Daily Devotional for Tuesday August 28, 2012

Why Doesn't Satan Just Quit

(Revelation 20:10)

***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, having pondered man made weddings, where did all this extra paraphernalia come from? The excessive everything, even going into debt, the vows people say which are not in the Word of God, the wedding dresses, the gifts? Understand viewed this is a wonderful God given commitment and beautiful day but having seen so much that is not of him involved in this day I feel God has shown me it is not of him. Can you help me?

ANSWER: Marriage is both a legal and holy union of a man and woman for life. Just like the world has perverted and commercialized Christmas, which is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, so the world has perverted and commercialized this wonderful moment when a man and woman vow before each other, witnesses, and God, their lives to each other. Having officiated dozens of weddings, I use Biblical passages for the vows, and meet with the couple several times prior to the wedding to insure they both fully understand the commitment they are making to each other and God. I also challenge them to stay focused on the spiritual aspects of their day, and not allow themselves to get so caught up in the way the world celebrates weddings.

We know from Scripture that satan has read the Bible. In Matthew chapter 4 when Jesus was in the desert fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, He was tempted by satan. During the temptation of Christ, satan quoted verses from the Bible to Jesus. Of course, being the great perverter that he is, he purposely misquoted the verses

So the logical question is, "Why doesn't satan just quit, just give up?" Actually, the answer to that question can be found in our own rebellion to God. I think back on the 10 year period of rebellion in my life. There was rarely a day that I didn't know deep down the way I had chosen to live was wrong. God continually tried to talk to me during those years, but I was not interested in listening.

You see, here is the problem with sin. When you have allowed sin into your life and are living in rebellion to God, SIN CONTROLS YOUR LIFE! Over time your heart becomes hard, you become blind to the truth, and you become a servant to sin. You actually start living for your sin. Your sin consumes you and becomes the number one priority in your life.

Deep down, you know you are wrong. Deep down, you know that you are in complete rebellion to God regardless how the enemy helps you to justify what you are doing. Deep down, you know there will be a huge price to pay but you are so lost in your sin you don't care. You are like a car traveling down a narrow mountain road in the dark with no brakes. It is not a matter of if you end up crashing, only when, and how much damage will there will be.

This is what makes sin, living in rebellion to God so foolish. YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE AN ENDING AND IT WILL BE VERY UNPLEASANT. But you continue in your sin, in your rebellion to God anyway. THAT, is exactly where satan is at and why he doesn't quit. Even though he already knows in the end he will lose and be cast for eternity in the Lake of Fire, he is committed to living in rebellion to God for as long as God allows it.

Here is the message that I am trying to bring home to you today my friend. If you are in bondage to sin in your life, if you are living in rebellion to God today, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE! The good news for you today is that you can stop right now, go to God, ask Him to forgive you and not only be forgiven but cleansed from all unrighteousness. You don't have to end up in the hospital, a rehab clinic, jail, or divorce court to stop living in rebellion to God. You can cry out to God today and find freedom from the bondage of whatever sin you are in.

I love you and care about you so much. I realize that many of you reading this today are trapped in sin and living in rebellion to God. Sin carries a very high price. The deeper you get, the higher the price. I pray that you will cut your losses right this moment and turn your heart and life back to the Lord. God loves you very much and is speaking to you through these words today. He will give you the strength to turn from your sin and back to Him if you will just ask Him.

Even though satan continues on his mission to "kill, steal, and destroy" despite knowing he is already defeated, you can turn from your sin and living in rebellion to God and start living in victory TODAY!!!

***AUGUST FINANCIAL UPDATE: A huge thank you to everyone who was led and able to help me Friday! With just 4 days left this month, we have finally covered our shortfall from July and I am seeking the Lord today that everyone in the Liveprayer family who is able, will send the most generous gift they can so that by the end of today we can cover the $40,000 we need for our August operations as we celebrate 13 yrs of Liveprayer. $12,000 of our August operations are now weeks past due and I am asking for 4 people who can make a special one-time gift of $3,000 to help me today so we can get our past due obligations caught up, as others send what they are able to make up the balance.

Each month for 155 months now, God has used the faithfulness of those in the Liveprayer family to help us cover what we need to operate for one more month. Each sacrificing what they are led and able to give to help us meet our needs. MOST EVERYONE CAN SEND SOMETHING. LET ME CHALLENGE YOU TO GIVE A GIFT OF $13, $130, $1300, OR FOR SOME, $13,000. THAT IS $1, $10, $100, OR $1,000 FOR EACH YEAR OF SERVICE. GOD WILL MULTIPLY YOUR GIFT EXPONENTIALLY IN THE LIVES AND SOULS OF THOSE WE REACH WITH HIS TRUTH AND THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!

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.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support!

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

Bill Keller