#29 - Joby Martin // Four Friends

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Daily Blade #29 - Joby Martin // Four Friends

Introduction In Episode #29 of The Daily Blade, hosts Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 and Kyle Thompson of Undaunted.Life delve into the critical role of supportive friendships in a Christian's life. Released on February 10, 2025, this episode focuses on the theme "Four Friends," drawing inspiration from Mark chapter two. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of having steadfast men who can aid you spiritually and emotionally during times of need.

The Power of Four Friends Joby Martin begins by referencing Mark 2:1-5, where Jesus is surrounded by a crowd in Capernaum. Unable to reach Him, four men take the initiative to dismantle a roof and lower their paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing. This biblical account serves as a metaphor for the support system believers should cultivate.

"Do you have four men that, when you are in a time of need, will do what it takes to carry you to Jesus?" [Kyle Martin, 00:20]

Qualities of Supportive Men Martin outlines essential qualifications for these supportive friends, reiterating points previously discussed with Kyle. Key qualities include:

• Genuine Care: Friends who prioritize your well-being over their own opinions.

  "Do you have friends in your life that care more about you than what you think about them?" [Joby Martin, 02:00]

• Unconditional Love: Friends willing to challenge you, even when it causes discomfort, for your personal growth.

  "Do you have friends in your life that actually love you and are willing to make you uncomfortable for the sake of you?" [Joby Martin, 02:15]

• Deep Understanding: Friends who truly know you, beyond surface-level interactions.

Identifying and Deputizing Friends Martin stresses the importance of not only identifying these supportive men but also formally deputizing them. This involves:

1. Listing Potential Friends: Write down men in your life who embody the necessary qualities.
2. Formalizing the Relationship: Communicate clearly with them about your needs, asking them to commit to supporting you in critical moments.

"I want to encourage you to deputize those men, that you would call them on the phone and you would say, I'm asking you to be one of my four corner toters or Mac carriers or foxhole brothers." [Joby Martin, 03:00]

The Role of the Local Church According to Martin, the local church is the primary venue to find such supportive men. He urges listeners to engage actively with their church community instead of criticizing it without participating.

"The number one place to find men like that is in the local church." [Joby Martin, 04:00]

He encourages men to model the behavior they seek by being proactive in leading others to Jesus.

Being a Supportive Man Yourself Martin emphasizes that to attract and identify supportive friends, one must first embody these qualities. Being willing to help others sets the foundation for receiving similar support when needed.

"Be the kind of man that is willing to do whatever it takes to lead somebody else to Jesus, to carry somebody else to Jesus." [Joby Martin, 04:45]

Jesus as the Ultimate Example Drawing a parallel to Jesus' experience in the Garden of Gethsemane, Martin highlights that even the Son of God sought support from His disciples during His most challenging moments.

"If Jesus...needs people praying for him in his life, then who in the heck do you think you are to think you can do this on your own?" [Joby Martin, 05:00]

Conclusion Martin concludes by urging listeners to actively seek out, pray for, and commit to their four supportive friends. This network of men serves as a spiritual lifeline, ensuring that believers have the necessary support to navigate life's challenges.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Do you have four men that, when you are in a time of need, will do what it takes to carry you to Jesus?" — Joby Martin [00:20]
• "Do you have friends in your life that care more about you than what you think about them?" — Joby Martin [02:00]
• "Do you have friends in your life that actually love you and are willing to make you uncomfortable for the sake of you?" — Joby Martin [02:15]
• "I want to encourage you to deputize those men..." — Joby Martin [03:00]
• "The number one place to find men like that is in the local church." — Joby Martin [04:00]
• "Be the kind of man that is willing to do whatever it takes to lead somebody else to Jesus..." — Joby Martin [04:45]
• "If Jesus...needs people praying for him in his life, then who in the heck do you think you are to think you can do this on your own?" — Joby Martin [05:00]

Final Thoughts In this episode of The Daily Blade, Joby Martin powerfully communicates the necessity of building a supportive network of men who can help carry each other to Jesus during times of need. By emphasizing the qualities to look for in such friends and the importance of being active within the church community, Martin provides practical steps for listeners to strengthen their spiritual support systems.

For more insightful discussions and to join Pastor Joby & Kyle in person at the 2025 Men's Conference in Jacksonville, Florida, visit mensconference.com.

Transcript

[A]

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.

[B]

All right, men, let's go. Mark, chapter two. That is where we are going to be all week long. Kyle warned you of this. There's going to be a little bit of overlap, but that is on purpose. Mark, chapter two, verse one says this. And when he, that's Jesus, returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. He was actually at Peter's house. And many were gathered together so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he, Jesus, was preaching the word to them. That's what he did. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him. And when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. All right, let me ask you a question. Do you have four men that, when you are in a time of need, will do what it takes to carry you to Jesus? Now, you may be thinking, didn't we just talk about that on Friday? Didn't Kyle ask you that question? Do you have people. Do you have men in your life that will carry you to Jesus? Well, I am repeating that on purpose. One of the most things that you're gonna hear repeated on the Daily Blade is that you need other men in. In your life. Do you have those men? If so, write them down right now. Now, all last week, Kyle went through qualifications that you need to be looking for in men. I'll repeat a few. You've got to have some people that care about you. Do you have friends in your life that care more about you than what you think about them? Do you have friends in your life that actually love you and are willing to make you uncomfortable for the sake of you? Do you have friends in your life that actually know you? Listen, man, me and Kyle, we love you in the kind of theological sense that we, you know, love every brother and sister in the world, whatever. But I'm not in your life, man. I don't get to hear you speak to your wife. I don't get to see you parent your children. I'm not close enough that you could reach out and say, dude, I need some help. You need some brothers close to you. And once you identify those folks, it is not enough to simply identify these men in your heart. I want to encourage you to deputize those men, that you would call them on the phone and you would say, I'm asking you to be one of my four corner toters or Mac carriers or foxhole brothers. Whatever language you want to use, I don't care. It tends to go way better when you have given permission to another man and you are telling him, if and when I get to the place where I am laying on a mat and I cannot take care of myself, I need you to be the kind of brother that would come to me and do whatever it takes to carry me to the feet of Jesus. And if you begin to say, well, where do I find men like that? The number one place to find men like that is in the local church. Now, we'll talk about this more at the end of the week, but please don't be the kind of man that all he does is criticize the local church without attending, without being involved in, without loving the bride of Christ. The local church. That is going to be the place where you're going to find the kind of brothers that you need in this war that we are in. And the best way to identify those men is to be that kind of man. Be the kind of man that is willing to do whatever it takes to lead somebody else to Jesus, to carry somebody else to Jesus. Because I've got some terrifying news for you. At some point in your life, you are going to find yourself on the mat and you are going to need somebody to help you to the feet of Jesus. It could be a financial thing. It could be a relational thing. It could be a physical thing. It could. It could be a mental thing. And so who are those men for you? Or let me ask it this way, who is praying for you by name right now? And don't tell me your mama, because you don't even tell her the truth. And so if you think, I don't need those men, I got this. Let me remind you. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, before he was betrayed, he goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He prays out to his heavenly Father. He says he feels like he's going to die because the weight of the world is crushing him. He begins to sweat like drops of blood. And before all that, you know the thing that he does, he calls his disciples to pray for him. And then he brings three a little farther to watch and pray. So I would say if Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, God the Son, who spoke everything into existence and by his very power holds the earth on its axis. If he needs people praying for him in his life, then who in the heck do you think you are to think you can do this on your own? Brothers, you can't find these four men. Pray about these four men. Deputize these four men. Go.

[A]

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.