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  BE STRONG
  by Charles E. Cowman
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of strength in facing
life's challenges through faith and perseverance.

Topics: "Christian Perseverance", "Spiritual Strength"
Scripture References: Matthew 7:13, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Philippians 4:13, 2 Timothy 4:7, James 1:12

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DESCRIPTION
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Charles E. Cowman preaches on the importance of strength and
perseverance in the Christian journey, emphasizing the need to pray for
powers equal to our tasks rather than easy lives. He highlights that
greatness is not achieved through an easy or self-indulgent life but
through toil, self-denial, and sacrifice. Cowman encourages believers to
face struggles bravely as God's gift, to stand up against evil, and to
continue fighting despite the challenges, knowing that victory will come
in due time.

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CONTENT
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"Quit you like men, be strong" (1 Cor. 16:13).

Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for
tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then
the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle.
--Phillips Brooks.

We must remember that it is not in any easy or self-indulgent life that
Christ will lead us to greatness. The easy life leads not upward, but
downward. Heaven always is above us, and we must ever be looking up
toward it. These are some people who always avoid things that are
costly, that require self-denial, or self-restraint and sacrifice, but
toil and hardship show us the only way to nobleness. Greatness comes not
by having a mossy path made for you through the meadow, but by being
sent to hew out a roadway by your own hands. Are you going to reach the
mountain splendors?

--Selected.

Be strong!

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;

We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.

Shun not the struggle; face it. 'Tis God's gift.

Be strong!

Say not the days are evil--Who's to blame?

And fold the hands and acquiesece--O shame!

Stand up, speak out, and bravely, In God's name.

Be strong!

It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,

How hard the battle goes, the day how long,

Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.

--Maltbie D. Babcock

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/charles-e-cowman/be-strong/
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