Joseph Prince - How Faith Wins The Battle You Can't (01/20/2026)
Pastor Prince teaches that in life’s battles—whether sickness, addiction, family issues, or any difficulty—the believer’s role is not to fight in their own strength but to rest in faith, declaring «The battle is the Lord’s.» Drawing from Psalm 23, David vs. Goliath (1 Samuel 17), Jehoshaphat’s victory (2 Chronicles 20), and Moses at the Red Sea, the preacher emphasizes that feeding on God’s Word is fighting the «good (beautiful) fight of faith» (1 Timothy 6:12), where God fights for us while we hold our peace. The conclusion is that true victory comes through resting in Christ’s finished work, praising God, and letting Him turn battles into valleys of blessing.
The Table in the Presence of Enemies
In Psalms 23, it says, «The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not lack». And it says this: «You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies». It’s a spread, hallelujah. And notice «not in the absence of my enemies. You prepare a table before me in the presence». While the symptoms are still in your body, feed. While the difficulty is still there, feed. While the addiction is still there, feed. Feeding is fighting. Feeding is winning. And that’s why the only fight for us to fight is fight the good fight of faith.
The Beautiful Fight of Faith
1 Timothy 6:12, «Fight the good fight of faith». You see the word «good fight»? It’s actually the word, in the Greek there is kalos. Literally it’s not the word «eu, » for good. It is the word «kalos». Kalos is this, the first definition of kalos. Kalos is either beautiful or handsome. In other words, it’s fight the beautiful fight of faith. God is saying, when you are in a battle, in a difficulty, your only fight is to stay in faith. Fight to remain in faith. Fight the good fight of faith.
In other words, the difficulty is there but you say, «Father, I thank you. This battle is yours. Thank you, Father. My eyes is on you. Thank you, Father. You have overcome this problem for me». And devil yells, «You can still see it»! Lord, my eyes are on you, Lord, amen? You listening, people? That is your fight. And it’s a beautiful fight. And I suspect God says it’s beautiful because you win. And God loves it. You know, every time we are using faith, God loves it. God loves it. It’s like, «Come on, angels, look at that. Look at that guy, look at that girl, » hallelujah.
Five Words of Grace: The Battle is the Lord’s
I’m going to give you five words of grace for you to use. Every time there’s a battle, there’s a difficulty, say this under your breath. Look at the problem and say this under your breath, okay? Before I give it to you, let me show you a story, a very famous story, that happened in Israel. You still can go to that place, that valley there, and still imagine because the valley is almost unchanged, all right, the topography and all that.
David and Goliath: Declaring the Battle is the Lord’s
1 Samuel 17, «When the Philistine looked about and saw David, » the Goliath has been standing there, challenging the people of Israel to challenge, to fight him. For 40 days he’s been standing there. No one dared to fight this 10-footer. Some say about 9 to 11, 12 feet. We’re not sure. But he’s one of the giants. And he was ugly. He was mean. In those days, all right, they are very, you know, their faces are all like scars and all that.
So when he disdained David, «When he saw David, he despised David because David was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. So the Philistine said to David, 'Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? ' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, 'Come to me, come to me, I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.' David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with visible sword, with a visible spear, and a visible javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, '» invisible God who is eternal, «'the God of the armies of Israel, whom you defied! '»
Next. «'This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I strike you and take your head from you. And this day I’ll give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air, to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel.'» Next. «'Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with what is visible, with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands! '»
Right now, memorize this, learn to mutter this when you are in… before your difficulty, learn to say this under your breath: «The battle is the Lord’s». It’s not mine. It’s not mine, amen, amen. Are you listening? «Pastor Prince, my teenage girl is mixing around with bad company». You feel it’s your battle. It’s not your battle. Don’t touch it! It’s the battle is the Lord’s. Just like the tithe. The tithe is the Lord’s. Don’t touch it. It belongs to him. Same way, the battle is not yours to touch, amen. Your arm is not too great. Your sight is not that far reaching, amen? God is stronger, God is greater. God loves you more than you love yourself. He loves your teenage daughter more than you can love her.
God is saying, «Don’t touch! The battle is mine». The battle is the Lord’s. «But, Pastor Prince, David still went to meet the…» Yeah, but how did he go? Dressed in an armor? No, dressed as a shepherd boy. With a sword? No, with a sling. So, obviously, he believes «this battle is not mine. The battle is the Lord’s». So learn to look at your problems now, and the devil says, «What are you going to do about it»? Say, «The battle is not mine. It’s the Lord’s. Lord, this is your battle. Lord, this is your battle. Lord, this is your battle». Throughout this year, «Lord, this is your battle».
Now sometimes it won’t be as quick as David’s victory, but the Lord is hearing what you’re saying. And the Lord loves it. His arms are bigger than yours. Lord, this is your battle. The battle is the Lord’s. Your five words of grace this year, amen? The doctors gave you a bad diagnosis. Under your breath: «This battle is the Lord’s». That’s the good fight of faith. You fight by not fighting. You fight by not fighting. That’s the greatest fight. It’s like the devil wants you to think there’s a place called Healed and you are not healed. There’s a place called Healed.
You see, you must do your best to go there. And you know, and he will try to bring in, but you must be obedient enough to reach there. You must be holy enough to reach there. You must be good enough to reach there, and you are never there. Actually, that’s not the truth. The truth is, you’re already there. You are the healed. And the devil is trying to take your healing. And you’re saying, «No, this is a lying symptom. No, Lord, this is your battle. I’m already healed. This is your battle, Lord. I’m already healed. This is your battle, Lord. I’m already healed».
It’s so much more easier to know that you’re in a building when you’re already in the building. Are you listening? You’re already healed, not trying to be healed. The devil is trying to take your healing. It’s not like you’re trying to take your healing. No, the devil is trying to take your healing. By calling his bluff, you expose him. It’s a fight of faith. It might take some time. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. And that’s why the Bible is faith food for all of us. Can I have a good amen?
Another instance, and you know what happened to the giant? He came down, boom! That’s it, all right? One stone. One stone because the battle is the Lord’s. Who do you think made the stone hit the mark? The Lord. And the giant came down. The Bible says David decapitated his head, took his head. And very interesting, the Bible says that he brought the head to Jerusalem. Valley of Elah is miles away from Jerusalem. Why did David bring the head to Jerusalem?
Now, there’s one rabbinical tradition. There’s one tradition that says that the head of Goliath was buried in a place that was called Gol-Goliath. And later on, there’s a perversion of the name from Gol-Goliath. The hill of Goliath became Golgotha, where a greater son of David, Jesus Christ, would conquer a greater Goliath and smash his head at the cross, when he bore all our sins and shout, «It is finished, » amen?
Jehoshaphat: Praising While God Fights
All right, let’s fast forward. David became a king, and according to his seed, down through the years, there was another king called Jehoshaphat. And King Jehoshaphat was surrounded… don’t show them just yet. They was surrounded by the enemies, about four or five enemies, and they were surrounding him. The Bible says a great multitude came against him, and I love his prayer. You got time? Read his prayer.
All right, it’s found in 1 Chronicles 20 for a 20/20 vision. So you look at… he says this. He looked to God and he says, «God», I love this prayer, «we have no might, no power against this great multitude. But our eyes are upon you». I love it. It’s like saying, «We have no might, we have nothing, no resources against this disease, against this condition, but our eyes are upon you. I don’t know how my daughter can be delivered, how my son can be delivered, but my eyes are on you».
And when they said that, the Holy Spirit fell upon one of the sons of Asaph. And he was a prophet. And he said this: «Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s! '» Yes, listen! This battle is not yours! It is God’s! «But the enemies are coming against me»! Jehoshaphat could have said. But it’s not yours, King. It is God’s. «You don’t understand, Pastor Prince. This is coming against my family».
But it’s not yours. It’s God. And everything in your flesh is saying you are just being irresponsible. You should worry. How can you not worry? And in fact, you are doing the greatest thing you can ever do against that situation, against that problem even though you are in the midst of a trial, amen.
And someone said, «Pastor Prince, of course you are so blessed. You don’t know what I’m going through». How do you know that I’m not going through a trial right now? How do you know? In fact, I am going through a trial right now, all right? We are all always going either about to enter a trial, either in the trial, or outside the trial. You understand? This side of heaven, it’s part and parcel, but I’m eating and I’m feeding. I’m not complaining, amen? By the way, the word «complain» in the Bible, all right, is the word «luwn».
God hates it when his people complain. In Chinese, you have loon. In English, also you have loony, all right? And the word «luwn» is complain, but it’s also the word «to spend a night». In other words, if you complain about your situation, God says, «One more night». In other words, you stay in that situation one night, amen. You complain, you remain. You praise, you get a raise above your situation, all right? Don’t complain and remain. Praise and be raised, hallelujah. The battle is not yours, y’all. It’s God’s. So you know what you say? The greatest thing you can say: rest. When it happens, say, «Lord, it’s not mine. I cannot overcome this addiction. The battle is yours».
Testimony: Freedom from 50-Year Smoking Addiction
And this is where a lot of people say, «Uh, Pastor Prince, you know, you’re teaching people they can do whatever they want». That’s what you always say… I don’t know who you are. But let me tell you this, Mr. Philistine. I have a testimony here of a man who has been smoking for 50 years. Last week, I shared about people who were, I mean, a guy who was on drug addiction and, before that, pornography and all that. Our ministry has testimonies of people being delivered from drug addiction and also pornography. These are the two areas.
So before you cry out to the highest heaven, we need to teach on holiness. Show me your results and I’ll show you mine, okay? So here is a guy who has been smoking for 50 years: «I was a heavy smoker who used to smoke a minimum of one packet of cigarettes per day. One day, I made a decision to quit smoking after hearing a sermon. However, my efforts were in vain. I started smoking again after a few days». How many of you know that by trying, you cannot? The battle is not yours. It is God’s. «Then my son gave me Joseph Prince’s book 'Destined to Reign, ' which I read in two weeks. I realized that Jesus has redeemed me and this life is all about looking to him, all about believing and receiving what he has already done for me. I felt a great desire to quit smoking».
Now, this is supernatural. Some people try to stop but still have a desire. He said, «I felt a great desire». «I reread some chapters from the book again and wrote down my prayer on paper. But this time», listen, this was written before I preached this sermon. «But this time, I decided not to fight against my cigarette addiction».
The battle is the Lord’s, all right? He got a revelation from reading the book «not to fight against my cigarette addiction because I knew I could not quit smoking successfully through my own efforts. I just chose to rest in Jesus, receiving his grace and believing that he has set me free from my addiction at the cross. It was not my battle, but his. And he has already won it for me». Okay, what’s the result? What’s the result? And those of you who are shouting to the high heavens how dangerous grace is and talking about holiness, amen? This is the result.
«I just needed to continually realize that I’m forgiven and justified by Jesus’s grace, not by my obedience or actions. After struggling to quit smoking for 50 years, miraculously, by simply resting in Jesus’s finished work, I have kicked the habit successfully and effortlessly. I have been free of cigarettes. Jesus has done it for me, hallelujah, » amen.
So by not fighting, he’s actually fighting, all right?
Praisers in Front, Enemies Defeated
Two more verses. I’m going to close. Let’s look at the story of the people of God over in Jehoshaphat here. And he said, «Battle is not yours, but God’s». You know what he did? You know who he sent in front of him? You know who he sent in front of him to meet the great multitude? Praisers, worshipers, and they praised the Lord for the beauty of holiness by saying, «Praise the Lord for he is good. His mercies endures forever».
Now, when they arrived at the battle scene, they found out all the enemies killed each other. There was an internal fight, and they started fighting, and all of them killed each other. And for three days, Israel was picking up the spoils of war. And that whole valley is now called the Valley of Barakah. It is still in Israel. I’ve seen it. It’s a very beautiful, fruitful valley. Barakah means blessing, the Valley of Blessing. Are you feeling like there’s a big problem coming your way? Or you’re in the midst of a difficulty? Or the doctors have told you something? Or something has happened and you see your child rebelling and all that?
Let me tell you this. The bigger the multitude, the bigger the valley, and it’s called the Valley of Blessing, awaiting you, amen? And all you gotta do: praise the Lord, stand still. This is what God says. Drop down. God says, «You will not need to fight. You won’t need to fight in this battle. Position yourself, » number one, «stand still and see the salvation of the Lord». If I can show you the Hebrew, Jesus’s name, Yeshua, in Hebrew, is what you find down here. «Position yourself, stand still and see Jesus».
See Jesus. For those of you who know alef tav, alef tav appears here. Alef tav, Jesus, Yahweh. «Don’t be afraid! Don’t be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them. The Lord is with you». «Pastor Prince, they still have to go out and fight». Yes, but they send singers to show how much they trust the battle is not theirs, praising the Lord, amen?
Moses at the Red Sea: Hold Your Peace
Now we go to the time of Moses in front of the Red Sea, armies of Pharaoh coming behind, the people yelling, «Did you bring us out here to die, Moses? Is this what it’s all about»? And then Bible says: «Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid! Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.'»
Same thing… see Jesus, stand still, see the invisible. The one who loves you, the one who cares for you, the one who gave his life for you, look at him, all right? «The Egyptians, » the disease you see on the X-ray, the condition in your child, that lack, that debt, the huge debt you’re supposed to pay, «that you see today, you shall see again no more forever». Why? «The Lord will fight for you, and you will hold your peace». The Lord will fight for you. The word «fight» here is lacham. The Lord will fight for you! You will hold your peace.
Okay, watch this, okay? Hold your peace. «I want to do something». Hold your peace. Hold it. Hold it steady. «I want to say something». Hold your peace. The Lord will fight for you. «Maybe God needs my help». Hold your peace! The Lord will fight for you. «I don’t see any difference. It’s getting worse». Hold your peace! Hold your peace! The Lord will fight for you. «I need to help God»!
Then God hold his peace. Remember this. God must get all the glory. He doesn’t share the glory. I always say this and I say this reverently. If God wants to get all the glory, let God do all the work. Just sit there, «Lord, Lord, it’s you and my X-ray, what it says. You, the battle is not mine. The battle is yours, Lord. The battle is yours. The battle is yours, » amen? My debt, my huge debt, it’s not my problem. It’s your problem, Lord. The battle is yours. The battle is yours, Lord. And that will always come throughout the day. It’s a fight of faith. It’s a beautiful fight of faith.
What are you going to do about it? No, it’s the Lord. It’s not mine. The battle is not mine. You found the wrong guy, right? Look to the one, amen, who sees everything. Praise the Lord.
Feeding During the Storm
Do you remember the story of the storm that came to the disciples when they were on their way to Capernaum? What happened? Jesus was on a mountain and he saw, in the Lake of Galilee, there was a storm coming, and the disciples were rowing, rowing against the storm. And the Bible says he came to them. But what happened before that? The feeding of the 5000. So the disciples, before the storm, he fed them. All his disciples had 12 basketsful left over for the 12 disciples. He fed them before the storm.
Listen, he will prepare you. He will feed you. And after the storm, he will feed you. During the storm, he will feed you. You know how you win? Not by «Devil, devil, I come against you, » all right? Just feed. When you feed, God fights for you. He prepares a table before you. I’m glad you came to church today. I’m glad you are feeding on God’s Word. Feeding is possessing. Feeding is fighting. Can I have a good amen? And remember this: you hold your peace, God won’t. He’ll fight for you. If you fight, God holds his peace. And everything in you will cry, «You gotta do something»!
Don’t do anything. And finally, all those giants they were afraid of and the walls of Jericho, even the big lofty walls, all fell after six days of silence. Joshua made the people go around the walls in silence. Not a word. «Hold your peace, » Joshua said, why? The Lord is fighting for you. On the seventh day, only on the seventh day, he said, «Shout»! And all those giants they were afraid of 38 years ago, those tall Anakims, big giants, lofty walls, all fell flat with one shout. The Lord will fight for you. I don’t care if it’s cancer. Whatever it is, the Lord will fight for you. Your place is fight not to fight and labor to enter the rest, all right? «Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest».
One of the things you need to possess is protection, all right? You don’t get automatically protected just because you’re in New Creation Church and just because Pastor Prince preaches on protection. You need to possess, step on it, possess your possessions that have been given to you. Can I have a good amen? Praise the Lord.
Closing Prayer
Lift your hands all across this place and everywhere that’s watching this and also Grace Revolution Church, lift up your hands for the Lord.
God, who knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning; God, who knows all the months of this year and the weeks and the days; God, who knows all the devices of the enemy that he has prepared to ensnare you, to stumble you, this same God keeps you and protects you, keeps you from all evil, protect you and your loved ones from every danger, harm, accident, tragedy, from the powers of darkness, from terror, and from the power of the evil one. This wonderful God who kept the children of Israel throughout the wilderness, who brought them into the Promised Land, who defeated their enemies, defeat all your enemies. The battle is his. Today, Father, we make a commitment to you that whatever troubles comes our way, Lord, we’ll see it as your battle. Hands off. It’s your battle, not ours. Thank you, Father God, in Jesus’s name. and all the people said amen.