Team Talk 21 | Page 22

The Enemy’s Empty Promises The Enemy is the master of deception. He manipulates people and circumstances. Then when we fall, he offers us what we believe is relief. But in all reality he’s just deceiving you again. Many great men fall this way. It could be the slip at the job, financial instability, even the pressures of satisfying partners in their relationships when they believe they’ve fallen short. While some men rise above these circumstances when they fall, many fall into a deeper pit and will begin to seek pleasure to deal with the pain. For many, addiction ensues. Distance from God Religious affiliations in America have changed rapidly, with many people no longer labeling themselves as Christians and distancing themselves from Christ all together. Without this grounding, many find themselves without a moral or ethical compass and fall deep into a world of sin. And sometimes, it’s not even the men who label themselves as Atheist, agnostic, or other that fall. It’s the ones who believe they’re in a relationship with God, but live a life completely out of line with Christ. These men attend church with their family, give back to their churches and their community, but behind closed doors, they live a far different life. Both paths lead to destruction. 22