Jesus gives us Keys to the Kingdom which enable us to live a Victorious Christian Life.
Many people are struggling with sickness, poverty, and all sorts of torments. The good news is there are keys in Scripture that the Lord has made available to us. These keys are solutions to our problems and are found in God’s Word.
This is why I put together a free pdf ebook “Kingdom Keys - Forgiveness”
Prov 25:2; [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.
The more we dig into the Word of God the higher we go in our relationship with Him. We pick up some Kingdom Keys along The Way. These keys seem to be hidden at first but they've been there the whole time. Once you ‘get it’, you will jump up and down with joy!
I'm interviewing three people on the subject of forgiveness and how it relates to torment. Torment can come in many forms such as sickness, poverty, disease, and just plain being miserable. In this ebook I transcribe conversations with experts who live and breathe this Kingdom Key:
- Biblical principles on how unforgiveness is deadly
- The unforgiveness / sickness correlation
- Why unforgiveness blocks answered prayer
- Testimonies of personally forgiving the abuser
- All scripture references in full text
- Links to more interviews and testimonies
- Links to social media of Jay, Kevin, and Garry.
- Links to each podcast so you can download and share them.
Hey there, friends! It’s Conrad from ConradRocks.Net, and I’m excited to share a cup of coffee with you today as we dive into a topic that’s been on my heart: discerning the spiritual signs of the times. In a world filled with noise and distraction, it’s more important than ever to tune into the prophetic whispers God places in our lives. Whether it’s a change in the sky or a shift in our culture, I believe Jesus calls us to pay attention, to seek His wisdom, and to live with a supernatural awareness of what’s happening around us.
A while back, I recorded a podcast episode on this very subject, and today, I want to expand on those thoughts, weaving in personal stories, Biblical truths, and a heartfelt call to grow closer to the Lord. Let’s walk this path together and uncover how we can discern the signs through a spiritual lens, always pointing back to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
The Main Message: Learning to See God’s Signs
Nature’s Testimony: Fish Scale Clouds and Beyond
One of the simplest ways I’ve learned to discern the signs of the times is by observing nature. Just a couple of days ago, I looked up and saw what I call “fish scale clouds”—those white, scaly formations that often predict rain within a few days. I learned this back in high school, and I’d say it’s accurate about four out of five times, often more reliable than modern weather apps! It’s a supernatural reminder that God has embedded signs in His creation for us to notice, if only we take the time to look.
When I point out these clouds to folks, some think I’m a bit crazy, especially when their phone app disagrees. But time and again, the rain comes, just as those clouds foretold. It’s a small but powerful lesson in trusting God’s natural indicators over man-made predictions, a theme that resonates deeply in my spiritual walk with Jesus.
Cultural and Societal Shifts: A Prophetic Warning
Beyond nature, there are bigger signs in our society that demand our prophetic attention. In my podcast, I talked about how we call ourselves a Christian nation, yet daily we see actions that defy God’s will—whether it’s the tragedy of abortion, the redefinition of marriage, or the lack of evangelism in our communities. These aren’t just political issues; they’re spiritual indicators of a nation drifting from the heart of Jesus.
I’ve seen how easy it is to place trust in man-made systems, like media polls or political leaders, only to be disappointed. Remember the election predictions about Hillary Clinton? The media swore she’d win, but I’ve learned not to trust those voices over the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must discern these cultural signs with a heart anchored in Biblical truth, not fleeting headlines.
Personal Reflections: Stories That Shape My Faith
Praying for Rain in West Texas
Growing up in West Texas, I saw firsthand how the land and the people cried out for rain. Praying for rain wasn’t just a request; it was a way of life. I remember farmers and families gathering in church, not just for worship, but to plead with God for provision. My grandfather would check the rain gauge, often shaking his head, saying, “We just need more.” Those moments taught me the power of desperate, spiritual dependence on God, a lesson I carry in my walk with Jesus today.
But I also recall a confusing time when farmers were paid not to farm. As a young boy, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. How could the same people who prayed so fervently for rain be paid to stop working the land? It felt like a blow to their prayer life, almost as if they were being paid not to pray. This experience deepened my understanding of how worldly systems can conflict with prophetic trust in God’s plan.
A Tornado and a Prayer: Witnessing Supernatural Power
Another moment that marked my journey was hearing a man’s story during the tornadoes near Memphis, Tennessee. He told me how his dog started acting strange minutes before the storm hit, a supernatural warning he didn’t heed at first. Then, just seconds before disaster, a government alert came through, but the sky looked clear. Suddenly, a half-mile-wide tornado bore down on him, and he dropped to his knees, crying out to God, “Lord, don’t take me now. I’m not finished.”
In those fleeting seconds, as he later shared with me, the tornado lifted over him and spared his life. Standing amidst the devastation—oak trees snapped like twigs, homes destroyed in just five seconds—I felt the raw power of God. Susan and I tried to help with cleanup, though our Team Jesus van got stuck in the mud. But that man’s prayer, born out of desperation, reminded me how God’s spiritual signs, even through nature’s fury, call us back to Jesus.
Biblical Teachings: Anchoring Our Discernment in Scripture
Matthew 16: Discerning the Signs with Jesus
In the Word, Jesus Himself teaches us about discerning the signs of the times. In Matthew 16:1-4 (KJV), we read: “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
Here, Jesus rebukes the religious leaders for missing the spiritual and prophetic signs right in front of them. They could predict the weather, but their hearts were blind to God’s greater message. Friends, are we any different today? We must seek a supernatural connection with the Holy Spirit to truly understand the times we’re living in.
Trusting God Over Man: A Scriptural Warning
The Bible repeatedly warns us against placing our trust in man instead of God. In Psalm 118:8-9 (KJV), it’s written: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” And in Jeremiah 17:5 (KJV), the Lord declares: “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.”
These verses hit hard when I think about how often we look to politicians or media for solutions, ignoring the spiritual authority of Jesus. Our nation’s challenges won’t be solved by a vote every four years; they’ll be addressed when we humble ourselves, seek God’s face, and live out the Great Commission with prophetic boldness.
Step Into Spiritual Awareness
As I wrap up this reflection, my heart aches for us to wake up to the signs of the times. From fish scale clouds heralding rain to societal shifts signaling moral decay, God is speaking. He’s calling us to a deeper, more spiritual relationship with Jesus, to trust in His supernatural guidance over worldly noise, and to live with a prophetic urgency to share His love.
The love of many is waxing cold, as Jesus warned in Matthew 24:12 (KJV): “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” We see it in our fear to trust neighbors, in our locked doors, in a culture that desperately needs the hope of Christ. So, let’s not just observe the signs; let’s act on them. Let’s repent, humble ourselves, and take the Great Commission to the streets.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Have you noticed signs in your own life that point you back to Jesus? Drop a comment below—I read every one, and your input helps lift this message to others seeking a spiritual connection with the Lord. Also, if this post touched your heart, please share it with friends and family on social media. Together, we can spread the prophetic truth of God’s Word.
Hey everyone, this is Conrad from ConradRocks.Net, and I’m so glad you’re here with me today. My absolute passion, the reason I do what I do, is to help you—yes, you, the person reading this right now—develop a real, vibrant, and deeply spiritual relationship with the biblical Jesus. Whether you’re on a treadmill, in your car, or taking a quiet moment, my prayer is that these words find you and stir something in your spirit.
Recently, I’ve been trying to get out of the office for my prayer and podcast time. There’s something powerful about walking and praying, isn’t there? Revelation just seems to flow when my feet are moving. It reminds me of Adam walking with God in the cool of the day, or Enoch, who walked so closely with God that he was simply taken up into His presence. But I've hit a snag. The beautiful parks I’ve found have been invaded by noise—leaf blowers, construction, the constant hum of the city infringing on the sanctuary of nature. And it struck me just how hard it is to hear the voice of God in the middle of all that noise. It’s a battle to find the quiet place, not just externally, but internally as well.
This struggle for silence led me to a profound question, one that lies at the heart of our human experience: If we were created for fellowship with God, why is our first instinct so often to run from His voice? Why do we hide from the very presence that offers us life and peace? Let's dig into that today.
The Primal Instinct: Hiding in the Garden
It all started in a garden. Genesis 3:8 gives us a heartbreaking picture:
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Can you imagine what it was like before this moment? The sheer excitement of hearing that voice, of knowing the Creator of the universe was coming for a stroll, ready to share His heart with you. It was a relationship of pure intimacy, without shame or fear. But after one act of disobedience, everything changed. The same voice that once brought comfort now brought terror. When God called out, Adam’s response was,
“I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10).
Fear. Shame. Guilt. These emotions became a barrier between humanity and God. Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves, a pitiful attempt to hide their vulnerability from an all-seeing God. This act of hiding is a deeply ingrained, carnal reaction. It’s the flesh screaming to get away from the holy presence of God because, in that presence, all our inadequacies are exposed. The tragedy is that instead of running to God for mercy, they ran from Him in fear. This single choice set a precedent for all of humanity. We are born with this tendency; the flesh wants to run from the voice of God.
The Mountain of Fire: When God's Voice Was Too Much
Centuries later, we see this same pattern play out on a national scale with the children of Israel. At Mount Sinai, God descended in fire, and the people heard His voice directly. Deuteronomy 4:12 says,
And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
This was an incredible, unprecedented opportunity. An entire nation was invited into a direct, auditory relationship with their Creator. God wanted them to know Him by His voice, not by an image or an idol. But how did they react? Exactly like Adam. They were terrified.
They told Moses,
“Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die... Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.” (Deuteronomy 5:25, 27).
In my opinion, this was a monumental mistake. They had the chance for a direct, supernatural connection, and they chose a mediator. They essentially said, "This is too intense, too real. You go talk to God for us, Moses, and just give us the notes." They chose religion over relationship. They preferred a filtered, second-hand spirituality to the raw, transformative power of God’s immediate presence. This desire to keep God at a safe distance is the essence of the carnal mind. It’s the same mindset that leads people to build a golden calf when the prophet is gone too long. It’s the fickle, fleshly nature that shouts "Hosanna!" one day and "Crucify him!" the next.
Personal Reflections: My Own Encounter in a Dream
This battle between running from God and drawing near to Him isn't just an ancient story; it's a present reality. I had a powerful dream recently that illustrated this perfectly. In the dream, I became aware of a palpable evil presence in my room. It felt like a thick, foul gas, concentrated in one spot but spreading throughout the space. My first, knee-jerk instinct was to run. I wanted to get out of that room, to escape its suffocating presence.
This is the fleshly reaction—to flee from a spiritual reality we find overwhelming. It’s the same instinct that made Adam hide, the Israelites recoil, and even the prophet Isaiah cry out in terror. When Isaiah saw the Lord, high and lifted up, his reaction wasn't joy, but dread:
“Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:5).
Even Peter, after witnessing the miraculous catch of fish, told Jesus,
“Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8).
The flesh recognizes its own corruption in the light of God's perfect holiness, and it wants to escape. But in my dream, just as I was about to yield to that instinct to run, I realized I had a choice. This is the free will God has given us. I could either flee and let the evil occupy that space, or I could stand my ground, muster up the Word of God within me, and confront it. I had to choose who I was going to yield to: the fear in my flesh or the Spirit of God in my heart.
This is our daily choice. And here’s the secret: transformation happens when we choose to stay. Isaiah didn’t run. He stayed in God's presence, confessed his unworthiness, and an angel came and touched his lips with a coal from the altar, purging his iniquity. Peter didn’t run; he fell at Jesus’ feet and was commissioned to become a fisher of men. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to get into the presence of Jesus, and his life was instantly changed. Staying in the presence of God, even when it’s uncomfortable, is what leads to a prophetic life-change. The flesh dies, and we are reborn as new creatures.
Biblical Teachings: The Enmity of the Carnal Mind
The Apostle Paul gives us the theological language for this internal struggle. He lays it out with stunning clarity in Romans 8. This passage kept coming to me as I was pondering this topic, and it’s the key to understanding everything.
Romans 8:6-8 (KJV) says:
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Let that sink in. The carnal mind—the mind governed by our fleshly instincts and worldly desires—is not just neutral or indifferent to God. It is in a state of "enmity," which means active hostility. It is fundamentally opposed to God. Paul says it is not subject to God's law, and then adds a crucial phrase: neither indeed can be. It is incapable of submitting to God. This is why we can’t simply “try harder” to be good Christians. The natural mind must be crucified and replaced with the mind of Christ.
This is why having a spiritual encounter with Jesus is non-negotiable. As Paul continues,
“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.” (Romans 8:9).
Without the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we cannot understand spiritual things, and we will always default to running from God. With the Spirit, we are empowered to fight the flesh, to stand our ground, and to choose life and peace.
We must also be diligent not to grieve the Spirit. The Corinthian church is a sober reminder of what can happen when believers continue to walk in the flesh. Paul had to rebuke them sternly, even warning that their flippant attitude toward communion was making some of them sick and even causing them to die (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). This is serious business. We are called to examine ourselves, to judge our own hearts, so that we do not take our relationship with God lightly.
Conclusion and a Call to Action: Stop Running, Start Seeking
So, where does this leave us? We are caught in a lifelong tug-of-war between the spirit that yearns for God and the flesh that runs from Him. The world is noisy, our hearts are prone to distraction, and our carnal nature is hostile to the things of God. The call of God on our lives is to consciously and deliberately stop running. It’s a call to stop hiding behind fig leaves of self-righteousness or asking for mediators to soften the intensity of His presence.
The call is to seek Him diligently.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13).
This isn’t a passive wish; it’s an active pursuit. The most effective way to do this is through prayerful Bible study. The Word and the Spirit always agree. The Word of God is a sword; it’s the weapon we use to fight the flesh and to discern the true thoughts and intents of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12).
My prayer for you today is that you would have a fresh encounter with the voice of God. And when you hear it—whether in a quiet whisper during prayer, a convicting word from scripture, or a supernatural prompting in your spirit—I pray that you fight the urge to run. I pray you stand your ground with dogged determination. Stay in His presence until the fire purifies you. It is an adventure worth embarking on. The old wants and desires will die, but they will be replaced by a new purpose, a divine mission that echoes throughout eternity.
Don't let fear keep you from the relationship you were created for. Dig deeper. Go higher.
Engage Further:
If this message resonated with you, please consider sharing it with friends and family on social media. Your engagement helps this message reach more people who need to hear it.
Leave a Comment: What is one step you can take this week to stop running and start seeking God's presence?
Follow Me: Connect with me on social media for daily encouragement.
