”¹
“By using the term eikon, Paul emphasizes that Jesus is both the representation and manifestation of God. He is the full, final, and complete revelation of God. He is God in human flesh.” – John MacArthur

Colossians 1:15

Spurgeon: A Trust in God

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:35:07 +0000

“A godly man often grows best when his worldly circumstances decay. He who follows Christ for his bag is a Judas; they who follow for loaves and fishes are children of the devil; but they who attend him out of love to himself are his own beloved ones. Lord, let me find my life in thee, and not in the mire of this world’s favour or gain.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Be An Angel, Exalt Jesus, Christmas Message 2011

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:43:19 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 12/25/11, AM Service

Rogers: Christmas Is Love

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:42:15 +0000

“Christmas is spelled L-O-V-E. What is the Christmas message? John 3:16. God gave us the gift of love on Christmas Day.
It is truly said, ‘What the world needs now is love.’ I need it. You need it. Your spouse needs it. Your child needs it. An elderly man or woman sitting alone in a nursing home today needs it. A child abandoned and alone in a children’s home needs it, too.
God sent His one and only Son as the Savior. He knew we couldn’t save ourselves. So He sent His Son to be born in a manger, to die on a cross, to rise again into glory, and to come again to redeem His church.” – Adrian Rogers

Spurgeon: God’s Supply

Pastor Stevens — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:20:44 +0000

“The same God who directs the earth in its orbit, who feeds the burning furnace of the sun, and trims the lamps of heaven, has promised to supply thee with daily strength. While he is able to uphold the universe, dream not that he will prove unable to fulfil his own promises.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Rogers: The Presence of Jesus

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:21:20 +0000

“I believe that the holidays are the loneliest time of the year. Everywhere you look, people are told they’re supposed to be happy and they realize they’re not. They see everybody else acting happy, and they feel so lonely. Just walking down the mall can make you feel lonely.

But Jesus has said, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee’ (Hebrews 13:5). When I’m discouraged, His presence sees me through. When I’m lonely His presence cheers me up. When I’m worried, His presence calms me down. And when I am tempted, His presence will help me out.” – Adrian Rogers

Spurgeon: Christ Will Provide

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:45:34 +0000

“You are meddling with Christ’s business, and neglecting your own when you fret about your lot and circumstances. You have been trying ‘providing’ work and forgetting that it is yours to obey. Be wise and attend to the obeying, and let Christ manage the providing.” C. H. Spurgeon

Audio Sermon: What Do the First Six Letters of CHRISTmas Spell Anyway? Hebrews 2:9

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:12:23 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 12/18/11, AM Service

Rogers: The Devil Is a Liar

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:56:47 +0000

“The devil wants you to live your life from an empty cup. He wants you to think that God’s cup of grace has dried up for you. He wants you to be disenchanted with God. Most especially, he wants you to feel that God is a cosmic killjoy…that God is always thinking of ways to rob you of joy and peace. Satan knows that if you start to feel negatively about God, then he can have his way with you in other areas.” – Adrian Rogers

Rogers: God’s Presence in the Valley

Pastor Stevens — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:11:36 +0000

“The One who created the valley is there with you! He has prepared the way through the valley. It is not a place of permanence, but a place of passage. He knows every twist and turn, every changing shadow, every den where danger lurks—that One is with you.” – Adrian Rogers

Spurgeon: Sufficient Grace

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:02:27 +0000

“Thou shalt never find a bundle of affliction which has not bound up in the midst of it sufficient grace.” – C. H. Spurgeon

MacArthur: Christ’s Exaltation

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:15:03 +0000

“Christ’s exaltation was thus fourfold: resurrection, ascension, coronation, and intercession. He rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. Then He was seated on the throne of God to intercede as High Priest of His people. As a believer, you will follow Christ in His exaltation. You will rise from the grave and ascend to Heaven. There you will experience coronation, for you will sit with Christ on His throne. You will no longer need our Lord’s intercessory ministry, for the work of transformation will be complete. ” – John MacArthur

Audio Sermon: With Jesus, Why Would You Want an Angel?, Heb 1:4-14

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:54:08 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 12/11/11, AM Service

Audio Sermon: Be Victorious in Life’s Difficulties

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:26:31 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 12/04/11, AM Service

Stowell: Eternal Perspective

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:12:33 +0000

“In Luke 12, Jesus challenged His followers to sell their possessions and give to the poor, ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’ (v.34). In other words, the way we spend our time and resources says a lot about our eternal perspective. As the old hymn goes, ‘Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.’ So what have you done today that will last for eternity?” – Joe Stowell

Rogers: God Provides

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:58:22 +0000

“Only God can meet the deepest longings of our hearts. There is nothing that can satisfy apart from your relationship with Him.

But it’s not because He is a heavy-handed dictator forcing you to accept life the way He dishes it out! Who knows what will satisfy your deepest needs better than the One who made you? As your Creator, He can see what your needs are going to be tomorrow and ten years from tomorrow. Don’t you think He knows what you need today?” – Adrian Rogers

Spurgeon: God Repays

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:59:16 +0000

“Our Father holds the purse-strings, and what we lose for his sake he can repay a thousand-fold. It is ours to obey his will, and we may rest assured that he will provide for us. The Lord will be no man’s debtor at the last…” – C. H. Spurgeon

Spurgeon: Tale-bearing

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:37:44 +0000

“Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report be true or false, we are by this precept of God’s Word forbidden to spread it. The reputations of the Lord’s people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonour the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah’s wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond—Speak evil of no man.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Audio Sermon: Are You Thankful for God’s Goodness, Psalm 136

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:48:10 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 11/27/11, AM Service

Spurgeon: Just Do It

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:07:48 +0000

“One good deed is more worth than a thousand brilliant theories. Let us not wait for large opportunities, or for a different kind of work, but do just the things we ‘find to do’ day by day. We have no other time in which to live. The past is gone; the future has not arrived; we never shall have any time but time present.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Rogers: Why?

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:09:51 +0000

“When bewilderment enshrouds you and despair looms at your door, when trials storm the beaches of your life, you may want to ask God, ‘Why? Why? Why?’ Friend, you may never understand why things are happening the way they are in your life, but that’s not your job. You see, it is not necessary for you to know why. That is God’s question. Your response is all that matters. When we can’t feel His hand, we must trust His heart. Our job is to simply trust and obey.” – Adrian Rogers, www.lwf.org

Audio Sermon: Committed to God’s Word? Hebrews 4:12

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:06:42 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 11/20/11, AM Service

Spurgeon: You Inner Life

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:54:14 +0000

Oh! how sure and safe is the inner life of the believer! If all the powers of earth and hell could combine against it, that immortal principle must still exist, for he who gave it pledged his life for its preservation. And who “is he that shall harm you,” when God is your protector? – C. H. Spurgeon

Rogers: Guilt

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:33:00 +0000

“Guilt dogs the footsteps of mankind. It gnaws. It growls. It eats away at the joy God intends for us. Is there no peace from guilt? Will the ghosts of our guilt always lurk nearby? Not with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the healing power of our Lord in us! The devil is the prosecuting attorney who is going to point his bony finger of accusation at you. But the Holy Spirit is not the accuser. He is the Convictor. In love, He convicts to lead us to confession. Then we can confidently come to God and ask for cleansing. No psychologist or psychiatrist can take away guilt. Only Christ Jesus can.” – Adrian Rogers www.lwf.org

Spurgeon: The Lord, My Portion

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:29:16 +0000

“It is not ‘The Lord is partly my portion,’ nor ‘The Lord is in my portion’; but he himself makes up the sum total of my soul’s inheritance. Within the circumference of that circle lies all that we possess or desire. The Lord is my portion. Not his grace merely, nor his love, nor his covenant, but Jehovah himself.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Rogers: Stress

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:34:17 +0000

“Stress is nothing new. Noah had it when he was building the ark with no rain in sight. Martha had it when she was preparing a meal for our Lord. Stress is the gap between the demands placed on us and the strength we have in meeting those demands. It is not a sin to be stressed, nor a sin to be weary. It is a sin, though, not to seek a lessening of that stress which tears down the temple of the Holy Spirit, your body. Where is your answer? In waiting upon the Lord — waiting in the midst of demands. When you learn to wait on Him, God steps in to bridge the stress gap with His mighty strength.” – Adrian Rogers www.lwf.org

Audio Sermon: Have a Heart of Sacrifice, Hebrews 13:15-16

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:59:45 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 11/13/11, AM Service

Rogers: Humility

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:53:31 +0000

“Have you ever wondered what humility is all about? True humility is not thinking negatively about yourself. It is agreeing with what God says about you. The grace of God will exalt a person without inflating him and humble a person without debasing him.” – Adrian Rogers

Spurgeon: God’s Remembrance

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:22:22 +0000

“’How can I have forgotten thee, when I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon my very flesh?’ O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art! We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of his people. He keeps his promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt him. He never faileth; he is never a dry well; he is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor, or a melting vapour; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties, molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God were the mirage of the desert…” – C. H. Spurgeon

Audio Sermon: Jesus Is Present, Hebrews 1:1-3

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:18:12 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 11/06/11, AM Service

Spurgeon: God’s Abundant Water

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:39:13 +0000

“Are you this morning thirsting for the living God, and unhappy because you cannot find him to the delight of your heart? Have you lost the joy of religion, and is this your prayer, ‘Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation’? Are you conscious also that you are barren, like the dry ground; that you are not bringing forth the fruit unto God which he has a right to expect quickened by fresh grace. Water swells the buds and makes the fruits ripen; you shall have fructifying grace: you shall be made fruitful in the ways of God. Whatever good quality there is in divine grace, you shall enjoy it to the full. All the riches of divine grace you shall receive in plenty; you shall be as it were drenched with it: and as sometimes the meadows become flooded by the bursting rivers, and the fields are turned into pools, so shall you be—the thirsty land shall be springs of water.” – C. H. Spurgeon

C. H. Spurgeon: In God’s Power

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:09:21 +0000

“A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God’s work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God’s warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, ‘I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory,’ defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for “it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” They who go forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace. Those who serve God must serve him in his own way, and in his strength, or he will never accept their service.”

Spurgeon: The Unchangeable One

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:05:32 +0000

“It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows. All things else have changed—all things are changing. The sun itself grows dim with age; the world is waxing old; the folding up of the worn-out vesture has commenced; the heavens and earth must soon pass away; they shall perish, they shall wax old as doth a garment; but there is One who only hath immortality, of whose years there is no end, and in whose person there is no change.” – C. H. Spurgeon

Audio Sermon: Be Still Before God, Psalm 46:20

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:38:46 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 10/30/11, AM Service

Rogers: Lukewarm

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:44:31 +0000

“Now, in some things moderation is good, like eating, rest, recreation, exercise, and finances. But when it comes to spiritual warfare, moderation is a sin. When it comes to believing the Bible, moderation is a sin. When it comes to loving the Lord, moderation is a sin!

Suppose a wife asked her husband, ‘Honey, do you love me?’ And he said, ‘Well, moderately.’ She’d fix his wagon, don’t you think?” – Adrian Rogers, www.lwf.org

Rogers: Focus

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:41:02 +0000

When a runner is in a race, he puts his eyes on the goal. He doesn’t look at the grandstand or the other runners. Neither does he examine himself. He has his eyes on the goal. He looks away from everything else. The finish line is all he sees.

That’s exactly what we’re to do. The reason many Christians fail in the race is that they have not learned to look away from other things. They’re trying to look in both directions at the same time, and James 1:8 says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” And Matthew 6:22 says, “If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” – Adrian Rogers, www.lwf.org

Fisher: Resilience

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:47:16 +0000

“Sometimes in our attempts to serve the Lord, we can feel stuck in painful circumstances and surprising heartache. But the prophet’s resilience should inspire us to persevere. Jeremiah’s sense of divine call was so strong that he could not be deterred from serving the Lord. ‘But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not’ (Jer. 20:9).” – Dennis Fisher

Audio Sermon, Focus Upon God when Discouraged, Is. 12:2

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:02:05 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 10/23/11, AM Service

Special Music: “He Knows My Fiery Trial”, Cynthia Stevens

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:34:22 +0000

Cynthia Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 10/16/11, AM Service

Words and Music by Sandy Walker Smith and Mary Lynn Van Gelderen

Spurgeon: Return

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:20:40 +0000

“I will love them freely.” These words invite backsliders to return: indeed, the text was specially written for such—“I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely.” Backslider! surely the generosity of the promise will at once break your heart, and you will return, and seek your injured Father’s face. – C. H. Spurgeon

Spurgeon: Growing Spiritually

Pastor Stevens — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:09:59 +0000

“Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed in spiritual things, so as to present the same appearance year after year. No up-springing of advanced and refined feeling is manifest in them. They exist but do not “grow up into him in all things.” But should we rest content with being in the “green blade,” when we might advance to “the ear,” and eventually ripen into the “full corn in the ear?” Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, “I am safe,” without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fulness which is to be found in him? It should not be so; we should, as good traders in heaven’s market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus…” – C. H. Spurgeon

Albert Barnes: The Perfection of Scripture

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:23:09 +0000

Commentator Albert Barnes wrote that “Scripture lacks nothing [for] its completeness; nothing in order that it might be what it should be. It is complete as a revelation of Divine truth; it is complete as a rule of conduct. . . . It is absolutely true; it is adapted with consummate wisdom to the [needs] of man; it is an unerring guide of conduct. There is nothing there which would lead men into error or sin; there is nothing essential for man to know which may not be found there” (Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms, vol. 1 [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1974], p. 171).

Deceitful Questioners

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:28:54 +0000

“And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. ”¹

Again, as I was reading today, this passage struck me. The Pharisees came to Jesus with a question. They were not really interested in Him or His answer, unless they could use it against Him.

Jesus, knowing this, sighed deeply in His spirit. “The sigh seemed to come, as we say, from the bottom of his heart, the Lord’s human spirit was stirred to its depths.”² He sensed their hypocrisy and was deeply moved in repulsion against it.

Then He gave an answer by not giving an answer to their question.

The mention of the sign of Jonah was “an absolute refusal of signs in their sense”³. And when he did rise from the dead on the third day, the Sanhedrin refused to be convinced.⁴

The next thing Jesus did was to turn away from His deceitful questioners and went about doing His Father’s will.

It takes discernment to know if someone is genuinely seeking answers or looking for an occasion to discredit. If the person is indeed a deceitful questioner, then following the example of Jesus, it is better not to answer…

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”⁵

Mark 8:11–13
Swete
Bruce
Bible Knowledge Commentary
Isaiah 53:7

C. H. Spurgeon: Unwarranted Doubt

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:21:37 +0000

“The thought of David’s heart at this time was a false thought, because he certainly had no ground for thinking that God’s anointing him by Samuel was intended to be left as an empty unmeaning act. On no one occasion had the Lord deserted his servant; he had been placed in perilous positions very often, but not one instance had occurred in which divine interposition had not delivered him. The trials to which he had been exposed had been varied; they had not assumed one form only, but many—yet in every case he who sent the trial had also graciously ordained a way of escape. David could not put his finger upon any entry in his diary, and say of it, “Here is evidence that the Lord will forforsake me,” for the entire tenor of his past life proved the very reverse. He should have argued from what God had done for him, that God would be his defender still. But is it not just in the same way that we doubt God’s help? Is it not mistrust without a cause? Have we ever had the shadow of a reason to doubt our Father’s goodness? Have not his lovingkindnesses been marvellous? Has he once failed to justify our trust? Ah, no! our God has not left us at any time. We have had dark nights, but the star of love has shone forth amid the blackness; we have been in stern conflicts, but over our head he has held aloft the shield of our defence. We have gone through many trials, but never to our detriment, always to our advantage; and the conclusion from our past experience is, that he who has been with us in six troubles, will not forsake us in the seventh. What we have known of our faithful God, proves that he will keep us to the end. Let us not, then, reason contrary to evidence. How can we ever be so ungenerous as to doubt our God? Lord, throw down the Jezebel of our unbelief, and let the dogs devour it.”

Audio Sermon: Have a Grateful Heart, Psalm 116

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:02:57 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 10/16/11, AM Service

Adrian Rogers: Idols

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:28:40 +0000

You may say, “Well, I’m not guilty of idolatry.” Let’s just see…is there anything that you love more than God? Anything you fear more than God? Anything you serve more than God? Anything you trust more than God? Am I getting hot?

You say, “Well, I give God a place in my life.” God doesn’t want a place in your life. Then, you say, “Well, I give God prominence in my life.” God despises prominence in your life. God demands preeminence in your life. He will take nothing less. www.lwf.org

C. H. Spurgeon: Solitude

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:19:25 +0000

“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on his Word spiritual strength for labour in his service.”

C. H. Spurgeon: Prayer

Pastor Stevens — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:51:10 +0000

“The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits; and hence the use of prayer, because, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be, in the very dust…”

Adrian Rogers: Real Faith

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:57:12 +0000

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.”

Audio Sermons: Are You Trusting God as Your Defender, Isa. 31:1-5

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:03:49 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 10/09/11, AM Service

Adrian Rogers: Listening to God

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 09:24:11 +0000

“If you do not incline your ear, you might miss something! It has been said that God will not only hold us accountable for what we hear but also for what we would have heard if we had listened.”

David C. McCasland: Daniel’s Choice

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:42:13 +0000

“Daniel didn’t know if God would save him from the lions’ den, but it didn’t matter. He chose to honor God in his life whatever the outcome.”

C. H. Spurgeon: God Can Use Me…

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:33:59 +0000

“Means of themselves are utterly unavailing. ‘Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing.’ What was the reason of this? Were they not fishermen plying their special calling? Verily, they were no raw hands; they understood the work. Had they gone about the toil unskilfully? No. Had they lacked industry? No, they had toiled. Had they lacked perseverance? No, they had toiled all the night. Was there a deficiency of fish in the sea? Certainly not, for as soon as the Master came, they swam to the net in shoals. What, then, is the reason? Is it because there is no power in the means of themselves apart from the presence of Jesus? Without him we can do nothing. But with Christ we can do all things.”

Adrian Rogers: Sweet Words

Pastor Stevens — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:33:45 +0000

“Proverbs 17:27 says, ‘He that hath knowledge spareth his words.’ That is, if you’re smart, you won’t talk so much. When you do talk, keep your words warm and sweet because you may have to eat them later.” www.lwf.org

C. H. Spurgeon: A Tested Faith

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:18:19 +0000

“Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,’ is heaven-born faith.”

Adrian Rogers: Jesus Became…

Pastor Stevens — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:05:25 +0000

“Jesus became the Son of man that you might become a son of God. He took your sins that you might take His innocence. He became guilty that you might become acquitted. He was filled with despair that you might be filled with joy. He took your shame that you might take His glory. He suffered the pains of hell, that you might know the joys of heaven.”

C. H. Spurgeon: Contentment in Christ

Pastor Stevens — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:47:46 +0000

“The believer is not the man whose days are weary for want of comfort, and whose nights are long from absence of heart-cheering thought, for he finds in religion such a spring of joy, such a fountain of consolation, that he is content and happy. Put him in a dungeon and he will find good company; place him in a barren wilderness, he will eat the bread of heaven; drive him away from friendship, he will meet the “friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Blast all his gourds, and he will find shadow beneath the Rock of Ages; sap the foundation of his earthly hopes, but his heart will still be fixed, trusting in the Lord. The heart is as insatiable as the grave till Jesus enters it, and then it is a cup full to overflowing. There is such a fulness in Christ that he alone is the believer’s all.”

C. H. Spurgeon: Strength to Serve

Pastor Stevens — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:59:12 +0000

“Some Christians are for living on Christ, but are not so anxious to live for Christ. Earth should be a preparation for heaven; and heaven is the place where saints feast most and work most. They sit down at the table of our Lord, and they serve him day and night in his temple. They eat of heavenly food and render perfect service. Believer, in the strength you daily gain from Christ labour for him. Some of us have yet to learn much concerning the design of our Lord in giving us his grace. We are not to retain the precious grains of truth as the Egyptian mummy held the wheat for ages, without giving it an opportunity to grow: we must sow it and water it. Why does the Lord send down the rain upon the thirsty earth, and give the genial sunshine? Is it not that these may all help the fruits of the earth to yield food for man? Even so the Lord feeds and refreshes our souls that we may afterwards use our renewed strength in the promotion of his glory.”

Special Music: “Grace”

Pastor Stevens — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:34:55 +0000

Cindy Stevens

Victory Baptist Church

10/02/11, AM Service

Words and Music by Carolyn Hamlin

Audio Sermon: Are You Depending Upon Your God? Psalm 121

Pastor Stevens — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 19:44:36 +0000

Pastor Lloy Stevens, Victory Baptist Church, 10/02/11, AM Service