Xtreme Daily Bible Study
Friday, August 29, 2008
Written by Kyle Shultz
Seeing the Challenge through the Eyes of Faith
This day the LORD will hand you over to me…and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. I Samuel 17:46. [NIV]
The story of David and Goliath is one of the most well-known and inspiring stories in the Bible. It has been used as an inspiring illustration of how the smaller defeated the greater. Just the thought of a shepherd boy defeating the greatest champion fighter of that day stands as a marvelous story. Yet despite all of the glamour and prestige that this battle has received, the battle is not the lesson God wants us to focus on in this story. While this story which takes places covers 58 verses, the battle only takes up 3 verses.
What God wants us to focus on is the forty-seven verses that lead up to the battle. The lesson that we can learn from this story is that it’s not the size of the challenge that determines victory, it’s how we see that challenge. What the rest of Israel’s army saw was an unstoppable nine-foot warrior with a 125 coat of mail, a 15 pound tip spear, and a servant whose only job was to carry his massive shield. What David saw was a man who defied his God. Because of this, he believed God would give Goliath into his hands to show the world “that there is a God in Israel.” If David went in his own strength, Goliath only needed to step on him. But David believed that God was bigger than Goliath and that God would give David victory over Goliath because David trusted God to empower him to fulfill His will. That was the battle right there. Once the battle of faith had been won, David already had victory. He just needed to claim it. The rest is history.
Friend, it doesn’t matter how big your problem is, you can’t defeat it on your own. Are you willing to look at this through the eyes of faith and see a God greater than any difficulty or obstacle that stands in the way of living the victorious life in Him? Look at your situation through God’s eyes and you’ll see how small the obstacle is compared to Him and trust Him to give you victory. Because in Him the battle is already won.
Extra time in the Word I Samuel 17
Thursday, August 28,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
“I want to live my life so that every morning when I wake up Satan says, “Oh no! She’s awake!” (Chonda Pierce) That is exactly what I want! I certainly don’t want God to be the one saying that! How does your light shine? Does it shine in such a way that people around you think, “wow, I want that”, and Satan is thinking “Oh no” or does your light shine kind of like one of those lamps that you can adjust 3 times to different levels based on just how much you want to see or maybe how much you want others to see. Could it be that some days it just flickers, a little on a little off, not quite sure which way you want to go or just how much you want to shine? How about setting your mind today to glorify God every day by letting your light shine for Him in such a way that Satan’s first thought is, “Oh no!” Why do you think Satan has fought your generation so much? He is afraid of you because he knows your potential and He will say and do whatever he can think of to discourage you to keep you from accomplishing all you can be and do for God! It is time to take the stand and show him what you can really do by allowing God to work through you and “shine” for all your worth so satan will say that about you: “oh no, you’re awake!” God has great things planned for your life, so what are you waiting for? Start today!
Extra Time in the Word: Matthew 5
Monday, August 25,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak
Micah 6:8
But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously– take God seriously. (MSG)
How seriously do you take God? How important of a roll does He play? Is He counted as one of your friends or is He just someone that you look to when you need help? Looking at this verse, He doesn’t ask a lot, just that we love people the way He would and to be honorable in all of our actions. It is so easy to take ourselves or life to seriously but it always seems to be work to take God seriously! Makes me wonder how much easier our lives would be overall if we took God as seriously as we should by spending more time in His word and spending quiet time just letting Him talk to us. He has a great sense of humor and if we just added more of His humor to our lives how much easier could life be? Laughter is truly the best medicine, so if you can’t find anything to laugh at check out some funny people online, like Jeff Allen or maybe Mike Joiner on Youtube and laugh a little then spend sometime in your Bible or listening to some good praise music. Do whatever it takes to take life a little less seriously and God a little more seriously, even if it is through finding ways to laugh! God loves to hear you praise Him and He loves to hear you laugh when you have found something good and clean to laugh at. We are praying for you!
Extra Time in the Word: Micah 6
Friday, August 22,2008
Written by Bill Scott
Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
I’ll admit this verse always gets me thinking. I wonder at times if I have ever entertained an angel and didn’t know it? This verse is telling us to treat everyone with God’s love because we simply do not know what we are in front of an angel. Now that really blows my mind. I’ll never forget hearing from a truck driver in Florida who called me one day while I was working at a local Christian radio station. This truck driver was freaked out when he called the radio station. He had picked up a hitch hiker and was driving down the road talking to this guy. In the middle of his conversation he looked over to the passengers seat and the hitch hiker was gone! To this day the truck driver is convinced he was talking to an angel. Another friend of mine was going through a store and ran into a woman who looked at her and said, “You know that thing you are praying about? God is about to answer that prayer”. Now the lady actually said what the girl was praying for which blew her mind because she never had mentioned it out loud to anyone! She also felt that she had entertained and angel. All of that to say, be kind to everyone and show God’s love because you never know if you are entertaining and angel unawares!
Extra Time in the word: Hebrews 13
Thursday, August 21,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak
1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You can be victorious in your future in spite of your failing past! It isn’t where you have been, it is where you are headed! Don’t live in your past, God has already given you victory through Jesus! Claim it and move forward, you can still accomplish mighty things no matter what you have ever done in your life. No sin is able to overcome the blood Jesus shed to cover it, so don’t try to add to what He has done! I don’t know why we so often get caught up in trying to make sure we pay the price for what we have done when Jesus already paid the only price that could have made a difference. I am by no means saying you can live any way you want and then just waltz up to the throne of God and say I’m here to get clean so I can go dirty myself again. Doesn’t quite work that way either. If you truly have a relationship with God then your desires should start to change as you grow and you should have some convictions and also a desire to please the God who has done so much for you! I can’t say it enough, the more you know Him, the more you will love Him and the more peace, hope, love and success you will have in your life!
Extra Time in the Word: 1 Corinthians 15
Wednesday, August 20,2008
Written by Bill Scott
Luke 12:48
But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given. (NLT)
I found this verse interesting while reading today. Those who do not know God and what is expected of them will be punished lightly for their sins. Those of us who know Christ and understand what is expected of us will be required to hold to God’s requirements on a much higher level. As we grow in Christ it becomes more and more important that we follow what God has called us to do. It amazes me how many Christians I know that are knowingly living in sin and yet pray each night for God’s blessing on their lives. They know what is require of them and yet they have chosen to do there own thing. I hate to be the one who rains on your parade but it doesn’t work that way. God has given you much and he expects you to be obedient. God loves you in the middle of your sin, however that does not mean there isn’t punishment for your sin and rebellion. Today, God is requiring a lot from you. The question is are you going to step up the plate?
Extra Time in the Word: Luke 12
Monday, August 18,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Where does hope come from? Our hope comes from God through the Holy Spirit! Have you lost yours? Once you lose hope it sometimes feels like you will never find it again. What exactly is hope anyhow? Hope is anticipating something good with a joyful confidence. In other words you are anticipating good to come into your life and you can have that underlying happiness knowing it. God does want what is best for you and He does have a plan for your life and it is for your good. There can be hope in your life just trusting that He has your best interest at heart. How well do you know Him? You will find that the more you get to know who Jesus is and really realize just how much He has done and will do for you it will give you more confidence in life and will help you really realize just how much hope you have for your future! Your life couldn’t be in better hands than when you give it completely to Him!
Extra Time in the Word: Romans 15
Sunday, August 17,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak
Micah 6:8
But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously– take God seriously. (MSG)
How seriously do you take God? How important of a roll does He play? Is He counted as one of your friends or is He just someone that you look to when you need help? Looking at this verse, He doesn’t ask a lot, just that we love people the way He would and to be honorable in all of our actions. It is so easy to take ourselves or life to seriously but it always seems to be work to take God seriously! Makes me wonder how much easier our lives would be overall if we took God as seriously as we should by spending more time in His word and spending quiet time just letting Him talk to us. He has a great sense of humor and if we just added more of His humor to our lives how much easier could life be? Laughter is truly the best medicine, so if you can’t find anything to laugh at check out some funny people online, like Jeff Allen or maybe Mike Joiner on Youtube and laugh a little then spend sometime in your Bible or listening to some good praise music. Do whatever it takes to take life a little less seriously and God a little more seriously, even if it is through finding ways to laugh! God loves to hear you praise Him and He loves to hear you laugh when you have found something good and clean to laugh at. We are praying for you!
Extra Time in the Word: Micah 6
Friday, August 15,2008
Written by Jack Eason
Philippians 1:6
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God chose you, called you, declared you not guilty, and is now glorifying you. Sometimes we think that God can’t possibly make us to be like Jesus. But, He can because he is God. He can and he will—It’s a promise. It’s very interesting to watch a master potter work, especially if you can track the whole process of making a single bowl. First, he prepares the clay, which involves wetting it, beating it, cutting it, and kneading it over and over again. It often takes a total of several hours over two or three days to make the clay just right.
When the clay is ready the potter places it on a wheel that spins it while he presses on it to make the shape emerge. He pushes and pulls and cuts and carves until the shape he has in mind emerges. Then, he sets it on a shelf for a few days to dry before firing it. The firing process is usually done in two stages. The first stage hardens the clay so it isn’t so fragile while the artist applies the glaze. After the first firing, the potter applies glaze to the bowl. The glaze is very thin clay with chemicals that will change into beautiful colors as they melt. At this point, the piece still looks like some carefully shaped and hardened dirt. The final firing heats the bowl to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the bowl very hard and durable. It also reveals the colors and designs the potter applied to the surface. Only after the clay has been beaten, shaped, stretched, and fired can we see the beauty that was in the mind of the potter from the very beginning. Remember that God is the master potter of your life. He planned, prepared, and organized every part of who you are and what you will experience so that he can reveal the beauty he has in mind. He will keep on working, forgiving, and training you throughout your whole life. He will keep the heat on when it’s needed. But, he’ll also give you times of rest and peace.
The most important facts in all of life are these: God loves you and there is nothing that can keep him from making you perfect and complete. When you stand before him in heaven one day, all the beauty he built into your character will be clearly seen. Don’t be surprised when you realize that you look very much like Jesus, the glorious Son of God.
Extra Time in the Word: Philippians 1
Thursday, August 14,2008
Written by Jack Eason
Psalm 29:2
Ascribe (give) to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.
Have you ever wondered why God created crickets? Quite frankly it’s never been on my top 10 list of things to question until last night at 2 a.m. Unable to sleep through the uninterrupted chirping, I searched for the cricket that had full intention of pulling an all-nighter in my home. He had picked the wrong house for a nocturnal concert. I’m assuming God had any number of good reasons to create crickets. Although, I’d be hard pressed to come up with a list on four hours of sleep. When it comes to the purpose of God’s creating people, however, there’s nothing to question – no reason to wonder. God created us to worship him. He created us to give him praise for who heis and for all of the wonderful things he has done. He created us to delight in him and enjoy him forever. Psalm 29:2 says, Ascribe (give) to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
As we pray and read the Bible, sing his praises and tell people about Jesus – all should be expressions of our worship. But that’s only a part of how we worship God. Our work, our play, our decisions, our family life and friendships, our homework, our after-school activities, our thoughts, words, and actions, our joy and our pain – each should be offered as worship to our God. Worship is not a luxury or an option or even our Christian duty. Worship is what we were created to do! It is our purpose in living. It is the reason we breathe. May we be as relentless as crickets in our desire to delight in and worship God today and throughout eternity.
