Christian Fortitude.
Consider the necessity and the true grounds of Christian fortitude.
I. The necessity of it may perhaps not pass altogether unquestioned. It is well known that the Christian must be meek and lowly; poor in spirit, a peacemaker; not returning evil for evil, nay, loving his enemies. Where, then, in such a character and career, is the necessity for fortitude? But we Christians want fortitude in and because of this very meekness and peacefulness which have been alleged. Some men are by nature meek, and they very often prove to be of the bravest where it was little expected, but the man who is meek by practice and duty must be a brave man indeed. Such meekness is itself the result of victory, and victory hardly won. The Christian is one who acts from conviction. His opinions are taken up not because they are the fashion of his time, but because they appear to him to be nearest to the truth and to the will of God. For this he needs a steady and manly courage. Again, the Christian has in his own course, to say nothing of his intercourse with others, abundant occasion for fortitude. He sees and feels enemies around him which others know not of.
II. In entering into the sources of the Christian's fortitude, we must at once connect it, as our text does, with the central springs of his faith and hope. From nothing short of these can it proceed. The Christian's courage is not worldly; it is not deistical; it is not merely sprung of natural religion. Stand fast in the faith.The Christian's courage rests on a definite foundation which has been laid independently of himself. And that foundation is in one word, Christ; Christ in all His fulness and firmness, revealing to him his own unworthiness, his Father's love, his Saviour's work, the Spirit's indwelling witness; and all summed up in those words which no reasoner ever arrived at my God.
H. Alford, Quebec Chapel Sermons,vol. v., p. 215.
The things which are necessary to spiritual strength are: (1) right and sound principle, (2) mental and emotional nutriment, (3) work, (4) regimen, self-control, and government, (5) seasonable rest, (6) genial influences, (7) a godly atmosphere, (8) help wisely administered, (9) abstinence from all enervating influences, (10) a will to be strong.
S. Martin, Westminster Chapel Sermons,1st series, p. 1.
References: 1 Corinthians 16:13. H. J. Wilmot Buxton, Sunday Sermonettes for a Year,p. 210; L. Campbell, Some Aspects of the Christian Ideal,p. 148; J. H. Thom, Laws of Life after the Mind of Christ,p. 341; Christian World Pulpit,vol. v., pp. 16, 23; M. Tyler, Ibid.,vol. xxviii., p. 395; Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 260; D. Rhys Jenkins, The Eternal Life,p. 127; Hay Aitken, Mission Sermons,vol. iii., p. 97; W. M. Taylor, Christian at Work,May 13th, 1878; H. W. Beecher, Sermons,vol. i., p. 55; Plain Sermons,vol. vi., p. 278. 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Corinthians 16:14. Church of England Pulpit,vol. iv., p. 73.