THE 17TH CHALLENGE

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17
" It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:3-4
“If there is one doctrine I have preached more than another, it is the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints even to the end.” C. Spurgeon

Listen to "Fruitfulness — Part One" by Alistair Begg from Truth for Life. "In John 15, Jesus described Himself as the true vine. In doing so, He brought to mind the Old Testament description of Israel as the vineyard of God and contrasted two types of branches: those that bear fruit and those that do not. Alistair Begg helps us to understand how remaining in Christ is the key to fruitfulness. As God removes unproductive growth in the believer’s life, fruitfulness increases, and the believer reflects the image of Christ."
Listen to "Grow in Grace" by Alistair Begg from Truth for Life. "Peter closed his second letter [2 Peter 3:14-18] with some helpful and straightforward instruction for believers as we seek to live for Jesus. Using the apostle’s final imperatives, Alistair Begg challenges us to exert ourselves to grow in holiness, to take seriously the responsibility to study the Bible, to be alert to the dangers that can lead us astray, and to actively grow in the grace and knowledge that leads to Christlike character."

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" 2 Corinthians 13:5.
"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24.
Examine your heart when it comes to sharing the Gospel for motives, concerns, readiness, and equipment.
Considering this is a continuation of adopting the spiritual disciplines you have learned as lifelong practices of faith, is your heart in it? Are you eager to approach these challenges to build God’s Kingdom, to witness to Christ Jesus, to give God the glory? Is God's Word the first source you seek as you pray to undertake whatever challenge you have opportunity to embrace?

"Dear Father, Who art in heaven, thank You that You are my heavenly Husbandman and that You tend my life with such care and concern. Cleanse me and prune me, and take away anything that you discover in me that does not glorify Your holy Name. Thank You, Father, that I am a heavenly branch that is united to my heavenly Vine, the lovely Lord Jesus Christ. May His life flow through mine as sap flows through the branch that is engrafted into its parent stem. Fill me with His fullness so that I may live and move and grow and bear fruit as I abide more and more in Him. In Jesus' Name, amen." (From "A Prayer for Deep Abiding with My Heavenly Vine" at KnowingJesus.com)

READY: Now that you have studied Biblically, trained Spiritually, examined your heart, and prayed over this challenge, you are ready to undertake the 17th challenge, continuing in what you have learned. You equipped yourself Spiritually, mentally, and physically, so get ready to go girl! This is a tough challenge! If you don't feel ready, trust that God has set you up to succeed!
SET: When God sent Moses with a message, Moses knew it may not be received or go well for him, to the point that in Exodus 4, Moses complained, "I am slow of speech and tongue” and said to the Lord, "Please send someone else". But Moses did go! Moses was later described as being "powerful in speech and action" (Acts 7:22). When it comes to the 17th challenge-continuing in what you have learned, you may think, "Please send someone else" but God is calling you and will overcome your fears and faults to work through you. When we trust God, our inadequacy becomes our legacy.

In what ways can you presently continue in what you have learned?
How can you continue in what you have learned in the future?
What can you learn from continuing in what you have learned?
How can you make continuing in what you have learned a lifelong discipline?
Pray to persevere in continuing what you have learned.
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36

THE 17TH CHALLENGE: CONTINUE IN WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED