The Enemy Doesn’t Care How He Hooks You - Edwin Martin, Pastor Joby Martin & Denny Thompson

Pastor Joby Martin and Denny Thompson sit down with Edwin Martin on this week’s episode of Built 4 More.At 20 years old, Edwin was hiding a four year gambling addiction that nearly cost him his life. He was borrowing money he couldn’t repay, carrying debts no one knew about, and placing bets from the church pew while claiming to follow Jesus.It ended with Edwin alone on his bathroom floor, ready to take his own life. He prayed one desperate prayer: “God, if You are real, reveal Yourself.” Ten seconds later, his best friend unexpectedly texted him three words: “I love you.” That text interrupted Edwin’s darkest moment, and the friend who sent it would eventually lead him to Christ.Five years later, Edwin is an endurance athlete using every mile to point people toward hope. He recently ran 133.2 miles on a treadmill for 24 hours straight at a 10:49 minute per mile pace to raise money for suicide prevention. Months earlier, he ran across the entire state of South Carolina to support families battling cancer.Joby, Denny, and Edwin talk about the gambling epidemic hiding in plain sight, how sports betting is being engineered to keep people hooked, the difference between Jesus plus something and Jesus alone, why the enemy doesn’t care how he hooks you, and what can happen when you obey a nudge from God. They also discuss fitness without fulfillment, stewarding your body as an act of worship, and The Ship, which is Edwin’s mission to mentor fatherless boys.If you have ever hidden a struggle behind a smile or wondered whether your story can still be redeemed, this conversation is for you.Follow Edwin: https://www.instagram.com/ironsned/👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode of Built 4 More.🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/built-4-more/id1797411058🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00qd9DnMZJCGPUQbcNJmH1?si=d683e01fdefb4329FOLLOW BUILT 4 MORE:🌐 Website: https://built4morepod.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/built4morepod/👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/built4morepod🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@built4morepod🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@built4morepodChapters:00:00 Meet Edwin Martin00:24 Running 133 Miles in 24 Hours02:08 Running Across South Carolina02:55 The Transformation Photo06:05 Why Edwin Runs for Suicide Prevention06:23 The Gambling Addiction Nobody Knew About06:53 The Text That Saved His Life07:45 Sports Betting’s Hidden Cost08:54 How to Know When You Have a Problem10:27 You Can Bet on Anything Now12:49 Is Jesus Really Enough?13:08 The Enemy Doesn’t Care How He Hooks You14:43 Why Monday Night Football Exists17:07 They’re Engineering Your Brain18:56 The Friend Who Led Edwin to Christ21:34 Why He Walked Away From the Navy SEALs22:16 The Text That Changed His Path23:07 When God Tells You to Text Someone24:55 The Hardest Text Joby Ever Sent27:33 Three Phone Calls That Saved Three Lives31:11 A Message for Anyone in a Dark Place32:11 The Messages That Keep Coming33:24 The Biggest Struggles Facing His Generation35:58 Fitness Without Fulfillment37:00 Running Is Just the Vehicle38:04 The Greyhound Chasing a Fake Rabbit40:48 The Antidote Nobody Wants to Hear45:04 Can Working Out Glorify God?47:26 Work Is Worship48:06 Joby’s 30-Pound Comeback51:19 Love God With All Your Strength54:53 Seized by a Greater Affection59:35 You Only Have One Life1:01:04 Jesus Plus Something Isn’t Jesus1:01:44 The Ship: Mentoring Fatherless Boys1:03:41 Who Will Pick Up Your Mat?1:10:18 No More Casual Christianity1:12:54 Your Story Isn’t Over1:15:10 Project Savior Outdoors#Built4More #EdwinMartin #ChristianPodcast