Thursday, August 28, 2008

I Have A Dream

(Please scroll down and pause the playlist before playing the clip...)



On this 45th anniversary of the I Have a Dream Speech, I want to repost a sermon that I did a few months ago in which I used this iconic piece of Americana as a foundation. I say here, as I said that day, that I use Dr. King's words with fear and trembling, because I so deeply revere his memory, and would never want to demean the importance of what happened that day in Washington in any way. I trust this will be received as a word for CITN, and a tribute to one of the greatest men who ever lived, who said some of the greatest words ever spoken. My intention here is not to try to equate myself with MLK, but to express to you all that I truly do have a dream for this ministry...and I hope that it's your dream, too...



I HAVE A DREAM/ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)

I HAVE A DREAM FOR CITN/ Bishop Jim Swilley (2008)



MLK – I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.



JES – I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as a great Sunday morning service at Church In The Now.






MLK - Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.



JES - One score and three years ago, an idealistic young man came to Conyers, GA to establish a local congregation…a different kind of church that would be built upon the words recorded in Psalms 2:8, Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. The revelation of this powerful Scripture came as a great beacon light of hope to that small group of people who met together for the first time in May of 1985 in a little storefront on Royal Drive. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their having no alternative to irrelevant, traditional church, and religious “business as usual”.





MLK - But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.


JES - But twenty-three years later, Church In The Now is still trying to walk in the fullness of its unique destiny. Twenty-three years later, this house of worship is still learning to overcome the growth obstacles that exist for a truly multicultural church. Twenty-three years later, CITN is still attempting to create a real sense of community in a church that was not birthed out of an established community or a denomination. Twenty-three years later, the leadership of this church is still trying to instill within this body a sense of ownership among the people, and a comprehension of the need for them to be investors in it. And so we've come here today to speak to the current condition at Church In The Now.






MLK - In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."


JES - In a sense we've come here today to proclaim, once again, our commitment to the ideal of 100% participation among the membership of CITN…the realization of a vision to reach the goal of Everyone Actively Contributing and Helping. It is obvious today that not everyone who attends the church understands this yet.




MLK - But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.


JES - But we refuse to believe that the manifestation of a workable E.A.C.H. program – a mindset among the people that causes full community commitment – is a goal that is unrealistic or unreachable.




MLK - We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.



JES -We have also come into this Sanctuary today to remind all who attend this service, either within these walls, or streaming over the internet, along with all who will watch the DVD, or listen to the CD of it, of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of every prophecy that has been spoken over this ministry in the last twenty-three years. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of some of the people doing all of the work and all of the giving, to the sunlit path of everyone pulling their weight and making a real contribution to the greater good. Now is the time to lift our church from the quicksands of mediocrity to the solid rock of being a successful megachurch. Now is the time to make this ministry be all that it can be.





MLK - It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.



JES - It would be fatal for CITN to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the church’s core group’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of full church participation. Two Thousand and Eight is not an end, but a beginning. And those who just assume that the administration of the church will figure it out and keep going with things remaining as they now, are will have a rude awakening if the church returns to business as usual.





MLK - But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.



JES - But there is something that I must say to those who are already pulling their weight and are actively participating…we must not look down on those who don’t see the vision yet. We must love them, set an example for them, and encourage them to see the benefits of becoming a part of this body that is fitly joined together.





MLK - The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.



JES - The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed those who comprehend what this church needs to be must not lead us to reject those who stay on the periphery, for they are our brothers and sisters. Let us pray that they come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny…that they will see and believe that we might not have it all together, but together we have it all!





MLK/JES - We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.





MLK - There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."



JES - There are many who are asking those of us who have worked to build this ministry up to where it is today, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as there are services held at CITN week after week with scores of unfilled seats. We can never be satisfied as long as there are so many that never give financially, or if they do give, do not give regularly or sacrificially. We cannot be satisfied as long as the sense of covenant among the people is so weak that they break fellowship with the church at the slightest offence. We can never be satisfied as long as people continue to misunderstand the theological truths of the gospel of reconciliation and believe that salvation is “For Christians Only”. We cannot be satisfied as long as the world at large is unable to fully appreciate what an amazing place that CITN is. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until we truly become “a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden”.





MLK - I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.



JES - I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great religious bondage. Some of you have come fresh from denominationalism and fundamentalism. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for spiritual truth left you battered by the storms of religious persecution and staggered by the winds of legalism. You have come out of darkness into the light. Continue to work with the faith that they who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. Go back to doing what your hand finds to do with all of your might in this ministry, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.





MLK - Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.



JES - Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the prophetic purposes of God for this region, and for CITN’s ministry to the nations of the earth.





MLK - I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."



JES - I have a dream that one day this church will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “Real People Experiencing the Real God in the Real World”






MLK - I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.



JES - I have a dream that one day on these 43 acres on I-20, thousands and thousands of sons and daughters of former slaves, and thousand and thousands of sons and daughters of former slave owners will be able to worship together as one voice, whether they clap on the one and the three or the two and the four…and that the Hispanic community would join in the song with them, along with people from every nation who have come to Conyers for such a time as this.





MLK - I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.




JES - I have a dream that one day CITN will be able to saturate the surrounding area with the good news of the gospel of liberty, even in the Bible belt, a region sweltering with the heat of condemnation preaching, sweltering with the heat of hellfire and brimstone and damnation, so that it will be transformed into an oasis of the goodness of the Lord which brings people to repentance.






MLK - I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.




JES - I have a dream that my four children will one day be able to say that their father fulfilled his destiny in coming to Conyers, GA to create a ministry that shows people how to know one another after the spirit, and not after the flesh.







MLK/JES - I have a dream today!






MLK - I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.



JES - I have a dream that one day, all the people of CITN will tithe or give or invest or support – whatever they call it – not because they are afraid that they will be cursed if they don’t, but because they love the Kingdom of God, and because they believe in the vision of a ministry that allows little black boys and black girls to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.




MLK/JES - I have a dream today!




MLK/JES - I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."




MLK - This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.







JES - This is our hope, and this is the faith with which I speak the Word over this church.











MLK - With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.



JES - With this faith, we will be able to make every member of this church step up and take responsibility for the success of this ministry. With this faith, we will be able to demonstrate to this community the manifested power of the Kingdom of God. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to stand up for the uncompromised word of God together, knowing that we will all be blessed by the ultimate success of this ministry.






MLK - And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!




JES - And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of the members and friends of Church In The Now, here in Conyers and all around the world will be able to sing with new meaning:
We speak to nations – be open! We speak to nations – fall on your knees!
We speak to nations – the Kingdom is coming near to you -
We speak to you - Be free!






MLK - And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.







JES – And if Church In The Now is to realize its potential, this must become true.








MLK - And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.






JES - And so let His kingdom come in every Sunday and Wednesday service at Church In The Now.





MLK - Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.






JES - Let His kingdom come in every sermon that is preached, and in every song that is sung.





MLK - Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.







JES - Let His kingdom come in every book or CD or DVD that is sold from this media department.







MLK - Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.







JES - Let His kingdom come in every outreach ministry and missions project supported by this ministry.







MLK - Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.







JES - Let His kingdom come in every relationship formed within this covenant community.






MLK - But not only that: Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.






JES - But not only that: Let His kingdom come in The Mix and in ReMix. Let His kingdom come in Kids In The Now and in Kidzzone Learning Center. Let His kingdom come in Street Jam, in the Prison Ministry, in the Angelfood Ministry, in the Streaming Faith outreach, in Wize Gize, the Nation of Worship and all the Worship and Arts Department, in the Flow, Real Women, Men’s Fellowship, Bikers for Christ, His Hands, Body Builders, Now Ministries, the Care Pastors, the Staff, the Ministry of Helps, the cyber-congregation, and in every outreach of CITN, both foreign and domestic, and in the lives of everyone around the world who is influenced by this ministry!







MLK - And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!



JES - And when this happens, when we allow the true Kingdom of God to come, when we let it come in every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the song we sing so much around here:
“How great is our God! Sing with me…
How great is our God, and all will see
How great…HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!”

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Posted earlier on the church blog but wanted to add our Amen and agreement with what you posted on this blog...in Covnant for life..
Here to Worship.. Serve & be ALL that God has called us to be..

Anonymous said...

I Believe In This Dream Also!

I also believe in resting in the peace of God that frees our soul and I believe the core, covenant members of CITN are there at this very moment. I feel no panic in our connected spirits, only anticipation at being an integral part of the fulfillment of the God-ordained, Holy Spirit-driven vision that has stood the test of time. What an honor and a blessing!
Thank you Father.

I believe that there is one thing that all who are a part of this covenant community can agree on as we watch the Holy Spirit operate through Bishop and that is that he, without a doubt, hears from God. The gifts of the spirit that manifest through him are without a doubt second-to-none and Bishop's obedience to these manifestations are, in my opinion, without question. What integrity we are witnesses to.

I am able to see God (the good) in everyone, but what a joy it is to see it so transparently and easily. I, too, spend my efforts toward being naked and transparent before God and man. It leads to a life full of great rewards.

There will be no offense taken by any of the covenant community as you operate in the Spirit on Sunday. Bring it on and Just Do It!
We want whatever God is serving up as manna today. It's all good.

Anonymous said...

After this, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams , and your young men shall see visions in those days I will pour out my spirit upon servants and maidens. I will show wonders in the heavens above, and tokens in the earth beneath: blood and fire, and the vapor of smoke

Father,
Thank you that your pour out your spirit NOW among all flesh!
Thank you for the visIon of CITN..
With MUCH gratitude for what we have NOW and a YET praise for what is coming..
Nancy

Anonymous said...

After the service last night I posted a prayer that included Psalms 2:8

I am a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Give me the heathen for my inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for my possession.

Later, Larry Usher shared a wonderful story about his life and a dream God had given him. If I may, I'd like to repost it here.

///I had a vision several months ago in which there was a flood outside the CITN building of human waste. As the waste grew higher, it burst forth into the lobby, but as it poured into the doors to the sanctuary, it was transformed into strands of gold, white and pure.
The Lord said "I am sending those that have been considered 'throw aways', or 'human waste', and there has been a shaking of preparation for these to be accepted in your midst."

I believe in the fulfillment of this word.
I believe God has given this church the heathen for our inheritance.///

Then in the Bishop's latest Blog he stated that the church was founded on this very principal. The heathen for an inheritance. I didn't know any of that before I put that verse up. I think it's just a conformation of its truth.

CITN, this glorious gospel you preach, this true evangel, this good news, is mighty, MIGHTY revelation truth , it contains the POWER to SAVE and is for ALL people. To come as they are. When the world finds out who He is they will praise Him. Gird yourselves up and evangelize the greater Conyers area. Go to the places where the outcasts are, the "heathens". Share the real good news with them and they will come! People perish for lack of knowledge. It may be time we take our attention off the churched, who may reject the love of Christ, and turn it toward the "heathen" who will accept it with great joy. And it will be hard. It won't be easy. Jesus just told his followers to follow him. God will do the rest. But no one said Love was easy, just that it was God!

Do the heathens have sins and troubles which violate our sensibilities and standards. Yes, but we must give them a home and love them as the Father does and His Spirit will do a work inside them. It's the goodness of God which leads to repentance. Strive no longer with those who don't get it. Bishop you said yourself Wednesday only the Spirit can cause you to "get it".

There are GREAT MULTITUDES in Georgia who upon hearing it, will GET IT! Supernaturally and QUICKLY, by the Spirit. LIGHT will fall on them no sooner than the words leave your mouths. They just have to HEAR it. You have to GO TELL THEM. Your ministries need to be OUT into the streets. They aren't coming in your door or streaming online because they haven't any idea that you are any different from the rest. They don't even know the difference exists. And CITN you are soooo different. You are so set apart and precious. You already are a new wineskin. You are overcomers and chosen people. Everything you've gone through has been to prepare you for this day. The finances as well are just a test to make you all you are going to be. God's going to come through and we will give Him all the glory. He could make it rain gold dust if he wanted to Sunday! He can do all things!

Judges Chapter 7 was posted on the blog yesterday. It's a story of battle, and God showing Gideon he only needed who God said he needed to take the land and it wasn't going to be in big numbers. In fact it was just 300 people. If you can hardly stomach the message at CITN now, God help you, because it's going to get "worse" before it gets better.

The heathen are coming. But so is THE SPIRIT!!!! So is the BLAST!!!

BIG, BIG, LOVE

Larry Usher said...

Hard one to follow so I simply add my amen!
Always admired MLK's apparent calm in the midst of tremendous danger.
My mom would always sit us down to watch his speaches and those of John Kennedy...hated hearing about both of them being assassinated, was like a puch in the gut.

"If you build the body, they will come..."

"On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

As I drove into Stone Mountain Park today, I looked up and saw two little human "ants" way up on top. I thought of the above saying and thought "what a mighty Rock we serve and how great is His support for us.

God bless us all...everyone!

Larry

word ver: nzakd: a gnarly Californian saying for "in the buff" ha!

word ver 2: xjimis, the cross was Jimi's(Hendrix)...always liked the idea of there being a great band of the departed up in Heaven...

Anonymous said...

BISHOP SWILLEY,
NOW I KNOW I'M PLANTED AND CONNECTED WITH CITN. I HAVE THESE WORDS WRITTEN IN MY BIBLE "I LOVE GOD MY FATHER, JESUS MY SAVIOR, THE HOLY GHOST MY COMFORT AND GUIDE AND MARTIN LUTHER KING MY HEROE."

BECAUSE I SO LOVE WHAT MARTIN STOOD FOR AND HIS CONNECTION WITH THE LORD, ONLY GOD COULD HAVE GIVEN HIM THE INSIGHT AND COURAGE HE POSSESSED.

HE STOOD FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT REGARDLESS OF RACE OR RELIGION. AND AS ALL BODY OF CHRIST SHOULD REGARDLESS OF THE OPPOSITION THAT THEY MAY INCUR.

WHETHER IT'S A PERSONAL THING OR COLLECTIVELY. A TRUE CHRISTIAN WILL HAVE TO STAND UP FOR HIS BELIEF AT SOMETIME OR ANOTHER, EVEN IF IT'S JUST AN EVIL FORCE THAT COMES AGAINST YOU.

ANYWAY, HAVING SAID THAT, I UNDEERSTAND YOUR COMPARISON OF CITN VISION WITH KING'S SPEECH, BECAUSE GOD ALWAYS START WITH A VISION.

MY INSIGHT MAY NOT BE AS DEEP AS YOURS FOR CITN, AS IT SHOULDN'T BE BECAUSE GOD GIVES ONE HEAD BUT MANY MEMBERS OF THE BODY.

SO FOR ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MENTION, BUT GOD IS DEALILNG WITH ME ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL AND THIS IS WHAT HE GAVE ME AS A MEMBER OF CITN:

TO BE PRESENCE FOR SERVICE
TO GIVE MY TITHES WILLINGLY
TO GIVE MY OFFERING CHEERFULLY
AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WILL LEAD ME FROM THERE IN ALL TRUTH.
BUT THOSE THREE THINGS I HAVE TO DO IN THE NATURAL.

I GUESS TO SUM IT ALL UP, WE MUST ALLOW GOD TO WORK WITH US ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY AS "ONE" AND CARRY OUT THE VISION SO VIVIDLY STATED BY YOU FROM GOD.

"I'M ON BOARD"

JANICE FLORES

Anonymous said...

Hey Bishop:
AWESOME! I must allow this to marinate for a whle...I am so happy CITN is a part of my life and that you are my Bishop and my friend.

Love to all,
mayam

SCRIBE said...

The word of the Lord declares that those dreams / visions which are of HIM, shall be birthed through US by way of the Holy Spirit, for he brings to completion those things which HE started in perfected excellence!

AMEN

SCRIBE said...

Here is a word / message that GOD gave me in my devotion time with HIM on Monday, yet he told me to hold it until HE said to release it. And RIGHT now, is the time for release.

Journal Entry:
Written: MONDAY EVENING
25 August 2008 @ 1641 Hours

"Shout Hallelujah! Let the redeemed of the Lord Almighty ARISE to proclaim the Goodness, Grace, and Glory of the LORD in the land of the living! Therefore, clap your hands all ye' nations and SING a NEW SONG unto Me, for I alone am King of Kings and LORD over all Creation! For truly I say unto thee, there is no God greater than Me- the One True LIVING GOD- Jehovah Divine. Let everything that have breath praise ye'
the Lord and shout with a voice of victory and triumphant praise. For this is the day that I- Lord Almighty have made and you shall rejoice and be glad in it. Rejoice! and again i say REJOICE! for awesome is mine marvelous presence indeed. Therefore, as mine people praise and worship Me without a care and wit reckless abandonment- taking no thought to the opinions of others, surely, I show up and abide with them right where they are, pouring out mine Blessing, Grace, and Provision in UNUSUAL, Supernatural, and UNEXPECTED ways.

I- the LORD of Hosts inhabit the praises of mine people and set up residence right where they are. So, shout unto Me- the Lord Most High and believe ME for WHO I AM and all that I have proclaimed and promised- even if you do not understand everything! For mine Glory is a Consuming Fire and comes forth to set the records straight and the houses in Divine Order without apology or excuse. Sing unto Me- Jehovah Lord a NEW SONG, for I alone am Awesome, Magnificent, Phenomenal and worthy to of all praise.

Lift up Holy Hands unto Me and shout with overflowing fervor and joy- for there is no GOD greater than me. Surely, I am the Author and Finisher of your faith indeed. As well, that which I set in motion- I SHALL also FINANCE and bring in the Provision and Increase to uphold and maintain, where MY WORD shall not return void, nor the "Seeds of My People SHALL NOT scorch in barren lands!" I AM the Lord Almighty and I provide seed to the sowers and bread unto those whom feed my sheep.

Bless my HOLY NAME all the more, for I always complete those things that I start and cause my people to be fruitful in everything that they have received from the heart of God and walked in accordance with my ways with a spirit of humility and obedience unto Me. those things that my precious people have birthed out of their own flesh and desires- they MUST bear the responsibility of maintaining- working tirelessly without rest while laboring under strain and scrutiny. HOWEVER- those things that are born / birthed out of MY SPIRIT, the HOLY SPIRIT dwelling in them- as they serve as Consecrated CONDUITS- these things SHALL PROSPER as my people are realigned and set on course of MY TIMING!

For I- the LORD JEHOVAH am not a slave to time. I AM the CREATOR of Time. therefore, my people whom worship Me in Spirit and TRUTH are to ask of Me to attune their ears / hearing and spirits to MY VOICE and PRESENCE so that they do not spend forty years in the wilderness in what was only supposed to be an eleven day trip. Yet and still, they can neither expect instantaneous manifestations if they HAVE NOT undergone SEVERE PROCESSING by way of the Holy Spirit Fire, which consecrates and purifies them for the inside out. For it is my great desire to REFORM the conditions of their hearts while TRANSFORMING the reprobate mindsets! Selah...

When my people operate in twisted character without honor, TRUTH, lacking the Heart and Mind of GOD and NO INTEGRITY, they shall crash and burn, leaving no one to blame except themselves. Then, using the "enemy" as a scapegoat will no longer be a convenient option or acceptable excuse! Selah...

Standfast! and bear witness to the Glory and Salvation of the LORD thy GOD in the land of the living. for this is the day that I- the LORD JEHOVAH have made and you shall rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.

REJOICE! and again I say REJOICE! For I alone am the Lord Almighty and worthy of all praise. Lift up you voice and offer up sacrifices of THANKSGIVING- regardless of what is going on around my people right now- for no matter what goes on around them, they should not allow those things to hinder MY HOLY SPIRIT whom desires to dwell within them, encompassing ALL POWER to set the captives free. Let the redeemed of the Lord Almighty ARISE! out of their slumber and states of complacency, sluggishness, grumbling, and perpetual states of fatted weariness brought on by Selfishness! They are to boldly declare the Word of the Lord which I have decreed without apology or fear of repercussions And when they boldly confess on a continual basis those decrees which I have made- SURELY they can expect and anticipate RADICAL, mind-boggling changes to take place!

Furthermore, just because things may not have happened the way that they desired them to, they are to EMBRACE what I am doing in the NOW and WHO I AM- for I come forth by MY SPIRIT not simply to grant them comforts- but to closely inspect the hearts, making steadfast determinations of who shall Praise, Worship, Honor, and Offer THANKSGIVING unto Me whether they abase or abound! And those whom dare Praise Me regardless of what the circumstances and situations dictate- SURELY I SHALL bestow Priestly Garments of Splendor upon them from the Inside Out.

REJOICE! and again I say REJOICE! for I AM the LORD JEHOVAH, Here, NOW, and Very Present- NEVER sleeping or slumbering. SHOUT HALLELUJAH! for I AM IN THE NOW and command Miraculous Changes and Turnarounds to those who RECEIVE ME in the rawest forms!

Selah...AMEN.

Anonymous said...

Bishop..posted earlier on the other blog...still here & standing in covnant with the vision of CITN..just wanted to add our Amen to what you posted...

here to worhip & serve

Anonymous said...

My dream is that before we all see Jesus in Heaven, that we will be able to show Him to the multitudes here before we go.

NTL

Anonymous said...

testing

Anonymous said...

I had a dream 11/4/2007 it was so real and strange I wrote it down. for some reason I feel I should share it here....

Last night I dreamed I was going back and visiting some former churches I used to go to and minister at - Troy Grambling and the Southside Church group New Beginnings and others. (Southside Church where Troy Grambling was the senior pastor; was the first church I ministered at after excepting the call 1995) It seemed that they were having more of a show like news and entertainment on TV and on stage; than a church service ( it got to where it seemed that way to me back then too, one of the reasons I decided to leave) then they began to eat and this is where it really gets weird. They were laughing and talking and then they told me that they were eating their dead relatives instead of burying them - it made me sick. I said I would not do it. But they were all just smiling and having a good time and telling me how much of a blessing this was to them. They were trying to convince me of how this was a good thing to do. I would not agree at all. My brother and his wife were sitting at the table with me and also trying to convince me mostly his wife. I left that place quickly and was going around town looking for something, I don’t know what. It was a strange place with unusual old rundown buildings, seemed deserted and desolate, I thought someone might be wanting to kill me, I don’t know were it was I could not recognize anything. Then this thing that looked like it was some kind of a long-nosed space ship on wheels was going around as if looking for something. The nose was like a pointing device (but a finger came to mind for some reason). It came over to me and turned around and stuck its nose end or pointing device right in my face at the end of my nose, as if pointing at me. There were railroad tracks and an old wooden privacy fence on either side of me and sandy ground at the place in the town where I was standing when it found me. The door on the side of it opened and the guy that was driving it looked like he was an alien from outer space (big bug eyes) and wearing a white space suit. I asked him what this thing was and he told me it was a machine that lead the way for people working under ground in the water under ground where it was dark and the people could not find there way but it “lighted” the way for them. I said why has it come to point at me; he said “we have found you”. I was a little concerned as to what it might do with me; and I was thinking why was it looking for me? Then I woke up. At 3:33 am. ( Jer. 33:3 has always been one of my favorite verses; “Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).”(Read the whole chapter…very interesting)
I did not sleep well the rest of the night thinking about the dream; it didn’t make sense at all.
Then on my way to work and talking to mom it started coming to me. The people eating the flesh of ancestors were representing the fleshly teaching of the churches that has been passed down through tradition of their ancestors being taught or fed to the people. And they think, for this reason, it is good. (not burying them and putting the dead away like we should, good while they were alive but now dead) But it is from the mind of the flesh and death, showy, (the news & entertainment on TV part) outward, and even disgusting sickening (cannibalism even of family members) - (No life in it – dead). The thing from outer space (not worldly or of this world) represented the underground church (hidden)-[reminds me of the parable of the pearl] it was in the water (Spirit – life). It was pointing me out to join or be used also in this work.


P.S.
Dr. Lovelace called and brought a good point to my attention. Another place were it is talking about eating the flesh of a human………..Jesus said “ unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you” WOW! Goes right along with this dreams meaning or adding to the meaning I should say. Harold also mentioned that there are underground springs that give life to this planet humm also very interesting.

Mike Clegg wrote back and added “what was odd is that those who were eating seemed unaware they were eating death to themselves”


ICONOCLAST

Unknown said...

"when we allow..."

simple-complex
quiet-powerful
light yoke-responsible burden
one at a time-all at once
a challenging, amazing journey to embark on!

It's an exciting let's-do-it-our-lifetime dream!

Teezy313 said...

WHOA!!! Seriously, seeing your sermon alongside Dr. MLK Jr's sermon brought tears to my eyes!! I just felt the prescence of God coming off both sermons...the prophetic word spoken from the Lord concerning this ministry is coming to pass and it's coming soon!!

Teezy

Leesa said...

Bishop,

I sat tonight weeping as Senator Obama's story was told, and then as he talked, more tears. Don asked why in the world I was crying, and I told him that I just get the impact of today. No matter what the outcome of the election, history is made today. It is legendary that for the first time a black man could be our President...and even though I am a white-girl, for some reason, I just get it. Being raised on the West coast, I am not sure why I never felt it growing up...we were integrated, my personal friends were of all "shades".. but maybe as a State we were more concerned about our spotted owls and such...at any rate, I was just overcome by one man's solitary DREAM...and how the whole course of history is changed.

I am reminded too how much I was drawn to your uncle, Bishop Paulk...and not knowing much, but seeing the result of his alignment to be a bridge builder,(didn't he march with the "Dreamer") it so moved me. The integration of all people, no matter what shade of color, style of worship, it just felt right to me somehow ....I just felt to honor him tonight...and to Thank God for him, the real Bishop Paulk (not other stuff that has tried to overshadow it). I remembered tonight how I used to get up so early no matter what time zone to find him on TV to hear his Word. It was there that I first saw you...and heard the voice of my Shepherd, (my "Dad") saying you had never seen a well-traveled bigot"....and that all the colors of people were in God's face (something along those lines, sorry I don't remember exactly, I just saw the picture of it) It impacted me forever. And you and Pastor Debye continue to!

And then I felt an enormous sense of gratitude for you and my Pastor Debye...the path you have taken cannot be an easy one...the DREAM is bigger than you can hold. I just want you to know you are celebrated and honored. YOU are a pioneer, a bridge-builder and a history -maker! Thank you for persevering...and being a DREAMER! Just as Martin Luther King, Jr stood against all odds for the hope in his heart....Please keep marching! We are with you...and you'll see, It's going to change the world!

I love you both so much!
Leesa

Anonymous said...

where are you soz, you are a person of many words on every blog, why are you so quiet now?

missing you.

Anonymous said...

You May Say I am a Dreamer
I just hope I am not the only one.
My Dream are all for God children be united as one, regardles of SKIN COMPLEXIONS or RELIGIONS!

My dream’s really, not only for all the Religions (Baptist, Pencotist, Seven Day Adventist, Church of God, Church of Christ, the Big Church, and Small Church. Even the Jehovah Witnesses) peoples come together, by Bishop Swilley Revelation Message of Reconciliation and all of us Covenants Members of CITN will play a big part in it.

I do understand and believe that we are a Faith Going Church, but I am going to Dream, Hoping, Expecting everyday, when Bishop will write down the blog Topic that will say: WE ARE A DEBT FREE CHURCH. AMEN!

Call me a Dreamer! But we are going to take the all CITY of CONYERS and COVINGTON by FORCE. Conyers and Covington will be the Cities that are set on a hill! And they will not be hidden.
from the glory of God.

My most amazing Dream’s for CINT and all of us CITN Members are filled with the Holy Ghost,(by our relationship with Him).
And for us to make Prayer a priority in our lives!
And for us all to be debt free!

Love & Peace To you All!

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks for your comments (love all of your insights)...and thanks for taking the time to read the post. I know that it's lengthy, but I believe that it's important, and I appreciate you taling it seriously. Keep believing in the dream!!!

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

...and also for TAKING it seriously!