Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign welcome, everyone, to the bonus segment, bonus episode here called Jonathan's Leftovers, the first one for season five. And we're talking on our main topic, which was understanding the enemy's culture. We're going to give you a little bit extra. That's what Jonathan's Leftover is all about. You can find Jonathan's Leftovers this bonus segment on Wednesdays, same platforms that you're enjoying, Jonathan's project, the main episode. So Spotify, Apple, et cetera, you can find it there. And again, if you ever want to talk to us, you're seeking prayer, you have questions, concerns, please reach out to us at the Jonathan Project podcastmail.com Again, the Jonathan Project podcastmail.com so, Jason, I know you had a little bit that we couldn't provide in the main segment that you want to give the folks. So take it away and I'll join you.
[00:01:00] Speaker B: Well, one of the biggest fears I was thinking about is what's the fear when things don't work out? Right? Things aren't going to work out.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:01:08] Speaker B: And that's a big one. And yes, sir, when I, when I backed out of looking at the temptation of Jesus's temptation when he was in the wilderness, it was, okay, well, things not working out, you know, part of what was going through my head is Satan's like, hey, let's just look at this. You know, you haven't been fed. Maybe we're headed down the road. It's not going to work out. And he says, okay, look at the, you know, the different kingdoms I'll give you, let's make it work out a different way. And then he's like, hey, you know what? You need to be worshiped. Go ahead and throw yourself down and the angels will swoop in and pick you up because it's written you shall not even dash your foot. Well, as he's kind of doing this, Satan also puts little things in our mind that says, hey, this may not work out. This may be where it ends. You may be headed into a phase that doesn't work out like you see fit. And that's where, you know, when Jesus says, look, you don't live by bread alone. You live by every word of God. And the Bible says, God says, trust, you know, to trust in him. But I also looked at another time, right? And I looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, say that three times real fast. And they are, you know, it's in Daniel 3 for people that don't, don't, you know, that want to Follow along. But in there, it's about the fiery furnace in Nebuchadnezzar. He looks and he basically tells them that, hey, if you don't worship this idol that I set up, when the trumpet sounds, it's going to go bad. Like, I am going to throw you in the furnace. And it literally says here, I got the new living translation. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied, oh, Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves for you. If we're thrown into the blazing furnace, to God, whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, your majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up. I love. And I concentrated on that phrase, but if not in the King James version, But if not, and it's verse number 18, God has the ability to save them in the fiery furnace. Whatever's going on in our life, God has the ability to stop it. He really does. Sure, he stopped storms. He can do whatever he wants to do. Right? But I love the thought that they say, either way, we're delivered from your hand. But if not, sometimes things don't always work out right. Like, it's. It may not. But they stood fast.
[00:03:39] Speaker A: Yes, sir.
[00:03:40] Speaker B: They said, if not, we're still not going to do it. We're still going to stick with the word. When I thought about Satan's strategy, sometimes you just have to dig your heels in and go, I'm still. God is still worthy. Right? Like, Job didn't know the end was coming and saying, hey, it's going to come back sevenfold. He was right where he was, and a lot of people are right.
[00:04:02] Speaker A: No, you're right, Jason.
[00:04:04] Speaker B: So that was. Go ahead.
[00:04:06] Speaker A: No, no, I. I was just gonna. I. I think you had, you know, a couple good, solid points there. That. And I love that story. Shatrak and Meshach and Abednego. So that's two. We're almost number three. But I'm saying hell's race. But really, you know, that's one of the hardest things, and I think that's where Satan really has his strategies at his best, is when we get the know of life. We get those challenges when things go sideways or, you know, even worse. One of the greatest emotional states that we can be in as human beings, and I see this all the time in life, is when we fall into uncertainty that challenges people in a way that it's really hard to describe when you're in a state of uncertainty. Satan is. He's like, oh, man, this is perfect. You got your head down, drinking water, and I'm about to strike. Like I talked in the main episode, like the Discovery Channel thing. I was about to grab their neck. Because you're so focused, just like the animal and getting that drink. You're so focused on that problem that it's hard to see how the Lord one has moved in the past and got you through things. Or to see maybe the potential light or to see the goodness that's happened. Like, hey, I'm taking in, like, let's think about the antelope as God. Is it like you're taking in the water, you're getting goodness, but you're so focused on quenching that thirst. If you were so focused on fixing that problem that you don't see this attack coming. You don't see what's with what's on, you know, coming down the pipe. You don't have the head on the swivel. So, you know, I think that was a good point that you brought up. And I think the other thing too is, is how do you get to the point. And we talked about this in the main episode of being able to weather like a shatrak, Meshach and Abednego, where they basically their faith, them saying, like, even if this doesn't work out, And I think about Job where he says, even though you slay me, I will still worship. And at that point, Satan's God, like, you know, I've done it. What can I do? You know? And he realizes probably in that mode and Satan does. I'm defeated because I said that this guy would cave at this, this, and this. And he's saying, even though, Lord, you slay me, I will still worship you. And Shyrak, even though this might not work out, I'm still going to be standing here. And God, that is. There's a. You see it in scripture. In both cases, he shows up in that moment. He's like, I. It brings out him in those moments, and that's where we gotta be. You gotta be able to stand tall. And you can't only do that for us. I really believe when you have a Jonathan in your life, when you have someone else you can lean on. I think about Moses when the Israelites were. Were fighting. This is an older man and he had to have two people hold his hands up to carry the date. Guys, let me tell you, you cannot do this alone. Life is a team sport. And there's gonna be days when the home tore out the frame.
[00:06:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:06:54] Speaker A: If you don't have someone to help hold that frame up, you're going to be in trouble. Go ahead, Jason.
[00:06:58] Speaker B: Yeah, but you know, and then later in that story, it says when they come out, right? It says, you know, Nebuchadnezzar looked in there and there was four. It was four guys. And one of those was Price. And they come out and it says, hey, man, their hair wasn't singed or clothes, you know, and earlier it backs up and it says they were loose walking around. They had been bound within their loop. And you know, when you come out the other side, you're a lot more free. Right. I think what you said about this being a team sport and you know, and talk about, I'm just going to stay here, I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm digging in and this is the hill that I'll die on. I'm just going to continue to worship Christ. Just going to continue to follow Christ's word. That's a big deal. I think about. And there's a lot of guys out there who are combat veterans, right. And without a doubt have endured. And not just them, but a lot of people have endured hardships. The friend who stands beside you in that hardship, think about that. Think about how close you guys are. So how do you, as you face this, how do you know, how do you continue to anchor in? Well, just like anything, you keep a prayer journal and you go, wait a second, God answered these prayers.
When we talk about giving a testimony, you know, they used to give testimony.
[00:08:12] Speaker A: Yep, yep.
[00:08:14] Speaker B: When I was a kid, you go to church, it's like anybody testimony. I thought it just meant about the times that you were, you just told about how you come to know Christ. But in reality, a testimony is everything. It really is. Hey, I prayed for, you know, I always pray when my, my daughter goes back to college. We pray for say passage we, you know, we always talk about here in our house, you know, as we go our separate ways, the next day bring us closer back together and we do. Well, that's an everyday answered prayer. I'm very thankful for that somebody sick or things of those things. Right. Like I got a thankful column that I keep up with and that helps build that faith. But even when it exceeds it, just anchor in, right? Just keep driving that anchor in. And that's what your buddy. They're there too, right?
[00:09:02] Speaker A: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
[00:09:03] Speaker B: So that's.
[00:09:04] Speaker A: I love it. I love that extra helping that you gave us there, Jason, and. And I appreciate that. And folks, that's Jonathan's leftovers. That's what it's all about, is giving you a little bit of something extra practical kind of thinking. You know, Jason's wonderful comments on the prayer journal. Just remembering the goodness of God. It helps you be grateful and really helps you be obedient, which destroys all those attacks against us from Satan. You see that in those great stories we highlight here in Satan with Job and Moses and a couple other people. So if you enjoy Jonathan's Leftovers, please go back, listen to the main episode, which came out yesterday, Tuesday. This is today Wednesday when you're hearing this. So please go back and listen to that. You can find it again at your favorite places. That could be Apple, that could be Spotify, iHeartRadio, you name it. You can find Jonathan's leftover again. If you want us to come out, speak to you, you have an engagement coming up. You have a men's event. Please reach out to us at the Jonathan Project podcast, gmail.com. again, the Jonathan Project podcast, gmail.com. jason, thanks again for your time, effort and your heart, man. And I'll talk to you again soon.
[00:10:09] Speaker B: See you, buddy.