Chris Grainger
Host
00:03
Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God attends you to be. I’m your host, chris Granger. Let’s jump in. All right, fellas, spiritual kickoff time. I hope you’re ready.
00:14
This is going to be a good one this week. I think they’re all good because we’re digging into God’s Word, but this week this verse is very powerful. It’s in the book of 1 John, based on not John, 1 John, chapter 4, 1 verse, verse 4. It says you, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. So, guys, we’re going to spend some time unpacking this verse. We’re going to see how we can apply it to our life. First thing we need to understand where is 1 John? Right, that can be a little confusing. I totally get it. So we’re in our New Testament.
00:49
Okay, so go all the way to the back. You’ll get to the book of Revelation. It’s not Revelation’s, it’s Revelation. Go there, then flip back Just a couple books. Okay, you’re going to go past Jude, then you have 2nd and 3rd John and then you get to 1st John. Now it’s only five chapters In my Bible. I have my Bible right here. It’s only like two or three pages total. Okay, so you may flip past it. If you do, don’t worry, just go back, because if you flip past it you’re going to get to some other books. You’ll get to 1st and 2nd Peter and things like that. But just go right here because 1st John, chapter 4, that’s what we’re going to be.
01:24
Okay, so this is one of the five books that were written by John. Okay, now John wrote the Gospel of John, 1st, 2nd and 3rd John, right. And then what’s the 5th one, guys, revelation. That’s right. Remember he was exiles? He wrote that one as well. So this 1st John is full of practical ways that we can simplify and apply to our walks.
01:48
I’m excited for this one because this section of Scripture is right here Deals with false and lying spirits. It’s pretty cool because we have a lot of false and lying things out there. I’m here to tell you guys know that more than anything, I’m sure and John tells us that we need to test the spirits to see if they’re from God and if we see more and more and more. There is a ton of darkness out there. Can I get amen on that? There’s so much darkness out there.
02:14
Just take a look around and let’s see what’s under attack. Guys, you have the biblical family model completely under attack Marriage, parenting, your career, your finances, your health the list goes on and on and on. So just don’t miss the ball in what’s being under attack here. And then, when you think it can’t get any worse for you to comprehend, what do you do? You turn on the news and, yeah, you find out. Yeah, it can get worse. I mean, it’s just everywhere.
02:39
It seems like things are under attack, particularly from a Christian standpoint, so far as a man and a woman living together and holy matrimony under the covenant of marriage, that type of thing these days is like what? That’s old school. Yeah, that’s right, that’s the way it should be Marriage, one man, one woman, one life. You say stuff like that. You get thrown out. But I’m telling you it aligns with God’s word. Okay, so, instead of just rolling over and throwing our hands in the air, we have the power within us to make an impact, okay, so the question is, oh, that you’re gonna probably wrestle with, are you gonna actually lean into and start using some of that power that he’s given us to take to go in office or are you just gonna sit highly by?
03:28
So John starts out in this scripture right here, clarifying for us that we are what we are from God. Look at it right here. It says right here, in verse four you are from God. That’s you. Whoever’s listening to say your name. So for me to be Chris, chris, you are from God, chris is from God, and so are you. I’m gonna tell you what. Once you get that in your head, everything starts changes. Each and every one of us are made of his image, just like he desired. You may think that you know what would need. Oh, chris, god made some mistakes. I’m here to tell you that is wrong. He made you perfect. You are not too bad. Your past does not define you. None of that. They are all lies of the evil one, and you must rebuke that and immediately rebuke that and turn to him, because the evil one’s gonna do everything he can to make you think that you are not a child of God. I’m here to tell you you are, and it’s not just me. God’s word right here tells you that you are a child of God. Now just think about this.
04:34
In every movie that you’ve ever watched, there’s always what A hero and a villain really is. There’s always good versus bad, heroes and villains. If you didn’t have any conflict, why would you watch the movie? And where do you think the movies get their ideas from? It’s from the Bible. The Bible tells us very clear that we’re gonna face persecution, we’re gonna have trials, we’re gonna have temptations, but look, we can take rest. That stuff is not from God, that is not from him. The evil one is trying to take you out and he’s got a lot of flaming arrows, fellas, and we know that he’s gonna throw those arrows at us. What’s he gonna throw at us? The lust of flesh, the lust of eyes and the pride of life, and sometimes those arrows becoming so fast.
05:17
I don’t know if you guys ever saw that movie 300, you know I mean that was a crazy movie, but remember in that movie, if you never saw it, towards the end they get the whole premise is you got 300 guys who are basically defending their territory against the attacks and what happens is they said that the arrows will blot out the sun. And there’s this one scene it’s an incredible scene where all these arrows are flying and there’s so many arrows, it like turns dark and those guys can see the arrows coming at them. But they had shields and they hunkered down together as a group of 300 and put their shields up and it was just raining arrows all over. And I don’t know about you, but when I think about the evil one and the attacks that I get under I know you guys get under too it feels like that scene, like the arrows just come one after the other, after the other, after the other, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Their attacks gonna keep coming. But so if that’s you know and look the side of heaven, I’m sorry, arrows are gonna come.
06:19
But the good news is, just like in that movie with the shield, we have a shield too and we can extinguish the fire, each one of those arrows, with the armor of God. By using the armor, we can be successful and just putting our arrows out of the evil one. They’re not, they can’t hurt us. John tells us here we have something far greater, far greater in us. Fellas, think about that something. We have something far greater inside of us that the rest of the unsteady world cannot access. We have salvation. It’s freely given but requires a decision, doesn’t it? And it does require decision that’s such as very is very simple to profound. You have just to decide Are you going to bow down to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Right, it just is. Then you have that equipment.
07:09
Now here’s full disclosure. Once you get the equipment, you’re still gonna have some days they’re just, they’re just hard. Some days You’re just gonna flat out suck. I’m just gonna be real with you. They are you and get tired. You get tired of getting shot at. Just think about no one wants to get shot at. And those moments when you’re getting tired you gonna need some others along side of you that can. That can be that Constra reminder for you the importance of your brotherhood and community and heaven and heaven, a bond with others. You don’t need it all comes down to recognize this right here, fellas, we have the Holy Spirit, we have the land with Dennis right now, and we need to get ready to. So we can unleash it at any time.
07:50
Because John, his word, right here, he tells us because greater is he who is in you and he is in the world. You can overcome. Take comfort, rest in the fact that the one inside of us is greater than the one attacking us. It’s just, we just have, we have more power. So what you have to do right now got pony armor.
08:11
Yeah, I gotta grab your shield for sure, but you need to pick up your sword, and your sword is found in God’s word. So it’s no good. You wouldn’t see a soldier going to battle without an offensive weapon, right? It makes no sense. Think about your baseball fans. How about the batter that goes to the plate? He wouldn’t just walk up there With anything in his hands. Would he know was he got? He has a bat. He has a bat because I’m gonna do some damage with that bat. Think about the greatest hitters of all time. I’ve been looking at some old stats on Tony Gwynn lately, one of the greatest hitters of all time. He had that that up there and he was always on the offense. He was very good at just putting the bat on the ball. So, guys, you had the sword, or the spirit.
08:57
The question is, are you going to use it? Are you gonna actually open up your Bible? Right here? I got my Bible right in front of me. Are you gonna open it up and not just read it just to read? Read it to grow, because that’s my prayer. You got a reason to grow.
09:14
These spiritual kickoffs are. We’re taking little pieces of scripture and we’re trying to help you guys simplify and apply it into your walk, but you got to do the work. You’re listening to this. This is that as part of the work. Now you go apply it. So your challenge, right here today take out your Bible first, john 4-4. You were from God. Little children have overcome and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you, is in you, then you, that who’s in the world. Now take that verse and walk it out. If you start doing that, at that moment you’re gonna start unleashing the line with him.
09:50
Now the question I want to ask you guys this week, I want you to think about this what area of your life needs to be brought into the light? Because this, this, this, the one that’s in the world, he’s all about the darkness, guys. He is all about the darkness. He wants to keep you in the dark. He wants you to be to find by that darkness. He wants you to think you know what I’m so bad. There’s nothing I can do. This gonna make this better. That’s where he’s wrong. That’s where he’s wrong and that’s where you need to lean into it. So I am telling you Just hear this. You are not defined by that thing.
10:26
Romans 8 1. Therefore, now there is no combination for those in Christ Jesus. Do you need to tell yourself that over and over and over until you start believing it? Do it every day. You got a mover from up here, from the head down to the heart. You’re not defined by this stuff, fellas. So go out right here, because greater is in you. Then there’s anything in this world. You have the power. Go unleash it.
10:54
Now, for you guys that they’re a listening, you’re like man. What in the world you talking about the power and unleashing it? And and this armor, what? What is going on here, chris? Well, I’m talking about what happens when you surrender your life to the Lordship of Jesus, because if you’re listening to the lion, you’re either a Christian or you’re curious. So I’m speaking to the curious ones out there and for you Christians, just let this be just a reminder of a simple way that you can love others and spread the gospel. So for you curious ones, here’s what it’s all about.
11:25
You are a sinner, you’re a sinner, need of a savior. You’re not a mistake or need of a life coach. You know how to cupcake, a snowflake, a skillful, you can regard teacher was wrong. You’re a sinner need of a savior bottom line I and there’s nothing you can do. You can’t nice your way in fellas. So if today is your day and your number gets called and you’re no longer here on earth and you get to the Throne Room of Judgment, unless you surrender to the Lordship, it doesn’t matter how many old ladies you help cross the street or how many times you ran errands, or how many times what donations you made or how many times you volunteer. It doesn’t matter. None of that stuff can checks any boxes. There is no such thing as works-based righteousness. It’s just not. There’s nothing that can cover your sin. That’s it. And sin is anything that separates us from God. That’s simple.
12:13
So once you admit that, you need to believe one thing Jesus is the Son of God. You got to believe it. You got to believe that he came from heaven, that he lived here on earth. Then you have to ultimately believe that when he went to the cross in Calvary, when he was crucified, his blood ran. That blood, that perfect blood, was shed for your sins. He was thinking of you, he was thinking of me, he was thinking of everyone, each and every one of us, when they laid Him in that tomb right there. Three days later he overcame death and right now he says right at the right hand of the Father, and no one gets to heaven except through Him. That’s it, guys. I’m telling you, that is who we worship. We don’t worship a dead man, we worship a living Savior.
13:00
So you have to believe in all your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and then, once you believe that, you have to actually confess it. You got to take some action. We’re all about the action that’s aligned with this. So take some action. Confess Him as Lord, invite Him into your heart, surrender. Your way ain’t working, I know, because my way wasn’t working, and anytime I try to do stuff my way, it usually doesn’t work.
13:25
It happens when you surrender to the Lordship of Him. When you surrender to Him, amazing things happen, guys. The peace, the peace that passes on understanding is just going to flood you. You’re going to have that. The scales are going to fall off your eyes. You’re going to be able to see the evil for what it is. You have the conviction of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide and direct you, to give you wisdom, to know what steps to take, to give you wisdom to know what steps not to take.
13:51
That’s a big one for a lot of us, right, and at that moment you’ll be in a position to point others to the good news of the gospel, because that’s what Jesus told it to do. Go there for make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, in the Father, son and the Holy Spirit. That’s it. We’re supposed to go out right here and do the work he’s called us to do. So if you’ve never surrendered your life to the Lordship of Jesus, today’s your day. You’re in the right place, the right time. There’s no better place than now. So I’m gonna pray for you right now, and it’s just. You’re ready to make that decision. Pray along with me. So, father, just thank you for today. Thank you for this opportunity to share the gospel with others.
14:30
Lord, we know a lot of people listen to the spiritual kick-offs and we know that you can do a whole lot more of this podcast than we can. So we just pray right now that the Holy Spirit moves that one man or woman who’s listening. They need to surrender Because there are ways to say they ain’t been working, lord. There are ways they at least I’m tired, defeated, feeling alone, and we want them to know that there’s so much more waiting for them, you know, for you to have that John 10, 10 life, to have life and to have it abundantly, lord. So I pray that at this moment they surrender to you, that you hear their cry, that you give them the Holy Spirit and they feel that hope. They’re so thankful for the grace that you pour out for us. We’re so thankful for your son Jesus. We’re proud of this corn of your will in Christ’s name. Amen, all right now.
15:15
So if you just surrendered your life to the worship of Jesus, welcome in first and foremost. That’s pretty awesome. I don’t know about you guys. I get pretty jacked up when I think about that stuff. So send me an email. Support at thelionwithinus, that support at thelionwithinus. What I’m gonna do, I’m gonna hook you up with our Bible study, a lot of our free resources. I’m just gonna give it all that stuff to you so it’ll get you equipped and ready for the battle that you are now entering into. Okay, so I mean seriously, I wanna just hook you up. I would love to jump on a call, pray with you, just to say hello, have a conversation. This is what the reason we do. All the work we do is to help Christian men and one be the leaders God intends in the be, but also to share the good news with the gospel with others is we can just win one more with something like the lion with in us. Are you kidding me? That’s awesome. So don’t think you are insignificant. You matter and I wanna hear from you Support at thelionwithinus Now, if you enjoy the spiritual kickoffs.
16:14
We do these Monday through Friday in our community, so we do it live every morning. If you miss them, don’t worry, we post the recordings inside the community as well. So you take your chance, so you can connect with me, you can actually have conversations, you can text. We do all that within our community. So head on over to thelionwithinus to start that. Maybe you wanna join our full blown community, which gives you the daily spiritual kickoff and everything else. We have all of our events, our forums, our feeds, our courses, our training, all that stuff that’s within our community. We have our mastermind groups. We have our leadership coalition program.
16:47
Guys, I’m telling you, we have so many ways that we’re trying to build things to help you be the leader God intends you to be. You have the ability, you have the talent, you have the skills. We just try to help you bring it all together. Then lean in and do God’s work, and there’s something powerful about being around a group of fellow Christian men that have the same passion, that have the same desire and drive to lean in and do the hard stuff, and not just because we wanna do it, for we wanna do it, but because he has told us to do it. All right, so come on back on Wednesday.
17:24
I’m gonna tell you this conversation on Wednesday. This is when I debated it. I’m just gonna be honest with you guys. I debated it because you know the topic when we talk about is not comfortable, but it’s. It’s one of the topics.
17:36
Christian man, we gotta talk about this stuff. You know we got and we brought in someone who was literally in the middle of the darkness. He’s gonna tell us his story. I want you guys to listen. If you guys with sons and daughters out there, as they, attack is real, you’re gonna feel attack is real on our kids, the tax real on our marriages too. So I want you to come back. She pay attention to the things that this gentleman’s gonna speak to. It’s gonna teach us because it’s gonna help us all grow in areas that we need to be aware of as the evil one is full blown attack mode right now. You know, I gotta have you guard up your armor on. You need to have your sword ready, all right, so get after it. Give us a rating review, if you don’t mind. That would help big time. If you want to be a donor to the show, that would be phenomenal.
18:25
Go to the lion within that us. Support us there. Other net, you know where to find us. Jump on some of our free resources. We put so much in there effort into those things, like the 30 days to unleash the lion within. We have our habits, guy. We have our 10 scriptures. We have our swan analysis, guys. We have three ways to simplify the Bible. Oh, that’s, touch free, fellas. Go, jump on it right now. The lion within that us. Scroll down to you. Get your resources. We’ll also have a live event coming up in October. Check that out. So, fellas, jump on it, let’s, let’s do it. All right, looking forward to hear from you. So we’ll see you here on Wednesday, looking forward to that next episode coming out. And keep unleashing the lion within.
19:08
Are you enjoying the weekly spiritual kickoff? If so, we are now offering a way to participate in our live, daily spiritual kickoffs that happen Monday through Friday in our community. This is your chance to chat with me directly and other members of our community, to dive into scripture and to leave with practical Ways to simplify and apply God’s word to your daily walk. And here’s the best part you get all of this for just five dollars a month. So for what most people pay for a breakfast meal, you can join us on this journey of spiritual growth and leadership, which will always lead you full. Our community is dedicated to supporting each other and pushing forward in our faith. Come join me in the lion’s den and become the leader God intends you to be. Sign up now at the lion within Us and let’s start this journey together. Remember, it’s only five dollars a month for this amazing opportunity. So visit the lion within that us so you don’t miss out.