Whose DJ Are You Dancing To? Breaking Free from the World's Record

Who is YOUR DJ? 

Today, we're going to dive deep into a question that has been echoing in my mind lately, a question that I believe holds the key to true freedom and purpose: Which record are we dancing to?

This isn't just a catchy phrase; it's a metaphor for the underlying rhythm and narrative that dictates our lives. Are we moving to the beat of the world, or are we swaying to the divine melody of God's truth? It's a critical question for every believer, and one that the Lord has been pressing on my heart. I've had a vision, a powerful, vivid image that I believe speaks volumes about our current condition and the path to genuine liberation. Stick with me, because this conversation could fundamentally shift your perspective.

The Childproof Garden: God's Design for Free Will, Not Forced Obedience

I recently heard a powerful sermon that really resonated with me, touching on the Garden of Eden. The preacher pointed out something profound: God did not "childproof" the garden. Think about that for a moment. God, in His infinite wisdom and power, placed Adam and Eve right next to the very tree that could bring death. He didn’t erect a fence. He didn’t install safety locks. He didn’t even remove the tree entirely. He allowed them to live in close proximity to the danger, giving them a clear instruction, a simple command: "Do not eat from it."

Not only that, but God also planted humanity on the very same planet where the devil resided. Remember, it was the serpent, Satan, who approached Eve in the garden. He had been cast down to Earth, and here we were, placed directly in his domain. Some might look at this and say, "Wow, the deck was really stacked against us!" And from a purely human perspective, it might seem that way. But that’s not what God was trying to teach us. He wasn't setting us up for failure; He was establishing the foundation of genuine relationship and character.

We had these two perilous things in our immediate vicinity: the tree that promised death "in the day you eat of it," and the devil, whose sole agenda is to "steal, kill, and destroy." Yet, God left man to his own free will. We had the undeniable choice to obey or disobey the divine prescription. This concept of free will is foundational to our understanding of God's character and our relationship with Him.

Consider a modern analogy: the popular argument to make guns illegal to lower murder rates. Whenever I hear this, I can't help but think, what about vehicles, which cause far more accidental deaths? What about fast food, which contributes to countless health issues? Or what about the very first recorded murder? Cain slew Abel. What did he use? Likely a stick, a rock, or simply his bare hands. Did they make sticks illegal? No! Looking back, we know it wasn't the club that killed Abel; it was the wicked imagination, the sinful heart, and the disobedience of a man who refused to lean into the Heavenly prescription of the voice of the Lord.

God gives us free will; He doesn't childproof our lives. We constantly face decisions to obey or disobey. And here’s the key: as long as we choose to obey the spirit and refuse to give into the flesh, we are building character. Character isn't something we're born with; it's forged day in and day out as we consciously resist the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. When we willingly ignore the "bad tree" and consciously choose this day whom we will serve, we choose to obey the Lord. This is where true spiritual strength is found, not in the absence of temptation, but in the power of conscious choice.

The Spinning Record: Who Is Your DJ?

This brings me back to that profound vision I had. I saw a spinning record, just like on an old record player. For those of us old enough to remember, you place a needle onto a record, and if it hits the groove just right, beautiful music plays. The environment becomes tranquil, peaceful, filled with harmony. This was the idea. But as I get older, a crucial question arose in my mind: "Wait a minute, who made this record that I'm dancing to? Is it God or is it the world?"

You know me, this question immediately kickstarted a deep process of self-examination. "Lord, what does this vision of me on the record mean?" As I began to examine the "record player" of my life, the very act of questioning, of examining myself to see if I was truly in the faith—which means obeying the word and spirit of God—or if I was letting Satan be my DJ, something interesting happened. I noticed I started "skipping" up and around on the record.

Have you ever seen a ping-pong ball dropped on a spinning record? It just bounces and bounces, eventually settling into a groove. But I was bouncing high! Yet, no matter how high I bounced, the record kept turning at the same speed. I was hopping up and down like crazy, almost like I'd fallen off the planet. But then gravity would kick in, pulling me back down to this relentless, spinning record. Eventually, due to sheer exhaustion from fighting it, we can fall back into the groove of the worldly DJ that never stops spinning. We just get tired of fighting it, don’t we?

It’s interesting that as I began to question this spinning record that had become my universe, I skipped higher and higher. I was up in the air! But gravity, that pull of the flesh, kept pulling me down. Here's a powerful spiritual truth: my spirit has no mass. It's not my spirit that gravity attracts. My spirit wants to soar up to Jesus! My spirit wants to be with God. I keep thinking of that verse: "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." The flesh just can't seem to do anything without God's help. It’s my flesh that gravity attracts, that gets pulled back into the mundane, the worldly, the predictable.

Think about Adam and Eve in the beginning. They didn't have that "drum beat" from the world yet. All they had was the cool of the day, walking with God, enjoying His presence, receiving the clear prescription of the Lord directly from Him. But Satan started this worldly record off when he uttered the first question in the Bible: "Hath God said?" With those three words, he put that record into motion. He began to question those divine prescriptions laid out by the Lord. Satan, the god of this world, started the worldly record player going, and it continues to spin, relentlessly, until this very day.

The Worldly Record: A Downward Spiral of Apostasy and Lost Purpose

Have you ever felt like when you start asking questions about the way things are, you’re "bucking the system"? Why, for example, do we only meet once a week for an hour in a building, sitting and listening to a monologue, when scripture provides a completely different record of what Christians are supposed to do? The very act of questioning, not "hath God said," but "Why are you nullifying the word of God through your traditions?" – when you start doing that, you get thrown up into the air! You're like, "Wait a minute, what's going on here?" And yet, the worldly record just keeps spinning at the same pace, in the same direction, not even seeming to skip a beat.

Another disturbing aspect of this record that the god of this world has set into motion is its never-ending, irrational increase of wickedness. It’s like a snowball gathering mass, accumulating more and more illogical, nonsensical stuff. Once that logic starts going sideways, it just gets worse and worse. Once we fall for the initial "hath God said?" that record spins on autopilot:

"Hath God said male and female?" Oh, He didn't mean that.

"Hath God said marriage is only between a man and a woman?" Ah, He didn't mean it that way. You're getting it wrong.

"Hath God said 'Thou shalt not kill'?" Oh, He didn't mean that when it comes to abortion. We have choice!

And if He’s wrong on all this other stuff, well, then the Bible is just a book of fairy tales, written by man, a copy of a copy of a copy. And the record keeps spinning and spinning and spinning until the seeded question bears the fruit of full-blown apostasy and contempt for the Lord.

Speaking of this worldly record and the snowball gathering mass of illogical, irrational, unbiblical precepts, we can clearly see that many Christians, unwilling to fight the gravity – that spiritual inertia – have just laid down and given up. "The spirit's willing, but the flesh is weak," they seem to say, almost as an excuse. They’re just going to lay on the record and spin with it. If they ever had the fight in them, they've lost it.

I’ve been reading Christian magazines for years, often the online versions, trying to keep abreast of what's going on in the prophetic, what’s happening in the Christian world. I'm looking for news of revivals, powerful outreach ministries, reports of Christian persecution, new supernatural manifestations, miracles, signs, and wonders. I'm searching for ministries that are genuinely making a difference in their communities, transforming lives for Jesus.

But I’ve noticed a disturbing trend: a lot of these Christian magazines seem to be giving up. They're losing hope. Now, they're dancing to the worldly record player. They’re not looking at scripture so much, and they’ve taken their eyes off of Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Instead, they are fully engulfed in politics. The record Satan has gotten started is this insidious lie: "We don't need Jesus to solve the world's problems; we need politicians to do that."

As I’m writing this, I recall Hurricane Katrina, which hit over a decade ago. I often reflect on how effective politicians were at restoring the Gulf Coast. Did pushing a button every two or four years really make things better? Did it solve the deep-seated issues? Jesus laid out a clear Great Commission: "Make disciples." Every Christian knows it. Amen! But somehow, this worldly record has Christians thinking that we’re supposed to go into a building once a week, listen to a monologue, and that this replaces the undeniable mandate to make disciples. Even the church is dancing to the worldly record player!

The Great Commission, as originally practiced, made a profound impact on communities. It transformed entire cities for Jesus, bringing salvations, healings, and the making of disciples, meeting daily from house to house. But somehow, that record Satan started spinning with "Hath God said?" has lulled us to sleep. It got intermingled with God's clear instruction in Revelation 18:4: "Come out of her, my people, lest ye be partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." But now, you can’t tell the difference between the world and the church. Even the church believes we can push a button every few years and a secular politician will solve our profound spiritual problems.

Look at our national debt; politicians have driven it to astronomical levels. Do they really have our best interests at heart? "Hath God said?" Look at the laws they’re making now, laws that directly contradict foundational biblical principles. The answer to our societal decay is not in Washington D.C.; it's in the hearts of God's people turning back to the true DJ.

Breaking Free: Landing on God's Record Player

So, how do we break free from this hypnotic, destructive worldly rhythm? As we diligently read our Bibles and seek the spirit of God, something miraculous begins to happen. It bumps that needle up in the air of this worldly record player! The more we immerse ourselves in God’s truth, the higher we seem to fly above this worldly record, which gives us a crucial spiritual perspective. We’re looking down at the record we’ve been dancing to, and we can clearly see that it’s a record the whole world marches to, blindly, instinctively.

I often think of the sheep analogy. The sheep mill around, looking at each other’s rear ends, hoping that somewhere up there at the front, there’s a Shepherd leading them somewhere. And if one of the sheep actually raises its head and decides to look for where the Shepherd is, the other sheep instinctively attack it! They’re happy looking at the ground, eating the grass, as long as there’s grass. That’s all the sheep care about – immediate gratification and comfort, not the direction or the true Shepherd.

This reality recently hit me hard. I was considering adding a new Bible plan to my routine. Normally, as you guys know, I used to have the Bible playing 24 hours a day in my bedroom, and now I have it playing 24 hours a day in my office. But I don’t always have the volume on, especially when I’m recording my podcast or doing other work. And I started realizing, "Hey, wait a minute, I’m not getting as much word in me!"

Then, in my spirit, I clearly heard the words of Jesus from John 8:31-32: "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Think about this "record" analogy again. If you continue and play the record of God in your ears—because "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"—then you will truly be the disciples of Jesus Christ. And because we are continuing in the word of God, we will know the truth, and the truth, and only the truth, will make us free! This is the essence of supernatural living: aligning ourselves with God's truth, not the world's deceptive narratives.

So, I realized I needed to make sure I don’t slip back onto that worldly chronograph and dance to the satanic, worldly DJ. Instead, I need to keep being transformed. It’s a metamorphosis, like a worm transforming into a butterfly. I need to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. This means to continue, consistently, diligently, in the word of God. It’s simple, really: what we put in is what we get out. If we feed our minds on the world’s record, we’ll dance to its tune. If we immerse ourselves in God’s word, we’ll dance to His perfect rhythm.

When we begin to question the worldly narrative and find ourselves thrust up into the air, we gain this crucial spiritual perspective. We see clearly that we've been dancing to the worldly record player that started with "Hath God said?" At that point, we need to willfully decide to land on God's record player and be renewed. The garden doesn't have to be childproof for us. The world doesn't have to be childproof for us. God intends for us to know what God said. He intended for us to continue in His word and be His disciples. And then, and only then, will we truly know the truth. Amen!

This journey of transformation, of discerning the true DJ from the impostor, is vital for our spiritual health and for the future of the church. It's about cultivating a prophetic ear to hear God's voice above the noise of the world, and embracing the supernatural power that comes from a life fully surrendered to Jesus and His truth.

Your Invitation: Dig Deeper, Go Higher!

So, I’m going to challenge you today: where are your thoughts coming from? That automatic thinking, that "record" that just plays all the time in your mind – where is it originating? Is it from the world, with its fleeting trends, its anxieties, its political divisions, and its endless questions of God's authority? Or is it from the Word of God, with its timeless truth, its peace that surpasses understanding, its unwavering hope, and its clear path to freedom and purpose?

God bless you. If this message has touched you, please consider sharing it with your friends and family on social media. Your shares help spread these vital messages. Also, remember to rate and comment wherever you hear this podcast or read this blog post. Every rating and comment helps other new people find the Coffee with Conrad podcast and the ConradRocks.Net community. It helps us go up in the rankings, exposing more and more individuals to the "Rocks of Revelation" that God is pouring out.

Let's commit together to diligently seeking God's word, allowing it to transform our minds and lives. Let's choose to land firmly on God's record player, allowing His truth to be our constant rhythm. Until we meet again, remember my mantra:

Dig Deeper and Go Higher at ConradRocks.Net!

Could the Next Great Spiritual Revival Happen Among the Homeless?

Homeless Revival?

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another edition of Coffee with Conrad! This is Conrad from ConradRocks.Net, where I strive to pour out "Rocks of Revelation" to you. My deepest passion, my core mission, is for each of you to develop a vibrant, authentic, and truly personal spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus. Today, I want to dive deep into a question that has been stirring in my heart, a question that might challenge some of our preconceived notions and open our eyes to where God might be moving next: Could the next great spiritual revival actually begin in the most unexpected of places – among the homeless community?

It might sound strange at first, especially from our comfortable vantage points, but bear with me. As many of you know, my team and I frequently go out praying for people, and in our journeys, we often encounter a significant number of homeless individuals. We carry "goody bags" – sealed, waterproof bags containing toiletries, food, and gospel tracts. The idea is simple: to show them some love, extend a hand of compassion, and, most importantly, share the love of Jesus and the life-changing message of the Gospel. We wish we could do more, and our hearts are always heavy with the desire to meet every need we see.

However, something profound has emerged from these encounters, particularly here on the Gulf Coast. What I’ve noticed, time and time again, is that a remarkable number of these homeless individuals not only believe in Jesus; they *trust* in Jesus. And I mean trust Him for their very survival, for their next meal, for shelter from the elements. This isn't to say we don't encounter those who use "Christian-ese" – spiritual-sounding phrases to elicit money. With a little discernment, those cases are usually quite clear. But what truly stands out are the many, many genuine souls. They often carry Bibles, and what’s more, many can quote large portions of scripture, often with an astonishing depth of understanding. It's a humbling experience to witness such profound faith amidst such profound hardship.

An Encounter with Lyle: A Divine Appointment on the Gulf Coast

Let me tell you about Lyle. Just recently, my friend Doug and I were in a shopping center in Gulfport. We were doing what we often do: praying for a divine appointment, asking the Lord to lead us to someone we could pray for, someone who needed a touch from Him. No sooner had we lifted our heads than this man rode up on a bicycle. Doug recognized him from a few months prior, and we called out to him. The man pulled over, and what unfolded was nothing short of awesome.

We started talking to Lyle, and almost immediately, I was struck by his knowledge of the Bible. He proudly told us he had large portions of scripture memorized. "Hey man, I've got Acts Chapter 2 memorized!" he exclaimed. Acts Chapter 2! The powerful Pentecostal passage, detailing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and Peter's first sermon. I pulled out my phone, eager to see, and he began quoting, word for word, most of Acts Chapter 2. I was genuinely impressed.

Then I noticed the items on his bicycle and in his bag. He had these incredible trinkets made of wire – crosses, angels, and other Christian-themed artwork. I immediately knew I wanted to support him. I confessed that I rarely carry cash, as we typically prefer to give food to the homeless rather than money. But Lyle's deep faith and his dedication to sharing Christ's message stirred something in me. I went to the ATM, pulled out some money, and made sure to buy pieces that featured the word "Jesus" prominently. Here was a homeless man, riding around on a bicycle, sharing profound Christian artwork, memorizing vast passages of scripture, and engaging us in deep conversation about Jesus!

Doug, Lyle, and I sat there for over 30 minutes, delving into truly rich theological discussions. It wasn't just that Lyle had Bible passages memorized; he knew the Greek words and could articulate their meanings. He gave me a beautiful wire butterfly for my wife, Susan, and as he handed it to me, he said, "Tell her it comes from Romans Chapter 12, Verse 2: 'Be transformed.' I made that because the Lord was talking to me about transformation, and the Greek word there is metamorphoo, which is like a larva turning into a butterfly."

My jaw nearly dropped. This man, living on the streets, was not only quoting scripture but breaking down the Greek etymology and connecting it to profound spiritual concepts! I was utterly blown away by his insight and his faith. It wasn't just a divine appointment; it was a profound lesson for me. And it’s not just Lyle; we've met many others like him. We don't just "hit and run" with our prayers; we take time to truly engage, to have long conversations, to reignite or ignite their passion for Jesus, and to encourage them in their callings. Most often, we find people with a deep love for Jesus, many of whom have experienced "church hurt" – a sense of rejection or judgment when trying to enter traditional church buildings because of their appearance or circumstances. They've been treated poorly, causing them to shy away from organized religion, yet their personal faith in Jesus remains strong.

It’s a strange paradox to us who live comfortably in houses, with cars and modern conveniences. While I personally don’t own a TV, most of us are accustomed to a life of abundance. Yet, these individuals, often living on the margins of society, sincerely love Jesus and trust Him for their very survival. They are genuinely excited to talk about the things of God. This reality begs a deeper look at what the Bible truly says about living for Christ.

Biblical Parallels: Great Spiritual Leaders Who Were "Homeless"

When we ponder the concept of homelessness, our modern minds often associate it with failure, brokenness, or even a curse. But let’s look at the biblical narrative. What does the Bible say about Jesus, about the prophets, about the apostles? It might surprise you how many of the great figures of our faith lived lives that, by our contemporary standards, would be considered "homeless."

Jesus: The Son of Man with Nowhere to Lay His Head

Consider our Lord, Jesus Christ Himself. In Matthew 8:20, Jesus says, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Think about that. The very Son of God, who came to redeem humanity, did not have a permanent residence. He was itinerant, traveling from town to town, village to village, preaching, healing, and teaching. We see Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, on mountains praying all night, constantly on the move. His earthly life was one of self-denial and absolute reliance on His Heavenly Father, free from the entanglements of property and possessions. This profound truth about Jesus's lifestyle often gets overlooked in our pursuit of comfort and prosperity.

John the Baptist: The Prophetic Voice from the Wilderness

Then there’s John the Baptist, the prophetic forerunner of Jesus. He was raised by his parents, but his ministry began and largely remained in the wilderness. Matthew 3:1-4 describes him: “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.”

He didn't live in a mansion or wear fine clothes. He was a man of the wild, surviving on what the wilderness provided, clothed in rough garments. Jesus Himself, in Matthew 11:7-9, bragged about John: “What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.” John was a powerful prophetic voice, unburdened by worldly comforts, living a life of radical simplicity and devotion to God's call. His effectiveness was perhaps amplified by his detachment from societal norms and expectations.

The Apostle Paul: A Life Without a Certain Dwelling Place

And what about the Apostle Paul, the man who arguably shaped much of early Christianity? Many of us, influenced by certain doctrines, might assume that true blessing equates to material prosperity. But let’s be honest with ourselves and look at Paul's own words regarding his lifestyle. In 1 Corinthians 4:10-13, Paul vividly describes his circumstances:

"We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day."

"No certain dwelling place." Paul, the prolific missionary, the profound theologian, lived a life of constant movement, often without a fixed home, enduring hunger, thirst, and exposure. His life was far from the comfortable ideal many of us pursue. Yet, it was through such hardship and self-sacrifice that the Gospel spread so powerfully. This passage deeply challenges the modern prosperity gospel, which often suggests that following Jesus should lead to material wealth. Paul’s life demonstrates that true spiritual richness often comes through self-denial and suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

The Hall of Faith: Destitute, Afflicted, Tormented

Finally, let's turn to the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews Chapter 11, a passage often read for its inspiring accounts of faith heroes. But have you ever truly focused on the latter verses, particularly 37 and 38? Listen closely:

"They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."

These are the champions of faith, commended for their unwavering trust in God, yet they were "destitute, afflicted, tormented," wandering in deserts, mountains, dens, and caves. They didn't have houses; they didn't have permanent addresses. They were, by definition, "homeless." The world was not worthy of them, yet they lived outside the world's comforts. This powerfully illustrates that a life of deep faith, a life that truly moves God, does not necessarily correlate with material possessions or societal status. In fact, sometimes it's the very lack of these things that cultivates a profound reliance on God.

Now, I’m not suggesting we all sell our houses and become homeless! But I do think of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:21, whom Jesus told to “sell what you have, give to the poor, and follow Me.” And then Jesus adds, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” This challenges us to consider: does our house, our possessions, own our heart to the point that it violates our conscience with Christ? Are we so consumed by comfort that we miss God's call to radical faith and compassion?

Confronting Our Assumptions: Poverty, Mammon, and the Church's Role

Another common misconception we often harbor is that homeless people are somehow "cursed with the curse of poverty." This idea, though rarely spoken aloud, often subtly influences our attitudes. It's time to confront this. What does Jesus promise us? Does He promise us houses, cars, and endless comfort? Let's revisit a pivotal passage from Matthew 6:24-34:

"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. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no anxious thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

 

As you read this, keep the homeless perspective in mind. "They sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns," yet often, their Heavenly Father feeds them. "Why take you thought for raiment?" — Jesus asks. While we in Western culture are constantly laying up treasures for tomorrow, taking thought for our future, and worrying about Mammon (wealth), many homeless individuals live exactly as Jesus describes: day-by-day, relying entirely on God for their daily bread, drink, and clothing. They often embody "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" out of necessity, not always by choice, but it mirrors a profound biblical truth.

I’m not saying this is an ideal situation, and I know it’s rough. But we need to look at this honestly. We are so often focused on financial success, even within the church, which sometimes functions more like a business concerned with salaries and building maintenance. Yet, we know the scriptures: "You cannot serve God and Mammon." We know that "what you've done to the least of these, you've done to Me" (Matthew 25:40). And how are we, the church, often treating our homeless neighbors?

Consider the church in Smyrna, described in Revelation 2:9. Jesus says, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan.” Here is a church commended by Jesus for being "rich" despite their "poverty" and "tribulation." This is a powerful paradox. They were materially poor but spiritually wealthy. The passage also touches on the "blasphemy of them which are Jews but are not," hinting at those who claim piety but lack true faith, much like the "church hurt" many homeless people experience from hypocritical "Christians" who look down on them. The people in the buildings, with their nice clothes and cars, often "thumb their nose" at the homeless, causing many on the streets to view them as hypocrites, not living according to the Bible's commands. I'm not exempting myself here; I'm still working on this, and we all need to pray about it. This isn't about judgment, but about honest self-reflection.

My aim in sharing these scriptures is to build a bridge from our current Western mindset – steeped in prosperity doctrines and societal pressures for financial success – to a more biblical understanding. We often prioritize comfort and material security above all else, sometimes at the expense of our true calling to love and serve the marginalized. We need to shed contempt for the homeless and, instead, embrace a Good Samaritan attitude. Let's confront the fact that perhaps, in many ways, we've been doing this wrong. We've often prioritized appearance over heart, and possessions over people.

The Spirit of Truth and the Supernatural Call to Transformation

One of the most striking observations Susan and I have made recently is this: many of the homeless people we meet don't have televisions. They don't have the constant stream of secular entertainment and distorted narratives that permeate our culture. Instead, they have Bibles. We often carry Bibles to give them out, only to be told, "No, thank you, I've got my own Bible." What can we learn from that?

I've often spoken about television's pervasive influence, how it can send a "strong delusion" across the Christian church. People sit back, passively absorbing content, often without truly thinking or discerning. When I talk about having a spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus, guided by the Spirit of Truth into all truth, I'm telling you, when we are honest with the spirit within us, it rings true with the Spirit of Truth. But when we listen to TV, it often puts us into an alpha brainwave state, almost hypnotizing us into believing what it says. This often directly counters what the Spirit of Truth is saying, and the Spirit of Truth always agrees with the Word of God.

Think about it: the homeless people, free from the constant mental corruption of television, are often abiding in the Word of God in a deeper, more direct way. While I can easily remember the lyrics to secular songs from my past – lyrics that, upon reflection, clearly do not glorify God – these individuals are often immersed in scripture. Their minds aren't being conformed by the spirit of the world but are being renewed by God's Word. This is truly a powerful, almost supernatural dynamic at play.

So, I ask you again, with all of this in mind: Is it possible that the next great spiritual revival will happen in the homeless community? Is it possible that the Lord is preparing a pure, unadulterated vessel among those whom society has overlooked and cast aside? The Hall of Faith, John the Baptist, Jesus Himself, Paul – none of them lived in houses or sought worldly comfort. They were focused on God's mission, not on accumulating possessions.

This is something we absolutely must pay attention to. We need to ask God, earnestly, what our next steps should be under His mission. What is God's mission for the homeless people in your area? What is God's mission for your relationship with the very things that pull your heart away from Him, like the constant barrage of media? As Romans 12:2 reminds us, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This transformation, this metamorphosis like the butterfly Lyle spoke of, is a supernatural process that requires intentionality and a deep commitment to God's Word over the world's influences.

I believe that God is working in unexpected places, drawing a people unto Himself who are unburdened by the very things that weigh us down. The simplicity of faith, the profound trust in divine provision, and the raw honesty found among many in the homeless community could very well be the fertile ground for a truly authentic and powerful spiritual outpouring. This isn't just a charitable cause; it's potentially a prophetic sign of where God is moving next.

Your Call to Action: Pray, Engage, Transform

If this message has touched your heart, if it has resonated with the Spirit of Truth within you, then I urge you to consider a few things. First, please share this blog post with your friends and family. Let's get this conversation going, challenging our perspectives and stirring compassion.

Second, and most importantly, pray about this. Pray about the homeless community in your area. Ask God, with a sincere heart, what His mission is for them where you are. As James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Check with the Spirit of Truth; He will talk to you about it.

Finally, consider how you might engage. Whether it's through volunteering, donating, or simply taking the time to truly see and listen to a homeless individual, let's step out in faith. Let’s allow God to transform our minds, our hearts, and our actions, so that we might truly embody the love of Jesus to the "least of these." We are called to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and love one another, and in doing so, we might just be participating in the next great move of God.

God bless you until we meet again. Dig deeper, and go higher!