John 6:37 KJV 1900

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

THE CHRIST CHALLENGE

CHRIST OFFERS A CHALLENGE TO THE HUNGRY.

1. He challenges the hungry to come; .

Matthew 22:4 KJV 1900

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

2. He challenges the hungry to come without price; .

Isaiah 55:1 KJV 1900

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, And he that hath no money; Come ye, buy, and eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

3. He challenges to a life free from hunger; .

John 6:35 KJV 1900

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

CHRIST OFFERS A CHALLENGE TO THE THIRSTY.

1. He challenges the thirsty with everlasting life; .

John 4:14 KJV 1900

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

2. He challenges the thirsty with life indwelling; .

John 7:38 KJV 1900

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

3. He challenges the thirsty by the church; .

Revelation 22:17 KJV 1900

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

CHRIST OFFERS A CHALLENGE TO THE WEARY.

1. He challenges the weary to come to Him; .

Matthew 11:28 KJV 1900

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2. He challenges with the promise of peace; ; .

John 14:27 KJV 1900

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

3. He challenges with the promise of eternal rest; .

Revelation 14:13 KJV 1900

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

CHRIST OFFERS A CHALLENGE TO THE BACKSLIDEN.

1. He challenges the backslider to repent; .

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 1900

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2. He challenges a return to the first love; , .

Revelation 2:4–5 KJV 1900

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

3. He challenges with a promise of forgiveness; .

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

CHRIST OFFERS A CHALLENGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

1. He challenges them to remember God; .

Ecclesiastes 12:1 KJV 1900

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2. He challenges them to come to Him; .

Matthew 19:14 KJV 1900

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

3. He challenges them to live for Him; .

Philippians 1:21 KJV 1900

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

CHRIST OFFERS A CHALLENGE TO HIS SAINTS.

1. He challenges them to witness; , ; .

Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

ACTS

2. He challenges them to pray; ; .

Matthew 7:7 KJV 1900

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Luke 18:1 KJV 1900

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

3. He challenges them to surrender their lives; , .

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

ROMAN

CHRIST OFFERS A CHALLENGE TO PREACHERS.

1. He challenges the preacher to study the Word; ; .

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:14–17 KJV 1900

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2. He challenges the preacher to preach the Word; .

2 Timothy 4:1–4 KJV 1900

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

3. He challenges the preacher to a consecrated life; , .

1 Timothy 6:11–12 KJV 1900

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Apostolon, B. (1966). Preach the Word (p. 75). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.