Caring for the Poor and Needy

(Psalm 41:1)
***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, when we accept the Lord as our personal Savior and still sin, even though we don’t mean to, will we still be judged for those sins? This is very confusing to me and I know it is for others like me.

ANSWER: Christ paid the price on the cross for ALL of our sins. However, when we sin, we forfeit the peace, joy, and abundance we should enjoy, plus, whatever consequences there as a result of our sins. the Bible talks about crowns in Heaven. Little is known about those crowns and rewards, other than they will be for our faithfulness and obedience. We don’t lost our salvation, but we probably forfeit some crowns and rewards.

I want to encourage you someday to take about an hour, sit down with your Bible, and look at all the scriptures concerning care for the poor and needy. One thing I have learned to understand about God and the way He has divinely given us His word, is when you see the same issue talked about over and over, especially throughout the Bible from the Old to New Testament, God is trying to emphasize a point. He could not be clearer as to our responsibility to help the poor.

Now of course, this immediately brings to mind mental images of the homeless, those begging on corners for food, the ones who occupy the shelters at night. But I want you to focus today, not on those who are financially poor, but those who are spiritually poor.

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, He reached out to all segments of society. To those who had wealth and resources, He tried to focus them on their bankrupt spiritual life. Jesus said, “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” Today, I want you to be aware of the “poor” people you may come in contact with every day, not financially poor, but spiritually poor.

We have a responsibility to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, the hope and love of Christ with these people just as we would share a meal with someone who is hungry. It is not an option, but an obligation we have as followers of Christ to reach out to those who are hurting and need to know there are answers beyond the things of this world.

I am going to pray today that you take this challenge to heart and really focus, not just on the visibly poor you may see each day, but also those who may have much worldly riches, but be broke spiritually. You see, in those difficult times we all face in life, losing a loved one, moving, changing jobs, troubles at home, whatever the issue may be, money can rarely help. Only the strength, wisdom, and love of Christ can get us through those most difficult times in our life.

Open your eyes today and look at those around you who may need a spiritual handout today to make it!
I love you and care for you. Thanks you for all you do. I deeply care about you. Pray today about helping those who are spiritually poor in your life. Also,pray about standing with me today in support of our work here at Liveprayer.com as we feed the “poor” daily. It is no accident you are receiving the Daily Devotional each day, and no accident God is speaking to your heart right now. Listen and be obedient as we give each day to those who need His hope and love!!!

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
Charles C Christopher
(C)opryright 2012, Live Prayer Church, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Each Day You Must Choose to Serve Sin or Serve God

(Judges 13:24, 14:3; 16:1, 16:21, 16:30)

***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, if the anti-Christ is alive today, does he know he’s the anti-Christ or will this not become apparent to him until later?

ANSWER: Great question. I honestly am not 100% certain, though, I have a feeling someone who has the incredible abilities to bring together a one-world government, a one-world-economy, and a one-world religion, may even feel they are inspired by God! Another thing, none of these things are possible simply thru brute force, so the anti-Christ will be an incredibly charismatic, incredibly intelligent, incredibly gifted person to bring together the world under one single banner. Of course, once in control, the evil of one human being controlling the world will become apparent. Very scary.

No matter how long you have been saved, no matter how greatly God is using your life, the fact is that we each wake up in the morning and face the choice of who we will serve that day. I have used the life of Samson in various opportunities that I have had over my years in the ministry when I was speaking to pastors or men’s groups. Samson’s life is very applicable for this message today in regard to the choice that you will make today, and every day, as to exactly WHO you will serve.

Samson was miraculously born to a mother who was unable to conceive a child. He was dedicated to God’s service even before he was conceived. While many may scoff at this, I have known many women who were unable to have children, but after much prayer and seeking God, their once barren womb brought forth life! Just in the short 60 months Liveprayer has been online, we have had 2 such births that I can recall off of the top of my head. Samson was dedicated to the Lord’s service, grew up being taught all about God, and the Bible says that the “Spirit of God” was upon his life.

One of the points that I want to stress, today, is that here was a man dedicated to God even before he was conceived, raised in the “church” of his day, and had a heart so close to God that the Bible even says God’s Spirit was upon him. DESPITE THIS, SAMSON, JUST LIKE YOU AND I, WOKE UP EVERY MORNING AND HAD TO MAKE CHOICES THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHO HE WOULD SERVE!

The Bible says that the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy. If you have accepted Christ into your heart by faith, the Bible says that you are saved (John 3:16, Romans 10:10, Ephesians 2:8,9). However, even though the devil can’t have your eternal soul, he can destroy your life, steal the joy, peace, and abundance, Jesus promised those who followed Him would know during our brief journey here, and kill us literally.

Over the years I have known many great men and women of God who allowed sin in their life to consume them to the point of death. One dear brother got into the bondage of drug addiction and died from an overdose. One pastor I know looked to alcohol instead of the Lord in times of trouble and alcohol eventually destroyed his liver and he died much earlier than he should have because of it. One sister who did many great things for God allowed the enemy to throw her into a state of depression to the point that she took her own life.

SATAN IS NOT THE CLASS CLOWN, A CARTOON CHARACTER, SOME MISCHIEVOUS PARTY ANIMAL THAT LOVES TO HAVE FUN. SATAN IS A VERY REAL ENEMY WHO PLAYS FOR KEEPS AND IS OUT TO DESTROY THE LIFE OF THE CHILD OF GOD, STEAL ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT THIS LIFE CAN OFFER, AND LITERALLY HELP YOU MAKE CHOICES THAT WILL KILL YOU! HE IS NOT PLAYING GAMES!

As you read through the life of Samson, he chose to turn from God over and over. Samson knew how God felt about being unequally yoked with non-believers. Samson knew God’s plan for marriage. Samson knew God forbids sex outside of marriage. Yet, Samson’s weakness was women, women who did not know or honor the God of Israel. The enemy is persistent. He will tempt the child of God over and over and over until he finds the weakness in their life. Samson’s weakness was women.

Every day, just like you and me, Samson had to choose who he would serve that day. As much as the anointing of God was on his life, even though he served God in miraculous ways, even though God used him to bless many, IT WAS SAMSON WHO HAD TO MAKE THE CHOICE EVERY DAY WHO HE WOULD SERVE. Over and over, Samson chose sin over God. Over and over, God showed his love and grace to Samson and gave him chances to straighten his life out but Samson took God’s grace and mercy for granted, refused to turn from his sin, and it was his sin that ultimately destroyed his life, stole all of the blessings God had for him, and in the end, killed him.

Let me encourage you today. If you have chosen to serve sin, have allowed things to enter into your life that God does not approve of, TODAY is the day that you can stop. Is it that easy? NO WAY! It will be the hardest thing that you have ever done but if you take the first step, God will strengthen you and help you to turn away from sin and back to Him. THE CHOICE THAT YOU MAKE TODAY COULD LITERALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE! BUT IT IS A CHOICE THAT YOU MUST MAKE. NOBODY CAN MAKE IT FOR YOU.

I love you and care for you so much. God loves you and cares for you even more. Every day, He gives you the choice to love Him and serve Him. Even those who have loved Him and served Him for many years, STILL, must make that choice each day. I pray today that you learn from Samson’s life and choose God. Every day, I get hundreds of emails from all over the world from people saying that what I write is intolerant, it isn’t for “today,” that there is nothing wrong with doing what we want.

They simply don’t understand that God loves us SO MUCH that He sent His Word to encourage us and guide us along our journey here. How He shows us to live our life is not to keep us from enjoying our life but to know the peace, joy, and abundance that this life can offer. However, He loves us enough to give us the free will to choose each day, whether we will serve Him or not. That is a choice that I will make today, and it is a choice that YOU will make today. My prayer for you is that you will choose to serve God.

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,

(1 Timothy 6:12)

(1 Timothy 6:12)

***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, my sister and I were talking about that papyrus found that mentions Jesus might have a wife and I said if he was married, it would have been written in the Bible. She said, King James and possibly others before him, took out some of the books he considered “unacceptable.”

ANSWER: First, you are 100% CORRECT. Jesus was NOT married, and did NOT have children or it would have been in the Bible. If this papyrus is even legit, it was probably from one of the SCORES of “books” written but deemed not inspired and inerrant prior to the complete canon of 66 books we recognize today as the Bible in 90ad, or after. Just like today, many “books” were written that were theologically, historically, archeologically, scientifically inaccurate and not accepted as Scripture. Just like today, there were many “cults” that took pieces of Biblical Christianity but added their own “Scriptures.” If it is not in the Bible, it is not true!

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

When is it time to fight? I don’t know too many people who really enjoy a fight. Fighting is something most children do as they grow up, mostly with their siblings. I vividly remember growing up, the oldest of 3 boys, constantly fighting with my little brothers. I started to play sports at 5, and remember many fights with my friends I grew up with over a backyard game of football that at the movement was more important than the Super Bowl. Fortunately as I got older, I realized that fighting really doesn’t solve whatever the problem is, and in most cases only makes it worse. Sitting down and working out whatever differences there were was a much better way to handle problems. However, it takes 2 parties who are motivated to work things out for problems to be resolved peacefully. Sadly, there are times in life when that isn’t possible and you are left with no other option but to fight.

That of course begs the question, what is worth fighting for? Our life. Our family. Our country. Our faith. Today, I want to hone in on fighting for our faith. I often get much encouragement and inspiration from reading about Paul’s life. As you read thru the New Testament, especially the Book of Acts, it is incredible how this man fought for the faith. I am challenged by all Paul personally endured as he fought for the faith. He literally gave his entire life from the moment he met Jesus on the Damascus Road until his work was finished and he was executed for following Jesus Christ. Between those two events, we see one of the greatest examples of fighting for our faith there ever was or will be.

You see my friend, this world that lives in open rebellion to God, His Truth, and Jesus Christ, does not want to be reminded of their sins nor told that when they die they will spend eternity in hell for those sins. Man began to rebel against God his Creator from the very beginning and nothing has changed over these past 6,000 years of human history. The very existence of the children of Israel, God’s chosen people, was often in jeopardy by those heathen peoples groups who lived in open rebellion to the one true God. God sent Jesus as the Savior for mankind, yet he was not only rejected by the world, but by His own people. For the past 2,000 years, the Christian faith has been under attack by those who rejected Christ, from the Roman emperors in the early days of the church to the governments of this world today.

THE CHRISTIAN FAITH HAS ONLY SURVIVED BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO WERE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO FIGHT FOR IT!!!

I contend that one of the main reasons the Christian faith is so weak and ineffective in our world today, especially in the United States, is that people have never really learned how to fight for their faith. We were born in a blessed and unique place and time of human history, a nation founded on its belief in the God of the Bible, the Truth of His Word, and faith in Jesus Christ. For the better part of the 236 years this nation has existed, it was clearly a Christian nation. It really wasn’t necessary to fight for the faith as so many of our brothers and sisters around the world over these past 2000 years have had to. However, over these past 40 years, we have become like the children of Israel. We have turned from God to the false gods and idols of the world. We have fallen into gross sin and debauchery. We are now living in open rebellion to God, His Truth, and Jesus Christ. While this has been happening before our very eyes, Christians who never had to fight for their faith before have sat back and done virtually nothing.

Despite growing up in the church and making a commitment to Christ at age 12, I spent the decade of my 20s like Saul, persecuting God’s church. I wasn’t involved in killing Christians or trying to destroy the church, but in living my life for the temporal pleasures of the flesh and this world, in rebellion to the Bible and Christ, I was doing my part to contribute to the destruction of the faith. I thank God every day that 20 years ago I had my encounter with Jesus in the cell of a Federal Prison. It was at that moment I dedicated the rest of my life to the Lord and began to fight for the faith, a fight I will be engaged in until my work here is finished and God calls me home.

I realized quickly that the real fight for our faith was taking place in the marketplace. It was clear very quickly why the lost world we live in was winning and we were losing, we had abandoned the marketplace many years ago and retreated behind the four walls of the church to safety. We literally left the marketplace to the scavengers of satan. We are responsible for abortion on demand. We are responsible for the mainstream acceptance of homosexuality and gross sexual perversion. We are responsible for the decimation of God’s Holy Institution of Marriage and the family. It is easy for us to blame satan, but the reality is we abandoned the marketplace and left it to satan to have his way.

Let me share with you something I have learned over these past 20 years of fighting for the faith. If I wake up tomorrow and decide I am simply tired of fighting, I’ve done my part for 2 decades now let someone else do it, the world will keep spinning. People will be born and people will die. In the end, God’s plan will unfold. This is about me being faithful to what God has called me to do. You see, I have no other choice. I’ve given my life to Him. God has raised me up in these last days to fight for the faith. When I take my last breath it is not some man I will stand before, but God Himself. He is the one who I will answer to and who will judge me. I will keep fighting for the faith until my work here is over because I have committed my life to serving the Lord.

What keeps me going is the changed lives I see each and every day. People who come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. People who God touches in a miraculous way. Every day I watch the hand of God working in people’s lives all over this world. I also never forget that God never gave up on me. It would have been easy for Him to write me off and let me live a life of rebellion, but He loved me enough to reach out to me and let me know He had a better plan for my life. He has given me a peace and joy that words can’t describe, and despite the battles, the weariness, He has given me a life of abundance I could have never imagine. Not the temporal abundance of this world, but the true abundance of the eternal things of God. That is why I get up each day, put on the armor, and fight for the faith!

I love you and care about you so much. Liveprayer is in a very real fight for our continued existence. After 13 years, satan knows the only way to silence our voice is by blocking our finances, to literally destroy God’s work here by keeping us from being able to freely minister to people around the world each day through the Daily Devotional and by TV. We have come to a place where we either do nothing and allow our work to die, or we fight and encourage those who can help us save to souls and help turn this nation back to God and HIS Truth!

We have become a huge target for satan over the years because there is nobody on the internet communicating with the vast numbers of people we do around the world on a daily basis. Also, because of the firm Biblical stand I take on the issues of the day, we have made an incredible number of enemies who would love to see Liveprayer wiped off the Internet. We have faced many challenges over the years, but this is the most serious effort ever mounted to try and destroy Liveprayer. I know the future of this ministry will be determined in the coming weeks, as we seek to make it to January when we have the opportunity to debut a 24/7 “LIVE” prayer channel on TV, also accessible to people worldwide via their wireless device. That is why I am confident that God will see us through and we will prevail with your prayers and help.

I will be praying for you as well. I pray that as you have watched me take my stand for our faith each and every day these past 13 years, to boldly and without fear go into the marketplace and fight for the faith, it will inspire you as well. Everyone who prays, everyone who sacrifices to give, is fighting for the faith with me. That is why Liveprayer, with no money other than what people give each month, has been around 13 years and has impacted tens of millions of lives around the world for Christ, seeing over 600,000 souls we know of come to faith in Jesus!

GOD HAS HONORED OUR SACRIFICE FOR HIM! Let me encourage you today to rise up and fight for the faith where you live. There is a world around you that is lost, hurting, and souls dying every day and going to hell. There is nothing more precious you will ever fight for since Christ is the only hope for this world and each person. In the end, when your life is over, God will honor you as you hear those words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant!”

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller and Charles C Christopher