Challenges

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God makes demands on his people and, often through spiritual leaders, confronts believers with their sin. He also calls to account false gods and those who exalt themselves against him. The wicked vainly challenge God by questioning his authority, seeking to resist his power and opposing his people.

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God’s challenge to his people

The challenge to obedience

Deuteronomy 30:15–18 NKJV
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
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The challenge to serve him alone

1 Kings 18:21 NKJV
And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
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The challenge to discipleship

Matthew 16:24–26 NKJV
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
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Challenging one another’s sin

The call to rebuke and admonish

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Sin challenged by spiritual leaders

Nehemiah 9:30 NKJV
Yet for many years You had patience with them, And testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
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Examples of leaders who challenged the sins of others

The prophet Nathan challenges David; Azariah the priest challenges Uzziah; Ezekiel was called to confront Jerusalem; Hosea challenges the unfaithfulness of Israel; Peter confronts Ananias; Paul challenges Peter.

God’s sovereignty is unchallengeable

It cannot be questioned

Isaiah 45:9–11 NKJV
“Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’? Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?’ Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?’ ” Thus says the Lord, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.
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His purposes cannot be thwarted

Isaiah 14:27 NKJV
For the Lord of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?”
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No-one can stand against him

Jeremiah 49:19 NKJV
“Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the floodplain of the Jordan Against the dwelling place of the strong; But I will suddenly make him run away from her. And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her? For who is like Me? Who will arraign Me? And who is that shepherd Who will withstand Me?”
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God’s challenge to the wicked

He challenges false gods

1 Kings 18:22–24 NKJV
Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
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He challenges human pride

Isaiah 23:9 NKJV
The Lord of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
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Challenges to God and his people

To God

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See also ; The serpent challenges God’s word; Isaiah’s opponents challenge God to do what he has announced.

The challenge of the antichrist:

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Jesus Christ is tempted by the devil; Jesus Christ is challenged by Peter; the Pharisees challenge Jesus Christ

To God’s people

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See also ; ; ; ; ; God’s people are equipped to stand against the devil’s attacks;

Further examples of challenges

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