I'm Not Backing Down, I'm Breaking Through

By James Epperly

What does it means to live in a generation of compromise, where silence is celebrated, but truth is ridiculed? A generation where cowardice feels safe, but courage has become costly?

Let me declare to you:
? Light was never meant to be hidden.
? Truth was never meant to be whispered.
? Faith was never meant to be timid.
This isn’t the time to back down. This is the time to break through.

Cowardice Costs Everything—But Courage Changes Everything
Revelation 21:8 lists those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Most of us expect to see words like “murderers,” “idolaters,” and “liars.” But the very first word might shock you: “the cowardly.”

God doesn’t treat cowardice like a personality quirk. It’s not “just my temperament.” It’s not about being an introvert or extrovert. Cowardice is when fear becomes your master and obedience is abandoned.

Joyce Meyer says, “Do it afraid.” Feeling fear isn’t the sin—it’s bowing to it. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s faith rising stronger than fear.

Hebrews 10:38 puts it bluntly:
“Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
Heaven doesn’t celebrate retreat. God doesn’t smile when His people shrink back.

The True Evidence of the Holy Spirit
I believe in speaking in tongues. I believe in spiritual gifts. But hear me clearly: the true evidence of the Holy Spirit isn’t tongues—it’s boldness.
When the disciples received the Spirit, they went from hiding to preaching, from timid to fearless, from retreating to advancing. And they shook cities for Christ.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t just comfort us—He empowers us to proclaim the gospel without shame.

Gideon: From Hiding to Hero
In Judges 6, Israel hid in caves while Midian stole their harvest. That’s what the enemy always does—he tries to silence you, hide you, and rob you of the very things God has promised.

Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress—wrong place, wrong posture, wrong spirit. But God showed up and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
God didn’t call him by his fear. He called him by his destiny. And when Gideon believed it, he went from a coward in hiding to a warrior leading an army.

Saul: The Tragedy of Cowardice
By contrast, Saul lost everything because of cowardice. God told him to destroy the Amalekites completely, but Saul feared the people more than he feared God. He compromised, covered up, and blamed others.
Cowardice made Saul a liar and a castaway. The fear of man dethroned the fear of God.
This is where many in today’s church find themselves. Afraid to offend. Afraid to speak. Afraid to stand. But silence isn’t neutral—it’s defeat.

Why We Can’t Back Down
This isn’t about politics. This is about morality. Abortion, marriage, justice, and righteousness aren’t political issues—they’re biblical ones. And when the church goes silent, universities, Hollywood, and politicians gladly disciple the next generation in our place.

If the church hides in caves, the enemy will gladly occupy our homes and devour our harvest. And let me tell you plainly—our children are the harvest.
That’s why I’m not interested in just building a big church. I want to build a strong church. A church with a backbone. A church that knows how to fight the devil, proclaim the truth, and stand boldly in this hour.

The Call to Breakthrough
Cowardice shrinks back. Courage steps forward. And I believe God is calling His people to declare today:
? I’m not backing down—I’m breaking through.
You’ve been through too much. You’ve fought too hard. You’ve seen God show up too many times to give up now. Like Gideon, you may feel weak, but heaven calls you a mighty warrior.

Your courage today sets a precedent for your children tomorrow. What you choose to confront now, your children won’t have to fight later.
So let’s rise with boldness, filled with the Spirit of God, and let our light shine like a city on a hill. Because cowardice may cost everything, but courage in Christ changes everything.

Closing Prayer
“Father, thank You that You’ve not called us to shrink back, but to stand strong. Fill us with boldness through Your Spirit. Give us courage to speak truth in love, to stand for righteousness in a compromising generation, and to break through every stronghold the enemy tries to build against us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”