UK CGOM
These articles may not always reflected the general view of the Biblical Fellowship Group. This page is posted to share general information to the public.i ,strongly, encourage one to use the Bible as the absolute source to the Truth of God no matter what is printed by any man..
Walk With God 22
Are You Worthy? [Laodicea] 32
But - Is It Sin? 36
Forgive - and Forget? 39
Two Worlds 49
The Law - Blessing or Burden 12
Is the Old Testament Relevant? 7
Is Anything Unclean? 57
Human Relationships
Is Co-habitation a Sin? 13
Why Marriage? 8
Capital Crime 33
Church or Cult? 35
When You Meet 51
Unity of the Spirit 53
Does God Have Special Days? 10
Sabbath - a day to remember 9
What Is the 'Millennium'? 11
Other Days 23
Festivals - we need them 31
The Lord's Supper 40
The Feast of the Passover 41
Keep the Feast: Unleavened Bread 42
Why Easter Sunday? 43
Spring Harvest 44
The Day of Pentecost 46
The Trumpet Call 47
A Day to Reflect 48
Why the Holy Days? 50
Is Hell Real? 27
Will You Be Left behind? 16
Will You Go To Heaven? 4
What happens to the 'unsaved'? 1
Will You Live Again? 14
When You Die 28
The Reality of Hope 45
The Fear of Death 63
Do Numbers Count? 15
Christmas...holiday or holy day 6
Trick of Treat? 24
The Way To Salvation
How To 'Get Saved' 26
Why Were You Born? 2
Is There 'One Faith'? 5
Can Man Become God? 17
Can the Law Save You? 18
God's Grand Design 21
Unity of the Faith 54
Christian Identity 55
The Unpardonable Sin 56
The Godhead
Does God Exist? 3
What is the Kingdom of God? 20
God is Love…? 25
'The Virgin Shall Conceive' 29
Is Jesus God? 34
The Key of David 37
Nature of Man
What is the Soul? 19
Enoch Is Dead 30
Elijah Enigma I 58
The West - is it best? 38
Israel Identified (I) 59
Israel Identified (II) 60
Israel Identified (III) 61
Israel Identified (IV) 62
PO Box 2525
LINCOLN
LN5 7PF
England
- It shouldn't surprise us that there is so much illness in our world. Poverty, water shortages, poor hygiene and sanitation, impoverished diet, overcrowding, epidemics, lack of medical facilities - all contribute to illness. Add in self-inflicted factors - alcoholism, drug abuse, smoking, corrupt practices etc and the dire problem is compounded. The world's population 'explosion' doesn't help - now around approaching seven billion and growing. Nor do wars
- None of these factors are insoluble. Sort them out and there will be less illness—though poverty is more of a challenge. Said Jesus '…you have the poor with you always, and whenever you will you may do them good' (Mark 14:7). Many factors (including indolence) conspire to make folk 'poor'. We are, however, each responsible for our health within the parameters of our present circumstances, and all of us should strive to maintain health—especially believers
- The 'church' is God's Temple. He dwells in it - and in each of His children. It's proper that we each strive to 'cleanse' ourselves - to be not just spiritually but also physically clean so we can each fulfil our role as a 'living stone'. Christians, then, should not harm through use of noxious substances. Otherwise, the principle of moderation applies - what we eat, alcohol, exercise, and we should keep ourselves informed on best practice (without the fads!)
- The human body is a miraculous creation - literally. Except in extremes it is designed to self-heal within the limits of our genetic inheritance. But we each face the challenge of having been born human, with our sinful disposition, and the abuse—knowingly or in ignorance—of our body by wrong food intake, drugs, alcohol, tobacco etc. James, in the context of sickness, tells us to '..confess our sins'; ie, to confront them (James 5:13-15). And to forsake them
- Some few Christians misapply Scripture texts and avoid all forms of medical intervention. Modern medicine is art supported by technology and skill - there is no religious element as perhaps was the case anciently. Some (though subscribing to that view) will, sensibly, permit repair surgery to the skeleton. Some few will turn to 'alternative therapies' but avoid medication from the established medical profession - perhaps an illogical approach if you claim to 'trust God totally’ for direct intervention and healing
- There is, however, additional weaponry for the believer in the battle against illness: ‘...Is any one ill? Let him send for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, after anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will restore the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up to health; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven’ (James 5: 14-15). The ‘day of miracles’ has not passed, and God continues, on request, to intervene for our healing when it is for our good Ω
Churches of God, UK
PO Box 2525
LINCOLN LN4 4EG
http://us.mc566.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=coguk@aol.com
in association with The Churches of God Outreach Ministries
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OUTREACH: November/December 2008
PREPARE TO MEET THY DOOM?
Anyone writing about ‘the signs of the times' must draw on a centuries-long history of failed prophetic interpretation. In fact, the only certainty - though disputed by some-is that Jesus will come again, and at a time preserved in the heavenly counsel.
That doesn't mean we can live as if it will not happen ‘in my lifetime'. It could. It may. And Jesus' stern warning is ‘...be ready'. It will be those who are faithful and diligent that are ‘ready'. And readiness isn't measured by your understanding of prophecy.
Down the centuries any number of prophesied end-time scenarios have afflicted our planet sending believers scurrying to the hills or to their knees. They have been exploited by preachers of all faiths-some sincere, some for their personal benefit.
Earth's scarred face bears witness to past calamity. Down the centuries catastrophies have re-shaped the planet. Millions have died from plagues. Nations have torn one another apart. And there's the ever-present reports of impending war. But, said Jesus ‘...see that you be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet' (Matthew 24:6).
Much of the ‘Olivet prophecy' (Matthew 24) was witnessed by the Jews in Palestine between 30 and 70AD. They suffered horrendously-suffering recorded by the historian Josephus-at the hands of the occupying Romans. But not all of that prophecy was fulfilled.
There's more to come. For the generation that will witness the return of Jesus will be the generation that experiences the resurrection of the saints (v.31). Wrote Paul: ‘... the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first' (I Thessalonians 4:16).
At that time Jesus will ‘...stand on the Mount of Olives at Jerusalem' (Zechariah 14:4) at the beginning of His reign as earth's supreme ruler (v.9).
Clearly, none of this has yet happened. But believe that the Scriptures are indeed God's Word and it will surely happen.
Be Alert
What, then, of our present ‘global credit crunch', our looming worldwide recession? It has sent millions scurrying to protect their savings. Homes re-possessed, jobs lost. And a big concern for some-Christmas spoiled! Is this ‘the end'?
It would be brave-or foolhardy-to answer yes or to answer no to that question! Time and again the ‘signs' have indicated ‘the end is near, even at the doors'. But we are still waiting. The signs are indeed there today. But- they may pass. Has God has finished with mankind? Who knows! At His perfect moment He will intervene to stop human annihilation. Life, for our present world, may recover after a few years. Or, it may not. Most of mankind will just deal with it, experience it, suffer it.
Of all people, Christians should not be fearful. Jesus' counsel is ‘...be watchful'., ‘...be faithful'. Whatever befalls-stay close to Him, and draw on his spiritual power. Ω
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The latest New Horizons magazine is now available. Be sure to subscribe!! (No charge but to your thinking.)
Included in this issue:
Take Time To Be Holy
Christmas-what would Jesus do?
The Sexual Enigma
Blood-the stuff of life
Is Anything ‘Unclean'?
Simply send or e-mail your delivery address. Or sample it at http://www.cgom.org/
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What's Wrong With Britain?
Few observers of twenty-first century Britain would doubt there is indeed something wrong.
The BBC, standard-bearer of the media, recently sank to a new depth of depraved broadcasting. Noted of late for embracing foul language in many of its programmes, on Radio 2 they lowered the bar by officially authorising the broadcasting of depraved and obscene remarks directed at a 78-year old actor. Bestiality, too, has been screened.
And not just the BBC. The repulsive Big Brother series and the ‘Celebrity...' series plumb the depths of gutter entertainment.
Their assumption is that this is what listeners want. Maybe so. But if that's the case-then, literally, God help Britain.
Over the centuries our nation has at times plunged to the depths of depraved behaviour. The work of 18th century satirist William Hogarth bears testimony., as do the writings of Charles Dickens half a century later. Both highlighted the chasm of inequality in British society and contributed to the notion that change was urgent.
Christian Values
Others, too. The preaching of John Wesley mid-18th century provoked a moral revival, while later that century Robert Raikes, editor of the Gloucester Journal is credited with popularising the Sunday School movement. This did much to ‘civilise' the nation at the grass roots. The schooling taught ‘...self-discipline, industry, thrift, improvement, egalitarianism and communalism'. Evangelicals and the chapels became involved and Bible teaching inculcated Christian values, with sound moral teaching
Notably, William Booth began (1865) the Salvation Army with its slogan of ‘soup, soap, salvation'. In contrast to current trends Booth promoted abstention from alcohol, illegal drugs, prostitution, smoking and gambling-all scourges of the Victorian era.
What Went Wrong?
But there were counter-trends. The anti-God movement increased-aided and abetted by evolutionary theory. Two World Wars sapped the nation's spiritual strength, and then increasing prosperity diverted us to wealth creation at the expense of true values. The post-war loss of Empire demoralised the nation.
Undermined by subversive tactics from abroad, the leadership was seduced by anti-Christian values to the extent that our political and spiritual leaders are generally despised for their self-serving, timid and underhand behaviour.
Moral Source
Sound leadership sets the moral high ground. What that may be, however, has come to be devalued , replaced by ‘moral relativity': what's right is what you believe, and why should I judge you?
At one time, in Britain, the Bible influenced public morals. A considerable proportion of children absorbed at least a smattering of Judaeo-Christian teaching-in school, from their parents, in Sunday School. That influence has waned. All is undermined by Government-imposed directives, while multi-culturalism imports alien morality.
The face of modern Britain-as with the United States, Australia-is defiled by this moral slide from Biblical values. Not that we as nations have ever been perfect! There has, however, been a retreat from true values-and adverse consequences will follow.
The LORD-the one and only Creator God-has detailed the way to national peace and prosperity, for us and for all nations. He is the Source. We ignore Him at our peril, and His call is for us to turn back to His revealed path to life. Even if the nation won't heed, each of us can personally ‘choose life'.
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Request: What Do You Mean-Repent? and Should You Be Baptized?
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The Jolly Season
With supermarket shelves now clearing away black pointed hats, witches' broomsticks, huge orange pumpkins and a lorry-load of grotesque masks-get ready for the next shopping onslaught, Christmas.
The media have already featured distraught parents worried that the economic recession will ‘spoil Christmas'. In case you have forgotten-that is the annual celebration of the birth of the planet's most humble person, Jesus, who ‘...for our sakes became poor'.
However much debt you pile up over the next couple of months-consider this. If you are not a disciple of Jesus then Christmas is just another public holiday, a break from the dark days of winter, a time to ‘let your hair down' in hedonistic excess.. But nothing to do with Christianity, or with the purpose for which Jesus was born. Unless you have a relationship with him it is pointless.
But if you consider yourself to be his disciple, observing Christmas obscures the very purpose of his coming into our world. He is ‘...the way, the truth, the life'. Yet at this season even dedicated church-goers spin a web of lies to their children, after the manner of ‘the father of lies'. Nor do they follow his ‘way'- a narrow and difficult way. A way that alone leads to living forever.
The LORD, however, has invited us to a series of authentic celebrations-His very own set of festivals which portray His true plan. For a Biblical explanation request our free articles: Christmas-what would Jesus do? and God's Holy Days. Ω
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FINANCES (COGUK) - Sept/October 2008
INCOME.... £709 OUTGOINGS... £764
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Festivals - We Need Them!