The Strategy for Victory | Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, October 6

Scriptures

Joshua 11:4-10, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Joshua 3:14-16, Psalm 29:3, Isaiah 43:1-2, Matthew 24:37-39, Joshua 10:12-13, Isaiah 43:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:7

Introduction

Welcome to today’s small group discussion! We are diving into a powerful message based on Joshua 11 and other Scriptures, focusing on overcoming fear, trusting in God’s promises, and walking in victory.

Objective

To explore how we, like Joshua, can conquer overwhelming obstacles through faith and obedience, and to apply these lessons to our personal challenges.

Key Theme

Possessing a Fearless Spirit: Understand the importance of courage in facing life's battles, drawing parallels between Joshua's experiences and our lives. God repeatedly told Joshua, “Fear not,” reminding him that success in fulfilling his mission relied on faith and courage, not on avoiding hardship.

Just as Joshua had to face natural barriers like the Jordan River, man-made obstacles like the walls of Jericho, and intelligent opposition in the form of King Jabin, we too face battles in our lives that seem insurmountable.

Let’s begin by reading Joshua 11:6-8 and Isaiah 43:1-2. As we read, think about the obstacles Joshua faced and the assurances God gave him.

4 So they went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And when all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.

6 But the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” 7 So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and they attacked them. 8 And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who defeated them and chased them to Greater Sidon, to the Brook Misrephoth, and to the Valley of Mizpah eastward; they attacked them until they left none of them remaining. 9 So Joshua did to them as the Lord had told him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.

10 Joshua turned back at that time and took Hazor, and struck its king with the sword; for Hazor was formerly the head of all those kingdoms.

Joshua 11:4-10

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Isaiah 43:1-2

Joshua was told multiple times by God, “Do not fear.” Why do you think God emphasized this command? How does fear hinder faith?

Facing Our Fears with Faith

Here are some examples of situations where Christians, across different ages and marital statuses, might experience fear. Encourage each other to navigate life's fears with faith as followers of Christ:

Young Single Christian:

Future and Career Uncertainty: Fear about what career to pursue, whether they'll find a fulfilling job, or if they'll ever discover their calling or purpose in life as per God's plan.

Relationship Status: Fear of loneliness or not finding a partner who shares their faith and values.

Spiritual Growth: Fear of not growing spiritually or backsliding in their faith, especially in environments hostile to Christian values like some university campuses.

Young Married Christian:

Financial Stability: Fear related to providing for their family, especially if they're planning to have children or already have them.

Marriage Challenges: Fears about marital conflicts, maintaining love and respect, or the fear of not being a good spouse according to Christian teachings.

Parenting: Fear of not raising their children in the ways of the Lord or protecting them from negative influences.

Older Single Christian (never married, divorced, or widowed):

Health Concerns: As health issues become more prominent, there might be fear about deteriorating health, being alone during sickness, or facing the end of life without a partner.

Legacy: Fear about what they are leaving behind, whether their life had the impact they hoped for in a spiritual sense.

Social Isolation: Fear of loneliness or not having someone to share their faith journey with in their later years.

Older Married Christian:

Loss of Spouse: The fear of outliving their spouse or losing them to illness, which can also involve fears about managing life alone after years of companionship.

Family Dynamics: Fears concerning their children's or grandchildren's faith and life choices, or not seeing them follow a Christian path.

Retirement and Purpose: After retiring, there might be a fear of losing purpose or not contributing to society or church life anymore, wondering how to serve God in old age.

Common Across All Groups:

Moral Decline: Fear of the increasing secularization of society and how it might influence their community or nation, making it harder to live out their faith openly.

Sin and Temptation: Fear of personal sin, failing God, or succumbing to temptation, which might not only affect their life but also their eternal salvation.

Walking in Victory Through Faith

Pastor Jentezen said the body of Christ, has to “look fearless” right now. Pastor said our faith cannot look like fear but sometimes we don’t feel strong and fearless. In the story of Paul’s thorn, we find God’s grace for human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Times when we don’t feel strong are the times we are actually strongest when we rely on God to be our strength.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV)

Paul didn’t get the answer that he had hoped for, but God gave Paul a better answer. When everything is going smoothly, it's easy to ignore or undervalue the strength of Jesus. It's in our moments of clear vulnerability that the magnitude of Jesus' power truly stands out.

Paul was willing to embrace suffering and humility as Jesus did, finding joy in his own weaknesses because these allowed Christ's power to manifest more clearly through him. Paul saw his weaknesses as opportunities for Christ's power to provide a protective cover over him.

How do you think our expectations affect our willingness to listen to God, especially when His response isn't what we hoped for or expected? Do you think we might just ignore or stop listening to God because we're disappointed or surprised by how things turn out?

If God responded to a thorn in your life (mental, physical, emotional) in a way you didn’t hope or expect, how did you react? Did He have a ‘better’ response?

The strength we get from God is not a man-made strength that can wane. God’s grace is a never-ending fountain for those who trust in the Lord and lean on Him. God’s grace could meet Paul’s every need, not just provide a solution for the thorn. Having received something better than just relief from that thorn, Paul is now stronger in weakness (reliance) than he could ever be on his own.

Grace and Bold Faith

A well-known verse, Philippians 4:13, states, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Here, "all" encompasses "everything," especially the hard things, which we manage only with Christ's grace and His promise to fight for us, as mentioned in Joshua 23:10.

We often say, "The victory is mine because the battle is the Lord's." But what keeps us from truly believing that God not only fights for us but has also provided a victory on the other side of the battle?

Through Christ, we can push back the lies of the devil (John 8:44), we can stand in the evil day (Eph 6:13) and we can take back the land because we have not been given a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Joshua 1:13-15 reminds us that God told His people to take possession of the land He’d given them and when they did, they could return the land of their possession and enjoy it.

God’s grace would be enough, but it would require bold faith, trust, action and fearlessness.

As Pastor Jentezen said, "Don’t just pray about it, talk about it, or cry about it – go possess the land!"

Faith Through the Flood

Many times, a harvest comes but only after the flood. Like Pastor Jentezen said, ‘just before revival, the flood comes.’ God’s interventions often become most evident or significant in times of greatest opposition.

“So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.” (Joshua 3:14-16 NIV)

This miracle serves as a confirmation for the people that the Lord is giving them the land, as it is within His power to bestow it. Just as the riverbed was not only revealed and opened but was dry for them to walk on. God can turn things around.

The sermon mentioned that God often allows floods and challenges right before a breakthrough or harvest. Have you ever experienced a time where you faced great difficulty right before a significant victory or breakthrough? Share your testimony with the group.

Obstacles and opposition—natural or man-made— might grow larger before they fall, but they can be overcome. Let’s discuss the three types that Pastor Jentezen mentioned in the message:

1. Overcome natural obstacles. When you are getting ready to reap a harvest, natural barriers will try to stop you. You never get a harvest without a flood from Hell trying to stop you. Miracles are waiting on the other side of the flood. Any time the enemy sends a flood, a harvest is around the corner.

2. Overcome manmade obstacles. Manmade barriers are meant to frustrate you and block you out. But manmade obstacles will not stop you if you will not be afraid. But you must guard your mouth from talking yourself out of a miracle. Words are multipliers, so speak life! Get your shout back!

3. Overcome intellectual obstacles. There may be intelligent strategies against you that you could never naturally overcome. But you can overcome every battle by the name of Jesus!

Which of the three obstacles most resounds with you?

Call upon your fearless faith to remain calm, for the miracle is in progress beyond what you can imagine. Commit to memory Psalm 29:3a which says, “The voice of the Lord is over the waters;”

The Command to Fear Not

Many times in Scripture, the promises of God's protection accompany the command to "Fear Not."

"But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:1-2 NIV)

He created each of us and called us by name. He loves us and says that we are his own. Verse three states, "For I am the Lord Your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” How can we be afraid when God Almighty is our protector? We don't have to panic; we don't have to fear; we don't have to run as if we don't trust God. He can strengthen us in our trials. Isaiah 28:16 says, “Whoever believes will not be in haste.”

The passage from Isaiah mentions passing through water and fire unscathed. In practical terms, what do you think these metaphors represent in our daily lives?

Trials are a normal part of life. When we have trials, He will protect us (2 Thessalonians 3:3). God is faithful to His promises.

The Book of Daniel tells the story of three young men sentenced to burn in King Nebuchadnezzar’s fire. Not only were the faithful young men saved, but God stood with them through the fire. They were saved from the fire and exited without being scorched or the scent of smoke on them. God ensured Daniel's safety in the lion's den and supplied manna to sustain the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land. The Bible is full of God's love, provision, and protection.

Do you want to share a favorite Bible story of God's love?

Do you want to share an example of God's protection?

Conclusion

As we close today’s discussion, remember that we are called to live with a fearless spirit, knowing that God is with us in every battle. Joshua’s story is a powerful reminder that we are more than conquerors through Christ. Though the enemy may send floods, walls, and opposition our way, our response should be faith, not fear. God’s promises are greater than any challenge we face, and when we walk in obedience and trust, we experience His victory.

Prayer Focus

Pray for each other to embrace God's strength and promises, to overcome fear, and to walk in victory as Joshua did.

Living It Out

As a group, let’s believe together for breakthrough, healing, and harvest in our lives, trusting that God is more than able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or think.

Go into this week declaring God’s promises over your life—speak victory, faith, and courage. The same God who led Joshua into the Promised Land is leading you into your purpose. Fear not, for He is with you!

Resources

YouTube

Audio Podcast

All Group Guides