A Challenge
John 6:66-69
Intro. A challenge: when it gets intense how do you react? when you’re the only one, are you ready to stand alone?
In John’s gospel, chap 7 begins with intense opposition building. Jesus’s popularity basically is
going downhill.
1. The question: Now that it is no longer popular, will you leave also?
Gut check, ask yourself: why are you here? Why are you following me? Where is your heart?
2. The question forces an answer: Look inside and answer, why are you following me?
When you are the only one, why?
When all around you are against you, why?
When tragedy has struck, why are you following me?
When exciting miracles are not happening, attendance is down, will you still be there?
3. We believe and are sure: assurance of salvation, assurance of the worth of it.
WHAT TO DO
1. At gut check time, motivations are revealed--check your motivation. Where else can we go?
We want eternal life, and Jesus you are the only one that has it.
2. Become sure of who Christ is.
On Wed., we have been studying the person of Christ; the more you know of what the Bible teaches about Him, the better your relationship will be. Many of you live...
... in doubt--have I caused my relationship with Him to be broken?
... in fear--will He abandon me? has He? can He get me through this?
... in a dead relationship--is He relevant? does He know, understand? can He make a difference?
These fears come because when asked the question, "are you leaving also?" You can not
answer with confidence. What is there to keep you going?
How can i get sure?
1. Ask yourself, "Would I go to heaven if I died today? If so, why?" What do you base that
answer upon?
2. Study the life of Jesus. Begin with the gospel of John. That’s the purpose of John’s
gospel--JOH 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Never underestimate the privilege of knowing Christ--Col. 2:6
COL 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
COL 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.
3. Memorize certain passages:
1JO 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
John 10:28-29 also good.
Conc. When you are discouraged, where are you going to go? Those of you who are not Sure of
Who Jesus is, you’re going to fall. jESUS TELLS THE PARABLE of 4 types of soil.
Let’s look at your situation.
Your heart is hard, never made room for God. Challenge comes, the devils plucks the truth of
God right up.
Your heart is stony. Challenge comes, the heat gets to you, no depth, you wither up.
Your heart is thorny.
Challenge comes, but you’re so worried about what others think, how you’ll come out, it chokes
out whatever influence the gospel had.
Your heart is good soil. Challenge comes, and it is that gospel that has taken root, grown,
giving you the Holy Spirit’s power to continue.
You can pick the type of soil you are. Knowing and seeking Jesus will break up the ground and
soften it like nothing else will.
