Story of Sheep

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is a cute story about sheep and us.

Text: 1 Peter 3:15.

 STORY OF SHEEP

In the Highlands of Scotland, sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get

into places that they couldn’t get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet

and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they can’t

jump back again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress.

 They may be there for days, until they have eaten all the grass. The shepherd will wait until they

are so faint they cannot stand, and then they will put a rope around him, and he will

go over and pull that sheep up out of the jaws of death. "Why doesn’t the shepherd

go down there when the sheep first gets there? 

You see they are so very foolish they would dash right over the high edge and be killed if they did!" And that is the way with us, when we try do save ourselves thinking that we are a good person, kind, generous, honest, we are foolish and deceive ourselves, which leads to our eternal destruction.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

The Sin Of Gossip

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is a cute story about the sin of Gossip. 

Text:  Leviticus 19:16; James 1:26.

Tom recently told me a story about a man who went to a priest and confessed that the Lord had recently convicted him of gossip. He wanted to know what he could do to make it right. The priest told him to go to the top of a mountain, rip open a feather pillow, turn the feathers loose in the wind, and then come back the next day.

 So the man did like he was told. He went to the top of a mountain, tore open a feather pillow, and scattered the feathers to the wind. The next day he went back to the priest and asked what he was to do next. The priest told him to go back and collect all of the feathers. 

The man complained that it would be impossible to collect all of those feathers. They were scattered everywhere. That, my friend, was the point. Once you begin to gossip, the words to spread scatter to the wind and can never be retrieved. You don’t know where they are going to go, where they will land, or whom they will hurt.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Move Along!

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is a funny story that I heard years ago.

Text: John 3:16

 In the Spring of 1924, Jack Sundine was a four-year-old kid, standing in a line with his father inside the White House, waiting to meet President Calvin Coolidge. As they neared him, Jack noticed that he said something to each visitor as they shook hands. Soon, the thrilling moment arrived. Jack put his small hand into the President’s. Then the President said words Jack will always remember: “Move along.”

In contrast, aren’t you glad that when we come to God, He doesn’t tell us to move along. No, He is personally involved in our lives and desires to hear from us.

William james Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Just Keep Going

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is a story about patience in life.

Text:  Lamentations 3:25; Isaiah 40:31.

 Winston Churchill is remembered as perhaps the greatest prime minister in the history of Great Britain. By the steel of his will, he led his island nation to stand against Hitler and eventually triumph in World War ll. But years before that victorious moment for the ages, Churchill found himself plunging through a succession of devastating trapdoors–each one worse than the one before.

In August 1929, Churchill had managed to bring in approximately $70,000 into the family coffers. That’s a lot of money even today. In 1929, that was an unimaginable amount of money for a single month’s work. He invested nearly all of it into the American stock market. He then jotted a note to his wife saying how pleased he was to finally reach a place of financial independence. Less than ninety days later the stock market fell through it’s own trapdoor and Churchill lost virtually everything.

It was a major blow. Churchill had experienced ninety days of financial security–and then the bottom fell out. For the first time in his adult life he had been on easy street enjoying the prospects of a comfortable future and then the trapdoor fell open beneath his feet and down he went.

That setback alone would be enough to send most any man into the dungeon of depression. But there were two more difficulties that waited quietly and patiently for Churchill to arrive. In 1931, after serving his entire adult life as a central figure in the British government, he was not invited to serve in the cabinet. This was another staggering blow to Churchill. He had been banished to the political wilderness. While Hitler was working full-time to build his war machine, Churchill, virtually the only British politician who saw the reality of Hitler’s threat, was put out to pasture. When he should have been center stage, he was banished to his country home where he wrote, painted, and built brick walls and cleaned out the ponds to stay busy. The great statesman was sent down to the minors to play Class A ball when he should have been starting in the All Star game. This defeat was even more bitter than the financial loss. It was heating up in the British steel furnace.

And then in the same year, while he was trying to hold things together financially and fight off depression of political defeat, he decided to take a tour of Canada and the United States. In New York City he looked the wrong way while crossing a street and was hit by a taxi traveling at thirty-five miles per hour. The accident sent him to the hospital, clinging to life by a thread.

In less than three years he had suffered three shattering transitions that had devastated him financially, then politically, and then in an accident that nearly cost him his life. In a letter to their son from the hospital, his wife wrote: “Last night he was very sad and said he had now in the last two years had three very heavy blows. First the loss of all that money in the crash, then loss of political position in the Conservative Party and now this terrible injury. He said he did not think he would ever recover completely from the three events.”

At that point, as he recovered in that New York hospital room, Churchill was fifty-seven years old. Nine years later, at the right moment in history, the government that had ignored him would turn to him in desperation. But he could not see the future from the hospital bed. In fact, his prospects looked so bad that at that moment one of his enemies was emboldened enough to pronounce a political eulogy: “Churchill is finished!” Famous last words! History proved that statement to be just a bit premature. 

(Adapted from Steve Farrar – Tempered Steel)

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

The Covenant Of Faithfulness

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Text: Psalm 119:89-90; Galatians 6:9.

 THE COVENANT OF FAITHFULNESS

In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts.

These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash. The contract, formal or informal, helps to specify failure in these relationships.

The Lord did not establish a contract with Israel or with the church. He created a covenant. There is a difference. Contracts are broken when one of the parties fails to keep his promise. If, let us say, a patient fails to keep an appointment with a doctor, the doctor is not obligated to call the house and inquire, "Where were you? Why didn’t you show up for your appointment?" He simply goes on to his next patient and has his appointment secretary take note of the patient who failed to keep the appointment. The patient may find it harder the next time to see the doctor. He broke an informal contract.

According to the Bible, however, the Lord asks: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15) The Bible indicates the covenant is more like the ties of a parent to her child than it is a doctor’s appointment.

If a child fails to show up for dinner, the parent’s obligation, unlike the doctor’s, isn’t canceled. The parent finds out where the child is and makes sure he’s cared for. One member’s failure does not destroy the relationship.

A covenant puts no conditions on faithfulness. It is the unconditional commitment to love and serve.

SOURCE: Bruce Shelley

Scriptures: Isaiah 49:15

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Self-Seeking Saints

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord! 

Here is an article by an unknown author that I wanted to share.

Cnidius, a skillful architect, building a watchtower for the King of Egypt, caused his own name to be engraved upon a stone in the wall in great letters, and afterwards covered it, with lime and mortar, and upon the outside of that wrote the name of the King of Egypt in golden letters.

 This was all done by Cnidius, pretending that it was for the honor and glory of the King of Egypt. But herein was his cunning: he very well knew that the dashing of the water would, in time consume the plastering, as it did, and then his name and memory should abide to after generations.

 Thus, there be many in this world who pretend to seek only the glory of God, the good of His church, and the happiness of the state, but if there were a window to look into their hearts we should find nothing there within but self seeking.

Scriptures: Matthew 6:13

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Winning The Race

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is a heart-warming story from an unknown source that I wanted to share.

Bill Rogers is on the right

 Bill Broadhurst was a great runner and he entered a 10k race in Omahu, a race that Bill Rodgers would win in less than 30 minutes.

Bill Broadhurst had a handicap, he was paralyzed on his entire left side from an aneurism early in life. But he still loved to run and for him to be in the same race as his hero Bill Rodgers was the greatest thing he could imagine.

The banners had been taken down, the traffic had begun to flow on the roads, there was nothing left that would tell you that a race had been run.

Except one man Bill Broadhurst who was still running the race. 2 hours ago Bill Rodgers had finished the race and now Bill Broadhurst was nearing the place where the finish line was. A couple of kids on bikes road beside him and said "hey mister are you still running the race, it’s been over for hours, someone’s already finished first and won, why don’t you quit, the race is over!"

Broadhurst replied, "I can’t, I have to make it to my hero at the end of the line". And he kept on running.

Bill Rogers

As he approached the place where he knew the finish line would be, Bill Rodgers and about 30 people stepped out from an alley and they placed a banner up and strung a ribbon across the road. And Bill Broadhurst stumbled across the finish line. And there stood his hero , Bill Rodgers who took off the ribbon form his neck and placed it around the neck of Broadhurst, and he said, "you a winner because you never quit".

Brothers and sisters don’t quit, keep running. Your hero Jesus Christ is at the finish line waiting to give YOU the victor’s crown of life.

Today, if you are not a Christian, you need to join the only race that will give you a victor’s prize.

And we Christians need to keep running the race.

Jesus is at the finish line waiting for you...

He wants to place the golden crown of life on your head...

Bill Rogers on the right

LET’S GO FOR THE GOLD!

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Philippians 3:13-14

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Gift Of Divine Purity

 Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

This illustration came from the book "Revolution Within" by Dwight Edwards.

Text: 1 John 1:9; Matthew 6:14-15.

In 1829 a man named George Wilson was arrested for robbery and murder in a US mail heist. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. Some friends intervened on his behalf and were able to obtain his pardon from President Andrew Jackson. But when told of this, Wilson refused it saying he wanted to die.

 Well, the sheriff didn’t know what to do, how do you execute a man officially pardoned? An appeal was made to the President, who perplexed, turned the matter over to the US Supreme court. Chief Justice John Marshall gave this ruling:

 A pardon is a piece of paper, the value of which depends on its acceptance by the person implicated. Anyone under the sentence of death would hardly be expected to refuse a pardon, but if it’s refused, it’s no pardon. Thus, George Wilson was executed while his signed pardon lay on the sheriff’s desk!

In the same way, God has offered His gift of divine purity to every person, a gift that not only provides pardon from eternal condemnation, but offers much, much more. However, this gift of Christ must be personally appropriated to be personally beneficial.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Christians Are Like Rubber Bands

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

 Here is an article by an unknown author that I wanted to share.

Text:  Isaiah 41:10; John 16:22.

Have you ever thought any deep thoughts about rubber bands? I have. In fact, I had one of those great big rubber bands that I was going to bring up here, but somewhere along the way, I either mislaid it or lost it. I was going to bring it up here and drape it over this corner right here, and I was going to just leave it there as a reminder.

Now, before you think I have lost my mind, let me explain what I mean. A rubber band is made for only one purpose. That purpose is to be stretched so it can hold something together. Now, if it is not stretched, it is not fulfilling its purpose at all, is it?

Christians are much like the rubber band. We were put on this earth to be doers of God word. To do that, we must stretch ourselves out of our everlasting comfort zones so that we can be effective. One of the hardest things for us to do, is to get out of our comfort zones, but to be effective for God, we must do it.

I have read the Bible through and through and I have never seen anywhere in it that says God wants us to be all comfortable and cozy. I have never read where God wants us to have it really easy and smooth, have you?

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Lung Cancer Healed!

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is an article from an unknown author that I wanted to share.

Text: Isaiah 53:5; James 5:16

 In 1953 in Grimes, Iowa, Violet Cross was getting sicker by the day! Finally her eldest son Frank insisted she go to the doctor. Eventually they ended up at the large teaching hospital in Iowa City. The diagnosis was devastating. Though Violet had never smoked she was dying of lung cancer. One lung was already gone the other was rapidly being devoured by the malignancy. The doctors sent her home offering no real hope, six months of pain would ultimately lead to her death.

That Sunday violet went down to kneel at the altar at the tiny church pastored by her son-in-law, Clarence Lautt. There in Grimes Gospel Center she begged God for one thing. Her two youngest daughters, Kay and Linda were still in high school. "Please God," she prayed, "Let me see my girls finish high school."

Her husband Eddie bought her the engagement ring that he hadn’t had the money to buy 30 years earlier, expecting that to be one of his final acts of love toward her. But Violet started feeling better. Kay graduated from high school, and her mom was back on the farm doing chores again. Linda graduated from high-school. Both girls married. Grandchildren were born. In fact, 18 grandchildren were there to help celebrate Violet and Eddie’s 50th wedding anniversary.

In 1976 Violet came to live at my house after my grandfather Eddie passed away. When I was 12 years old, 38 years after the doctors had given her 6 months to live, Grandma Cross’s two healthy lungs breathed their last.

Sometimes God performs miracles simply because he loves us and he has compassion on His children.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Jewelry For The King

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is an article by Lynn Jost that I wanted to share.

 

During his reign, King Frederick William III of Prussia found himself in trouble. Wars had been costly, and in trying to build the nation, he was seriously short of finances. He couldn’t disappoint his people, and to capitulate to the enemy was unthinkable. 

After careful reflection, he decided to ask the women of Prussia to bring their jewelry of gold and silver to be melted down for their country. For each ornament received, he determined to exchange a decoration of bronze or iron as a symbol of his gratitude. Each decoration would be inscribed, “I gave gold for iron, 18l3.”

The response was overwhelming. Even more important, these women prized their gifts from the king more highly than their former jewelry. The reason, of course, is clear. The decorations were proof that they had sacrificed for their king. Indeed, it became unfashionable to wear jewelry, and thus was established the Order of the Iron Cross. Members wore no ornaments except a cross of iron for all to see.

When Christians come to their King, they too exchange the flourishes of their former life for a cross.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Gratefulness

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is a story from John Wesley's Journal that I wanted to share.

John Wesley had a conversation with a porter who opened a new door to the spiritual awakening that would happen to him some years in the future. The man proved to be the first truly grateful person he had ever met. 

While the porter had only one coat and had consumed nothing all day but a drink of water, his heart still over flowed with praise to God. John remarked, “You thank God when you have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, and no bed to lie upon. What else do you thank Him for?”

 The man answered, “I thank Him, that He has given me my life and being, a heart to love Him, and a desire to serve Him.”From this testimony, John realized there was something more to following Jesus than he had ever experienced before—and this was something he wanted.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

41

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

The number 40 is important in the Bible, but what about the number 41?

In the Bible, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. 

Day 41 came and the rain stopped.

Moses committed murder & hid in the desert for 40 years. 

Year 41 came, and God called him to help rescue Israel.

Moses went up on the mountain for 40 days. 

On day 41, he received the Ten Commandments.

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.

Year 41, they walked into the Promised Land.

Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days. 

Day 41 came, and David slew him.

Jonah preached a message of repentance to Nineveh for 40 days. 

On day 41, God stopped His plan to destroy them.

Jesus fasted and was tempted for 40 days. 

Day 41, and the devil fled.

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples for 40 days. 

On day 41, He ascended into Heaven.

All this to say...don't quit. The rain will stop, the giant will fall, and you will enter your "promised land." Don't give up at 40.

41 is coming.

Credit: McKenzie Miller

Shared by William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop

Three Types Of Tongues

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Here is an article by an unknown author that I wanted to share.

THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN THESE.

1). Tongues as a sign to unbelievers (no interpreter) 

1 Corinthians 14:22, Acts 2:1-18- Language is unknown to the speaker but known to the hearer.

This is where a person hearing a tongue from someone in his own language, understands it, but the speaker doesn't understand and doesn’t speak this language at all. 

Every Christian can experience this through receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and as the Holy Spirit wills through you.

2). Tongues for personal prayer language (private use)

1 Corinthians 14:2, 14:4, 14:23 - Language is unknown to the speaker and unknown to the hearer, but the speaker can pray for private interpretation (see 1 Corinthians 14:13-15) It edifies and strengthens the speaker without interpretation. Also with private interpretation this gift also edifies one's understanding.

There are tongues for deep intercessional groaning that words cannot express Romans 8:26.

The language is unknown to the speaker and unknown to the hearer. When this type of tongues comes upon a person it comes with tremendous power to bring breakthrough or spiritual birthing of things. Galatians 4:19 This is the same as private prayer language but a deeper part of the personal prayer language but with an anointing.

Another type are war tongues anointed by the Holy Spirit to pray intensely and break demonic strongholds and attacks. 1 Corinthians 12:10.

Blessing your food 1 Corinthians 14:16. Singing in tongues (singing in the Spirit), but this is private prayer language but can be interpreted (see 1 Corinthians 14:15)

Every Christian can have a personal prayer language (speak in tongues) through receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Mark 16:17-18, Acts 2:38.

3). Gift of different kinds of Tongues, Ministerial Tongues (with interpretation, public use) 

1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthians 14:5- Language is unknown to the speaker and unknown to the hearer, but interpretation is given to the speaker or another standing by so that all that hear can understand and are edified. The speaker is able to speak different kinds of tongues as the Holy Spirit wills and gives the utterance. Also, it is a ministry gift and interpretation. The gift of different kinds of tongues can also be used privately and for intercession as the Holy Spirit wills to give the utterance. Not every Christian can have this gift of different kinds of tongues but can earnestly desire and ask God for it (1 Corinthians 12:31). Edited. Shared.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues is still for today.

Mark 16:17-18 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; (18) they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

1 Corinthians 13:7-12

7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8.) Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10) But when that which is perfect (Jesus) has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11) When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

 

Which is the part that will be done away?

Verse 8-9 prophecies, tongues, knowledge, we know in part and prophesy in part.

When will it be done away?

Verse 10 But when that which is perfect (Jesus) has come, then that which is in part will be done away. Has Jesus come back yet? No. Verse 12 we are not looking at Jesus face to face yet. So prophecies, tongues, knowledge, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not done away with yet.

Verse 12 When we will “know as we are known” then we will not need those things.

Verse 8 Do we know anything today? Yes, we have knowledge today, so knowledge hasn’t ceased yet either.

Acts 2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

 

1 Corinthians 14:39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

 

1 Corinthians 12:30  Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Only Christians can have these gifts as the Holy Spirit wills and non Christians can not.

Not every Christian can have all of the gifts of the Spirit in their life but as the Holy Spirit wills.

 

1 Corinthians 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied. 

(Paul desires all Christians to speak in tongues and can ask God for it).

 

1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.

 

Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,(Build up your self by praying in tongues).

 

1 Corinthians 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

 

1 Corinthians 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue (edifies himself), but he who prophesies edifies the church. (Ministering to oneself, to God, and to others by speaking in tongues).

 

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

 

1 Corinthians 14:39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. (Do not forbid speaking with tongues).

 

1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

People do not understand the blessing they are missing and by rejecting what God earnestly wants us to have.

Many will not understand the deeper truths of the Bible without the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many want more of God and His presence. They desire God speaking to them and showing them things. This all comes with the experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit that God still provides today and desires it for you. If you will just meet the conditions in the Bible and believe what the Bible says about it and ask God for it (Luke 11:13) you can have this experience.

God's promises are to be received and asked for in prayer by faith. Believe you received your answer when you pray. Do not doubt, believe what the promises of God say (Mark 11:23-24).

 

Some think if God wants me to be able to speak in tongues or any gifts of the Holy Spirit, then He will give it to me if He wants me to have it.

So, if we can say something like this, then why not be consistent and wait for God to give you salvation if He wants you to be saved? So, if you can believe God’s word about salvation and you take that, why not be consistent and believe God for the rest of His word and promises? He promised “to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him for it” Luke 11:13, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 19:1-7, Luke 11:9-13, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:38-39, Mark 11:23-24, Acts 10:44-48, Mark 16:17-18. Study these scriptures. Do not base your belief on wrong teaching saying that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased. They have not ceased, they are still for today. Do not grieve and quench the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19.

Do not stand on judgment day to answer why you opposed these promises God has given us.

 

Revelation 22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;.

 

1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

I pray this blesses you.

William James Roop

Hospice Care and Dying

The Trucking Tango

Brother Roop teaches the Bible

Books by William Roop