Avoid Demonic and Sinful Games and Addiction to Any Games

Bill Keller wrote a devotional today that I recommend to
you for your consideration.  It has food for thought.  He
has given me permission to copy his e-mails, and I'm sure
he would be happy if you would share this with people you
know as well.

I used to find myself addicted to video and computer games.
Then I realized how much more productive I could be if I
spent my time on something of value others.  I haven't
played a video or computer game since.  I estimate that
this gives me an extra 1000 hours a year.  What a great
thing it is to have that time for something useful!

I would like personally thank Jesus for healing my ailing
right shoulder that has been very painful for 18 months.
I was scheduled to go the doctor on Monday, but on Sunday,
June 4, I listened to two healing services . . . and
during the prayer for healing in the second one my pain,
stiffness and loss of movement all disappeared.

Thank you, Jesus!

Since then, I had a dream in which I finally realized
how I had hurt my shoulder . . . so now I won't repeat
that mistake.

Thank you, Jesus!

Please read on.

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL   SUNDAY JUNE 11, 2006
(Philippians 4:7, Proverbs 4:23)

Can playing video and computer games be bad?  The world
of video games has surely changed since the days of "Pong"
and "Pac Man."  Those innocent games are long gone,
having been replaced by video and computer games that
promote and glorify every kind of evil, debauchery, and
sin the human mind could possibly dream up.  While these
incredibly violent and often sexual "games" are primarily
marketed to young adults, even though many have "adult
only" warning labels, they are being played by children
as young as 10.  A very popular genre of games are played
"real time" on the computer via high speed internet
connections with people all over the world.  Most of these
video and computer games involve the player taking on a
role or character and the line between reality and fantasy
becomes blurred.

Over the 81+ months of Liveprayer, I have seen an alarming
increase in the number of prayer requests from people
regarding this issue.  It is clearly a cultural problem
that has not received much attention, but I can tell you
from the real lives I deal with every single day, it is a
growing and increasing issue in many lives from young
children all the way to adults in their 40s and 50s.  It
is still primarily a problem faced by men.  However, 20
years ago pornography was largely a male problem and I can
assure you that today there are as many women in bondage
to pornography as men.

Now many people are probably wondering with all of the
problems in the world, all of the problems people face
each day, what the big deal about people playing video
and computer games is.  The big deal breaks down in four
main areas.

First, it desensitizes people, especially children, to
violence and death.

Second, it blurs the line between reality and fantasy
and many people lose sight of how to live in the real
world.

Third, many of these games deal with demonic things like
witchcraft, sorcery, wizardry, and the occult.  It opens
the door to satan in the lives of those who play these
games.

Lastly, these games can become addictive to the point
people stop going to work, stop taking care of their
families, literally become so consumed that nothing
else in their life matters.

One of the worst things about the latest generation of
these computer and video games is the incredible amount
of violence and death.  Killing is the ultimate goal to
"win" many of these games.  This is not healthy for a
mature adult let alone a teenager or child.  It leads
people to not respect life and minimizes what a special
gift from God life is and how important each person is
who has been created in God's image.  All of these games
require those who play them to either become a character,
or take on some role in playing the game.  The incredible
technology of our day has made these games seem so
realistic, many people who play them often begin to lose
sight of what is reality and what is fantasy.

A real spiritual issue is the demonic presence in so many
of these video and computer games.  They literally take
those who play them into the demonic world through the
character's involvement in things like magic, witchcraft,
and sorcery.  Never underestimate for a moment the pure
and unadulterated evil of many of these games.  The fact
is many people become addicted to these games and they
are no different than an alcoholic or a drug addict.
They share the same problems.  They end up losing their
job.  They quit being responsible for their families.
They become anti-social.  There is a real and legitimate
bondage to these video and computer games like any other
bondage you can name.

The Holy Spirit has led me to bring out this issue today
because I know many who are reading these words are
battling with this in their life right now, or have a
family member or friend who is.  Let me make this clear
to you.  AN ADDICTION TO VIDEO AND COMPUTER GAMES IS JUST
AS REAL AS BEING ADDICTED TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL AND EQUALLY
AS DESTRUCTIVE!  Just like I warn you to stay away from
alcohol, to stay away from drugs, to stay away from
abusing food, to not gamble, today I am warning you to be
very careful when it comes to video and computer games.

Don't even play those games that are full of violence and
death.  There is a great computer adage, "garbage in,
garbage out."  There is nothing positive about watching
and participating in violence and death, even if it is a
game.  You wouldn't eat garbage out of a dumpster, why
would you put garbage into your mind!  Run from these
games that are clearly demonic and promote the things of
satan.  Don't open your life and allow the enemy to have
access to your heart and mind, even through something
that may seem asinnocent and harmless as a video or
computer game.  Parents, you need to be aware of the
games your child has access to!!!

I realize that there are some more wholesome games out
there.  Like anything in life, we have to have balance and
keep our priorities in order.  Just keep in mind that they
can be very addicting and to check yourself from time to
time that you are not spending too much of your time
playing these games or that it is affecting in any way
your real life.  If you are neglecting your family
responsibilities, if it is keeping you from being with
other people, if it is getting to the point it is all you
think about, you need to step back and realize that you
could be getting addicted to these games.  Just like you
can become addicted to something as necessary as food,
just like you can become addicted to something as
necessary as shopping, you can also become addicted to
something as seemingly harmless and innocent as a video
or computer game.

I love you and care about you so much.  I will be praying
for you today.  Praying for those reading this today who
are in bondage to video or computer games to open your
heart to the Lord and hear His voice speaking to you
today.  He wants to set you free.  I pray that you will
ask the Lord for the strength to find freedom from this
bondage, find people who love and care about you to stand
with you in prayer and hold you accountable, and that as
you walk in His strength each day, you will walk in His
victory over this bondage to video and computer games.  I
will also be praying for those in your life who may be
addicted to these video and computer games.  Praying that
they will come to a place of surrender and acknowledge
this problem in their life and allow the Lord to free
them from their bondage to these games.

You are not going to hell for playing a video or computer
game.  But you need to be aware of the incredible damage
playing these games can possibly do to your life. We know
that satan's mission is to kill, steal, and destroy.  He
will use all kinds of ways to do that, even using
something that seems as harmless as a video or computer
game.  Guard your heart and mind at all times.  While
satan's goal is to destroy your life anyway that he can,
God's desire is that you have life and have life more
abundantly!

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

***If I can help you in any way you can contact me
through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com

***ARE YOU 100% CERTAIN WHERE YOU WILL SPEND
ETERNITY?  The fact is you will die one day.  At
that moment, you will either spend eternity with
the Lord or be cast into everlasting darkness
forever separated from God your creator.  To know
for certain you will be forever with Jesus, go to:
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(C) Copyright 2006, Bill Keller Ministries.
All rights reserved

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May God bless you as you learn from this message!

Donald W. Mitchell, Your Dream Concierge

Copyright 2006 Donald W. Mitchell