Episode Overview

Title: WIN... Before You Begin
Guest Speaker: Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr.
Host: Jabin Chavez
Podcast: City Light Church Las Vegas
Date: February 23, 2026

This episode, featuring guest Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr., centers on the message of preparing for victory internally before facing external battles. Drawing deeply from Deuteronomy 20 and personal stories, Rich passionately encourages listeners and City Light Church to adopt an identity of faith and victory, stressing that “the battle is the Lord’s”—but God still asks us to fight. The focus is on how to “win before you begin” by establishing faith and embracing God’s promises, regardless of circumstances.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Foundation: God’s Presence & Identity (00:00–05:16)

• Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 20:1 — Moses prepares the Israelites for battle, telling them not to fear even when facing seemingly superior enemies, because God is with them.
  • Quote: “When you go to war against your enemies and you see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, City Light, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.” (Rich Wilkerson Jr., 00:04)
• Theme: The biggest battle is internal—the fight in our minds, hearts, and souls. Our mental image of God shapes every battle we face.
  • Quote: “The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God.” (Rich Wilkerson Jr., paraphrasing A.W. Tozer, 02:35)
• Personal Touch: Rich shares a humorous and endearing story about correcting his children, illustrating God as a loving Father, not just a protector, but someone who actively fights for us (04:20–05:14).

2. Winning Internally: Don’t Let What You See Shake What You Know (05:34–08:47)

• Key Point: We must determine not to let external circumstances shake our internal convictions.
  • “Don’t let what you see shake what you know.” (05:37)
• Fear & Faith: Fear starts with what we see, and humans tend to craft stories around what’s visible, often fueling worry and anxiety.
  • Quote: “Human beings are meaning machines... we script something.” (Rich Wilkerson Jr., 06:38)
• Faith over Fear: Everything God has for you is on the other side of fear.
  • Quote: “If faith got us here, faith is going to take us into the next season.” (Assistant/Worship Leader, 08:20)

3. The Power of Repetition: Faith & The Word (08:47–14:44)

• Scripture Practice: The command to “do not be afraid” appears 365 times in the Bible—faith must be daily.
  • Quote: “If fear doesn’t take a day off, faith can’t take a day off.” (08:47)
• Hearing God’s Word: Walking by faith means sometimes you can’t see it, but you need to hear it. Consistency (not occasional attendance) matters.
  • Quote: “Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.” (08:55)
• Bible Story: Peter walking on water and beginning to sink when he focused on the storm, not the word.
  • Key Moment: “The water is liquid, but my word is solid.” (10:47)

4. Remember What God Has Done (11:23–12:33)

• Encouragement: When you can’t see what God is doing, remember what He’s already done.
  • Rich references City Light’s journey—meeting in schools, then a storefront, now in their own building—God’s faithfulness continues.
  • Quote: “If God brought you up out of Egypt, he can bring you through whatever you’re going through.” (12:06)

5. Worry vs. The Word (12:33–14:44)

• Spiritual Emphasis: Moses prioritizes sending priests (the word), not generals (weaponry), before battle—every warrior needs a preacher.
  • Quote: “Before the war is won, the word must come forward.” (12:58)
• Cultural Contrast: The world shouts fear and worry; the Church must shout the Word louder.
  • Quote: “I want to make sure God’s word is louder than your worry.” (14:44)
• Etymology: “Worry” comes from an old word meaning “to strangle”—that’s what worry does to faith.

6. Training with the Word: From Reflex to Resilience (14:53–22:13)

• Practice: What you rehearse in times of peace becomes your reflex under pressure.
  • Quote: “What you repeat in peace will become your reflex under pressure.” (15:00)
• Jesus as Example: Jesus responds to the devil’s temptations with “it is written,” modeling the importance of Scripture in resisting doubt.
  • Comparing Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness (quoting Deuteronomy) to Israel’s 40 years—the Word is enough if used (17:53–18:58).
• Scripture as Weapon: Having the Bible is not enough; you must learn, internalize, and apply it.
  • Memorable Analogy 1: “The Bible’s like sunblock... The power is not having the sunblock in the drawer. The power is applying it.” (19:48)
  • Memorable Analogy 2: Flipping and reading for a random “word” from God is not maturity—a life of faith requires learning Scripture, not roulette. (21:14)

7. Pressure Reveals What’s Inside (22:13–24:32)

• Illustration: Like squeezing fruit produces juice, pressure reveals what’s inside a believer.
  • Quote: “When you squeeze a believer, you ought to get believer juice...the fruit of the spirit still grows under pressure.” (22:46–23:38)
• Hope for Growth: Rich encourages the Church to be a people who demonstrate love, joy, peace—even in adversity.

8. Acting into Feeling, Not Feeling into Action (25:10–27:51)

• Formation: Don’t wait to feel ready—actions shape feelings.
  • Quote: “Do not feel your way into actions. Act your way into feelings.” (25:27)
• Practice: Serving and engaging in community even when you don’t feel like it helps reinforce faith.

9. Faith Has a Sound—Testimony and Future (27:51–29:23)

• Atmosphere: Faith, hope, courage, and joy all have a sound—let the church be louder in faith than the world is in fear.
• Family Story: Rich’s father always ended sermons with “and church, we’re gonna win”—a perspective shaped by understanding the end of God’s story.
  • Quote: “I’ve read the end of the book... I know how the story goes.” (29:20)

10. Transformation through the Struggle (29:23–end)

• Personal Testimony: Rich recounts his son Wyatt’s fear of the Space Mountain rollercoaster, symbolizing how we change—not our circumstances.
  • Quote: “You didn’t change the ride. You changed.” (31:44)
• Prophetic Encouragement: “The battles aren’t getting easier, but you’re getting stronger...”
  • Quote: “We’re going to win before we begin.” (31:48)
• Closing Exhortation: “We serve a God who’s never lost a battle before, and he’s not going to start with you. All you’ve got to do is look up and see where your help comes from...” (31:50–end)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God.” (Rich Wilkerson Jr., 02:35)
• “Don’t let what you see shake what you know.” (05:37)
• “If fear doesn’t take a day off, faith can’t take a day off.” (08:47)
• “The water is liquid, but my word is solid.” (10:47)
• “Before the war is won, the word must come forward.” (12:58)
• “What you repeat in peace will become your reflex under pressure.” (15:00)
• “The Bible’s like sunblock...the power is applying it.” (19:48)
• “When you squeeze a believer, you ought to get believer juice.” (23:13)
• “Do not feel your way into actions. Act your way into feelings.” (25:27)
• “I’ve read the end of the book... I know how the story goes.” (29:20)
• “You didn’t change the ride. You changed.” (31:44)
• “The battles aren’t getting easier, but you’re getting stronger.” (31:46)
• “We serve a God who’s never lost a battle before, and he’s not gonna start with you.” (31:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |--------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–05:16 | Introduction: Deuteronomy 20, God’s presence, family story | | 05:34–08:47 | Faith vs Fear, Winning before the battle | | 08:47–10:47 | “Do not be afraid”; Peter walking on water analogy | | 11:23–12:33 | Remembering God’s past faithfulness | | 12:33–14:44 | Worry vs. The Word; sending priests before battle | | 14:44–22:13 | Training with the Word, pressure reveals the heart | | 22:13–24:32 | Fruit of the Spirit under pressure | | 25:10–27:51 | Action precedes feeling; discipline in community | | 27:51–29:23 | Faith has a sound; testimony from Rich’s father | | 29:23–31:44 | Story: Space Mountain, personal and church transformation | | 31:44–end | Final exhortation: Stronger in the struggle, victory in Christ|

Summary—Takeaway for Listeners

Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. delivers a high-energy, hope-filled message urging City Light Church to “win before you begin.” Victory is not found in external circumstances, but is forged internally through faith, identity in Christ, and deep-rooted reliance on God’s Word. Listeners are challenged to let God’s history shape their courage, train in Scripture to prepare for life’s battles, and to act in faith even when feelings lag behind. The core exhortation: Your battles may not get easier, but as you grow in faith and resilience, you will get stronger—and you “gonna win,” because the Lord who brought you this far will never stop fighting for you.