Daily Devotional for Monday November 30, 2009

The Manhattan Declaration: A Call to Christian Conscience or a Gutless Publicity Stunt

(Exodus 3:10; Judges 6:14; Isaiah 6:8; Acts 26:16)

The Manhattan Declaration: A Call to Christian Conscience or a gutless publicity stunt??? Let me say up front that I support 100% every word in the Manhattan Declaration. I also have great admiration for the contribution to the Kingdom many of the men and women who signed this document have made. But the fact is, it is little more than a publicity stunt by some very high-profile ministries that they can use to raise millions of dollars for their next building or jet plane, while NOTHING THEY DID will change the spritual course of this nation!!!

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IS BETTER THAN THE MANHATTAN DECLARATION......THE BIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!

Without question, the greatest problem we have in Christendom in the year 2009 is a void in real spiritual leadership. A true spiritual leader is one who has the courage and intestinal fortitude (guts) to take a stand for God's Truth regardless of what people think, say, or do. A true spiritual leader is never going to win any popularity contests since the masses live in rebellion to God's Truth. A true spiritual leader is not concerned with the temporal things of this world, so he can't be bought. A true spiritual leader will be hated, reviled, attacked in every way, and literally give his very life for the Faith. A true spiritual leader is accountable to and answers to only one person...GOD!!!

It was sickening a few months ago to see Pastor Rick Warren on "Larry King Live" say, "I wrote to all my gay friends - the leaders that I knew - and actually apologized to them." For what? For taking a Biblical stand on one of the issues that is literally ripping out the soul of this nation and causing the judgment of God on our land? I tried for years to warn people about this man who enters into unholy associations for his own benefit. Warren is more concerned with the feelings of men than the feeling of God. He is more concerned with advancing his global social agenda than the agenda of God. He actually bragged about not being an anti-gay activist and that this issue was not important to him. He said battling homosexuality was not part of his agenda.

*Note: It is always interesting to see men like Warren, Jakes, and Osteen boldly declare Christ in their pulpit, but when given the opportunity to go into the marketplace, on a mainstream secular program with the lost world watching, they parse words, become cowards, and for fear of losing their earthly position, refuse to declare the Truth of God's Word and the FACT that Jesus is the ONLY hope and the ONLY answer for this world and for each person!

Verbal and physical violence is the usual response against those who have the courage to tell the Truth. Let me be blunt. The number one reason YOU don't witness your faith like you should is the fact you don't want to be verbally assaulted by your unsaved family members, friends, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, or simply those God allows to cross your path. It is much easier to simply say nothing than to take the verbal abuse that often comes with sharing your faith. Let me ask you a serious question, one that I want you to pray about today. Are you more worried about what someone will say to you or pleasing God? That is a question only you can answer, but one you need to pray about.

Since Christians virtually abandoned the culture decades ago, the voices in the world today are all voices who deny God, reject His Truth, and mock His Son. Turn on any secular television program, radio program, read any secular publications, and what you get is a steady diet of images and messages in rebellion to God's Truth. Let me give you a great example. Political satirist Bill Maher has a program on HBO that deals with the political and social issues of our day. He openly mocks Christianity and uses his "pulpit" to blast Believers and mock the Truth. TEN TIMES more people read the Daily Devotional each day than watch his program, yet Maher has been given a HUGE VOICE in the marketplace by the secular media to spew his hatred for Christ, God's people, and the Truth of God's Word he has rejected.

This is why those who God raises up in leadership positions have got to be true spiritual leaders. Not leading people in our self-created "trough," but boldly and visibly leading people in the marketplace. I know personally of 3 current programs on TBN that have had to change their programs to comply with TBN's "Muslim friendly" requirements. I have told each of them personally they are gutless cowards to let anyone stop them from telling the Truth. They are more worried about being on TBN so they can generate donations, product sales, and attract people to their public appearances than they are telling the Truth.

The few who have ventured into the marketplace have done so with a watered-down, politically correct, "positive" message that insures nobody is offended. The problem with that is the Bible itself states that the Truth is offensive to those who reject it. How can you preach the unadulterated Truth of God's Word and not offend people? The goal is not to offend but to tell the Truth as God has clearly stated it, however, the result of telling the Truth is that people will be offended. Look at what happened to those who heard Stephen simply state the Truth. They got so "offended," they literally took him to the edge of the city and stoned him to death!

The word I have for you today is this. Don't wait for someone to lead you. You already have your marching orders from the commander-in-chief Himself! We have been ordered to go out into the highways and byways and bring in the lost. God ordered us to go into the world and preach the Gospel. Don't wait for someone to lead you, as the Nike commercial says, JUST DO IT! Go forth knowing that the arm of the Lord is with you. Know up front that you will be attacked as you enter the battle field. However, God told us in Ephesians 6 that our battle is not with flesh and blood, that it is a spiritual battle. He also has equipped us with all needed to fight and win!

Let me give you a personal testimony. Since Liveprayer began over 10 years ago, more than 5 million subscribers to the Daily Devotional have unsubscribed. There are a multitude of reasons, but from the feedback we receive well over 90% of them unsubscribed because they disagreed with what God said in His Word on a particular issue. You see, I could simply play the game, tell everyone how wonderful things are, give them a nice positive message every day, not deal with the hard realities of life, and probably have over 4 million subscribers. But I don't do this every day for numbers, or to make people laugh, but to bring God's Truth into people's lives.

Less than 1/4 of 1% of the people we reach EVER give a dime to support God's work here. I know from feedback a huge percentage will NEVER give to the work here because of the Biblical stands I take on the issues of the day. Again, I am not here to see how much money I can raise, but to bring God's Truth to people's lives. Out of the 40,000 plus emails we get each day, several hundred are some of the most vile and hateful things you can ever imagine. 8 to 10 times a month I have people literally threaten my life for simply sharing the Truth of God's Word in the Daily Devotional or on the television program. The point is, you get used to the attacks, they are simply part of taking a stand for Christ. You can't let it bother you. You have to have faith God is watching over you, and ultimately, you can never forget you aren't here to please men but please God!

Don't forget, you have the TRUTH of God on your side. Your job is simply to share that Truth with the lost and hurting. What those who hear the Truth do is than between them and God. You can't save anyone. You can't force someone how to think. You can't make a person act a certain way. Your job is simply to go forth and present the uncompromised Truth of God's Word. Never forget, you don't have to apologize for telling the Truth!!!

Even as I type these words, God is already raising up men and women who will without shame or fear or compromise, lead His people in these last days. They will be men and women above reproach, not dazzled by the trinkets of this world, but only concerned about serving their Lord. They won't be interested in the applause of men, only the "well done" from God Himself. They won't be preaching a "feel good" message to tickle the ears of the masses, but the hard Truth of God's Word. You won't find these men and women in the "trough," they will be in the public square, taking on the mouthpieces of satan who seek to lead the souls of men into eternal damnation. They won't have to ask you to follow them, you will WANT to follow them because you will know they are from God!

In the meantime, know that despite those who God raises up to lead, ALL of His children have been called to serve Him. As a follower of Christ, you don't have the option of sitting home and watching, you have been commanded to serve. Know that God will guide you each day in your service, use you right where you live, work, and play. The greatest thing a servant of God can do is simply be a vessel of God's Truth. Now more than ever, there is a void of Biblical Truth in the marketplace. If each follower of Christ would simply do their part in sharing that Truth, the world won't just be hearing the lies of satan, but also the clear Truth of God's Word.

I will be praying for you today. Praying that you will open your heart and hear God speaking to you today to step up and make a difference with your life. EVERY CHILD OF GOD HAS BEEN CALLED TO SERVE, AND EVERY CHILD OF GOD CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Know that you will be attacked for taking a stand for Christ, but that God will watch over you. Know that people may dislike you, even hate you for telling them the Truth, but your goal is not to please men, it is to please God. Go forth and tell the lost and hurting the Truth, and please, DON'T EVER APOLOGIZE FOR TELLING THE TRUTH!!!

However, this time we have the critical financial component through the Jonah Project and the Liveprayer Church. I have no doubt the Christians in the audience, and even many non-Christians who want to see this nation come back to traditional values, will not only sign up to be part of the Jonah Project, but support it financially. Also, many in the TV audience will be people who are looking for a church home, and no doubt many will become part of the Liveprayer Church. A portion of the donations to the Jonah Project and the tithes to the Liveprayer Church will go to pay for the airtime for the national radio and TV programs.

Here is the fleece I have laid before God and what I need you to pray for. There are many major secular TV networks willing to air the Liveprayer TV program live, 5 nights a week. We were told by one network after another that air the most disgusting programs you can imagine that our "content was too controversial" but are willing to air our program. I was getting very discouraged when God opened a door with a major secular network who has agreed to air the Liveprayer program "live" every Monday-Friday from Midnight-1am EDT all across the nation.

It will cost us $45,000 per night for the airtime, and we have to pay each quarter (13 weeks, 65 programs) in advance. That is $2,925,000. We can start any time. My friend, I am certain that if we can cover this first quarter worth of programs, we will be able to attract enough viewers to join the Jonah Project, as well as the new Liveprayer Church, to generate the funds we need to keep the program on the air.

I love you and care about you so much. Listen, you know my heart after all of these years. I could have taken the easy road and simply become another occupant of the Christian trough, generating millions of dollars, living a life of ease and luxury like so many others. I could have become part of the "Christian elite," played the political games, run around with the "giants" whose name everyone knows like those who singed this Manhattan Declaration.

I am not interested in fame, or money, only SOULS! I am not interested in talking about souls, but SAVING SOULS! I am not interested in acting like we are doing something while men are dying and going to hell because nobody reached out to them and told them how to be saved, while our nation is in spiritual freefall. I am only interested in making sure ALL hear the Gospel and in turning this nation back to God. I don't have any desire to be part of the religious establishment, only serve the Lord!

I am coming to you today to ask you to pray for God to move on the heart of one person, maybe two, maybe three or four, who have the resources and the heart for God to make a bold move and help me put together $3 million dollars by the end of this month. In addition to the airtime costs, we will need about $75,000 for the production costs for those 13 weeks.

The Liveprayer TV program is not some "good idea." We have done over 1650 programs over the past 7 years and have the track record to prove it is successful. We only need to have 100,000 viewers a night, a minimal number we averaged the 10 weeks we were on nationwide in 2006. Only 1% of those viewers needs to sign up for the Jonah Project and make a $40 donation, and only 1/4 of 1% need to join the Liveprayer Church with only 20% of those people tithing $100 a week, for us to cover our nightly airtime costs. That is why I am CERTAIN we now have the model in place to cover the ongoing costs of the program if we can raise the $3 million we need for the first quarter.

I know there are some very talented, gifted, and resourceful people who are part of the Liveprayer family. People God has gifted in the area of finances. I need your help! Some of you have the resources and contacts to put together a small group of 3, 5, 10, 20 people. Others have great contacts with people who love the Lord and would be excited about a real opportunity to make a difference with some of what God has entrusted into their care. IT IS GOING TO TAKE ONE PERSON GOD HAS GIFTED AND ORDAINED TO SHARE MY BURDEN, MAKE IT YOUR BURDEN, AND HELP ME PUT THIS $3 MILLION TOGETHER. PLEASE PRAY AND SEEK THE LORD IF HE IS CALLING YOU TO HELP ME!

I am well aware that $3 million is an incredible commitment, however money is all relative. President Barack Hussein Obama raised $66 MILLION IN ONE MONTH! There are people willing to pour millions into a political ideology, I know there are those who can make that same financial commitment for the eternal souls of millions and to help lead this nation back to God. The fact is, there is NOBODY that has a live daily TV program on secular TV. It is hard to put into words the incredible impact such a program can have in the hearts and lives of the millions of people who will view it each day. I assure you that this TV program can not only help lead millions of souls to faith in Jesus Christ, but be a loud voice in the marketplace of God's Truth that can lead this nation back to God and Biblical Truth.

I realize satan will stop at nothing to keep this program from airing and will cause many to dismiss this message. That is OK. It takes eyes to see and ears to hear. I am asking everyone today to please pray for the Lord to send the person or people who can help me put together this $3 million by the end of the month. Nothing on Christian TV is going to impact millions of lost souls or this nation because very few lost souls watch Christian TV, and after 40 years, the nation is in a worst spiritual condition than it has ever been in. It is clear that Christian TV has had virtually ZERO impact on our culture!

However, I know the impact the Liveprayer TV program has had over the years we have been on in Tampa and around Florida and across the nation. Even in just the 10 weeks we were on nationally in 2006, we still hear from people whose lives were impacted. It is a simple, yet powerful vehicle that can literally turn this nation back to God and His Truth. This is no doubt the last window we will have, since as the culture deteriorates, the ability to do such a program will be lost. As much money as $3 million is, it is nothing in the economy of this world. That $3 million can be the seed that helps to turn this nation back to God while helping to lead millions and millions of souls to faith in Jesus Christ.

As we head into the last day of the month, we still need to bring in right at $25,000 to cover the balance of our November financial needs, and $80,000 to cover the monthly shortfalls we've incurred since January. Please pray about making a special year-end gift to Liveprayer that may also help your tax situation. God has sustained His work here for over 10 yrs now, and there has never been a more critical time for our voice to be heard. Sadly, while so many churches and ministries stay out of the line of fire, the culture around us is in a spiritual freefall. I will keep sharing the unadulterated truth of God's Word each day while reaching out to the lost and hurting, sharing with them the hope we have in Jesus. YOU MAKE THAT POSSIBLE and I need your help today. Please pray and simply be obedient to give as the Holy Spirit prompts you. Thank you for caring aobut others and the eternal souls of men.

As we are in the last day of the month, it would be a great help to me if you are able to send a gift of $1,000 or more, to send it via FedEx or wire it to our bank. If you are able to do this, please email me at: bkeller@liveprayer.com and I will be happy to give your our FedEx account or bank wire instructions. Thank you for caring about the lost and hurting and helping me!!!

TO GIVE A GIFT TO LIVEPRAYER, you can use your major credit card on our secure server 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. Again, please pray and please stand in agreement with me for the Lord to bring the right person or people to help me by the end of this month. If God is speaking to you about this opportunity to use your life and resources to do something great for His Kingdom, please contact me at: bkeller@liveprayer.com

In His love and service,

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller