Category: 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

Mercy Numbers Refuge

Finding Refuge

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.’” Numbers 35:9-12 (ESV) God featured His mercy and grace as He established the cities of refuge for the person who accidentally killed another person. God was providing protection from the avenger. When you consider the large number of people Moses was leading and when you consider the challenges of mobilizing around two-million people, the probability of conflict is rather high. Doing life together as a covenant community generated some major challenges and opportunities. The cities of refuge were strategically placed and graciously established. God was demonstrating His nature and character through His tangible redemptive activity. Moses was charged with carrying out the plan of God and ensuring the protection of the person who accidentally killed another. As followers of Jesus Christ, we look to God as our refuge and strength. He is the Creator of life and He is the sustainer of life. We look to Him because He is our faithful Shepherd and our consistent provider. As God’s children adopted into His family, we have privilege of casting all of our cares on Him and receiving mercy and grace to help us daily as we serve Him. Are you in need of refuge? Instead of running from God, choose to run to God. God already knows your condition and He already has everything you need to live the abundant life He has for you in Christ. Find refuge in Him! 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

Commitment Numbers Obedience

Yes Lord

“And the people of Gad and the people of Reuben answered, ‘What the Lord has said to your servants, we will do. We will pass over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan.’” Numbers 32:31-32 (ESV) When you surrender to the Lordship of Christ, you are placing His agenda before your own. Lordship is a decision of stewardship. Stewardship is caring for what God has entrusted to you. Your devotion and commitment to Christ is demonstrated through the way you steward what God has entrusted to your care. Surrendering your life to the Lordship of Christ places Him in charge of your life and your decisions. The people of Gad and the people of Reuben were willing to submit to what the Lord had said. They acknowledged that they were servants and their lives were marked by instant obedience. They were willing to do what the Lord said. Obedience to the Lord was not only valued, but also demonstrated by their actions. “‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.’” Matt 7:24-25 (ESV) “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (ESV) Start demonstrating the Lordship of Christ by being a hearer of God’s Word. Consistently read and feed on God’s Word. Grow in your understanding of the Bible. Move into becoming a doer of God’s Word by putting God’s Word into practice. Apply God’s Word by practicing instant obedience. Live your life by perpetually saying, “Yes, Lord!” Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Character Integrity Numbers

Keep Your Word

“Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded. If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” Numbers 30:1-2 (ESV) How refreshing to spend time with a person of integrity! The guard comes down and pretense evaporates because you are in the presence of someone who keeps his or her word. You can count on them. You can trust them because they are trustworthy. You can rely on them because they are reliable. You can depend on them because they are dependable. Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel to affirm the value of a vow. Moses reminded them of the utter importance and vitality of keeping their word. Their conversation was to be consistently supported by their conduct. Their beliefs were to be authenticated by their behavior. Do you keep your word? Are you a person of integrity? Does your conversation line up with your conduct? Take personal inventory of your life to assess the health of your integrity. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” 1 Sam 16:7 (ESV) Invite God to search your heart and to unveil anything in your heart that does not bring Him honor. Ask God to reveal any fraction of compromise or deception resident in your life. Be a person of integrity. Keep your word! 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

Judgment Numbers Zeal

The Real Zeal

“When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.” Numbers 25:7-9 (ESV) Instead of influencing the culture, the people of Israel were influenced by the culture. Instead of being a thermostat and setting the environment, the people of Israel became like a thermometer and reflected the environment. They drifted into Baal worship and forfeited their loyalty and devotion to the Lord their God. Aaron’s grandson, Phinehas, took the initiative to end the descent into pagan worship by piercing the Israelite and the Midianite woman he brought to his family in the sight of Moses and the congregation of the people of Israel. In response to this courageous move by Phinehas, God stopped the plague on the people of Israel. This was a dark day for the people of Israel in that twenty-four thousand had died by the plague. God credited Phinehas with turning back His wrath on the people of Israel. God affirmed Phinehas for being jealous with God’s jealousy among the people of Israel. What is the life lesson from such a traumatic encounter? Value what God values! Place the same value on people that God does. Place the same value on God’s will and God’s way that God does. Be zealous for the things of God and be diligent to be an irresistible influence for the Lord. Don’t allow the culture to shape you. Choose to shape culture by valuing what God values. 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

Discernment God's Will Numbers

Discern God’s Will

“On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the Lord to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff.” Numbers 17:8-9 (ESV) God reveals His will. Even when you are not clear about a direction you should take, God will bring you into the decision making process to reveal His plan. God created you and God has a specific plan for your life. Will you pursue Him daily and trust Him completely? Will you obey what God shows you? Moses obeyed God’s directive by securing the staffs of the twelve chiefs of Israel. Moses wrote their name on their staff and wrote Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi. The morning after Moses placed the twelve staffs in the tent of meeting, he retrieved each staff and noticed that Aaron’s staff had sprouted. Through this very interesting process, God revealed His will. Perhaps you are going through a season of life in which you would love for God to reveal His will to you in a tangible way. You would be willing to secure a staff or any item that God would use to indicate His will. The reality is that God reveals His will through His Word. Are you reading your Bible? Are you spending time in prayer and spending time diligently seeking God’s will? As you obey what God has already revealed to you, He will illuminate the path He wants you to take. As you obey, God will show you the way. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Caleb Devotion Numbers

Follow Fully

“‘But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.’” Numbers 14:21-24 (ESV) Tension mounted as the people of Israel grumbled against God and against Moses. God declared that none of those who despised God would see the land flowing with milk and honey. That would have been devastating news after all those years of wandering in the wilderness. God demonstrated that He does not bless disobedience. Refreshingly, God affirmed His servant, Caleb. God affirmed that Caleb had a different spirit and that Caleb followed God fully. As a result, God promised to bring Caleb and His descendants into the land he had explored with Joshua. The Promised Land was Caleb’s inheritance. Would God identify you as a fully devoted follower of Christ? Would your devotion to the Lord set you apart as a person with a different spirit? Take some time to take personal inventory of your life and your commitment to the Lord. Measure your motives and calculate your commitment to God’s Word and to God’s will. Are you fully devoted to the Lord? In order to exhibit a different spirit, you must allow the Holy Spirit to have full control of your life. Yield to His prompting and allow Him to empower you to follow Jesus fully! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Caleb Faith Numbers

Focus on Giants or God

“But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.’ Then the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.’” Numbers 13:30-31 (ESV) Are you facing something beyond your reach? Have you been agonizing over anything lately? Your situation may be relational, familial, financial, or physical. Whatever you view as your greatest obstacle just might be the greatest opportunity for God to reveal His glory. After twelve of the Israelites returned from spying out the land of Canaan, they returned with a mixed report. Ten of the twelve indicated that the land was filled with giants and could not be conquered. Yet, Joshua and Caleb had a much different report. Instead of focusing on the giants, they focused on God and His ability to bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey. Are you listening to the voices of doubt and fear or to the voice of God? God knows where you are and the specifics of what you are facing. Remember, nothing is hidden from God. Nothing catches God by surprise. Our limited perspective does not limit God. God has a plan for you that factors in your circumstances. God will remove the obstacle or He will help you overcome the obstacle. God will eliminate the giant before you or elevate your faith to persevere in light of the giant you face. Take possession of the land God is giving you. Will you focus on the giant or focus on God? Will you view your circumstances from your perspective or from God’s perspective? If God has allowed this situation, He will use it for your good and His glory. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Movement Numbers Tabernacle

Moving with God

“Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. “ Numbers 9:22 (ESV) The tabernacle was constructed in such as way as to maximize flexibility and mobility. Instead of constructing a permanent structure, God instructed Moses to construct a mobile tabernacle. The tent of meeting was fashioned for ease of mobility. Why was this an important feature? God wanted the people of Israel to be able to worship Him and to move with Him. A permanent structure would not suffice. Whenever the glory cloud lifted, the people would set out based on the orderly procedure Moses had established for taking down the tabernacle and transporting it to the next location. This process enabled them to move with God. When God moved, the people had the capability to move with God. Are you flexible, teachable, and stretchable? Are you available for God to expand you and to invite you into His story? Choose to make yourself available for God’s use. Live in ready-mode to join God in His activity and to move with God. It may mean a physical relocation or it may mean a change of attitude about your usefulness to God. God wants to reveal Himself to you and to do a new work in your life so that He can do a new work through your life. Position yourself in such as way as to be able to move with God. Practice His Presence and join God in His activity. Be sensitive to what God is doing around you and be ready to be used of God to touch the lives of those in your sphere of influence. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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

Blessing Favor Numbers

Be Blessed

“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’” Numbers 6:23-26 (ESV) God has blessed you to be a blessing. Your words have the power to build others up or to tear them down. Your words can inspire or discourage. Your words can motivate or devastate. Speak words that bless those whom God places in your path. Be a blessing to others by blessing others. Aaron and his sons were instructed to bless the people of Israel. They were to deliver a word of blessing from the Lord. God imparts life and God inspires hope and bestows blessings upon His people. God affirmed His blessing, His protection, His favor, and His grace upon His people. God projected His affirmation of His enabling and His abiding peace. Think about what you need to be on mission with God. Consider the resources necessary to do God’s work God’s way in this fallen world. You cannot live the Christian life in your own strength. God never intended for you to fulfill His plan in your own power. Receive God’s blessing. Receive God’s supernatural enabling to fulfill His mission on the earth. May the Lord bless you. May the Lord keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you. May the Lord be gracious to you in your time of need. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His sustaining peace. You are not on your own. You are not operating in isolation. God is blessing you so that you can be a blessing. You are blessed to bless! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Focus Numbers Priorities

Focus Your Life

“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.’” Numbers 2:1-2 (ESV) What is your preoccupation? What do you think about most? What consumes a majority of your energy and attention? Your answers to these questions will help unveil your focus. One healthy discipline is to intentionally assess the trajectory of your life. You need to know where you are heading and what you are giving your life to. God gave specific instructions related to the massive encampment of the twelve tribes of Israel. God wanted the people to camp facing the tent of meeting. Making His presence known within the center of the camp via the tent of meeting, God wanted the people of Israel to focus their attention and their lives on Him. “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” Psalm 119:15 (ESV) “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2 (NIV) Are you living the Christ-centered life? Is your life oriented around God’s agenda? Regain your focus and ask God to restore your spiritual sight to be able to see what God wants you to do and where God wants you to go. Obey what God reveals to you. Maintain an unyielding devotion to bring pleasure to the Lord by continuing His ministry on the earth. Make an eternal difference by focusing your life today. 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

Mercy Numbers Refuge

Finding Refuge

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. 12 The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.’” Numbers 35:9-12 (ESV) God featured His mercy and grace as He established the cities of refuge for the person who accidentally killed another person. God was providing protection from the avenger. When you consider the large number of people Moses was leading and when you consider the challenges of mobilizing around two-million people, the probability of conflict is rather high. Doing life together as a covenant community generated some major challenges and opportunities. The cities of refuge were strategically placed and graciously established. God was demonstrating His nature and character through His tangible redemptive activity. Moses was charged with carrying out the plan of God and ensuring the protection of the person who accidentally killed another. As followers of Jesus Christ, we look to God as our refuge and strength. He is the Creator of life and He is the sustainer of life. We look to Him because He is our faithful Shepherd and our consistent provider. As God’s children adopted into His family, we have privilege of casting all of our cares on Him and receiving mercy and grace to help us daily as we serve Him. Are you in need of refuge? Instead of running from God, choose to run to God. God already knows your condition and He already has everything you need to live the abundant life He has for you in Christ. Find refuge in Him! Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 69: Numbers 35-36) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive 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. 2 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. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 68: Numbers 33-34) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Commitment Numbers Obedience

Yes Lord

“And the people of Gad and the people of Reuben answered, ‘What the Lord has said to your servants, we will do. 32 We will pass over armed before the Lord into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan.’” Numbers 32:31-32 (ESV) When you surrender to the Lordship of Christ, you are placing His agenda before your own. Lordship is a decision of stewardship. Stewardship is caring for what God has entrusted to you. Your devotion and commitment to Christ is demonstrated through the way you steward what God has entrusted to your care. Surrendering your life to the Lordship of Christ places Him in charge of your life and your decisions. The people of Gad and the people of Reuben were willing to submit to what the Lord had said. They acknowledged that they were servants and their lives were marked by instant obedience. They were willing to do what the Lord said. Obedience to the Lord was not only valued, but also demonstrated by their actions. “‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.’” Matt 7:24-25 (ESV) “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (ESV) Start demonstrating the Lordship of Christ by being a hearing of God’s Word. Consistently read and feed on God’s Word. Grow in your understanding of the Bible. Move into becoming a doer of God’s Word by putting God’s Word into practice. Apply God’s Word by practicing instant obedience. Live your life by perpetually saying, “Yes, Lord!” Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 67: Numbers 31-32) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Character Integrity Numbers

Keep Your Word

“Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded. 2 If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” Numbers 30:1-2 (ESV) How refreshing to spend time with a person of integrity! The guard comes down and pretense evaporates because you are in the presence of someone who keeps his or her word. You can count on them. You can trust them because they are trustworthy. You can rely on them because they are reliable. You can depend on them because they are dependable. Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel to affirm the value of a vow. Moses reminded them of the utter importance and vitality of keeping their word. Their conversation was to be consistently supported by their conduct. Their beliefs were to be authenticated by their behavior. Do you keep your word? Are you a person of integrity? Does your conversation line up with your conduct? Take personal inventory of your life to assess the health of your integrity. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’” 1 Sam 16:7 (ESV) Invite God to search your heart and to unveil anything in your heart that does not bring Him honor. Ask God to reveal any fraction of compromise or deception resident in your life. Be a person of integrity. Keep your word! Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 66: Numbers 28-30) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive 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. 19 Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. 20 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. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 65: Numbers 26-27) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Judgment Numbers Zeal

The Real Zeal

“When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. 9 Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.” Numbers 25:7-9 (ESV) Instead of influencing the culture, the people of Israel were influenced by the culture. Instead of being a thermostat and setting the environment, the people of Israel became like a thermometer and reflected the environment. They drifted into Baal worship and forfeited their loyalty and devotion to the Lord their God. Aaron’s grandson, Phinehas, took the initiative to end the descent into pagan worship by piercing the Israelite and the Midianite woman he brought to his family in the sight of Moses and the congregation of the people of Israel. In response to this courageous move by Phinehas, God stopped the plague on the people of Israel. This was a dark day for the people of Israel in that twenty-four thousand had died by the plague. God credited Phinehas with turning back His wrath on the people of Israel. God affirmed Phinehas for being jealous with God’s jealousy among the people of Israel. What is the life lesson from such a traumatic encounter? Value what God values! Place the same value on people that God does. Place the same value on God’s will and God’s way that God does. Be zealous for the things of God and be diligent to be an irresistible influence for the Lord. Don’t allow the culture to shape you. Choose to shape culture by valuing what God values. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 64: Numbers 23-25) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive 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.’ 9 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, 15 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! Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 63: Numbers 21-22) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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, 7 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 ‘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? 10 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. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 62: Numbers 18-20) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Discernment God's Will Numbers

Discern God’s Will

“On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the Lord to all the people of Israel. And they looked, and each man took his staff.” Numbers 17:8-9 (ESV) God reveals His will. Even when you are not clear about a direction you should take, God will bring you into the decision making process to reveal His plan. God created you and God has a specific plan for your life. Will you pursue Him daily and trust Him completely? Will you obey what God shows you? Moses obeyed God’s directive by securing the staffs of the twelve chiefs of Israel. Moses wrote their name on their staff and wrote Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi. The morning after Moses placed the twelve staffs in the tent of meeting, he retrieved each staff and noticed that Aaron’s staff had sprouted. Through this very interesting process, God revealed His will. Perhaps you are going through a season of life in which you would love for God to reveal His will to you in a tangible way. You would be willing to secure a staff or any item that God would use to indicate His will. The reality is that God reveals His will through His Word. Are you reading your Bible? Are you spending time in prayer and spending time diligently seeking God’s will? As you obey what God has already revealed to you, He will illuminate the path He wants you to take. As you obey, God will show you the way. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 61: Numbers 16-17) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Caleb Devotion Numbers

Follow Fully

“‘But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.’” Numbers 14:21-24 (ESV) Tension mounted as the people of Israel grumbled against God and against Moses. God declared that none of those who despised God would see the land flowing with milk and honey. That would have been devastating news after all those years of wandering in the wilderness. God demonstrated that He does not bless disobedience. Refreshingly, God affirmed His servant, Caleb. God affirmed that Caleb had a different spirit and that Caleb followed God fully. As a result, God promised to bring Caleb and His descendants into the land he had explored with Joshua. The Promised Land was Caleb’s inheritance. Would God identify you as a fully devoted follower of Christ? Would your devotion to the Lord set you apart as a person with a different spirit? Take some time to take personal inventory of your life and your commitment to the Lord. Measure your motives and calculate your commitment to God’s Word and to God’s will. Are you fully devoted to the Lord? In order to exhibit a different spirit, you must allow the Holy Spirit to have full control of your life. Yield to His prompting and allow Him to empower you to follow Jesus fully! Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 60: Numbers 14-15; Psalm 90) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Caleb Faith Numbers

Focus on Giants or God

“But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.’ 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.’” Numbers 13:30-31 (ESV) Are you facing something beyond your reach? Have you been agonizing over anything lately? Your situation may be relational, familial, financial, or physical. Whatever you view as your greatest obstacle just might be the greatest opportunity for God to reveal His glory. After twelve of the Israelites returned from spying out the land of Canaan, they returned with a mixed report. Ten of the twelve indicated that the land was filled with giants and could not be conquered. Yet, Joshua and Caleb had a much different report. Instead of focusing on the giants, they focused on God and His ability to bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey. Are you listening to the voices of doubt and fear or to the voice of God? God knows where you are and the specifics of what you are facing. Remember, nothing is hidden from God. Nothing catches God by surprise. Our limited perspective does not limit God. God has a plan for you that factors in your circumstances. God will remove the obstacle or He will help you overcome the obstacle. God will eliminate the giant before you or elevate your faith to persevere in light of the giant you face. Take possession of the land God is giving you. Will you focus on the giant or focus on God? Will you view your circumstances from your perspective or from God’s perspective? If God has allowed this situation, He will use it for your good and His glory. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 59: Numbers 11-13) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Movement Numbers Tabernacle

Moving with God

“Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. “ Numbers 9:22 (ESV) The tabernacle was constructed in such as way as to maximize flexibility and mobility. Instead of constructing a permanent structure, God instructed Moses to construct a mobile tabernacle. The tent of meeting was fashioned for ease of mobility. Why was this an important feature? God wanted the people of Israel to be able to worship Him and to move with Him. A permanent structure would not suffice. Whenever the glory cloud lifted, the people would set out based on the orderly procedure Moses had established for taking down the tabernacle and transporting it to the next location. This process enabled them to move with God. When God moved, the people had the capability to move with God. Are you flexible, teachable, and stretchable? Are you available for God to expand you and to invite you into His story? Choose to make yourself available for God’s use. Live in ready-mode to join God in His activity and to move with God. It may mean a physical relocation or it may mean a change of attitude about your usefulness to God. God wants to reveal Himself to you and to do a new work in your life so that He can do a new work through your life. Position yourself in such as way as to be able to move with God. Practice His Presence and join God in His activity. Be sensitive to what God is doing around you and be ready to be used of God to touch the lives of those in your sphere of influence. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 58: Numbers 8-10) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

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. Chronological Bible Reading Plan: (Day 57: Numbers 7) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell