The Courage To Conquer
The courage to press on even in tough times.
Courage To Pray
I. Be Prayerful
“… in everything by prayer … let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).
A. Those who do not pray do not win. They fail because they depend on their own strength.
B. God’s power is released through prayer. God never fails. We win as we depend on Him (Matt. 21:22).
II. Be Positive
“… whatsoever things are of good report … think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).
A. Those who have negative attitudes fail. They look for and expect the worst and, as a result, they receive it.
B. We must look for the good and expect the best. Faith pleases God and brings the victory (1 John 5:4).
III. Be Purposeful
“… the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (Phil. 1:12).
A. The apostle Paul was a winner. The purpose of his life was to further the gospel of Jesus Christ.
B. We need a purpose for living, too. We glorify God as we let Him speak through us (Rom. 14:7–8).
IV. Be Persuasive
“… he that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30).
A. Many fail in their soul-winning attempts. They are unconvincing because they lack concern and courage.
B. We should witness to the lost with persuasion, realizing that the value of a soul is beyond estimation (Matt. 18:11).
V. Be Persevering
“… I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil. 3:8).
A. St. Paul suffered many things for Christ. He never gave up. He was a winner.
B. Troubles, trials, and testings come to everyone. We can win, too, if we “keep on keeping on” (See Rom. 12:12)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.—Here we find:—I. WEAKNESS AND STRENGTH. The believer is weak in himself. Looking to the “all things” to be done he laments this with shame and tears. But he is not alone. Allied to Christ he is strong to overcome evil and to do good. He has courage and hope. Nothing in the way of duty is impossible (2 Cor. 12:8–10). II. DEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM. Dependence is the law of our being. Of the natural life it is said, “In God we live and move and have our being;” how much more is this true of the spiritual life, and yet we are free. Of our own choice we trust in Christ; of our own will, every moment we abide in Him. “I can” implies the personal life, reason, conscience, will, and endeavour. III. HUMILITY AND ASPIRATION. Paul was remarkable for humility; it grew with him. But he was not discouraged. Fired with the noblest ambition, his inspiration was from above. So with all Christians. In spite of conscious weakness, opposition, and failure, “through Christ they take heart to persevere. “My soul cleaveth to the dust: quicken thou me according to Thy Word.” IV. SUFFERING AND CONTENTMENT. Paul’s life was marked by vicissitudes and trouble; he was now in prison. But what then? His soul was free; there was peace within, Christ was with him. As a scholar under the great Master he had learned many things, and among others the Divine secret of content (ver. 11). So with Christians. Their satisfaction is not from without but from within; not from the lower and perishable things of the world, but from the immortal affection of their Saviour and God. LEARN—1. The greatness of Christ as suggested by the place given Him by such a man as Paul. Consider his zeal, labours, achievements, and yet he ascribes the praise of all to Christ. But Paul was only one of many. 2. The grandeur of the Christian life. There is no limit to its possibilities. What has been done is only an earnest of what will be done. Take courage.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.—Here we find:—I. WEAKNESS AND STRENGTH. The believer is weak in himself. Looking to the “all things” to be done he laments this with shame and tears. But he is not alone. Allied to Christ he is strong to overcome evil and to do good. He has courage and hope. Nothing in the way of duty is impossible (2 Cor. 12:8–10). II. DEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM. Dependence is the law of our being. Of the natural life it is said, “In God we live and move and have our being;” how much more is this true of the spiritual life, and yet we are free. Of our own choice we trust in Christ; of our own will, every moment we abide in Him. “I can” implies the personal life, reason, conscience, will, and endeavour. III. HUMILITY AND ASPIRATION. Paul was remarkable for humility; it grew with him. But he was not discouraged. Fired with the noblest ambition, his inspiration was from above. So with all Christians. In spite of conscious weakness, opposition, and failure, “through Christ they take heart to persevere. “My soul cleaveth to the dust: quicken thou me according to Thy Word.” IV. SUFFERING AND CONTENTMENT. Paul’s life was marked by vicissitudes and trouble; he was now in prison. But what then? His soul was free; there was peace within, Christ was with him. As a scholar under the great Master he had learned many things, and among others the Divine secret of content (ver. 11). So with Christians. Their satisfaction is not from without but from within; not from the lower and perishable things of the world, but from the immortal affection of their Saviour and God. LEARN—1. The greatness of Christ as suggested by the place given Him by such a man as Paul. Consider his zeal, labours, achievements, and yet he ascribes the praise of all to Christ. But Paul was only one of many. 2. The grandeur of the Christian life. There is no limit to its possibilities. What has been done is only an earnest of what will be done. Take courage.
Every Christian ought to read Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, because it illustrates this principle of inner power in the life of a great missionary to China. For many years, Hudson Taylor worked hard and felt that he was trusting Christ to meet his needs, but somehow he had no joy or liberty in his ministry. Then a letter from a friend opened his eyes to the adequacy of Christ. “It is not by trusting my own faithfulness, but by looking away to the Faithful One!” he said. This was a turning point in his life. Moment by moment, he drew on the power of Christ for every responsibility of the day, and Christ’s power carried him through.
