Daily Devotional for Monday December 16, 2024

An epidemic affecting millions of young men throughout the country! and, The scourge of sports gambling in the US!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL MONDAY DECEMBER 16, 2024

(Psalms 118:8)

***Liveprayer Christmas Card 2024: https://liveprayer.com/mc24/

***CHRISTMAS FOR SINGLE MOTHERS! *We are down to the final 6 left to help this Christmas! After much prayer and despite still needing $130,000 to end this year with all of our financial needs current, I have taken a huge step of faith and am announcing that as we have done most years since Liveprayer began over 25 years ago, we will be helping out single mothers this Christmas. We will be helping 30 single mothers with a gift of $200 so they can insure their children have something under the tree and a nice Christmas meal. As in past years, all I ask is that these single mothers we help go to church with their children on Christmas! I never ask people to do something I don’t do myself, and am giving into my personal need by taking care of 10 of the 30. If God is leading you to help me take care of any of the other 20, just make sure you mark on your $200 credit card or check gift that it is for the Single Mothers Christmas. What I need is for those who want to be considered, send me a short email with your name, address, and phone number. I need to know how many children you have and their ages. Lastly, a brief description of why you need this help. PLEASE, AS IN YEARS PAST WE WILL GET INUNDATED WITH REQUESTS. IT WILL BE FIRST COME. PLEASE DON’T BE UPSET IF WE AREN’T ABLE TO HELP YOU, SINCE WE CAN ONLY HELP 30 SINGLE MOTHERS. KNOW IF WE CAN’T HELP YOU, WE WILL BE HERE PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN! Email request to: bkeller@liveprayer.com and put SINGLE MOTHER in the subject line. God bless you and enjoy this blessed celebration of the birth of Jesus!!!

***PERSONAL MESSAGE FOR YOU FROM BILL KELLER: Lift up in prayer anyone you know in bondage to gambling.

***DAILY PERSONAL PRAYER FOR YOU: Dear Lord, please give me the strength to live today in Your Spirit. I will no longer walk in the flesh, but live in the Spirit. It is the key to me living for YOU each day. In Jesus name I pray...AMEN!

***THE DAILY LIVEPRAYER TV NUGGET: An epidemic affecting millions of young men throughout the country! There is a silent epidemic taking place that most people are not aware of that is greatly affecting young men ages 14-30, SPORTS GAMBLING! A new report says that by 2028 the losses to sports books in the USA will top $1 TRILLION DOLLARS!!! Prior to June of 2018, if you wanted to gamble on sports you had 3 options, go to Las Vegas, bet with an illegal bookmaker, or use an offshore gambling company. After New Jersey legalized sports gambling, there are now 38 states and the District of Columbia where sports gambling is legal. You also have two online behemoths, FanDuel and DraftKings, both associated with major professional sports leagues. Years ago betting sport was about betting on a team to win the game. Over the last 5 years, over 50% of the money gambled on sports is now based on creating fantasy teams where you pick your players regardless the team they play for, and you either win or lose money based on how your players perform. I have shared over the years how people involved in organized crime spent time in prison for gambling, drugs, prostitution, and extortion. Today, most states are actively involved in gambling whether it is the Lotto, casinos, or sports. More and more states have legalized marijuana and other drugs. I submit that the excess taxation in many states is equivalent to extortion. Many states have decriminalized prostitution and no doubt it will eventually be legalized as it is in Nevada. Our culture has rotted to the place that vices we used to lock people up for, are now totally legal and they advertise like dog food, toothpaste, and cars! Sport gambling of course plays on people’s greed and is marketed as entertainment. Gambling proponents will state it is harmless fun. I WOULD SUGGEST THESE PEOPLE COME SPEND A FEW DAYS AT LIVEPRAYER AND SEE THE DESTROYED LIVES FROM THIS HARMLESS FUN! Young men are getting hooked on sports gambling and not just losing money they don’t have, but destroying their finances just as their adult life is getting underway. Let me give you the name of a few people you will most likely know who have been major players in bringing this gambling epidemic to the homes of people throughout the nation. Let me start with former Speaker of the House John Boehner. After leaving the Speakership, Boehner made millions as a lobbyist for the marijuana industry. So it is not a shock that Boehner became a big player in lobbying for legalized gambling. Former Senate Majority Leader, Mormon cult member Harry Reid who died in 2021 was another big player in the legalization of sports gambling in the country. An interesting name who has been part of the push for sports gambling is Valerie Biden, sister of our “avatar” President Joe Biden and the person who has run every campaign since he first got elected to the Senate in 1972. A disappointing name is former Texas Governor and Secretary of Energy under Trump Rick Perry. Lastly is the father of sports gambling, the man who shepherded the initial push to legalize gambling in his state of New Jersey, former New Jersey Governor Chris “Krispy Kreme” Christie! Sadly, these prominent people only saw dollar signs, not caring that those dollars would come from the destroyed lives of real people! Please pray for those who are in bondage to gambling, especially this new generation of young men addicted to sports gambling.

*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

***DECEMBER FINANCIAL UPDATE: AMEN! Thanks to the help of many in the Liveprayer family, we have cleared up the first $35,000 of our October ministry operations. So in the first week of December we still require the final $20,000 to clear up October, the $55,000 from November’s ministry operations, and the $55,000 for December’s operations.

That is a total of $130,000 to end 2024 with all of our ministry operations current. OUR GOD IS ABLE!!!

*******As we are now 15 days until the end of 2024, please be praying about a special year-end gift to Livprayer! For many, a gift to God's work here will help on your taxes since you are either going to give the money to the government to waste, or to Liveprayer to get HIS Truth out to the masses and save souls!!!

The Bible teaches us to “give according to our ability to give.” For some that may be $10 or $20. For others it may be $50 or $100. Still others it may be $200, $500, $1,000, $10,000 or more. GOD WILL BLESS YOUR GIFT NO MATTER WHAT THE AMOUNT!!!

ALSO, DON'T FORGET A GIFT OF $1,800 COVERS ONE DAY OF MINISTRY AT LIVEPRAYER!!! I received this email recently, “Pastor Bill, My wife and I have just sold our last rental and God told us to tithe $1,800.00 to pay for a day of your ministry. Not looking for accolades, just that you know when you receive the check. Rest assured that we will still be making our regular weekly tithes."

TO GIVE A GIFT TO LIVEPRAYER, you can use your major credit card at: http://liveprayer.com/donate.cfm or you can mail your gift to: Liveprayer, 6660 46th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709. All gifts to Liveprayer are 100% tax deductible!

*STOCKS! A great way to help Liveprayer is by donating stock. The transfer can be made in a way you get the full credit for your donation without having to pay any of the taxes you normally would on gains your stocks may have enjoyed. Contact me for information about this incredible way to help God's work here at Liveprayer: bkeller@liveprayer.com

*LIVE ON AFTER YOU ARE IN HEAVEN!!! By remembering God's work here at Liveprayer in your will/estate planning, you can still help me share His Truth with the masses, be here for people in their time of greatest need, and help lead the lost to faith in Jesus even after God has called you home!!! God has led many of our friends in the Liveprayer family to remember His work here in their will. Please pray about this opportunity to continue and partner with me in the Lord's work at Liveprayer, even after you are enjoying your rewards and the eternal peace of Heaven! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me at: bkeller@liveprayer.com

***Here are the social media sites where you can find Liveprayer and what is posted there: Facebook (1, 2, 3), Twitter (1, 2, 3), GAB ( 2, 3), Parler (2, 3), Clouthub (1, 2, 3), Rumble (2), TPN (2, 3), Gettr (2, 3), Telegram (2, 3), ROKU (1, 2). WE ARE ALSO NOW ON Sovren Media (2, 3), Mr. Pillow Mike Lindell's Frankspeech (2), Truth Social (2,3), and Frank Social (2,3). *Content posted: 1) Liveprayer TV “LIVE" Mon-Fri 11p-Mid EDT 2) Recent Liveprayer TV programs for “On Demand” viewing 3) Liveprayer Daily Devotional

***THE AUDIO OF THE TV PROGRAM IS NOW AVAILABLE ON MAJOR PODCASTING PLATFORMS!!! APPLE/I-TUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liveprayer-with-bill-keller/id1696186297

***ALEXA! You can now listen to the audio of the TV program on your ALEXA. The first time you need to tell ALEXA to "enable Liveprayer." After that, simply say, "Play Liveprayer"

***Please watch and share the exciting new Bill Keller Docudrama at: https://www.liveprayer.com/bill.cfm

***How you can help Liveprayer! 1) Pray for Bill and the ministry team each day. 2) Encourage people you know to sign-up for the Daily Devotional at: https://www.liveprayer.com/signup.cfm 3) Share the TV program with people you know: https://liveprayer.com/liveprayer-show-about.cfm Here are the social media sites where you can find Liveprayer TV ‘live”, Liveprayer Facebook, Liveprayer Twitter, and the Liveprayer Church ROKU channel. For ON-DEMAND viewing, Liveprayer GAB, Liveprayer Rumble, Liveprayer TPN, Liveprayer Gettr, Liveprayer Telegram, Liveprayer Sovren Media, and Liveprayer on Mr. Pillow Mike Lindell's Frankspeech and Frank Social and Liveprayer on Trump's Truth Social. 4) Pray about helping Liveprayer with a gift at: http://liveprayer.com/donate.cfm

***REVIVAL TOOL!!! Do your part in helping to bring revival to our nation each day in less than 15 minutes and without costing you one penny! Join others by making this part of your daily routine! Visit the Liveprayer Revival Tool and share it with others at: www.liveprayer.com/revival.cfm *ALSO, THE DAILY REVIVAL TOOL IS MY WAY OF DISCIPLING YOU TO HELP YOU GROW IN YOUR FAITH. SO IT SERVES A DUAL PURPOSE! HERE IS A SPECIAL LINK THAT GIVES YOU THE PAST 30 DAYS OF THE REVIVAL TOOL VERSE FOR THE DAY, DAILY TASK, AND PRAYER: https://liveprayer.com/bill/revivalcheck.cfm

Sadly, in 2018 the US Supreme Court voted to allow individual states make the decision whether to make sports gambling legal in their state. Prior to this case brought by the state of New Jersey, the Federal Government made it illegal for states to accept wagering on sporting events except in Nevada.

I am not interested in debating the legal issues of the rights of individual states versus the Federal Government. I am looking at this unfortunate ruling because of the lives that have been destroyed and will be destroyed in the future. Just like those states legalizing marijuana, it is a disgusting way for lazy states to raise money, by exploiting the weakness of man! Just like states currently raising money thru the lottery, casinos, it is simply a new vein of money for state legislatures to ultimately squander.

I am often asked whether it is a sin to buy a Lottery ticket. 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!

In His love and service,

Your friend and co-laborer in His work,

Bill Keller