The Key to Victory: Be Strong and Courageous

Many Christians fail to overcome, yet they believe they are saved, living in a false sense of comfort. The gospel of false comfort in this generation is not the true gospel. The true gospel is the gospel of victory. This is a great grace; the path to victory is predestined by God. As long as we walk according to this path, God will lead us to victory.

The problem is that many are unwilling to walk this way. The Bible clearly tells us that it is the Lord your God who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you victory (see Deuteronomy 1:30). The path to victory is a path of faith. If you believe in God, He will give you victory; if you do not believe in victory, it is difficult to achieve it.

The Israelites, on their path to victory, generally adopted an attitude of unbelief, so they perished in the wilderness. In the process of ministry, it is found that being strong and courageous is a key quality for people to achieve victory. The key to winning battles is being strong and courageous. Having an uncompromising heart is, in fact, being strong and courageous.

Fear should not be an option in one's life. Fear is unbelief, so the Book of Revelation says that the cowardly will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, because a person's cowardice is unbelief. If you believe that God is in control, why be afraid? The church is God's army, and being strong and courageous is key to building a glorious church.

Today, our goal is to understand being strong and courageous, to recognize the spiritual essence of fear, and to begin shaping the character of strength and courage in our minds, bringing victory in spiritual warfare. Overcoming fear requires seeing through life and death, because the greatest fear is the fear of death.

If you want to transform your family, it is difficult to do so without being strong and courageous. It is very important to implement the quality of strength in transforming families. Then, implement the quality of strength and courage in shepherding, removing the misconception within us that equates weakness with gentleness, and building a strong and victorious church.

Case Described in Rick Joyner's Book

This lesson has several parts, and we will go through them one by one. In the first part, we take a case from Rick Joyner's The Final Quest, the first part of The Hordes of Hell Are Marching. I have excerpted a section of the text.

Following these vanguard legions were the armies of hell, and another large group of Christians who had become prisoners of this army. Each one was wounded and guarded by a lesser demon called “Fear.” There seemed to be a greater number of prisoners than demons. What was shocking, however, was that these prisoners still had their swords and shields, but they were not using them.

It was astonishing to see how few demons of “Fear” could keep so many Christians captive. These Christians could have easily shaken them off simply by picking up their weapons. They could have even inflicted great damage on the entire evil army. Instead, they were going along compliantly.

A flock of vultures called Discouragement hovered over the prisoners, and they would occasionally perch on the prisoners’ shoulders and vomit up a substance called Condemnation. When this substance fell on the prisoners, they would stand up and walk a little straighter for a short distance, then suddenly collapse, becoming weaker than before. Again, it seemed strange that these prisoners did not simply kill the vultures with their swords, which they could have easily done.

Occasionally, a weaker prisoner would fall. When he fell to the ground, the other prisoners would immediately stab him with their swords, jeering as they did so. Then the vultures would devour the fallen prisoner, even before he was dead, and the other Christian prisoners would watch permissively, occasionally giving him another jab with their swords.

As I watched this, I realized that these prisoners thought the substance called Condemnation was truth from God. Then I understood that these prisoners actually thought they were marching in the army of God! That is why they did not kill the little demons of Fear or Vultures; they thought they were messengers from God!

The darkness caused by the cloud of vultures overhead was clouding the prisoners' vision, causing them to naively think that everything they experienced was from the Lord. They thought that those who fell were being judged by God, which is why they attacked them, thinking they were helping God!

This passage describes an incomprehensible state of Christians. In the first section of the advancing hordes of hell, it describes the one-sided defeat of Christians facing demons.

Some time ago, while ministering to a sister, her family asked me a sharp question, saying that in their hometown, those who believe in the Lord do not have good outcomes. What causes this? It is the failure to gain victory in spiritual warfare.

Being Strong and Courageous is the Essence of Warfare

There are many reasons why Christians fail to gain victory in spiritual warfare. Fear is a very fatal thing. When a Christian believes in the Lord and then encounters many problems, the Israelites were terribly bullied when they lost battles with surrounding countries. What is the reason? It is fear! Why be afraid? Because they do not have the quality of being strong and courageous. Being strong and courageous is the essence of warfare.

When I am doing healing and deliverance for brothers and sisters, I must be strong and courageous. If you are afraid of everything, you cannot overcome the evil spirits behind them, and you cannot deliver brothers and sisters from these bondages. This is a spiritual battle.

Why are the spirits of fear so easily able to control so many Christians? Because once Christians have fear within them, they lose all ability to fight. Under the control of the spirits of fear, people become very weak. We must remove the fear within us.

For example, some sisters whose husbands do not believe in the Lord, if they do not face their husbands with strength and courage, they will become very weak and easily controlled and threatened, always afraid of retreating, and use the truth of the Bible to explain why they are so weak, thinking it is gentleness, equating weakness with gentleness, which is actually a state of defeat. If you want to win, learn to be strong and courageous. Of course, being strong and courageous as we speak of it is being strong and courageous with wisdom, not head-on confrontation.

Once you become strong and courageous, you will find that what you feared before will not happen. You just need to be strong. Facing such situations, you will find that things will get better instead. Being strong and courageous, being cowardly, and being fearful are all feelings in the heart. This is a very small evil spirit. Fear comes from a lie. We think that bad things will happen after being strong, but nothing will actually happen.

Choose Strength Over Fear

From today onwards, make a choice: start being strong. You will find how easy it is to overcome fear. We will find that many people's reactions to reading the Bible are also very strange. They pick and choose what to read, using a distorted state to read the Bible, and then use the words of the Bible to prove that their fear is justified.

In fact, overcoming fear is very easy. Fear can paralyse a Christian's fighting ability. Fear is a very bad lie. Fear is a powerless evil spirit whose power comes from falsehood. It is very easy for Christians to overcome fear. After listening to us today, start making a choice from the bottom of your heart: so be it if I die! I don't care at all, and then you start dealing with these fears.

When you overcome fear, you will see the scriptures of the Bible and other things from a brand-new perspective. Some time ago, there was a person whose family had many things mixed up, and then he was afraid. When he shared these things with us, he said that he was afraid of what would happen, and what he feared would happen. I said, don't be afraid, come out of fear. Believe that God is in control. A month passed in the blink of an eye, and nothing happened. Instead, the whole family was being transformed.

In fact, don't be afraid because people immediately lose their fighting ability when they are afraid. Fear is a result of imagination. You will find that those who do a lot of imagining are thinking about things that will not happen. They think it will happen, but it does not actually happen. That is imagination. Thinking too much and doing too little, and always looking before you leap, are very deadly.

Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid. If you have fear inside, you will not dare to discipline your children. If you do not dare to discipline them today, and you do not dare to discipline them tomorrow, you will collapse when the university entrance examination comes. Many times, bondage comes from fear. The spirit of fear can bring far-reaching bondage, and one will be a prisoner of the devil for life. If you recognize the evil spirit of fear and the essence of fear, you will choose to overcome.

People's Reactions When Facing Fear

When people are afraid, their bodies will produce strange reactions. There was a sister whose neck was always stiff, no matter how much she prayed. It turned out that she was filled with all kinds of fears. First, she was afraid of her boss. As soon as the boss said something, she was filled with fear. Second, she was afraid of her roommate and dared not retaliate no matter what her roommate said.

Once, she said to me on the phone, I am very afraid. I said, What are you afraid of? She said, I am afraid of arguing with my roommate because I think it will shame God's name. I said, It's okay, have an argument with her because her roommate was always having a negative impact on her.

Because she prayed and ministered in the dormitory, her roommate felt that it affected her. I told her to tell her roommate that if she wanted to find an ideal, quiet, and comfortable dormitory environment, she could go to a five-star hotel, but this place is a staff dormitory and everyone shares a space. If she feels that the conditions in this space are not good, she can stay in a five-star hotel.

As a result, she really told her roommate, and her roommate was also very angry, but nothing happened. Then what happened? What she feared did not happen. Something very wonderful happened: her neck relaxed. Before, her neck would stiffen whenever she was afraid, and she would be afraid whenever it stiffened. This is an example of a sister being strong and courageous.

Later, when facing her boss, she also learned to be strong and courageous. Some of our brothers and sisters, in the process of shepherding, are afraid of their group members and afraid that people will leave. There are many fears. In this way, you cannot minister or shepherd. Overcoming fear and choosing to be strong and courageous is a very important quality.

In past ministry, I have seen many people who have overcome fear because I am a strong and courageous person myself. I am not even afraid of death. If you are not afraid, you can live as freely as you want! Later, I found that in my past 20 years as a Christian, whenever I was afraid, I lost my fighting ability and could not overcome, and the result was that what I feared would happen.

In fact, breaking through fear is very simple. The spirit of fear has no power. Once you come out of fear, you will not care even if you have an argument. Sometimes using arguments to overcome fear may not be understood by many people. Why? Arguing is sometimes also an expression of being strong and courageous, but don't go crazy.

Although it is not an ideal behaviour, it can help us come out of fear. Some people are controlled by the spirit of fear, and they use many ways of condemnation to make us Christians lose our ability to fight.

In fact, what does it matter if you have an argument with your roommate or family members who are controlling you? Remember that fear can make us lose our freedom, but freedom cannot be negotiated. No matter what the situation, do not lose your freedom. Even if you lose your life, do not lose your freedom, and then come out of fear. Overcoming fear is a very easy thing.

Once you are not afraid of death, everything else will be easy to handle. Start to understand fear. Overcoming fear requires a firm faith in God. In fact, God wants us to come out of fear, and God also wants us to regain our strength and courage.

Jacob's Example in the Bible

The Bible records that Jacob left his brother because he had deceived his father for the blessing. His brother wanted to kill him, so he went to his uncle Laban's house. Over two decades passed in a blink of an eye. He was heading towards Canaan with his wives, children—four wives, and twelve children. When his brother found out, he brought 400 strong men to kill Jacob. Jacob was very afraid and divided his company into two groups, thinking that if his brother killed one group, he would still have another.

As his family moved forward, he hesitated to cross the ford of Jabbok River. Then God came and wrestled with him. God said, You go. But Jacob refused. In times of fear and conflict, people often behave this way, as if contending with God in their extreme fear.

At this moment, God struck Jacob's thigh, crippling him. Jacob clung tightly to God's thigh, asking for a blessing. God blessed him, saying that from then on, his name would be changed to Israel, meaning he had prevailed with God and with men.

Having prevailed with God and men, Jacob contended with his brother to obtain the birthright. Did he succeed? Yes, he did. But at this time, he was dominated by fear. Yet, he chose a path of submission to God.

Jacob was defeated before God, but why did God say he had prevailed? Because submission to God is victory. If you prevail, you actually gain the benefits from God.

If you are willing to submit to God, you will no longer fear man. Overcoming fear depends on whether you completely submit to God. I will not let you go unless you bless me—this state of mind is complete submission, and fear is removed from within.

Later, Jacob ran to the forefront of his group. The thing he had feared before—his brother killing him—did it happen? No, it did not. That is called a kind of victory, prevailing with God and with men.

Man's Thoughts are Governed by God

When we are afraid of people or of the devil, it is actually a lack of trust in God. If we completely submit to God, we will see many things overturned. If you used to fear your boss, but now you completely submit to God, you will find that even your boss's thoughts are governed by God.

A miraculous thing happened to Jacob. His brother was coming with a large group of men to kill him. From a distance, they saw Jacob hobbling forward. Jacob walked in front, without any fear. Suddenly, Esau's mind was changed—man's thoughts are in God's hands.

When Esau saw his brother's condition, which was not good—his leg was crippled—Esau thought, Where is the blessing he cheated me of? Forget it! Although I did not receive the blessing, I have 400 strong men, and I have everything I need at home. So, he dismounted and embraced his brother, and they reconciled.

What do we see here? When we overcome fear, the things we fear will not happen to us. This is a spiritual principle.

If you fear, the things you fear will surely come upon you. If you do not fear, but choose to be strong and courageous, nothing will happen. I have tested this time and again. When our brothers and sisters choose to be strong and courageous, nothing happens. The things you fear are illusions.

God reigns in our lives. Victory is predestined by God. As long as we are strong and courageous, believing that we receive, we will receive. Being strong and courageous is the best expression of faith. Start today to walk out of fear. When your mind wanders, and you think more and more, and you become more and more afraid, simply stop thinking. Just think of one thing: God reigns in my life.

God turned Jacob from a younger son into one with the birthright, from someone about to be killed by his brother. God can instantly change his brother's mind. What else can God not change? God can change everything. So, do not worry or be afraid. From now on, choose victory, start to be strong and courageous, and you can overcome fear. You must know that submission to God is the key to overcoming fear.

In my ministry, I have also noticed an interesting phenomenon: if a person submits to the pastor, their fear will disappear. But if they are disobedient and rebellious in the church, what will happen? They will develop many fears about the things around them.

Being willing to submit to God's authority makes it easy to overcome fear. This is what Jacob experienced in his life. Today, brothers and sisters, remove the fear from within us, seize God's promises, submit to God, and you will surely prevail.

The State of Those Who Have Not Overcome Fear

The Bible records two kinds of people: those who have overcome fear and those who have not. Those who have not overcome fear have died. In the Book of Numbers, it is recorded that Moses sent 12 spies, including Joshua and Caleb, into the land of Canaan. They saw the land and even brought back its fruit. They did not die. However, except for Joshua and Caleb, the other 10 spies reported that the land was too terrible, and the Israelites were dominated by a spirit of fear.

The entire camp was in a tragic state. Many thought that God had brought them into the Promised Land only to die, questioning whether they had no graves in Egypt. As a result, these 10 spies were struck down by a plague.

If you are strong, you can live. If you are not strong, but carry fear, you will be infected with the plague and die. Why bother? Today, we see these unsuccessful cases of those who have not overcome fear, giving us a great reminder: if you fear, you will not receive the Promised Land. It was originally a victorious battle, but you dare not fight, so you cannot prevail.

Joshua and Caleb prevailed when they entered Canaan 40 years later, never losing a battle. Why? Because being strong and courageous is the most important quality in life. Did these Israelite spies not know what God had done for them before? They knew, but the moment they feared, they immediately forgot.

They crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, they saw the miracles God performed in Egypt, and they ate manna provided by God in the wilderness, experiencing God again and again. But as soon as they feared, they immediately forgot.

Brothers and sisters, let us no longer fear. One night, a sister contacted me and sent me a picture of her door being shattered. I asked what had happened. It turned out that her brother had shattered the door, and she was hiding in a corner, terrified. I told her not to be afraid, to go to her shop, and not to come back. Nothing happened.

Today, we must all learn to be strong and courageous. If you are strong, your whole family will be transformed. Strength leads to victory and to receiving God's promises. You will not die. So, without overcoming fear, we will be dominated, and without overcoming fear, we will lose God's promises.

Being strong and courageous is a choice. Many years later, after Moses died, Joshua took over Moses' authority and began to govern the Israelites. Then God told him to be strong and courageous. Why be strong and courageous?

Because at this time, Joshua was very afraid. The feeling of fear within him prevented him from leading the Israelites into Canaan. At this time, God told him to be strong and courageous, because God would surely grant him success. What did God say? Be strong and courageous, for all your life no one will be able to stand up against you (cf. Joshua 1:5).

Do you want to be like Joshua and Caleb? Do you want to receive God's promises? Choose to be strong and courageous. In your families, there are many people who will threaten you, but these are actually dark forces released by the spirit of fear. Start to walk out of fear.

I have given so many examples to encourage everyone to be strong and courageous. Joshua was certainly afraid. When he was afraid, he prayed and called on God, and he received God's word: You must be strong and courageous. Joshua also chose to be strong and courageous, and he prevailed. Why did God repeat three times to Joshua, Be strong and courageous? Because being strong and courageous is closely related to victory.

When facing conflict, especially war, no one is unafraid. But those who trust in God will learn to manage the feeling of fear within them. Joshua faced a fierce battle. Entering Canaan required fighting with swords. Joshua was afraid, and you and I are afraid. The question is whether we completely trust in God. When we trust in God, our choice to be strong and courageous is a kind of victory.

Faith plays a very important role in a person's life. All battles are spiritual. Whether it is with your colleagues, your boss, or in your family, being strong and courageous is the key to victory in this battle. Later, Joshua led the Israelites to conquer cities and territories, and they continued to prevail.

Removing Timidity and Fear from the Heart

We establish a church to fight spiritual battles, and what is most needed is the faith to be strong and courageous. Today, we must make a choice to be strong and courageous. After you make that choice, the things you fear will not come upon you, and that is a kind of victory.

Remember, timidity is not an option. Timidity is a state of lacking faith to fight a battle that has already been won. In times of change, people often become timid, but you must have the faith to die if necessary. If you have the faith to die if necessary, what is there to fear? Timidity and retreat are definitely not the way. Being strong and courageous will lead to victory, because God has predestined us to prevail. Victory is to possess the Promised Land.

Today, I give everyone an encouragement again. You know how good our God is! Our God fights for us in the front, and you only need to choose to follow behind to prevail. God says, You are my faithful and good servants. You prevailed, so I will bless you. In Genesis, whether it was Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, or Joseph, they were all in a state of victory. Each time they prevailed, God said, I will bless you.

What is the reason for victory? Victory is trust in God, being strong and courageous, no longer fearing the results of the environment. God makes us prevail. This is what God does in our lives. You must know what a wonderful God our God is! God will never let us be buried in battle.

Brothers and sisters, we must understand that fear is just a feeling. Things like pain, depression, entanglement, and discomfort are all spiritual matters. What can overcome these things is faith, and the expression of faith is being strong and courageous.

Everyone must always remember that life and death are already determined. Nothing can change God's plans for us. Do not be afraid or worried, but choose to be strong and courageous, not caring even when facing conflict. Strengthen yourselves, even if a bit rough, but strengthen yourselves.

Some brothers and sisters in our church are strong in a rough way, as if lacking wisdom. I rarely criticize them, because we feel that being strong and courageous is a fundamental thing. If you are strong and courageous today, it is better than being timid. On the basis of being strong and courageous, continue to adjust your methods and become more wise.

Everyone is beginning to understand that timidity is a spiritual matter, fear is a spiritual matter, and being strong and courageous is also a spiritual matter. Today, if we believe that God reigns in our lives, believe that God reigns in this world, believe that God reigns in all things in the universe, all fear will disappear. That is the kind of faith we are talking about. If you have the faith to die if necessary, no one in this life will be able to stand before you. Brothers and sisters, from the bottom of your hearts, choose to be strong and courageous, and completely strike down the evil spirit of fear. Amen!