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=d683e01fdefb4329 FOLLOW 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/@built4morepod Chapters: 00:00 Meet Edwin Martin 00:24 Running 133 Miles in 24 Hours 02:08 Running Across South Carolina 02:55 The Transformation Photo 06:05 Why Edwin Runs for Suicide Prevention 06:23 The Gambling Addiction Nobody Knew About 06:53 The Text That Saved His Life 07:45 Sports Betting’s Hidden Cost 08:54 How to Know When You Have a Problem 10:27 You Can Bet on Anything Now 12:49 Is Jesus Really Enough? 13:08 The Enemy Doesn’t Care How He Hooks You 14:43 Why Monday Night Football Exists 17:07 They’re Engineering Your Brain 18:56 The Friend Who Led Edwin to Christ 21:34 Why He Walked Away From the Navy SEALs 22:16 The Text That Changed His Path 23:07 When God Tells You to Text Someone 24:55 The Hardest Text Joby Ever Sent 27:33 Three Phone Calls That Saved Three Lives 31:11 A Message for Anyone in a Dark Place 32:11 The Messages That Keep Coming 33:24 The Biggest Struggles Facing His Generation 35:58 Fitness Without Fulfillment 37:00 Running Is Just the Vehicle 38:04 The Greyhound Chasing a Fake Rabbit 40:48 The Antidote Nobody Wants to Hear 45:04 Can Working Out Glorify God? 47:26 Work Is Worship 48:06 Joby’s 30-Pound Comeback 51:19 Love God With All Your Strength 54:53 Seized by a Greater Affection 59:35 You Only Have One Life 1:01:04 Jesus Plus Something Isn’t Jesus 1:01:44 The Ship: Mentoring Fatherless Boys 1:03:41 Who Will Pick Up Your Mat? 1:10:18 No More Casual Christianity 1:12:54 Your Story Isn’t Over 1:15:10 Project Savior Outdoors #Built4More #EdwinMartin #ChristianPodcast