Chris Grainger: 1:22

Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be. I'm your host, chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right guys, excited to be here with you this week. We're going to be in the book of Joshua. Okay, joshua, chapter one.

Chris Grainger: 1:38

Just a nice verse though it says that makes it a little bit easier for us. It says have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you go. So, guys, as we get this spiritual kicked off kicked off, let's get into it, because this verse right here should get you fired up, it should get you ready, it should be one that just amps you up to like all right guys, I want to lean into this Because, ultimately, at the end of the day, we've got to trust God through good trials and we need to start embracing strength and courage that he's given us. Okay, and we see this book of Joshua again. Old Testament here, guys, I almost forgot to do that this morning. Guys, we need to make sure, old Testament, you're going to find Joshua right before Judges in your Old Testament Bible and right before Joshua, you're going to get the book of Deuteronomy, ok. So if you get to that, if you go to Deuteronomy finish, if you keep flipping too fast, you'll go right past Joshua, back up a little bit. So if you get to Judges, you went just a little bit too far, because Joshua is not a very long book. The chapters are relatively short, so sometimes you can flip right past, ok. So sometimes you can flip right past it, okay. So once you get there and you're in the book of Joshua, you see a command right here, in the very first chapter, that timeless command that speaks to the heart of every believer. He's telling us I'm commanding you to be strong and courageous, I'm commanding you to do not be afraid. I'm commanding you to do not be discouraged. Why? Because the Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you go. So this is a clear call to us guys, a clear call that when we have these trials and we have these pushbacks and we have the persecution, we need to lean in on the Lord and we need to embody the strength and the courage that he provides Not us, that he provides.

Chris Grainger: 3:19

Because think about Joshua's standpoint, just from ultimately reading the book of Joshua, what's going on here. He was filling some enormous shoes. Talk about following a massive leader. He was following Moses. Are you kidding me? Joshua came after Moses, right? So I mean, that'd be like I don't even know, like the dude who played after Michael Jordan you might know who that was, me either, because you're playing after Michael Jordan Like this is Joshua here, yet he was called and he answered the call to lead the Israelites to the promised land.

Chris Grainger: 3:53

Okay, now there are a lot of challenges in front of him, lots of dangers, and that was kind of creating a little bit of insecurity, of shakiness in Joshua. And the Lord just steps right in here and he clarified for Joshua here's what I'm commanding you. I want you to listen to me. I want you to be strong and courageous. I don't want you to worry about that crap that's going on out there. I don't want you to worry about that fear from the evil one. I want you to move, because that fear is going to paralyze you and I'm calling you into action. And this was a divine mandate for Joshua. It's not something he could run from and it's a command for all of us to listen to, because the tribulations they're going to come. Unfortunately, we're going to have trials. You're going to be in one, coming out of one, getting ready to go into one. That's the three stages of life. So when they come, what are you going to do? Because I want you to think about this.

Chris Grainger: 4:37

Fear is a potent weapon and it's something that the evil one uses very doggone well, because it halts our progress and effectiveness that the Lord's called us to. Because when fear starts taking root, it paralyzes, it immobilizes, it makes us doubtful, it makes us just question everything, it distorts our perception of God's promises and his capabilities. Fear, fellas, is one of the evil one's greatest weapons and it keeps so many of us on the sidelines. Because what happens if we start focusing on our limitations rather than God's limitless tower? God's not limited by anything. There is no governor or restrictor plate on God, but this paralysis that we have prevents us from taking those actions and to fulfill what God's calling us to do. You see, you see how the evil one could use it.

Chris Grainger: 5:28

If I'm the evil one, I want to trip somebody up.

Chris Grainger: 5:30

You know what I want to do.

Chris Grainger: 5:31

I want to make them question everything.

Chris Grainger: 5:33

I want them to question their Bible.

Chris Grainger: 5:34

I want them to question who they are in Christ. I want them to question their abilities and their capabilities and their effectiveness. I want them to question how smart they are. And this is what the evil one does. He paralyzes us and then God's like you know what? Here's the thing, because that punk paralyzes you with fear. Here's what I want you to do. I want you to consider being strong and courageous. This means taking decisive action despite our fears, despite them. The fears are going to still be there, but you move forward Because these are not passive qualities.

Chris Grainger: 6:08

They're active responses to the challenges we face in life. This means we've got to take a step of faith. That means we've got to purge ahead. Even though we may not see the next step, we've got to take it. This kind of action is only possible when we're plugged into that true source of strength God. We're letting Him guide us versus us. He's telling us right here.

Chris Grainger: 6:32

If you just read the verse, the latter part of the verse tells us hey, I'm going to be with you wherever you go, because he knows for us to embody courage and strength. We're going to need some more assurance, and that assurance of His presence, that's what's going to give us the power to take the bold steps of obedience forward and to move forward without fear, because when we start to internalize the truth that God is with us, we can confront any trial. You can not just confront it, you can just bust it. I mean crush it, because his presence is a guarantee that we are not alone and his power is at our disposal. So the question is are you going to start using it? And I want to kind of give you a few practical tips to start embracing that courage.

Chris Grainger: 7:24

I know spiritual kickoff I don't do this a whole lot, but I feel like this is important. You need to anchor yourself first and foremost in God's promises, and do this a whole lot, but I feel like this is important. You need to anchor yourself first and foremost in God's promises. That anchor means you need to regularly, on a standard basis, be meditating and thinking about Scripture, particularly the verses that affirm His promises of protection, guidance, strength, whatever it may be, because we need to shift our thinking from our fear to his faithfulness. Just go to Hebrews 11. Just read Hebrews 11, the great hall of faith and see how that manifests. Think about this for a second Is faith a noun or a verb? Most people think it's a verb. It's something you do. I'd encourage you to think about this. Maybe it's a noun. It's something we are. We are faith-filled believers and because we are faith-filled, we will take action according to what God's called us to do Now.

Chris Grainger: 8:26

Second thing, I want you to think about prayer and supplication. You better have a doggone, robust prayer life. I'm telling you, if you're going to do this work, if you're going to do what God's told you to do, you better be talking to your Father each and every day on a consistent basis, and prayer fortifies your faith and aligns your actions with God's will. And that's the hard part right, aligning your actions. You got to ask Him. Then, the next thing I want you to think about Community and accountability. Who do you have in your life, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, who can offer you that encouragement, that support, as well as that kick in the doggone pants that you need? This community. This is what that does, and community is literally why we started Align With Dennis, okay, because you need to bear one another's burdens, you need to reinforce courage and you need brothers in Christ that are going to speak that truth to you. Again, if you don't have this, you don't have this in your life right now. What are you waiting on? We have the system right here in place for you to have that accountability, that community that we know you desperately need. Just encourage you to take some action here, guys.

Chris Grainger: 9:34

Next thing to think about is take small steps of faith. Okay, small steps. Think big, act small. I always say that okay, because if you start taking that small, deliberate steps, very intentional steps here, where you feel like God's leading you, just wait. Just wait until what he starts showing you. Next, because each step that you take in obedience strengthens your spiritual muscles. You go to the gym. What do you do? You work out because you want to get stronger. You're going through, you're building those muscles up and when you start taking those steps of faith, you're going to get more confidence as well as you're going to just get more strength in those spiritual muscles to do what he's called you to do. Next.

Chris Grainger: 10:14

And then the last tip I want you to think about, guys, is reflect on those past victories. Remember, this is how you this is what I'm talking about when you praise God, instead of just focusing on the bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad and going to the guy with to God with a bunch of of doggone withdrawals. Just I need this, I need this, I need this. Instead of that, go to him thanking him with thanksgiving for the blessings, the blessings, and then, if you do that, that's going to cost right there. It's going to start building up your trust more and more and more with him.

Chris Grainger: 10:51

So for me, it's not sitting there harping over the fact that we lost our daughter. It's thanking him for the opportunity that we had with her. And how can I take that experience and help other people who are going through trials? Or how can I be now, since I've gone through this Lord? How can I honor and glorify you for the kids you have given us to raise here? How can I make sure that I'm pointing them as effectively as I can toward you? So what you see here, guys, is Joshua 1.9. It's more than a command, I'm telling you. It's a divine empowerment right here, to live out our faith boldly.

Chris Grainger: 11:24

And if you're not walking this stuff out, if this verse doesn't get you fired up, I need you to check your pulse. I don't know if it's a doctor, because something may be going on. This is the type of scripture we need to have as that go-to, because the trials are going to come, the setbacks, the persecutions, the pushback, whatever it is, it's going to come. And you're going to need to have scripture like this to go to, because you know that the fear that is the tool of the evil one, he's going to try to. Because you know that the fear that is the tool of the evil one, he's going to try to trip you up and make you live in fear. He's going to try to derail you. But by plugging into your true source of strength, god Almighty, you can start taking action, you can overcome that fear, you can fulfill the purpose that God has for you, you can embrace the assurance of his presence and move forward with that faith that just cannot be shaken. You can't shake it because confidence comes once we know that he's with us wherever we go. So I have a question I want to leave you with what do you think? What are those fears that are holding you back from taking action? Because if you have those fears that are holding you back from taking action, because if you have those fears that are holding you back right now, I get it. It can be scary, but identify and put them on the table. Let's figure out how to move this forward. That's what it's all about.

Chris Grainger: 12:42

Now, if you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior and you're listening to the lion within us right now you are here for a reason I don't know why. Maybe someone shared this to you. You're like, hmm, this guy's not too bad after all, and maybe you're just stuck and your phone's broken. You can't switch off. Ha ha ha, got a captive audience Just kidding. So look, if you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior, that's okay. I'm here to help you out.

Chris Grainger: 13:07

I want you to know that you are made in the image of God. You are. You are made in the image of God. God loves you. He formed Adam and the very first man and breathed the breath of life into his lungs, and when he sat up for the first time, he was face to face with God. And we are made in his image, and that should get you excited. No one else is no other creature, just us. You excited. No one else is no other creature, just us, made in the image of God and in sin.

Chris Grainger: 13:37

Unfortunately, that entered the world. Okay, when that entered the world, that separated us from God and we all fall short of His glory. So we start comparing ourselves to other people, and that's where we get in trouble. Let's compare ourselves to a holy and righteous God. Guess what? We all fall short there, but it's okay. Just because we fall short doesn't mean okay.

Chris Grainger: 13:52

What do we got to do next? We need a plan. What do you need? We need a Savior. We need a Savior Because it's something you can't do for yourself. You can't write a check for this, and mom and dad or grandma and grandpa can't do it for you. This is an individual thing. So once you recognize that you are made in the hands of God, however, you are a sinner in need of a Savior.

Chris Grainger: 14:16

What do you do? Well, you need to look at Jesus, who came on the rescue mission for us. Born of a virgin, fulfilled all the prophecies, did the teaching, did the miracles. He is the Messiah. Then he went to the cross and he paid the ultimate penalty for our sins. But that's the crazy part he left heaven knowing that he was going to go to the cross. I don't know about you, but I would never do that. I'm not going to intentionally go on a suicide mission. No, I know I'm going to get killed, but Jesus loves us so much, god loves us so much he sent his one and only son. I'm telling you, when you start thinking about it in that context, it changes everything. So he went to the cross. He paid the penalty for our sin. The propitiation, the payment that satisfies he, is it, fellas. And he died on the cross. He didn't pass out, he didn't go to sleep, he died. They laid him in a tomb. Three days later he overcame death. That is the good news. This is what's going on.

Chris Grainger: 15:15

We worship a living Savior. This is Jesus. Now he's at the right hand of the Father. Right now no one gets to heaven except through him. He is the way, the truth and the life. He goes. There is no other name as honored heaven has forgiven among men, by which we must be saved. He is it. So Jesus is the way. So now that you know that, you know Jesus is the way, you know that you're a sinner in need of a Savior. You do know you're made in the image of God.

Chris Grainger: 15:38

But you have to take some action, because salvation is a gift, but just like any gift you've ever gotten in your life, you had to do something. You had to go get the gift. I could be sitting here holding this brand new gift for you with a brand new iPhone. That's great, but until you extend your hands out and receive that gift from me, it's just a gift you know about. I don't want you to know about the gift, I want you to receive the gift. And to receive the gift means you have to confess him as Lord and Savior of your life over everything, not just over certain things.

Chris Grainger: 16:08

For Sunday, the whole day, your whole life, every day of the week. He's be Lord over your sex life. Come and get real with you. He's be Lord over your finances. He's be Lord over your marriage of your parenting, everything. He's got to be Lord over it all. And once you make that decision, you draw that line in the sand.

Chris Grainger: 16:28

At this point, yep, I need a Savior. Jesus is it? I'm going His way, I'm going to follow Him and the Holy Spirit's going to come and dwell. At that point, the blinders are going to fall off. You'll be able to put on that spiritual armor that we need to have each and every day to go to fight the battles that he's called us to fight. Guys, this is the most important decision you'll ever make, and this is the most important decision you'll ever make.

Chris Grainger: 16:55

I just encourage you don't put off for tomorrow what God is trying to call you to do today. Do your business with God right now. Don't put it off, don't put it to the side. Handle this business with God in this moment. I don't care if you're on a treadmill or a walk or you're sitting in a car. It doesn't matter If you've never accepted Christ as your Savior and you want to take that step of obedience right now.

Chris Grainger: 17:13

Let's pray. I'm going to pray with you. So, father, whoever's listening, who's ready to take that step of obedience? I pray blessings for them. I pray you give them encouragement, give them hope, give them joy. I pray that they recognize their need for you as their Savior and I pray you hear their prayer as they ask you to come in and be Lord of their life. They are turning over, lord. They're repenting at this moment. They are turning to you. I just pray that you just move in a mighty way. Remind them to not be discouraged, to not have that fear, but to be strong and courageous Because you are with them wherever they go. We love you. We praise you in Jesus' name. Amen, all right, so if you just accepted Christ as your Savior?

Chris Grainger: 17:56

Look, I want to hear from you, chris, at thelionwithinus is how you email me. Send me a note. I want to connect with you, have a conversation. I've got some free resources. I want to send your way to get you hooked up. But you're in a journey, but you're also in a battle now, okay, and you're in a battle and you need to start getting ready to know how to fight and I want to help you out with that. All right, so, chris, that's the line with NUS.

Chris Grainger: 18:19

Guys, head over to the website. For sure, we do the Spiritual Kickoffs every day, monday through Friday, within our community. Go, check that out. I'd love for you to take an opportunity to check, to join, as well as just join our community, as we have our mastermind groups. We have a discipleship mastermind group.

Chris Grainger: 18:34

Sorry that we have going 12 weeks since we really lean in to try to help Christian men be the leaders God called them to be. I'm telling you guys, this is hard stuff. You're going to need some battle brothers. You just are. So I encourage you, quit putting this off. Go lean in, go ask the questions, go see what the site North Community is all about and then take action. Come back on Wednesday. We'll have a great conversation on Wednesday. I'm so excited to share this one with you guys. Just a good friend that I have a lot of respect for, and even more respect now that I got to hear his whole story. So come back on Wednesday. Thank you guys, so much for listening. Okay, and ratings review helps for sure.

Chris Grainger: 19:15

Thelionwithinus is how you connect with us for all our resources, and if you consider being a monthly donor to the show, that'd be amazing. It's just to help support. Continue helping us do the work that God's called us to do, to help you be the leader God intends you to be. All right, so get after it. Have a great day. Thank you so much, and keep unleashing the lion within.

Chris Grainger: 19:38

If you're a man who's looking for greater spiritual guidance into how to become a better leader, finding resources that you can trust and then implement can be daunting. For me personally, I thought it was a lost cause and I decided to take the action, knowing that I wasn't alone. It was because of this wide gap that we created our Lion Within Us community, and the areas that we're helping Christian men grow are incredible. For instance, we've built ways for guys to lean in and grow through fun events like our daily spiritual kickoff, where you get that much needed boost directly from God's word, our Bible studies that always focus on how to discern and apply what we learn, and even our amazing form, where you can speak your mind without fear of getting shut down or judged by the extreme rules of modern day social media. On top of all that, we know that many men won't help overcoming issues and becoming stronger in many different areas. That's why we created several mastermind groups where the iron truly sharpens the iron.

Chris Grainger: 20:38

Our community is about having a growth mindset, accountability, intentionality and transparency. In other words, just leave fake you at home and come to community just as you are. I fully believe what we feel. I see the impact it's making on men right now and I would love to have you check it out. So start your very own 30-day free trial today to see how we can help you be a better leader. So if you're ready to take that first step, head over to thelinewithinus and get started. Your journey begins here. Visit thelinewithinus and get started. Your journey begins here. Visit thelinewithinus and I'll see you inside with them.