Welcome And Weekly Scripture

Chris Grainger 1:04

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. Spiritual kickoff time. Let's go. Okay. Scripture of the week this week. 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 23. All things permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up. So there you go. We're going to get right into it, fellas. So hopefully you guys are going to enjoy this. We're going to think about it. We're going to see how we can simplify and apply this to our life. And by the way, we do this Monday through Friday at the Lion Within. It's called the Daily Spiritual Kickoff. So if you're not, and it's free, guys, there's no excuses. We take the excuses off the off the table, okay? Go over to the lionwithin.us right now. Don't forget to thelionwithin.us. There's a link right there for the daily spiritual kickoff. Sign up for it. You'll get the daily teaching. You'll get a free gift if you're in the continental U.S. And you'll get access to our prayer request space so we can be super intentional about praying for you each and every day. And every Monday, we gather together. We come together on a Google meet and we just pray. It is that simple. And that's a great way

Sign Up For Daily Kickoff

Chris Grainger 2:12

just to get started with the lion within us, okay? All right. So let's get it. Let's get into the word. So now, where's 1 Corinthians? We don't want to just fly by this. It's not Old Testament. It is New Testament. And if you didn't know that, that's okay. Everybody's at different places in their journey. So 1 Corinthians is in the New Testament. It's right after Romans. So you get Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and then you get Acts, then you get Romans, then you get to the 1 Corinthians. Okay. If you get to 2 Corinthians, guess what? You just went a little bit too far, boss. Just back up a little bit. It's okay. All right. So now, so we're going to see right here uh the Corinthian slogan and Paul's counter-strike. That's what we're going to be kind of seeing how we can apply this because when the Apostle Paul wrote this to the church in Corinth, he was really addressing a culture issue that we're seeing today, right? It was very booming. It was hyper-individual in like hyper-individualized. So if so much it was on the on the self, when it's all about personal gains and everything, all that stuff was just fiercely guarded. And the Corinthian believers had adopted like a slogan, and it says, All things are permitted for me. Okay. So they were using Christian freedom as like a blank check for selfless ambitions. And they were rationalizing these impulses simply because uh it technically wasn't forbidden. It's okay, man. So Paul, when he wrote this to the divine power of the Holy Spirit, he didn't uh strip away their free will, but he redefined a purpose. He's like, look, not all these things are for benefit. Yeah, they're permitted, but but not all things build these people up. And Paul was making a very sharp point I think we need to think about. Just because you have the authority as a free guy to do something doesn't mean that we should take the and walk through that door, right? Or it definitely doesn't mean that you have the wisdom to do it. Because freedom without discernment isn't liberty. It's just foolishness, bro. That's all it is. And the worst, uh the lost world

Freedom Misused In Corinth

Chris Grainger 4:07

out there, we we we've come forgotten rather what it means to edify. And we don't use that word very much anymore, edify, right? And and in our spiritual lives, the reason we simply the fact that we don't use that word, spiritual, spiritually, we're just poorer for it. And it comes from a Greek word, and edification, it's like an architecture term, okay? That's really what it's about. It's about to construct, to lay a foundation, to erect, like stone by stone. And today we tend to uh evaluate our choices through the weak lens of just being, is it permissible? Like, is this legal? Is it am I okay? Like, is this a direct sin, or is this one of those borderline things I can just get away with? Like, I'm just kidding, but uh, you know what I'm saying, fellas. But biblical discernment asks for uh like a higher question. Is this building a fortress for God directly, or is it dismantling my spiritual strength? That's it. And and where when we live to edify, truly to build up and lift up God to his rightful place, man, he ceases to be some like caustic vending machine or paramedic that we only go to when we're in dire straits or we need something, right? No, no, he becomes the supreme architect whose honor is kept at the absolute center of our daily choices. See how that shift, that's a little bitty shift, but it's massive. And free will, and let's just face it, it comes with a price tag because God gave men the heavy gift of free will, right? You have the freedom to decide, you know, what gets your eyes, what gets your attention, what gets your evenings, what comes into your mind. But while the choice is free, the outcome definitely has a cost, doesn't it? It just does. And just because Netflix is you know l is is legal doesn't mean it profits us. Let's just let's just be real about it. Because you can sit numb just just and go numb in front of a screen for hours at a time. And that passive binging may not be like a direct crime, but does it actually build you up, man? I mean, think about that. It it's dulling so many of our senses, especially spiritually. I mean, it can even drain your energy. You ever notice like if you sit and bend something, like you finish and you're like tired? Like, why? You've just been sitting on your butt watching TV. Why are you tired? I'm telling you, it happens. And it steals our focus. And when that focus is is is gone, bro, it's gone. Then you're if it's gone, you're unable to lead, particularly your home the way it needs to be. Or maybe you don't pray with the conviction you used to, or you still you don't stand strong against the temptations that come your way. Because every hour that we spend on passive indulgence, it's a transaction, man. It's a transaction. And you give away precious attention and you get zero return. You just don't. And I'm not trying to be like a Debbie Downer, but this the truth of God's word should hit us between the eyes. And we have to think about what our standards are as men. Period. What are the standards? Because we're called to set the standard in our own hearts, and particularly those who lead that we're leading. And for me, this is a big deal, man. I don't think we talk about this stuff enough. We talk about these rules and the ideas and stuff. Am I telling you, if we focus on standards more, things will really start changing because true discernment

The Real Meaning Of Edify

Chris Grainger 7:37

means that we're gonna refuse to settle for like what the world says is harmless, right? When God calls us to what is profitable, profitable, genuine, lasting. That's that's what the Greek word means right there for profitable, what the apostle Paul is talking about. Because it takes zero effort effort to chase selfish desires, right? I mean, think about it. Even a dead law can float downstream, can't it? Does it take any effort for that dead law? No, it's just gonna go through flow, baby. And we are not meant to just go to flow. But uh because erecting a life that edifies, that truly builds up God, that don't just happen. I'm gonna tell you guys, that is a very intentional act. It takes intentionality. You ain't just gonna wake up and this thing's just gonna be there. But it can be if we put in the work, we put in the steps. It also means we gotta start asking some hard questions, man. We we we gotta start asking better questions before we consume, before we subscribe, or click, or engage. And a couple questions may be like, you know what? Is this thing right here, is this gonna leave me spiritually sharper for God? Or am I getting duller? I mean, seriously, think about this. Think about TikTok. I'm not on TikTok, but I've seen it. Think about is that sharpening you in your discipleship journey, or is that in ways dulling you? Either way, if you spend five minutes or 55 minutes or five hours a day on TikTok, it's robbing you from time that you could be spending with the Lord. And then also think about this does this standard, the standard that you're putting in place, does that build up the people under your roof? Or is it teaching them to compromise? I mean, just practically speaking, like for a standard, maybe you have a standard and you know you want to eat healthy and you want to have vegetables, right? You want you want to have that at every meal, and you want that for your children. That's one thing if you sit down and you do it and they see that you're doing it with them, right? But what if, you know, there's this beautiful meal, we've got chicken breast and broccoli and all the stuff, right? Cauliflower, whatever the stuff is, right? You're trying to be healthy. And you sit down, right? In front of you, you got a big old greasy piece of pizza. And you just tell your kids, like, no, you just y'all just eat that. This is dad's meal. Don't worry about what I do. You just eat what I tell you. No, it doesn't work that way. Doesn't work that way. Because what they're seeing, you're teaching them compromise, man. You're teaching them that what you say and what you do are two different things. And as a man, as a particularly as a Christ-filled man who's trying to pursue God with all we do, with all we have, like, we have to make sure that the standards we put in place are not just for the ones under the roof, but for ourselves also. So it's like, well, it's good for the goose, it's good for the gander. Yep, it's sure, sure. It's true, buddy. So you gotta think through this. Like you have to think through it, like, what are the things I'm doing, and how are the things I'm doing? How is that coming going downstream to the people that I care most about? Get it? Now, also think about this question. Are you using your freedom to serve your ambition? Is it all about your ambition? What do I want? Me, me, me, my, my, my. Or are you want to try to glorify, exalt God, lift him up, reverence for him? I'm telling you, man, when you start thinking this way, it changes everything about everything. It changes your decision making. It will definitely be a shift. Now, it's gonna be hard. It's gonna because it doesn't happen overnight. But slowly, over time, when you start thinking about, you know what, is this a good kingdom-minded decision? Or is this more of a me thing right now? And look, we're we're selfish centered, so sometimes you're gonna have some me thing stuff. I'm not trying to beat you up on every decision you're making, but overall, the collective are the decisions I'm making as a man, are they building up the king? Right? The language I use as a man, the way I treat to my spouse as a man, the way I speak to my children as a man, the way I show up to work as a man, are all these things in these different scenarios, how I manage my finances, right, how I take care of my body, whatever. You give me a topic, you any topic

When Permissible Becomes A Trap

Chris Grainger 11:57

you want to talk about, we can bring it back to God's word. Is it building up God? Or is it just about me and vanity and the these little uh things that the world tells me I need to put value in versus what we know what actually has value? So those are just a few questions, man. I'm telling you, at the end of the day, true strength isn't measured on how close we can walk to the line that culture tells us it's okay with, right? No, without sinning. Like that's not it. True strength is measured on how passionately we pursue the actual builds that we pursue what actually builds, strengthens, and honors God above all. That's it. That's all that matters. It's not from what the world tells us, it's what God tells us and being in alignment with that. So, man, guys, I'm just telling you, thinking through today, this whole week on the podcast, we're gonna be talking about technology. Think through how the technology and your daily technology habits are building your spiritual walk. You know, are they at all? Or are they all stumbling blocks? Facebook is that a stumbling block for you. Instagram, uh X, uh, let's see, TikTok, YouTube. I mean, there's so many things out there that's vying for your attention and the habits we build around the technology, is that helping us grow closer to God or not? There's some things that are, for sure, like the Bible lab. I highly encourage guys to use that technology on a regular basis. The Lion. You know, we have our technology out there. We're putting stuff in God's pocket each and every day because we're helping them to grow on their discipleship journey to be the leaders that God tends them to be. And we're very diligent about that. But it's not like that everywhere, buddy. Most things out there are just vying for your time, vying for your attention, trying to be a distraction because the evil one knows, but if all he can do is just keep us distracted and busy, then he has rendered us obsolete. We are not a formidable force at that moment at that point in time, at that moment. We're just not. Man, forget that, bro. No, forget that. We need to kick that dude to the side. He's gotten really good at using this technology to rule us, and it's time to take the power back. It starts with decisions, it starts with the standards you set as a man. And I just want to encourage you, don't set them because Chris said. Set them because the Bible's showing us right here directly. In this verse, it's showing us directly in this verse how important it is. Say, hey, all things permitted? Yeah, they're not all of benefit, bro. So they are permitted, but they are not going to build people up. Think about conversely, okay, then what are the things that are of benefit? What are the things that do build people up? And let's focus on those things and not worry about the rest of the stuff that's out there. You'll be amazing in clarity that the Holy Spirit gives you in that moment. And look, if you or do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you're listening to the Lion with Dennis, you are here for a reason, man. I don't know why. For some reason, uh maybe someone tricked you. Maybe you like lions, you thought this was about zoos. And next thing you know, like you're just locked in. Like, what is this old redneck talking about here? I'm just here to tell you, God loves you so much. You are made in his image. Period. But here's the thing: you are a sinner, you are a black-hearted sinner, just like me. Every single one of us. And the sinner is anything that separates us from God. And we all fall shorter. Glory to God. Period. Bible tells us that directly. So that's the bad news. Like we have the bad news. We understand that. So we need a little bit of good news because you can't overcome this on your own. You can't just be a good person to get into heaven. Just because your mama went to church doesn't mean you get to go into heaven, bro. That just don't work that way. You may get to the line, but mama's right up there. She's inside. Can I come with her? No, you come on in here with me, honey. It don't work that way. It's a personal relationship that you have to have with Jesus as your Lord and Savior. So there if you can't earn it on your own, right? You can't work your way to a right standing with God, then what in the wide world of sports are you supposed to do then? Nothing. There's nothing you can

Setting Standards With Technology

Chris Grainger 15:57

do. You need someone to come in and do for you what you can't do for yourself. You need a savior. This is where Jesus comes into the scene, baby. He left heaven on a mission for us because he loves you so doggone much. Right? You may not love you, but Jesus does. He loves you, bud. Period. He loves you. He was born of a virgin. He did all the prophecies, did all the miracles, the teachings, everything. He showed us that he was the Messiah. And then look, he went to the cross for you, man. Like, I don't know about you. There are a few people on this planet I would die for, just willingly die for. The bulk of them live underneath this my roof. Period. I'd die for any one of them. But for the bulk, like for for every for just anyone, I don't know, man. We should be straight up. I don't know. Jesus, though. He's like, nope, I'm going. I know what it's going to cost me. And I'm going to go anyway. Because I love them so much. And I want to give them a model. I want to show them that there is a path to salvation. And it's a free gift. So he went to the cross. He was pierced for our transgressions, fellas. He died. Jesus died on the cross. Don't let anyone fool you. He didn't just faint or pass out. He died. And if the story ends right there, like what do we're what's going on here? But it doesn't end right there. They took him off the cross. They laid him in a tomb. It was just like an Airbnb for Jesus. He just needed it for the weekend. Because three days later, guess what? He rose. And that's what we worship. We have a living Savior who defeated death. And I don't know about you, that's who I'm following. I'm following the guy who overcame death. I don't care how many followers you got on Instagram. I just don't. I know one thing. Jesus, I'm following him. He didn't even have an Instagram account, right? I'm following Jesus. Period. And I want that for you too. So Jesus, like, he's straight up. He's like, look, I am the way to truth to life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Period. There's no other name under heaven that's been given among men by which we must be saved. It is Jesus and Jesus alone. So it starts with understanding that yes, you are a sinner. You definitely are a black-hearted sinner. So look in the mirror, first you see, that's a sinner. Now, second, okay, believe Jesus is who he says he is. Just believe that in your heart of hearts. Like Jesus is my savior. And then you confess him as Lord of your life. Not just Lord when you got this little warming fuzzy going on, but Lord of your entire life. Every situation, every moment, every minute, every second, every day, everywhere. From you know, the corporate room to the to your to your to the ballpark, to the bathroom, to the everywhere, your marriage, your kids, your finances, he's Lord over it all. And when you when you confess that, the peace that passes all understanding is just gonna float all over your mind and your heart. Because you have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit at that moment. If you've never done that, if you never confess your life to your Lordship of Jesus Christ, and you're listening to the lion, let's just do it right now. Do it right now. Take the step. Quit being disobedient. Because you know God's calling you, He know, you know He's tugging at you, and even putting it off, putting it on, putting it off. Bro, take this step right now. Let's just pray and accept Him into your life. So, Father, I don't know who is listening right now. Now maybe the words that I'm saying are landing on their heart. And I know one thing, Lord, it didn't just start with me. Someone else has been plowing this this land up. Now's just a good time to come in and harvest. So I pray, Lord, not because of anything again that I've said, but because of you, that they turn to you. They recognize that their ways are not your ways. They're repenting, Father. They're repenting, they're believing, they're kidding. They are claiming you as uh Lord, Savior of their life. We're so thankful that they're making this ever most important decision right now.

Strength Means Pursuing What Builds

Chris Grainger 19:47

So I'm just praying for this man, this woman, that you that you just put a hedge of protection around them, that you put people in their life that would be willing to walk with them as they just start, as they begin rather, on this most important discipleship journey. We love you, Jesus. I just pray you are honored and glorified right now, in this moment, and everything that I've done on July end is to try to present the good news of salvation to whoever is listening right at this moment. We love you, Jesus. We praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. All right, so look, again, if you just confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, like touch down, let's go, bro. I want to hear from you. So send an email, support at the linewithin.us or Chris at the linewithin.us, either one of them. I don't, they both, I get them both. And I'd love to hear from you how what Jesus is, you know, what what decisions you made rather, and what and where you feel like the Holy Spirit's guiding you, directing you. If you need help getting plugged into a church, I'd love to talk to you about that. Just give you some things to think about, some things to consider. We got lots of resources we just love to give away as well. So I'd love to hear from you and just connect with you. Uh, so again, send an email. Let me know which podcast you're listening to as well, just so I know uh you know where you came from. That would be super awesome. So, other than that, guys, look, we have a great episode coming up on Wednesday. You're gonna absolutely love it. It's gonna be incredible. Uh, highly encourage you go get a copy of our book, Unleashing the Lion Within. It's on it's on Amazon. Get a copy of that. Be a donor. We we need monthly supporters, monthly donors. We have the Lion Within Us Ministries right now. We need your support. Your monthly support goes a long way. So you can go to the linewithin.us slash pursuit. You can find all sorts of ways where you can hop on. You can be helping us be. I'm just a guy who's who's trying to find one more. We'd love for you to be take part of that. If you want me to potentially come speak at one of your men's events, let's talk. Okay, support at the linewithin.us. Send over your details of the things you're thinking about, uh, planning, dates, all that fun stuff, and

The Gospel Invitation And Prayer

Chris Grainger 21:42

we'll figure out how we can make it work to support. If it's not, if it's not me directly, maybe some other guys at the line within us, but we would love to support you and your men's ministry, whether it's a wild game dinner, a breakfast, uh, a men's conference, uh sporting clay thing, whatever it is. Like I'm all, I'm down. Man camps. I do man camps, I've done several of those. Love to connect with you and see how we could serve, walk with you, and just be that little charge, you know, that sometimes guys need that little kick in the pants to get them going. So let us know. Again, obviously, we've got the daily SKL, we have the Lion Sten, we have the Leadership Mastermind, all the ways we serve. Open up the Bible app. We'd love to connect with you on the Bible app so you'll find all those resources there as well. Okay. All right, guys. That's it for today. We'll see you next time. Thank you for listening. Give us a rating review if you don't mind. Other than that, have a go and we'll see you again. And just keep unleashing the lion within. It's time to stop battling pornography, lust, and temptation alone. We're done sitting on the sidelines, seeing shame win, and hearing from guys that are fighting private wars with no backup. So we decided it's time to fight back. We have our sexual integrity support group, which is a confidential space inside the lion's den for men who are ready to step into the light and pursue real freedom. This isn't just for guys in crisis, by the way. It's for any man who's tired of the cycle, who's tired of living in secret, who's tired of saying this is gonna be the last time. Look, most guys don't need another app or some rules. They need some brothers to come alongside them to say you're not the only one. This doesn't define you. And freedom is possible. So look, inside our group, you're gonna find a confidential, judgment-free forum to engage and ask questions. You'll have honest conversations without commendation. And you'll also have a monthly call with a trusted guide. So look, this isn't just about stopping pornography. It's about becoming a man of integrity, a man aligned, a man who lives in freedom, not secrecy. And you don't have to clean your stuff up first to come. You just have to step in. So our sexual integrity support group is found inside the lion's den. And you can start that today with a 30 day free trial. So if you're ready to stop fighting alone and need that extra support, start your 30 day free trial right now at thelionwithin.us. That's thhelionwithin.us. And step inside the lion's den.