The only effective encouragement to God’s people is the reality of his blessing. They can get in a state of mind where they look on the Lord as if his power has faded, and the gospel has grown tired. Few are converted, and the church can put a huge amount of effort into trying to win the lost and very little fruit follows. Does the gospel lack the power that it used to have? Has the unbeliever gone so far in his unbelief that he can no longer be convicted of sin; can he no longer be troubled about his eternal state? Do we feel that the moral collapse of society makes it impossible for the gospel to break new ground? This is not the real issue.
‘The battle is the Lord’s’, David told Goliath and then cut off the giant’s head with his own sword. God gives us strength to continue the work when the forces that oppose us seem to be too strong for us. He lifts up our hearts when we are discouraged through setbacks. He sets before us a goal and shows us that what we gain in serving him brings an eternal reward that can never be lost. The world does not have access to heaven to steal our treasure laid up there; it is guarded by Christ. The world has no arguments that can persuade the Lord to turn against us, for he already knows the worst about us. ‘Be strong’: these words are words of comfort for those who have become disheartened, but who must not give up, because the battle is the Lord’s, our strength is from the Lord. He gives us strength through his promises which we learn to rely on. His Spirit reminds us of these, and where the world would give up and lay down their trowel and their sword, we keep both at the ready, and ask for strength to face another day. We need to be strong in terms of courage and of vision. We need a clear view of what God requires. We will soldier on no matter what happens. We cannot serve in a state of doubt as to whether anything will be achieved. ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 15:58).