Stephen Barret shares what it is like to evangelize in Japan. Signs and wonders confirming the word.
Show Notes with Time Stamps
02:05 Stephen went from no miracles to miracles 06:45 Jesus is not known in Japan 08:35 The Japanese think evangelism is for the Pros 10:08 God draws the right people 12:16 Stephen recounts a miracle in his ministry 16:15 an example of God drawing the hungry people 18:34 Japanese Mystics - Idolatry 20:38 Idolatry is a problem when new converts in Japan 21:43 Buddhism and Shintoism is prevalent 22:39 A Buddhist dreams about Jesus and then gets saved 25:38 The ones that follow you are the ones you disciple 27:49 The smart phone as a ministry tool 30:41 Japanese think Jesus is a historical figure among other gods; 34:58 Another miracle recounted 39:30 A terminal patient healed in Jesus Name 41:16 Commanding in the Name of Jesus 44:33 Signs accompany the gospel confirming the word 46:16 Dealing with Doubt and unbelief 48:25 Stephen was going blind from demonic attack 54:27 Running to the demons in dreams to attack 56:08 The devil tests believers 56:38 Don't seek sympathy get in agreement 1:02:53 Greater works than these 1:06:14 The devil circles about seeking whom he may devour 1:09:50 Acts is our blueprint for today - not leaven 1:11:54 Committing time for evangelism each week 1:18:17 Huddling after a spiritual encounter - discipling 1:20:12 Words of knowledge - spiritual discernment 1:27:03 Stilling the thoughts to be receptive to God 1:29:01 Learning from God directly 1:31:15 Stephen recounts a time he got healed 1:39:15 Stephen prays
Momentum for the Gospel: An Interview with Missionary Steve Barrett
As a believer passionate about spreading the Good News, I'm always excited to connect with fellow Christians who are on the frontlines of ministry. Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Steve Barrett, a missionary serving in Japan with Holy Fire Japan and Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI). Our conversation was a powerful reminder of the importance of missions and the incredible work God is doing in Japan.
The Spiritual Landscape of Japan
One of the first things Steve shared was the unique spiritual climate of Japan. Contrary to what many Westerners might assume, Buddhism and Shintoism, while culturally influential, aren't as deeply rooted in daily practice as we might think. Steve explained:
"I'd say most people are agnostic... Buddhism is widely culturally taught, a lot of principles from Buddhism, and there's also Shintoism... but whether people really hold true to those beliefs is very... it's kind of a cultural thing."
This insight highlights the need for a fresh approach to sharing the Gospel in Japan. With only about 1% of the population identifying as Christian, Japan represents a vast mission field ripe for harvest.
Innovative Approaches to Sharing the Gospel
What struck me most about Stephen's ministry was his creative approach to evangelism. He hosts weekly English classes called "His Word," using the Bible as the primary text. This ingenious method allows him to introduce non-Christians to the teachings of Jesus in a non-threatening way.
"People are reading the Word of God together, and for the first time, they're hearing about things that Jesus actually did," Stephen shared enthusiastically. "They're like, 'Whoa!'"
This approach has been incredibly fruitful, with about 88 people attending regularly. It's a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most effective way to share our faith is by offering something of value to others.
The Power of New Believers
Stephen's face lit up as he recounted the story of a recent convert he's been discipling. It was a beautiful reminder of the transformative power of the Gospel:
"It's very encouraging for me to see when the Spirit is with someone, that they're just hungry for the Word, hungry to know more about Jesus and to kind of develop the relationship with Him."
This young believer's excitement about prayer and his newfound ability to connect with God anytime, anywhere, was infectious. It served as a powerful reminder of the joy and freedom we have in Christ – something we can sometimes take for granted as long-time believers.
Challenges and Opportunities in Japanese Ministry
While the work is challenging, Stephen sees tremendous potential for growth. He's particularly excited about the momentum building through DCPI's church planting training events:
"We've already had two training events where pastors have come and been trained on how to start churches... I think that the key to expanding [Christianity in Japan] is more churches, people stepping out in faith, seeing God give them a vision, God providing for that vision, God starting new things."
This focus on equipping local leaders is crucial. As Stephen pointed out, while his role as a foreign missionary is important, it's the Japanese Christians who will ultimately have the most significant impact in reaching their own people.
A Call to Action
As I reflected on my conversation with Stephen, I was deeply moved by his passion and commitment to seeing the Gospel spread in Japan. It's a powerful reminder that God is at work all around the world, often in ways we don't see or hear about in our daily lives.
I want to challenge you, dear reader, to consider how you might get involved in supporting global missions. Whether it's through prayer, financial giving, or even exploring a call to missions yourself, we all have a part to play in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Let's pray for Stephen and his family, for the believers in Japan, and for a mighty move of the Holy Spirit in that nation. May we see a day when the 1% becomes 2%, then 10%, and beyond – all for the glory of God!
Remember, as believers, we're all called to be witnesses for Christ wherever we are. Let Stephen's story inspire you to step out in faith, share the Gospel, and be a light in your own community.
Interview with Stephen Barrett form Holy fire Japan about Prophetic Evangelism.
Show Notes:
Stephen and I met around 2010 on #Tworship;
Frustrated with no results and God told him to fast;
Many supernatural miracle healings ;
Living by faith;
Prophetic Evangelism is really spirit led evangelism;
A word about Treasure Hunting;
Words of knowledge about pain;
Evangelism does not have to be 'prophetic' ;
Initiating the conversation;
Scanning in the spirit;
Committing our way to the Lord so He will bring it to pass;
Establishing rapport;
Street evangelism and opening your mouth;
The boldness that comes;
Words of knowledge versus common knowledge;
Missing it ;
Stilling the thought life so you can hear in the Spirit;
Sources of information in the Spirit;
Prophetic mentoring;
Talking too much instead of listening;
Assembling the body together;
Doing it versus making excuses;
Stephen Prays us out;
I’m sitting here in my studio, reflecting on the deeper things of God, but today my heart is still buzzing from a recent "GodTalk" I had with my dear friend Stephen Barrett. Stephen is a missionary over in Japan—a place often called a "missionary graveyard"—but he is seeing the kind of fire and miracles that remind me of the Book of Acts.
As we talked, I could smell the fresh brew in my mug and feel the weight of the digital connection spanning thousands of miles. But more than that, I felt the weight of a common pain point many of you share with me. You read the Bible, you see the promises, and you intellectually "believe" them. Yet, there’s a gap. There’s a distance between the "belief" in your head and the "supernatural reliance" in your heart that actually moves mountains. You feel stuck in a dry routine, wondering why the signs and wonders seem to follow everyone but you.
If you’ve been feeling like your faith is more of a mental checklist than a living, breathing relationship with the biblical Jesus, then this is for you. We’re going to bridge that gap today. By the end of this post, I want to show you how to move from "mere credence" to a radical, walking-on-the-water kind of reliance that changes your world. We’re going to look at how God is breaking paradigms in Japan and how He wants to break them in your life, too.
Let me set the scene for you. Imagine you are Stephen Barrett. You’ve been in Japan for over a decade. You do weddings to keep the lights on, but your heart is for the gospel. One afternoon, you’re at a chapel, and a young couple walks in. They aren't just there for a ceremony; they are looking for you.
Stephen told me, "Conrad, they visited the chapel about a year ago and just heard my name. Ever since then, they said they’ve been hearing my name in their spirits. They even had a dream about me."
I sat there, stunned. This couple, who knew nothing of the gospel, had been summoned by the Holy Spirit through a dream. They met Stephen and said, "We believe there is a reason we are here having a wedding with you." Stephen looked at the groom, a man with only five minutes to spare before his own ceremony, and asked, "Have you ever heard the gospel?"
The man said no. Right there, in that tiny window of time, Stephen explained that Jesus died for his sins so he could have a relationship with God. The groom didn’t hesitate. He said, "I will believe right now."
That is the "Ethiopian Eunuch" encounter. It’s the "Cornelius" moment. It’s what happens when we stop trying to manufacture ministry and start relying on the Spirit who is already moving. These "coincidences" are actually the infrastructure of the Kingdom. But to see them, we have to get rid of the "weights" that hold us back.
Main Message
Stephen and I got to talking about Hebrews 12:1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1 KJV).
We often think of "weights" as big, nasty sins. And sure, sin is a weight. But sometimes the weight is our own paradigm. It’s our "wisdom" that tells us we need a five-year plan instead of a "daily bread" reliance. Stephen is currently stepping out into full-time ministry, leaving the security of his wedding income behind. He has five kids. In the natural, that’s "ridiculous." But in the Spirit, it’s the only way to run the race light.
The Problem of "Mere Credence"
One of the biggest hurdles we face is our definition of the word "believe." In our modern English, "believe" is weak. You say, "I believe it might rain," or "I believe that’s a good idea." That is not the biblical "pistuo."
As I told Stephen during our talk, the Greek word pistuo means to be persuadable, to place confidence in, and to trust. It signifies reliance upon, not mere credence. James tells us that even the devils have "mere credence." Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19 KJV). The demons know God is real. They have the facts. But they don't have reliance. They aren't following the Shepherd.
If your faith is just a set of facts you agree with, you’re missing the power. True faith is when you lunge toward the giant because you know the Lord is with you. It’s a "nothing doubting" kind of walk.
The Pitbull and the Prompting
I remember a time back in Texas when I was out on a prayer walk. I was walking past a house where two pitbulls were kept on a chain. Every morning, they’d bark and lunged until that chain went taut. One morning, I heard it—the distinct snap of a chain breaking. Then came the pitter-patter of paws on the pavement.
My heart hammered against my ribs. I looked for a rock, a stick, anything. But there was no time. The dog was coming at me like a freight train. In that split second, a voice rose up in my spirit, clear as a bell: "If you're ever going to have faith, you've got to have it now."
I didn't run. I didn't cower. I lunged at the dog and shouted, "Back!"
That dog hit an invisible wall in mid-air. He fell down, slid a bit like a cartoon character, and just sat there with a puzzled look on his face. I had to keep that authority all the way back to the main road, but that moment taught me something: faith isn't a feeling you wait for; it's a decision you make when the chain snaps.
Breaking the "Standard Operating Procedure"
We often try to put God in a box. We think, "If I lay hands this way, or say these specific words, then healing happens." But look at the Bible! Naaman had to dip in a muddy river. Jesus used spit and dirt. Hezekiah used a lump of figs.
Stephen shared a story about a demonic manifestation he encountered. He had commanded the spirit to leave, but it stayed. He asked the Lord, "What do I do?" The Holy Spirit told him to put his hand where the person felt the pain and "smack it out."
Now, you won't find a "smacking out" manual in most seminaries. But Stephen obeyed. He slapped his hand down, and bam—that infirmity jumped out, and the person was healed. If he had stayed married to his "Standard Operating Procedure," that person might still be suffering. We have to be "fresh on the Spirit."
Personal Reflections
I’ll be honest with you—I haven't always walked this way. There were years where my theology was a mile wide and an inch deep when it came to actual power. I was like Stephen before his "Metanoia."
Stephen told me how he used to suffer from chronic hip and back pain after being hit by a car. He had the doctor's diagnosis, and he "believed" it. His body was confirming what the "experts" said. But then, he had a "Metanoia"—a change of mind. He realized he was putting more faith in the doctor's report than in the stripes of Jesus. He threw his medicine in the trash and stood on the Word. Today? No more pain.
I’ve had to learn that same lesson. I used to let fear dictate my steps. I’ve written about this in Overcoming Night Terror: Making the Demons Leave . I had to stop agreeing with the enemy. When we agree with the "weight," we can't run the race.
Jesus gives us grace for the learning process. He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith, but He never kicked them out of the boat. He kept them. He is keeping you, too, as you learn to walk this out. But you have to be willing to look "ridiculous" to the world. You have to be willing to go through the "dry grass" to get to the greener pastures.
Biblical References
When we look at the life of Peter in Acts 10, we see the perfect example of following the Spirit past our own understanding. Peter was on the roof, hungry, and he saw a vision of "unclean" animals. The Spirit told him to kill and eat. Peter, being a "good" religious man, said, "Not so, Lord."
Think about that! He called Him "Lord" and then said "No" in the same breath. But the Spirit told him, Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them (Acts 10:20 KJV).
That "doubting nothing" is the key. Peter had to go to a Gentile's house—something his upbringing told him was wrong. But because he followed the voice of the Shepherd, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles, and a whole new chapter of the Kingdom opened up.
We also see this with Stephen—not my friend Stephen, but the one in Acts 6 and 7. He wasn't one of the twelve apostles. He was a guy chosen to "serve tables." Yet, because he was full of faith and power, he did great wonders and miracles. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts 6:8 KJV).
You don't have to be a "professional" Christian to walk in this. You just have to be a "reliant" one.
Key Takeaways
Reliance Over Credence: Biblical belief (pistuo) is about trusting your weight to Jesus, not just agreeing with facts about Him.
Metanoia is Required: You must change your mind to align with the Word of God over the reports of the world or the "weights" of your past.
Follow the Voice, Not the Method: God is not a vending machine. He is a person. Sometimes He says "command," sometimes He says "spit," and sometimes He says "smack." Be "fresh on the Spirit."
Run Toward the Giant: Faith often requires lunging toward the thing that scares you. David didn't walk toward Goliath; he ran.
Kingdom Activation: Miracles are "signs" that point to the King. When you see a miracle, don't just celebrate the healing—seek the Kingdom that the healing represents.
Conclusion and Call to Action
My friends, the world doesn't need more people who "believe" in Jesus the way they believe in the Pythagorean theorem. The world needs people who are addicted to the ministry of the supernatural. They need people who, like Stephen in Japan, are willing to stand on a street corner and demonstrate the power of the Spirit.
Are you tired of the "weights"? Are you ready to throw away the "medicine" of your own self-reliance and see what the Lord can do?
If this has stirred something in you, I want to hear about it. Dig deeper into these truths by checking out my other posts at ConradRocks.net. If you’re struggling with fear or spiritual attacks, grab a copy of my book Overcoming Night Terror . It’s time we stop trembling like the demons and start walking like the King's kids.
Please share this with someone who needs a "Metanoia" moment today. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a comment below, and let’s keep this conversation going. Until we meet again, dig deeper and go higher!
Action Items
Identify One "Weight": This week, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you one "weight" (a paradigm, a fear, or a habit) that is hindering your race. Explicitly "lay it aside" in prayer.
Practice Small Reliance: Don't wait for a "Goliath." Start by praying for small things—a headache, a lost key, or a bit of wisdom for a project. Trust the outcome to Him.
Scripture Immersion: Take one verse, like Mark 16:17-18, and meditate on it until it becomes more real than your physical circumstances.
Engage the "Metanoia": When you catch yourself thinking "I can't" or "That's impossible," stop and ask: "What does the Word say about this?" Deliberately choose the Word's report.
Step Out: This week, if you feel a nudge from the Spirit to speak to someone or pray for someone, do it "nothing doubting." Even if it feels "ridiculous."
I met Stephen Barret many years ago on Twitter. He is an American Christian Missionary living in Japan. His blog had me captivated. Japan is so different than America and
I was excited to see Japan through his perspective.
Stephen was there during the Big Earthquake on 3-11-11 and he was also there during the recent one during my first Facebook live broadcast.
Stephen is helping out with the earthquake victims in Japan, and you can find out how
in the video.
Interview Steve from Holy Fire Japan. Steve talks about Forgiveness and how God is using the prophetic to change lives all over the world - through a podcast.
The Forgiveness wave of Revelation;
Forgiveness and healing;
Testimonies -forgiveness and healing;
We met on #Tworship on twitter;
Salvation through the podcast;
Water wells in Africa and salvation;
God calls Steve to Japan;
Japan and the prophetic;
God uses words to change people;
Importance of speaking forth;
How GBC radio got started;
Steve prays ;
Steve teaches English using the bible;
Stephen Barrett came up with an interesting topic on Voxer. Taking bible verses out of Context.
Body is the temple;
The spirit is more important;
I can do all things Phil 4:13;
Mountain moving faith;
Jeremiah 29:11 abuse;
John 3:16 the word 'so';
Salvation context;
Job 22:28 & 42:7 decree a thing;
Check out this Bible Chopping; video;
https://youtu.be/nudtKU6mHkA
An impromptu VOXER interview with Stephen Barrett Missionary to Japan about Church planting.
Steve thanks voxer peeps for prayers;
DCPI in Japan;
Divine appointment testimony;
Japan VS America church paradigms;
200 churches disappear each year;
How God called Steve to Japan;
Presenting the gospel in Japan;
Giving up social status for Jesus;
Sin consciousness in Japan;
Exploring my journey in Faith Healing. I used to think it was fake but now I am a firm believer.
Show Notes:
I used to think healing was fake;
I grew up in Cessationist church;
Faith healers were exposed as frauds;
A man raised from the dead exposed as fraud;
Watching Benny Hinn closely;
I prayed for a lady to live and she did!;
David George gets healed at church! ;
OFCC had many testimonies of healing;
Man's eye straightened up;
Couple gets pregnant through prayer;
Dave and Patty Lage interview ;
Kevin Riordan praying for people on the Street;
Stephen Barret - Radical Transformation in healing;
I saw healings first hand with Garry Nesbit;
Seeing healings first hand with Doug Hanson;
Praying with doubt #DoesNotRock ;
Praying in the "Name" of Jesus ;
Being meet for the Master's use;
Miracles in Japan! They began in January 2017. In this interview Steve gives a few testimonies. He shares what he is learning. What he is doing ministry wise. What is God up to in Japan?
The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a long, golden shimmer across the rhythmic waves of the beach. I remember the cool sand between my toes and the salt air filling my lungs. It was 1995, and I was a brand-new creature in Christ. Everything old had passed away, but I was standing there with a massive, aching hunger in my spirit. For years, I had tried to fill a specific, god-shaped hole in my heart with anything I could find—drugs, alcohol, music, and the hollow pursuit of worldly success. None of it worked. Now, standing on that shore, I realized I had found the Source, but I didn't know how to draw closer. I was like a man who had found a vast ocean of fresh water but didn't have a cup to drink from.
You might be feeling that same ache today. Maybe you’ve been "in church" for years, but the fire has gone cold. You know the doctrines, you know the songs, but the person of Jesus feels like a distant historical figure rather than a living, breathing reality in your life. The pain point for many of us is the realization that our love for God feels stagnant. We want to love Him more, but we don't know the "how." We treat it like a mystery we can't solve, or worse, a chore we have to perform. We feel the guilt of not "feeling" enough love, and that guilt creates a barrier that keeps us even further from His presence.
In this post, I want to take you on a journey to the very heart of this question. A while back, I was reading a book by Francis Chan, and he posed a question that stopped me in my tracks: "How does one love God more?" It’s a simple question with eternal implications. I took that question to my community on Facebook and the Voxer Christian chat, and the responses were profound. Through those insights and my own supernatural encounters with the Lord, I’ve discovered that loving God more isn't about trying harder; it's about drawing nearer.
The solution isn't found in a religious formula or a set of rules. It is found in a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus. He is the author and finisher of our faith, and He is the one who perfects love within us. We’re going to look at how to simplify the complex, how to hide the Word in our hearts, and how to orchestrate our lives so that Jesus isn't just a part of our day, but the very center of it. If you're ready to dig deeper and go higher, let’s explore how we can truly grow in our love for the Father.
When I encounter a difficult spiritual question, I often think back to my high school math days. I remember sitting at a desk, looking at a problem with these massive numbers and complicated decimal points. It was overwhelming until I realized a secret: if I reduced the numbers—if I made the problem smaller in my mind—I could see the relationships between the numbers. Once I understood the relationship, I could solve the big problem. I believe we can do the same with God. Since we are made in His image, we can look at our human relationships to understand our spiritual one. How do you love a spouse more? How do you love a child or a friend more? You spend time with them. You learn what they like and what they hate. You share your heart with them.
One of the first responses I got on social media was from Jean, who suggested that maybe one cannot love God more. While I understand the sentiment that God's love for us is infinite and unchanging, our experience and expression of love for Him can certainly grow. Think about your life "BC"—Before Christ. You didn't know Him. You didn't love Him because there was no relationship. As you began to spend time in His presence, as He began to bail you out of difficult circumstances and give you strength, your love grew.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
That strength creates a bond of gratitude, and that gratitude is the fuel for love.
Billy Taylor mentioned that we should read the Bible as much as possible because faith comes by hearing the Word. Recently, I was talking with Stephen Barrett from Holy Fire Japan on Voxer, and he reminded me of something crucial: Jesus is not just the destination; He is the Way.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6 KJV).
People often confuse the Bible with the destination, but the Bible is the map that reveals the Person. When we read the scriptures, we aren't just gaining intellectual knowledge; we are learning the nature and character of our King. We learn His authority structure, His calendar, and the things that move His heart. If you aren't reading about Him, you are essentially walking away from Him. You can't love someone you refuse to get to know.
Another brother, Todd, pointed us to 1 John, which says that whoso keepeth His word, in him is the love of God perfected. This is about more than just "following rules." It’s about hiding the Word in our hearts so we don't sin against Him. But why do we want to avoid sin? If it’s just because we’re afraid of hell, that’s not love; that’s self-preservation. Love says, "I don't want to sin because I don't want to hurt the one I love. I don't want His name to be blasphemed because of my actions." When we value our relationship with Jesus more than our own fleshly desires, our love is being perfected. We are saying that He is worth more than the temporary pleasure of sin.
There is also the power of the testimony. Billy Goodapp suggested that we love God more by remembering what He has done for us. To "remember" literally means to bring back to the "member"—to put it back together in our minds. When I share my testimony of how the Lord delivered me from drugs and alcohol, it reignites that fire of gratitude. I’ve written about this extensively in my books like OPEN YOUR EYES and Overcoming Night Terror. When you realize that you were once taken captive by the devil at his will, and now you are free, you can't help but love the Deliverer. Gratitude is the shortcut to love.
We also have to talk about obedience. A lot of people say "just obey," but I want to offer a different perspective. You can obey a drill sergeant or a boss out of fear or duty without loving them at all. Jesus said:
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24 KJV).
True obedience must flow from the heart. God searches and tries the "reins" of our heart. He wants a relationship, not just a set of performed actions. If our obedience isn't fueled by love, it's just religious theater.
Finally, we love God more by loving His people. Janelle pointed out that what we do to the least of the brethren, we do unto Jesus.
"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (1 John 4:20 KJV).
I think about Saul on the road to Damascus. He was "using the Bible" to persecute Christians, thinking he was doing God a favor. But Jesus asked him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Every time we use the "sword of the spirit" to slash at our brothers and sisters instead of the devil, we are attacking Jesus. To love the Head, you must love the Body.
Personal Reflections
I remember one particular time when I decided to take my seeking to another level. I went into the wilderness to fast and pray. I didn't bring any food—I knew my flesh would win if I had a snack in my pocket—so I just took water. The heat was pressing in, and the silence was deafening. My stomach was growling, a persistent, gnawing reminder of my physical nature. It was a battle. I was trying to "crucify the flesh," but in that weakness, something supernatural began to happen.
As I walked through the brush, scriptures didn't just come to my mind; they popped into my spirit like bubbles rising to the surface of a spring. I realized that the more I prioritized Him—the more I orchestrated my day to be alone with Him—the more the "god-shaped hole" was being filled with His actual presence. I learned that God gives good gifts to those who ask.
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13 KJV).
I look at someone like Brother Yun, the "Heavenly Man." This man went to prison for his faith, was beaten, and fasted for over 70 days without food or water. Why would someone do that? It's not because they have a high pain tolerance; it's because they are so deeply in love with Jesus that nothing else matters. I'll be the first to tell you, I'm nowhere near where I need to be. I am still a student in the school of love. But I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, and I’ve become "addicted" to the ministry and to seeking His face.
The lesson Jesus corrected me on was the "time limit" issue. I used to think I could give God thirty minutes in the morning and call it a day. But as Stephen Barrett once asked me, "What if you told your spouse you only had thirty minutes for them?" That would be a relationship based on my own priority, not love. Now, I try to allow Him to orchestrate my entire day. Whether I'm at the beach, in the wilderness, or sitting at my computer, I want to be in constant communication with the Spirit of Truth.
Biblical References
The scriptures are not just ink on a page; they are the revelation of the Heart of God. Throughout the Bible, we see a consistent theme: love is synonymous with knowing and abiding.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6 KJV).
To love the Father, we must go through the Son. In Hebrews, we are told to look unto:
"Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2 KJV).
He is the one who starts the fire of love in us, and He is the one who will bring it to completion. If you feel like your love is weak, ask the Author to write a new chapter of passion in your heart.
We also see the necessity of the Word in 1 John:
"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him" (1 John 2:5 KJV).
Keeping His word isn't just about memorization; it's about "guarding" it like a precious treasure. When you treasure someone’s words, you treasure them.
The story of the woman washing Jesus' feet with her tears in Luke 7 is perhaps the greatest practical example of loving God more. The Pharisee looked on with judgment, but Jesus said:
"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little" (Luke 7:47 KJV).
When we truly grasp the depth of the hell He saved us from, we will be willing to "look stupid" for Jesus. We will weep at His feet because we know the magnitude of His mercy.
Finally, we must remember that our love for God is reflected in our treatment of others.
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40 KJV).
If you want to love the invisible God more, start by showing tangible love to the people He died for.
Key Takeaways
Simplify the Problem: View your relationship with God through the lens of family and friendship to understand the dynamics of love and time.
Priority Over Policy: Don't put a time limit on God. Let Him orchestrate your day rather than squeezing Him into a slot.
Gratitude is Fuel: Regularly revisit your testimony. Remembering where He brought you from naturally increases your love for Him.
Love the Body to Love the Head: You cannot claim to love Jesus while persecuting or hating your brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Word as a Map: Read the Bible to discover God's character and nature, not just to check off a box.
Forgiveness and Passion: The more you realize how much you’ve been forgiven, the more capacity you have to love Him deeply.
Conclusion and Call to Action
Loving God more isn't a destination you reach; it's a journey you walk every single day. It’s a pursuit of the "spiritual Jesus" who is alive and active right now. Don't settle for a cold, intellectual religion. Dig deeper into His Word and go higher in your personal encounters with Him.
If this message has touched your heart, I invite you to join our community. Share this post with your friends and family on social media—you never know who needs a spark to reignite their first love. Visit ConradRocks.net for more podcasts, blog posts, and resources. You can also find my books, OPEN YOUR EYES MY SUPERNATURAL JOURNEY and Overcoming Night Terror, which dive much deeper into these supernatural realities.
I’d love to hear from you! How do you cultivate your love for the Lord? Leave a comment below or join our Voxer Christian chat to keep the conversation going. Until we meet again, keep seeking, keep knocking, and keep loving.
Action Items
Identify Your "Time Limits": Practice "The Presence of God" by talking to Him throughout your entire day.
Write Down Your Testimony: Spend 20 minutes writing out the major things God has delivered you from.
Targeted Bible Reading: Read specifically to find one thing God "likes" and one thing He "dislikes" in a passage.
Bless a "Least of These": Intentionally do something kind for a fellow believer this week.
Schedule a "Wilderness" Walk: Find a place away from distractions to tell the Lord you love Him and to listen.
Picture a proper British garden party in Wales back in 1873. Men in waistcoats and women in long dresses are gathered on a manicured lawn, sipping tea and watching a peculiar new activity. Major Walter C. Wingfield has just introduced something he calls "sphairistikè," which thankfully got renamed to lawn tennis soon after.
It started as just an idea in that one garden. They didn't have the internet, television, or radio. Yet, within just four years, the very first World Tennis Championship was held at Wimbledon. How did it spread so fast? It wasn't forced upon people with tanks or guns. People saw it being played outside, in public, and realized it was something they wanted to be a part of. It looked fun, it looked engaging, and they copied it.
Today, you can walk into any Walmart and find rackets and balls. You drive past courts funded by tax dollars in nearly every community. That simple idea from a Welsh garden party captivated the world because it was visible.
This image of tennis spreading rapidly because it was played "out loud" really convicted me recently when I was reading the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was very clear about how we should operate in the world.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 KJV)
The problem is, a lot of our modern Christianity looks more like a secret society meeting than a game of lawn tennis. We hide it inside our church buildings. We don't see many evangelists out on the street anymore. We seem ashamed to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ—which is the power of God unto salvation—out into the public square.
The New Public Square
Today, the public square has shifted. It’s no longer just the town center or the local park; it is the worldwide web. Social media is the new realm where billions of people gather daily. It has a reach infinitely wider than a few eyeballs driving past a local tennis court.
This brings me to a heavy topic, but one we need to address spiritually: the war on terror. When we hear that phrase, we usually think of soldiers, bombs, and physical conflict overseas. But if you look deeper, you realize that at its core, this is often an ideological war. It is a spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of people.
You know that there is something you can do about this war without ever leaving your living room. You don't need to enlist in the military to fight the spiritual battles gripping our globe. You can engage in this fight with the most powerful weapon available: the love of Jesus, delivered through the vehicle of social media.
The Great Commission wasn't a suggestion; it was a command from our King.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)
Jesus tells us to teach all nations. Today, those nations are scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter on their phones.
My Digital Mission Field
I have been actively engaging on social media for years now with the specific intent of spreading the Gospel. I’ve learned a few tricks along the way. You can use these platforms to either lead people to Christ initially or to disciple, encourage, and edify those who already believe but are isolated.
Sometimes it takes a lot out of me, but I make it a point to engage anywhere from ten to fifty new people every single day about Jesus. The conversations vary wildly. Sometimes I go to "fishing holes"—places online where people are already debating a hot topic. You can use trending hashtags to inject the name of Jesus into political or cultural conversations. When people are looking for answers in politics, I get to tell them, "Hey, politicians won't save you, but Jesus saves."
Recently, my eyes were opened to the massive potential of Instagram. I hadn't paid much attention to it as a ministry tool until I realized it has over a billion downloads just on Android. That is a staggering amount of people. As I started paying attention to it over the last month or so, I was blown away. I started meeting people from literally all over the planet—Iran, Vietnam, Russia, Israel, Nigeria, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.
Many of these people are in countries where Christianity is shunned, or worse, illegal. I hear testimonies from people who say their families disowned them because they decided to follow Jesus. Think about that. If you don't win someone to the Lord in those countries, you can still use your connection to encourage and edify a brother or sister who is having an incredibly hard time facing persecution you and I can only imagine.
The "English Language" Hook
In my search for ways to conduct Bible studies online using audio files, I stumbled across a whole new world of messaging apps like WhatsApp, Line, Telegram, and Voxer. I found that many people, particularly in Middle Eastern countries, are heavily using these apps.
And here is the thing that absolutely blew my mind: countless people all over the world are desperate to learn and practice the English language.
I want that to sink in. English is the number one business language on the planet. People want to learn it to improve their lives. This reminded me of Stephen Barrett, an American missionary to Japan I know. He used a program where he taught English using the Bible as his textbook.
Japan is only about 1% Christian. It's a hard soil to plow. But Stephen told me how he would teach English using the Gospels, and his students would come back to him later asking questions about the miracles of Jesus. He was acting as the sower, planting the Word of God inside them while meeting a practical need they had.
We can do the exact same thing online. There aren't many native English speakers for someone in a closed country to talk to in person. But online? You are right there. You can join language learning groups and offer to help people practice their English, and use the Gospel as your source material.
Personal Reflections: Don't Go Alone
How serious are you about changing the earth for Jesus? Are you serious enough about the Great Commission to give up a little bit of television time? Instead of giving the devil your time, you could be taking ground for Jesus in cyberspace.
I know it can feel overwhelming. Sometimes you might feel like you are all by yourself out there in the digital wilderness. Jesus knew this feeling, which is why He sent His disciples out two by two. We need encouragement.
One of the things I used to do was gather some online friends, and we would go into Blog Talk Radio chat rooms together during live shows. We would be wingmen for each other. We would embed the topic of Jesus Christ into the chat relative to whatever topic was being discussed on air. It is much easier to be bold when you know you have a brother or sister right there in the chat with you, backing you up.
If you are listening to my podcast or reading this blog, you probably found me through social media. That means you have the tools. You have the account. The question is, what are you going to do with it? We need to carry our cross and follow Him. Let’s not be like the servant who buried his talent in the ground. Let's take some ground for Jesus.
Key Takeaways
Visibility is Key: Like tennis, the Gospel spreads faster when it is practiced out in the open, not hidden behind closed doors.
The Digital Battlefield: The war on terror is ideological; the only true solution is transforming hearts with the love of Jesus through the Great Commission.
A Global Hunger: There is a massive global demand to learn English, which creates a perfect opportunity to use the Bible as a teaching tool.
Power in Numbers: Don't do digital evangelism alone. Partner with friends to enter online spaces together for moral support.
Action Items
Pray for Strategy: Ask the Holy Spirit which social media platform He wants you to focus on as your mission field.
Engage Daily: Set a goal to interact with a specific number of new people online every day, intentionally steering conversations toward faith.
Utilize Hashtags: Don't just consume content; insert the Gospel into trending conversations using relevant hashtags.
Find a Partner: Identify a Christian friend who will commit to joining you in "two by two" digital outreach in chat rooms or comment sections.
God bless you. If this message has touched you, please share it on your own social media so we can get more laborers into this digital harvest field. Until next time, dig deeper and go higher.
Today we're diving into something really significant, something that's been on my heart for a while now. It all started with a simple question: What does it take to knock down idols?
This isn't just some abstract theological debate; it's a question with real-world implications for our spiritual lives and our walk with Jesus. I've been studying the scriptures, and a particular passage in 2 Kings chapter 18 has really jumped out at me. It talks about King Hezekiah, and his story is incredibly relevant to us today. So, let's unpack it together and see if we have what it takes to break down the idols, the groves, and the high places in our own lives and in the broader church.
Hezekiah: A King Who Dared to Demolish Idols
The passage begins by telling us about Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, who became king of Judah. The Bible says he "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did." That's a powerful statement! But what exactly did he do that was so right? Well, verse 4 tells us: "He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made."
Think about that for a moment. Hezekiah, a political king, took decisive action against idolatry. He didn't just pay lip service to the idea of worshipping the one true God; he physically removed the places where false gods were being honored. He broke the images, cut down the groves (which were often sites of pagan worship and even sexual immorality – something we still see echoes of today, even on college campuses under different names), and here's the kicker – he even destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had made!
Now, that last one might seem a bit shocking. The bronze serpent was originally created by Moses at God's command as a means of healing for the Israelites who were bitten by fiery serpents in the wilderness (Numbers 21). It was a symbol of God's provision and healing. But over time, the children of Israel had started burning incense to it, essentially turning a tool God had used into an idol. Hezekiah recognized this. He even gave it a derogatory name, "Nehushtan," which basically meant "a piece of brass." He was saying, "Look, this isn't some magical object; it's just bronze. We've elevated it to a place it doesn't belong."
This resonates deeply with me. How often do we, even with the best intentions, take something God has used or blessed and turn it into an idol? It could be a past move of God, a particular ministry, a tradition, even a certain way of doing church. We hold onto it so tightly that it becomes more important than our living, breathing relationship with Jesus.
The Biblical Mandate Against Idolatry
This wasn't just Hezekiah's personal preference; it was in line with God's clear commands. As we read further in 2 Kings 18, it says Hezekiah "trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him." He clave to the Lord and didn't depart from following Him. He kept His commandments. And the result? "The Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth."
This brings us to a crucial point. God has always been vehemently against idolatry. In Numbers 33:52, God commands the children of Israel, when they enter the land of Canaan, to "drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places." This wasn't a suggestion; it was a direct command.
And it wasn't just about physical idols. In Leviticus 26:30, God says, "And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your groves, and your images, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you." Strong words! God calls idolatry spiritual adultery. It's a betrayal of our covenant relationship with Him.
It's striking to note that while many other kings in the Bible walked after the Lord in some ways, they often failed to remove the high places. And each time, the scriptures point this out as a significant failing. Hezekiah stands out precisely because he took this radical step.
Modern-Day High Places: Idolatry in the Church Today?
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. We don't have literal high places and groves in the same way today. But the principle remains. Idolatry isn't just about bowing down to statues. It's about anything that takes the place of God in our hearts and lives.
Think about it. What are the "high places" in our modern context? Could it be our obsession with social media, where we seek validation and worth from likes and followers instead of from our identity in Christ? Could it be our pursuit of wealth and material possessions, where we place our trust in earthly riches rather than in God's provision? Could it be our adherence to traditions and rituals that have lost their original meaning and become empty forms?
This past year has been interesting in this regard. We saw the continued trend of many churches focusing on Easter while seemingly overlooking Passover, the very feast that Jesus Himself celebrated and that foreshadows His sacrifice. Easter, with its roots in pagan fertility festivals and its association with the goddess Ishtar, has become so ingrained in our culture that many don't even question its origins. The King James Version even uses the word "Easter" in one instance where every other translation correctly uses "Passover" (Acts 12:4). It makes you wonder why this discrepancy exists.
Similarly, Christmas, while a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, has become heavily commercialized and intertwined with pagan winter solstice traditions. While the sentiment of giving and celebrating with family is good, we need to be mindful of the true focus: Jesus.
I'm not saying we should boycott these holidays, but we need to approach them with discernment, ensuring that our focus remains on Christ and not on the cultural baggage that comes with them. Repentance isn't just about acknowledging a mistake; it's about turning away from it and aligning ourselves with the truth. Jesus said in Revelation 18:4, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." We are called to be separate, to be holy. Pointing these things out can sometimes lead to backlash, but we must speak the truth in love.
From Brass Serpent to Medical Symbol: Understanding God's Moves
The story of the bronze serpent is particularly insightful. God used it for a specific purpose at a specific time. But when it became an object of worship, it had to be destroyed. This teaches us that even things that were once a move of God can become idols if we hold onto them beyond their intended purpose or elevate them above our relationship with Him.
It's natural for us, as humans, to want to create tangible reminders of supernatural encounters or past blessings. But we need to be careful not to worship the memory of the move rather than the God who moved.
Interestingly, the serpent on the pole in Numbers 21 is also a foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. As Jesus Himself said in John 3:14-15, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." The very symbol that once brought physical healing now points to the ultimate healing and salvation found in Christ. It's a powerful connection, but it also underscores the danger of fixating on the symbol rather than the reality it represents.
The Danger of Carnality: Making Idols of Movements and Leaders
This tendency to create idols often stems from our carnal nature. In 1 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul addresses the Corinthian church, who were experiencing a powerful move of God with signs and wonders yet were still acting like spiritual infants. He says, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ."
Paul emphasizes the difference between being spiritual and being carnal. The carnal mind cannot understand the things of God (Romans 8:7). Spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). The Corinthians were dividing themselves based on who they followed – Paul, Apollos, Cephas. Paul rebukes them, saying, "For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" (1 Corinthians 3:4).
Divisions and denominations, while sometimes arising from genuine theological differences, can also become idols if we prioritize our affiliation with a particular group over our unity in Christ. I've seen this firsthand. While out on the streets sharing the love of Jesus, I've encountered groups of Christians who seemed more interested in debating denominational differences than in reaching the lost. It's a stark reminder that we need to knock down these idols of division and focus on the core message of the Gospel.
Breaking Down Our Own Idols: A Personal Journey
So, what does it take for us, individually and collectively, to knock down the idols in our lives? It starts with recognizing them. We need to honestly assess where our hearts truly lie, what we prioritize, and where we place our trust.
For me, this is an ongoing process. I constantly have to check myself. Am I more concerned with the number of views on my videos or the depth of my connection with Jesus? Am I holding onto past experiences or successes as a measure of my worth, or am I pressing forward into what God has for me today?
The first step, as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, is to "cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5). We need to deal with our own idols first. This requires self-sanctification, a conscious effort to align our lives with God's Word and His Spirit.
I believe the Lord is moving me more and more into the arena of faith, and as I step out in faith, I have to be constantly aware of the temptation to create idols out of past victories or to rely on my own understanding rather than on God's supernatural guidance.
Supporting the Kingdom: The Example of Holy Fire Japan
Speaking of stepping out in faith, I want to take a moment to mention a friend of mine, Stephen Barrett, an American Christian Missionary in Japan. His blog is called Holy Fire Japan, and I encourage you to check it out. Stephen is doing incredible work, especially right now in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes in Japan. He's providing food, water, shelter, and clothing to people who haven't been reached by government aid.
In a country where only about 1% of the population is Christian, Stephen is on the front lines, showing the love of Christ in a tangible way. His blog offers a fascinating glimpse into the culture of Japan and the challenges and triumphs of being a missionary there. It's a powerful reminder that our faith is meant to be lived out, not just talked about. You can follow him on Facebook if you'd like to learn more or see how you can support his efforts. This is what it looks like to live out the spiritual life in a real and impactful way.
It's Time to Knock Down the Idols
So, going back to our original question: What does it take to knock down idols? It takes a heart that is truly devoted to Jesus, a willingness to confront the "high places" in our own lives and in the church, and the courage to break down anything that stands between us and a pure, unadulterated relationship with our Lord.
It might mean standing alone at times, just like the prophets of old. It might mean going against the cultural grain. But the promise is clear: when we trust in the Lord with all our heart and follow His commands, He will be with us, and we will prosper in all that we do.
I encourage you to dig deeper into these scriptures, to pray for discernment, and to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any idols that might be lurking in your heart. Let's be like Hezekiah, a generation that dares to demolish the idols and wholeheartedly follow Jesus.
I was lying in bed, hovering in that space between sleep and wakefulness, when a question hit me like a freight train. I wasn’t searching for anything—this question felt dropped into my spirit:
When you prophesy, do you wait for the Lord to give you the words, or do you simply speak what is on your heart?
At first, I assumed most people would choose the “speak from the heart” option because it sounds warm, spiritual, and sincere. But as I sat with it, the Holy Spirit began exposing a dangerous deception. Our culture tells us to “follow your heart,” but Scripture paints a very different picture of that internal compass.
The Problem: The Deceitful Navigator
Many believers wrestle with what I call Prophetic Static. You feel an urge, you see a “vision” in your mind’s eye, and you’re ready to release a “Thus saith the Lord.” But here’s the tension:
How many times have we seen people prophesy things that were nothing more than their own political opinions, personal desires, or—worse—lying divinations?
The solution isn’t to stop prophesying. The solution is to learn the spiritual skill of dividing soul from spirit. Without that, we risk becoming like the prophets Jeremiah warned about.
The Scriptural Warning Against the Heart
We often treat the heart like it’s a field of daisies and butterflies, but Jeremiah gives a sobering warning:
“How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart.”
— Jeremiah 23:26 KJV
Think about that. They were called “prophets,” yet the source of their message was the deceit of their own heart. They weren’t necessarily malicious—they were deceived by their own inner workings.
Earlier, the Lord said:
“The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not… they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination… and the deceit of their heart.”
— Jeremiah 14:14 KJV
I’ve had to examine myself on this. There were times I wanted to speak something encouraging simply because I liked someone. But was that God—or was that just Conrad? Sometimes obedience looks like staying silent until the Lord truly speaks.
The Supernatural Mimic
In conversations with believers like Stephen Barrett and Donna Reinners, we’ve talked about the reality of lying divinations. Ezekiel addressed this clearly:
“They have seen vanity and a lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them…”
— Ezekiel 13:6 KJV
Just because something is supernatural doesn’t mean it’s from the Holy Spirit.
If you visualize a cat on a table right now, you can “see” it—but you created it. Some prophetic people are seeing things in the spirit realm that are actually projections of demons or their own soulish desires, and they mistake it for God’s voice.
Personal Reflections: When Jesus Corrected Me
There was a season when I thought every persistent thought was a “fire shut up in my bones.” But Jesus began showing me that the natural heart is a factory for things that are not Him.
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”
— Matthew 15:19 KJV
If that’s what naturally flows from the heart, how can we trust it?
We can’t—unless the heart is being washed and purified by the Word.
I realized I had to stop being a “disciple of television” and start being a disciple of Scripture. What we feed our eyes becomes what fills our hearts. If you watch the news all day, your “prophecies” will sound like the news. If you hide the Word in your heart, your words will begin to sound like Him.
The Secret to Mature Discernment
So how do we learn to tell the difference between God’s voice and our own imagination?
It comes down to maturity and practice.
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
— Hebrews 5:14 KJV
Discernment grows through use. When I speak a word of knowledge and it hits the mark, I “calibrate” my spirit. I learn what God’s voice feels like compared to my own thoughts.
It’s like a horse in a corral—the Holy Spirit will never jump outside the fence of Scripture.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful… dividing asunder of soul and spirit… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
— Hebrews 4:12 KJV
Key Takeaways
The heart is deceitful: Don’t assume a thought is from God just because it feels spiritual.
Wash with the Word: A pure heart is essential for clear hearing.
Exercise your senses: Discernment grows through practice.
Test the source: Does the word point to Jesus—or to the person speaking?
Conclusion
The goal isn’t to be “prophetic.”
The goal is to be accurate.
We want to be the sheep who truly know the Shepherd’s voice. If you’re unsure, wait. Let the Word of God divide soul from spirit until only truth remains.
Action Items
Audit your input: Fast from media for three days and replace it with KJV Scripture to wash your heart.
Practice silence: When you feel a “word,” pause for 60 seconds and ask the Holy Spirit if it’s from Him or from your own heart.
Study the Corral: Memorize one new KJV verse daily to strengthen your scriptural boundaries.
Connect: Join the conversation at ConradRocks.net and check out my books Open Your Eyes and Overcoming Night Terror to sharpen your spiritual sight.
I was sitting across from my wife, Susan, the other morning, wrapping my hands around a hot mug of coffee. You know how it is when you’re staring down a goal and you’ve done well, but that last little bit feels like a mountain you just can’t summit? I told her, "Susan, I don’t know if I’m going to lose those last five pounds by my birthday. I’ve dropped fifty-five, but I’m struggling."
She looked at me with that simple, cheerleader-in-high-school clarity and said, "Oh, that’s easy. Just stop snacking."
I just sat there. I think I actually blinked a few times in silence. Stop snacking? It sounds so simple, right? But inside of me, there is a "Cookie Monster" that lives and breathes. To me, peanut butter and crackers are a spiritual experience. My subconscious paradigm is wired to think that a snack is always a good idea. I remembered hearing Arnold Schwarzenegger once say that when he needs to cut weight, he just stops eating. I can't even fathom that mindset. How is that even possible?
This is the pain point so many of us face in our spiritual lives. We have these "iniquities"—these deep-seated patterns and desires—that seem to defy our willpower. We want to be closer to Jesus, we want to walk in the supernatural, but we feel tethered to the "pigpen" of our old habits. We grit our teeth, trying to "not sin," yet the desire remains.
The good news is that there is a science to repentance. It isn't just about feeling bad; it’s about a total paradigm shift. In this post, we’re going to look at how to stomp out iniquity, move into the authority of the signet ring, and truly recover ourselves from the snare of the devil. If you've ever felt like a "marred pot" that just can't stay on the wheel, this is for you.
When we talk about "Stomping Iniquity," we have to understand what we're actually dealing with. There’s a difference between a "sin" and an "iniquity." A sin is often that overt act—the "thou shalt not" that you went ahead and did. But iniquity is something that gets inside the heart. It’s a pattern. It’s that thing the Spirit of God told you not to do, but you did it anyway, and now it has a foothold.
I remember playing tennis for four hours a day when I was a kid. I was burning thousands of calories just by existing. I never had to "pull back the reins" on my eating because my lifestyle handled it. But as we get older, and as we grow in our walk with Christ, we realize we have to deal with the heart. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me (Psalm 66:18).
I was recently having a conversation with my friend Stephen Barrett from Holy Fire Japan. We were talking about the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. It hit me: we cannot stay resolved to be iniquitous. We can't just throw up our hands and say, "Well, Lord, you made me this way! Why did you make me a marred pot?" Paul addresses this head-on: Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (Romans 9:20).
The truth is, Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). He paid the price, but He also calls us to be "overcomers."
Think about the Prodigal Son. When he was in that pigpen, he didn't just "feel sorry." He made a move. Repentance is like a drunk man staggering down a hallway. He keeps hitting the walls, but as long as he’s moving toward the door—toward Jesus—he’s on the right path. Each step toward the Father is a step away from the filth. And the amazing thing is, when you start moving toward Him, He doesn't wait for you to arrive. He runs to meet you. He gives you the robe, the fatted calf, and most importantly, the signet ring. That ring represents authority. True repentance leads to spiritual authority.
But how do we handle the "stupid thoughts" that keep coming back? I was mowing the lawn the other day, listening to the Bible on my headphones. I was "doing the right thing," right? But my mind started wandering. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a wicked, iniquitous thought popped into my head. I was shocked! "Lord, I'm listening to the Word! How did that get in here?"
Jesus said, Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you (John 15:3). But He also said to let those words sink down into our ears and abide in our hearts. Information in the ears isn't the same as meditation in the heart. Our iniquities actually "attract" demonic thoughts. It’s like a magnetic pull. To break that pull, we have to use the Word as a weapon. This is why I'm always telling you to hide the Word in your heart. When the temptation hits, you don't just "try" not to think about it; you hit back with Scripture. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success (Joshua 1:8).
Personal Reflections
I’ve had to walk this out myself. Losing fifty-five pounds was a physical battle, but it started with a spiritual one. I had to realize that my "gluttony" was an iniquity—a desire that was counter to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. For years, I just accepted it as "who I am." I realized I was "opposing myself," as Paul says in 2 Timothy.
There were times I missed it. There were times I’d be gritting my teeth, trying to be "good," while my heart was still longing for the "onions and garlic" of my old life. Jesus had to correct me. He showed me that I was trying to "strive" in my own strength. But the servant of the Lord must not strive.
I learned that repentance is actually a gift. We think we "do" repentance, but the Bible says God grants repentance. We seek it, and then He gives it. It’s a supernatural release where the desire for the sin actually dies.
One of the biggest lessons I learned—and I talk about this in my book OPEN YOUR EYES—is that even after the spiritual desire is gone, you still have to deal with the "lump of meat" that is your flesh. Your body is a portable sinning machine. It has "muscle memory" for iniquity. Even when the demon is gone or the spiritual root is pulled, the flesh still wants its snack. You have to take that ground back by force and establish new, righteous habits.
Biblical References
The Bible gives us a very specific "recovery protocol" for when we find ourselves snared. We often look at our struggle and feel hopeless, but the Word says there is a way out.
First, we have to flee. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22). You don't hang around the temptation to see if you're "strong enough" now. You run!
Second, there is a secret to breaking off iniquities that most people miss. It was hidden in Daniel’s counsel to the King. He said, Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility (Daniel 4:27).
Did you catch that? You can break off iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. When we are stuck in iniquity, we are usually very self-focused. "Poor me, I have this struggle." But God says, "Go bear someone else's burden." When we shift our focus to loving our neighbor and meeting the needs of others, something supernatural happens to our own chains.
James echoes this: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). Notice it doesn't say "pray for yourself to be healed." It says pray for one another that ye may be healed. There is a healing that only comes when you are out in the field, working for the King, and caring for His sheep.
Key Takeaways
Iniquity is a Heart Issue: It’s not just the act; it’s the desire rooted in the heart that attracts demonic influence.
Repentance is a Gift: God grants repentance (2 Timothy 2:25). We must seek it diligently until He releases it.
The Word is a Weapon: Hide Scripture in your heart so you can use it as a "sword" the moment a temptation arises.
Break Iniquity with Mercy: Showing mercy to the poor and bearing others' burdens is a biblical key to breaking your own spiritual chains.
The Flesh Must Be Tamed: Even after spiritual deliverance, you must discipline your physical body—your "portable sinning machine."
Conclusion and Call to Action
Friend, you don't have to live in a cycle of defeat. You don't have to be a "marred pot" that never makes it to the Master's table. Jesus wants to give you the signet ring of authority. He wants you to walk in the supernatural power that comes from a pure heart and clean hands.
Stop "striving" in your own strength and start using the keys of the Kingdom. Use the Word. Show mercy. Walk toward the Father. If you’re struggling with something today, I want to encourage you to dig deeper into these truths.
If this message touched you, please share it on social media. We need to get these "rocks of revelation" out to a world that is hurting. You can find more teachings and personal testimonies of deliverance on my website at ConradRocks.net.
And if you haven't already, check out my books, OPEN YOUR EYES and Overcoming Night Terror, for more in-depth strategies on spiritual warfare and walking with Jesus.
Until we meet again, dig deeper and go higher!
Action Items
Identify the Root: Spend time in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to show you if your struggle is an overt sin or a deep-seated iniquity in the heart.
Weaponize the Word: Choose one KJV Bible verse that directly counters your current struggle and memorize it today. Recite it the moment a negative thought enters your mind.
Show Mercy: This week, find a concrete way to show mercy to someone in need or the poor. Whether it’s a donation or a hand-up, do it as an act of breaking off iniquity.
Pray for Others: Identify someone else who is struggling with a similar issue and commit to praying fervently for their healing and deliverance.
Flee the Scene: Identify one "trigger" environment or habit that leads to your iniquity and make a firm plan to "flee" from it the next time it arises.
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