Courageous Faith: Standing Firm in Adversity
Summary
Courage is a vital part of a resilient Christian faith, yet for many of us in Canada and similar contexts, the true cost and meaning of courage can be difficult to grasp. While we enjoy the freedom to worship without fear, millions of Christians worldwide face real persecution and danger for their faith. This reality should shape our understanding of what it means to be courageous as followers of Christ. Courage is not simply about boldness or bravado; it is about a steady, faithful commitment to stand for what is right, even when it is far safer to remain silent.
Looking to the lives of Elijah and Esther, we see two powerful examples of godly courage. Elijah, a prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel, confronted a society that had turned away from God, challenging both the people and their leaders to return to authentic faith. His ministry was marked by moments of deep dependence on God’s provision, as well as profound personal struggle and darkness. Yet, Elijah’s willingness to stand alone, to speak truth to power, and to trust God in the face of overwhelming opposition, reveals a courage rooted in conviction and obedience.
Esther, a Jewish queen in Persia, faced a different kind of challenge. When confronted with a plot to destroy her people, she navigated the complexities of her position with wisdom and bravery. Though initially hidden, her faith became the foundation for her bold intercession before the king. Esther’s courage was not marked by dramatic confrontation, but by a quiet, resolute willingness to risk everything for the sake of others. Her story reminds us that courage is not always loud or spectacular; sometimes it is the quiet strength to speak up and act when it would be easier to remain hidden.
Both Elijah and Esther demonstrate that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act in obedience to God despite fear. Their lives teach us that true courage often means being the lone voice for truth and justice in a broken world, using whatever platform or privilege God has given us to stand for others. This is the kind of courage needed not only by persecuted Christians around the world, but by all who seek to live out a strong and resilient faith.
Key Takeaways
- Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act in obedience to God even when fear is present. Elijah’s story shows that even those who are deeply faithful can experience profound darkness and struggle, yet God meets us in those places and calls us forward. True courage acknowledges fear but chooses faithfulness over comfort. [07:31]
- Godly courage often means standing alone for what is right, even when silence would be safer. Both Elijah and Esther risked their own safety and comfort to speak truth and confront injustice, reminding us that faith sometimes requires us to be the lone voice in a crowd. This kind of courage is rooted in conviction and trust in God’s presence. [11:43]
- The expression of courage can look very different depending on the situation. Elijah’s courage was dramatic and public, calling down fire and challenging false prophets, while Esther’s was quiet and strategic, using her influence to intercede for her people. Both forms are equally valid and necessary in God’s kingdom. [13:33]
- Courage is not about recklessness or loudness, but about a steady commitment to stand for what is right. It is the willingness to use whatever privilege or platform God has given us to defend those who cannot defend themselves, and to speak up for justice even when it comes at personal cost. [15:35]
- The stories of Elijah and Esther remind us that courage arises when calling, conviction, and trust in God align. Their examples challenge us to examine our own lives: are we willing to step forward, speak truth, and act for the sake of others, even when it is difficult or dangerous? This is the building block of a resilient and authentic faith. [16:35]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Introducing the Theme of Courage
[02:45] - The Global Reality of Christian Persecution
[04:52] - Why Biblical Examples Matter
[06:00] - Elijah: Context and Calling
[07:31] - Elijah’s Struggles and God’s Provision
[08:45] - Esther: Context and Dilemma
[09:58] - Esther’s Strategic Courage
[11:43] - Courage: Not the Absence of Fear
[12:50] - Elijah’s Confrontation with the Prophets of Baal
[13:33] - God’s Response and Vindication
[14:30] - Esther’s Quiet Intercession
[15:35] - Using God-Given Privilege for Courage
[16:35] - The Building Block: Courage in Faith
[17:10] - Closing and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Courage in Faith
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### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 18:16-39
(Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal and calls Israel back to God.)
2. Esther 4:8-17
(Esther decides to risk her life by approaching the king to save her people.)
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### Observation Questions
1. In the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-39), what specific risks did Elijah take when he confronted the prophets of Baal and King Ahab?
2. When Esther hears about the plot against her people (Esther 4:8-17), what steps does she take before deciding to approach the king?
3. According to the sermon, what are some ways Elijah experienced both God’s provision and personal struggle during his ministry? [07:31]
4. How does Esther’s approach to courage differ from Elijah’s, based on the sermon’s description? [13:33]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act in obedience to God even when fear is present.” How does this definition challenge common ideas about what it means to be courageous? [11:43]
2. Both Elijah and Esther stood alone for what was right, even when it was dangerous. What does their example teach about the relationship between faith, conviction, and risk? [15:35]
3. The sermon points out that Elijah’s courage was dramatic and public, while Esther’s was quiet and strategic. Why might God use different kinds of courage in different situations? [13:33]
4. The pastor mentioned that Elijah went through a period of deep darkness and struggle. How does this part of his story help us understand the reality of following God courageously? [07:31]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon highlights that many Christians around the world face real persecution for their faith, while we often enjoy safety and freedom. How does this global reality affect the way you think about courage in your own faith? Are there areas where you have chosen comfort over conviction? [04:52]
2. Elijah was willing to be the lone voice for truth in a society that had turned away from God. Is there a situation in your life—at work, school, or home—where you feel called to speak up for what is right, even if it means standing alone? What holds you back? [11:43]
3. Esther used her position and influence to help others, even at great personal risk. What “platform” or privilege has God given you, and how might you use it to stand up for someone who cannot defend themselves? [15:35]
4. The sermon says that courage is not always loud or dramatic. Can you think of a time when you needed to show quiet, steady courage? What did that look like? [13:33]
5. Both Elijah and Esther acted out of a deep trust in God’s presence. What practices help you grow in trust and conviction so that you can act courageously when needed? [16:35]
6. The pastor mentioned that Elijah experienced profound struggle and darkness, yet God met him there. If you are facing fear or discouragement, what would it look like to invite God into that place and take a step of faith anyway? [07:31]
7. Looking at your life right now, is there a specific area where you sense God calling you to step forward in courage? What is one practical step you can take this week to move in that direction? [16:35]
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Devotional
Day 1: Courage Means Standing Firm in Obedience to God
Courage is not the absence of fear or a reckless disregard for consequences, but a steady commitment to stand for what is right, even when silence would be safer and more comfortable. True courage in faith is demonstrated when one is willing to stand alone in obedience to God, confronting injustice and speaking truth, even when it comes at personal risk. This kind of courage is essential for a strong and resilient faith, especially in a world where many face real persecution for their beliefs. [11:43]
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to remain silent instead of standing up for what is right, and what would it look like to take a courageous step of obedience to God today?
Day 2: Elijah—Confronting Falsehood with Conviction
Elijah’s story is a powerful example of godly courage, as he stood alone against the prophets of Baal and called a nation back to truth, risking his own safety to confront idolatry and spiritual compromise. His willingness to challenge the prevailing culture and trust in God’s power, even when outnumbered and threatened, shows that courage often means being the lone voice for truth in a broken world. Elijah’s faith was not in his own strength, but in the God who answers by fire and vindicates those who stand for Him. [13:33]
1 Kings 18:36-39 (ESV)
"And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.' Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, 'The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.'"
Reflection: Is there a situation where you need to speak truth or confront falsehood, even if it means standing alone? What would trusting God in that moment look like for you?
Day 3: Esther—Courage in Advocacy and Intercession
Esther’s courage was not marked by dramatic confrontation, but by her willingness to risk her position and safety to plead for her people, using her God-given platform to speak up against injustice. Her story reminds us that courage can be quiet yet resolute, and that sometimes the most powerful act is simply to stand up and advocate for those who cannot defend themselves. Esther’s obedience and strategic wisdom saved her people from destruction, showing that God uses those who are willing to step forward in faith. [15:35]
Esther 4:13-16 (ESV)
"Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, 'Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?' Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 'Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.'"
Reflection: Who in your life or community needs you to speak up or advocate for them, and how can you use your influence or position to act on their behalf today?
Day 4: God’s Presence Sustains Us in Our Darkest Moments
Elijah’s journey included moments of deep despair and mental crisis, yet God’s presence and provision met him in his darkest hour, reminding us that courage is not about never feeling fear or weakness, but about trusting God to sustain and move us beyond our lowest points. Even when overwhelmed or tempted to give up, God honors our honesty and meets us with compassion, giving us the strength to continue. [07:31]
1 Kings 19:3-8 (ESV)
"Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, 'It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.' And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, 'Arise and eat.' And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, 'Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.' And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God."
Reflection: When have you felt overwhelmed or at the end of your strength, and how might you invite God’s presence and provision into your struggles today?
Day 5: Courage Is for the Sake of Others, Not Just Ourselves
Both Elijah and Esther demonstrate that true courage is not self-serving, but is exercised for the sake of others—calling a nation back to truth, or risking everything to save a people from destruction. Godly courage arises when calling, conviction, and trust in God’s presence align, and it often means being the lone voice for justice and mercy in a world that prefers silence. The call to courage is a call to act decisively, not for personal glory, but to serve and defend those who cannot stand for themselves. [16:35]
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can use your voice, resources, or position today to serve or defend someone who is vulnerable or overlooked?
Quotes
When I talk about courage in your faith, it's a universal message, Christian message. Here in Canada, in this church and churches throughout Canada, we really don't know what the word courage means. We don't really appreciate all the efforts previous generations have made to, well, to build and preserve the principle of being able to worship in one's faith, tradition, and add as a fundamental right. [00:03:19] (36 seconds)
For the majority, for, well, not the majority, but for certainly a very high percentage of Christians in the world today, that right is not, not only not guaranteed, but is actively persecuted. So the message of courage in your faith is really a message that probably resonates more with the substantive number of Christians that experience persecution because they're Christian. [00:03:55] (35 seconds)
So while for us, this notion of, well, we have our convictions, we have those things we've been talking about, creation and commandments and calling and all these things, and how that all comes together. But I want you to keep in mind as we move through this conversation that we're an exception in that sense, where our very comfortable pew is not one where we really can have an honest or forthright conversation until we know what it means to be courageous in our faith. [00:05:05] (42 seconds)
The story of Elijah, um, is really one of honoring or naming that, that, that darkness, and then really God's capacity to move people beyond it. So Elijah is a fascinating, um, figure in the Bible. And I, I think for that reason, he is an exemplar of, of courage. [00:08:49] (25 seconds)
Esther is another fascinating figure. Doesn't get a lot of attention in Christian circles. Um, a very significant and important, uh, uh, uh, figure in Judaism. The festival of Prim is, is sort of, um, um, celebrates really what, what she does. And she was a queen at the time in Persia. So Jewish queen in Persia and set around the sort of a fifth century BCE. [00:09:15] (34 seconds)
It was in his confrontation with the king of the time, Ahab, where really this challenge was brought forward. And in this incredible story of this, um, this risk that Elijah takes, calling out Yahweh's response and opposes the efforts of the prophets of Baal to, to call out Baal into, into the midst of this challenge that happens. [00:12:56] (35 seconds)
For Esther, it's interesting that there's not this great moment of confrontation, there's no great fire, there's no great, you know, there's not this kind of mystical grand spectacle. There is this strong, courageous presence that just rests within her, and she speaks into that. And she enters into the court, the king's court, and she pleads for her people. [00:13:59] (34 seconds)
Now, she doesn't stay quiet, of course. She names the evil that is at the heart of this plot by Haman to destroy her people. But nevertheless, that speaking was powerful and evidence of the kind of courage that I'm talking about this morning. [00:15:07] (29 seconds)
Their stories teach us that courage often means being the lone voice in a broken world. Speaking truth, standing firm, and stepping forward, not for self, but for the sake of others. It is a message that persecuted Christians in our world today need to hear. [00:16:55] (24 seconds)
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