The Bible and Life

Friday, October 27, 2023

The Mouse that Ate The Church

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

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

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The Mouse that ate the church

A Lion lay sleeping and a Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and ran across the Lion's nose. Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his paw angrily on the tiny mouse to kill it. "Spare me!" begged the Mouse. "Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you."

The Lion was amused to think a Mouse could ever help him. But he agreed and let the Mouse go. Days later, while stalking prey, the Lion was caught in a hunter's net. Unable to get free, he filled the forest with angry roaring. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free. Aesop’s Fable.

It’s small things that destroy. The little foxes spoil the vines. Conversely, it’s small things that make things great as well. Great success comes in small steps. Many people can do great things, however, doing small things consistently well everyday is where true growth takes place. 52 weeks. 365 days.

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A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime. It doesn’t take much to let unclean things into your life. A doorway has been used do describe letting the enemy in our lives, yet it doesn’t take a doorway.

The teeth of a mouse never stop growing. It’s life depends on keeping them small enough to function. If a mouse stops chewing on things their teeth will continue to grow to a size that won’t allow them to function and the mouse will die. If we would quit giving the enemy things to chew on in our lives... the small things in our lives would die and not grow into uncontrollable issues.

So the mouse chews on plastic, rubber, paper, wood, anything to survive. The spiritual mouse? It chews on our complaining, critiquing, attitudes, and anything unclean in our lives. A mouse contaminates and corrupts. It nibbles. We shouldn’t nibble at the Word of God, we should consume it all. Whether we like it or not. Don’t pick and choose what you’re willing to adhere to.

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The people of God were told the mouse is unclean to you.

Leviticus 11:29: These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse....

Here is the crux of the matter. If we will take care of singular issues in our lives and not allow issues to multiply, we can and will win the battle.

Only the Philistines had a mice problem:

Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land... 1 Sam 6:5‬ ‭

God never intended for us to have a mice problem. And preventing that means we must take care of issues that come our way. Unclean breeds with unclean.

We should keep our teeth sharp by chewing and consuming good things. O’ taste and see that the Lord is good.

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How to keep mice out of your life.

1) Shut the door and make sure there aren’t any holes in it. Shore up the walls. Repair any breaches.

2) If you make a mess clean it up. A mouse is drawn to the unclean. If you make a mistake, repent. To continue going down the wrong road will only invite the unclean into your life. Don’t sit around in a mess you made. Clean it up and go on.

3) Clean up the crumbs. Don’t leave any amount of food out. It will attract a mouse. Before you know it, you will have mice. And they multiply fast.

We attract the unclean into our lives when we leave the Word of God unconsumed on the pews. Empower yourself by taking heed to the Word of God.

Jesus said gather up the fragments that remain that nothing should be lost. Uneaten word of God can be served again and again.

When the preacher preaches consume it all.

Everyone has probably encountered a mouse in their lives literally and spiritually. It’s what we do after that, that determines if we will have a mice problem.

Don’t allow the mouse to loose the Lion!

William James Roop

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Dimensions of the Holy Spirit

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

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

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Dimensions of the Relationship with the Holy Spirit

1. The Holy Spirit is with us to bring us to Christ.

“...He dwells with you...” John 14:16

2. The Holy Spirit is in us to make us more like Christ.

“...and will be in you...” John 14:16

"And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" John 20:22

3. The Holy Spirit is upon us to empower us to continue the work of Christ.

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"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit is in you for you.

The Holy Spirit upon you is for others.

The Holy Spirit in you is for your character.

The Holy Spirit is upon you for ministry.

William James Roop

Roop-Crappell Ministries.com

Monday, October 23, 2023

Modesty Of Dress

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

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

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Mary Quant, who took credit on inventing miniskirt and hot pants admitted that her aim of creating this was to entice men and promote licentiousness, it is designed to seduce men, whether you believe it or not.

Where in, the world accepted it and think it's fun, beautiful, gorgeous, trend and fashion!

It's the world, it's given - it's common.

But, Christian ladies, examine what kind of dresses you are wearing everyday, make sure it does not give any provision to the devil, to draw men to your body to lust thereof, but dressed Modestly in a way that every men may see Christ in you and start to think and be curious who is He that is in you!

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To say, "it's his problem if he lust" shows disobedience to God. Be not an stumbling block to your brethren.

1 Samuel 16:7 says, "...man looketh on the outward appearance." If Clothing is worn that attracts attention to the body, it can cause some men to sin just as surely as Bathsheba was instrumental in king David's sin.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 (KJV) In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

A Modest Choice

William James Roop

Saturday, October 21, 2023

The Father

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is an article by an unknown author that I am sharing.

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It is erroneously stated that Oneness Apostolics deny the Father. This is not possible. Without the Father, which is a title, there wouldn’t be a Son, which is also a title. The Father is a singular Holy Spirit. God is invisible and will NEVER be seen by anyone. The only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, which is Jesus Christ, hath declared Him. The word declared means to unfold…. The Father is that one omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, invisible Spirit that is resident and manifest in the Son - hence the Son. The Son is not eternal. There was a day the Son was begotten.

It must be dismissed that The Father sits on the throne and Jesus is kneeling or standing next to Him. God is invisible and that will Never change. Jesus is the image, the only image, of that invisible God.

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We have been programmed to conjure up images of the Father, which is natural. When you say Father and Son you automatically think of two. Yet, our God is one Lord. How can this be? That One Spirit became flesh. God sent His Son is rendered and understood to be by revelation that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

…until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ

In his times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of Lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. 1 Tim ‭6.

The Father can’t sit on the throne because the Father is an invisible Spirit, He is an invisible Spirit and always will be. Who sits on the throne? The Son of God. Who is the Son of God? The manifestation, the declaration, the image or the icon of God.

Thomas wanted to see the Father, Jesus said when you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father. No man will ever see God, we will never see the light of God.

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His Name shall be called - Jesus shall be called - Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. These are names ascribed to the child that would be born. The government shall be on His shoulder. This was the cross that He would bear.

Jesus was

The Lamb

The High priest

Bread of Life

The Mercy Seat

The Blood on the Mercy Seat

The Veil that was rent in Twain signified His flesh.

How can Jesus be the Father and the Son? The same way He can be the Lion and the Lamb. The same way He can be the first and the last. The same way He can be the beginning and the end. The same way He can be All there is.

Jesus is the song of Heaven

Jesus is the light of Heaven

Jesus created the Heavens - all things were made by Him - Who is Him? Jesus - and for Him. Jesus made the throne that He sits on.

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Stephen saw the Glory of God - and Jesus. Would it surprise you to know that the one who is and was the first and the last, the Lion and the Lamb is also the the Glory of God? Jesus is the brightness of His Glory. Jesus is the visible manifestation of the Invisible God.

There is no office that Jesus does not fill. Pull back the curtain of the Father, you’ll find Jesus. The greatest name in this world and the world to come? Jesus Christ.

It’s blindness that causes anyone to say that God’s name is God. Jesus called Satan the god of this world. That’s emphatic, empirical proof that g-o-d is not a name. Judas is known as the son of perdition. That’s emphatical, empirical proof that s-o-n, is not a name.

There is only one name - Jesus. Is His name Jehovah? Jesus means Jehovah has become our salvation. All of the compound names of Jehovah in the Old Testament are found and revealed in Jesus Christ.

The compound names of Jehovah or Yahweh found in the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jehovah Jireh - the Lord will provide - Jesus

Jehovah Rapha - the Lord who heals - Jesus

Jehovah Nissi - the Lord is my banner - Jesus

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These and many more reflect God's character and His relationship with humanity.

In that day there shall be One Lord and His Name one.

You can’t cast out a devil by saying father, son, or Holy Ghost.

Jesus said in my name you shall cast out devils

At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow

Repentance and remission of sins shall be preached in His Name

The lame man was healed by the Name of Jesus Christ, and it’s the only Name given under heaven whereby we must be saved.

“Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD?

and there is no God else beside me;

for I am God, and there is none else.

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That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Isaiah‬ ‭45.

“that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians‬ ‭2

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour - Isaiah 43:11 - Jesus is that savior.

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

There is no office He does not fill

There is no sickness He cannot heal - that’s Jesus.

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There are no songs written about any other god. There are no sermons preached about any other name. Preach about Jehovah, it will lead you to Jesus. Preach about One God, it will lead you to Jesus. Preach about one Lord, you’ll be preaching about Jesus. Preach about healing? You’ll be preaching about Jesus. Jesus saves - Jesus Heals. Jesus delivers - it’s the Son that sets us free. That’s Jesus. Who died and rose again? Jesus. Who is Jesus going to present the church to? Jesus. Himself. From Genesis to Revelation, it’s Jesus. From the rising of the Son to the going down of the same it’s Jesus!

Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and that emphatically means there is none above Him. He is subservient to none. That’s the voice of God. He thought it not robbery to be EQUAL with God. Jesus said my Father is greater than I - Jesus was saying The Spirit is greater than this flesh.

Who being in the form (external appearance) of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. He was God manifest in the flesh. God revealed. Jesus is the only God we will ever see. There are not two - there is only one person of God. It was Job that said will you accept His person? There are not three persons. There is only one. There is only one Lord - Jesus is that Lord. There is only One Spirit, Jesus is that Spirit. There is only one name, Jesus is that Name. There is only one potentate. Jesus is that Potentate. There is only one King, Jesus is that King. There is only one throne - Jesus sits on that throne.

William James Roop

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Things That Break God's Heart

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

Here is a list of unbelief we should stay away from.

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Things that Break the Holy Spirit’s Heart!

1. A persistent life of disobedience (Is 63:10).

2. When we make a commitment to the Lord and don’t make good on that promise (Acts 5:3).

3. When we reject His messengers (Acts 7:51).

4. When we harden our hearts during hard times (Heb 3:7-8).

5. When we intentionally hurt others (Eph 4:30).

6. When we fear men more than we love Him (1 Thess 5:19).

7. When we credit the devil with miracles done by the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10).

William James Roop

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

The Gift of Apostleship

Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!

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

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Maybe consider this… that Apostles don’t “rule” over cities; they are sent to them.

They don’t “rule over” nations; they simply go there.

They are not a governmental rule over a physical location.

I am asking you to re-consider the biblical pattern.

Apostleship is a gifting. It’s a function. It is not a power-position. It is a ministry of servanthood to Christ to carry on the ministry of reconciliation in the dynamic of planting and establishing outposts of the kingdom in unreached areas. Apostles establish EKKLESIA (an executive branch of an existing government - in this case, the Kingdom of God - in a territory).

This is one of the many reasons why Pastors and others have been so resistant to the idea of apostleship - the idea that Apostles and prophets are “higher” rather than “different” has been problematic in the very consideration of employing these giftings. It is also one of the reasons that we are often pressured to re-define or dilute biblical apostleship.

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Paul explains apostleship in 1 Corinthians 2. It’s not glamorous. It’s closer to a death sentence by giving your life to kingdom work.

In our modern corporate minds everything is bent on hierarchy and positional leaders.

We have a pyramid mentality of “church” where the most important are at the top, the definitely important are in the middle and the least important are at the bottom. Five fold ministry giftings are then perceived as upper positions rather than servanthood ministries and so the pursuit to clamor after them has made many stark raving mad and the existing upper leadership (pastors) incredibly gun-shy.

When we lose that pyramid mindset we will shut down the power-struggles and the need for the apostle and prophet to have such demonstration and super-powerful ministries in order to prove themselves worthy of such a high calling (in our minds). That in itself is a dangerous door; pursuit of gfts and the supernatural has caused many a called man to stumble into serious imbalance and even venture into the New Age and the demonic while pushing to give his display of proof for who he is.

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Once these are seen as different giftings with diverse operations rather than hierarchical governing positions then those who function in “five fold ministry” can come together without fear of territorialism, take-over-ism, and elitism being debated.

We don’t have that expression of apostles and prophets at “ruling over” territories at all in Scripture. We do find them operating in the power of Christ wherever they go; and it’s simply an outflow of their relationship with and declaration of Jesus Christ. In fact the synonym for “authority” is “responsibility” - and that is the servanthood functionality in its rawest form.

In fact, we find that those who operated in apostleship and the prophetic were sent by the church; they went to different people groups and cultures to preach Jesus and the Kingdom; and from within that place the bi-product would be a community of believers planted and established in Christ as the preeminent one and functional Head and those believers being equipped to follow after the indwelling Spirit of Christ.

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Apostles would later appoint elders in those church plants to oversee (not be the Head).

There is a constant continuation in Scriptural example of those who functioned in apostleship going forth and reaching into new cities, nations, and territories to preach the gospel as itinerant church planters and then maintaining connection with those plants to help re-center them when needed.

It’s an obvious New Testament pattern; city, national, or regional “rulership” is not. A man can operate in apostleship in Africa but that doesn’t mean he is the Apostle “over” Africa even if he is sent to Africa.

If you want to see what a church government “ruling” over cities and nations looks like, look deeply at the Catholic Church and it’s hierarchical set up for the past 1,500 years. We don’t need to re-vamp their ideas for the now. We simply need a revolution back to Century One Church.

With the hierarchical and territorial set-up, there is an absolute open door for…

Doctrines to be corrupted.

Power becomes pursuit.

The supernatural is misrepresented.

Money is mishandled.

The bride of Christ loses her place.

Ministry is capsized.

Spiritual abuse occurs.

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We must be careful in our pursuit of the Century One Church to not be distracted by that which has always seemed to destroy the body of Christ.

Maybe consider this…

William James Roop