In 2003, an estimated 20,000 people were illegally smuggled into the U.S. as slaves. By the end of the year, 2007 is expected to see around 100,000 sex slaves smuggled into our borders. This is a growing problem! Tonight at IHOP, we pressed in again with fasting and prayer over this issue. Church, we have tolerated Jezebel (Revelation 2:18-29). When 50-70% of Christians view pornography. When pastors are addicted to it (depending on the survey that number is also been 50-70%)!! When we go out and pay money to be entertained by movies that promote and glorify sexual immorality. When we watch it on our TV and call the viewing of wickedness our 'rest' or 'recreation.' We should rest in God, and let him re-create us. For many in the church, pornography eventually needs them to an affair or even the use of prostitutes or sex slaves. Sadly, we even know of churches who's pastor is in an adulterous relationship and they knowingly say it's okay as long as he'll keep preaching to them!

We are the gatekeepers of the city. When the pastors and elders and other church leaders tolerate sexual immorality, they open wide the door in the Spirit for powers to exercise influence over our children and our territory (that is the city in which we dwell). I prayed for this issue at The Call in Nashville, and I pray again- God have mercy, bring repentance, and shut the doors to this thing. Every time there's an altar call for this, I'm moved to go pray with authority for my brothers and sisters, because I was once in this bondage, and have been delivered. In the past, I tolerated sex on the tv screen, and choose not to turn my eye- even bringing home movies that I knew would have such filth in them. I first saw pornography as teen who didn't know the Lord, turned away from it, and years later found it on the internet for a season. I had to struggle with my flesh, fast, and pray. And Yah, my God had to intervene and deliver me. We might think a little skin on the tv isn't the issue, but it is. You see, we, being seated in the heavenly realms with Christ, have authority that loses and binds on the earth and in heaven. When we tolerate a rape scene as entertainment in our homes, we have given our consent in the spirit for rape on our streets.

Repent beloved, repent.

Good news: We fasted and prayed as a House this past Tuesday for our city. On Wednesday a major move of God delivered Atlanta's number one most wanted pimp into the hands of our justice system, and broke the bonds of the captives. I take this as a good sign from the Lord, that he's listening and watching for true repentance and longs to answer our prayers. He will fight the battle beloved, if we put our trust in him.

Last night at Encounter we had a very intense response to the condition of our city and the horrific reality of the absolute depravity of man. Many went into weeping and even travail over this wickedness. The scriptures tell us that righteousness and wickedness will mature together at the end of the age. Wickedness in it's fulness is approaching beloved, but not here. Yet every 30 seconds a young girl is taken against her will or by deception and forced into a life of sexual slavery. Every 30 seconds. In this darkness, even mothers and fathers have sold their own daughters to be used by 15-30 men a day. This should not be!! The sexual exploitation of children has become the third largest money maker in organized crime, behind guns and drugs, in Atlanta. Men are flying into our airport, having sex with children, and getting home in time for dinner.

This is why we fast and pray, beloved. Because the government can't fix it. Awareness can't fix it. Banners won't get our daughters out of dog cages (which is where many sleep night after night). We make our appeals to the highest court of the universe. That light would break in. That injustice would be exposed. That God would go to war on behalf of the children. This issue has griped intercessors at IHOP for some time now, and is often prayed over, but right now seems to be a strategic time to press in on this very issue.

Tuesday, Sept 25th, we fast and pray over this issue, we've even added extra intercession sets to press this. Furthermore, Sunday night we'll have intercession over the sex slave trade, and we'll fast back-to-back with the Global Bridegroom Fast for a total of 4 days in fasting and prayer. Tomorrow's fast and Sunday's was actually initiated by a branch of the Salvation Army as a national movement, and God walked us right into step. We discovered it only this morning and said "yes, we'll join that fast."

I really want you to get more of a grasp on this issue, and not turn a blind eye to the problem. For you mp3 peoples, either go through i-Tunes store and subscribe to the IHOP-Atlanta Podcast, or visit ihop-atlanta.com and click on the audio/video link (about mid page) to get this past Sunday's message. By Tuesday afternoon, we should have the audio from our Sunday night meeting online, if not, it will be soon.
In addition, I encourage you to download and read a well researched report on the problem called "Hidden In Plain View"

What a blessed day this has been. I went to Guitar Center this morning, because of their Labor Day sale, to see if they had any deals on drum heads and other stuff we go through at the House. They had nothing. Oh well. I came into the House and had a sweet time with the Lord during Christian's worship devo, then engaged in Intercession for a couple hours. Rolled out of the prayer room to teach the New Covenant Priesthood Class, then back into the prayer room for another Intercession set, then took the platform for a devo. I should be tired. I just want to read the Bible, though. I'll go home and do that, and see my son and wife at the 1am feeding. Shalom.

This past week I've been praying through Malachi, and what does Billy preach on- the fulfillment of the Word of Malachi in the last days establishing the House of Prayer throughout the nations: "For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts." (Mal 1:11) We had a weighty night in the House. Ashlee, Grace, and Asa were at home, so I just pressed in for the night, beginning the fast. It's Global Bridegroom Fast again, praise Yah! For the next three days we fast and pray because we miss Jesus:

"the disciples of John came to him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast? And Jesus said to them, 'Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast." (Matthew 9:15)

So this is the end of 40 days in the life of an intercessor, but not the end of the blog. I'll continue to write to you at least weekly, if not more. Shalom.

I came in for this evening very tired, and honestly, was hoping to find someone to cover one of my sets. But as I began to praise the Lord, He met me. On the 6pm set, I close the Sabbath day. So I enjoy that set very much. The Lord gave me strength and a song, and I found myself blessed to be in the House. Jacob's team came in to follow, and they ministered to the Lord and to me as I sat in the chair and studied Ezra. I was now filled with desire to praise, and the energy to do so. So I eagerly returned to the platform for my second set at 10pm. Just finished, and I thought about lingering to play with Bruce on the midnight set.

Sometimes our body is tired, or our soul is in slumber. There is nothing like praising God to awaken us! When we worship, we encounter the source and light of life. We gaze upon the One that can actually fascinate our hearts for eternity. That awakens our souls, and the Spirit reigns over the flesh to strengthen the weary, even the sick. Is it not reasonable- that to encounter the source of life would bring restoration? I'm reminded of that tonight. How I was at first feeling too tired for the watch which is my charge. But in obedience I came, and by grace I encountered Yeshua. May we have grace more and more to walk in obedience to our charge. Amein.

I was sweet to be in the House tonight. We welcome Shabbat in a truly peaceful way at the House of Prayer. Ever grateful for the blessing of serving here, I was impressed with the need to press on. Reading Ezra tonight, I am reminded how the Levites returned to Jerusalem with zeal to build the Lord's House and quickly built the altar, offered sacrifice and restored the sacred songs. How they pressed on to build the foundation. And then how the pressures of adversaries caused them to shudder from the work and tend to their own welfare apart from God's House.

A season is coming of pressing, and we must press on. Should the House be left only with it's foundations laid? We've only begun 24/7 prayer, and weakly. There is much to mature and to shift. A friend of ours in India was just severely beaten because he was a believer. Others are in Brazil boldly proclaiming the Word. We are in persecution and proclamation. And we need God. I'm moved towards holiness by our need for His presence. Without knowing HIM, how will we endure persecution with gladness? Without knowing HIM, how will we have anything worth proclaiming?

Before Shabbat day is Shabbat night. Before the Millennial Reign of Christ comes the Day of the Lord. Today is the day to gather oil for our lamps (Matthew 25)