In these days when the world preaches and teaches that your success is judged by how many people serve you, let me remind you that in God’s eyes, your success in this life is measured by how many people you serve!!! (Author Unknown)
Will You Be Happy If You Have Everything You Ever “Wanted”? Friday, Jun 29 2007
Bill Keller 11:51 am
16)Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (17)”Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” (18)”Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, ” ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, (19)honor your father and mother,’and ‘love your neighbor as
yourself.’” (20)”All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” (21)Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (22)When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Matthew 19:16-22 NIV)
When we encounter Christ, what do we do? Today’s passage of Scripture is that powerful story of the rich young ruler. It is a story I have incorporated into my personal testimony that I have shared with millions over the past 17 years through live appearances, television and radio broadcasts, print interviews, and over the Internet. What makes this
encounter between the rich young ruler and Jesus so moving is that it does not have a happy ending. When forced to choose between Jesus and the world, sadly, this rich young ruler chose the world. Today, many of you are being confronted by Jesus, and just like this rich young ruler, you have to choose Jesus or this world.
The encounter between this rich young ruler and Jesus is the same encounter people have with Christ everyday. No doubt this was a man who was very successful by the world’s standards. He had all you could ever want in this life. However, deep down, he knew something was missing in his life. He had obviously heard about this teacher named Jesus and approached Him one day, asking the Lord what good deeds he must do to receive everlasting life. This makes sense since successful people are usually very goal oriented. They are used to performing. So it only makes sense that even in spiritual
matters, they are looking for the bottom line, what do they have to do to succeed.
This is why a cult like Scientology flourishes and appeals to successful people, especially people in the entertainment industry. It is a cult strictly based on works and money. Successful people are used to buying their way into the best clubs, the best restaurants, buying the best cars, the best homes, the best of whatever this world has to offer. They
understand the mentality of work hard, achieve a goal, and purchase whatever you want. So when it comes to the spiritual side of their life, they are ripe candidates for a lie from the pits of hell like Scientology that tells a person that with enough good works and enough money, they are assured of being part of the spiritual elite, just like they are part of the elite in this life.
Jesus shared with this rich young ruler some of the commandments and the young ruler affirmed he had followed those commandments. Then Jesus shared with this young man the price of following Christ. He told this young ruler to go sell all that he had, give it to the poor and then come follow Him. Now I have heard many people over the years incorrectly use this passage of Scripture as an indictment against having wealth. That is NOT what Jesus was saying. Christ in His omniscience knew that as long as this rich young ruler had all of his possessions, he would never put Jesus first in his life.
You see my friend, when you have been blessed with lots of material possessions, lots of money, the trap so many fall into is thinking they are sufficient unto themselves, that they don’t need anyone else, even God. When you have the ability to do whatever you want, go wherever you want to go, buy whatever you want to buy, you get the false sense that you are in control. While having money and possessions does give you a certain amount of control over your life, there is still so much that you are NOT in control of and never will be. Your faith and trust is in yourself and in your money, not in God. In most cases, it is not even the money as much as it is the power, the ego, the pride that comes with having wealth and possessions. Those things are actually more difficult to let go of than the money.
The sad ending of this encounter comes in the 22nd verse when the Bible says, “he went away sad.” The bottom line, He rejected Christ and chose the world. When it came time to make his choice, he chose his money and possessions over Jesus. This story is personal to me because there were many times, not just once, during the decade of my life that I was running from God and enjoying all of the success this world could offer, when I had
this same encounter with the Lord. In my case, He was not even saying sell all I had. He was simply saying, leave the business world and come and follow me. Time after time, Christ gave me the opportunity to turn from the things of the world and surrender my life to Him. Time after time, I chose the world over following the Lord.
I was blessed that God loved me enough to allow things to happen in my life that caused me to finally surrender to Him. Sadly, it took losing everything, including my freedom for that to happen. How much easier my life would have been if I had only listened to the Lord earlier. A short version of my testimony is on my website at www.liveprayer.com under Founder’s Testimony. Also, here is a link to a story done by a secular publication a few years ago that gives a very fair and detailed account of my life, http://www.weeklyplanet.com/2003-12-04/cover.html . We don’t know whatever happened to the rich young ruler. I pray that at some point before he died, he did make the choice to follow Christ.
I love you and care about you so much. I know many of you reading this today are like the rich young ruler. You know deep down inside that something is missing from your life. You have heard about Jesus. In many cases, you have done your best to follow God’s commandments but I am here today to tell you that isn’t enough. You see my friend, you will never be good enough to earn everlasting life, that is God’s gift to you. You can’t
earn it, you can’t buy it, it is only available by faith in His Son Jesus Christ. When you ask Christ into your heart and life by faith, you are surrendering your life to Him. The Bible proclaims that it is no longer your life, but His. He gave His life in payment for your sins, and you in turn give your life to Him.
Like the rich young ruler, like Bill Keller many times, you can choose to reject Christ and hold onto your life. But think about it, what are you holding onto? The reality is, your life will be over one day, sooner than you think. At that point you will pass from this short journey into eternity and those who don’t know Christ as their Savior will spend that
eternity forever separated from God your Creator. What you do when you reject Christ is forfeit the treasure of eternal life with Christ for a few days of whatever scraps this world can offer. Clearly not a wise choice.
Today, you are having an encounter with Jesus just like that rich young ruler did we read about in Matthew 19. You have a choice to make today, since the Bible proclaims, “Today is the day of salvation.” Will you choose Jesus, or go away sad. If you want to choose Jesus today, pray and ask God to open your heart, then read the words at: www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.html .
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at:
bkeller@liveprayer.com
***ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY? The fact is you will die one day. At that moment, you will either spend eternity with the Lord or be cast into everlasting darkness forever separated from God your creator. To know for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to: http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.cfm
***I am excited to let you know that the Liveprayer Daily Devotional is now available via AUDIO each day. Simply go to http://www.liveprayer.com/Audio.cfm Also, you can now listen to the Daily Devotional by phone by calling, 1-845-510-2722
Jude (The General Epistle of) Friday, Jun 29 2007
Columnizer and Jude and Ritten 11:35 am
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Romans 16 Thursday, Jun 28 2007
Bible and Columnizer and Ritten and Romans 6:50 pm
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household.
Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason and sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Amy and Joey Wednesday, Jun 27 2007
Bill Keller 8:25 pm
Amy and Joey, a case study of lives in rebellion to God. One of the predominant themes I drive home often is that living life your way never works, living life God’s way always works. A companion theme is that sin costs. You can’t sin and not pay a big price, usually greater than you ever imagined. Two people who dominated the headlines in the early 90s are back in the news again, Amy Fisher who the press dubbed the “Long Island Lolita”
and Joey Buttafuoco. I wish I could say that their outrageous tabloid lives had no resemblance of how people really live, but I can’t. I am dealing with them today because even though you may say who could ever live like that, I deal EVERY DAY with people who choose to live just like Amy and Joey have. When you live your life in rebellion to God and the Truth of His Word, there is virtually no limit to the depravity a person is capable of.
To refresh your memory, Fisher was a 16 year-old high school student living in Bellmore, New York in May of 1991 when she began an affair with Joey Buttafuoco, a 34 year-old married body shop owner. The affair continued for a year when in May of 1992, now 17, Fisher went to Buttafuoco’s home in Massapequa, New York and rang the doorbell. When Buttafuoco’s wife Mary Jo opened the door, Fisher shot her in the head. Mary Jo survived, but was left paralyzed on the right side of her face. Fisher was charged with
multiple counts including attempted murder, but ended up pleading guilty to one count of aggravated assault and in December of 1992, was sentenced to 5-15 years in prison. She served 7 of those years and was released in 1999. Buttafuoco was eventually convicted of statutory rape in October 1993 and served a whopping 4 months in jail for his crime and has been in and out of jail for insurance fraud and illegally possessing ammunition.
These two are now back in then news. Fisher who is now 32, is divorcing her husband of 3 years who she has two children with to move in with Buttafuoco, who is now 50. They will live together in “Dr. Phil’s House” to receive counseling in what is clearly nothing more than an opportunity for them to make some money and be back in the “spotlight.” I have been telling you for many years that Dr. Phil, who is a creation of Oprah (she owns his program and him), is one of TVs false hope merchants since his advice and counsel is
NOT from the Bible, but the pop-psycho babble the world dispenses. He is not there to help people, only use them and exploit them for ratings like he is doing with Fisher and Buttafuoco. It is very sad that he has sold his soul for a few minutes of fame and a few dollars. It is even more sad the number of people who hang on his every word. He is living proof, however, that people are looking for hope and answers, it is just too bad they don’t get what they really need from him.
As bizarre as this story is between Amy and Joey, the fact is it fascinated a nation in the early ’90s, and has captured the national spotlight again. PEOPLE LOVE SIN! I realize most people who are reading this can’t believe people actually live like these two, but you might be shocked at how many really do. I hear every day from people whose lives are as twisted and broken as Fisher’s and Buttafuoco’s. Some much worse! Again, when people
choose to live in utter rebellion to God and His Word, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! The fact is, they often don’t even realize their lives are a mess! They simply don’t know any better and have never experienced the true joy and peace and abundance of this life, so they don’t even fully comprehend how sad their lives really are.
Eventually, most people do reach a place when the consequences of their rebellion to God catches up to them and they realize there has to be a better way to live. That is when they are open to someone telling them how their life can be better. That is when they are open to someone who can give them the answers they are looking for. This is the reason why we must be in the marketplace, we must be bold and visible with the message of hope through Jesus Christ. When people come to that place in their life, we have to be there, accessible, sharing with them the uncompromised Truth of God’s Word that can help them to change their life. I get the joy every day of seeing people who have turned to Christ and God’s Word and can’t believe how God dramatically changed their life. They tell me each day they now wake up with real hope and a peace and joy they never knew was possible!
I love you and care about you so much. Sadly, Amy and Joey are only interested in whatever fame and money can come from their getting back together after 15 years. They both were living lives in rebellion to God when they met in the ’90s. Their rebellion to God caused them to make choices that destroyed their lives and the lives of those around them. Fast forward 15 years later and they’re still living in rebellion to God as they continue to pile one sin on top of another. Sadly, Dr. Phil isn’t really looking to help them, only exploit their tragic lives for his own personal gain. We can only pray when nobody cares about them any longer, when the TV cameras are gone and the money is spent, they will both really open their hearts to the only true hope there is, Jesus! I pray that they both will turn their lives to the Lord, since He is their only hope for the rest of
this life and for eternity.
I am praying for you today as well. Your life may not be the soap opera train wreck that Amy and Joey’s is, but the fact is whenever we choose to live in rebellion to God life doesn’t work and there is a huge price to pay. I pray today that the Lord will speak to your heart through these words, and that you will take a look at the choices you are making. Are those choices in accordance with God’s Word? Are you living life your way or God’s Way? For many of you, God is trying to get your attention today. He is giving
you this opportunity to make the changes you need in your life. Your sins will cost you more than you ever expected to pay and destroy your life and the lives of those around you. By simply surrendering to the Lord and following God’s Word, you can know the joy, peace, and abundance this life can offer. God loves you and He wants the very best for you.
Fisher and Buttafuoco’s lives are a case study of those who choose to live in rebellion to God. You can look back and see the price of their rebellion. Sadly, their rebellion will be on public display again very soon. I pray that it will be a reminder to people that living life our way never works, that God can’t, won’t, and doesn’t bless sin. May their lives
be an example that sin carries a huge price tag. When we choose to live our lives in accordance with God’s Word life works. That doesn’t mean it is perfect since we live in an imperfect world, but it works. It also allows God to bless us. God loves to bless His children. God’s blessings flows from our obedience. When we are following the Lord, following His Word, we can count on God’s blessings to flow in our lives. Those who choose to live their lives in obedience to God are a case study of His blessings!!!
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at:
bkeller@liveprayer.com
***ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY? The fact is you will die one day. At that moment, you will either spend eternity with the Lord or be cast into everlasting darkness forever separated from God your creator. To know for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to: http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.cfm
***I am excited to let you know that the Liveprayer Daily Devotional is now available via AUDIO each day. Simply go to http://www.liveprayer.com/Audio.cfm Also, you can now listen to the Daily Devotional by phone by calling, 1-845-510-2722
Romans 15 Wednesday, Jun 27 2007
Bible and Columnizer and Ritten and Romans 2:16 pm
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Now the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans 14 Tuesday, Jun 26 2007
Bible and Columnizer and Ritten and Romans 3:14 pm
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Let us therefore follow after the things which which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Romans 13 Monday, Jun 25 2007
Bible and Columnizer and Ritten and Romans 12:51 pm
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs by subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
How Do You Know if You’re a Christian? Monday, Jun 25 2007
Bill Keller and Columnizer and Ritten 12:13 pm
However, the most alarming issue that I have found in nearly 2 decades of ministry are those who identify themselves as “Christians.” Let me say up front that being a Christian means you have made the conscious decision to ask God to forgive you of your sins and by faith ask Jesus Christ into your heart and life. You have made the conscious choice to give your life to Christ. THAT is what makes you a Christian. The fact your mom and dad are
a Christian doesn’t make you one. You don’t become a Christian by birth! Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. The pews of churches across the nation are FULL of people every Sunday who are not saved, but think they are because they sit in that pew every Sunday. Just because you were “baptized” as a baby doesn’t make you a Christian. Sprinkling water on a baby’s head doesn’t save them!
THE ONLY WAY YOU BECOME A CHRISTIAN IS BY MAKING THE DECISION TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART AND LIFE BY FAITH!
Having said that, let me take this whole “I’m a Christian” conversation to the next level, since this is what I deal with every day here at Liveprayer.com and on the TV program. I get people who identify themselves as “Christians” every day telling me that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, nothing wrong with abortion, that people of other faiths will be in Heaven! If you are a Christian, that means you are a follower of Jesus Christ and have surrendered your heart and life to Him. It is no longer your life. It also means that you BELIEVE THE BIBLE! The Bible is God’s inspired, inerrant Word, representing Absolute Truth and our final authority in all matters. It is the Book GOD WROTE! It is inconsistent to say, “I am a Christian but I do not believe what the Bible says.”
The reason people who call themselves Christians deny the Bible is the same reason any lost person denies the Bible. It condemns their choices and holds them accountable for their actions. People hate being held accountable, and that is what the Bible does. So it is easier to just dismiss the Bible with the thousands of different reasons people come up
with to try and make the case it is not really God’s Word. Well, I am sorry, you can’t be a Christian and deny the Bible! Jesus said you can’t serve two masters. You need to decide if you belong to Christ or not. If you do, you need to follow His Word, not live in rebellion to it. That doesn’t mean we don’t sin or are perfect. It does mean we do our best to obey the Lord since Jesus said, “if you love me you will obey me!”
Let me give you a quick summary of some of my other observations. The drive by those in the homosexual community to make their deviant choice of sex socially acceptable is working. The VAST majority of people in this nation do not see anything wrong with this choice of sex. Most alarming is the great job the pro-homosexual community has done in brainwashing kids that this is a perfectly acceptable way to live. Well over 80% of the young adults and school-age children in this nation see nothing wrong with
homosexuality. THIS INCLUDES KIDS WHO ARE IN CHURCH AND REGULARLY ATTEND YOUTH GROUPS! As I told you years ago, it will be very soon labeled “hate
speech” in this nation to speak out against homosexuality, even from the Bible. That is already the case in Canada and many European countries. Still don’t believe how ingrained this perversion has become? WE ARE NOW EVEN DEBATING WHAT MARRIAGE IS!
Killing babies via abortion is considered by the vast majority of people to be a choice left up to a woman. Whatever chance to see this practice of infanticide stopped has passed us by these last 6 years. We will now continue to legally slaughter over 4,000 babies a day in this nation until God finally decides to bring down His wrath on us. I still firmly believe
it will be this one issue which will ultimately bring God’s judgment on the United States. The majority of the people in this nation see nothing wrong with abortion and not only accept it, but will fight for it to continue.
Sex outside of God’s intended plan for it to enjoyed by a man and woman in the bonds of marriage is so ingrained in our culture now, people who decide to follow God’s plan represent a SMALL FRACTION of society, EVEN IN THE CHURCH! Sex outside of marriage, adultery, and every kind of perverted form of sex is totally out of control in our nation. Living together is “normal.” Sadly, sexual sin is just as big of a problem with people in the church since the church really has little impact on our culture any longer
or even in the lives of those who attend. Most churches have turned into little more than entertainment venues, and have quit preaching holiness and righteousness and judgment so they won’t “offend” anyone. Now it is all smiles, enjoy the show, drop in your dollar, and see you next week. Meanwhile, lives are being destroyed daily by those who commit sexual sins.
Speaking of the church, the biggest needs in the church are having an altar call at the end of every service, getting back to preaching the unadulterated Truth of God’s Word with boldness, and to provide the people free counseling. Many churches NEVER have an invitation for people to accept the Lord. NEVER! There are churches today that are so far away from the Bible, they don’t even believe it is God’s Word and condone blatant
since like homosexuality and abortion. People who are coming to faith in Christ in 2007 have many more problems, issues, and baggage in their lives than people who came to Christ even 20 years ago. Churches need to help their people with professional counseling to get beyond their past lives so they can be free to live in victory and grow in their faith to lead productive Christian lives.
Drug use (street drugs and abusing prescription medication) and alcohol consumption are both at all time highs. As people deal with the problems in their lives, tens of millions daily look to these forms of “escape.” Gambling and porn continue to grow and are destroying millions of lives each year. Other addictions like the abuse of food and shopping are on a steep rise. Again, these are simply ways people have found to try and escape from life’s problems rather than dealing with them. Of course in the end, not
only do they still have their original problems, they now have even greater problems due to their bondage to these different forms of escape.
So in the face of all of this, where is the hope? JESUS CHRIST! I liken this time in our nation’s history to many of the times we read about in the Old Testament when the children of Israel began to slowly turn away from God and to this world. Over time, they drifted further and further from God until they were ultimately living in all out rebellion to Him and to His Truth. It was during this time of great apostasy that God would eventually bring down His wrath on Israel. I clearly see that same scenario unfolding
here in the United States.
We are living in the last days, Jesus is coming very soon and the last chapters of human history are about to unfold. I believe prior to that happening, this nation will be judged rather harshly for our rebellion to God. What form that judgment takes I can’t tell you, but I do know God will not be mocked. However, what I also see is an unparalleled time in human history to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. It was during God’s judgment on Israel that many turned back to the faith of their fathers, and I see that happening here in the United States.
I see the difficult days ahead being a catalyst to help many come back to the God of the Bible, His Truth, and faith in Jesus Christ. The bad news is this nation is living in open rebellion to God our Creator and His Truth. The good news is that it is in this time of rebellion, as lives are being destroyed, as God takes His hand of blessings off our land, there is a great opportunity to bring people the one true hope there is, faith in Jesus
Christ! God has raised up Liveprayer at this moment in human history to be part of bringing in that last great harvest of souls. God has raised YOU up at this time for that same reason!
I love you and care about you so much! It pains me to bring you a word like the one today, but I have to be honest with you. I can’t tell you everything is great when it isn’t. I deal every day with the real lives of people who have turned away from God or never knew him at all, and the problems and consequences they live with due to their rebellion. I can tell you this from being on the front lines 7 days a week. Yes, there is GREAT
hostility to those who preach the Word of God since those who choose to live in rebellion to the Bible don’t want to be confronted with their sin. However, there are many hurting and broken lives out there, more each day, who simply want answers, who simply are looking for hope. That is why I have given my life to the preaching of the Gospel!
That is also why I have been challenging you for the last 2 years now about the Liveprayer TV program and the work here at Liveprayer.com. We are sitting on two of the most powerful communication vehicles man has ever known to reach the masses, the Internet, and a “live” hour- long TV program 5 nights a week on a major secular TV network that is able to reach 90 million of the 100 million TV households in this nation. WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO REACH THE LOST AND HURTING MASSES AND I AM WILLING TO LITERALLY GIVE MY LIFE TO GO ON THE FRONT LINES DAY AFTER DAY TO BOLDLY PROCLAIM THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD, CALLING PEOPLE AND THIS NATION TO REPENTANCE, AND WITHOUT COMPROMISE TELL PEOPLE THEIR ONLY HOPE IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
CHRIST!
One family who has made a significant financial commitment to Liveprayer wrote this, “I kept saying to myself that we should contribute more to help solve your dilemma, but everyday I would hope and rationalize that someone else with much larger resources would step to the plate and for us to help out was too much of a stretch. I kept telling myself we should help more and not wait for others, but there was this uneasiness. But then came the answer to what to do. A recent devotional (the one last weekend about the
boldness of those who mock Jesus) hit me right between the eyes. I apologize for not stepping up sooner.”
My friend, we are in a WAR for the soul of this nation and its people. I will keep putting my life out there, declaring God’s Truth and the hope we have in Christ, but I need friends like you to keep me out there on the front lines. I need your prayers and I need those who God has blessed to step up and help me financially. The Liveprayer TV program is the ONLY program on secular television that is bringing a Biblical worldview to the issues of this world and people’s lives. Each night, it is making an eternal difference in the lives of people and in the spiritual direction of this country.
We are winding down the last 4 days of May, we still have some significant work to do to meet all of our financial obligations by the end of the month. We still need apx $35,000 to take care of all of our May obligations, so now is a critical time for us. Please pray today about what God is calling you to do to help me as we end this month. I would simply ask that you pray, seek the Lord, and give as He leads you to give.
***TO GIVE A GIFT TO LIVEPRAYER, you can use your major credit card on our
secure sever at: www.liveprayer.com under the “Donation” link, you can give using your PayPal account using my email address: bkeller@liveprayer.com , or you can mail your gift to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709. All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible.
Sadly, I see the spiritual state of this nation every day and the damaged and destroyed lives of so many. God has called me to reach this nation and to bring His Truth and hope to the lost and hurting. I am doing everything I can to do that, but need you to help me. When our lives are over, the only thing that will matter is our relationship with Jesus and the only lasting legacy we leave behind are those lives we touched for the Lord along
our journey. All throughout human history, there have been those heroes of the faith who sold out and laid it all on the line for the Gospel. I am taking my stand for Jesus and am asking you today to stand with me as together, we lead our nation back to God’s Truth and the lost and hurting to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
Thank you and God bless you!
In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller
If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at:
bkeller@liveprayer.com
***ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY? The fact is you will die one day. At that moment, you will either spend eternity with the Lord or be cast into everlasting darkness forever separated from God your creator. To know for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to: http://www.liveprayer.com/bdy_salvatn.cfm
***I am excited to let you know that the Liveprayer Daily Devotional is now available via AUDIO each day. Simply go to http://www.liveprayer.com/Audio.cfm Also, you can now listen to the Daily Devotional by phone by calling, 1-845-510-2722
Romans 12 Sunday, Jun 24 2007
Bible and Columnizer and Ritten and Romans 12:47 am
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think: but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
