Dan Gould

Category: Bible Challenge

  • Luke 8:26-39

    “As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, ‘Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!’” v.28

    The demons knew exactly who Jesus was and were fearful of the power He had over them.  When He spoke they listened and were obedient.  It’s sounds kind of weird to say and even think about, “That demons would obey Christ”,  but it’s true, Jesus has the ultimate authority!  At His command, things happen.  In this passage, the demons left a man and went into a herd of pigs at the command of Christ.  He has the power to do amazing things, do you have the faith to see them happen?

    Today, may we go in His power and not our own.  May we listen to His voice and not our own.  May we see people the way He see’s them, not the way the world see’s them.  May we love others the way He loves us.  May we be people that are completely devoted and surrendered to Him.

  • Luke 8:22-25

    “The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’  When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.  Then he asked them, ‘Where is your faith?’  The disciples were terrified and amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!’ v.24-25

    Storms, they happen typically when we are unprepared for them.  Just like physical storms that we see, we also experience storms in life.  They come when we least expect it and can cause hurt, pain, disaster.  The good news is that when we have a relationship with Jesus, He has the power to get us through even the toughest storm.  All we have to do is have the faith that Jesus can see us through any storm that comes our way!

  • Mark 4:1-29

    “Then he said, ‘Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.’” v.9

    “Then he added, ‘Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.’” v. 24-25

    This passage is close to my heart because it is the text I used to preach my first sermon. I was scared to death, a little legalistic at the time, but God was teaching me so much.  Today as I read it, three words keep jumping out at me; Hear, Listen, and Understand. The study notes of the NLT Life Application Study Bible nailed it this morning!  Read for yourself,

    “The hearing that Jesus wants from us in not the kind we use when we listen to background music or when someone starts to recount a long story we’ve already heard.  To truly “hear” Jesus’ words is to believe them, to use them immediately in decisions and attitudes, and to base life on them – your reaction and work, family plans and money matters, praying and singing.  To hear Jesus’ words is to make Jesus your true Lord.

    The light of Jesus’ truth is revealed to us, not hidden.  But we may not be able to see or to use all of that truth right now.  Only as we put God’s teachings into practice will we understand and see more of the truth.  The truth is clear, but our ability to understand is imperfect.  As we obey, we will sharpen our vision and increase our understanding.”

    I still have much to learn, and apply!  But everyday I pray that I am becoming more like Jesus, and that I hearing, listening, and understanding the things He is teaching me!

    Today, listen for God!  Do you hear Him speaking?  What is he asking you to do?

  • Matthew 12:22-50

    “’A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.  A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.’” v. 33-37

    Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in out hearts.  What kinds of words come from your mouth?

    Isn’t it sad how we watch what we say depending on where we are or who we are around!  As a teenager, I remember having to really watch my language whenever I went on church trips with the student ministry.  (I thought I had everyone fooled, I doubt it!)  But sadly, isn’t it like that today?

    Jesus says that the words you use, is an indication of what is really going on in your heart!  Ouch!  We can watch what we say, and even clean it up a bit, but if we don’t change our heart, it will be a constant up hill battle that we don’t experience victory over.  However, when we let the Holy Spirit move in our lives and fill us with His presence which includes a new attitude and motives, then our speech will be affected from the source.  From the Inside Out!

    Today, lets focus on our heart and see if our words don’t change also!!!

  • Luke 7:36-8:3

    “‘I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.’” v.47

    Jesus words are humbling.  He has just had his feet washed with tears and expensive perfume, by an immoral woman, while he had dinner with a group of pharisees.  This verse answer the question Jesus asked Simon after he told this story:

    “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” v.41-42

    How would you answer Jesus question?  Does this affect the way you live on a daily basis?  We have been given so much, yet it is so easy to take it for granted.  Today, may we thank Jesus for what he has done for us and may it cause us to live differently!  Lord Jesus, thank you!  Help us (me) to always remember your love and forgiveness for us (me).  Let me live each day with a thankful heart that affects the way I live!

  • Healer

    Wow, I wasn’t going to post about this yet but I can’t stop thinking about this song.  I get up early to hang out with God and read some other blogs.  This morning, I was looking at Pete Wilsons blog withoutwax and saw this song.

    As I watched it made me wonder who the worship leader was!  I was intrigued by the fact that he was wearing oxygen.  I know I am shallow I guess.  But as I researched I found this.

    It is so powerful and gave insight to a lot of the questions I had about the song and the worship leader.  Please take time to watch them both and then think about the words, the story, and how it might impact your everyday!

  • Matthew 11:1-30

    “John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus,  ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’” v. 2-3

    As John sat in prison, he began to have some doubts about whether Jesus really was the Messiah.  If John purpose was to prepare people for the coming Messiah, and if Jesus really was that Messiah, then why was John in prison when he could be preaching to the crowds, preparing their hearts?

    Jesus answered John’s doubts by pointing to the acts of healing the blind, lame, and deaf, curing the lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the Good News to the poor.  With so much evidence, Jesus’ identity was obvious.  If we sometimes doubt our salvation, the forgiveness of our sins, or God’s work in our life, look at the evidence in Scripture and the changes in our life.  When we doubt it is important not to turn away from Christ, but, to turn to Him!

  • Luke 7:1-17

    “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!’” v.9

    In this passage today we see Jesus perform two different miracles, both showing His authority over sickness. But today, verse nine caught my attention.  Jesus says, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” It causes me to think about my faith.  Sometimes I think it is easier to have superficial faith instead of supernatural faith.  I am still thinking through this but here are my random thoughts:

    Superficial Faith

    • has no depth . . . meaning it’s shallow faith that comes and goes
    • has no life changing commitments
    • isn’t very consistent

    Supernatural Faith

    • has depth . . . meaning it’s a deep faith that stays strong daily!!!
    • has caused some one to experience life change
    • is consistent and evident in a deep (consistent)  prayer life

    There is probably much more to this list, but the challenge is to think about my own faith, would I be more likely to fall in the Superficial or Supernatural?  How about you?  Can you add anything to the list?

  • Matthew 7:13-29

    The Narrow Gate

    13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell[f] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

    The Tree and Its Fruit

    15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

    True Disciples

    21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

    Building on a Solid Foundation

    24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

    28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

    This passage of Jesus Teaching ends His Sermon on the Mount.  The key, putting your faith in Christ is the only way to spend eternity in Heaven! Watch how you live and who you listen too!  Make sure He knows your Name.  How?  By putting your faith in Him and surrendering your life to Him!

  • Matthew 7:1-12

    “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” v. 1-2 (NLT)

    Jesus tells us to examine or own motives and conduct intead of judging others.  The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we have ourselves.  Our bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others.  Do you find it easy to magnify others’ faults while excusing your own?  If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism.  Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.