Podcast Summary: "Waging Good Warfare" – Deepen with Pastor Joby Martin (S18E4)
Date: January 27, 2025
Host: Pastor Joby Martin
Guests: Pastor Britt, Co-Host
Theme: Exploring spiritual warfare, prayer, and living out faith through 1 Timothy 1–2
Overview
This episode dives deep into Paul’s charge to Timothy to "wage the good warfare" in ministry and the Christian life (1 Timothy 1:18ff). Through candid, practical, and sometimes humorous conversation, Pastor Joby Martin, Pastor Britt, and the co-host unpack what it means to fight spiritual battles well, why both inner struggle and peace are signs of the Spirit, the centrality of prayer, how encouragement and accountability matter, and the practical implications for church leadership and every believer. Special emphasis is given to prayer—its forms, pitfalls, and maturing practice, as well as the importance of praying for leaders and societal peace.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Defining "Good Warfare" (01:15 – 06:55)
- Spiritual Context: Paul’s language about "waging good warfare" is explored as a call to active, spiritual engagement—both for the sake of one’s own soul and on behalf of others.
- Pastor Joby: “When you're fighting for something good, it's a good war... you're fighting for salvation and spiritual freedom.” [01:23]
- Challenge to the Modern Church: Many Christians are unaware or unprepared for spiritual battle; the team references John Piper’s "wartime mindset":
- “We've traded in the walkie-talkie calling in for supplies on the front line to intercom in the den for more comforts.” [03:18]
- Bad vs. Good Warfare: Bad warfare means fighting people (flesh and blood) or focusing on self-obsession; good warfare is outward, for the body of Christ.
- Pastor Britt: “We get trapped in the vicious cycle of internal warfare...but what Paul's talking about…is being shoulder to shoulder...interested in their brother's well-being.” [04:06]
2. Inner Struggle = Evidence of Spiritual Life (05:58 – 07:41)
- Sanctification: The struggle is normal and a sign of God at work, not spiritual failure.
- Pastor Joby: “If there's a constant inner conflict in you as a believer, nothing's wrong with you. Something's really right with you.” [05:59]
- Dangers of Self-Evaluation: Excessive introspection leads to spiritual self-absorption; self-sacrifice is the Kingdom’s goal.
3. Encouragement, Calling, and Accountability (07:41 – 10:55)
- Power of Spoken Encouragement: Paul (and spiritual leaders today) builds up others by calling out God’s promises and calling in them.
- Pastor Joby: “I want to say true things about people—encouragement in line with the word of God that I see in people.” [10:23]
- Pastor Britt: “Encouragement...means to put courage in them.” [10:55]
- Calling is for God’s Glory: Gifts/talents are for the edification of the church, not personal realization.
4. Holding Faith and a Good Conscience (11:11 – 16:57)
- Shipwreck Faith: It's possible for believers to make shipwreck of their lives (though not lose salvation) by ignoring conscience and disobeying God.
- “You might not go to hell, but you can live in a hell now until you get to go to heaven.” [12:40]
- Public vs. Private Gifting: Giftedness may operate while character fails, but “eventually your character is going to catch up with you.” [13:51]
- Motives for Obedience: Love of Christ and concern for others (family, church) guard from ruin.
5. Church Discipline & Protecting the Flock (19:08 – 20:54)
- Handing Over to Satan: If someone persistently disrupts or preys on the church, leadership must exclude them for the safety of others.
- “To love a wolf is to hate a sheep. To show grace to a wolf is death to a sheep.” [20:29]
6. Prayer: Forms, Methods, and Heart (21:39 – 34:44)
- Types of Prayer (1 Timothy 2:1) Explored: Supplications (asking), prayers (communion), intercessions (on behalf of others), thanksgiving.
- Practical advice:
- “Get after it, and get through yourself. Don’t just pray for yourself.” [26:38]
- “A significant part of your prayer life ought to be listening...it's almost impossible to hear while you're talking.” [34:44]
- Practical advice:
- Model Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer ("Our Father...") provides categories: relational, God-centered, provision, protection.
- Methods Can Help or Hinder: Methods should serve relationship, not become legalistic traps; growth means prayer becomes "intuitive" over time.
- Joby: “What starts out with a lot of instruction over time just becomes intuitive.” [31:49]
Notable Moment:
“God is only as real to me as prayer is important to me.” — Pastor Britt quoting Tim Keller [32:14]
7. Praying for Leaders & the Public Good (48:10 – 58:39)
- Societal Peace: Christians are called to pray for those in authority to foster societal peace and facilitate gospel witness.
- “God's design is peace, not chaos. The church will prevail...but God's ideal is peace and order.” [50:41]
- Polity and Prayer: Christians shouldn't idolize political leaders nor demonize them. True hope remains in Jesus.
- “Don’t pray about them...and you don’t pray to them. They are not the answer.” [55:03]
- Practical Example: In developing world missions, meeting practical needs like food creates access for the gospel.
8. Sovereignty, Salvation, and God’s Desires (58:53 – 61:47)
- Tension Explored: How can God be sovereign and desire all to be saved? Both realities are affirmed in Scripture, though not fully comprehensible.
- “Those things are simultaneously true...I use words like election and predestination because…that’s the words they use. And [I] say God wants you because…that's what the verse says.” [59:47]
- Mystery & Glory: “There’s always a greater glory...even including in salvation and in his desire for all people.” [61:07]
9. Seasons and Growth in Prayer (62:26 – 66:09)
- Desperation Drives Prayer: Seasons of suffering and deep responsibility most often deepen prayer.
- “It’s always desperation...that's what led to...my, like, time in the woods situation.” [62:31]
- Moving from Defense to Offense: The goal is to proactively seek God in prayer, not wait for emergencies.
- “I want to try to willfully choose to pray with a warfare mentality, not be forced into it.” [63:32]
- Maturity in Prayer: More about affection and attention than wordy performance.
10. Global/Practical Perspectives (67:43 – 70:17)
- International Examples: Believers in persecution or poverty demonstrate deep reliance on prayer that often stretches Western notions.
- “Some people...wake up every day panting for the presence of God because they need him to survive another day.” [70:17]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Wartime Prayer Mindset:
“We’ve traded in the walkie talkie calling in for supplies on the front line to intercom in the den for more comforts.” — Pastor Joby Martin [03:18] -
On Self-Sacrifice vs. Self-Service:
“If you spend the majority of your time in self evaluation, it will only become self service. It’s got to be self sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom.” — Pastor Joby Martin [06:33] -
On Evidence of the Spirit:
“If there’s a constant inner conflict in you as a believer, nothing’s wrong with you. Something’s really right with you.” — Pastor Joby Martin [05:59] -
On Shipwreck Faith:
“You might not go to hell, but you can live in a hell now until you get to go to heaven.” — Pastor Joby Martin [12:40] -
On Praying for Leaders:
“God's ideal is peace and order. So when we pray for our leaders, we're praying that God would use them in the right way that would promote peace and order.” — Pastor Joby Martin [50:41] -
On Prayer as Evidence of Faith:
“God is only as real to me as prayer is important to me.” — Quoting Tim Keller (shared by Pastor Britt) [32:14] -
On Models and Methods of Prayer:
“A really robust, sound prayer life began with lots of instruction...eventually it’s very intuitive.” — Pastor Joby Martin [31:49] -
Encouragement Defined:
“Encouragement...means to put courage in them.” — Pastor Britt [10:55] -
On the Mystery of God’s Will in Salvation:
“It is completely true that God is sovereign in salvation and he desires all people to be saved.” — Pastor Joby Martin [60:27]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Good Warfare: 00:00–06:55
- Encouragement & Calling: 07:41–10:55
- Faith, Conscience, and Discipline: 11:11–20:54
- Defining Prayer & Types: 21:39–34:44
- Praying for Leaders & Social Peace: 48:10–58:39
- Sovereignty in Salvation Q&A: 58:53–61:47
- Personal Growth in Prayer: 62:26–66:09
- Global & Practical Perspective: 67:43–70:17
Final Reflections
This episode balances theological depth, practical wisdom, humor, and real-life vulnerability, all while keeping the focus on waging spiritual battle through prayer and active reliance on Christ, both personally and corporately. It invites listeners to reflect sincerely on their own spiritual discipline, especially in prayer and encouragement, to live sacrificially for others, and to contribute to a peaceful, godly society through everyday faithfulness.
[Closing Prayer and Blessing at 70:45]
For further study:
- 1 Timothy 1–2
- Piper, "Don't Waste Your Life"
- Luther, "A Simple Way to Pray"
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