#55 - Joby Martin // Lures, Hooks, and Billy Bass

Summary

The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
Episode #55 - Joby Martin // Lures, Hooks, and Billy Bass
Release Date: March 18, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode #55 of The Daily Blade, hosts Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 and Kyle Thompson of Undaunted.Life delve deep into the spiritual warfare that Christians face daily. Centered around John 10, the episode explores the ongoing battle between the "Good Shepherd" and the "Thief," drawing parallels to everyday temptations and challenges.

Understanding the Enemy: The Thief’s Agenda

Kyle Thompson opens the discussion by highlighting the mission statement of the enemy as depicted in John 10:10:

“The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.” (00:20)

He emphasizes that the devil's intent isn't merely to cause minor setbacks but to dismantle every aspect of a believer’s life. Kyle explains that the enemy seeks to steal one’s life, hopes, dreams, family, and even attempts to kill one’s spiritual soul. He underscores the stark contrast between the destructive goals of the thief and the life-affirming mission of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

The Three Primary Temptations: Lures and Hooks

Drawing an analogy to bass fishing, Kyle describes how the enemy uses lures—temptations designed to deceive:

1. Lust of the Eyes

   “Lust of the eyes is when we see some stuff and we want some stuff.” (03:15)

   This temptation revolves around materialism and greed. Kyle illustrates this with the example of desiring a new truck, not out of need, but because it's eye-catching. The problem arises when temporary possessions are mistaken for sources of true satisfaction, leading to neglect of family, overworking, or compromised integrity.

2. Lust of the Flesh

   “Lust of the flesh is the temptation to feel.” (04:10)

   This encompasses desires related to physical pleasures, ranging from indulging in unhealthy foods to substance abuse. Kyle warns against self-medicating with alcohol or food, highlighting how these behaviors can lead to spiritual and physical destruction.

3. Pride of Life

   “Pride of life when you were trying to make much of yourself.” (05:00)

   This temptation is about seeking personal glory and recognition rather than glorifying God. Kyle points out that initial good intentions can devolve into selfish pursuits for fame or status, which detracts from one's spiritual mission and relationship with God.

Combatting the Temptations: Engaging the Spirit of God

Kyle challenges listeners to recognize these temptations as the enemy's tools to undermine their faith:

“If you were your enemy, how would you try to take you out?” (02:45)

He encourages believers to engage in spiritual warfare, not by passivity but by actively resisting these lures with the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Kyle reassures that with Christ as the victor, believers can withstand these attacks and walk in victory.

Key Insights and Takeaways

• Awareness of the Enemy’s Tactics: Understanding that the enemy's strategies are deeply rooted in scripture helps believers anticipate and counteract them effectively.

• Temporary vs. Eternal: Material and physical temptations offer fleeting satisfaction that pales in comparison to the eternal fulfillment found in Christ.

• Active Resistance: Fighting against temptation requires intentional effort and reliance on spiritual resources rather than mere avoidance.

Conclusion

Pastor Joby Martin closes the episode by reinforcing the importance of equipping oneself for spiritual battles:

“You have an enemy and he is trying to take you out. But the good news is you have a big brother, Christ Jesus, who is the victor and we walk in victory in him.” (05:30)

He urges listeners to share the podcast, leave reviews, and stay vigilant in their spiritual walk. The episode serves as a powerful reminder of the constant spiritual battles Christians face and the ultimate victory available through Jesus Christ.

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Notable Quotes

• Kyle Thompson:
  “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.” (00:20)
  “Lust of the eyes is when we see some stuff and we want some stuff.” (03:15)
  “Lust of the flesh is the temptation to feel.” (04:10)
  “Pride of life when you were trying to make much of yourself.” (05:00)
  “If you were your enemy, how would you try to take you out?” (02:45)
  “You have a big brother, Christ Jesus, who is the victor and we walk in victory in him.” (05:30)

• Joby Martin:
  “Amen. 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.” (05:47)

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Final Thoughts

Episode #55 of The Daily Blade offers profound insights into the nature of spiritual warfare, equipping listeners with the knowledge to identify and combat the enemy’s strategies. Through relatable analogies and scriptural references, Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson provide valuable guidance for Christians striving to live victoriously in their daily lives.

If you missed this episode, consider listening to gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual battles you face and the divine resources available to overcome them.

Transcript

[Joby Martin]

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.

[Kyle Thompson]

All right, back to John 10. John 10:10. I don't know if you realize this, but the enemy's mission statement is in our scriptures. God's word said, the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me. And I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. I want you to see what the thief wants to do. You have two options here in John chapter 10. You can follow after the good shepherd or you. You can follow after the thief. And this is who the devil is. Satan, your enemy. The accuser of the brethren. He's a thief. What he wants to do is take what is not his. And the only thing he wants to do. I don't know if you see this or you probably hear this in verse 10. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. The devil's not just trying to make you stumble. The devil's not just trying to cause a hiccup in your life. The enemy is not here to let you have a good time. And it's just an alternative to the way of Christ. The only thing he wants to do is steal what is most valuable to you. He wants to steal your life. He wants to steal your hopes. He wants to steal your dreams. He wants to steal your family. And he wants to kill. He literally wants to kill you. And he knows that if you're a follower of Jesus, then he cannot extinguish your soul because Christ has purchased that and you will live forever with him. And so he wants to kill everything good and godly in your life. And he wants to destroy. He wants to destroy your testimony. He wants to destroy your witness and your ministry. He wants to destroy your family. He wants to destroy your joy. This is what he does. And the enemy will do whatever he can to Try to trick you or lure you away from the abundant life in Christ. The good news is we find out we're going to talk about this a lot, because I want you to understand this all the way from Genesis 3 to the temptation of Christ. What we see is, is that the enemy basically only has three tricks up his sleeve. First, John calls it this. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. And these are tricks. These are lures. Thinking about being a bass fisherman here in Florida, we fish a lot. And what you do when you're a bass fisherman is you throw a lure. But the problem was a lure is every lure has a hook. The idea of the lure is it's alluring. It tricks big Billy Bass to go for what he thinks is bait, but it's not bait. It's a gotcha. And every trick, every temptation has a gotcha. And so one of the things that you should consider in your life is that you have an enemy that only wants to steal, kill, and destroy. And so if you were your enemy, how would you try to take you out? Is it lust of the eyes? Lust of the eyes is when we see some stuff and we want some stuff. Lust of the eyes is when we give ourselves to greed and materialism. Lust of the eyes is. We didn't even know we wanted that new truck until we saw that new truck. And now we think, I've got to have that new truck truck. And there's nothing wrong with a new truck. I have a new truck. Kyle's got a new truck. There's nothing wrong with a new truck. The problem with the lust of the eyes is when we think that temporary thing will do for us what it cannot do for us. We think that we'll be fully and finally satisfied if we can just move into that new neighborhood or get that new truck or get that new bow. As if that temporary thing can satisfy an itch. And then we begin to neglect our family or overwork or cut some corners to make some more money or not. Be generous to the Lord in order to try to satisfy the lust of the eyes. It's a temptation that the enemy is trying to kill you with. Or maybe it's the lust of the flesh. Lust of the flesh is the temptation to feel. This could be everything from cookies to cocaine. And you're like, what? Yeah. Lust of the flesh is when you begin to negotiate with yourself and you believe you deserve to feel a certain way. And again, it could be overeating because you're just lazy and it's easier to sit on your couch and eat Doritos than it is to get up and go to the gym. Or it could be that time when you you get home from work and one drink turns to two, which turns to three, which turns to four and you're self medicating to just take the edge off. The enemy wants to use that alcohol in your life to kill you. Or it could be the pride of life when you were trying to make much of yourself. Now you started out with the right aim in mind. You were going to glorify God at work and you're going to provide for your family. But now you know you're just trying to make a name for yourself. So let me ask you if the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy and his only weapons are lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, then if you were your enemy, how would you take you out? By the spirit of God. You need to war against these things because you have an enemy and he is trying to take you out. But the good news is you have a big brother, Christ Jesus, who is the victor and we walk in victory in him. But not by being lazy, but by going to war against this thief.

[Joby Martin]

Amen. 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.