Daily Devotional for Sunday June 30, 2013
The Same Jesus that We Read about in the Bible is the Same Jesus Who is Alive Today
(Hebrews 13:8)
***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, I heard a Pastor say, "no one can change the past, not even God." How do we know that to be true and why can't, or couldn't, God change the past?
ANSWER: I am not sure the full context of that statement, but taken alone it is true. However, to fully understand that statement, it needs to be stated that it is God who already knows the future and allows whatever to occur to occur. Sadly, we often have NO IDEA why God allows certain things, but stand in our faith that if we trust Him, He will guide us through both the good times and difficult times of this journey though life.
The same Jesus that we read about in the Bible, is the VERY SAME Jesus that is alive and available to YOU today! I don't know if you have ever sat down and taken the time to fully comprehend the powerful truth of that statement or what it means for your life today. The same Jesus that we read about in the Bible is ALIVE TODAY! The same Jesus that met needs, worked miracles in the Bible, is the same Jesus that is meeting needs and working miracles THIS VERY DAY! What Jesus did for those in the Bible many years ago, He will do for you today!
The Devotional today is a bit different than most days. Last week during the opening monologue of my TV program, the Holy Spirit began to speak through me this powerful truth. We have taken the word for word transcript of exactly what I said to my television audience, and I want to share those words with you today. This would be a good day to go to the website, www.liveprayer.com and listen to the audio version of the Devotional that we post there each day, since this is a special word that you need to hear as well as read.
I pray that you will open your heart to receive this powerful truth today. I want you to know that no matter what your need is today, Jesus, not some mythical figure, but the JESUS IN THE BIBLE, is alive and well this very minute and ready to meet and exceed your every need.
(transcript from Liveprayer television program)
"Alright, I want to get into the phones tonight because I tell you what... I just sensed that as I was driving over here that people watching tonight, some people have never....never watched this program, some people never even thought about calling a program like this and you know what, there's nothing magical about calling me but what it is, is simply a measure of your faith... ...it's a way to exercise your faith....you know in the Bible we read about people who had great needs in their life, especially during the ministry of Jesus, and some people went to great lengths to get into the presence of Jesus believing that He was the one that could meet their needs.....and they were right but they had to exercise their faith and put themselves in the position for Jesus to bless them in the way He did ....there's nothing magical about calling me ...I'm not the one who can meet your needs tonight....but the same Jesus that met needs in the Bible is....listen to this...listen to this...this is going to be a word that's going to set people free tonight...listen to what I'm about to tell you...in the book of Hebrews, it says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever"...let me tell you what the significance of that verse of scripture is to you tonight...that means the very same Jesus that healed people in the Bible, the very same Jesus that set people free in the Bible, the very same Jesus who worked miracles in the Bible, that very same Jesus is here tonight to heal you, to set you free, and to work a miracle in your life...isn't that powerful?.. and the very same way those people in the Bible had to exercise their faith, you have to exercise your faith tonight and there is a very simple way to do that...in a minute I'm going to put the phone up and you just call that and reach out and believe and the very same Jesus that healed, delivered, worked miracles, is the very same Jesus that tonight that can heal you, set you free, and work a miracle in your life... phew, it's powerful... that's why I laugh at people... you know that's why I was laughing at um you know....I was just laughing at the ignorance.... of Kyle the other night...."oh it's just a book written by a bunch of farmers"...heh, heh, heh, heh....that poor, poor, poor foolish young man...you know ....some people that watch this program they just think that this is nothing but a book ...they have no clue...they have no clue....they have no clue the power of God's Word...the Bible says of itself that it is sharper than any 2 edged sword....it just doesn't cut you, it cuts right through everything, right to the quick..that's how powerful it is....and the truth of this word for you tonight and I want you to hear and understand....is that this is revelation to a lot of people...this is enlightenment to a lot of people because you never really understood what I'm telling you right now...listen to me this is one of those moments when those light bulbs go off... ok?....the very same Jesus that you read about in this Book is the very same Jesus that's alive and available to you tonight..this isn't just a history book..you know, you read about Abraham Lincoln...well guess what...Abraham Lincoln is dead....Abraham Lincoln can't do nothing for you tonight...you read about Gen. Patton..guess what General Patton is dead..he can't do anything for those troops over in Iraq tonight...you read about the great historical figures of years gone by...and as wonderful as they were...as great as they were, they can't do anything for you today because they're dead...Jesus my friend, is alive and well and sitting at the right hand of God the Father ready to intercede for His children tonight and the very same Jesus that is alive and performing miracles in this Book is the very same Jesus that's alive and performing miracles tonight this very moment.....and while you can read about Him in this Book you can know Him tonight...while you can be encouraged what He did to others in this Book know that this Book says He is no respecter of person....and the same Jesus that touched people in this Book is the same Jesus that can touch you tonight....and if you need that special touch from the Master, don't sit on that couch tonight...arise...get to that phone..exercise your faith tonight...I read abut the woman with the issue of blood...how many people had an illness but weren't willing to pay the price to go find Jesus...that's why you don't read about them...the one you read about is the one that exercised her faith..how many lame men of His day wanted to be healed but didn't have enough faith to do what was necessary to go see Jesus...we read about the lame man that did have the faith to go see Jesus and he was healed because of his faith...how many of you watching tonight have a need in your life for healing for your marriage, for an addiction....for finances.....for employment....how many people tonight are watching this program right now that have a need in your life that won't have your need met because you don't have enough faith to even call the number....this isn't a 900 ...this isn't a sham like Miss Cleo where you are going to get your phone bill charged $400....I don't get any money by having you call this number....that is a point of contact for your faith....and if you need Jesus to touch your life tonight, get up out of your chair and go to your phone and exercise your faith tonight...the phone coming up on your screen....I want you to call me right now because I'm ready to take some phone calls tonight...and see Jesus work in your life..."
I love you and care about you so much. Over 14 years online, Liveprayer.com has responded to over 70 million emails for prayer. The praise reports that have come forth from those prayer requests are MIRACULOUS. That is because Jesus is still in the miracle business! I want to encourage you today just like I encouraged my television audience the other night. There is nothing magical about emailing a prayer request to Liveprayer. What it is, is simply a point of contact for your faith. It is a way for you to exercise your faith in the Lord and say, "Lord, I need you."
I know that every person reading these words is battling with something in their life today today. I want you to know that Jesus is here to help you if you will simply call on His name. That is why at the end of every Devotional I give you my email address, bkeller@liveprayer.com and invite you to email me any time I can help you. I don't have the answer to your problem, I can't make your problems go away, but I know the One who can and I will lift you and your needs before the Lord and intercede on your behalf. When you have a need and send that email for prayer, you are exercising your faith that Christ is your hope and answer for whatever your problem may be.
I will be praying for you, and praying for you to never forget that Jesus is alive and well in 2013. He is still meeting needs and performing miracles just like He did in the Bible. I want to encourage you today that when you have a need, don't ever hesitate to call on Him. HE WILL ANSWER! What an incredible truth when you think that the very same Jesus we read about in the pages of the Bible, is the very same Jesus that is alive and available to us today!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller