“In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’ Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, ‘Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.’” 2 Kings 20:2-3 (ESV) Have you ever been desperate for God’s intervention? Have you ever been between a rock and a hard place and wondered how you would make it through? Hezekiah reached the breaking point as he neared the point of death. To make matters worse, the prophet Isaiah came to Hezekiah with a definitive word from the Lord concerning the reality of Hezekiah’s sickness ending in death. In absolute desperation, Hezekiah cried out to the Lord in prayer. God responded to Hezekiah’s plea. “‘Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.’” 2 Kings 20:5-6 (ESV) What do you need to take to the Lord in prayer? What are you agonizing over? Bring your burdens to the Lord. Entrust your life to His care. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Healing
“Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.’” John 5:8-10 (ESV) What brings you personal comfort? What do you long for each day? Maybe you desire to be rid of relational tension. Maybe your idea of comfort is being nestled behind a good book. Perhaps you long for the mornings when you are winding up or you long for the evenings when you are winding down. The environment that brings you comfort may be that of peace and quiet or laughter and meaningful verbal interaction. The invalid of thirty-eight years received the comfort of instant healing when Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” And “at once” that man was healed. There was no delay. After thirty-eight years, the lame man’s healing came instantly. The poison of legalism strained the comfort of his instant healing. The Jews were unable to celebrate the miracle of this man’s healing because they were so transfixed on the fact that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath. Their legalism kept them from recognizing the Lord. Legalism bypasses relationship. God has not saved you from your sin and sealed you by His Holy Spirit so that you will live in the bondage of legalism. In Christ, God has saved you so that you can walk in the freedom of your new identity in Christ. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.’” John 5:8-10 (NIV) What brings you personal comfort? What do you long for each day? Maybe you desire to be rid of relational tension. Maybe your idea of comfort is being nestled behind a good book. Perhaps you long for the mornings when you are winding up or you long for the evenings when you are winding down. The environment that brings you comfort may be that of peace and quiet or laughter and passionate verbal interaction. The invalid of thirty-eight years received the comfort of instant healing when Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” And “at once” that man was healed. There was no delay. After thirty-eight years, the lame man’s healing came instantly. The comfort of his instant healing was strained by the poison of legalism. The Jews were unable to celebrate the miracle of this man’s healing because they were so transfixed on the fact that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath. Their legalism kept them from recognizing the Lord. Legalism bypasses relationship. God has not saved you from your sin and sealed you by His Holy Spirit so that you will live in the bondage of legalism. In Christ, God has saved you so that you can walk in the freedom of your new identity in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’ 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 ‘Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.’” 2 Kings 20:2-3 (ESV) Have you ever been desperate for God’s intervention? Have you ever been between a rock and a hard place and wondered how you would make it through? Hezekiah reached the breaking point as he neared the point of death. To make matters worse, the prophet Isaiah came to Hezekiah with a definitive word from the Lord concerning the reality of Hezekiah’s sickness ending in death. In absolute desperation, Hezekiah cried out to the Lord in prayer. God responded to Hezekiah’s plea. “‘Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, 6 and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.’” 2 Kings 20:5-6 (ESV) What do you need to take to the Lord in prayer? What are you agonizing over? Bring your burdens to the Lord. Entrust your life to His care. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 214: 2 Kings 20-21) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.’” John 5:8-10 (NIV) What brings you personal comfort? What do you long for each day? Maybe you desire to be rid of relational tension. Maybe your idea of comfort is being nestled behind a good book. Perhaps you long for the mornings when you are winding up or you long for the evenings when you are winding down. The environment that brings you comfort may be that of peace and quiet or laughter and passionate verbal interaction. The invalid of 38 years received the comfort of instant healing when Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” And “at once” that man was healed. There was no delay. After 38 years, the lame man’s healing came instantly. The comfort of his instant healing was strained by the poison of legalism. The Jews were unable to celebrate the miracle of this man’s healing because they were so transfixed on the fact that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath. Their legalism kept them from recognizing the Lord. Legalism bypasses relationship. God has not saved you from your sin and sealed you by His Holy Spirit so that you will live in the bondage of legalism. In Christ, God has saved you so that you can walk in the freedom of your new identity in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” John 5:5-6 (NIV) We know more than we are doing. We know that we are to eat right, exercise, and get plenty of rest in order to be healthy. We know that we are to give, save, pay bills, and pay taxes. We know that we are to make the most of every moment that God gives us. We know that we are to forgive others, to love others, to pray for others, to be considerate of others, and to serve others. Yet, we don’t always do the things we know we are supposed to do. Jesus asked a thirty-eight year old invalid if he wanted to get well. That question seems out of place. Why wouldn’t a lame man want to walk? What would keep a person from wanting to experience healing? It is a matter of want. If you had the “want to” then you would find a “way to” be healed. Sometimes we can become comfortable with our misery. The question is, “Do you want to get well?” When you come to the place where you are ready for God to intervene and bring you out of your situation, then you move into the posture of anticipation. Instead of anchoring in the harbor of what is, move into the water of what could be. Give your faith a wave to ride. Begin thanking God for the healing you have been praying for. Jesus is the answer to your situation. Have you responded to what He has already revealed to you? Listen for the voice of Truth and obey what God says. As you obey, He will show you the way. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Inviting Intercession
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” James 5:15 (NIV) Did you know that even godly people who have a vibrant faith in God can go through seasons of adversity? Often these difficult seasons can strengthen your faith and also cause you to become weary. As you fight the good fight of the faith (1 Tim. 6:12), you may experience spiritual exhaustion. Battle fatigue is a potential reality for the follower of Christ. James wrote to believers who had experienced severe persecution. Their faith had been tested and many of them had become emotionally depleted and spiritually exhausted. In some cases, their spiritual weakness caused them to be unable to call on God. We need each other. God does not expect you to live the Christian life on your own. God wants you to live out your faith as you connect with your spiritual family. God adopted you into His family. Allow other believers who are spiritually strong to come alongside to help you through seasons of spiritual lethargy and warfare. The spiritually strong will offer their prayer in faith, fully trusting that God is able to do what He says (Rom. 4:21), and you will be restored. God will raise you up from a condition of spiritual weakness to a state of spiritual strength and stability. Will you invite a spiritually mature follower of Christ to offer a prayer in faith on your behalf? Don’t walk alone through the seasons of adversity. Allow your spiritual family to intercede for you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.” Luke 8:53-55 (NIV) Jairus, the synagogue ruler, only had one daughter. She was twelve. Upon hearing of her death, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed” (Luke 8:50). Jesus honored His word and provided complete healing. The emphasis is not on the faith healing, but on the faith Healer. Jesus is the Great Physician. Sometimes healing does not come in our preferred time frame. Whether it is your personal healing that is needed or praying for someone else to be healed, God does not always provide the healing we desire. God will choose to heal some people and choose not to heal others. We tend to struggle trying to understand why God would allow good people to suffer and allow bad people to be healed. Let’s be reminded of the sovereignty of God and His omniscience (Isaiah 55:8-9). Our finite minds cannot comprehend the mind of our infinite God. We can trust in God’s timing. God will accomplish His purpose and plan in His perfect timing according to His will. God will provide us with His sufficient grace to enable us to endure the seasons of uncertainty (2 Cor. 12:9). We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow. Every believer will experience the ultimate healing in heaven. There will be no sin, sickness, or suffering in heaven. Until then, let’s operate in the grace God provides to see us through the storms of life. Until then, continue to pray for healing and rejoice when the healing comes. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.’” John 5:8-10 (NIV) What brings you personal comfort? What do you long for each day? Maybe you desire to be rid of relational tension. Maybe your idea of comfort is being nestled behind a good book. Perhaps you long for the mornings when you are winding up or you long for the evenings when you are winding down. The environment that brings you comfort may be that of peace and quiet or laughter and meaning verbal interaction. The invalid of 38 years received the comfort of instant healing when Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” And “at once” that man was healed. There was no delay. After 38 years, the lame man’s healing came instantly. The poison of legalism strained the comfort of his instant healing. The Jews were unable to celebrate the miracle of this man’s healing because they were so transfixed on the fact that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath. Their legalism kept them from recognizing the Lord. Legalism bypasses relationship. God has not saved you from your sin and sealed you by His Holy Spirit so that you will live in the bondage of legalism. In Christ, God has saved you so that you can walk in the freedom of your new identity in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” John 5:5-6 (NIV) We know more than we are doing. We know that we are to eat right, exercise, and get plenty of rest in order to be healthy. We know that we are to give, save, pay bills, and pay taxes. We know that we are to make the most of every moment that God gives us. We know that we are to forgive others, to love others, to pray for others, to be considerate of others, and to serve others. Yet, we don’t always do the things we know we are supposed to do. Jesus asked a thirty-eight year old invalid if he wanted to get well. That question seems out of place. Why wouldn’t a lame man want to walk? What would keep a person from wanting to experience healing? It is a matter of want. If you had the “want to” then you would find a “way to” be healed. Sometimes we can become comfortable with our misery. The question is, “Do you want to get well?” Do you want to continue living like you are living? Do you want to continue to operate in your current reality? Jesus is the answer to your situation. Are you obeying what you know? Have you responded to what He has already revealed to you? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Healing
“They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.” Luke 8:53-55 (NIV) Jairus, the synagogue rule, only had one daughter. She was twelve. Upon hearing of her death, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed”(Luke 8:50). Jesus honored His word and provided complete healing. The emphasis is not on the faith healing, but on the faith Healer. Jesus is the Great Physician. Sometimes healing does not come in our preferred time frame. Whether it is your personal healing that is needed or praying for someone else to be healed, God does not always provide the healing we desire. God will choose to heal some people and choose not to heal others. We tend to struggle trying to understand why God would allow good people to suffer and allow bad people to be healed. Let’s be reminded of the sovereignty of God and His omniscience. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’”(Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV). Our finite minds cannot comprehend the mind of our infinite God. We can trust in God’s timing. God will accomplish His purpose and plan in His perfect timing according to His will. God will provide us with His sufficient grace to enable us to endure the seasons of uncertainty (2 Cor. 12:9). We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow. Every believer will experience the ultimate healing in heaven. There will be no sin, sickness, or suffering in heaven. Until then, let’s operate in the grace God provides to see us through the storms of life. Until then, let’s continue to pray for healing and rejoice when the healing comes. Take God at His Word and walk in the nourishment He provides. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
Interruptions
“As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.” Luke 8:42-44 (NIV) Has your life been interrupted recently? Has your schedule, routine, or plans been shifted as a result of an unexpected interruption? Jesus had that experience as He was on His way to heal the twelve-year-old daughter of Jairus. Jesus was on his way to their home to perform a miraculous healing touch when His plans were interrupted. In the midst of the crowds pressing in on Jesus, there was a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. No one could heal her. She was desperate and determined that Jesus could heal her. She came up behind Jesus and touch the edge of His cloak and her bleeding stopped immediately. Jesus noticed that power had gone out from Him and so He asked His disciples, “Who touched me?” The woman came trembling at Jesus’ feet and told Him why she had touched Him and then affirmed her healing. Jesus responded to her by saying, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” Jesus turned this interruption into an opportunity to be a blessing to someone in need. Of course, this interruption delayed His arrival at the home of Jairus. Someone from the house of Jairus announced that his daughter was dead. Did she die because of the delay? Jesus went into their home and took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” The interruption Jesus encountered became a pronounced opportunity to heal the woman and the child. Will you turn your interruptions into opportunities for God to do something special through you? God knows where you are and what you are facing. God knows each interruption that will intrude your schedule. How will you respond? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
Praying In Faith
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” James 5:15 (NIV) Did you know that even godly people who have a vibrant faith in God can go through seasons of adversity? Often these difficult seasons can strengthen your faith and also cause you to become weary. As you fight the good fight of the faith (1 Tim. 6:12), you may experience spiritual exhaustion. Battle fatigue is a potential reality for the follower of Christ. James wrote to believers who had experienced severe persecution. Their faith had been tested and many of them had become emotionally depleted and spiritually exhausted. In some cases, their spiritual weakness caused them to be unable to call on God. We need each other. God does not expect you to live the Christian life on your own. God wants you to live out your faith as you connect with your spiritual family. God adopted you into His family. Allow other believers who are spiritually strong to come alongside to help you through seasons of spiritual lethargy and warfare. The spiritually strong will offer their prayer in faith, fully trusting that God is able to do what He says (Rom. 4:21), and you will be restored. God will raise you up from a condition of spiritual weakness to a state of spiritual strength and stability. Will you invite a spiritually mature follower of Christ to offer a prayer in faith on your behalf? Don’t walk alone through the seasons of adversity. Allow your spiritual family to intercede for you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.’” John 5:8-10 (NIV) What brings you personal comfort? What do you long for each day? Maybe you desire to be rid of relational tension. Maybe your idea of comfort is being nestled behind a good book. Perhaps you long for the mornings when you are winding up or you long for the evenings when you are winding down. The environment that brings you comfort may be that of peace and quiet or laughter and passionate verbal interaction. The invalid of 38 years received the comfort of instant healing when Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” And “at once” that man was healed. There was no delay. After 38 years, the lame man’s healing came instantly. The comfort of his instant healing was strained by the poison of legalism. The Jews were unable to celebrate the miracle of this man’s healing because they were so transfixed on the fact that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath. Their legalism kept them from recognizing the Lord. Legalism bypasses relationship. God has not saved you from your sin and sealed you by His Holy Spirit so that you will live in the bondage of legalism. In Christ, God has saved you so that you can walk in the freedom of your new identity in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
The Comfortable Life (1)
“One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” John 5:5-6 (NIV) We know more than we are doing. We know that we are to eat right, exercise, and get plenty of rest in order to be healthy. We know that we are to give, save, pay bills, and pay taxes. We know that we are to make the most of every moment that God gives us. We know that we are to forgive others, to love others, to pray for others, to be considerate of others, and to serve others. Yet, we don’t always do the things we know we are supposed to do. Jesus asked a thirty-eight year old invalid if he wanted to get well. That question seems out of place. Why wouldn’t a lame man want to walk? What would keep a person from wanting to experience healing? It is a matter of want. If you had the “want to” then you would find a “way to” be healed. Sometimes we can become comfortable with our misery. The question is, “Do you want to get well?” Do you want to continue living like you are living? Do you want to continue to operate in your current reality? Jesus is the answer to your situation. Are you obeying what you know? Have you responded to what He has already revealed to you? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor