Category: Moses

Being God’s Tabernacle

“‘And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.’” Exodus 25:8-9 (ESV) God revealed to Moses the architectural dimensions, interior design, and precise function of the Tabernacle. Picture over two million Jews encamped in an area that would take about twelve square miles. If you lived on the outskirts of the encampment, then you would have to walk nearly six miles to bring your sacrifice to the Tabernacle. From the distance, you would be able to view God’s glory cloud descending from the sky down into the Most Holy Place. The Tabernacle was mobile. It was designed in such a way that when God’s glory moved, the Tabernacle could be moved to accommodate God’s presence. Did you know that you are “the walking Tabernacle” of God’s presence? “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:19-20 ESV). God demonstrated in the Old Testament through the Tabernacle that His desire is to dwell with His people. As His Tabernacle, God has chosen to dwell in you permanently. He indwells you by the Holy Spirit. You are His priceless treasure. What kind of Tabernacle are you being for His presence to dwell? Have you allowed Him to move into every area of your life? Have you given Him full control of your life, your desires, your ambitions, and your fears? Following Jesus Every Day, Stephen Trammell

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Disobedience Moses Numbers

God’s Way

“Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.’” Numbers 20:6-8 (ESV) God’s way is always the best way. When you are contemplating a direction you should take or a decision you should make, remember that God has a specific plan for you. God’s will is to be done God’s way. Moses and Aaron learned a painful lesson about doing God’s work God’s way. Instead of speaking to the rock to provide water for the people of Israel, Moses struck the rock with his staff twice. Water came out abundantly and the congregation and the livestock drank. Everything appeared to go as planned until God spoke. “And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them’” (Num 20:12 ESV). Disobedience brings discipline. “Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness” (Heb 12:9-10 ESV). God’s way is always the best way. God blesses obedience. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Deuteronomy God's Faithfulness Moses

Twelve Decades

“And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.” Deuteronomy 34:10-12 (ESV) Moses spent twelve decades on the earth. He experienced forty years in the palace, forty years in the desert, and forty years in the wilderness. “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24-25 ESV). There was none like him. The miracles God did through Moses are extraordinary. Recall the burning bush, Moses’ staff turning into a snake and then into a staff again, and Moses’ hand becoming leprous and back to normal. Recount the ten plagues of Egypt, the passover, and the magnificent crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground. Consider the manna from heaven, the quail in the evening, water from the rock, and the Ten Commandments. Moses was sent by God to do all these signs and wonders to deliver the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. The message of Moses’ life is the faithfulness of God. Moses knew the Lord face to face. Moses even got a glimpse of the glory of God. Let Moses’ life be a reminder to you that you can trust God. God keeps His Word. God loves you and God is for you. God will use you for His glory to accomplish His will on the earth. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Deuteronomy Fear Moses

No Need to Fear

“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’” Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (ESV) Have you ever felt inadequate or insufficient for a task? Joshua experienced a defining moment as his mentor, Moses, handed off the mantle of leadership and transferred the baton of responsibility. In the sight of all Israel, Moses commissioned Joshua as the one who would lead the people of Israel into the land of Promise. Joshua would lead the charge to possess the land flowing with milk and honey. Moses imparted words of comfort to his protégé, Joshua. Not only did Moses affirm possession of the land, but he also affirmed God’s provision. Moses clarified to Joshua that the Lord would go before him. He assured Joshua that the Lord would be with him and would not leave him or forsake him. There was no need to fear. There was no need to be dismayed. God always provides you with everything you need to accomplish His will. If you are facing a God-sized assignment, you can rest in God’s sufficiency to equip you with everything you need to fulfill His assignment. If you are walking in the unknown and the uncertain, you can know God’s provision and you can be certain of God’s abundant supply. Wherever God guides, He always provides. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Deuteronomy Favor Moses

God’s Favor

“And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.” Deuteronomy 28:13-14 (ESV) Moses reminded the people of Israel of God’s blessings and favor related to their obedience to God’s commandments and laws. God blesses obedience and punishes disobedience. God’s favor is unleashed when God’s people obey. The demonstration of God’s blessing was personally experienced as the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness. God provided them with manna from heaven in the morning, quail in the evening, and allowed them to drink water from the rock. God had delivered them from the threat of the Egyptian army and miraculously allowed them to cross through the Red Sea on dry ground. God’s favor was upon them. God’s favor is upon you as you walk in His ways. Caring for the needs of others and living a life of generosity brings forth God’s favor. Keeping yourself from being polluted by the world is another act of obedience that God blesses. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27 (ESV) Eliminating idolatry and living a life of moral purity paves the way for God’s favor to be evidenced in your life. God blesses you as you obey Him. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Compassion Deuteronomy Moses

Don’t Forget

“When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.” Deuteronomy 24:21-22 (ESV) Take pride for a ride by spending some time reflecting on your condition before your conversion. Do you remember what it was like being lost? Can you recall the darkness that enveloped your soul as an unbeliever? You were hell bound and in bondage to the clutches of the enemy. You were alienated from God and separated from the favor of God. “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV) In His mercy, God came to rescue you from your sin. Putting His compassion into action, God redeemed you from your sin and delivered you from the kingdom of darkness and placed you in the kingdom of light. The divine transaction was initiated by God and demonstrated His unconditional love for you. Be generous to others just as God has been generous to you. Humble yourself by remembering your former condition and recognizing where you would be without God’s gracious intervention. Place the needs of others before your own. Seize opportunities to show Christ’s love to those He places in your path today. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Cross Deuteronomy Moses

Reverse the Curse

“‘And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.’” Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (ESV) God values holiness. His laws were established for the people of Israel to keep them from defiling their lives and to keep them from defiling the land He was giving them for an inheritance. God was protecting their covenant community and preserving their future. Consequences for sinful actions were enforced to ensure unity and solidarity. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV) In our own effort, we do not have the capacity to generate the holiness that God demands and that God deserves. We fall short and do not measure up to God’s standard of righteousness. The Good News is that Jesus was willing to reverse the curse that our sin caused. Jesus was willing to become a curse for us by taking on our sin and by receiving the full wrath of God for our sin. Jesus paid our sin debt in full and enabled us to receive His imputed righteousness. In Christ, you have a new identity. Your past has been forgiven. Your eternal security has been established. Now you can join God in His redemptive activity so that others can benefit from the reverse of the curse. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Deuteronomy Moses Victory

God Fights For You

“And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’” Deuteronomy 20:2-4 (ESV) God gave the people of Israel tremendous favor as they obeyed His commands. He promised them victory as they drew near in battle against their enemies. There was no need to be in fear or to panic or to be in dread because God would go with them and fight for them against their enemies to ensure victory. The battles we face as followers of Jesus Christ are spiritual in nature. We combat the devil, the world, and the flesh. The devil has an agenda that opposes God’s will. The world has a current that flows counter to God’s way. The flesh has an appetite that seeks to divert our devotion to God and to pollute our passion for the things of God. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 (ESV) As you draw near to battle today, put on the full armor of God. Live in the power of the Holy Spirit and claim the victory that Jesus won when He died sacrificially and rose from the dead supernaturally. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Deuteronomy Generosity Moses

Blessed to Bless

“‘If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.’” Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (ESV) God has blessed you to be a blessing. God has lavished you with His love so that you can lavish His love on others. You have been given spiritual treasures to share with those in need. You have been endowed by God to become a conduit of His compassion. Be generous. Diligently seek to meet needs as God places people in your path. Turn interruptions into opportunities to be a blessing to others. As you give, God’s love will be dispensed. As you give, God’s grace will be extended. “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” Proverbs 14:31 (ESV) Honor God by being generous to the needy. Place the needs of others before your own. Of course, that is not a natural response; it is a supernatural response made possible by the Holy Spirit living in you. You have been enriched by God so that you can be generous in every way. As you generously bless others, you will be producing thanksgiving to God. In other words, by being generous toward others, you will be giving thanks to God who has blessed you with the ability to be a blessing. Jesus is the gateway of generosity. He gave His life for you so that you can give your life to others. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Choices Deuteronomy Moses

Obedience and Blessing

“‘See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.’” Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (ESV) Life generates endless choices to make and countless paths to take. Some choices bring forth blessing while some choices bring forth curse and negative consequences. Some paths lead to blessing while some paths lead to devastation. You can become overwhelmed with the number of opportunities placed before you in this life. Your decisions determine your direction and ultimately your destination. God set before the people of Israel a blessing and a curse. Obedience generated the blessing whereas disobedience generated the curse. God warned the people of turning aside from His way in order to go after other gods. Idolatry would produce devastating consequences. Walking with God and making wise decisions is an act of worship and a mark of spiritual maturity. Your obedience to God is a tangible demonstration of your love for Him. “Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” John 14:23 (ESV) “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.” 1 John 5:2 (ESV) Choose the blessing. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ and take paths that are firm. Allow Jesus to guard your heart and to guide your steps. He will illuminate the path that brings blessing. Obey His voice and you will be making the right choice. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Deuteronomy Discipline Moses

Walk in His Ways

“Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him.” Deuteronomy 8:5-6 (ESV) God has already established your value by sacrificing His only Son on the cross for you. His redemptive act made salvation available to you and the removal of your sin possible. Now that you are a recipient of God’s unconditional love, you are a new creation and filled with the Holy Spirit. God has demonstrated His love for you through the atoning work of Christ on the cross. God continues to demonstrate His love for you through dispensing discipline. God disciplines you because He loves you and is committed to conforming you into the image of Christ. As you learn to walk in His ways and to fear Him, God’s discipline will be featured less and less in your life. “For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:10-11 (ESV) What area of your life is in need of God’s disciplinary activity? Knowing that God disciplines you for your good so that you may share in His holiness, consider the peaceful fruit of righteousness that has become evident in your life. Continue to keep His commandments by walking in His ways and by fearing Him. You are in the process of becoming who you are in Christ. God is building you into the person He has created you to be for His glory. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Deuteronomy Love Moses

Love Your God

“‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.’” Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (ESV) What’s love got to do with it? Everything! Your love will be directed to the object of your affection and to that which you treasure. Who or what are you loving? Does anyone or anything have prominence in your life? The Lord is your God. The Lord is one. He thought of you before you could think of Him. God designed you to be uniquely you and to fulfill a unique purpose in this life that only you can fill. Will you love the Lord your God with all your heart? God deserves your utmost devotion. God is worthy of your affection and full attention. When you allow your loyalty to God and your love for God to erode, you experience mission drift. When you dilute your passion for the Lord, you misappropriate the relationship you are privileged to have with the Lord your God. Give God your very best and demonstrate His value in your life. Recognize where you would be without Him and enthrone Him through moment-by-moment surrender. “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9 (ESV) The safest place for you to be is in the center of God’s will. It is clearly God’s will for you to love Him with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. What adjustments do you need to make in order to love your God that way? Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Deuteronomy Moses Obedience

No Other God

“Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:39-40 (ESV) As I am writing this devotional, my team and I are about to board our plane to return to America after spending a week serving the people of East Asia. If you have ever had the opportunity to fly on a commercial jet, you will recall the unique perspective you gain by looking through the widow of the plane down to the earth below. You begin to realize how small you are and how big the earth is. Your daily pressures and the basic anxieties of life are suspended for the duration of your flight. You don’t have to board a plane and ascend to an altitude of 37,000 feet in order to gain a new perspective on life. Simply acknowledge and take to heart that the Lord is God. He is God of heaven and He is God of earth. He created the entire universe and He created you. There is no other God. He is the One true living God who rules and reigns. All other gods are simply gods. We serve the God of all creation. One way to demonstrate your acknowledgement of God is by obeying His commands. God reveals Himself to you so that can know Him personally and intimately. God reveals His Word to you so that you can obey Him immediately and consistently. Your obedience to God’s Word is a true mark of spiritual maturity and an indication of your new identity in Christ. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Deuteronomy God's Faithfulness Moses

Trace Your Tracks

“These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.” Deuteronomy 1:1 (ESV) Moses presents a series of strong sermons to a wandering people. Impressing God’s Word on their hearts, Moses preaches the Law to the people of Israel. Moses reiterates the covenant community expectations as prescribed by God and reminds the people of Israel of God’s faithfulness. In the New Testament account of Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin, we find a bold reference to the disobedience of the people of Israel. “Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him’” (Acts 7:39-40 ESV). Waves of obedience were followed by waves of disobedience. In Deuteronomy, Moses traces the tracks of the wilderness wanderings and the inconsistency of the people of Israel. As Moses speaks forth the series of messages to the people, strong themes of obedience, disobedience, brokenness, and repentance arise. Through the ebb and flow of the people of Israel’s response to God’s activity, God remained faithful. Trace your tracks. Where have you been and where are you going? Has God been true to His Word? Can you trace the faithfulness of God throughout your life? God invites you into His story. You are His masterpiece and His instrument of reconciling the world to Himself through Christ. Will you rest in God’s faithfulness and trust in God’s abundant provision? Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Journey Moses Numbers

Journal Your Journey

“These are the stages of the people of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their companies under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Moses wrote down their starting places, stage by stage, by command of the Lord, and these are their stages according to their starting places.” Numbers 33:1-2 (ESV) What if you begin to journal your journey with God? Whether you have been walking with God for a few months, a few years, or several decades, consider journaling your journey with God. There are two components to include. Write down the major spiritual markers in your life such as your conversion, baptism, and other major decisions the Lord guided you to make. Describe some of the moments in your walk with God when you encountered His Presence in a special way. Another component to journaling your journey with God is the daily discipline of writing about the overflow of your time alone with God. For example, as you have your daily quiet time, write down a verse from your Bible that God used to speak to you that particular morning. Make some general observations about that verse and then write down a specific application that you sense God wants you to incorporate into your life. You may choose to even write down your prayer. This daily discipline will help you focus and it will give you a permanent record of your journey with God. Moses wrote down the specific stages of the journey he was on with the people of Israel. He specifically identified their starting places. The consistent theme was, “They set out from…” Moses was intentional about recording their journey with God and we are benefiting now from what Moses wrote down then. Others may one day benefit from what you write down. Without question, others will benefit from your intentional discipline of walking with God and journaling your journey with God. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Moses Numbers Transition

Prepare for Transitions

“So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.’” Numbers 27:18-20 (ESV) Transitions are constant in this life. From the cradle to the grave, you experience countless transitions. Some of the transitions are more pronounced than others. Every transition is an opportunity to experience God’s grace and to obey God’s voice. Moses had just received the difficult news of those who would die in the wilderness and not see the Promised Land. The list was long and included Moses. God had judged Moses for previously striking the rock with his staff twice instead of speaking to the rock in order to produce the flow of water for the people of Israel. These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Moses and the people of Israel failed to uphold God as holy at the waters before their eyes (Num 27:14). Moses faced another major transition. It was now time to commission Joshua to succeed him as leader of the people of Israel. Moses was preparing for his own death and for the succession of his leadership. Are you currently facing a transition? How are you responding to this particular season of your life? What do you sense God is up to? God will always develop your character to match His assignment. Be sensitive to God’s activity and be open to God’s leadership. You may be prompted to go in a new direction or you may be prompted to renew your commitment to your current assignment. God will give you the grace to match every transition you face. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Moses Numbers Salvation

Look to the Healer

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” Numbers 21:8-9 (ESV) Have you ever seen the medical profession logo that features a snake wrapped around a pole? That image serves as the icon for the medical arena. You can trace the origin of that image to the instruction God gave Moses. The people of Israel spoke against God and Moses in their frustration generated by their wandering in the wilderness. They longed to return to Egypt where they had served as slaves. God judged them for their grumbling by sending fiery serpents among the people to bite them. Many of the people died. The survivors came to Moses to plead for intercession and intervention. Moses prayed for the people. God instructed Moses to make a fiery serpent and to set it on a pole. God gave further instructions that anyone bitten could look at the bronze serpent and live. God’s grace was clearly evident by His response to their willful disobedience. Jesus made reference to this experience during his conversation with Nicodemus. “‘And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life’” (John 3:14-15 ESV). Just as the people of Israel were healed by looking to the bronze serpent lifted up on the pole, so all believers today can be delivered from the sickness of sin by looking to the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus has been lifted up on the cross to bring forth our ultimate healing! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Disobedience Moses Numbers

God’s Way

God's Voice Moses Numbers

Hearing God’s Voice

“And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.” Numbers 7:89 (ESV) After twelve days of consecrating the tabernacle by the chiefs of Israel, Moses entered the tent of meeting. This was a divine moment in that Moses chose to draw near to God. In this holy encounter, God spoke to Moses from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony. The Creator of the universe communicated with Moses. God spoke! As you read chapter seven of Numbers, you will detect the immense preparation that went into consecrating the tabernacle. Each of the twelve chiefs of Israel participated in the process of consecration. Each of the twelve chiefs invested personally and sacrificially in the process. Moses waited patiently as the tabernacle was being prepared for the divine encounter of God’s Presence. Compare the twelve days of preparation to how most people in our modern context approach God. So often, people in our society approach God as though He was just another individual we pass along the way. Even in our Christianity, we can become so casual with God that we lose sight of His holiness, His sovereignty, and His majesty. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16 (ESV) Our confidence in approaching God is not based on our arrogance or our sufficiency. We have the privilege of approaching God because of the matchless grace He dispensed through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Moses Numbers Order

Order Your Life

“Thus did the people of Israel. According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, each one in his clan, according to his fathers’ house.” Numbers 2:35 (ESV) When Moses set out to deliver the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage, he discovered the challenge of moving a large mass of people through the wilderness. The assignment was overwhelming and the task was too large for him to pull off on his own. God commissioned Moses and God equipped Moses to fulfill the assignment. The people of Israel were in the second month in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt. God instructed Moses to take a census of the people and to arrange them by clans based on the twelve tribes of Israel. The process was thorough and meticulous. God gave detailed instructions to Moses for the task. We see demonstrated in the Old Testament and we learn in the New Testament, that God values order. “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Cor 14:33 ESV). God has infused His creation with order. The enemy attempts to bring disorder by inserting sin into the equation. Sin corrupts order in relationships, in families, in government, and in churches. Disorder brings confusion, inefficiency, and ineffectiveness. Disorder does not reflect the nature and character of God. Bring honor to God by ordering your life. Take time to assess the current condition of your life, your routine, and your priorities. Is your life out of order? Is your life out of balance? Make intentional adjustments in your life to come into alignment with God’s purposes and plan. What do you need to stop doing? What do you need to start doing? What do you need to continue doing? Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Presence Moses Tabernacle

The Tabernacle

Glory Intimacy Moses

Moses on the Mountain

“Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” Exodus 24:17-18 (ESV) God deepens relationship with His people by establishing a blood covenant. The covenant relationship is marked by the signature traits of loyalty, devotion, and obedience. God initiates the love relationship and permeates the relationship with His glory. Moses received an invitation from the Lord. “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’” Exodus 24:12 (ESV). Moses encountered God on the mountain forty days and forty nights. He received the law and detailed instructions to bring to the people. God articulates His covenant community rules in the context of relationship. Can you imagine what Moses experienced with God during those forty days and forty nights? God values intimacy and He paves the way for us to know Him intimately. God has provided the means necessary for us to come into a covenant relationship with Him. The ultimate display of His unconditional love is found in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. God was willing to build an eternal relationship with us by allowing Jesus to become the only acceptable sacrifice for our sin. God demonstrated His love for us by sacrificing His Son for our sin. Jesus paid the debt He did not owe so that we could know the depth of God’s redeeming love. In Christ, we are in a covenant relationship with God on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Timing Moses Ten Commandments

God Delivers

“‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.’” Exodus 20:2 (ESV) Moses spent forty years in the palace, forty years in the desert, and then forty years as the deliverer of the children of Israel. God was strategically developing Moses for the special assignment of leading the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. Before delivering The Ten Commandments, God reminded them of His provision of bringing them out of the land of slavery. God graciously got them out of Egypt, now He was getting Egypt out of them. God is a God of Relationship. He initiated the love relationship we enjoy with Him. God chose to become like us so that we could become like Him. God took the initiative to develop us in Christ, as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to Him. Being adopted into His forever family did not come into fruition because of our human effort, but as a result of God’s redemptive activity. If you ever question your value in God’s eyes, just look to the cross. God took the initiative to build the ultimate love bridge to you so that you could have harmony with Him and enjoy eternal life. When did you respond to God’s offer of salvation? When did you become a follower of Jesus Christ and a recipient of God’s unconditional love? God has delivered you from your sin and brought you into the land of Promise. Now take the initiative to share the gift of eternal life with others. Shine His light and share His love so that others can have the personal and eternal relationship you enjoy with Jesus. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Jesus Moses Order

Restructure Your Life

“Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.’” Exodus 18:17-18 (ESV) Do you have margin in your life? Margin is the space between your load and your limit. God has designed you to handle a certain amount of His work during your brief stay on this planet called earth. God has given you all the time you need to accomplish His plan. Moses reached a breaking point due to being overextended and overwhelmed. The masses of people each wanted a piece of him. They wanted his time, his attention, and his decision making prowess. Though serving as judge over Israel, Moses failed to exercise proper judgment over his own life. God came to the rescue by bringing Jethro into Moses’ life. Jethro lovingly spoke into Moses’ life to declare, “What you are doing is not good.” Moses couldn’t see the unhealthy path that he was on. Jethro saw it clearly and succinctly. Jethro was willing to help Moses’ restructure his life. What is overwhelming you right now? Has your load exceeded your limit? What are you giving your life to that is outside of God’s will? Step back and evaluate your current reality. You may want to ask someone you know and love and trust to help you examine your life. Allow that person to give you feedback on what they see going on in your world. Their perspective could help you see what you are not seeing. God uses other people to help us walk in obedience to His will. Pray and ask God to bring a Jethro into your life. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Provision Miracle Moses

Following God’s Lead

“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.” Exodus 13:21-22 (ESV) God makes His Presence known. For the children of Israel, God revealed His Presence through the glory cloud. God would guide the Israelites by the visible manifestation of the cloud during the day and the pillar of fire by night. When the cloud lifted and shifted, the Israelites moved. The people of Israel followed God’s lead and crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. God removed the threat of the Egyptian army by causing the water to cascade down upon them. “Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses” (Exodus 14:31 ESV). As God’s workmanship, where did Moses learn that kind of sensitivity to God’s movement? Did he learn it in the palace during his first forty years on the earth or perhaps during the second forty years of his life as a shepherd in the desert? The burning bush experience obviously made an abiding difference in his sensitivity to God’s Presence. God is always at work. Are you sensitive to His activity? You can experience God’s Presence moment by moment as you commune with Him through prayer and feed on His Word. You can experience God’s Presence as you maintain a posture of expectation and anticipation. Recognition of God’s activity is proportionate to your sensitivity. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Blessing Moses Obedience

Obedience and Blessing

“All the people of Israel did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.” Exodus 12:50-51 (ESV) God keeps His word. He is the ultimate promise keeper. What God starts, He finishes! God was faithful to provide for Moses and the children of Israel throughout the process of their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. After sending the nine plagues upon Egypt, the tenth plague was the turning point for Pharaoh and for the people of Israel. God instructed Moses to have the people of Israel sacrifice a lamb for each family and to take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts and lintel of the houses in which they ate the lamb. “‘The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.’” Exodus 12:13 (ESV) The grace of God was evidenced as the He did not allow the destroyer to enter the houses of those who obeyed His command. Instead, God chose to passover their houses. The passover is a clear indication that God blesses obedience. God brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Do not bypass the grace of God as evidenced by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. If you have not turned from your sin and turned to Jesus alone for salvation, your first step of obedience is to make that decision right now. Don’t delay! Trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Place your faith in the completed work of Christ on the cross. He shed His blood for the removal of your sins. Trust and obey and He will show you the way! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Delays God's Power Moses

Dealing with Delays

“‘But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.’” Exodus 7:3-5 (ESV) After God announced that He would elevate Moses in the eyes of Pharaoh, the troubling reality of deliverance delays set in. God confirmed that He would continue to harden Pharaoh’s heart and that in spite of multiply signs and wonders, Pharaoh would not listen to Moses. That would de-motivate the chosen deliverer of Israel and generate a significant level of frustration. Can you relate to how Moses must have felt? Can you identify a time in your life when you experienced a delay that made no sense? You may have wondered why God would allow such a delay. Moses combated a host of delays embedded in the miraculous plagues of Egypt initiated by God. Each time, Pharaoh would soften up for a moment and announce the release of those enslaved by Egypt, and then quickly go back on his word. Moses had to ride the tumultuous waves of inconsistency. God has a divine purpose behind every delay in life. Though our view is limited and our understanding is somewhat finite, God has an infinite purpose behind each delay you face in this life. God is sovereign. He rules and He reigns, even when your circumstances do not line up with your understanding. Nothing will thwart God’s will and nothing will prevent the purposes of God from being fulfilled. Rest in His sovereignty. God is working out His plan in the midst of the delays you experience. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Provision Moses Sufficiency

Feeling Inadequate

“But Moses said to the LORD, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ Then the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’” Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV) Have you ever felt inadequate? It is an overwhelming feeling. Anxiety intensifies when you feel that your assignment is beyond your ability. Moses felt that way. He had received an assignment from God to deliver the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Moses was to confront the Pharaoh and to forge a path of deliverance for those enslaved by Egypt. Moses began to read off his list of excuses for God to consider. Moses was trying to get God caught up on the deficits that he had been living with all of his life. In others words, Moses was not quick on his feet and he felt inadequate to be God’s choice for the task. God is so patient. He gently reminded Moses of who the Creator is. Who gives man the ability to speak, to hear, and to think? Who makes it possible for humanity to know and to do and to be? God graciously affirmed Moses by saying, “Go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” God is your sufficiency. He will never ask you to do anything that He does not equip you for. Will you trust God to provide for your role in His story? God will be your sufficiency. God will compensate for your inadequacy. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Identity Moses Purpose

Identity Crisis

“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” Exodus 3:11 (ESV) Who am I? Why am I here? These two basic questions are innate in every human being. We long to know who we are and we strive to discover why we are placed on this planet called earth. Our security is proportionate to our understanding of our identity. God allowed Moses to experience forty years in the palace and then forty years in the desert. God wanted Moses to learn some things about his personal identity through a desert experience that he could not learn in the palace. God was preparing Moses for the purpose of delivering the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The burning bush encounter was a life changing experience for Moses. The encounter enabled Moses to come to know God in a personal way. God revealed His holiness to Moses and then unveiled His plan for Moses to embrace. As you can imagine, Moses could not visualize himself as the deliverer of the children of Israel. They had been slaves for over 400 years. Moses began making excuses and tried to deny his usefulness to God. Moses began to focus on what he lacked and missed the reality of God’s ability to do the extraordinary through ordinary people. Have you ever doubted your usefulness to God? Have you ever tried to convince God that you are not fit for His plan? God is not impressed with our abilities or our inabilities. God is not limited by our limitations. Are you willing to yield to God’s control and allow Him to have His way in your life? God is willing to take you through a desert experience to prepare you for His assignment. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Jethro Margin Moses

Examine Your Life

“Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.’” Exodus 18:17-18 (ESV) Living in a fallen world has immediate and progressive challenges. Sinfulness and selfishness dominate our culture. We live with an immense amount of pressure to perform at home, at school, at work, and at play. Our lives are bombarded with information and endless opportunities to expend our energy. Do you have margin in your life? Margin is the space between your load and your limit. God has designed you to handle a certain amount of His work during your brief stay on this planet called earth. God has given you all the time you need to accomplish His plan. Moses reached a breaking point due to being overextended and overwhelmed. The masses of people each wanted a piece of him. They wanted his time, his attention, and his decision making prowess. Though serving as judge over Israel, Moses failed to exercise proper judgment over his own life. God came to the rescue by bringing Jethro into Moses’ life. Jethro lovingly spoke into Moses’ life to declare, “What you are doing is not good.” Moses couldn’t see the unhealthy path that he was on. Jethro saw it clearly and succinctly. Jethro was willing to help Moses’ de-clutter his life. What is overwhelming you right now? Has your load exceeded your limit? What are you giving your life to that is outside of God’s will? Step back and evaluate your current reality. You may want to ask someone you know and love and trust to help you examine your life. Allow that person to give you feedback on what they see going on in your world. Their perspective could help you see what you are not seeing. God uses other people to help us walk in obedience to His will. Pray and ask God to bring a Jethro into your life. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell