Daily Devotional for Sunday February 2, 2020

It is Super Sunday except for except for those in bondage to gambling!

(Psalms 118:8)

***DAILY PERSONAL PRAYER FOR YOU: Dear Lord, I pray today to rise above the entrapments of this world in my life and those I love and care about. Satan has almost an endless way to ensnare people to fulfill his purpose which is to “kill, steal, and destroy!” The Bible says you have come to set the captives free. So today, set me free, set free those I love and care about, from the bondages of this temporal world so we can live in the total peace, joy, and abundance You intended Your children to enjoy each day. In the name of Jesus I pray...AMEN!

***THE LIVEPRAYER CHURCH!!! Haven't been to church yet this week? Join me for this week's service at the LivePrayer Church. This week’s message is: “Confidence in God!“ Please visit the website at: http://liveprayerchurch.com and be part this week’s worship service. Each Sunday there will be a new service at 12:01am EDT

***THE DAILY LIVEPRAYER TV NUGGET: What the world thinks of YOU! Last week, a viral video was making the rounds of various media platforms, showing a clip from Don Lemon’s CNN program where he and two guests spent several laugh-filled minutes mocking, demeaning, and ridiculing the people who voted for and support President Trump. Having been in the mainstream media ether for over 20 years now, I saw the unvarnished dripping contempt for people simply because of their different beliefs to be 100% analogous of how the non-Believing world views followers of Jesus Christ. The non-believing world views Christians as toothless rubes, uneducated, easily swayed by fairy tales, irrational, and simply weak people who need a “crutch” to get through life. As Christians have been virtually eliminated from the secular media and most of the marketplace, the open mocking and demeaning of people of faith goes on unopposed and unchallenged 24/7, very similar to the unopposed and unchallenged contempt virtually all of the media has for those who voted for and support President Trump. HERE IS THE CRITICAL POINT! People who support President Trump refuse to be silent and use every tool they have to fight back. That is primarily due to the fact that the one they support refuses to give even one inch and fights back, defending himself against those who oppose him and his administration. The Bible tells us “the battle is the Lord’s.” We, His followers are the Lord’s army. Christ has equipped us with the “armor of God,” given us the “sword” to fight with, and most important His example to battle to the death against the evil of this world. Like supporters of the current President fight for and defend him as he leads that political fight, so the followers of Jesus Christ must fight and defend our Lord and faith against the legions of satan. Jesus said that the world would hate us because it hated Him first. He is correct, they DO hate us and that isn’t going to ever change. Do we cower and hide in the face of that hatred, or do we stand up and fight? I MAKE MY DECISION EACH AND EVERY MORNING GOD GRACES ME WITH, WHAT ABOUT YOU???

*Don’t miss the Liveprayer TV program, airing “LIVE” every Monday thru Friday from 11pm EDT to Midnight! For details on viewing options for the Liveprayer TV program, “LIVE” or “On Demand,” go to: https://liveprayer.com/liveprayer-show-about.cfm

Today is the Super Bowl between the San Francisco and the Kansas City Chiefs. Hundreds of millions around the world will tune in to watch the game. Billions will be wagered on the outcome. This is the perfect day to talk to you about the Biblical case against gambling. I am often asked whether it is a sin to buy a Lottery ticket, or place a bet on a sporting event like the Super Bowl. I am going to tell you up front that there is no verse in the Bible that says, "thou shalt not gamble." However, let me give you a Biblical basis why gambling is a sin.

Gambling involves an element of risk. Ultimately, you are putting your faith in something other than God for the outcome. Therein lies the foundation of why gambling is a sin. Instead of trusting God, instead of putting your faith in God, you have chosen to put your faith in luck. You are hoping to beat the odds and it is putting your hope and faith in something other than God that makes gambling a sin. Let me outline for you three additional reasons why gambling is a sin.

First, it can cause you to lose sight of your priorities. Never forget, anytime something is more important than the Lord in your life, it is a sin. We are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart and He MUST be our first priority at all times. Second, it can be a poor use of God's resources that He has entrusted to you. Many people I have counseled are in financial difficulties, not because they have not been blessed by God, but because they have misused and mishandled their blessing.

Lastly, it can be a stumblingblock to your brother or sister. Many people have a compulsive nature, could end up in total bondage to gambling. So while it may not be a problem in your life, your involvement may cause someone else to have a problem with gambling.

Let me make an important point. When I talk about gambling, I am referring to the lottery, sports gambling, casino games, private card games...but I am also talking about the financial markets. Having been involved heavily in the financial markets in the 80's, I can tell you that many people use the word investing, when in fact they are literally gambling. When you are taking a financial position in the outcome of something that is unknown, that is gambling no matter what words you want to use. You have as much control over the stock price of a particular company as you do over the performance of your favorite football team.

***This is NOT an indictment against having stocks and bonds. Prudent, reasoned, well strategized investment plans are encouraged in God's Word. I am talking about those who are simply rolling the dice hoping to get lucky in the stock market.

The Bible teaches us to be wise stewards with the resources God has entrusted to us. I am a strong advocate of investing a portion of our resources in well researched, fundamentally sound opportunities that have the real potential of giving us a reasonable return. That is wise use of God's money. God encourages this type of prudent investing. The line is crossed into gambling when you are just "hoping to be right," or entering into a situation with greed as your motive. No prayer, no research, simply taking a chance you might win. For the above outlined reasons, that is a sin my friend.

I love you and care about you so much. I will be praying for you today, especially those who have been caught up in the bondage of this addiction to gambling. If you, or someone you know is addicted to gambling, know that I will be praying today for those who are in this bondage. God is a God of deliverance and He can deliver someone from the bondage of gambling.

Never forget that there is hope in Christ, and no matter how bad someone has destroyed their life, God can help them put the pieces together if they are ready to surrender to Him. Gambling is a sin, since inherent in the nature of gambling there is a reliance on chance instead of faith in God. But like all sin, Christ died on the cross to wash our sins away and give us victory!

Also, enjoy the game. Hopefully it will live up to the hype and be SUPER!

In His love and service,

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller