The Lion Within Us - Leadership for Christian Men 

551. Exodus 14:14 - Spiritual Kick Off

• Chris Grainger

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Caught between impossible circumstances and crushing responsibility, the Israelites faced a moment that would define their journey. Their response? Panic, blame, and even longing for the slavery they'd just escaped. Sound familiar? As leaders, fathers, and husbands, we often find ourselves in similar spiritual territory—overwhelmed by obligations, exhausted by expectations, and convinced that everything depends on us.

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Chris Grainger:

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, fellas, spiritual kickoff time. Let's get into it, okay? So the scripture of the week this week is in the book of Exodus, chapter 14, and actually verse 14. So there you go, 14, 14. How about that? It says the Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still Now. The NASB says the Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. We're going to unpack that at length today, fellas. Let's just see how we can simplify and apply God's word to our life today. Again, that's what the spiritual kickoff is all about. And if you enjoy the spiritual kickoff episodes we know lots of you guys out there do we do this similar version live Monday through Friday within our Lion Within Us community, and that's completely free. We've opened that up to anyone out there. So if you like the SKOs, you like the message, you find it encouraging, how about you get some of that Monday through Friday, every day of the week? And if you can't make the live feed itself, the video is posted there directly within our platform. So, guys, this is exclusive behind the scenes content that we're giving away because we just want to serve you. So head over to thelinewithinus and start your free daily SKO today.

Chris Grainger:

All right Now, where is the book of Exodus at? We need to first know our Bible. So the book of Exodus at we need to first know our Bible. So the book of Exodus is the second book in the Bible. You get Genesis, then you get to Exodus, so that's pretty easy to find towards the front. And we see this scripture here, right after the drying up of the Red Sea Lord speaking to Moses, and we have all these things that are happening in Moses and we see that the ultimate answer is he will fight for you while you keep silent or while you be still.

Chris Grainger:

And one thing that I've wrestled with in my life is a lie. It's a lie that I often tell myself. It's the lie where I tell myself that I have this, like I got this, bro. I'm telling you that is a lie because it can pull us down versus the peace that comes from God's rest, just resting completely in him. So if you find yourself leading in any capacity I don't know if it's your team maybe you lead in your business. There's lots of business leaders out there, or maybe you're just your leader of your family, which is a huge responsibility. You can easily feel the crushing weight of that responsibility at times you know, you know what I'm talking about To wake up tired and still have to push forward because people are waiting on you, they're depending on you, and maybe you've heard this before.

Chris Grainger:

I hear this from time to time man, how do you do it all all, how do you get all that done? And then you don't even know how to answer that. Right, because it's so crazy. You have no clue how to answer it. Because the truth is, for many of us guys, we we don't know why, because we're just grinding away, bro, which is what we do. We get up, we push, we grind, we carry it a little, we bootstrap it, let's's go, and I'm telling you this I got this mentality is dangerous, because the more we think we just have to pull ourself up, or to push through, or that we can't show weakness, or I got to do this alone, I can't ask for help, I just need to get this done.

Chris Grainger:

The evil one is often laying a trap for us. And I get it, bro. There is value in resilience. So don't misinterpret this message. There is value in grit, but the mindset we're talking about here kind of can morph into something very dangerous, and that dangerous mindset is spiritual isolation.

Chris Grainger:

And then you get burned out. And what you're trying to do when this is happening? We try to disguise it as strength. And I'm telling you, bro, burnout is not a badge, it's not. And the stats on burnout are absolutely staggering If you just look at it out there leadership fatigue people just become emotionally numb you know what I'm talking about or mentally exhausted Heck, I've been there. Quite frankly, I'm there a lot with the lion right now because we're building so many things and too often we try to medicate it with stuff like caffeine right, I'm not a caffeine drinker, but I know a lot of you guys are or we just push through longer hours or we just basically distract ourselves, you know, just trying to numb our minds from what's going on around us. But inside there's this screaming voice and that voice is yelling. I can't keep up. Does that resonate?

Chris Grainger:

Now, we wouldn't say that out loud quite often, but I'll tell you what in our hearts, we believe that it all depends on us way too often, and that's a mistake. We think that if we stop moving and start producing, everything's going to fall apart. And at that root, what I've come to recognize when that's happening and I'm feeling that way in my life really what's happening, what I'm displaying is that I don't trust God. That's difficult to admit, but it's necessary if we're going to be able to move forward. Because Exodus 14, 14 is showing us that stillness is a strength, because it tells us, right here, we just have to be still, we just have to be quiet. He's going to fight for us. Think about it.

Chris Grainger:

The Israelites right there were terrified because they were caught between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea. They were panicking. Who wouldn't be if people were chasing to kill you? Then it tells me who had Moses? Actually they blamed Moses. Rather, they were pointing a finger at him bro, it's your fault, it's your fault. They were actually wanting to go back to slavery. They wanted to go back to slavery versus to face what was ahead. But God wasn't asking them in this moment to fight. He wasn't even asking them to run. He was asking them to trust. Be still, that's what it says. Just be still. That wasn't passivity, that was putting faith into action. That wasn't being weak, it was obeying and it wasn't quitting. Okay, hear me there. It was yielding. Yielding to him as the one who could deliver them.

Chris Grainger:

And sometimes, as leaders, guys, we just have to face it. We assume way too often that if we're not hustling and it's not wide open that we're failing. But consider this what if, instead, just maybe, god's current assignment for you isn't to do more, but to be still? I'm not saying forever and I'm definitely not calling you to be lazy, so do not hear that but that holy stillness just says you know what, god, I trust you with this. I surrender the outcome to you. I know you're fighting the battles that I can't even see, and I'm just going to give it up, because sometimes the boldest decisions that we can make as leaders isn't some big strategic decision or a big motivational speech or rah-rah speech. Right, maybe the boldest decision that we can make is to drop to our knees in prayer and be silent, because in that moment you know what we're doing. Think about this In that moment, you're letting God be God. How awesome is that? So maybe just reflect on this, fellas.

Chris Grainger:

If you're listening to this right now and maybe you feel like you're running on empty, ask yourself what am I carrying right now that I haven't laid before God? Or what lie are you telling yourself right now around I got this and you really you ain't got this, bro? Or have you made the mistake? And this is man. I've made this mistake.

Chris Grainger:

A lot between noise and motion Versus recognizing what my purpose and my obedience should be, because fighting doesn't always mean, you know, we're going to throw blows, but it's not. That's not. It Sometimes that fighting requires faith and we have to remember that the Lord is fighting for us. He knows that you're tired, but he knows that you're tired. He knows that you're under pressure. So much pressure out there. No-transcript, it's 180 from what the world's going to tell you.

Chris Grainger:

But you're not listening to the lion for the world advice. You're listening to the lion because we're diving into God's word and we're seeing how we can apply it to our life. That's leadership too. So the question you really need to think about right now pause, what are you carrying that you haven't laid before God? And then add on that question what are you going to do about it? Because you can make today the pivotal moment in your life where you lay down that burden and you completely just give it to God, and then you feel the peace that passes. All understanding flow over you because you've put your trust in where it matters most.

Chris Grainger:

And I know me for the lion. That means taking the foot off the gas, pumping the brakes and, in many ways, letting him take the steering wheel and listening and then being obedient to where he's calling. And if that encourages you, I encourage you to just take verses like this Exodus 14, 14. The Lord will fight for you, he will Be still and listen. Now, if you listen to the line, you know, each and every week we take the opportunity to share the greatest news that I can possibly share with you Nothing that we have built or created or do within the line, nothing comes even close to this news, and that's the news that salvation is awaiting for all of us. Because I am not naive enough to think about whoever listens to the line within us is always they're all believers. I would hope they would be. I'm sure a high percentage is, but not all of you are. Know that.

Chris Grainger:

So if you've never had that moment where you surrender your life to the Lord, to the Lord, to the Christ, hey, you're here for a reason and I don't know why. I have no idea on why ways of the Holy Spirit and how God moves Okay, that's beyond my pay grade. I just completely surrendered that all to Him. But I do know that when God made us, he made us in His perfect image and it was a beautiful design, because how he formed adam just shows directly to me that relationship that he had, he desires, with us, because he spoke everything else you know, speaking into existence the heavens, the stars, the, the earth, the, all the animals, the plants, all that stuff. He speaks, speak, speak. But when it came to man it's just super interesting. When it came to the first man, he formed him with his hands, that personal touch, that personal relationship. And when Adam set up, he was face to face with his creator. And how awesome must that have been for Adam to open his eyes for the first time. And there's, god Made his image, and there's God Made in his image, and things were just great, absolutely great in the garden For, like you know, two pages. And then things kind of turned south Because sin entered, you know, and sin entered the world and that created this divide between a holy and righteous God and us, and the issue is we try to close this gap between God and us by doing good stuff, and I guess I want you to do good stuff, so don't misinterpret that.

Chris Grainger:

I want you to go out there and help little old ladies cross the street. I want you to be a good, generous giver and love on others as much as you possibly can, generous giver and love on others as much as you possibly can. But I also want us to recognize that none of those items that we can do ourselves are enough to earn our salvation, because quite often we we compare ourselves to the wrong model. We're comparing ourselves to people in jail or prison or done horrific type of crimes, versus comparing ourselves to a holy, righteous God. Because you know, I can compare myself to to someone in prison and feel pretty doggone, good, like I haven't done those types of crimes, but when I compare myself to a holy and righteous God, it's like, oh man, I fall short there big time.

Chris Grainger:

But the good part is, we all do. There's not a single person that doesn't fall short of the glory of God. So we recognize that we fall short. There's nothing we can do. Therefore, I can't be coached up. Therefore, what do I do then? Well, I don't need a coach, I need a savior, I need someone to step in and do for me what I can't do for myself, and that is Christ. That's Jesus. And that is Christ. That's Jesus who left on a rescue mission from heaven for you and for me, for the entire world.

Chris Grainger:

Was born of a virgin, fulfilled that prophecy, all the other prophecies as well, did the teachings, did the miracles, raised people from the dead, healed people, turned water to wine. Unbelievable, actually, john says. If I were to write everything that Jesus did, there wouldn't even be enough books to contain it. This is Jesus. This is who we serve. And then guess what? He willingly went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. Because we can't pay it for ourself, because the penalty for sin is death. His perfect blood and that's what Jesus did for us Didn't deserve any of it, no, but chose to do it instead and went to the cross and he died. He didn't pass out, he didn't faint, he didn't go to sleep, he died on the cross. Okay, and they took him. They laid him in a tomb. But we're not worshiping a dead guy who's still in a tomb. We're not dressed like we're going to a funeral every Sunday.

Chris Grainger:

If you go to church, it doesn't make any sense. Why? Because the tomb is empty. Because three days later Jesus rose. And that's the fundamental difference between what we believe as Christians and the rest of the world. We believe Jesus is alive. He's not still on the ground, like all other religions and their leaders, they are still on the ground. Jesus is the King of kings, lord of lords. There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. He is it.

Chris Grainger:

Then he walked around. After he rose. He showed himself multiple times two hundreds. Then he walked around. After he rose. He showed himself multiple times, two hundreds. Then he ascended to heaven, to the right hand of the Father. It says no one comes to him except through Christ. He is the way and the truth and the life. That's it.

Chris Grainger:

Fellas Oprah's wrong. If you have a Sunday school teacher whos you anything other than that Jesus is the path to salvation. They're wrong. The only way it's surrender your life to Jesus, and it starts with just a mission admitting that you're a sinner in need of a Savior and recognizing that he is the Son of God and then fully confessing Him as Lord of your life. And I'm not talking about Lord over Sunday morning for an hour and a half. I'm talking about Lord of your life Monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday, every day, every hour, every Wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday, every day, every hour, every minute, everywhere he is Lord.

Chris Grainger:

The invitation is waiting. The free gift of salvation is available to anyone who accepts it and who confesses him as Lord and Savior in beliefs. And if you've never done that in your life and you're on the fence man, I'm just encouraging you, I really encourage you to take this step. You're here, you're hearing my voice, the Lord is knocking on your heart. I pray you let him in.

Chris Grainger:

So, father, I just for that listener out there who maybe they've been going through a challenging season, lord, who maybe they've been going through a challenging season, lord, and the scripture right here recognizes that you're fighting for us while we're still really resonates Maybe they're tired of fighting God, tired of fighting alone. They recognize they need to turn their life to you and just surrender. So I pray you hear their prayer, pray you give them just that peace that only comes through their relationship with you. And I just pray, god, that you put people in their life right now that will walk alongside them as they make this most crucial decision that they'll ever make, and it's in your name we pray Amen, alright, so look, if you just surrendered your life to the Lord, jesus Christ touchdown, let's go Send me an email I want to send you.

Chris Grainger:

Just surrender your life to the Lord, to the Christ touchdown, let's go. Send me an email. I want to send you a bunch of free resources. We have a, you know, several PDFs and things like that I'd like just to give to you to get you started on your, your, your, discipleship journey, if you will. So, chris, at the lion with N dot U S, go ahead and just shoot that email over. I'd love to hear from you, love to send it back, send you these resources and also just give you a virtual high five and a fist pump and just like let's go, let's get into it. So definitely would love to hear from you. You can head over as well to the line withinus. Again, we do the daily spiritual kickoff every day in our line within us community. So head over there and start that now, or I'd also encourage you join our community. So head over there and start that now, or I'd also encourage you join our community. We've made the barrier to entry so easy.

Chris Grainger:

We have events pretty much like five days a week within the Lion. We have something happening all the time. That's where you can also connect with what we're doing from our leadership masterminds. That's really the ultimate area that we try to serve men with. But if you're looking for a fun way just to lean in, to have some fellowship and just to support the lion within us, if you find value out of what we're doing each and every week and you know what, this has been something that you look forward to. It's a great way just to support what we're building. And we need your support, we need your help. We have big goals. We have lots of things that we feel like God's putting on our heart to go and to serve with and, uh, we could definitely use your support there. So the lion withinus is where you find all those resources.

Chris Grainger:

And finally, again, check us out on on you YouTube, uh, but probably one of the biggest areas where we're spending the most time is in the Bible app from Eversion. So highly encourage you to download the Bible app. We have tons and tons and tons of Bible studies and reading plans there on the Bible app. We'd love for you to check that out, to hopefully be encouraged by them. Some of those plans are just unbelievable. The feedback we get from them and it's all God. It's all God.

Chris Grainger:

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, but I know he is he. He's given me the words and and they're serving, they're, they're encouraging, they're uplifting and you may enjoy it. So the line within that US slash Bible if you want to learn more about that, that's where you'll find it. Ok, all right, guys, look, we'll have a great guest on Wednesday. Look forward for you guys to hear his message and spending that time with him. If there's anything we can do to serve you, please reach out. Give us a rating and review. That would help big time. And again, the lion withinus is how you connect with us and all the ways that we serve you and help you be the leader that God intends you to be. So have a great day, get after it and just remember to keep unleashing the lion with it. I've got something big to share.

Chris Grainger:

We're making a major shift because we know the battle was real and it's time more men had access to the support they need.

Chris Grainger:

For too long, guys have been trying to carry the weight alone, pressure at work, tension at home, wounds from the past and a world that demands strength but offers no place to rest. We see it, we've lived it, and that's exactly why we built our community. It's a stronghold, a place where warriors can find rest, truth and a band of brothers standing beside them. And starting now, we're making it easier than ever to step in. We've lowered the barrier to just $15.99 a month. That means, for less than the cost of a drive-thru lunch, you can join a brotherhood that's centered on Christ and built for growth. Inside you'll find access to our daily spiritual kickoffs every Monday through Friday our Lion Lunches, our Bible Studies, our Friday Forge Gatherings all that and so much more. Every man needs a stronghold and you don't have to fight alone. If you've been waiting for the right time to jump in, this is it. Go to thelionwithinus and join the community and see for yourself what happens when iron truly sharpens iron.

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Chris Grainger

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