Daily Devotional for Wednesday June 19, 2013

What God's Word Says about the Immigration Issue

(Romans 13:1-7)

***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, I am reading the ask Bill question today and my problem is I don't love myself! So evidently I cannot love others correctly. How does one learn to love theirself?

ANSWER: Here is a good starting place. God loves you, UNCONDITIONALLY! Jesus loved you enough to die for your sins. If they love you THAT much, shouldn't you love yourself also? No matter how others view us, even those closest to us like our spouse, our family, doesn't change God's love for us nor should it affect how we view ourselves. We all have parts of our life we need to do better, but we always will. Here is the key, we love ourselves because the Lord first loved us, and it is from there, that we in turn love others...even when they aren't very lovely!

Outside of the various scandals plaguing the government, no dobut the biggest issue this summer is the potential legislation for comprehensive immigration. I have been sad to see "Christian" groups trying to make theological arguments in support of what really is nothing but blanket amnesty for those who CHOSE to break the law, with virtually NOTHING being done about using our vast modern resources to once and for all secure the borders to Mexico AND Canada!

What does God say about the immigration issue? The last I checked, there were laws in this nation governing how people who are not citizens of the United States can come here legally. It really confuses me why immigration is such a hotly debated issue. It is very simple. If you are in this country illegally, you should be deported back to your country of origin. I don't care if that means deporting 100 people, 1,000 people, or the apx. 12 million people who are in this country illegally, send them back to the country they came from!

Many argue that it is not reasonable to deport the apx. 12 million people in this country illegally. It is not only reasonable, but if we don't then we should change the immigration laws to state anyone can come to this country without any restrictions. I assure you that if you were in any other country illegally, you would be deported. Try going to say, Mexico, or Canada, without proper documentation and see what happens to you!!!

I am well aware that people argue we need the 12 million illegal aliens to do jobs that others won't. It is also argued "big business" is all for illegal aliens since they can pay them far below fair market value. Again, this is not difficult. If a business is hiring illegal aliens, prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. There are laws on the books governing this type of practice by business, enforce them!

Those in the "religious left" who support the legalized slaughter of innocent babies, same-sex marriage, the enemies of Israel, and everything else God loves and stands for in the Bible, also support allowing illegal immigrants to stay despite the fact they broke the law to get here. They claim it is the compassionate thing to do and Jesus would be all for illegal aliens. Really? I don't know what Bible they read but the Lord said to obey those in authority over us. JESUS SAID TO OBEY THE LAW, NOT BREAK THE LAW!!!

People are free to believe whatever they want in regard to this issue, but the Bible is very clear. Nowhere in the Bible does it support breaking the law. This nation, like all nations, has very clear laws regarding how foreigners can come to this nation legally. Those who break the law should be deported immediately just like you would be deported if you were in another country illegally.

I have not even dealt with the national security issue at stake. Only God knows the number of Muslims who have entered this country illegally and have "blended in," simply waiting for the right time to carry out some terrorist act on our soil. We already know far too well the number of illegal aliens involved in criminal activities like drugs, guns, human trafficking, and kidnapping to name just a few.

THE ONE JOB THE GOVERNMENT MUST PERFORM IS SECURING THE SAFETY OF ITS' CITIZENS. OUR GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED MISERABLY DUE TO NOT ENFORCING THE EXISTING IMMIGRATION LAWS THAT EXIST!!!

I love you and care aobut you so much. I realize that this is a passionate issue for many. Everyone is free to their own opinion on immigration, but I choose to go to our final authority in all issues, the Bible! God is clear that breaking the law is never acceptable. Those who have come to this country illegally have broken the law and should be immediately deported.

If Congress wants to change those laws, let them do it. But until they do, the government has a responsibility to enforce the laws that currently exist and protect the citizens of this nation from those who would come here illegally, many of those people coming here to commit other criminal acts, and no doubt, some of those who have come to commit acts of terror on our soil!

This is not a complicated issue. ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT EXIST! THAT IS WHAT JESUS WOULD SAY TO DO AND THE BIBLE COMMANDS!!!

***As we head into the final 11 days of the month, we still need to bring in $38,000 to cover our $40,000 monthly budget for June's basic operations. Every year, June, July, and August tend to be slow due to the summer, vacations, and people "unplugging." Please pray about what sacrifice you can make in the coming days to insure we have our June budget covered by the end of the month.

Liveprayer is one of the greatest bargains in ministry. For the same budget of a local church with apx 600 congregants meeting once a week, we operate literally 24/7/365, and in the time feed apx 2.4 million worldwide thru the Daily Devotional, receive and respond to 280,000 emails for prayer, do 2 hours a night, 5 nights a week of "live" TV in 40 markets and digitally available to the world, while seeing apx 2,000 souls every 7 days come to faith in Jesus. All of that for right at $1300 a day!!!

THERE IS NO BETTER INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE THAN IN GOD'S WORK HERE AT LIVEPRAYER SINCE WE DON'T USE YOUR SACRIFICE TO BUY BUILDINGS, MEANING WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND YOUR MONEY TO MAINTAIN AND UPKEEP THEM. I PERSONALLY HAVE PRODUCED UNDER THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT EVERY SINGLE LETTER AND VIDEO FRAME OF MINISTRY CONTENT FOR 14 YRS, SO I ONLY NEED A MINIMAL SUPPORT STAFF MEANING YOU ARE NOT GIVING TO SUPPORT LARGE STAFFS OF PEOPLE WHOSE PRESENCE MAY NOT EVEN BE NEEDED.

NOR DO I USE YOUR FUNDS TO BUY PRIVATE JETS, MULTIPLE MANSIONS (NOT EVEN ONE), A FLEET OF LUXURY CARS, STAY IN $10,000 A NIGHT HOTEL SUITES WHEN ON THE ROAD, OR LIVE AN OPULENT LIFESTYLE THAT YOU PAY FOR!!!

I HAVE NEVER MADE FALSE PROMISES USING SCRIPTURE OUT OF CONTEXT TO INDUCE YOU TO GIVE. WE HAVE NEVER NOR EVER WILL GIVE "LOVE GIFTS" TO BRIBE YOU TO GIVE. I WILL NEVER ASK YOU TO PLEDGE MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE. I HAVE COUNTED ON THE BIBLICAL TEACHING OF GIVING SINCE DAY ONE WHICH MAKES IT AN ACT OF WORSHIP, AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE!

94 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR GOES TO BRING GOD'S TRUTH TO THE MARKETPLACE, PRAY FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR TIME OF NEED, SAVE SOULS, AND OUR FINAL WORK FOR THE LORD, LEAD THIS NATION BACK TO GOD AND HIS TRUTH!!! ALL WE DO HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME, BUT THE LORD. IT IS NOT ABOUT BUILDING MY KINGDOM, BUT GOD'S!!! IT IS YOUR LOVE, YOUR PRAYERS, AND YOUR GENEROUS SACRIFCE THAT MAKES IT ALL POSSIBLE!!! PLEASE HELP ME TODAY!!!

You can send your gift to Liveprayer on your major credit card at our website www.liveprayer.com under the "Donation" button, or you can give from your PayPal account by using my email address, bkeller@liveprayer.com , or you can mail it to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33709 All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible Thank you for your prayers, love, and sacrificial support of all God is doing here at Liveprayer. This is a critical time in our world. Now more than ever there needs to be a mainstream voice for the truth of God's Word that is heard on a daily basis. Liveprayer IS that voice. Please pray and stand with me today as we make an impact in this lost, hurting, and dying world for the Kingdom of God! Step up to the plate and together we can take the hope and love of Christ to the masses 24/7/365!

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

Bill Keller