Skyscraper Faith with Jon Petts

When the enemy fails to bring you down from the outside, the next tactic is often an inside job. In this episode, we explore the subtle but damaging nature of cultural drift and spiritual defilement. Drawing on the story of Balaam in the book of Numbers, we examine how gradual compromise can quietly dilute our values and lead us off course.We look closely at three key lessons from Balaam's errors, highlighting the vital differences between spiritual gifts and genuine fruit, submission versus manipulation in prayer, and the dangers of a mercenary mindset.To equip you practically, the episode outlines four distinct counterplays to protect your life, marriage, and work from cultural drift:Audit your counsel: Carefully evaluate who is influencing your mindset and decisions.Identify your Peor moments: Anticipate your areas of weakness before you are tested.Seek His face, not His permission: Move beyond simply asking for a rubber stamp on your own plans.Define your non-negotiables: Establish clear, personal boundaries, such as maintaining a true Sabbath and keeping your word.For more, visit jonpetts.com.

Division is rarely an overnight explosion. It is a process of separation—a slow, clinical pulling apart of individual components. In this episode, we expose the enemy's most structural attack: The Fracture of Division.Just like a single acorn wedged into ice can cause an entire tectonic plate to shift, one misinterpreted gesture or private moan in a corridor can cause a continental shift in your church, family, or business. If the devil cannot get us to despair, he will try to get us to disagree.In Episode 5 of The Devil's Playbook, you will discover:Why a unified body of believers is a terrifying army from the enemy's perspective.How to identify if your team is arguing over the ultimate mission or patently secondary minutiae.Jesus's three-step "Standard Operating Procedure" (SOP) for conflict resolution found in Matthew 18.The power of the "Private Pivot" and why a loving conversation solves 90% of divisions before they start.How to spot the "Smooth Talker" who uses confidentiality as a weapon to spread backbiting.The vital difference between being a "Wedge-Driver" and a "Burden-Carrier".The Double-Win for the DevilWhen we divide, the enemy successfully splits our army, limiting the damage we can do to his kingdom. It also deters seekers from joining us, because no one wants to join a family that fights more than the world does. It is time to choose to be the ones who refuse to let the acorn of division shift the ground beneath our feet.https://www.jonpetts.com/subscribe

Have you ever hit a massive goal, experienced a major spiritual victory, or finished a huge project, only to be hit by an overwhelming wave of exhaustion and low spirits immediately after?In this episode, we are diving into Chapter 4 of my upcoming book to tackle a heavy but necessary topic: despondency. Defined simply as a loss of hope or courage, despondency is a thick chapter in the enemy’s playbook. It is the deep, sticky quagmire John Bunyan warned about in Pilgrim’s Progress—one that pulls us down faster the harder we fight in our own strength.We look at the life of Elijah, who ran for his life immediately after his greatest victory on Mount Carmel, to understand the "desolation effect" and the silent setup of modern, ambient anxiety.In this episode, we discuss:The psychological and spiritual reality of the post-achievement slump.The 3 Mistakes We Make in the Swamp: The flight into isolation, the comparison trap, and trying to find God only in the past.How God meets our physical needs before addressing our emotional state.The transition from the earthquake, wind, and fire to the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit.The Counter-Playbook: Practical steps to refuse isolation, accept help, and return to your God-given purpose.If you are feeling empty, burnt out, or stuck in the mire today, this episode is a reminder that restoration is always the plan. God is not finished with you yet.Resources Mentioned:Join the Weekly Briefing for book updates and insights: jonpetts.com/subscribePilgrim’s Progress by John BunyanGet Your Life Back / Resilient by John Eldredge

Discover why 50% of Christians experience prolonged doubt and how to overcome it. In Part 3 of The Devil's Playbook, we explore the intellectual and relational attacks that lead to executive and spiritual burnout.📥 Read the full article and find more leadership resources here: https://jonpetts.com/navigating-doubt/🎥 Watch Part 1 (The Devil's Playbook): https://youtu.be/eUKW2pqpwIc🎥 Watch Part 2 (Overcoming Spiritual Distraction): https://youtu.be/c445bktoITsUnpack with me the taboo subject of doubting God. When leaders face unexpected failures, institutional hurt, or the constant pull of a secular business environment, doubt can easily take root. The enemy's goal is not to make you a critical thinker, but a deserter. We break down the three fronts of doubt: the intellectual erosion of secularism, the relational attack of the 'Thomas Complex', and the internal crisis of identity. We also provide a practical framework to turn your crisis of faith into a catalyst for deeper leadership resilience.[Timestamps / Chapters]0:00 The Reality of Leadership Doubt7:46 Front 1: The Intellectual Attack (Secularism & Scientism)16:29 Front 2: The Relational Attack (The Thomas Complex)27:47 Front 3: The Internal Attack (Imposter Syndrome & Identity)32:27 The Action Plan: Expecting a Return on Prayer33:56 Help My Unbelief: The Mark 9 FrameworkWebsite: https://jonpetts.com/#ChristianLeadership #NavigatingDoubt #JonPetts #FaithAndLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #TheDevilsPlaybook

How do we identify and overcome the subtle trap of spiritual distraction? In Part 2 of The Devil's Playbook series, I explore how the adversary uses constant, urgent demands to quietly pull us away from our core calling.In this episode, we move past the obvious spiritual battles to look at the quiet, everyday tools of distraction. As leaders, our schedules are often packed with good things, but are those very things distracting us from the best things?I share some practical, reflective frameworks to help you audit your attention, reclaim your focus, and build a firm foundation that can withstand daily pressures.📖 Read the full article and find more leadership resources here:https://jonpetts.com/overcoming-spiritual-distraction/🎥 Watch the video version of Part 1 (The Devil's Playbook) on YouTube:https://youtu.be/eUKW2pqpwIc🌐 Connect with me:https://www.jonpetts.com#ChristianLeadership #SpiritualFocus #JonPetts #FaithAndLeadership #TheDevilsPlaybook #FirmFoundations #SkyscraperFaith

Have you ever felt like the world is constantly trying to sell you something? In this video, I share a personal story of a time I was nearly caught in a high-pressure sales pitch and how it opened my eyes to the "playbooks" used in both the physical and spiritual realms. We explore the specific strategies the enemy uses to disrupt our lives, families, and organisations, including: Distraction: Shifting focus to the temporary. Doubt: Attacking identity and character. Despondency: Wearing us down through disappointment. Division: Breaking the strength of unity. Defilement: Drawing us into slow compromise. While the enemy is a strategist, we are not left without a plan. We discuss God’s overarching playbook—Rescue, Return, Reckoning, and Reign—and our vital position within it. *Ultimately, the fix for every tactic is the same: fixing our eyes on Jesus.*Scripture referenced:2 Corinthians 2:11 1 Peter 5:8 Hebrews 12:1–2For the full article go to https://www.jonpetts.com/the-devils-playbook/Also mentioned in this episode: Jamie & Donna Winship's Identity Exchange https://www.identityexchange.com/