“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’” 1 Kings 18:36-37 (NIV) When you hear the name Elijah, your first inclination is to think of the major victory he experienced on Mt. Carmel. Elijah took on the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who ate at Jezebel’s table. Elijah is kind of like the “Rocky Balboa” of the Old Testament. He was not about to back down from the featured match between good and evil. “Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.” 1 Kings 18:38 (NIV) “When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD–he is God! The LORD–he is God!’” 1 Kings 18:39 (NIV) What a major demonstration of God’s power! What a miraculous response to Elijah’s prayer! God allowed Elijah to see and experience God’s favor. Elijah truly had a mountain top experience on Mt. Carmel. How could Elijah ever doubt God or deny God’s power after such a magnificent encounter? You are most susceptible to sin after a major victory. Elijah experienced the downward spiral from victory to depression. How would God respond to Elijah’s desperation? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Victory
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Persist to Resist
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) The enemy is persistent in his pursuit of your loyalty. The devil is on a mission to neutralize your faith and to tranquillize your passion for God. Prowling around like a roaring lion, the devil seeks to distort your vision of God. If the enemy can rob you of your passion and your vision, then he has accomplished his mission. The devil cannot attack God, so he chooses to attack God’s family. As a child of God, you are on Satan’s radar. Persist to resist. You do not have to succumb to the attacks of the devil. You do not have to yield to his temptation to doubt God’s Word. You do not have to surrender to the enemy’s agenda to thwart God’s will. Remember, you are a child of the King! Jesus purchased you with His own blood. You have received the imputed righteousness of Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in you and there is no vacancy for the devil. The enemy is not welcome in your mind. The devil has no place in the landscape of your life devoted to the Lord. Stand firm in the faith. Remember the confidence you placed in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Stand firm in the reality of your new identity in Christ. Allow the fruit of the Spirit, self-control, to be released in your life. Starve the flesh and feed the Spirit. Guard your heart. Put on the full armor of God. Be alert! Don’t drift into apathy. Don’t coast into complacency. Stand firm in the faith God has given you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out.” Luke 8:22 (NIV) God will get you to the other side. His plan for you is personal. God designed you with His purpose in mind. You are not an accident. Before you were born, God knew you (Jer. 1:5). You are here at this very moment because God ordained your existence. God has a special plan for your life that includes your past, present, and future. God’s plan factors in your choices. You are not an impersonal robotic creature. You are a personal relational being with the purpose of God in your heart. God knows you by name and even the hairs upon your head are numbered (Luke 12:7). God’s plan for you is eternal. There’s more in store than what you see in the here and now. God has placed eternity in your heart to position you for eternal life (Eccl. 3:11). Your life goes beyond the grave. God’s plan for you extends beyond the immediate and includes eternal life. As you receive the gift of eternal life by faith, your forever is changed. Heaven becomes the place where you will live with God forever. The disciples responded to Jesus by getting into a boat and setting out. Jesus said, “Let’s go over to the other side.” Jesus did not say, “Let’s see if we can make it to the other side.” When Jesus is in your boat, there’s nothing to fear. Jesus will get you to the destination safely and right on time. Enjoy the journey! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’“ John 12:23 (NIV) Victory comes through surrender. Our culture teaches you to take control of your life. Be the best! Give it your all! Get all you can! Be happy! Win at all costs! Reality shows have glamorized the self-centered life. The persistent themes suggest that your best life is all about you and what you can acquire during your short stay on this planet. Jesus demonstrated the opposite pursuit. Jesus left it all in Heaven so that He could come to earth, live and die a sinless death, be resurrected on the third day, and ascend back to His Father in Heaven. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Jesus oriented His life around the centrality of bringing glory to God. “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) “’Father, glorify your name!’“ John 12:28 (NIV) Jesus willingly put others first. He willingly endured the agony of crucifixion and looked to the resulting outcome of saving mankind and bringing glory to God. Your best life is not your life! Victory comes through surrender. Are you willing to follow the example of Christ and place God’s agenda first in your life? Are you willing to reflect honor to God? Live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Victory in Temptation
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Cor 10:13 (NIV) Temptation is an opportunity to honor God. Our response to temptation will determine whether we honor God or dishonor God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not temptation exempt. Living in a fallen world and retaining our sin nature guarantee the presence of temptation. It is not a matter of if we will face temptation, but a matter of when we will face temptation. Even Jesus was tempted. Temptation is a common feature in this life. Of course, temptation comes in different forms depending on where we are most susceptible. Satan knows what our weaknesses are and what will entice us toward sin. We are not left alone to fend for ourselves. God is here! God is faithful! We can anchor our faith to the faithfulness of God. He will never leave us. He will not abandon us. In fact, God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear with Him. Temptation is a constant reminder of our dependency upon God. We need God! God will also provide an exit strategy. When temptation knocks at our door, we don’t have to submit to the temptation. God will always provide a way of escape so that we can stand up under the load and stress of the temptation. How will you respond when temptation comes your way? Will you seize the opportunity to honor God? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” John 12:23 (NIV) Victory comes through surrender. Our culture teaches you to take control of your life. Be the best! Give it your all! Get all you can! Be happy! Win at all costs! Reality shows have glamorized the self-centered life. The persistent themes suggest that your best life is all about you and what you can acquire during your short stay on this planet. Jesus demonstrated the opposite pursuit. Jesus left it all in Heaven so that He could come to earth, live and die a sinless death, be resurrected on the third day, and ascend back to His Father in Heaven. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Jesus oriented His life around the centrality of bringing glory to God. “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) “‘Father, glorify your name!’” John 12:28 (NIV) Jesus willingly put others first. He willingly endured the agony of crucifixion and looked to the resulting outcome of saving mankind and bringing glory to God. Your best life is not your life! Victory comes through surrender. Are you willing to follow the example of Christ and place God’s agenda first in your life? Are you willing to reflect honor to God? Live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Practicing Bouncing Eyes
“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.” Prov 4:25 (NIV) Eyesight is an amazing feature of the human body. God’s creation throughout the earth is awesome to behold whether taking in the sight of the blue sky in the day or the star filled sky at night or observing a butterfly dancing from leaf to leaf. From gazing at the flowing wildflowers in the open field to examining the intricacies of a cell under a microscope, eyesight is a gift from God. As we seek to walk in victory in this life on planet earth, let’s use the letter “P” in our MAP to remind us to Practice Bouncing Eyes. There is so much to look at from day to day. To walk in victory, we must very selective in what we allow to come into our minds through the open window of our eyes. “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matt 5:28 (NIV) “’I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.’” Job 31:1 (NIV) Take the initiative to practice bouncing eyes. Train your eyes to bounce off of anything that does not honor God. As Billy Graham has said, “The first look is natural; the second look is sin.” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Avoiding Slippery Slopes
“Avoid every kind of evil.” 1 Thess 5:22 (NIV) Have you ever done something that compromised your convictions and broke the heart of God? When you look back on the experience, you still can’t believe that you did such a thing. When you get too close to the edge, you slip down the slippery slope and immense guilt follows. Have you been there? As we continue observing our MAP for walking in victory, let’s use the letter “A” to remind us to Avoid Slippery Slopes. Because of our resident sin nature, we have a tendency to see how close we can get to the edge without slipping and falling. God’s Word teaches us to guard our lives and to conduct our lives with caution. Slippery slopes abound. Opportunities to compromise our convictions are unlimited. “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.” 1 Thess 4:3-5 (NIV) “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Heb 12:4 (NIV) God has called us to a lifestyle of self-control. Take the initiative to avoid slipper slopes. Ask God to give you wisdom to see the terrain as it is and to detect the slippery slopes awaiting your arrival. Living in a fallen world is a struggle. Resist sin at all costs. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Monitoring Media Input
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 (NIV) God has called us to a lifestyle of moral purity. As followers of Jesus Christ, our constant assignment is to keep from being polluted by the world. Sin is rampant in our society and sin is present within our sin nature. As we battle temptation from within, we must establish guardrails to keep us on the straight and narrow path of holiness. Let’s consider using a MAP for walking in victory. The letter “M” will remind us to Monitor Media Input. In our age of technology, we have unprecedented access to images that dishonor God. High definition televisions, computers, and cell phones provide an array of images that pollute and contaminate the mind of the child of God. Filtering what we allow to come into our minds is a proactive step to walking in victory. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Phil 4:8 (NIV) “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Tim 2:22 (NIV) Take the initiative to monitor media input. When you put garbage in, you will get garbage out. When you put Christ in, you get Christ out. Fill your mind with that which brings honor to God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Temptation and Predictability
“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:15 (NIV) Temptation has a predictable process. James gives uses the metaphor of childbirth to capture the predictable process of temptation. In his letter to the Jews who were scattered outside of Palestine, James writes about the trials from without and the temptations from within. We have God-given desires that are natural and are vital to life. For example, we have the desire for food. Without that desire we would die. We also have the desire for rest. Without that desire we would die. Yet, both desires can become sin when we take them beyond God’s intended purpose. If we take our desire for food too far, we commit the sin of gluttony. In like manner, if we take our desire for rest too far, we commit the sin of laziness. Arm yourself with the knowledge of the predictable process of temptation. We idolize something we desire. The next step is that we rationalize why we should have the desire fulfilled. In other words, we talked ourselves into compromising convictions. Then we strategize by coming up with a plan to obtain the object we are idolizing. Ultimately, we capitalize on the opportunity by seizing what we have desired. Remorse and guilt follow. Look back over poor choices you have made in your lifetime. See if you can identify this predictable process. Here’s the key to victory: The sooner in the process you avoid the sin, the more likely you will overcome the temptation. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Fruit Inspection
(Today’s Devotional Submitted by Guest Writer: Louis Miori, Pastor of Pastoral Care, Champion Forest Baptist Church) “‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’” John 15:5 (NIV) If you go to the local bookstore, you will find hundreds of book titles in the “self-help” section. While some of these books offer practical solutions to life’s problems, many of these books center on changing one’s outward behavior in one’s own strength. Most of these books encourage intense self-reliance to become a better person and to have a better life. While our culture places a primary emphasis on SELF: self-reliance, self-improvement, and even self-indulgence, Jesus speaks to the contrary by telling us that apart from Him, we can do nothing! To attain a life of victory, a life of true joy, peace, and purpose, a life where we successfully overcome our hurts, habits, and hang-ups, Jesus endorses a life of complete surrender to Him and complete dependence on Him. As we daily surrender ourselves to the Lordship of Christ, and as we daily declare our dependence on Him rather than ourselves, then He will enable us to live a fruitful life. What kind of fruit is produced when a follower of Christ chooses to totally surrender to and totally depend on God? On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, take a few moments to evaluate the evidence of each of the nine fruit of the Spirit in your life (Gal. 5:22-23). If you truly want to see how the fruit of the Spirit is manifesting in your life, ask your spouse, another family member, or a trusted friend to “inspect your fruit” with this same 1-10 scale. Be encouraged, God loves you so much and wants you to live a life of surrender, dependence, and victory! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.” Psalms 52:8-9 (NIV) Are you flourishing in this life? Are you connected to the source of life and peace? The abundant Christian life is lived from the inside out. You start with your inner life, the private world of your love relationship with the Lord. You are the house of God. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Are you nurturing the life of Christ in you? You flourish in the house of God when you trust in God’s unfailing love. God’s love is not conditioned by your response. God’s love is not extended to you based on your performance. There is nothing you can do to cause God to love you any more and there is nothing you can do to cause God to love you any less. God’s love for you is unfailing and unchanging. You flourish in the house of God when you praise God for what He has done. Gratitude is the attitude of the child of God. Being grateful for the activity of God in your life is demonstrated through your vertical recognition of God’s faithfulness. Begin praising God now for His wonderful acts of compassion and tenderness. When you hope in His name, you flourish in the house of God. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalms 20:7 NIV). Be careful where you land your trust. Anchor your faith to the Master of the sea. Fasten your faith to the Rock of Ages! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
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Resurrection Faith
“Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34 (NIV) What did Jesus do? He lived a sinless life, He died a sacrificial death, and He rose bodily from the dead. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to over five hundred eyewitnesses (1 Cor. 15:6). Then, Jesus ascended back to His Father in heaven (Lk. 24:51). Now what? What does Jesus do? Jesus intercedes for us. He is at the right hand of God praying for us. Jesus always lives to intercede for us (Heb. 7:25). Not only do we enjoy the fruit of His death, resurrection, and ascension, but we also continue to benefit from Jesus’ ministry of intercessory prayer. Jesus is alive and actively fulfilling God’s agenda. You can receive God’s offer of salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). You can be adopted into God’s family (Eph. 1:5). Your name can be written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27). Your sins can be forgiven (1 Jn. 1:9). You have access to everything you need for life and godliness (2 Pt. 1:3). As you abide in Christ and grow in your love relationship with Him, you have the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit within you. In Christ, your salvation is secure and Jesus makes intercession for you. Not a moment goes by in which Jesus is not praying for you. Your name, your life, your circumstances, and your future continually go before our Heavenly Father through the compassionate lips of Jesus. Jesus died for you and Jesus lives to intercede for you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Rolling the Stone Away
“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?’” Mark 16:1-3 (NIV) What’s on your mind this morning? Is there anything that has been troubling you and draining your emotional energy? On their way to the tomb, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were troubled by the challenge of removing the massive stone covering the entrance to the tomb. They were perplexed by the apparent dilemma. The question lingered in their minds, “Who will roll the stone away?” Perhaps you are facing a challenge that defies your ability to bring about resolution. Maybe there is an obstacle keeping you from living the victorious Christian life God offers. Who will roll the stone away for you? Your stone may be financial, relational, or vocational. Your stone may be medical, emotional, or familial. Whatever your stone represents, God has the power to roll your stone away. When the women arrived at the tomb, they saw that the stone had been rolled away (Mark 16:4). The very thing that had worried them most was alleviated first. God had rolled the stone away, not to let Jesus out, but to let the women in. God had already provided for their victory. God did for the women that which they could not do for themselves. Have you given your stone to the Lord? In prayer, spend some time releasing your stone of adversity, your stone of worry, or your stone of uncertainty. Receive the comfort God provides. Embrace the resolution God prompts. Trust God’s timing to accomplish His will His way. God knows the obstacles in your path. God sees the terrain of your pain. Place your confidence in the One who created you for His glory. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Reigning in Life
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:11 (NIV) Is He in you? Is the Holy Spirit living in you? If you are a child of God, then you are the walking tabernacle of the presence of Almighty God. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). The Holy Spirit is your Counselor, the Spirit of truth, who lives with you and in you forever (John 14:16-17). At the moment of your conversion, you received the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come (2 Cor. 5:5). You were saved the moment you confessed Jesus as Lord and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Rm. 10:9-10). The Holy Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing your eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:14). This same Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, gives life to your mortal body. Your body is in a constant motion of decay. Your mortal body is not made to last forever. One day, you will receive a glorified body. Until then, you are to allow the Holy Spirit to live in you and through you to accomplish God’s mission on earth. You cannot reign in this life unless you allow the Holy Spirit to reign in your life. Surrender to His control. Be filled with the Holy Spirit by yielding to His leadership in your life (Eph. 5:18). Live by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). Allow the Holy Spirit to bear His fruit (Gal. 5:22-23). Stay connected to the Vine and bear much fruit for the glory of God (John 15:5). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Resurrection Reality
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26 (NIV) Belief brings ultimate relief. Believing in Jesus brings the ultimate relief of knowing that you will never die. In Christ, you will never experience the sting of death (1 Cor. 15:55-57). Those who choose to live and believe in Jesus will never die. For the Child of God, death is not a wall to climb, but rather an open door to enter. Jesus has built the bridge to transfer a believer from life on earth to life in heaven. Martha was troubled by the death of her brother, Lazarus. She did not understand why Jesus delayed in coming to the rescue. Jesus comforted Martha and affirmed that He was the resurrection and the life. Martha placed her faith in Jesus (John 11:27). Jesus called Lazarus forth from the grave and he came out wrapped in grave clothes. Jesus commanded that his grave clothes be removed. Lazarus experienced Jesus as the resurrection and the life. Martha witnessed the miracle of resurrection. As a child of God, you are armed with the powerful message of eternal hope and security. You can personally deliver the good news that whoever confesses Christ will never die. You can participate with God in His redemptive activity by sharing the saving news of Jesus with the lost. Heaven and eternal life are fixtures in the life of every believer. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.” Psalms 44:6-7 (NIV) When you identify an area that you are gifted in or an activity that comes naturally to you, it is easy to place your confidence in that area or activity. Sometimes our competence becomes our confidence. We begin to trust the gifts and abilities that God has given us to the neglect of relying upon His strength. Sometimes we may even forget how we have become victorious. What do you trust in? Who are you relying upon to live the victorious Christian life? “‘But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’” Jer 17:7-8 (NIV) “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (NIV) God gives us the victory. The credit does not belong to us for weathering the storms of life. God gives us the grace we need to both live and die. God provides us with His ample supply of Manna and quail. God multiplies the loaves and fish to nourish us. Spend a few moments thanking God for coming to your rescue. Be mindful of how needy you are and how generous God is. Weigh the privilege of trusting God and using the gifts and abilities He has given in order to live for His glory. Don’t miscalculate the value God places on your life and on your obedience. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’” 1 Kings 18:36-37 (NIV) When you hear the name Elijah, your first inclination is to think of the major victory he experienced on Mt. Carmel. Elijah took on the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who ate at Jezebel’s table. Elijah is kind of like the “Rocky Balboa” of the Old Testament. He was not about to back down from the featured match between good and evil. “Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.” 1 Kings 18:38 (NIV) “When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD–he is God! The LORD–he is God!’” 1 Kings 18:39 (NIV) What a major demonstration of God’s power! What a miraculous response to Elijah’s prayer! God allowed Elijah to see and experience God’s favor. Elijah truly had a mountain top experience on Mt. Carmel. How could Elijah ever doubt God or deny God’s power after such a magnificent encounter? You are most susceptible to sin after a major victory. More to come… Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor