The Daily Blade #243 — Joby Martin // Carry Your Friends To Jesus

Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Episode Overview

In this short-form devotional episode, Pastor Joby Martin reflects on what it means to be a faithful and godly friend, especially focusing on the vital importance of praying for friends—carrying them to Jesus through persistent, spiritual intercession. Using Ephesians 6 and practical insights, Joby encourages listeners not to merely support their friends in comfort, but to be “Mac carriers”—brothers who go to spiritual battle for one another.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Five Traits of a Godly Friend (00:20–01:50)

• Imitate Christ: Live in such a way that others can follow you as you follow Jesus (“be imitators of me as I imitate Christ”).
• Offer Wisdom: Be willing to give guidance, removing the log from your own eye and also helping your friends see clearly.
• Confront in Love: Love friends enough to challenge them about sin or foolish actions.
• Carry to Jesus: Be willing to overcome any obstacle to bring your friends before Christ.
• Pray for Them: Consistently, fervently intercede on their behalf—not just in crisis moments.

“They need for you to be the kind of man that loves them enough that you are willing to first remove the log out of your eye and then go on that one step further and remove the speck out of theirs…” – Joby Martin (00:35)

2. Prayer as a Spiritual Weapon (01:50–04:10)

• Spiritual Warfare Context: Joby references Ephesians 6:10–20, emphasizing that Christians are in battle, not against flesh and blood, but against dark spiritual forces.
• The Armor of God: Outlines the familiar spiritual armor, especially highlighting the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
• Prayer is Offensive, Not Passive: In addition to the Word, prayer is described as an offensive weapon against evil.

“One of the reasons that the intro to the Daily Blade says that the sword of the Spirit is the primary weapon against evil is because there is another one and it is prayer.” – Joby Martin (03:10)

“Paul is saying, if you're my friend, if you are a partner in ministry, would you also pray for me…that I may declare [the gospel] boldly as I ought to speak.” – Joby Martin (04:00)

3. Challenge to Deep, Persistent Prayer (04:10–05:30)

• Beyond Surface-Level Praying: Prayer shouldn’t be half-hearted or only when a crisis arises. Listeners are challenged to pray with urgency and depth.
• “Going to War” in Prayer: Joby shares a quote from his wife Gretchen’s devotional, likening prayer to a war tactic rather than a casual conversation.
• Prayer’s Power: When believers genuinely pray, the enemy "loses his grip" and "chains begin to break and lives are restored."

“When we pray, the enemy cowers. When we pray, the enemy loses his grip. When we pray, chains begin to break and lives are restored. Brothers, you need to pray for your brothers this way.” – Joby Martin quoting Gretchen Martin (05:00)

4. The Example of Jesus in Gethsemane (05:10–05:30)

• Jesus’ Request: On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus asks his closest friends to "watch and pray," underscoring the spiritual necessity of vigilant, supportive prayer for one another.
• Be a Wartime Friend: Men are urged to stand guard, remain alert, and pray with the seriousness and persistence that comes from knowing “everything depends on it.”

“So be the kind of man that goes to war on behalf of your friends and watch. That doesn't mean look around. That means be on watch. Be on that wall and pray. Pray. Pray like everything depends on it. Because it does.” – Joby Martin (05:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Shallow Prayer:
  “If your friends imitated the way you prayed for them and prayed for you that way, would that be enough for you?” – Joby Martin (00:55)

• On Prayer’s True Role:
  “Many of us don't think of prayer as a war tactic against the enemy. We think of prayer more like a stroll in the park with our dad…” – Gretchen Martin quoted by Joby Martin (05:00)

• On Being a True Friend:
  “May we be the Mac carriers. May we be the foxhole men. May we be the brothers that our friends need. Amen.” – Joby Martin (05:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:20 – Five key traits of godly friendship introduced
• 01:50 – Spiritual warfare and the armor of God (Ephesians 6)
• 03:10 – The overlooked offensive weapon: prayer
• 04:45 – Challenge from Gretchen Martin’s devotional about prayer as warfare
• 05:10 – Jesus in Gethsemane: a model for praying friends
• 05:40 – Final charge: Be the friend who fights for others in prayer

Tone & Style

The episode is direct, passionate, and rooted in scriptural exhortation, blending pastoral care with challenging, brotherly candor. There is a consistent call to self-examination and practical action.

This summary encapsulates the devotional challenge to pray deeply and sacrificially for one's friends, offering practical steps and spiritual urgency for Christian men striving to support one another in faith and life's battles.