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
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;
Continuing in the series "Prophetic Evangelism" I interview Nick Serre from Canada.
Show Notes:
Sola Scriptura and following the Spirit;
Don't need to be a prophet to prophesy;
Discerning God's voice through relationship;
Waiting on the Lord;
Being led by the Spirit during evangelism;
Treasure hunting approach;
Spending time in the prayer closet;
How to pray for healing;
Ignoring the prompting to pray for someone;
How to approach people;
Reasons we miss it - discernment;
Different sources of information in the spirit realm;
The Spirit empowers us to do His Will;
Evangelizing at a Marylin Manson concert;
Reading the book versus doing what the book says;
Authority is given for us to Go! ;
Dare to take the step of faith;
Huddling after spiritual encounters;
Nick prays for the listeners;
Reviewing Shawn Bolz's book "Through the Eyes of Love" from a perspective of exploring the nuts and bolts of prophetic evangelism.
Show Notes:
Reading some of the book descriptions;
Shawn talks about hearing God's voice;
Delivering a prophetic word;
Missing a prophetic word;
Practicing the prophetic;
Old testament vs new testament prophetic;
God showing us things to come;
Sources of information in the spirit;
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;
00:49 Someone shared the gospel with a saved person;
01:08 Hateful Street Preacher example;
02:29 Biblical Definition of "Preach" or "Preacher" ;
06:29 Acie Burleson chimes in;
06:56 Lance Rowe says not to stand by idly!;
07:28 Monty Simpson God's love must be preached;
08:24 Corey Costelli gives a train example;
08:51 John Roush chimes in;
09:16 Mandy Stork, follow the Lord's leading;
10:24 Muslims having service inside a Christian church!;
11:05 Texas Muslim capitol day - interrupted by Christine Weick;
12:29 Preacher arrested for reading the bible at DMV;
13:39 Examining the Captive audience doctrine;
14:55 My first experience Street preaching the cops shut me down;
15:59 Jonny Gaston from Reach My City Audio;
18:17 Matthew Foutch preaches the Love of Jesus;
20:16 Brandon Hooks If we love people, tell them the truth;
21:51 Stephen Barrett from Holy Fire Japan - Be led by the Spirit;
29:24 Acts 5:27 Obey God about Preaching and not man;
30:19 Philippians 1:15 At least Christ is being preached! ;
The Christian Yoga Deception: Uncovering the Hidden Dangers
Welcome back to Coffee with Conrad! I'm your host, Conrad from ConradRocks.Net. My heart burns with a passion for you to have a deep, spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus, the God of the Bible. The God who declared, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3, KJV), and who warned us against worshipping Him according to the ways of the heathen, saying, "Learn not the way of the heathen..." (Jeremiah 10:2, KJV).
It grieves me to see how easily we, as believers, can be led astray, sometimes even with good intentions. Today, we're diving into a topic that has become increasingly prevalent in modern church culture: Christian yoga. Is it really okay for Christians to practice yoga? Let's explore the hidden dangers lurking beneath what often seems like a harmless form of exercise.
My Journey and a Word of Warning
For those who are new to my podcast, my background is probably a bit different. I was raised in a cessationist denomination, a belief system that holds that the gifts of the Spirit ceased in the first century. However, my personal experiences painted a different picture. I encountered the supernatural firsthand, both the good and the terrifying. I experienced demonic attacks and things that science simply couldn't explain. These experiences, detailed in my book "Open Your Eyes: My Supernatural Journey," which you can find on Kindle, taught me a profound truth: the spiritual realm is real, and we must be discerning about what we allow into our lives.
One of the things I experienced early on, even as a child in a Christian home, were terrifying night terrors and even an instance where my own hand seemed to try and suffocate me while I slept. Later, dabbling in New Age practices led to even more unsettling experiences, including what some might call astral projection. It wasn't until I encountered God in 1995 and truly started pursuing Him that I understood the dangers of dabbling in Eastern religions and practices. Just as God warns in the Bible, these seemingly innocent pursuits can open doors to demonic influence.
I feel a deep responsibility to warn my people, as Revelation 18:4 (KJV) urges: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." This is why I'm addressing this topic of Christian yoga today.
The Allure and the Deception of Christian Yoga
A quick search online will reveal numerous positive posts about "Christian yoga." It's a clever marketing tactic, really – placing the word "Christian" before a clearly pagan practice. But let's be clear: yoga, at its core, is a Hindu spiritual discipline. The very word "yoga" means "to yoke" or "union" – a union with the divine in the Hindu context. It's akin to suggesting "Christian Buddhism" or a "Christian Ouija board" – the foundational principles are inherently incompatible. You can't really have a "Christian demon," can you?
The proliferation of positive content around Christian yoga often points to a financial motive. I recall reading about a pastor who spoke out against it in his 10,500-member congregation, and the local yoga instructors were up in arms, fearing the loss of their livelihood. This echoes the story of Demetrius in Acts 19, who rallied the silversmiths against Paul's teachings because they were losing money from the diminishing sales of idols of Diana.
Sadly, Christian yoga is now so widespread that it's being offered in churches, even Christian schools. A friend of mine, Kevin Riordon, shared a shocking story on Facebook about his daughter being forced to do yoga in her Christian school! This is the very environment parents entrust to nurture their children's faith, yet they are being subjected to practices rooted in another religion. This highlights a significant issue: biblical illiteracy within the church and a disregard for clear scriptural warnings.
This post goes beyond this podcast, offering video testimonies of individuals who have experienced negative consequences from yoga, podcast episodes exploring the subject in more depth, book recommendations, and links to relevant news articles. It's a hub of information for you to explore at your own pace. In this podcast, I want to highlight some key insights from these resources.
Stretching vs. Yoking: Understanding the Core Difference
One of the most common arguments in favor of Christian yoga is, "God doesn't really mind if I stretch." While stretching is a physical activity that can be beneficial for the body, it is fundamentally different from yoga. As mentioned, yoga is about "yoking" or "union" – a spiritual union within a Hindu framework.
Consider this definition: "Yoga, a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation." It's crucial to understand that the physical postures (asanas) in yoga are not merely stretches; they are often intended to pay homage to Hindu deities and invoke their specific properties.
One woman who practiced high-level occult yoga for 15 hours a day shared her harrowing experience: "I got hit with spiritual warfare... because it opens you up to a different dimension... I thought I was becoming enlightened because I was feeling good... but just because something feels good, it doesn't mean that it's coming from a good place... it truly is witchcraft." Her testimony, which you can find on my blog, details the demonic terror she endured, including waking up choking herself and experiencing suicidal thoughts.
These experiences eerily mirror some of my own from my past. In my book, I recount a time as a young boy when I felt a hand, seemingly not my own, trying to suffocate me in my sleep. This resonates deeply with the experiences of those who have unwittingly opened themselves up to negative spiritual influences through practices like yoga.
The Biblical Mandate Against Syncretism
The Bible is clear about not worshipping the Lord according to the ways of other nations. Deuteronomy 12:29-30 (KJV) warns: "When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise."
Furthermore, Exodus 20:3-5 (KJV) explicitly states: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me."
When we perform Hindu yoga poses, we are contorting our bodies in ways that were originally designed to pay homage to Hindu deities. While practitioners of Christian yoga may claim they are not worshipping these gods, the origin and intent behind these postures cannot be ignored.
The Kundalini Serpent and Spiritual Awakening
Disturbingly, research suggests that the physical postures of yoga can awaken what is known as the Kundalini serpent at the base of the spine – a spiritual energy in Hindu philosophy. Once this energy ascends the spine and reaches the head, it is believed to lead to a heightened state of consciousness or enlightenment within the Hindu worldview. However, for Christians, this is a dangerous concept that aligns with Eastern mystical beliefs rather than biblical truth. You can find accounts of "Kundalini deliverance" online, highlighting the negative spiritual consequences some have experienced.
The typical progression for those who get involved in yoga often starts with the perception that it's a cool exercise with medical benefits. They may initially try to separate the physical from the spiritual aspect. However, the exposure to the environment, the instructors (who may unknowingly or knowingly be Hindu evangelists), often leads to curiosity about the spiritual side. This can act as a gateway, eventually leading to demonic oppression, as evidenced by increased suicidal thoughts, drug and alcohol abuse, and ultimately, a desperate cry out to Jesus for deliverance.
Kevin Riordan aptly described yoga as a gateway: "The devil doesn't play fair... he'll prey on a person's ignorance... he's waiting for you to open the door so he can get in." Just as some consider marijuana a gateway drug, yoga can be a gateway to Eastern spiritual practices and potential demonic influence.
Rejecting Knowledge and Generational Consequences
Hosea 4:6 (KJV) says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee..." When we reject the clear warnings in Scripture about not following the religious practices of other nations, we open ourselves and potentially our families to negative consequences.
The concept of generational curses is also relevant here. Exodus 20:5 speaks of God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children. When families dabble in the occult, even unknowingly, the Bible suggests that these negative spiritual influences can be passed down through generations.
The Meaning of "Yoke" and the Invitation of Spirits
Stephen Bancarz powerfully stated, "The word yoga means Union, so I'm a Methodist, therefore I'm yoking myself to spirits." Anytime we submit to a philosophy, behavior, or practice that is contrary to God's commands and intrinsically connected to a non-biblical spiritual system, we are potentially opening ourselves to demonic oppression. Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) reminds us, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Many yoga poses are named after Hindu deities, and holding these positions is meant to invoke the characteristics and essence of those gods. Additionally, the chanting of mantras literally invokes demonic entities.
The Hindu Missionary Effort and Yoga's Role
It's eye-opening to realize the deliberate missionary efforts of Hindu organizations. India's Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the world's largest Hindu missionary organization, announced in 1979 that their mission in the West had been met with "fantastic success," with Hinduism becoming a dominant world religion and the "end of Christianity" drawing near.
Central to this effort are yoga teachers. A quote from Dave Hunt's book "Occult Invasion" and a documentary called "Gods of the New Age" both highlight that yoga teachers are considered the "front missionaries" of Hinduism. Hinduism Today, in an open letter to evangelicals, even stated in 1991 that a "small army of yoga missionaries is ready to go to the west."
With an estimated 70,000 yoga instructors in over 20,000 locations across America teaching 35 to 40 million people, the reach and influence of this Hindu missionary effort through yoga are undeniable. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, many yoga instructors are introducing people to Hindu spiritual concepts.
Testimonies and Warnings from Those Who Escaped
Numerous individuals who have come out of yoga share similar experiences of negative spiritual consequences. The term "yoke" in yoga explains the yoking of energies or spirits that are invoked to deepen the practice. These energies are invited in through poses that worship deities and through the repetition of mantras that invoke specific spirits.
Heidi St. John interviewed Jessica Smith, who came out of yoga and explained that yoga has its own doctrine, the Yoga Sutras, which is antithetical to the Bible and can be seen as a guidebook for sorcery and divination. Even the poses alone are believed to activate the spiritual realm. The yoking in yoga is about opening oneself spiritually to the spirit of yoga and ultimately seeking to become one with the Hindu concept of god – a stark contrast to the Christian understanding of our relationship with God.
Stephen Barrett from Holy Fire Japan cautioned against using yoga studios as an evangelistic outreach, noting the lack of fruit from such attempts and the potential for spiritual contamination. Denise Richards shared her personal experiences of levitation in dreams, being chased by spirits, anxiety, and depression as a result of her yoga practice. Deanna Connelly emphasized that Christian yoga is an oxymoron, akin to being a "Christian Hindu," and that even Hindus recognize the incompatibility. She warned against the attempt to manipulate the life force through yoga breathing, which takes us out from under the protection of the blood of Jesus. Johnny Gaston from Reach My City likened Christian yoga to "Christian tarot cards" or "Christian witches" – a repackaging of pagan practices that does not make them godly. He affirmed that yoga is Hinduistic and that Christians should simply stretch for physical benefit.
What do you think?
What do you think about Christians practicing yoga? Feel free to leave a comment on the blog post,
If you know someone who might be wrestling with this issue or involved in Christian yoga, please share this podcast and the blog post with them. It's crucial that we, as believers, are not deceived by practices that have roots in other religions and can potentially open doors to negative spiritual influences. Let us be discerning, rooted in the Word of God, and committed to worshipping the Lord in spirit and in truth.
Thank you for joining me on Coffee with Conrad. Remember, Jesus rules! Until we meet again, dig deeper and go higher in your walk with the Lord. Amen.
Stephen is on his way to bring revival to Kenya all they way from Japan.
He is currently in California with signs and wonders following.
Show Notes:
1:50 Stephen is in California;
3:45 California is a spiritual hot zone;
6:15 Lance Row Sacramento
8:29 Healings are happening;
9:30 knee issues and scoliosis healed;
11:40 Atmosphere of faith;
13:06 knee healing testimony;
13:30 Scoliosis healing testimony;
15:09 talks about trip to Kenya;
18:45 El Camino Real tent preaching;
Stephen Barrett is a Christian Missionary to Japan. He is making an impact in Japan and walks in gifts of healing and the prophetic.
An interesting dream;
Following the Spirit;
Faith - text vs Spirit;
Faith and miracles;
Different perspectives of God;
Holiness;
Changing our thinking and faith;
Faith in dotctors or God;
From faith to faith;
My Pitbull faith example;
Finger of God Authority;
Preaching in public in Japan;
Activating Kingdom Seekers;
Belief and reliance;
Stop sinning vs Seeking Jesus;
In this 5 part series i discuss the things i have learned in going out in public and talking to people about Jesus.
Part 1 i discuss:
Prophetic evangelism and treasure hunting;
Presence of God changes lives;
Prophesying = divinely speaking;
Evangelism = heralding the good news;
The woman at the well example;
Hearing the voice of God;
Walking the lit path;
Time and geography;
Activating Kingdom Seekers;
Prophetic Activation for evangelism;
Acts 16 Macedonia example;
My personal example of Florida;
5 Powerful, Spirit filled, Words;
Contrasting from only the prophetic;
The importance of presence evangelism;
Activating Kingdom Seekers;
God orchestrates evangelism;
A touch from God changes lives;
My gospel is to the lukewarm;
Lighting people on fire with contagious passion;
God lights up people to talk to;
Leaving people better than when we found them;
Goal of activating Kingdom Seekers;
Presence of the Spirit of God;
We learn as we work the field;
Redefining Success to obedience;
Don’t let ‘no’ discourage you;
Be willing to look foolish for Jesus;
Eye contact leads to prayer;
Introductory questions;
Establishing Rapport;
Faith WORKS by love;
Finding something in common to start the conversation;
The group photo opportunity for evangelism;
On the other side of NO! Is FRUIT!;
Religious symbols - jewelry, on the car, or tattoos;
Just flat out asking people if they need prayer for anything;
The empty pier that filled up with people that needed prayer;
Sharing your testimony instead of prayer;
Keeping video testimonies on your phone;
Doug and Garry approach in different ways;
Just continue John 8:31,32;
Spirit Power inside the spoken words;
Laodicean resistance and how to deal with it;
The poor and harboring resentment;
Love on the poor and keep ministering in love;
Understanding and applying basic biblical doctrine;
Ignorance and rejecting knowledge and it's result;
Unforgiveness is a big problem;
Principalities in buildings; http://bit.ly/MiraclesAtVA ;
Giving Jesus a 'try' and how we proceed;
God orchestrates divine encounters;
Avoid people too busy or bent on sinning;
Places to avoid;
Don't fall into a system or a formula;
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?
This is a podcast that you will want to share and save. This comes from experiential theology and biblical theology. There are Kingdom Keys in the bible ! This is on Faith!
Experiential Theology vs Biblical Theology;
Talking to God as a kid;
Satan sows doubt and unbelief
First person relationship is important.
People are depending on us;
Ecc 10:19 money answers all things;
Girl with issue of blood;
Tragic endings selfish lust;
Mal 4:2 Healing in His Wings;
HolyFireJapan.com Stephen Barrett;
Having Faith in God;
Mark 11:21-26 faith passage;
Spiritual dialogue;
Coffee shop faith example;
Prov 10:22 rich with no sorrow;
Deut 8:18 wealth is for the covenant;
Sower sows the word;
Is 58:14 delight thyself in the Lord
Ps 37:4 delighting in the Lord and desire;
Give him your car! ;
Possessing the promise;
I have come for your words!
From faith to faith and the word;
Prayer for agreement;
James 4:1 ask and receive within the will of God;
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;
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
I noticed my day was getting out of hand… lots of stuff going on.. Then I prayed about how this ties in with the bible….
My typical day;
Read the bible and pray;
Testimony referred to here: http://bit.ly/HeCheatedIStayed ;
Facebook Lists for ministry;
Don’t reply in anger;
Stephen Barrett time and relationship;
Garry Nesbit - Dallas Cowboys vs the Bible; https://web.voxer.com/u/conradcarriker
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.
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.
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;
Hey everyone, Conrad here from ConradRocks.Net! Welcome back to another thought-provoking exploration into the depths of our faith and our walk with the Lord Jesus. Today, a powerful verse from Proverbs really jumped out at me during my quiet time, and I felt compelled to share my reflections with you all. It's Proverbs 20:27: "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly."
Understanding Our Inner Candle
This verse, "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord," is truly profound. Think about it. Our very spirit, the essence of who we are, is likened to a candle lit by God. This isn't just about intellectual understanding; it’s about a deep, internal illumination that God Himself provides. This candle isn't meant to sit idly by. No, it has a purpose: "searching all the inward parts of the belly." This speaks to the Holy Spirit's work within us, probing our thoughts, our motives, and the deepest recesses of our being.
Living here in South Mississippi, down on the Gulf Coast, we've had our fair share of rain lately. It got me thinking about something seemingly unrelated: mowing the lawn. You see, you can read all the manuals, watch all the YouTube videos about how to mow, but until you actually get out there and do it, you don't truly know what it entails. You learn about the sweat, the right clothes, the physical exertion. The theory becomes real through experience. This, in many ways, mirrors our spiritual journey.
Head Knowledge vs. Experiential Knowledge of the Spiritual
We can accumulate vast amounts of spiritual knowledge. We can read the Bible cover to cover, attend countless sermons, and engage in theological discussions. This is like reading about an apple – we can be told its taste, its texture, its health benefits, but until we actually bite into one, we don't truly know the experience. It’s the same with the things of the spirit. We can read that Jesus is Lord, that God is a spirit, and that we must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."), but until we actively engage in that spiritual relationship, it remains largely head knowledge.
Think about the Apostle Paul before his encounter on the road to Damascus in Acts chapter 9. He was a Pharisee, deeply knowledgeable in the scriptures. He had the text memorized! Yet, prior to that life-altering event, he didn't possess the spirit in the same way. As I often emphasize, my passion is for you to develop a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus. Even the devil knows the scriptures and can quote them (Matthew 4:6: "And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone."). Knowing the text isn't enough; we need the spirit.
Paul's Transformation: An Encounter with the Spirit
Paul's experience in Acts 9 is a powerful testament to this truth. His encounter with the living Jesus on that road completely transformed him. He went from persecuting Christians to becoming one of the most influential apostles. In Galatians 1:16-17, he speaks of not conferring with flesh and blood, but going away into Arabia to be taught directly by the Lord. He was being guided by the Spirit of Truth, just as Jesus promised (John 16:13: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.").
In Romans 8:9, Paul makes a profound statement: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." This isn't just theological jargon; it's a stark reality. Having the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us is fundamental to belonging to Him. Paul, who once had the scriptures memorized but lacked this vital spiritual connection, understood this deeply.
The Necessity of Seeking the Spirit
We can be sincere in our faith, genuinely desiring a relationship with God, yet still be sincerely wrong in how we pursue it. Simply reading about a spiritual relationship isn't the same as having one. We need to actively and earnestly seek the Spirit of God. If our hearts are open and our consciences aren't hardened towards Him, we will break through. Sometimes, like with Paul being knocked off his horse, God may use dramatic means to get our attention and draw us closer.
I often wonder if Paul had someone praying for him, a grandmother perhaps. It reminds me of the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Even as he was heading back towards his father, his heart and mind were still processing his past actions. Similarly, as we turn towards God, our inner "candle," our spirit, begins to search our inward parts.
Jesus: The Way, Our Compass Heading
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). I like to think of "the way" as a compass heading. We may not have a detailed road map to heaven, but we have a direction – Jesus. When God spoke to the prophets, He often gave them a direction, not a detailed plan. Genesis 12:1 says, "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee." It was a call to move in a specific direction, trusting in God's guidance.
Joseph's dreams (Genesis 37) weren't a step-by-step guide, but a vision, a compass heading that sustained him through trials in the pit and in prison, ultimately leading him to the palace. Our relationship with Jesus is similar. We get up from the "slop with the pigs," so to speak, and start heading in His direction. As we do, the "candle of the Lord" within us illuminates our inward parts.
The Fire of the Spirit: Purification and Guidance
The candle is fire, and Jesus baptizes with fire (Luke 3:16: "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."). As we spiritually seek God, this fire within us, though it may feel like it burns our flesh (our old nature), ultimately purifies our spirit. When we allow the spirit to lead, drawing near to God, our flesh comes under subjection.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We must diligently seek Him in spirit and in truth. God, the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9: "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"), desires a deep, spiritual connection with us that goes beyond mere Bible reading.
Before his transformation, Paul, under the tutelage of Gamaliel, was engaged in intellectual wrestling with the scriptures. While theological understanding has its place, it cannot replace the experiential knowledge that comes from a genuine encounter with the Spirit
of Truth. As we work in the "field," like tasting the apple or mowing the lawn, those manuals and videos start to make real sense. The knowledge transitions from the head to the heart, becoming experiential.
The Groanings of the Spirit: Inward Revelation
The passage about the candle searching the belly truly comes alive when you begin to sense things in your gut – a deep knowing, a conviction about truth. We see this exemplified when Jesus groaned within Himself before raising Lazarus (John 11:33: "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,"). There was power emanating from His innermost being.
We also learn about "groanings which cannot be uttered" in Romans 8:26: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." There's a deep, spiritual communication happening within our "inward parts," that belly region that once nourished us physically as infants. It's from this place that rivers of living water will flow (John 7:38: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."). We begin to recognize that "gut feeling," that check in our spirit when danger approaches or when we are about to go against our conscience. I know I've experienced that physical manifestation of internal conflict, that churning in the stomach.
Lighting and Tending the Inner Flame
Once we have that initial spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus, that inner candle is lit. Perhaps God starts the fire, as He did with Paul, but we, like the priests in the Old Testament, have a responsibility to tend to that flame, to keep it burning. This spiritual connection becomes like the word of the Lord, which not only burns within us but also acts as "a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105).
Conclusion and Call to Action
My friends, I encourage you to move beyond just reading about the spiritual life and actively pursue a deep, experiential relationship with Jesus. Let the candle of the Lord within you search and illuminate your path. Dig deeper into the Word, seek the Holy Spirit with all your heart, and allow Him to guide you into all truth. The supernatural realm becomes tangible when we connect with God on a spiritual level.
I want to give a shoutout to holyfirejapan.com and Stephen Barrett for the awesome work they are doing in ministry. Also, a big thank you to Christa Dupri Sparks for your support of this podcast! Your shares, ratings, and comments truly help get this message out to more people.
If you've been encouraged by this message, please consider subscribing to my newsletter for more insights and updates. You can also follow me on social media (links below) and leave a comment with your thoughts. Let's continue this journey of spiritual discovery together. God bless you, and thank you for being a part of the ConradRocks.Net community. 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.
