Why Your Spirit Must Lead Your Flesh To Find Peace, with Damien Lapsley: Episode 360

The conversation opens in the wilderness—where comfort ends and real faith begins. Robin and Damien get candid about what it’s like when God empties your cup, asks you to carry your cross, and invites you into a life where prayer isn’t a ritual but a relationship. If you’ve ever wondered why the early steps of faith feel harder before they feel holy, this is the map and the company you’ve been looking for.

We break down a practical rule of life: prayer that’s honest, fasting that quiets cravings, scripture that speaks in real time, and community that carries burdens. Damien shares how “Men of Discipline” pairs fitness with faith to build self-control and align mind, body, and spirit. We talk discernment by fruit, not by appearances; how to guard your eye and ear gates; and why the armor of God is daily gear, not a metaphor you leave on a shelf. Expect hard truth delivered with warmth: not every open door is from God, not every friend is a friend—some are “sinship”—and quick blessings can come with hidden interest.

We also confront counterfeits that mimic light: horoscopes, numerology, crystals, and the urge to “manifest” what patience and obedience would reveal in time. Jesus is not just Savior; He is Lord who leads decisions about work, relationships, and calling. That shift changes language and identity—no more agreeing with labels like anxiety or fear. Instead, we choose fruit that lasts: gentleness, self-control, peace, and joy. When you’re satisfied in Christ, temptation loses leverage. When you’re steady in the word, attacks become opportunities to practice love, quote scripture, and watch darkness flee.

Walk away with clear steps to strengthen your signal: read the Bible daily, fast regularly, pray without ceasing, and build a circle that reflects the fruit you want. If this helped you find clarity or courage, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can discover it. What practice will you start today?

©2022-2026 Soul Healer17:77, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Any copying of this poetry and audio in whole or part is prohibited. *I do not own the rights to the royalty free music*

Have a lovely day and stay blessed

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Guest Introductions
• 1:05 Entering The Wilderness Of Faith
• 3:20 Prayer As Relationship, Not Ritual
• 6:15 Hearing God Through Fasting And The Word
• 10:30 Destiny Helpers And Community Support
• 13:30 Scriptures, Symbols, And Instant Answers
• 17:30 Spirit Over Flesh: Practical Fasting
• 21:50 Distractions, Daily Bread, And Discipline
• 25:20 Reading The Bible With New Eyes
• 29:20 Lordship, Identity, And Guarding Gates
• 33:45 Discernment, Fruit, And False Light
• 38:30 Armor Of God And Daily Warfare
• 43:00 Friendship Or Sinship
• 47:50 Pain, Purpose, And Perseverance
• 51:30 Logic, Patience, And True Fruit
• 56:00 Ministering To The Hurting With Good
• 1:00:20 Signals, Calling, And Consistent Practice
• 1:05:00 Accountability, Repentance, And The Way
• 1:08:30 Temptation And Staying Filled
• 1:11:00 Contact Info And Part Two Tease

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Welcome back, listeners. I'm Robin Black, and this is It's All About Healing Podcast. We have a very special guest again. For any of those who've been listening to my podcast, you guys know Damien Anthony. He is a very good friend of mine. I'm glad to have you back today. We're just going to kind of have a general discussion about our spiritual journey and things that the struggles that we face also along the way on our spiritual journey. So, Damien, go ahead and introduce yourself.

SPEAKER_01: 0:27

All right. Like you said, I'm a special guest. So I feel special. But I'm Damien. I'm actually right now I'm a truck, a logistics owner, operator, and also do uh physical personal training for men of faith. And I started doing it at my church, and it just grew a little bit to where I do it outside of church and people that want to become members, and I help people become spiritually strong and physically strong because it all goes together mind, body, and spirit. So that's what I do.

SPEAKER_00: 0:57

I like that. So tell us a little bit about some of the struggles that you may have had on this journey.

SPEAKER_01: 1:04

Oh man, some of the struggles. Where do I start? I want people to know that walking with God isn't easy. Like, like when Jesus calls Christians, he calls you to carry your cross. And it's going to be tough in the beginning because I mean, just like the Hebrews when Moses came and got them out of Israel and got them away from Pharaoh, he had to free his people. Like their first destination was going into the wilderness. And the wilderness is an uncomfortable environment. You know what I'm saying? So it's like a lot of people when they start walking with God, you're going into the wilderness. You got your faith, and you're you have to be tested and you have to go through the hard parts first, most of the time. So it's like when you go into that uncomfortable position, it'll show you who you really are, and if you're going to become, if you're going to keep going forward, if you're going to carry your cross. And it helps you strengthen your spirit as you continue walking forward. But yeah, in the beginning, it's it's always usually tough. And a lot of people turn back from that. Like a lot of people don't continue moving forward because it is, it's it's not a good place. Like just think if you got taken into the wilderness right now. Like that'd be yeah, them bugs out there. I'm like, hey, I'm gonna I'm gonna just head back. This ain't for me. But yeah, it's it's very tough because you have to shed off the old you, and Jesus will help rebirth you, the new you. So it's like you gotta cancel out all the things that you used to that you've been used to for the plat past 38 to 35 years, however old you are, you've been doing it all your life. So yeah, that's a struggle.

SPEAKER_00: 2:47

That gosh, you definitely ain't lying about that. Because to me, like when you go into the wilderness, it's like to me, it's a lot like being in a gang, except like you don't get jumped in, right? Knowingly, you get jumped in unknowingly.

SPEAKER_01: 3:03

Hey, when God calls you, you gotta answer the phone. Like, what you gonna do? You can't not answer when God calls you to become who you are, step into your spiritual purpose.

SPEAKER_00: 3:14

Yeah, and it's gonna feel like you're getting beat up because everything is gonna, he's he's gonna empty your cup completely almost. That way he empties your cup and he fills you up with him. And I wanted to kind of speak more on prayer because that's what prayer is for. Prayer is for the struggle because I feel a lot of people either they're afraid to go to God because you know the enemy makes you feel like, oh, well, I'm in trouble. I know I shouldn't have been doing this, and because of guilt, I'm gonna be afraid to go to him. But that's the time when he wants us to come to him, and he wants us to come to him with those struggles because that's what prayer is for. Prayer is not for, oh, I hope and pray that the Seahawks win, right? It's things that you're struggling with. So tell tell the listener something about you and your your prayer life.

SPEAKER_01: 4:02

When I first started praying, I didn't know how to pray. I didn't know how to come to God. And what I've learned over the years is that God, He listens to your heart. Like when you pray with your heart, that's when the connection really starts with God. And like how like how you said, I think you mentioned when you become weak or when you when you go to God with prayer, like when you're at your weakest, when you're at the end of your rope, that's when God can begin to work into your life. Because you're you're you're more spiritual acceptance or accepting to to God and following his lead because it's like you you've done everything in your power. But prayer is powerful. It's it's when you're spending time with God, you're building a relationship with God. Because I mean, he wants to talk to you, he wants to build that relationship with you through his son Jesus Christ. So the more you the more you talk to God, the more he'll talk to you, and it'll strengthen your relationship. You can figure out how God talks to you because God doesn't talk to everybody the same way, like he can talk to you in your spirit, in your dreams, through other people, sometimes through numbers. If you want you to read something in the Bible, depending on what it is, it's so many different ways, but you have to figure out how you and God speak to each other. And sometimes that may come through fasting. When you empty out everything in your body and you stop feeding the flesh, like when you when you when your flesh is empty, your spirit can now be filled. You can hear, it's more sensitive to God, to the voice of God, and you can listen to him, and he can he'll respond to you in different ways that you never knew. So, like prayer, you you always and you don't have to always go into like maybe a prayer closet or go on your knee, just talking to God. When you feel the presence of God, or you're thinking about God and what he's done in your life, is like that is time where you can talk to God driving down the street, you just thinking about or thanking him for all the things that he's done and he's brought you through and the blessings that you have, your health, your family, everything. And you can tell him what's on your heart because he knows it's on your heart. But when you're being authentic with him, is when the relationships get it, the relationship with God gets stronger. Oh, yeah, prayer is important.

SPEAKER_03: 6:10

Like the more you do it, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 6:14

Like I didn't know when I was younger.

SPEAKER_00: 6:17

And I I feel that once you start building this intimacy, this relationship with God, it's like you'll not only are you do you become sensitive to the spiritual hearing, the spiritual knowing, the spiritual seeing, it's like you start realizing that he's answering your prayers instantly. Right, right. Right. It's like you don't you sometimes you make this prayer and you're like, I don't know when he's gonna give it, I don't know when he's gonna do it. But sometimes, depending on the situation that you're going through, it really is almost immediate. Right that you're like, hey, I mean you and you just know it's something about it where you just you just know because I know during this this struggle, this road, since you and I have both kind of been through some stuff. We have definitely the common bond, right?

SPEAKER_01: 7:05

But we didn't even go there just yet, but I it was it was rough, it was definitely not as good.

SPEAKER_00: 7:17

It was definitely rough, it was definitely rough, but building that going through that together, it has definitely kind of taken us along this this journey together to kind of help rely on each other. And I think that's also how God helps us is he sends his destiny helper, somebody that's actually gonna help you along the path with God through your struggles. Because a lot of the time I feel that a lot of us on this path are always trying to figure it out ourselves, right? And just as the Bible says, God says, do not lean on your own understanding, but we're all here for all of us, also, because we're all gonna struggle with this walk with God, reading the Bible, all that is very difficult.

SPEAKER_01: 8:02

Yeah, that's what I want to talk about next. When you mention it, I just wrote it down. I'm like, another way God talks to us is through his word. Yeah, and like a lot of people, like it was a quote I seen online. It said, The more I read the Bible, I realize more that people don't read the Bible. It's like when you need to read that word and figure out how God talks, like it's there's many symbols, symbolism, and just different things that he will use, that he will show you in this modern day or in your dreams that relates to the Bible. If you know what the things mean in the Bible, you'll know what it means when you see it in your dream, so you can piece it together, you know what I'm saying? So you can know how God communicates. Like it's is that reading that word is very important, and it can teach you how to pray. Jesus is praying in the Bible, he can teach you what to say, he can teach you the Lord's prayer. So that is the word is powerful. That's one more another way that God can speak to you. And when you said answering prayers instantly, sometimes our prayers are already answered, but we have a veil over our eyes, and we just haven't we haven't seen it, or it doesn't look like how we thought it would look like. Like, for instance, for example, when they heard about Jesus coming, they thought it was gonna be like this king rolling in the town and or coming down from the sky. They thought God was gonna come out through the heavens, but God sent Jesus as a baby. So, like a lot of people didn't believe that that was Jesus, you know what I'm saying? So it's like you don't sometimes your prayers and your your the things God has spoken to you, they're not they're not, they don't come the way that we think. Like God is so wise, like it's so many different ways that He can bless you, and you won't even realize it. It's just amazing.

SPEAKER_00: 9:58

I agree with that, and then I know Damien, I know you have helped me out tremendously so many times, but the number one thing that I remember you telling me is that your spirit has authority over your flesh. And I feel like, you know, with the power of the tongue that everyone talks that speaks about, we forget that. We often forget that the one who lives in us has all the power, right? He has all the power, he has all the answers. So anything that we're struggling with, if it's like that reminder of, hey, my spirit can speak authority over my flesh. But what are some examples that that we can do that with? How do how can we do that?

SPEAKER_01: 10:39

That's a good, that's a good question. It goes back to fasting. Like sometimes you you gotta die to yourself every day and um continue to to empty out the flesh, stop giving it food and pleasure on a regular basis because like the more you feed it, the more it's gonna speak louder and louder and louder. And now you're doing things for for fleshly benefits all your life, and you don't know how to listen to the spirit, and now your spirit is so quiet, it's like you can't hear it. But fasting is very powerful. And once you get to a point to where, like, your body is your flesh is always gonna scream at you for food and pleasure because that's what you've been giving it for so long. But if you quiet it down, once you get to that point, maybe after two or three days, that's what works for me. After two or three days of fasting, like my body, it doesn't speak as loud to me no more. It's like, okay, now you know the the the spirit has authority. And like when you want to feed the spirit, it go back to reading the Bible. So it all comes full circle over and over. You know what I mean? You just gotta like you gotta work the process of prayer, fasting, reading the word, and going to church. You know what I'm saying? So it's like it'll help you become a better disciple for the Lord Christ. Yeah, fasting, fasting is key for me. Like I preach that to everybody. Like you have to practice it, and you can work up to it. You don't have to go straight in doing three days, you can do a 24-hour fast just so you can you can communicate to the flesh that you don't own me, like you have no authority anymore. You know what I'm saying? And you have to practice it. It's a practice, like you can't just do it one time and be like, okay, because people speaking up. But it's like when you look at what's the verse, Matthew, when Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, and it said, then he became hungry, and that's when the tempter started talking to him. That's when the devil started talking to you. You know what I'm saying? The enemy can he can ruin your diet, he can ruin your celibacy, he can ruin a lot of things just by your body feeling some type of way, feeling hunger or or some kind of sexual arousal. So it's like once you continue to continuously take authority over that flesh by fasting, like it'll help like the spirit lead your life more. And that's when you can connect to God easier and like you can hear from God, like what I said earlier. But yeah, that's that's the major way that I can think of to continue to weaken the flesh and and take authority with the spirit.

SPEAKER_00: 13:20

And I agree with that because the flesh is also where distractions, right? Because the distractions are what's used as a weapon to distract us from our purpose, right? And that those those temporary pleasures that you were speaking of. It's like it um it promises the relief, it gives you that relief, you know what I mean, that instant relief almost. And it's temporary, yeah. Yeah, but it robs you blind from focus. So it you completely lose all focus, and then that's when we start to feel distant from God. That's when we start to feel guilt, saying, Oh, well, God's not gonna forgive me. I'm gonna get kicked out the kingdom. You start, you know what I mean? It's always just like this is the end all be all. That's what the enemy in the darkness brings to your mind is what am I gonna do now? Now I have to start completely over. But no, the things that I feel that we need to focus on is the simple fact that God is very strategic. He's already calculated all of our steps, right? He is the beginning and the end, he knows what we're gonna do before we even do it. That's why we have to keep constantly going to him, and it's about that daily bread, right?

SPEAKER_03: 14:28

That right, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00: 14:29

Daily bread, bread it'll mold, it'll mildew. You can't keep you can't have the same prayer for weeks on end. It's something that you have to go to daily, multiple times a day as well.

SPEAKER_01: 14:40

Yeah, and I want to go back to reading the word, yeah. People, I don't think people realize God is living and his word is living. He is the word is living. So when you continuously read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will give you different knowledge and understanding of the word, and it'll help you become closer to God. People think it's just I don't know what they think. Well, if I could think back to before I became saved, I just thought it was a book with a bunch of stories in it. But these are prophets, and that and the word is inspired by God through these people, and Jesus, which is God, is in the Bible, and you can you can learn his story and learn how he was. And the more you read it, the more things are revealed to you. Like it's amazing because I remember the first time I read the Bible, I felt bad. Like, like I'm like, yo, I can't do this. Like, I'm like, yeah, God, it it ain't me. Like, you know, especially the old testament. I'm like, bro, like I'm about to die. Like, it's okay. Like, I'm a complete sinner, and I feel so bad. I didn't want to read it again, but I read it from my perspective, and when you read it from your perspective, your human little brain is like, no, this, this, this, this is horrible. Like, I'm I'm just I'm not worthy. Like, and that's what the enemy wants you to think. And like how you say with distraction, that's a part of his game plan. That's one piece of it, is distraction. He wants you to feel doubt. He wants you to make you feel make you feel like you're not a child of God. And but like once you read the Bible from the Lord's perspective and and from a father's perspe perspective, and what he asks of his children, and what he wants from his children, and the grace that he gives us is way more powerful, and it means more. That's when it starts penetrating your heart. Like, dang, like I've been I've been letting my father down all this time. Like the the least I can do is try, you know what I'm saying? Like, you gotta at least try to do better, and then like learning Jesus, learning about Jesus, like he will renew your mind and your heart, like you will be reborn again. Like, it's so crazy. Like, I like I feel like I'm a completely different person than what I used to be, and it's just amazing. And when I when I mention being a child of God, I gotta say this for the the audience. We all are creations of God, but not everybody is a child of God. Like people don't don't understand that. Like, well, I'm a child of God and he loved me anyway. Yeah, because God is love, he does love his creation. But for you to be a child of God, you have to be a follower of Christ. And if you're gonna be an heir of his kingdom, you have to be, you have to accept Jesus as the Lord of your life and not just your savior. Like a lot of people accept Jesus as the savior, like, well, he died for my sins. But a Lord is somebody that is the head of your life. You you you walk his path, you listen to his instructions, you you ask for his permission before you do the things that what you know you ain't supposed to do sometimes, but you ask God, you pray about it. That's what prayer. We go back to prayer. So that's what prayer comes with. Like, God, am I supposed to? You can ask him, am I supposed to go to this job? Am I supposed to get into this new relationship? Should I even start being a member at this church? Should I start a business? Like, that's when the Lord is the Lord of your life. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's it's something that you have to realize, like you have to be adopted into the kingdom of God. Like, not everybody is there. And I don't, I don't, I don't want people to think, like, it was a saying I saw this ain't that bad. Like, all sin is bad. Like a lot of people, like, well, it's not that bad. God let these people get away with this, and this person get away. No, you need to focus on you and what's in your heart. Like, God is, He wants to see your heart posture towards help. So I want people to realize that like it's it's it's serious business, and you gotta be protective of your spirit, your eye gate, your ear gate. You gotta you gotta be caught cautious about the things that you listen to, the things that you watch, the things that you read, because it can, it can, like you said, it can be a distraction and it can mess with your spirit. So you you have to be protective of your energy and your spirit and your relationship with God. Like it's I seen a quote that said, if God, I forgot what it said. Hold on, you can go ahead. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00: 19:28

No, you're fine. You're you're fine. I just you're you're uh looking for that quote.

SPEAKER_01: 19:32

Yeah, it says, take Jesus everywhere you go. And if you can't take Jesus, don't go. So I'm like, yeah. I love that. We we put ourselves in certain positions or environments where we know it's gonna be a lot of things that God don't like. You know what I'm saying? It's gonna be a lot of sinning going on, and you'd be like, can't you? Sometimes You feel like kind of left out because it's like, okay, I'm a Christian, but I know I'm going to this house party. I know it's gonna be this. You know what I'm saying? Your spirit is already a little disturbed. And if you be like, hey, I feel like I can't talk about the Lord in this environment, maybe you shouldn't go. You know what I'm saying? You need to protect your relationship with the Lord.

SPEAKER_00: 20:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 20:22

So yeah, that was that was I don't know. That was interesting when I heard that it is deep.

SPEAKER_00: 20:27

That was very deep. Like that, that kind of brings you back to that. Um, what was it? That what would Jesus do? Bracelet. Like if you can't Jesus exists, then I promise you. That's it, I'm gonna give one of those. Yeah, right.

unknown: 20:39

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00: 20:41

But I love that because I also feel that that kind of works both ways because it also works with our intuition as well. You know, a lot of times, you know, they'll they'll say, Oh, well, I can't, how do I know when God's talking to me? How do I know this? How do I know that? It's your intuition that tells you because whenever something happens to someone or to you, instantly you God will bring you back that instant replay, and you'll be like, Oh, I know I had that feeling. I had that feeling that something was this guy or this girl, but you went ahead and did it anyway, right? That those are those red flags and that instant that we're building with God that He's giving us. When the moment something doesn't feel right or something doesn't seem right, and you and it's it's internal, like you know, right, yeah, something's not right, it's that small, still voice that tells you, and then once it's ignored, that's when God brings us back that instant replay of I knew it.

SPEAKER_01: 21:38

Right, exactly, and that that's that's your your your discernment, yes. Like once you start reading the word, you will strengthen your discernment and and you will know if it's my spirit, if it's my gut, or if it's the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can tell you, like, hey, you shouldn't go there, or you shouldn't do this, you shouldn't be around this person or or go to this job. So once you start reading in your word, like with me, my discernment has gotten real. I can see it from a mile away now. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? Like in you too, we have talks like you you know when somebody is sent by the enemy or sent by God because the fruits that they produce, you know what I'm saying? Like you know the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If they're not bringing that fruit, it's like you might be from somewhere else.

SPEAKER_00: 22:23

Absolutely. Oh my gosh, that is you know a person by their fruits. It yeah, that is like the truest. Oh my gosh, uh, you just don't understand. That is big, and anyone who brings the spirit of reform, anyone who starts to bring back past memories, past oh yeah, past people in your life. It that is oh my gosh, that is the darkness. That is the darkness bringing back the spirit of reform because they know where God is taking you, right? They know that you're on your way somewhere, so they're gonna try to pull you back as much as they can, and it's gonna look pretty, it's gonna sound pretty. They're gonna be promised you this and that, and all these luxurious things, but don't do it like that exactly because I remember he won't he don't want you to leave, he wants you to stay a sinner, he doesn't want you to be forgiven for your sins.

SPEAKER_01: 23:18

He like even the enemy knows that we're all on the road to redemption, redemption, yeah. And like the your discernment isn't telling between it's not you knowing the between good and evil, it's the difference between knowing what's good and what appears to be good because the enemy he mimics what God has done, like you know what I'm saying, what he's doing. So he tried to like he he he comes in as a as an angel of light, so it's like you got you have to strengthen your discernment, and like people don't like that. Like people people like to live in their deception, like deceived people are the most defensive, like you know like yes, like that's deep made it. Like, oh my gosh, like they're the most defensive, like like people that are deceived by the enemy, they they'll jump on you. They're like, hey, no, you're not oh my goodness. Oh, like hey, because it's like you you want to protect the thing that you know, and and you think like you think your sin is who you are when it's not, you've been deceived by the enemy throughout your life. Like, and once you like people are deceived until they're faced with the truth. Like, for example, somebody in a relationship that is getting cheated on, and their friend brings it to them and be like, Hey, I saw your boyfriend or girlfriend out, they're gonna snap on the person that's bringing the message, like, no, you didn't, da da da. You know what I'm saying? They they're gonna be defensive, like you trying to ruin my relationship, you're trying to break up a happy home, like when they really just trying to help you out. But it's like you want to protect that so much until you're faced with the truth. When they got evidence or or picture proof or a video, and and they can show you the truth, like you your defense is is down, like your wall is down, and the truth. So, what did Jesus say? He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. So when when when Jesus comes to you and shows you the true faith and your true nature, that's when you you can let your your defense down because you're you're no longer deceived once you encounter Jesus. Once you build a relationship with Jesus, it's like, yo, I realize now, like the veil is removed from my eyes. Like it's crazy. So, like, people got to be careful, like with different, like when me and you used we used to talk about horoscopes or or fortune telling and just different things, like numerology. Like, people think that's not from the enemy, but it is, it's is demonic. Like, yeah, Jesus is the only way. Like, I want people to know, like, like anything outside of God or that's not from God is is is is the enemy. Like, you have to realize that in the covenants that people make through fraternity, sororities, freemasonry, all of that, like everything that you've done, like, like just think about worship in a church. Like, what do you think y'all are doing when y'all aligned this? I don't I don't want to go into fraternity because I know this is my first time on your show. I don't want your audience to be mad at me, but like you, you praising and worshiping this frat or this or this sorority, like like you're supposed to give that to God, like you're building a covenant. Sometimes when they go through these hazing rituals, like you're shedding blood, like you're not doing it purposefully. But I'd have heard about guys crawling to destination on our knees and and letting that life force, which the enemy loves, he needs life force to be sacrificed, and you're you're shedding blood and you're you're worshiping and praising this sorority, like you're building a covenant with that thing, whatever it is. So it's like you have to be careful of the things that you're being deceived by, and to to have you have to put on the armor of God, and the way to do that is going back to the scripture. You gotta be in the word. You can hear all this stuff online or on social media about the word or what it says in the Bible, but you have to read for yourself, you have to allow the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and to guide you on the things that you're looking for that that you need to know. There's things in the spiritual realm that are happening that you cannot see. Like some people, some it may be some audience audience members that then had dreams and they didn't know what it meant, but you can remember it vividly because it could have been a message from God, but you you don't know how to discern it or interpret it because you don't you don't have a great relationship with God. So it's like if you're not in the word, you can't get received the messages. It's like having having a cell phone and you trying to reach out and and you ain't got no signal. Like every people do everything in their power, you turn in the charger upside down. And hello, hello, they hear me, you know what I'm saying? Up on the wall, uh, you're gonna reach the phone, you know what I'm saying? But like when God sends you a message, you're not doing all that that extra effort to try to receive the message or speak to God. He's just like, Well, God don't hear me. But when you ain't got no bars on that cell phone, you you're gonna try to fix the issue. So like you gotta you gotta uh fix you laugh, but you gotta fix your connection with the Lord. Like you have to. But like people wrapping around, hello like maybe shaking it, hitting it on stuff. Like I you know you're getting a message, you know you got a call, and people know that that's just like you can say you know you got a calling on your life, but you're not ready to hear it. Like you're not doing everything that you can to hear that call calling that God has put on your life. So it's like you you gotta you gotta strengthen your relationship, your your signal to the Lord. Stop laughing, right?

SPEAKER_00: 29:14

Like for real, man. I apologize. It's just you guys, it's more of like an inside joke because Damien is hilarious. Damien is a bit traumatic at all.

SPEAKER_01: 29:30

Oh my goodness, it's real though, man. Like people not people are like that's how our family used to be when I was younger. We would just go to church on Sunday and think that we got a good relationship with the Lord, or not on Sunday, on Easter, maybe once a year. But like you gotta continuously practice. The Bible says pray without ceasing. So continue, continually talk to God, continue to pray, and and if your body, if you feel it in your spirit to fast, you gotta continue fasting. Robin, stop laughing. We're gonna have to take a commercial break because you I know I'm so sorry.

SPEAKER_00: 30:08

Okay, no, no, but I do because I remember oh echo, stop. So okay, so that was my Alexa thing going off. But um what I like what you helped me with about a month ago when you said that everyone has an assignment, there's an assignment by by the devil or an assignment by God. Everyone sent an assignment. So even though these people who do us wrong, even though you know these people out here who are hurting others, it's still an assignment that they were sent on. So it's it's like we always question why? Why do all these bad things happen? Why are all these horrible things happening in the world? But I think that's the hardest thing is trying to find that understanding. And I feel that the only way to find that understanding is to get with God, have build that relationship with God, and He will bring you to that understanding, right?

SPEAKER_01: 31:04

Right. And with prayers, when you say understanding, I thought about peace. Like some a lot of people are stressed out right now, they're worried, have anxiety. That's the peace is something that you get from Jesus even in chaos. Like your life can be falling apart, but you'll feel this unknowing peace that you never felt before. Even if God doesn't fix the issue, like if he don't put$10,000 in your bank account, like you'll still you'll feel okay because you have faith and you have a relationship with the Lord, you trust him. So it's like when you go into different things about stress and anxiety and all these different unclean spirits that are on you, just having a relationship with Lord with the Lord, he can he can help guide you through that, he can walk with you through it, and and you'll feel better about the situation, even though it hasn't fixed itself yet in the in the physical realm. Sometimes it takes God a little bit longer to to fix any issues that you have going on, and he's working on it. But if you have faith and continue on your path, your your your your road to salvation, uh you're gonna be all right. Like you just gotta have faith in the Lord.

SPEAKER_00: 32:19

Absolutely, I agree. And I really think that, well, one, I definitely want to thank you because I feel that everyone should have someone that they trust that they can speak to, they can be vulnerable with while you're on this on this journey. You can tell your troubles to you. You want to be able to have someone that's on the same path with you that you can speak to to say, hey, what should I do in this situation? Or like you said, the the dreams, the dreams that you vivid that are that you remember vividly are more visions. You know, you want somebody that you can trust that I can say, hey, this is what I saw last night. What do you think? You know, trying to be able to have that fellowship, have that person that can help you understand along the way is key. Because I'm telling you right now, Davey, without you, I would not be here. I have so many questions sometimes. And it's like I definitely feel that I need you. So in this, this this group that you said that you have, right? With your your personal training, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you said that you help men. So talk tell us a little bit more about that journey.

SPEAKER_01: 33:29

It's called men of discipline. And um basically is it's teaching us to have one of the fruits of labor is self-control, or part of the fruit of labor is self-control, and it's learning to have self-control with your diet and become more disciplined in your diet and your work life and your spiritual life, because it all goes together, like I said, with mind, body, and spirit. And they continue to work together. And and once you you strengthen your mind, you know what I'm saying, your body and your spirit, like you be you become more aligned with the Lord. So that's what we do. We pray and we work out together, you know what I'm saying? We help each other, we carry each other through this through this journey and this brotherhood that we've gained through our church. And we just we just try to be more cautious about the things that we put in our bodies, you know what I'm saying? Because that that can distract you, like you said earlier, it can distract you of the things that God has for you. You know what I'm saying? Like once you're you're sinning and practicing gluttony for so often, like it's gonna put you in a different place, and then you're gonna start feeling like that's not close to you. It's like, well, you're not you're not being a good steward of your your temple, like you're called to be. So it's like you you have to follow his teachings and the things that he wants from. So that's what the men, we just we just support each other, you know what I'm saying? Like it's something that we we build that that bond to where we're working out together, we're praying for each other, and we we we check on each other, you know what I'm saying? So it's like I feel like a lot of people, a lot of men need to build that in their community. And when you talked about fellowship, like a lot of that is gonna come through the church because that's that's the the body of the Lord, you know what I'm saying? So it's like like if you start going to church, if you don't have a church home, try to look for one. Try to look for some good guys in your your community or even outside of your community that you can connect with and be on this road with them, you know what I'm saying? So because it's tough, like it's it's hard to do it alone. We're not meant, we're not called to do it alone. Yeah, so yeah, we just hold each other up. That's that's basically it is what we we we help each other stay disciplined.

SPEAKER_00: 35:40

And I and I like that because I remember when you told me not to identify with what we feel is wrong with us, just when you say gluttony, because I know a lot of us who have suffered from depression and things of that nature, maybe you overeat, right? Or because you're depressed, you eat, you know, you use food as emotional support, right? Because I know I definitely used to. So that's kind of what I was doing. I was identifying myself with that, saying, Well, I'm just depressed, I'm just depressed. So then the more you say that, the more you become that. And I remember told me that is you can't identify yourself with a problem because then you become that problem.

SPEAKER_01: 36:19

Exactly. And you're you're in agreement with it. Yes, like a lot of people, they they become in agreement with that spirit of anxiety or or or fear, you know what I'm saying? So, like those are gateways or open doors for the enemy to slide in and start working on things in your life, start destroying your, you know, the enemy comes to lie, kill, and destroy. You know what I'm saying? And like he he that that open door is saying, okay, um, I I have anxiety or I have depression or whatever the case may be. It's like don't try not to agree with it or or try not to identify that as who you are. You you are a child of God, and God wants you to come to him. So it you have to stop. People have to stop doing that. They don't realize what they're doing to themselves. And like that goes back to what you said earlier: the power of the tongue. There's life and death in the tongue, what the scripture says. So it's like the more you speak it, the more it's gonna take over your life. Like you don't realize what you're doing to yourself. Like you got to stop saying that. Identify with the fruits of the labor. Like, I am joyful, I'm I'm peaceful, I'm gentle, kindness, all that good stuff. Like, you know what I'm saying? So people, people like once in that go, you gotta get in the word. Yeah, once you get into that word, that's where hey, it's so much, it's a different kind of liberation that you feel knowing that you're free from from sin. Like a lot of people are in bondage to their sin and they don't realize it. Yeah, and they think that they're free, yeah. But until you try to free yourself from sin, you will realize that you're not free. Yes. Like try to try to stop sinning. I don't want to I don't want to put that on nobody, but it's hard. And you need Jesus to do it, and then you're gonna be like, oh, I really can't stop doing that. Because some people think they can't stop it. I'm like, no, I'll just do it because I like it. Yeah, you think you like it, once you see what it's doing to your spirit and your relationship with the Lord, how it's breaking Jesus' heart every day, yeah. Like you, you you'll start looking at it different. You'll start to hate your sin.

SPEAKER_00: 38:23

And I love what you said about that's the bondage of sin, because sin, when you're in that, it's like you're in your own jail cell. So when you're in it, of course, you're not you're not gonna feel, you're gonna be feeling like, man, this is the life. I'm I'm going out every day, I'm doing this. I got all these men or women or you know what I mean? You you're doing great because everything seems okay, because the enemy doesn't want you to feel that. He wants you to feel good, he wants to, it's that it's like the shadows of trickery. Like they want you to feel tricked, they want you to feel good because they want you to, it's like the perception that everything is going well in your life, and you're thinking, well, look at God, look at what God is doing in my life. I'm up I'm up on top. No, you're not. No, you're not.

unknown: 39:11

Stop.

SPEAKER_00: 39:12

Right, stop.

SPEAKER_01: 39:13

No, you're not. You're silly, right? Oh man. And I'm looking at you like, I don't have my hand in that. Yeah. Like, I don't, I'm not, you think it's God, and and and that, and that could be your lowercase God, because that's that's that's that's what you idolize. So that could be your God. It's not the God, it's not the holy father, but it could be your God. And people be thinking like money, like God, God has blessed you with things that you need. Like, not the things that you want in this world. That's what the enemy is blessing you with, and the enemy is gonna bless you as long as he can. But he he's gonna ask for that payment in the end. Like, people have to know when they look at people that have has have. A lot of material things, like a lot of that may have come from the enemy. He he will elevate you too. Like when he took Jesus up on the temple, he was like, Yo, I'll take you up here and show you. He's like, I'll give you all these kingdoms if you just bow down to me. Like he will elevate you in different ways where you think it's from God, and that's the deception. And that goes back to discernment. The things that we've been talking about, it just keeps popping back up for us to reiterate and the the meaning behind these things and the tactics that the enemy tries to do. And like how you said like it can feel good because that's all you know. We're born sinners, like that's all we know is feeding our flesh and and with pleasure and and and food and different things that we want in this world and material things, but that's that's our comfort zone. But going out in that wilderness is gonna be a different ball game, and you're gonna see what you really made of and see how strong your spirit is. But you use that just like Jesus did when he went out in the wilderness, he used the word of God to defeat the enemy until the enemy fled from him. So being in that word is very important. I can't I can't stress that enough.

SPEAKER_00: 41:09

And I and I definitely agree with that, but I also would like for the listeners to know that without darkness, we would never see the stars, we would never see how beautiful this world is. Like that's we need that darkness. I understand it sucks and it's hard, right? And that darkness grows rapidly. But when you look at, I always like to use space for one. It's just you see how dark it is. It's so dark. But all those billions and billions and billions of stars, we wouldn't be able to see them and look how far away they are from us that we can see it. But without that darkness, we wouldn't see it. So it's just like the darkness helps us, but we also help the darkness. We help penetrate that darkness with our light. But that once we penetrate that darkness with our light, that darkness isn't gonna like that. So you're gonna get that. It's not gonna be fun, it's not gonna be pretty, and it's gonna be hurtful, it's gonna be painful. But that's how you know that you're on this unconventional road. It's a very, very narrow road, right? But it's a road that must be traveled, in my opinion. Like you, you, you have to travel, you have to travel on that road if you want to be saved, right? You it's about our eternal souls and not just the life that we live here on earth, right?

SPEAKER_01: 42:31

What you when you say stepping into that, you you the Lord is preparing you for spiritual warfare. That's what it is, and that's why you go into the wilderness first, just like in in in an army or or in the navy, you gotta go through boot camp, they gotta build you and mold you to becoming that person, that warrior for the Lord's kingdom. You know what I'm saying? So it's like once you get through that part, like that's when the fighting begins. Like, you like there's there's I mean, we've talked about it before, but there's so many attacks on the daily from the enemy, you be like, Golly, like, can't you just leave me alone? Like, like I was having a great day, and it comes out of nowhere. The enemy will use people that are accessible to the kingdom of darkness, just like the Lord will use people that that that live in the light. So it's like you can be in traffic anywhere in your dreams. Like, uh, even if you don't leave the house, the enemy will attack you sometime through your family members. That's another major way that that you're gonna have to go to spiritual battle. Like, it's gonna be some fighting in there just because of who you are. Like, you don't, it doesn't even have to be a conversation. You walking into a room or somebody seeing you post something online, there's a battle right there. They're gonna say something crazy or talk about you, uh, you know what I'm saying? They're gonna have something negative to say, and that's when you have to, okay. Maybe this is God giving me the opportunity to pray for this person.

SPEAKER_03: 43:59

Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 44:00

Um it's time for me to put on my my warrior battle, you know what I'm saying? Like my my warrior equipment, you know what I'm saying, and use the the sword, which which is the word of God, you know what I'm saying, having on the breastplate and the belt and the shoe, you know what I'm saying? Like you you have to become equipped, knowing that it's gonna be a battle every day. So, like people have to get one thing I've learned is to be in a routine of reading the word, and even if even if you can't read it, or like I'm a driver, so like you can listen to it on audible. You can download the Bible app and listen to the word, and you can get different things, or the Holy Spirit will show you different things as you listen to it, or or just saying a little prayer, or they have little scriptures, daily scriptures in the Bible app that you can use just to read every day, then it'll go into prayer and different if you don't know how to pray, you it'll go, it'll teach you how to pray about different things in your life, and and you just have to be ready for it at all times. Even if you like you can go on a shopping spree to the the cashier have an attitude, it's just there's so many ways that the enemy are trying to penetrate and knock you off your game, and it's like you just have to be prepared for it. But like the more that you accept Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to work into your life, your mind, body, spirit, your soul, and and the more you become like Christ, the more you can stand against these enemy forces, and it won't bother you as much. Like it won't phase you like it did like for me for when I was younger. When you know you're 1920, you're ready to fight. Like, okay, like that's time now. I don't like people messing with me. So now it's time to get physical. But like nowadays, like as you grow spiritually, it's like, okay, this person, a lot of these people, they don't, they aren't the people, like if somebody's mean to you, they aren't that mean person, but it's a spirit that's working on them that's being mean to you, treat you to react uh in a certain type of way, or or a spirit that's trying to, like you said, bring you back to your old past ways to where you whatever you used to do back in the streets when you was younger. So it's like it's different spirits that or different spirits that work on these people that the enemy is sending to you. It's like, okay, I know I can get them this way, I know I can bring this ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend or this old friend from the neighborhood to try to get them back into whatever you used to to sin in. Because a lot of these people that you think are your friends, a lot of this is sinship, not friendship. Like a lot of y'all used to be friends or are friends because y'all sin together. Once you start sinning and start walking with the Lord, you're gonna see that your so-called friendship isn't as strong anymore. So, so you gotta that that goes back to discernment. You gotta discern like what do me and this person really have in common? Like, where what are our strong? Are we just do we just go out together and drink poison and get drunk? You know what I'm saying? Like, or or do we smoke together, whatever it is, like this. What kind of person, what are you bringing to my life? Are they bringing the fruits of the Holy Spirit? You know what I'm saying? You have to be able to discern that.

SPEAKER_00: 47:06

Absolutely, man. My goodness, I love that friendship or sinship, like that that was strong because it and it grows rapidly, it's so fast, and we can fall into sin unknowingly because it's sin that we're practicing. So, like you said, the moment that you decide, hey, I don't want to do this anymore, that's when you're gonna start feeling it. And but like you said earlier, it's like you're at war, but you're at war spiritually. But God is training his secret weapons, right? It's like we become the snipers, right? God uses us, right? And it's just like we're nothing without God and his army of angels. Like you have to to to want to you want to conform to that army, don't conform to the darkness of this world, conform to the army of angels with God. That's what we want to conform to, and it's hard. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01: 48:00

Yeah, it is hard. Like one thing my pastor said, one thing my pastor said, he said, people think we're in this life on a cruise ship when it's really a battleship, like people out here having fun and doing this and partying and drinking. It's like we had spiritual war, and that's what it says in the Bible. We're not against we're not at war against flesh and blood, but against spirits, like a spiritual realm.

SPEAKER_03: 48:26

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like like world, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 48:28

It's wild out here, and you once you realize that, and once you start walking with Christ, it it's it's a different world, like it is.

SPEAKER_00: 48:37

But it's it's luxurious, it's beautiful. Like, I don't want anyone to see just because you're gonna go through a lot of painful things, but that pain, it becomes a uh it becomes a part of you. You know, a lot of us we try, we're ashamed of our pain. We try to avoid it, we don't want to talk about it, or we just assume, oh, you won't understand this, you know. But once that pain becomes a part of you, it it makes you who you are, it builds you, it builds whatever has been inside of you that needed to come out. That's what sometimes God has us experience that pain for that specific reason. Because at the end of the day, everything that we go through, as we suffer with him, we reign with him. So everything that we go through is for the glory of him, right? It's like we're gonna come out on top, but you just you gotta get on, you gotta get in the word, right? You can't be in the you can't be in the will of God without being in the word of God, and that's what it is at the end of the day. That's the only way to stay in his will is to stay in the word.

SPEAKER_01: 49:40

Hey, that's deep, man. Yeah, that's that is crazy, and like you okay. Okay, go ahead. One thing about being in the word, like you learn to one thing. I've learned is to not like a lot of men, we're more logical, like we like to lean on our logic, but like sometimes our logic can deceive us. Yeah, like it there are certain things that we think are logical. For for example, being deceived by the enemy by using your logic. If somebody comes and tell you, hey, there's a fire right there, pour some water on it. And you like logically, okay, I'm gonna pour some water on it, it's gonna go out. Not knowing it's a grease fire, and that's one of the worst things you can pour on on the fire is water, you know what I'm saying? Because it's grease and it's gonna burn more. So it's like you can't lean on your own understanding, but you got to lean on on what God is telling you. Allow him to lead the way. And sometimes you got to wait on God. We can we can go into patience too. Like sometimes God's gonna make you wait a little bit, He wants you to be patient so you can know that it's Him because the enemy He's gonna give it to you quick, you're gonna get that quick money, like He'll give you everything you want real quick. But God, He still needs to build you and mold you into that person that's gonna sustain His blessing and not ruin it or have it destroyed or let somebody else destroy it. You have to have to build that person who He has made you to become before you can receive it. So you have to have patience and not have to leave your logic out of it. Because what God, God, He things in the I've I've read things in the Bible that I've read over maybe 20 times, and then I always get something different. Like, ah, that's what God meant. Like, it's it's so crazy to look at these same words and get a different understanding. Like, it is wild. Like, one thing I've read the other day in the Word, it was a passage when Jesus He cursed a fig tree. And I didn't know why he did it. I read it multiple like multiple times. And the the fig tree, I think they were going back to Jerusalem, and he walked past a fig tree and he was hungry. So and the fig tree didn't have any fig on it, it just had leaves, but it looked like it had figs on it, you know what I'm saying? And he cursed it and said it won't bear fruit ever again. And I'm like, why did why did Jesus do that? Like, what was the point of that? And first, the first point is it was a symbolism of Israel and the fruits that they did not produce because they were religious, but they weren't saved. And sometimes, like people in this world, like people that's at the church, some people can become church hurt from people that seem to be Christian or religious, but they're not saved, they're not bearing any fruit, just like the tree. So that deception is what Jesus doesn't like. He don't like you, he don't like for you to fake it till you make it. Like that's why you curse the tree, is like, yo, you're not producing no fruit, but you look like you have fruit because you have these leaves, and fig trees, I think it said when I looked it up, it said that they produced the fig, the fruit, before they to produce the leaves. So, where was the fruit? Like, how do you have all these leaves with no fig? How do you have all this religion and you look like this holy person wearing cross chains and you got Jesus tattooed or whatever it is? You know what I'm saying? You got Jesus attire, and and you're you're not producing any fruit. You rude, you nasty to people, you don't have any kindness, you're not gentle, you're not peaceful, like you you like drama, like you know what I'm saying. You you're perceiving to be a you're deceiving people that you're a Christian, and that's when you can become. I don't want to say you can become cursed by God, but the Lord don't like that. So it's like that that goes back into you can know people by their fruit and not by by by their leaves, I guess you can say, because like it's a lot of deception out here. People will act like they're the holiest people you can you've ever encountered, where they're not they're not doing anything in the Lord's name. You don't have the Holy Spirit with you, you don't have any fruits of the spirit that you're carrying.

SPEAKER_00: 54:00

And I like that also because just like you know, the Bible also says, do not fight evil with evil, but fight evil with good, because our enemies, the ones again, who do us wrong, who are trying to, you know, make us have a bad day, and who are out, you know, to harm us, those are the ones who need to be ministered to. Those are the ones who need the word of God more than more than we do because they're hurting inside, they're broken. It's like there's an entity in them that needs to hear that word of God. They they're not gonna like it, right? They're gonna be very, very upset when you start. But then also it what's it'll save us by preaching them the word of God or just kind of whatever it is, even if you just throw them a Bible scripture, it's like the enemy will flee, right? The enemy won't like that. So, regardless, at the end of the day, you're gonna help them because it's gonna penetrate them, right? It's gonna penetrate that darkness, but then it also bounces back where it's like, hey, now I have this force bill, like you said, the armor of God. Now I have this armor of God around me. So when I start preaching the word of God, or I'm just talking about a scripture or whatever, that if that person does not like that and they're out to harm you, guess what? Now they're gonna flee, they're gonna go and get away from you. So at the end of the day, exactly. That's the easiest way. It's like we we we make it, us as humans, we make the Bible and walking with God so hard when it doesn't have to be. It's like all you gotta do is read it, right? Exactly.

SPEAKER_01: 55:27

You get hey, a page a day might keep the devil away. It might keep the devil away. That's all you gotta do for real. Like what you said about the people that need like that's what Jesus did. He he he ministered to the prostitutes and the and the homeless people, you know what I'm saying? The people that were that needed deliverance and that that did have spirits on them, you know what I'm saying? Like, like, and that's what one of the scriptures said. He was like, You don't, I think it was a parable where he said, You don't take healthy people to see a doctor, you take the sick ones, you know what I'm saying? I'm paraphrasing, but it says something similar to that. Yeah, so it's like you have to help the people in need, and that's as Christians, that's what we're called to do. I think it's Matthew 18, 20. I'm not sure, but it said it he calls us to spread the gospel through the nations, you know what I'm saying? Like it was supposed to spread the word of God, and people, people like you said, they'll get upset with us for talking about Jesus or whatever, or you're giving them a scripture. It's like, bro, this is what I'm called to do, and and like you're getting upset because you feel that conviction in that in your heart, and like that's that's that's what you're supposed to feel. You're supposed to feel the conviction because people don't realize it's a good thing. It shows you that God still has his hand on you. Like, if you meet somebody that doesn't have any conviction or doesn't feel conviction and they can do evil things, that's hey, you work for the kingdom of darkness, right? You feel good about it, like you God ain't hey, God, like hey, you you whenever you're ready. I'm not saying he telling you not to come back, but he like, hey, you got free will, do your thing. But if you're feeling that conviction in your heart, that that's the Holy Spirit working on you to help you lean more on God, you know what I'm saying? So he's guiding you, but don't get mad at a Christian to where they when they're spreading the word and and trying to help you out. We're not looking down on you, we're not talking down on you. It's just something that we're supposed to do because we want you to be saved. That's what Jesus came here to do. As disciples, we do what he does. We came here to save souls, and that's what we're trying to do is save souls and get everything back into the kingdom, call God's children back home to help. Like we just we just light workers, that's what it is.

SPEAKER_00: 57:39

That's it, and just that comes right uh brings me back around to kind of want to reiterate is when you tell those, you know, like you said, in a sense shift, you tell them, hey, yeah, I'm trying to get right with God, or I want to, you know, be celibate, or I want to do this, and then they get mad at you. That's that's again, that's how you know it's manifesting in them like there it is, and then when they want to try to make you feel guilty for wanting to do right, it's like, but I want to do how is me wanting to do right wrong? That's just making you sense, and they make you feel that way, and then you start to doubt and start second-guessing. You're like, wait a minute, this is that enemy. See what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01: 58:18

That's what the enemy wants to manipulate the things from God, like, and that's what he does to a lot of people. He manipulates people's gifts, like people that it's men out here that have a certain type of uh charisma that the enemy has manipulated it to or perverted it for them to use it on women for sexual things or or to gain whatever it is, money, but you're supposed to use that for the kingdom of God to be able to to minister to the people, to the children, to to to God's people. Like you, you you're supposed to attract people to the Lord, not to your bedroom. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. There's so many different gifts that that are manipulated and per perverted by the devil. It's like, yo, you you really gotta be careful out here. But like when you in the word, it's like you said, it's some kind of not protection because you're still gonna have your battles, but it's it's a sense of uh victory, I guess you can say. Like you, you know, because that's what the Lord said, you will have troubles in this world, but I've already a cop or what do you say, I already defeated the world, or I already won that for you. You know what I'm saying? So it's like we already have victory when you're following Christ. Like He He already did that for us, He already paid the price. Just like when I said earlier, like you're gonna have to pay that tab with the enemy. Like, why wouldn't you want something that was already paid for you? Like Jesus already died for you. Like, if somebody's gonna give you something, a brand new car, a house, and they'd be like, okay, so somebody paid for this for you, but you just got a few rules to follow. But it's the other side to where it's like the Enemy is like you can have it right now. You can have everything you want right now. You can just pay on the back end. Maybe 30 years later, we're gonna take that and more because you're gonna take your soul to the hell. Like that's what you don't do. So it's like, why wouldn't you want something that Jesus already paid for? Like, yep.

SPEAKER_00: 1:00:16

And that brings me back to like when people allow you to borrow money, knowing that you don't have it, because they know if hey, if you borrow this money from me, I know I own you, right? Right because you're gonna spend the rest of your life trying to pay it off, and that's what they want, that's what the enemy wants, and that's why it's just like, oh my gosh, it's like going on and on forever about this, but that's why you have to get in the word of God at the end of the day. That's the easy that there's the answer, like you said, he already paid the price, he already paid for, so why not stick with what's already paid for and who already has the answer? Boom, right there. He already has the answer, he's gonna give you the answer. You can't find the answer from man, you can't find the answer out here in this world, but you can definitely find the answer from him, right?

SPEAKER_01: 1:01:06

Yeah, man. It's uh people you gotta to strengthen your discipline, you gotta stop compromising. A lot of people compromise the things that they are supposed to do or or say they're gonna do, or or the person that you are for other people or to receive things in this world. And it was an older lady, she was like 65, 75 years old. I don't know how old she was. But she said she realized when she was, well, now she realized as she's older that you don't lose yourself all at once. You lose, you leak away yourself every compromise. Every time you compromise with yourself, you leak away one compromise at a time, and eventually you don't know who you are anymore. You know what I'm saying? So it's like you gotta stop. And that's that's what the enemy wants. He wants to continue to drag you into sin because that's it's a process. Like people don't realize that there's a hierarchy in the in the kingdom of darkness, and like it starts with the smaller spirits, like anxiety, depression, fear, things like that, things that can penetrate you, and then it goes into the deeper demons that are that are that have names like like Moloch and Baal and and what's the other one? The one I can't think of what is it? It just goes into different demons that that you are allowing to enter your life when you have that door open. And once when you start walking with Christ and and ask God for forgiveness and repentance and and living your life in a change of heart to be reborn again, that's when you start closing the doors of sin and those spirits can't penetrate your life. So people have to understand like once you once you get to a place to where it's just a lot of things happening in your life, back to back, back to it's always something. That's what's saying that people say it's always something, but you've opened this door to allow people in. But like once you walk in with Christ, those doors begin to close, and you you you feel the fruits of the spirit. Like, I want people to understand, like, your life will ultimately get better once you start closing the doors of sin.

SPEAKER_00: 1:03:25

Absolutely, because there's also that free will. A lot of times, whenever you know it's it's so universal that when something bad is happening in our lives, we just say, Ah, not today, Satan, right? We always say that, but we don't take accountability for ourselves. We're the one that's heeded to the evil, so that's why evil I have let it in, right? It's because I'm out here sinning. So therefore, I have to take that accountability, I have to take that responsibility for my own actions. But again, you can do it with God. God knows, okay, you God, I laid before you, this is what I did. Here's my repentance, this is what I did. Right, guide me, God, show me how to get out of this, give me the more determined, show me the way, right? That's why the cross he died on a cross that faces north, south, east, and west, strategically telling us that he is the way. That's the only way, he is the only way that he's gonna give you that direction, right?

SPEAKER_01: 1:04:23

Right, that's hey, that's real, man. Yeah, that's a lot, Robin. I just I just want people what I want them to get from this is to at least give effort into being curious about Jesus Christ, the life that he lived, and getting closer to God. Yeah, and when you become curious, start to read the word and start to ask questions. You can pray about it, you can pray and ask God, like, God, why, why, why was Adam and Eve banished from the garden? Why would why did this happen? Why did the serpent deceive her and tell her that she can eat from the tree? Just different things, and the Holy Spirit will show you those things, like He will give you the knowledge, and that's how you get a better understanding of what the Lord is trying to do with this world and in your life. Like it's I just want people to get to a place to where they they start to strengthen their spirit and start fasting and praying and reading. Just get into that habit.

SPEAKER_00: 1:05:36

And to just kind of take into consideration, because I know I hear a lot of people say, How can I believe in something that I cannot see? Right. But when you really seriously sit and you think about when you get ready to go fly, you want to you want to go on vacation somewhere, you don't see the pilot.

SPEAKER_03: 1:05:54

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00: 1:05:56

You don't see the conductor, right? You don't when you get ready, it's like you don't see you don't when you're on a cruise ship, you don't always see the captain, right? But you're having all this faith and trust that they're gonna get you to your next destination. So why can you not have that same faith and trust and exercise that same trust and the creator when you can't see him? Right, right, and he's the almighty, he's always the ruler over your entire life, the creator of the universe. That's what it's about. It's like it's not about what you can see, it's about the faith and knowing, right? And believing and just taking it to that next level of okay, God, I can't see you. I don't, you know what I mean? But I do know that you're here. That that's that's it. That's right. That's all it is. Get in the word, and that's that's all I want this world to kind of come to is I feel that that's our job. That's what we're supposed to do as his chosen ones, is to shed light on that and to bring people to that and understand that this is amazing. This is a great feeling. It doesn't mean here they go with this Bible, this Jesus. It's like, no, it's really something that you should listen to and and and learn from because, like you said, it's the fruit of it, right? It's gonna fill you up. It's gonna say, okay, now I'm interested. I really kind of want to know more about this. And when they do want to know more about it, Damien, tell us how they can reach you.

SPEAKER_01: 1:07:20

Oh, they can reach me. Okay, before I do that, when you said fill you up, Jesus said man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. Like somebody, let's talk about temptation. That's what I want to talk about because Jesus was being tempted at that time. Yeah, uh temptation cannot manifest on somebody that's fully satisfied. Like when you're satisfied with your relationship with Jesus Christ and you bear the fruits of the spirit and you have faith and everything, you don't have that void of anxiety or fear or whatever it is, and Jesus has has taken all that for you, you're you're fully satisfied with your life, with your career, with your kids, the love that you have, the gifts that God has given you. And that's when temptation cannot penetrate as easily. So it's like when you're feeling tempted about things, or or if you're on that walk, that road to redemption, and you're feeling tempted about certain things, it goes back to getting into the word and and and reading the word of God. So it's like the temptation doesn't have enough room to come in. Like we'll I'll forget what verse it is, but it says when it talks about deliverance. When a when an uh unclean spirit or demon leaves one place or leaves a body or leaves a person, it goes around roaming the earth. And then when it comes back, his home is swept clean and it brings seven more demons with him. But like when you fill that space or that vessel, that temple with the Holy Spirit, that that devil or that demon cannot enter back in. So that's why you gotta stand the word. Like when you stop sinning and you stop walking into temptation or or things that are tempting you, you have to fill it with the Holy Spirit and the word of God to continue to stay strong. And that's that's that's one way you can defeat it because it's tough. And uh, I don't know, when you said something about being full, that's what came to mind is to speak on that. Like when you fill with the Holy Spirit or fill with the word of God, like you you satisfied every day, like and like that goes back to that daily bread that you talk about. It's like, yo, like you need it daily, make it a routine, make it a habit. Like I'm begging you. But people, you can reach out to me at my Instagram handle is at D L A P3, and you can find me at Damien Lapsley on Facebook, D-A-M-I-N. Last name lapsley L-A-P-S-L-E-Y. But yeah, I had a good conversation with you. I appreciate it. Thank you for having me, and thank you for being a good friend. We keep each other spiritually strong and uplifted at weak times. Um, I enjoyed it. I'm coming back soon. We ain't gonna wait another. I think it was it's wouldn't have been like two years or three years. We ain't gonna wait another two, three years. We're just gonna get it done. Like if we feel something in our spirit to speak on, and like, or if the audience has questions in the comments and want us to speak more about it, or or tell our story a little bit more, or get to know us more intimately. Because I I didn't grow up in a in a church, and um, I'm a newer Christian. I would say I'm a babe in Christ and I'm still learning, but you can also always minister to people to get them to your level that you're drawing spiritually, and I want to bring people with me because it's something that I haven't experienced, and it's it was rough at first, but it's been the greatest thing that I've encountered. I feel whole. Like sometimes we look for things to fill a void, and you fill it with money or different jobs, or starting a business, making a bunch of money, buying homes and cars, and you still feel empty. But like once you have a relationship with Christ, like you feel like you you you fulfilled your soul, your spirit, like you feel good, and and you start to walk your purpose. Like he'll put you, he'll set you on the path that you're supposed to walk in this life, and it's fulfilling. So, yeah, that that's part of my my why is why because I wanted to find my purpose in this life. Like, I'm like, God, what do you want me to do? I've done all these things, I've accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish, and he helped me get there. So it's like, I don't know, I got to a point where it's like now I want to I want to work for the kingdom. Like I had to. My spirit was just like all of these things haven't fulfilled me. So I was led to the Lord. Like it was amazing.

SPEAKER_00: 1:11:41

And Damien, I will say that I do want to have you back on because what I just now thought about is one the when you said about the hunger. I I think we need to come back and talk about speak about the bottomless pit, right? Like that.

SPEAKER_01: 1:11:56

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00: 1:11:57

When you're never satisfied, it is just like how the enemy, the darkness, it feeds on the innocent, right? Because it just like it can taste the innocence. It's something that they'll never have, just like forgiveness. That's why it's for us, right? Because you're supposed you're supposed to forgive your enemies because that's the one thing that they'll never be able to receive. The darkness will never be able to receive that. But right, I also want to talk about our path that we were on together, thinking that the tarot cards, the new morality, oh god, how that had used. Oh God. It had us thinking that we were on the path, really listening to God, and we really weren't right. But we're saved, like God knew that we were gonna make that mistake, right? He knew that we were gonna arrive. We have arrived, and that's all it's about is once you finally you're arriving, as long as you arrive there, it's okay that you're on the wrong path. But that's why you come out and you look for these spiritual guides, right? You don't worship us, you don't come up in every single morning looking for us, but right we can help guide you there, right? And and tell you about the wrongs that we've done.

SPEAKER_01: 1:13:02

Exactly. Like, because a lot of a lot of people they want to give thanks and praise to to the universe and different things, like God created this stuff. You're you're you're praising the creation and not the creator, like so. It's like a lot of people, that's how the enemy deceives you. It's like, okay, yeah, he he will allow you to praise or worship anything but the Lord. But that's his that's his game, like his end game is to bring you to him. It's like I didn't bless you with this, I done told you this, I done led you down this path. Now you got to pay your debt. So it's like we we and we we almost went there, but I feel like God knew our hearts and he knew that we was looking for him, like we just didn't know where to go. Like we all were babies and like we like little baby spirits looking for the Lord, but he like, okay, I'll let you roam around and try to find me, but I'm gonna I'm gonna come get you when you're ready. And yeah, uh, yeah, we definitely got to talk about that because that's uh because the devil knows your life. I'm sorry to keep talking, but he knows your life and he will guide you like he is God, like he knows the things that you want or things that's happening, and and you can be deceived so easily because it's like, and that's one thing now I thought is like listening to like listening to like tarot people online, it's like this gotta be from God because they talk about angels, and it's like, okay, like this gotta be God talking through these angels because they know what's happening in my life, they know I'm about to move, they know I'm about to try to apply to this job, but the enemy knows exactly because you saying it, you speaking it, and he knows he he was once in heaven, so he knows the path and the things that God has for you. He just wants to direct you in his direction, you know what I'm saying? He don't want you, he doesn't want you to use your gifts for the kingdom. Like it's man, hey, yeah, we definitely gotta talk about that because that's I'm about to start talking about it now because I don't want people like like you know how people say I did that, so you didn't have to. You know what I'm saying? I want to tell people, like, I already went that way. You ain't gotta go that way, lead them stones alone, leave a numerology alone, like it all makes sense, but it's not for the kingdom of God, right? Absolutely. Like, don't don't don't be distracted, like you said, distracted by what God has for you. Like, hey, I'm ready to, I'm ready to start talking about that. Like, that's yo, because that, oh gosh.

SPEAKER_00: 1:15:26

Part two is coming because I remember I saw a meme where it said it showed pictures of like it said it was like, what did it say? What was I can't remember exactly what it was, but it showed a picture of like crystals, and they were like, This is really gonna save you from the spiritual warfare, or is God it showed like a picture of Jesus. So it was just that was powerful because it makes you think outside of, oh my God, I had no idea.

SPEAKER_03: 1:15:52

Right.

SPEAKER_00: 1:15:53

I was praising and worshiping the this, thinking that this was red. Like you said, what did you say? I wrote it down. Praising the creation instead of the creator. Like that's where I kept getting lost, and I was completely lost in that for what, three years? And then we're finally starting to come out.

SPEAKER_01: 1:16:12

So the enemy will tell you here, he'll talk to you like, well, God created the stones, God created the numbers, the numerology, he created the horoscopes. Like, yeah, God did create the universe, so he must. This is how he talks to me. Like, you think that because the enemy has told you that. Oh, so he's a little crafty, a little sneaky little, but when you run into the truth, God will Jesus will reveal it to you. Like, he'll show you, like, I am the way.

SPEAKER_00: 1:16:39

He he gonna got and that's another thing, right? There is when you start to justify your wrongdoings, that's how you know that's the enemy. Never try to justify, like, well, it's not that bad because right. No, there is no because there's no room for possibility. So if you feel like, well, it's possible that he might forget, no, that that's how you know don't do it. Just don't open that door, don't go down that rabbit hole because it's never ending, and it's just gonna lead you to the darker and darker, darker.

SPEAKER_03: 1:17:10

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01: 1:17:11

Yeah, that's deep.

SPEAKER_00: 1:17:13

But part two is coming, Damien.

SPEAKER_01: 1:17:15

Right, yeah, definitely. Yeah, we got to. Yeah, I'm ready.

SPEAKER_00: 1:17:19

Whenever you're all right, but everything in order for you guys to reach Damien, I will definitely go ahead and put that in the show notes. But other than that, everyone again, I'm Robin Black. This is It's All About Healing Podcast. Thank you again, Damien Lapsley, and everyone's stay blessed.

SPEAKER_02: 1:17:34

Thank you. All right.