Welcome To The Daily Blade

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Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

Leadership Lesson Choose Faith

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All right, welcome back to day two of The Daily Blade. I'm talking about leadership lessons that I've learned in uh 30 plus years of ministry and a dozen plus years of being the lead pastor of 1122. And the second lesson I want to talk about is this is that you have to choose faith over fear. That's right, you have to choose faith over fear. And the reason I say choose is because it is a choice. It's a choice of where you decide to put your trust, where you decide to put your hope. And the difference between faith and fear is simply this. When I look into the future, who do I think is in control? Because if I think I am in control, then I will be gripped by fear because I know that I am not enough to accomplish all the things that I want to accomplish, or even that God wants me to accomplish. If I look into the future and I see that my circumstances are in control, then I will be gripped with fear because I am not in control of my circumstances. But if I look into the future and I know that I know that I know that God still holds the entire world in his hands, then I can be overcome by faith because I know God is all powerful, God is sovereign, and God loves me, and Jesus is the proof. And I know that God is at work in all things, regardless of my circumstances, for the good of those that love him and are called according to his purpose. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul is raising up a young pastor, and he's got a lot of things working against him. Um, he grows up without a dad, he gets very nervous in front of people. Probably he's a young man, and he has to lead older people, and so he's got a lot working against him. This young man's name is Timothy. And Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 7, Paul has these words for young Timothy.

Fear As A Spirit

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He says, For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control. So let me tell you, fear is not a feeling, fear is a spirit. Fear is not a personality type, fear is a spirit, and that spirit does not come from God, which means the spirit of fear is demonic oppression on the believer. Now there's a difference between fear and just being scared. If you're scared, no problem. Just do whatever God has called you to do, just do it scared. Scared is a feeling, but fear comes not from God. And the problem with fear is that fear paralyzes and faith always produces action. And so there may be something in your family, on your team, in your business that God has called you to do. And I need you to hear that God has not given you a spirit of fear, but he has given you a spirit of power and of love and of self-control. So if the circumstances make you nervous, yeah, no problem. Just do it nervous, but step out

Joshua Learns Courage

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in faith. Joshua takes over the mantle of leadership from Moses, Joshua chapter one. And he has circumstantially a lot to be afraid of, a lot to be fearful of, a lot to be nervous about. God says, I want you to take these people, and I want you to take them into the promised land, and I want you to take over. And Joshua looks at the Jordan River in front of him. He looks at the giants that inhabit the land. And then he also looks back at the shadow of leadership that Moses has cast, and he's thinking, I've never led anything. I don't know if I have what it takes. And it's not like he's leading the greatest group of people of all time. The reason that they've been in the desert so long is because all they did is grumble and complain. And so three times in Joshua chapter one, God tells him, be strong and courageous, strong and courageous, strong and courageous. Why? Because Joshua is weak and afraid, weak and afraid, weak and afraid. And then what God does not do is he does not give him a pep talk. He doesn't say, you know what, Joshua, you're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggone it, people like you. That's not what he says. He says, Be strong and courageous, do not tremble or be afraid. Why? Because I am with you. And if God is with you and he has called you to it, then I promise you, then it will be done.

Peter Steps Out Then Sinks

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In Matthew chapter 14, Jesus comes walking by the boat filled with disciples on the water. Everybody freaks out. Jesus is walking on the water. And Peter says, Jesus, if that's really you, then ask me to come out on the water with you. And Jesus says, Come on, Peter. And so the Bible lets us know in Matthew 14 that Jesus calls Peter out of the boat. Peter gets out of the boat, and for a few steps he walks on the water. That's right, he walks on the water. And then Matthew 14 is explicitly clear that he takes his eyes off of Jesus, he puts it on his circumstances, the wind and the waves. Immediately he begins to sink and he cries out, Lord, save me. Jesus saves him, puts him back in the boat. And then Jesus says, Oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt? Now here's the thing. The question you have to ask is, What is Peter doubting? Peter was not doubting Jesus, Jesus wasn't sinking. Peter put his faith in his circumstances, and then he began to doubt could he do what Jesus had called him to do?

What Would You Do

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So let me ask you this question. My mentor, Doug Fields, a bunch of years ago, asked me this What would you do for the glory of God if you knew it wouldn't fail? And the moment you know the answer, the next question is, then why aren't you doing it? Now, this same person, the Apostle Peter, who sunk when walking on the water because he took his eyes off Jesus, later in 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 3, he says this that his divine power has given us everything for life and godliness. Here's what Peter is saying is that if God has called you to it, then he has given you everything you need to accomplish what he has called you to accomplish. So do not be ruled by fear. Fear is a demonic spirit. God has not given you the spirit of fear, but choose to put your faith in Jesus because he has given you the spirit of power and of love and of self-control.

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Amen.

Final Charge And Share

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Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.