Biblical Fellowship Group
General information
We are a small group of individauls in difference churches that are in different areas of the US and other parts of the world. our purpose is to share God's Word with others as Jesus said in Matt. 28:18-20. Many of us are independence and some of us are in larger group, but we encourage each other and do our part of God's Work.
There are a few are members of the group and share the Gospel under the name.
plus, there is a yahoo group for the group which there are not as many member but if the memership increases then i would start to post a weekly Bible articles and regular news article will be posted. if interested, check it out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biblical_fellowship_group/
we believe that we are a light to a dak world that needs hope and encouragement. Jesus Christ is the Liight (John 1:4-10). We are called to share that Light so that others may see the Truth.
we are offering an e-mail Bible Course to those that are interested. check out the page entilted "Bible Course." if interested, you are welcome to contact me from the address listed in the contact page.
We thank you for visiting this site and hope that you find the articles encouraging and educational. you are welocme to visit the "favorite" page and check out the other groups that has materails to help you in your spiritual life.
if you wish to contact me about the Bible Course via e-mail or about the site or just to say "hello", you are welcome to e-mail me at : dcarter2008@biblicalfellowshipgroup.net with the subject "from the web." yes, all e-mail address that i have, there is lots of spam which i would be greatful if you use that subject topic.
Again, thank you for visiting the web site which is being changed in varouis area every week like world news, health and science, and the prayer list.
***Rosey prayer list is under the page "Prayer List." I strongly encourage you to look it over and pray for those on it. we, as Christians, are to prayer for one another and those in the world. for just posting weekly news aricles, the world really needs God intervention to help us make it.
Fresh outlook on the word Failure
As I was looking though my home library, I discovered an eight volume set entitled “The Laws of Success” by Napoleon Hill published in1939. This set has fourteen points on how to make your life a success based on the authors personal experiences. I wish to share the fourteenth point which covered the term “Failure.” I, personally, found his point of view very refreshing.
In chapter one of volume eight which is entitled “Lesson Fourteen: Failure”, the author informs us that he will not use the negative term of the word as the world does, but he will express failure as “temporary defeat” which we can learn from and overcome.
On page 1, the author wrote, “In the outset, let us distinguish between ‘failure’ and ‘temporary defeat.’ Let us see if that which is so often looked upon as ‘failure’ is not, in reality, but ‘temporary defeat.’ Moreover, let us see if this temporary defeat is not usually a blessing in disguise, for the reason that it brings us up with a jerk and redirects our energies along different and more desirable lines.”
“In lesson nine of this course, we learn that strength grows out of resistance; and we shall learn, in this lesson, that sound character ids usually the handiwork of reverses, and set backs, and temporary defeats, which the uninformed part of the world calls ‘Failure.’”
Peter made a similar statement in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “Wherein, ye greatly rejoice, thought now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that your trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found into praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
Also James stated in James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers [many] temptations; your faith worketh patience. But patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
To continue this idea in verse 12, it states, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
In this view, when a trial whether by our personal sins or just outside circumstances beyond our control, we should count it with joy, even though it may not seem like it at the time. It is only a temporary defeat or setback which we should overcome and endure with the help of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
If a trial is caused by our personal sins, then we should try to overcome it because by overcoming we can develop our character to be more like the character of God. Our personal sins are just setbacks that we must overcome to become a better Christian.
If it is outside circumstances, then we need to recognize that we have a God who can help us overcome these trials. He is the provider of all our need and wants and has the power to bless us in time of need.
So next time we are facing a failure in our personal conduct or in a situation that seems difficult to overcome, I encourage you to try to view it as a temporary defeat or setback and not a failure. Failure is only when there is not longer hope to overcome and we do understand that with God all things are possible.
For as Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 8: 28, “And we know that all things [whether good or bad] work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Written by Doyle J Carter
The Secret
I met God in the morning
When the day was at its best,
And His presence came like sunrise
Like a glory within my breast.
All day long the presence lingered
All day long He stayed with me;
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O'er a very troubled sea.
Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed;
But the winds that seemed to drive them
Brought to us a peace and rest.
Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I , too, has loosed the moorings,
With His presence left behind.
So I think I know the secret
Learned from many a troubled way;
You must seek God in the morning
If you want Him throughout the day.
Ralph S. Cushman
Spiritual Hilltops
Small Things
It's easy to get discouraged when observing the challenges of the
world. From moral decline to violence, from corruption to theft, too
often good citizens feel helpless to change the moral temper of our
society. Personally, I feel like yelling my disgust at the
television news when the obvious spin (read "propaganda") spills
from the talking heads in the name of truth. Sometimes yelling at
the tube is all we can do is as far as we can take it, for we fear
that no one is listening.
In many ways we live in a world that mirrors that of Ancient
where, as Paul said, the elite of the day suppressed the truth in
unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). Though they know better, they hold
back the whole story for motives of their own.
It's easy to get discouraged and think that we can do nothing about
such things. While we may be small, God promises that he'll use the
weak of this world to confound the mighty (I Corinthians 1:27,
Hebrews 11:34).
One time Jesus challenged his disciples. Thousands had gathered to
hear the Master's words and to be blessed by his presence. Then
Jesus asked, "Where should we buy bread for these people?"
This was a daunting task. They lacked the finances to feed everyone,
and they scurried among the crowd to see if anyone had thought about
bringing a lunch. All they could find was one boy with five small
loaves and two small fish. Most people know the story, that Jesus
fed thousands of people by multiplying one generous child's
insignificant offering.
To you I submit this: If Jesus was who he said he was, why didn't he
just make loaves and fish out of nothing? Why did he ask the boy to
give up his lunch? Here is a lesson that we should take into every
day. Though God can make loaves and fishes appear out of nothing, he
expects us to offer what we can even if it is only a widow's mites.
He will take our meager offerings, as small as they may be, and
multiply them thousands of times over.
Too often we expect God to do it all. The idea is to wait until the
Kingdom comes, but until then we resign ourselves to victim status.
Yet it seems from the scriptures that God expects us to have some of
our own chips in the game. And I believe he demands it for our
sakes, that we may build godly character and experience in order to
become like him.
It is the small things multiplied thousands of times by thousands of
people, all offered in the name of God, that will alleviate the
burdens of this present age.
Through one of his prophets God asked, "Who has despised the day of
small things?" (Zechariah 4:10) You cannot be too small for God to
use.
So write that letter to the editor or say the Pledge out loud. Cast
your ballot for a candidate and speak out in the public forum. Give
a cold glass of water to a thirsty man and help your neighbor in
need. Comfort the grieving and visit the sick. Confront evil when
you see it and deal honestly in business and employment. Salt the
world with your presence and shine your light in the darkness. It
might seem small in a world overwhelmed with evil, but the goodness
of your gifts will multiply thousands of times over, for we should
not despise the day of small things.
by Lenny C.
"Put Up With..."
"You won't believe what I've had to put up with this week,"
some will say. You'll hear people talk about how they have to put up with a certain Co-worker or a boss. Parents will talk about putting up with their problem child. Some will talk about putting up with the troubles of a broken down car.
Jesus had to "put up with" His disciples and their lack of
faith. "And Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me" (Matt. 17:17; Mark 9:19 NASU).
This particular Greek word (anecho) is often translated
"forbearance" or "suffer". It is best translated in our modern vernacular as "put up with." It is a form of patience that includes tolerance.
Christians have to "put up with" persecutions and trials. "And
we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless;
when we are persecuted, we endure" (1Cor. 4:12). "Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring (putting up with)" (2Thes. 1:4 NIV). When the Corinthian Brethren turned to follow "false apostles" Paul asked them to "put up with a little foolishness from me" (1Cor. 11:1). He then chided them by saying, "You gladly put up with fools" (11:19). But he was most afraid that they would "put up with" receiving another Jesus and accepting another gospel (11:4).
Then sarcastically, Paul told them that they "put up with it"
if a man makes slaves of them, exalts himself, or even slaps them in the face (11:20). And he follows this with, "To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!" (v. 20).
So, while we need to bear up under and put up with trials and
troubles, we should not put up with false teachings and abuse!
What should we put up with?
We should put up with the "word of exhortation." "Brothers, I
urge you to put up with my word of exhortation..." (Heb. 13:22). Another thing we should put up with is sound teaching. It was predicted by Paul that the time would come when people would not put up with sound teaching but would have itching ears and would be turned away from the truth and turned
to
fables. "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound
doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather
around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear" (2Tim.4:3).
Another thing we must put up with is "one another." "With all
gentle and quiet behavior, taking whatever comes, putting up with one
another in love" (Eph. 4:2). "Put up with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Col. 3:13).
We all make mistakes. We even irritate one another from time to time.
But God urges us to "put up with one another" in love, forgiveness
and patience.
* David L. Antion for Guardian
Ministries
