This Weekend...(and Happy Father's Day)

Hey bloggers, I'm just going to leave this article posted for the whole weekend, so I wanted to add this picture in honor of Father's Day. It's one of my favorites, taken Christmas before last (you can tell how much Jonah has grown since then), of me with my Dad and my sons (with a special shout out to my beautiful daughter)...

Happy Father's Day!

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Future Now!

"That which is now, already has been; and that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks out that which has passed by so that history repeats itself." (Ecclesiastes 3:15 - AMP)

Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because God is the I AM, and He has created me to be an eternal being who lives and moves in the now.


Today I will celebrate my triumph over time. It is not too late to receive the miracle that I need, and God is showing me how to redeem my time as He restores to me the years that have been eaten away from my life! My personal "Lazarus" can still be raised from the dead, four days after the funeral!


Today I will declare the end from the beginning as I forget yesterday and move into my future. I will not allow the distraction of looking at the past cause me to miss enjoying the adventure of NOW!


Today I will free myself from the stress of time limitations and restraints, and I will escape the trap of being dominated by deadlines: "My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net" (Psalm 25:15).


Today I will flow spontaneously in the river of eternity that transcends the time-bound world system. Going with the flow will take me to where I need to be as I am led by the timeless Holy Spirit.


Today I will explore the possibilities presented to me by believing that I receive WHEN I PRAY — not waiting to believe when I see the manifestation later. Walking in faith is all about living in the now, and I live my life by my faith!


Today I will harmonize my past, present and future into the wholeness of the eternal life provided for me by the I AM, seeing the picture of my life start to take shape and make sense. Today I will gain a new appreciation for my eternal life, and today I will live in the now!


Father, I thank You that the future is now!
In Jesus’ name, amen.


Prepare for the prophetic...

Groanings Which Cannot Be Uttered

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, MAKING A PRAYER OUT OF OUR WORDLESS SIGHS, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
(Romans 8:22-28 - The Message)

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As you can see, I changed the article for today. Well, really, all that was here earlier was a quote (with no title), and at the time of this addition there are 10 comments posted, which I am leaving. I just wanted everyone to look at this passage from Romans 8, my favorite chapter in the Bible. The 26th verse in the KJV talks about praying with "groanings which cannot be uttered". Here in The Message it says it this way..."making a prayer out of our WORDLESS SIGHS"...

For those of you who are really connected here, I want you to know that I believe I feel where you are today. I hear you in the spirit-realm, but I understand why it's hard to express in natural words what's going on inside all of us right now. I understand it because it's hard for me to use words today, myself.

In fact, I am making the conscious effort today to allow the sword of the Spirit to divide my own spirit from my soul (Hebrews 4:12), because my soul, frankly, just needs to be quiet today. There is a time to speak, and a time to keep silent, and I need to keep silence in the material world...

For whatever you may be going through right now (the best of times and the worst of times?)...let not your heart be troubled. Many of us are in a death process right now...a process that brings us to the point where we can say, "It is no longer I who lives, but Christ Who lives in me..."

If that bears witness with you on any level, just post a little confirmation here (in the mouth of two or three witnesses...)...something like "Bishop, I'm out here...it's all good...just need to make a prayer out of "wordless sighs" today"...

If you want to say more than that, feel free to do so...

The bottom line is that today there is a "quiet" before the storm in the heavens that is coming this weekend...

And the good news from this promise in Romans 8 is that the prayer of v.26 causes the results of v.28, where all things work TOGETHER for good!

Be still and know that He is God...

Peace to all...

Come, the New Jerusalem! (Pt. II)

First of all…BLOGINTHENOW is four months old today! Thanks to all of you who have helped to create this very loving and prophetic cyber-community! I hope that it means as much to you as it does to me…

Secondly, I had a really great day yesterday…my time with Pastor Ben (and Kettly) was very enjoyable…they went with me to the TV interview (which went extremely well…watch for it if you get Daystar or Word…and it will also be aired on Streaming Faith) and to the King Center. Then Pastor Lee took me to an amazing dinner at the High Museum of Art in honor of two new exhibits that you should check out. The first one is called The Road to Freedom (on view through October 05), in which you can witness the Civil Rights Movement in pictures…a ground-breaking exhibition of powerful and compelling photographs. The second one is called After 1968 (also through October 05), in which you can examine seven contemporary artists' ideas of the Civil Rights Movement's legacy. It’s a companion exhibition to Road to Freedom. Then I ended the evening with a phone conversation with a blogger (who may or may not want to comment about it) that was all about restoring broken fellowship and healing old wounds…good day, all day long…

I loved everything that you wrote yesterday in response to my article about the New Jerusalem, and I want to say a little more on the subject of its’ coming here on today’s article (I don’t want to say too much more about it because I want to save the good stuff for my sermon Sunday). But I feel the same way as Peacemaker, who commented yesterday that “there is so much going on both inside and outside my head”…

Let me try to address some of what is going on in me today...

When we were with Israelis in Jerusalem a few days ago, hearing their viewpoints and seeing the world through their paradigm, I could completely understand their position on things pertaining to their nation, and on what they believe to be the will of God concerning it. Then, when we crossed over into Palestine and met with the Muslim Palestinians, my heart so went out to them, and I could feel their pain and frustration…and I completely understood their viewpoints, as well. I even understood their view of the will of Allah. In fact, I was so flooded with the Spirit of Understanding all week long that I could see the points of every group, including the Evangelicals and Dispensationalists! I mean, if you’re spiritually sensitive and aware, Israel, especially Jerusalem, can really mess with your mind!

But because I could see everyone’s point…and because I believe that each point is valid…I became more convinced than ever before that the “Israel of God” that Paul talked about has to be a SPIRITUAL ISRAEL, that can only be interpreted and understood IN THE SPIRIT! The most profound moment of our trip, for me, was standing with Muslims and Jews and people of other belief systems on the very spot where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, and hearing an Israeli man (who is not a Christian) read these words from the Apocalypse (the Revelation) … “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Then he cried out “Come, the New Jerusalem!”

When it was my turn to speak, I ended my part with singing these lines… “Let the river run…let all the dreamers wake the nations…come, the New Jerusalem!”

That’s all I want to say about that here…I’ll talk about it more on Sunday. By the way, and just so you’re aware, this weekend at CITN will manifest one of the most amazing outpourings of the Holy Spirit that we have ever seen. Just thought you’d like to know…

One thing I do want to leave with you, however, is this Scripture, and all I can say about it is, “let he who has ears, hear…”

Those who want to make a good impression and a fine show in the flesh would try to compel you to receive circumcision, simply so that they may escape being persecuted for allegiance to the cross of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised in order that they may glory in your flesh (your subjection to external rites). But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world! For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah]. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and regulate their lives by this principle], even upon the [true] Israel of God!
(Galatians 6:12 – 16, AMP)

These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ's suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don't keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible! For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
(Galatians 6:12 – 16, The Message)

Whoever are wanting to put on a fair face in the flesh, these are compelling you to circumcise only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ Jesus. For not even they who are circumcising are maintaining law, but they want you to be circumcised that they should be boasting in that flesh of yours. Now may it not be mine to be boasting, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation. And whoever shall observe the elements by this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, also on the Israel of God.
(Galatians 6:12 – 16 , CLNT)

Selah!

Come, the New Jerusalem!

Yesterday Avatar asked where the BLOGINTHENOW picture (left) was taken, and the answer was that I was standing in the (dry) Pool of Bethesda in Old Jerusalem. Today I’ve replaced that picture with the one above, taken in front of the Dome of the Rock (formerly known as the Mosque of Omar), arguably the ultimate symbol of the impasse that religion can (and typically does) create between people...one of the most intense places on the planet. Usually, I smile in pictures, but I'm not smiling here for a reason.

Under the Jordanian rule of Jerusalem, Jews were at one time forbidden from entering the Old City. Israel took control of the Dome of Rock during its victory in the Six-Day War in 1967. According to a posthumously-published interview with Haaretz, General Uzi Narkiss reported that on June 7, 1967, a few hours after East Jerusalem fell into Israeli hands, Rabbi Shlomo Goren had told him "Now is the time to put 100 kilograms of explosives into the Mosque of Omar so that we may rid ourselves of it once and for all." His request was denied; according to Goren's aide Menahem Hacohen, he had not suggested blowing up the mosque, but had merely stated that "if, during the course of the war a bomb had fallen on the mosque and it would have – you know – disappeared – that would have been a good thing." Later that year, in a speech to a military convention, he added: "Certainly we should have blown it up. It is a tragedy for generations that we did not do so. […] I myself would have gone up there and wiped it off the ground completely so that there was no trace that there was ever a Mosque of Omar there." Shlomo Goren also entered the Dome of the Rock with a Torah book and the shofar.

A few hours after the Israeli flag was hoisted over the Dome of the Rock in 1967, at the conclusion of the Six-Day War, Israelis lowered it on the orders of General Moshe Dayan, and invested the Muslim Waqf (religious trust) with the authority to manage the Temple Mount-Haram al-Sharif in order to "keep the peace". Groups such as the Temple Mount and Eretz Yisrael Faithful Movement wish to relocate the Dome to Mecca and replace it with a Third Temple. Since Muslims consider the ground under the Dome to be sacred this would be a highly contentious move, and would provoke violence. The majority of Israelis also do not share the movement's wishes. Most religious Jews feel that the Temple should only be rebuilt in the messianic era, and it is their belief that it would be presumptuous of people to force God's hand. However, some Evangelical Christians consider this a prerequisite to Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus. This view is steeped in the belief that there will be a prophetic rebuilding of the Temple in place of the Dome of the Rock.

Actually, I’m not smiling in the picture for several reasons, and I’ll share those reasons this coming Sunday as I present a little pictoral tour of our trip to Israel/Palestine. I’ll also reference each of the theological viewpoints mentioned above. I’ll have a good, inspiring word for you (it’s Father’s Day), but I believe that you’ll also learn some things from the information that I will share with you that will, at the very least, help you know how to pray for the current situation in our world. I’ll even adress Barack Obama’s visit to AIPAC this week.

It’s going to be a very powerful weekend…Kim Clement on Saturday night…my Father’s Day sermon on Sunday…and then Kim Clement again on Sunday night (both night services at 7 PM).

Today I’m going to give Pastor Ben Nadiope a little tour of Atlanta, particularly the King Center. I haven’t had a chance to spend a lot of time with him since he got here from Uganda, so I’m looking forward to that. By the way, several of you have asked about going to Uganda with me in Septmeber, and I’ll have some information about that for you, shortly. Also, as I mentioned yesterday, I’m planning on ministering for Bishop Tommy Smith in the Philippines in late October, and I’ll make that trip available for anyone who wants to go, as well.

Also, today I’m doing an interview with the publisher of Hope Today Magazine, which will be aired on Friday, July 11 on the Word Network and Streaming Faith and Daystar. I will appear inside the July/August issue of the magazine, which will be on newsstands the first of July.

And I want to say that I miss some of our regular bloggers (I won't mention any names)...maybe you're all on vacation. If not, then where is the love?

Stay cool today...

And walk in peace...part of the reality of the coming of the New Jerusalem is that it is built on the two basic truths of the gospel...LOVE GOD/LOVE OTHERS...peace with all men (even the religiously intolerant)...

more about this tomorrow...

Something's Coming! (And then some...)

Hey bloggers,

Several of you have asked about how the service at Church Alive International went yesterday. I mentioned it on the comments page when I was at the airport, but let me reiterate that it was totally awesome! I’ve been ministering there for several years, but this time was absolutely the best experience I’ve ever had there…full house…lots of visitors…powerful praise and worship…strong anointing…lots of laughter (the people at CAI have an amazing GIF, and they definitely drew out my comedic side…in fact, several told me afterward that they were physically healed during the laughter…we sold out the book table, including School of the Bible (first church I’ve ever taken it to)…I wasn’t going to bring it, but they requested it…Pastors Ernie and Avery went with me, as they have done several times before, and I’m sure they would agree with me that this was our best time there…

I love Roanoke and Pastors Carey and Vannie Harrell…I’m so proud of them, and expect great things for them…

To any of you who were there yesterday, thanks for receiving me and for being so open…I love you (and thanks for buying the books!)

Also, I talked to Bishop Tommy Smith in the Philippines today…please keep him and Ging in your prayers…they’re doing great, and the ministry is growing (just started a school), but they’ve experienced some transition similar to what we experienced here about a year ago, so surround them with your faith…and if you support them financially, make sure that you are caught up with your giving. I am planning on going there sometime in late October/early November…

B. Tommy reads this blog regularly, so if you want to give him a shout out, you can do so here…

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SOMETHING’S COMING!

And then God answered, “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on the way.
It will come right on time.”
(Habakkuk 2:2, 3 The Message)

Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because I have a vision, and a vision from God doesn’t lie. It lets me know that something good is on the way and that I must make room for it in my life.

Today I will have faith in my goals and in my ability to reach them. I will write a petition, which will give my faith a focal point, and I will find a Word on which to stand to make that petition come to pass.


















Today I will have a positive outlook, anticipating the arrival of a long-awaited answer to a prayer. I will not be weary in well doing, knowing that I will reap in due season if I do not faint.

Today I will run with the vision, because the vision is alive and growing—mobile and evolving—and running to keep up with it will be good and healthy for me. I will abandon my comfort zone and stretch toward the bigger and better breakthrough that is bound to become mine!

Today I will be appreciative of the little things that are a blessing to my life as I increase my capacity for accepting even greater outpourings of God’s love and affection for me. God wants me to be blessed even more than I want to be blessed, and He has written a vision on my heart to make sure that I receive all that He has in store for me!

Today I will not be moved when it looks like I am having a setback. All things are working together for my good, and God’s timing will ultimately be perfect, so I will walk in the faith and patience that enables me to obtain the promises! I will not become discouraged, because I will keep my eyes on the big picture.

Today I will keep hope alive by believing for the impossible, seeing the invisible, and feeling the intangible. I will speak of the nonexistent things as though they already existed, because the vision in my mind is increasing with the faith in my heart. Something’s coming, and it could be here any minute; I will be ready for it today, and today I will live in the now!

Father, write Your vision on my heart today. In Jesus’ name, amen.