“But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, ‘Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?’ 6 And he said to her, ‘Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ 7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, ‘Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’” 1 Kings 21:5-7 (ESV) Have you ever wanted something you could not have? You can easily become obsessed with doing whatever it takes to feed the desire to acquire. Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard and watered the seed of greed. When he did not get his way, Ahab pouted and refused to eat. When Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, noticed his dejected state, she took matters into her own hands. Jezebel watered the seed of greed through deception. She wrote letters in Ahab’s name and used Ahab’s seal and then sent them to the elders and leaders of Naboth’s city. She devised a plan to have a fast proclaimed and to secure two worthless men to sit across from Naboth to bring a false charge against him resulting in punishment by death. The seed of greed became a fatal weed. Ahab got the vineyard he wanted and Jezebel was willing to take a man’s life for it. That’s what the seed of greed can do! Greed has the power to lead you into making irrational decisions. Greed poisons the fertile ground of God’s will. Keep the seed of greed from taking root in your life. Practice generosity. Live to bless and benefit others. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Tag: Devo
Daily Inspiration from God’s Word
“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.’” 1 Kings 19:4 (ESV) Elijah experienced the miracle working, idol defeating, prayer answering display of God’s splendor. A major spiritual victory had been won on Mount Carmel. The 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah were slaughtered. The people of Israel responded to the demonstration of God’s power by kneeling and proclaiming, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” Once Elijah received a threat from Jezebel, he descended from the mountain of public victory to the valley of personal defeat. He ran for his life and entered the wilderness. As he sat under a broom tree, he hit a personal all-time low and wanted God to take away his life. Elijah spiraled down into the depths of depression. Fear causes you to lose perspective. Fear blurs your focus and exaggerates your circumstances. Recapture God’s perspective on your life and on your circumstances. Remember that you are designed by God and for God’s glory. If God allows you to go through a difficult situation, He will use it for your good and for His glory. God has the final say. Rest in His sovereignty. God has the power to change both you and your circumstances. Sometimes God removes your obstacles and sometimes God gives you the grace to navigate life in the midst of the obstacles you face. God provided Elijah with rest, refreshment, revelation, and relationship. Elijah recaptured God’s perspective on life. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Courageous Heart
“The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. 5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.” 2 Chronicles 17:3-6 (ESV) How many decisions do you anticipate making today? Life is filled with paths to take and decisions to make. Every decision determines a direction that leads to a destination. You can decide to walk with God or you can decide to stray from God. You can decide to bring honor to God or you can decide to bring dishonor to God. You can decide to live in the center of God’s will or you can decide to live contrary to God’s will. Jehoshaphat made deliberate decisions to seek God and to walk in His ways. Jehoshaphat intentionally did not seek the Baals and did not follow the practices of Israel. He boldly took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah. God rewarded the faithfulness and obedience of Jehoshaphat by establishing the kingdom in his hand. Is your heart courageous in the ways of the Lord? Do you boldly and intentionally pursue God’s way? There is no better choice for you to make than aligning your life with God’s will. Don’t compromise your integrity. Don’t dilute your devotion to the Lord. Passionately pursue God and walk in His ways. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Hear, Forgive, and Heal
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV) How do you return to God after you have disobeyed Him? What do you do when you miss the mark of God’s holiness and perfection? Is there hope for you after you have made a poor decision? The wonderful news is that God is good and His steadfast love endures forever. You don’t have to run from God, you can run to God. Even if you have blown it! Even if you have drifted from God! You can run from your sin and you can run to the Lord. Humble yourself before the Lord. Take pride for a ride and get real about your sin. Get real about your current condition. Embrace the reality of your humanity and the certainty of His divinity. Acknowledge your desperation for your gracious God. Don’t stay in your sin. Pray! Don’t accept the detour as your intended path. Don’t go numb and silent. Go verbal with God by engaging in meaningful communication with God. Pray and seek His face. You will seek Him and you will find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Turn from your sin and turn to the Lord. Repent! Change your mind about your sin and see your sin as God sees it. Run to God and confess your sin! How will God respond? He will hear from heaven and forgive your sin. Be restored to a right relationship with God. Experience His healing. God loves you too much to leave you in your sin. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people.” 1 Kings 8:66 (ESV) The elders of Israel and the priests brought up the ark to the Temple and positioned it in the Most Holy Place. Solomon obeyed God and honored his earthly father, David, by building the Temple and establishing the house of prayer. Solomon prayed a prayer of blessing over the people of Israel. This magnificent moment in the story of God’s redemptive activity was filled with awe, wonder, sacrifice, and worship. After the sacred seven day celebration, Solomon sent the people away and the people went to their homes filled with joy and gladness for all the goodness that the Lord had shown them. The faithfulness of God to His people had saturated their lives and filled their journey with joy and gladness. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12 (ESV) “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (ESV) Contemplate the goodness of God in your life. Think about all that the Lord has done to see you through seasons of uncertainty and storms of adversity. Ponder the spiritual markers God has strategically placed in your journey with Him. Celebrate the faithfulness of God over each day of your life and each year of your existence. God has brought you out of Egypt and supernaturally enabled you to cross the Red Sea and the Jordan River on dry ground. God has delivered you from the bondage of Egypt and He has brought you safely into the land that flows with milk and honey. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.” 1 Kings 7:51 (ESV) God created you to know Him personally and to do His will intentionally. You are designed by God to complete His assignment. God invites you into His redemptive story so that you can join Him in His redemptive activity. Solomon joined God in His activity. He obeyed God’s directives and finished the house of the Lord. As you read the description of the construction process, you will notice Solomon’s careful attention to details. “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.’” John 4:34 (ESV) “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30 (ESV) “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 (ESV) Focus your life on the task the Lord has called you to complete. Do God’s will with passion. If you don’t know God’s will, start obeying the last thing God said to you. As you obey, God will show you the way. Practice instant obedience and enjoy the journey God has for you. Trust Him to illuminate the path He wants you to take. Trust God to build the bridges He wants you to cross and to open the doors He wants you to walk through. Keep your “yes” on the altar! Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’” 1 Kings 5:4-5 (ESV) God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle so that He could manifest His presence among the people of Israel. The tabernacle was mobile in order to allow for the children of Israel to follow the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. They would move when God moved. God later communicated with David the plans for Solomon to build the temple. Solomon followed through with the instructions he had been given and made decisions based on the wisdom God had provided. The temple was ornate and every detail pointed to the majesty of God. Through Christ, God has made your body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. God has made you fit for His habitation. You are the walking tabernacle of God’s presence. Your body is the temple that houses the Holy Spirit. “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 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV) What will be different about your outlook on life today knowing that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit? Ask the Lord to elevate your soul consciousness as you interact with others. Remember that the Holy Spirit goes with you everywhere you go and He knows everything you feel, think, and experience. Riding HIS Wave, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell