The Bible and Life

Friday, March 28, 2025

This Is Death!

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an eyewitness account.

Part #7 “Signs and Wonders” book

Chapter 29 pages 143-144

“RAISED FROM THE DEAD”

1104 Broadway, Indianapolis.

“About five weeks ago, one Sunday night, I was attending the meetings, and was sitting listening to Sister Etter preaching when I turned real sick, and a voice said said to me, “Come with me.” I went outside the church, a sister accompanying me, and the same voice said again, “This is death, come now, go with me.”

That was the last I remembered on earth, only I thought of my son in the army and that no one would know where to sent to notify him of my death. Presently, it seemed to me I was in heaven, in a place where there was such light and rest and joy. I heard singing and all kinds of different instruments. I saw my earthly father and children, and talked with the Lord, and then a voice said, “You can go back for a while,” and then I heard Sister Etter’s voice calling on me in the name of Jesus.”

Mrs. Sarah Nelson

William James Roop

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Open Yourself Up

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FLOWING THROUGH YOUR LIFE, PEOPLE

WILL WANT WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER

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People came to hear me preach as a young man in 1947 in a gospel tent on North Main in Tulsa, Oklahoma, not because I was preaching about a dead God or a dead Bible or a dead, dry religious experience. It was the power of God's Spirit that made them flock to hear me, as a struggling young preacher coming out of these hills of eastern Oklahoma.

And when the Holy Ghost's power comes upon this little hunk of clay, there's a compassion that races through my being like a wind across a prairie and a fire that whips through my soul like a roaring inferno. A tenderness touches my heart like a mother pulling her crying baby to her breast and I want to reach out to the sick, the afflicted, the hurting, the demon possessed. I want to get at the thing that's hurting them, that's tearing them up and destroying them. I want every man, woman, boy and girl to be healed, AND THERE'S NO REST IN MY SPIRIT UNTIL THE HEALING COMES!

And, my brother, my sister, God can put a brand-new fire in YOUR bones, a force in your inner man that will lift you up, that will thrust you into an even greater dimension of fulfilling His mighty calling on your life! Oh, don't be shy or hesitant! Just open yourself up to His Spirit!

Oral Roberts ( unleashing the power of praying in the spirit)

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William James Roop

Friday, March 21, 2025

Midwest Healings And Salvations

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

MIDWEST HEALINGS AND SALVATIONS - MARIA WOODWORTH-ETTER- “SIGNS AND WONDERS” BOOK CHAPTER 27, Page 127. 1903, Moline, Iowa.

“We commenced our work in Warr Hall. The first four weeks there thirteen hundred bowed at the altar; I prayed for each with laying on hands, and nearly all were converted or reclaimed; and nearly all were healed of from one to a dozen diseases. The power was present just as it was in the days of Christ and the apostles-we do not read of any place where the work was greater – sixty at the altar for healing, at once, in the afternoon meeting. Nearly everyone got up rejoicing, showing by their testimonies that they were perfectly well. Many people in the gallery shouted or waved their hands; sometimes nearly the whole house was weeping at the wonderful miracles that were done before them all. The scenes were wonderful.

Every meeting they could hardly wait until I gave them the opportunity to come to the altar; then there would be a rush. They brought them in chairs, on cots, and on pillows; the blind, lame, deaf, dumb, and the paralytic; those dying with consumption, tumors, cancer, blood poisoning, catarrh of the stomach and lungs, or all through the blood; broken bones and everything else-all chronic diseases that could not be cured by any earthly power – they laid them at the feet of Jesus. As at Peter’s great revival, they tried to get near enough for his shadow to fall on them, so it was here-everyone tried to get the nearest me, like those at the pool of Bethesda, to get into the water first.

One after another they were healed; sometimes in an hour everyone would be up rejoicing. The people looking on saw large tumors and goiters go and cancers disappear; children got up and walked who never walked before. They saw the deaf hear, the dumb speak, those that had never heard or spoken before. They wondered and were amazed, and they gave glory for His great power and love for suffering humanity.”

William James Roop

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Permanent Results

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

“PERMANENT RESULTS” Chapter 23 of The “Signs and Wonder” book Part #2

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From Anderson we went to Pendleton, Indiana, to hold meetings in the United Brethren Church for three days. A number were converted and several healed of bodily ailments.

A farmer living near Pendleton was healed in our meeting six years before (1885). He had been in the asylum 3-4 years. He would get a little better for a few days, then be worse than ever.

His friends brought him to the meeting. He was converted and healed instantly. He went home and took charge of his farm. He has been a businessman and a Christian since then. Eternity alone will tell the results of the one week’s meeting at Pendleton nine years ago and this three days’ meeting.

From Pendleton we went to Indianapolis, to visit the Church of God, which we organized nearly five years before. When we arrived at the church, we found the large building crowded. The church was all in harmony and on fire for God. We continued the meeting five days, had two meetings a day during the week and three on Sabbath.

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The house was crowded day and night, and many turned away. The interest was so great we had to request the young people to stay away and give room for the older. The altar was crowded day and night with seekers—some for salvations of the soul, some for the healing of the body, and some for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Lord was present to heal both soul and body. A number of God’s children received the baptism for service.

(This was before the Azusa Street outpouring of people receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues-1891). They obeyed the command of Jesus, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until you shall be endued with power from on high.”

Among those converted were two men 80 years old. One had been afflicted most all his life. He was healed and converted at the same time. There never was a brighter prospect for revival in any place than at Indianapolis. But we were compelled to leave, as our appointments were out ahead.

(That’s probably why she was lead to build her Woodworth-Etter Tabernacle in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1918)

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William James Roop

Friday, March 14, 2025

Intercessory Prayer

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an article from a book call God's Generals (Healing Evangelist).

Traveling in China in 1934 was fraught with danger. Lester’s life was almost lost on more than one occasion. One time, after drinking water that had not been boiled long enough, he became deathly ill with dysentery and fever. As his conditioned worsened, he began to hemorrhage from his intestines, racked with pain and an ever-rising fever. Lester wasn’t a complainer, though, so Howard Carter had no idea how ill he really was.

The next morning, when the caravan began to move, with Lester’s mule last in line, the hours of diarrhea and lack of food made Lester faint, and he fell off of his mule. Crawling to a bush, he fastened the mule’s rope and then passed into unconsciousness. No one in his party was aware of what had happened. He was left on the road in China to die.

Hours later, Lester woke up alone but was astonished to discover that he was completely well! His fever was gone; his strength was returning. God had healed him as he had slept. Lester remained in that spot until someone from his caravan returned and found him. He then continued on in the journey, rejoicing in God’s faithfulness.

A few years later, while preaching in Mobile, Alabama, Lester discovered what had really happened in the heavenlies that day. The pastor of the church in Mobile, who was also a longtime friend, and his wife shared a strange story. They had been warned by the Holy Spirit one evening that Lester was dying somewhere on the other side of the world. They had fallen on their knees, crying out to the Lord, “Save him. Save him. Don’t let him die.”Later that evening, when Lester checked his diary, he discovered that their prayers on his behalf had been offered at the exact time he had been struggling for his life. He shared this with his friends, and God’s faithfulness once again brought them to their knees in thanksgiving!

- God’s Generals' ( Healing Evangelist ).

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

T. L. Osborn On The Radio

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

People Healed Listening to a Radio Broadcast.

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A radio station offered T. L. forty-five minutes free of charge to enable him to minister to the thousands of people who were unable to get to the crusade. Policemen were sent to guard the radio station from being invaded by the people during the broadcasts.

A man reported that a woman next door to him who was listening to the broadcast, was healed of paralysis. Her leg and arm had been drawn up for many years. In a moment, she was made whole and was going everywhere testifying of her healing.

A man from a city ninety miles away brought an old woman to the crusade in order to let her testify. She was healed of total blindness that day during the radio ministry. At least fifty miracles had already been reported as a result of the broadcast.

- T.L OSBORN (LEGACY OF FAITH).

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William James Roop

Friday, March 7, 2025

Revivals In Scandinavia

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

REVIVALS IN SCANDINAVIA

Here is an article by Smith Wigglesworth ( Ever Increase Faith ). Enjoy.

The writer had the privilege for three months one year of being in the center of Mr. Smith Wigglesworth’s meetings in both Sweden and Denmark. It was a time of visitation from on high. I dare to say that hundreds of people received Jesus as their Saviour, thousands were healed from all kinds of diseases, also thousands of believers awoke to a new life, and many, many received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost as on the day of Pentecost. For all thus we give glory to Jesus. Here are a few examples of miracles my eyes have seen.

It was in Orebro (Sweden) where at that time there was held a Pentecostal Convention. I came to seek help myself, being worn out with long, unbroken service in the Lord’s work. The next day there was a meeting for healing. After the preaching service I went forward into the other hall and I was surprised to find in a few minutes a crowd following. The hall was soon full with hundreds of men and women patiently waiting for a touch of God through His servant, and, glory to God, we were not disappointed. As hands were laid upon me the power of God went through me in a mighty way. I was immediately well.

It was wonderful to notice, as the ministry continued, the effect upon the people as the power of the Lord came over them. Some lifted their hands, crying, “I am healed! I am healed!” Some fell on the platform under the power of the Spirit, having to be helped down. Others walked away as in a dream; others as drunk with new wine, lost to everything but God; but all had faces as transfigured with the glory of the Lord and magnifying Jesus. A young blind girl, as she was ministered to, cried out, “Oh, how many windows there are in this hall!” During the three weeks the meeting continued the great chapel was crowded daily, multitudes being healed and many saved. The testimony meetings were wonderful. One said, “I was deaf, they prayed, and Jesus healed me.” Another, “I had consumption, and I am free.” And so on.

At Skofde, in the smaller hall, set apart for those seeking the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, I shall never forget the sight, how the people with eyes closed and hearts uplifted to God waited. Did the Holy Spirit fall upon them? Of course He did. Here also many were healed. At another place there was a young man whose body was spoiled because of sin, but the Lord is merciful with sinners. He was anointed, and when hands were laid on, the power of God went mightily over him. He said, “I am healed,” but being broken down, he cried as a little child, confessing his sin; at the same moment the Lord saved him. Glory to God! He went into the large hall and testified to salvation and healing.

At Stockholm, long queues waited for hours to get in. The hall held 1,800 people. At nearly every meeting crowds were unable to enter the building, but they waited on, often hours and hours, for the chance, if any left the building to step into the place. Here a man with two crutches, his whole body shaking with palsy, is lifted onto the platform. (Behind him five or six hundred more are waiting for help.) This man is anointed and hands laid upon him in the Name of Jesus. He is still shaking. Then he drops one crutch, and after a short time the other one. His body is still shaking, but he takes the first step out IN FAITH. Will it be? He lifts one foot and then the other, walks round the platform. The onlookers rejoice with him. Now he walks around the auditorium. Hallelujah!

During this meeting a woman began to shout and shout. The preacher told her to be quiet, but instead she jumped up on a chair, flourishing her arms about, and crying, “I am healed! I am healed! I had cancer in my mouth, and I was unsaved; but during the meeting, as I listened to the Word of God, the Lord has saved me and healed me of cancer in my mouth.” She shouts again, “I am saved! I am saved! I am healed of cancer l” She was quite beside herself. The people laughed and cried together.

Here was another woman unable to walk, sitting on a chair as she was ministered to. Her experience was the same as hundreds of others. She rose up, looking around, wondering if after all it was a dream. Suddenly she laughed and said, “My leg is healed.” Afterwards she said, “I am not saved,” and streams of tears ran down her face. They prayed for her, and later she left the meeting healed and saved and full of joy. We have a wonderful Saviour; glory to His Holy Name!

Out of many many miracles in Norway, I quote two taken from Pastor Barratt’s paper, “Korsets Seir” (the Victory of the Cross). A man and his son came in a taxi to the meeting. Both had crutches. The father had been in bed two years and was unable to put his leg to the ground. He was ministered to. He dropped both crutches, walking and praising God. When the son saw this he cried out, “Help me too,” and after a little while the father and son, without crutches and without taxi, walked away from the hall together. That word again is manifested; the same Jesus, the wonder-working Jesus is just the same today.

Now Copenhagen, my homeland! During three weeks thousands daily attended the meetings. Each morning two or three hundred were ministered to for healing. Each evening the platform was surrounded. Again and again, as each throng retired another company came forward seeking salvation. Here many were baptized in the Holy Ghost. The testimony meetings were wonderful.

Now I will close with a vision a brother had who attended these meetings. He was lost in intercession for the hundreds of sick waiting to be ministered to for healing. He saw an opening from the platform, where the sick were, right into the glory. He saw wonderful beings in the form of men resting who, with interest, looked on. Again he looked at the platform and saw a heavenly Being clothed in white, who all the time was more active than any other in helping the sick, and when HE touched them the effect was wonderful. Bent forms were made straight, their eyes shone, they began to glorify and praise the Lord. A Voice said: “Healings are the smallest of the gifts; it is but a drop in the bucket in view of what God has in store for His children. Ye shall do greater works than these.”Anna Lewini in “Confidence.”

- Smith Wigglesworth ( Ever Increase Faith )

William James Roop

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Beyond Head Knowledge And Traditions

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

BEYOND HEAD KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITIONS.

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“Prayer is ‘the breathing of a soul inflamed for God, and inflamed for humanity.’” E.M. Bounds.

True prayer must be from the heart. It is not just the words or phrases a person repeats as a mere routine or formality. It involves coming before God, as our Father, with our hearts our entire beings in an attitude of humble submission. God requires our whole heart! In His dealings with the children of Israel, He spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).

Jesus exposed the hypocrisy and religious tradition of those who prayed in the synagogues and street corners to be seen of men. He called the Pharisees hypocrites. He said: …Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:7-9 NASB).

We must be careful not to become bound by religion or the traditions taught by men. There are many Christians sitting in our churches who pray on a regular basis. The words coming out of their mouths are what they have learned, but the words are empty and hollow because they are coming from their heads and not from their hearts.

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To go beyond ordinary prayer, we cannot be content with head knowledge or religious tradition. The cry of our hearts must be, “Lord Jesus, break through the dead, dry tradition and formalism and teach us how to pray as You prayed!” The Pharisees were committed to and preoccupied with strict adherence to the Law and the oral tradition, with its rules for interpreting the Law, purification rites, and man-made laws handed down by their fathers.

With minute attention to detail they observed all the sacred times laid down by God. They gave tithes of all they possessed and fasted twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. They were doing all the right things, but they were so bound by tradition that they did not really know God and could not receive the truths Christ spoke to them.

Their understanding of God was primarily as the Law-giver and their preoccupation with fulfilling His commands exactly became an end in itself. When they went to the Temple to pray, their prayers were formal and legalistic. And they went there to be seen and heard of men, not to meet with God.

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Public prayers were offered daily in the synagogue. These prayers included the Shema, which consisted of three passages from the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy

11:13-21; and Numbers 15:37-41. The Shema was repeated both morning and evening with benedictions. In addition, the Tephillah, or Eighteen Benedictions, was repeated three times a day. Much of this was incorporated into the Hebrew Prayer Book that is still used in Jewish synagogues today.

In sharp contrast to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, Jesus broke through the rigid, formal tradition of man’s religious forms, rituals, and concepts of prayer and established it upon a relationship with the Father! He taught the people the importance of shutting themselves away in a secret place to pray.

Jesus said:

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:5-6 NIV).

- Dr. Morris Cerullo ( How To Pray )

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William James Roop

Friday, February 28, 2025

Child Evangelism

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is a story about child evangelism from an unknown source.

Text: Matthew 18:1-14.

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Howard Hendricks tells of a mentor who changed his life in his book Iron sharpens Iron. Howard was from a broken family, and said, "I could have lived, died and gone to hell without anyone bothering to care." However, a man named Walt from a tiny church in his neighborhood cared about reaching nine and ten year old boys for Jesus.

One Saturday while he was playing marbles on the sidewalks of Philadelphia Walt came by and asked him if he wanted to go to Sunday School. The very thought of school made him decline, but Walt then asked if he would like to play marbles. Howard was the best marble player on his block, and was sure he could beat Walt easy. Walt won every single game, and after that Howard wanted to follow him everywhere.

Over the next several years Walt would take the boys hiking, even though he had a bad heart. His teaching and love for thirteen boys, nine of whom came from broken homes, made a difference in their lives. Eleven of those boys went on to pursue careers as vocational Christian workers, even though Walt had only gone though the sixth grade. It only goes to show that a man doesn’t need a Ph.D for God to use him as a mentor.

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William James Roop

Author Page

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

A Help Meet

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Charles Spurgeon Unprepared for Sunday!

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One Saturday evening in 1856, Charles Spurgeon was to preach on Psalm 110:3, but he could not come up with anything for the next morning. He and his wife, Susannah, were both concerned. “I was as much distressed as he was, but I could not help him in such an emergency… but the Lord had a great favour in store for me, and used me to deliver His servant out of his serious embarrassment,” she said. “He sat up very late, and was utterly worn out and dispirited, for all his efforts to get at the heart of the text were unavailing. I advised him to retire to rest, and soothed him by suggesting that, if he would try to sleep then, he would probably in the morning feel quite refreshed, and able to study to better purpose.”

Charles went to bed hoping he would have something after he got up early. “If I go to sleep now, wifey, will you wake me very early, so that I may have plenty of time to prepare?” Charles asked. In his sleep Susannah heard him talking in his sleep. “A wonderful thing happened. During the first dawning hours of the Sabbath, I heard him talking in his sleep, and roused myself to listen attentively. Soon, I realised that he was going over the subject of the verse which had been so obscure to him, and was giving a clear and distinct exposition of its meaning, with much force and freshness.”

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She scribbled down his words. Spurgeon overslept the next day and was upset that he had overslept, knowing he wasn't ready for the service. Susannah handed him the notes. He was elated. “That is the true explanation of the whole verse!” Spurgeon exclaimed. “And you say I preached it in my sleep?” he was amazed, “It is wonderful,” he repeated over and over. That very morning Spurgeon preached from Susannah's notes.

William James Roop

Friday, February 21, 2025

Faithful Also In Much

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

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

Text: Psalm 23:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13.

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The sign in the window read: "Boy Wanted". Young John Simmons, though he was lazy, saw his opportunity and applied. He was quickly hired by elderly Mr. Peters. The pace was leisurely so he enjoyed the job.

Toward the middle of the afternoon however, he was sent up to the attic -- a dingy place full of cobwebs and infested with mice. "You will find a long, deep box there," explained Mr. Peters. "Please sort out the contents and see what should be saved." John was disappointed. It was a large container, and there seemed to be nothing in it but old junk. After a few minutes he went back to the ground floor.

Asked by the proprietor if he had completed his work, he replied, "No, sir, it was dark and cold up there and I didn’t think it was worth doing." At closing time he was paid and told not to return. The next morning the old sign "Boy Wanted" appeared in its usual place.

Crawford Hill was the next to be employed. When he was asked to tidy up the same box, however, he spent hours separating the usable nails and screws from the things to be discarded. Suddenly he raced down the stairs all excited. "At the very bottom I found this!" he exclaimed, holding up a 20-dollar bill.

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At last the store owner had discovered a conscientious boy to whom he could entrust his business when he retired. Years later Mr. Peters said, "This young man, who is now my successor, found his fortune in a junk box!" Then, correcting himself, he added, "No, he actually found it in his mother’s Bible because he heeded the verse she made him memorize: ’He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much!’"

William James Roop

Author Page

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Plug In His Power

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is a great article about using God's power in your ministry.

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ITS GOD'S DESIRE FOR YOU TO PLUG IN TO HIS POWER!

Friend, it's the Lord's desire for you to plug in to His unlimited, unending power through praying in the Spirit with the understanding! Or perhaps you've already released your prayer language, but you haven't been fully using this great gift God has given you, and you don't see His power operating in your life.

I'll tell you, what you have available to you through the power of God's Spirit is like having a rare treasure in a locked room. But it's one thing to possess that treasure in a locked room, and it's another thing to FLING OPEN THE DOOR AND BRING THAT TREASURE FORTH!

This Christian life is designed to be a thrilling experience of power, with the Holy Spirit flowing through us as believers to perform the mighty works of Jesus. But yet in so many cases we Christians are filled with timidity, and this is a terrible, tragic thing. Terror strikes our hearts when we have the opportunity to witness for our Savior and we are intimidated when we try to believe for the healing of our bodies!

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But with Holy Ghost power surging through our beings, a great fearlessness takes possession of us! We feel like we could lick a den of hungry lions! And, like those early Christians, we can proclaim the Word of God with boldness and not be intimidated in giving our testimony for the Lord. We will stop worrying about being eloquent. Besides, people are not looking for some kind of high-sounding orator. They're looking for someone who has something real in his or her heart!

THAT'S WHAT THIS WORLD IS DYING FOR, SOMEBODY WHO REALLY KNOWS JESUS!

I'll tell you, the power of God's Spirit will put within you a brand-new enthusiasm as a child of the Most High God! It will set your soul on fire until you can't stand still! It will flood your heart with the joy bells of Heaven and fill you with His glory until your cup overflows! Then you'll just have to tell somebody about Jesus! And the Lord will send you into your world ON FIRE to win lost souls to His Son Jesus

Christ!

Unleashing the power of praying in the Spirit.

By Oral Roberts.

William James Roop

Friday, February 14, 2025

Divorce?

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an article by an unknown author.

Do you remember the story of Aron Ralston from last year? Aron Ralston loves the outdoors, hiking and trekking in the mountains. Last May he was hiking alone when a boulder fell and pinned him by the arm. For five days he waited for rescue. Then, facing dehydration and death, he took an incredible decision. He took a pocketknife and slowly amputated his own arm, freeing him and allowing him to hike out to safety.

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What would it take to come to a decision like that? How desperate would you have to be to cut off a member of your own body? Would you turn to that solution quickly, or would you first explore every other possibility? Only when faced with death would a man do such a thing. So should be divorce. It is a desperate act, a self-mutilation. It is the amputation of a part of our selves. We should resort to it only in extreme circumstances.

When you take a course in wilderness survival, they rarely teach you how to cut off your own arm. Why? Because it is assumed that you won’t ever reach that state of desperation. What if our teaching on divorce was similar? What if we could go back to a time when divorce was a rarity among us and not the norm?

Scriptures: Genesis 2:24-25, Matthew 19:5-6

William James Roop

Author Page

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Holy Ghost Meetings

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“Azusa Street Holy Ghost Meetings” by Frank Bartleman.

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Brother Seymour generally sat behind two empty shoe boxes, one on top of the other. He usually kept his head inside the top one during the meeting, in prayer. There was no pride there. The services ran almost continuously.

Seeking souls could be found under the power almost any hour, night and day. The place was never closed nor empty. The people came to meet God. He was always there. Hence a continuous meeting. The meeting did not depend on the human leader. God’s presence became more and more wonderful.

In that old building, with its low rafters and bare floors, God took strong men and women to pieces, and put them together again, for His glory. It was a tremendous overhauling process: Pride and self-assertion, self importance and self-esteem, could not survive there. The religious ego preached its own funeral sermon quickly.

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No subjects or sermons were announced ahead of time, and no special speakers for such an hour. No one knew what might be coming, what God would do. All was spontaneous, ordered of the Spirit. We wanted to hear from God, through whoever He might speak. We had no “respect of persons.” The rich and educated were the same as the poor and ignorant, and found a much harder death to die. We only recognized God: All were equal. No flesh might glory in His presence.

He could not use the self-opinionated. Those were Holy Ghost meetings, led of the Lord. It had to start in poor surroundings, to keep out the selfish, human element. All came down in humility together, at His feet.

They all looked alike, and had all things in common in that sense at least.

Frank Bartleman in “How Pentecost Came to Los Angeles (1925)

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William James Roop