Be of Good Courage
Be of Good Courage: Stand in the Gap
Text: 2 Samuel 10:12
Theme: How a Christian Will Stand in the Gap
There is always a gap. In every generation, in every home, in every church, and in every spiritual battle, something is missing, broken, weakened, or threatened. A gap is an opening, a breach, a chasm, a defect, or a weak point where danger can enter or where duty is being neglected. The London Underground reminds travelers to “Mind the Gap,” warning them to be alert to the space between the train and the platform. Spiritually, believers must do the same—recognizing dangerous gaps in their lives, families, and ministries, and allowing the Lord to either fill them or empower us to stand in them.
Standing in the gap takes courage, and Scripture has much to say about that word. The terms courage, courageous, and courageously appear twenty-six times in the AV1611, and the definition is rich: bravery; intrepidity; boldness; resolution; and the spiritual quality that enables a believer to face danger or difficulty with firmness rather than fear. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to stand firm while fear presses in. According to 2 Timothy 1:7, the believer’s courage flows from a God who has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
Courage also includes valor, and true valor is never rooted in physical ability or human intellect. It is dependent entirely upon God. The Scriptures remind us that strength, skill, and victory come “through God” (Psalm 60:12), through the presence of the Lord (1 Samuel 16:18), and through Jesus Christ, who strengthens the believer (Psalm 118:15–16; Philippians 4:13). A person may be physically strong and spiritually fearful, or physically timid yet spiritually mighty. Gideon is proof—called a “mighty man of valor” while he was hiding in weakness. God sees not what we are in ourselves, but what we can become through him. Therefore, the call of 1 Corinthians 16:13 still stands: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
But courage is not only needed to confront danger; it is also required when God calls someone to fill a spiritual vacancy. In Ezekiel 22:30, God searched for someone who would stand in the gap, repair the breach, and intercede on behalf of the land. Tragically, he found none. The same searching gaze is found in Luke 18:8, where the Lord asks whether he will even find faith upon the earth at his return. Gaps often form through unfaithfulness, fear, and neglect, yet God still calls his people to the vocation of standing, walking worthy of the calling they have received (Ephesians 4:1-3). Throughout Scripture, men and women such as Joseph, Moses, Joshua and Caleb, Jephthah, Ruth, David, Daniel, Esther, Mary, and Paul stepped forward when others stepped back. They filled gaps, lifted burdens, and fought battles that demanded more courage than comfort.
Strength is required to stand in the gap, and Ezra 10:4 reminds us that this strength comes from God himself. Often, the Lord teaches us strength by first allowing us to experience weakness. Isaiah 41:10, 1 Corinthians 12:9, and Hebrews 11:34 show that divine strength is most clearly displayed when human strength fails. Obedience fuels courage, and obedience frequently grows through suffering (Hebrews 5:8). Doing the will of God when it is difficult is an act of valor. Andrew Fuller wisely observed, “Great faith is not shown by great talent, but by great obedience.” And before the work of standing can be accomplished, there must be humility to confess sin, lay aside pride, and submit to the word of God, just as Ezra did.
Sometimes believers also need to strengthen one another to remain in the gap. Moses strengthened Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:28), and Jesus strengthened Peter so he might strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:32). Courage is woven into the very word encouragement. When we exhort one another, we literally put courage into one another. Scripture and experience teach that courage is contagious, as is cowardice (Numbers 13-14). God uses his people to lift and strengthen, while the enemy uses discouragement, criticism, and fear to weaken. As Spurgeon once wrote, “A word fitly spoken may be the spark that kindles the flame of courage in a fainting heart.” (See: Proverbs 25:11)
Courage is also developed through patience. Psalm 27:14 calls believers to wait on the Lord, and in the waiting, he strengthens the heart. Patience and courage grow together, for neither can be developed without deeper fellowship with Christ. To wait is not to be idle; it is to trust, to lean, and to rest in the timing and strength of the Lord who renews his people like the eagle (Isaiah 40:31).
Finally, courage is fueled by hope. Psalm 31:24 reminds believers to “be of good courage” because the Lord will strengthen their hearts. Romans 5:5 teaches that hope does not make us ashamed, and 1 Timothy 1:1 declares that Christ is not only the object of our hope but he IS our hope. A Christian’s courage will always rise or fall in proportion to where his hope is placed.
Courage, then, is the application of faith, the embodiment of conviction, the strength born of suffering, the blessing of encouragement, the patience of waiting, and the confidence of hope. There will always be gaps that need to be filled. But there is always a God who strengthens those who are willing to stand.
Text: 2 Samuel 10:12
Theme: How a Christian Will Stand in the Gap
There is always a gap. In every generation, in every home, in every church, and in every spiritual battle, something is missing, broken, weakened, or threatened. A gap is an opening, a breach, a chasm, a defect, or a weak point where danger can enter or where duty is being neglected. The London Underground reminds travelers to “Mind the Gap,” warning them to be alert to the space between the train and the platform. Spiritually, believers must do the same—recognizing dangerous gaps in their lives, families, and ministries, and allowing the Lord to either fill them or empower us to stand in them.
Standing in the gap takes courage, and Scripture has much to say about that word. The terms courage, courageous, and courageously appear twenty-six times in the AV1611, and the definition is rich: bravery; intrepidity; boldness; resolution; and the spiritual quality that enables a believer to face danger or difficulty with firmness rather than fear. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to stand firm while fear presses in. According to 2 Timothy 1:7, the believer’s courage flows from a God who has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
Courage also includes valor, and true valor is never rooted in physical ability or human intellect. It is dependent entirely upon God. The Scriptures remind us that strength, skill, and victory come “through God” (Psalm 60:12), through the presence of the Lord (1 Samuel 16:18), and through Jesus Christ, who strengthens the believer (Psalm 118:15–16; Philippians 4:13). A person may be physically strong and spiritually fearful, or physically timid yet spiritually mighty. Gideon is proof—called a “mighty man of valor” while he was hiding in weakness. God sees not what we are in ourselves, but what we can become through him. Therefore, the call of 1 Corinthians 16:13 still stands: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
But courage is not only needed to confront danger; it is also required when God calls someone to fill a spiritual vacancy. In Ezekiel 22:30, God searched for someone who would stand in the gap, repair the breach, and intercede on behalf of the land. Tragically, he found none. The same searching gaze is found in Luke 18:8, where the Lord asks whether he will even find faith upon the earth at his return. Gaps often form through unfaithfulness, fear, and neglect, yet God still calls his people to the vocation of standing, walking worthy of the calling they have received (Ephesians 4:1-3). Throughout Scripture, men and women such as Joseph, Moses, Joshua and Caleb, Jephthah, Ruth, David, Daniel, Esther, Mary, and Paul stepped forward when others stepped back. They filled gaps, lifted burdens, and fought battles that demanded more courage than comfort.
Strength is required to stand in the gap, and Ezra 10:4 reminds us that this strength comes from God himself. Often, the Lord teaches us strength by first allowing us to experience weakness. Isaiah 41:10, 1 Corinthians 12:9, and Hebrews 11:34 show that divine strength is most clearly displayed when human strength fails. Obedience fuels courage, and obedience frequently grows through suffering (Hebrews 5:8). Doing the will of God when it is difficult is an act of valor. Andrew Fuller wisely observed, “Great faith is not shown by great talent, but by great obedience.” And before the work of standing can be accomplished, there must be humility to confess sin, lay aside pride, and submit to the word of God, just as Ezra did.
Sometimes believers also need to strengthen one another to remain in the gap. Moses strengthened Joshua (Deuteronomy 3:28), and Jesus strengthened Peter so he might strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:32). Courage is woven into the very word encouragement. When we exhort one another, we literally put courage into one another. Scripture and experience teach that courage is contagious, as is cowardice (Numbers 13-14). God uses his people to lift and strengthen, while the enemy uses discouragement, criticism, and fear to weaken. As Spurgeon once wrote, “A word fitly spoken may be the spark that kindles the flame of courage in a fainting heart.” (See: Proverbs 25:11)
Courage is also developed through patience. Psalm 27:14 calls believers to wait on the Lord, and in the waiting, he strengthens the heart. Patience and courage grow together, for neither can be developed without deeper fellowship with Christ. To wait is not to be idle; it is to trust, to lean, and to rest in the timing and strength of the Lord who renews his people like the eagle (Isaiah 40:31).
Finally, courage is fueled by hope. Psalm 31:24 reminds believers to “be of good courage” because the Lord will strengthen their hearts. Romans 5:5 teaches that hope does not make us ashamed, and 1 Timothy 1:1 declares that Christ is not only the object of our hope but he IS our hope. A Christian’s courage will always rise or fall in proportion to where his hope is placed.
Courage, then, is the application of faith, the embodiment of conviction, the strength born of suffering, the blessing of encouragement, the patience of waiting, and the confidence of hope. There will always be gaps that need to be filled. But there is always a God who strengthens those who are willing to stand.
Posted in Courage, Exhortation, Trusting God
Posted in courage, exhortation, encouragement, faith, trust, hope, patience
Posted in courage, exhortation, encouragement, faith, trust, hope, patience
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