Author: Stephen Trammell

On Mission

“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” Gen 12:1-3 (NIV) Has God ever asked you to do something that was uncomfortable? Have you ever sensed that God wanted you to make a decision that would alter your current reality? Abram was confronted with a word from God that would drastically change his path. God’s instructions were not specific. In fact, God just told Abram to leave and go to a land He would show him. Abram was not on a mission, but on mission with God. Being on mission with God is relational. If you want to obey God and trust Him to reveal His plan for your life, then you must be willing to walk with Him and get to know His voice. God does not need you to be on a mission. God wants you to make a choice to be on mission with Him. He is in charge. He has an agenda for you to fulfill. Abram had to trust God to show Him the way. As Abram obeyed, God would reveal his next step. Does that connect with you? Are you coming to the place where you realize that God wants you to simply choose to be on mission with Him and trust Him with the details? As you obey, God will reveal the way. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Fatherhood of God

How does Father’s Day impact you personally? Is it a day of warmth and wonderful memories or is it a day of hurtful reminders of neglect? Your earthly father may be all that you have dreamed he would be, or he may be lacking in your concept of what an earthly dad should be. My dad became an alcoholic when I was a child. Before my seventh birthday, my parents divorced. The devastation of divorce caused me to search for a father who would never let me down. On March 28, 1979, I found that Father when I turned my life over to Jesus Christ. He gave me a new identity, a new righteousness, and a new reason to live. Through my relationship with Jesus I have come to know what unconditional love looks like and feels like. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:15-16 (NIV) “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’” Gal 4:6 (NIV) Are you embracing the Fatherhood of God? He is the ultimate Father! He will never leave you. He will never let you down. He will keep you in His care both in this life and the life to come. He will place your feet on higher ground. God will show you a love that is unmatched and unlimited. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Secure

If you are in Christ, then you are sealed. If you are in Christ, then you are filled. If you are in Christ, then you are secure. Your security in Christ is not dependent on you. Your security is dependent on God who has sealed your security by filling you with His Holy Spirit. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:13-14 (NIV) Celebrate your security in Christ. Express your gratitude to God for your secure position in Christ. He gave you what you did not deserve. He placed you in the firm reality of being a child of the King. You are royalty. You are God’s possession. God made it possible for you to be sealed and secure. How will your position in Christ affect your relationships? How will your security in Christ impact your decisions and level of courage? What fears have been alleviated by God’s seal of security in your life? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Sealed

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:13-14 (NIV) If you believe, you will recieve. At the moment of conversion, you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is an instantaneous experience, not a subsequent event. The indwelling presence of Christ, the Holy Spirit, comes to live inside of you. Having believed on the gospel of Jesus Christ, you were marked in Christ with the seal of the Holy Spirit. The seal speaks of authenticity. The seal speaks of identification. You belong to God. You are His creation. You became His child and were adopted into His family when you placed your faith in Jesus alone for salvation. You were marked with a seal. That seal is the Person of the Holy Spirit. Did you notice the Trinity in these two verses? God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are expressed in verses thirteen and fourteen. Look closely and you will see “Christ” and then “Holy Spirit” and then “God” which form the Trinity which means three in one. God created you. Jesus redeemed you. The Holy Spirit inhabits you. Your conversion is the real deal which has been sealed. Now it is time for you to claim your “in Christ” reality: I am sealed! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Included

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:13-14 (NIV) Our in Christ realities continue to grow. Now you can say, “I am included.” Let’s take a look at the in Christ realities so far in our journey through Ephesians. I am a Saint. I am blessed. I am chosen. I am adopted. I am accepted. I am redeemed. I am forgiven. I am blessed with wisdom and understanding. I am included. Remember, it’s not about your story that God plays a part in. It’s about God’s story that you play a part in. The wonderful news is that you are included! I am reminded of the lyrics from a powerful hymn by Johnson Oatman, Jr., “Jesus included me, Yes, He included me, When the Lord said, ‘Whosoever,’ He included me.” Do you realize how much God treasures you? Before you chose Him, He chose to include you in His redemptive plan. Let that concept settle in for a few moments. Now, how will this “in Christ” reality impact your attitude and behavior today? What will be different about your outlook on life? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Orchestration

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:11-12 (NIV) Has your life ever become complicated and messy? Have you traveled down a road you never thought you would view? Living in a fallen world tends to cause us to experience unexpected turns in life. Either we make poor choices or the decisions of others negatively affect us. It may be a relationship that has diverted into unhealthy patterns or personal behaviors that drift away from God’s best. The good news is that God is sovereign. He rules and He reigns. He always has the final say in any and every situation. Even when you make a disastrous move, God can orchestrate your path for your good and His glory. Notice how our Bible verse says that God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. He is God! There is nothing that is impossible with Him. He can handle your situation. He can handle your relationships. God orchestrates everything we encounter to bring about His will. Right now your current challenge may seem like an uphill climb dragging two dead elephants. God can take any difficult situation and orchestrate the details to conform to His plan. Are you willing to surrender your hurts, your frustrations, your disappointments, and your fears to God? Release them and entrust them to God’s sovereign care. He is the master conductor in the orchestra called life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Understanding

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5-6 (NIV) “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.” Prov 4:5 (NIV) “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Prov 4:7 (NIV) We know more than we obey. Wisdom is to know and comprehend. Understanding is to apply what we know and comprehend. Application of God’s Word indicates fullness in Christ. Just as a treadmill will not benefit your health unless you get on it and use it, God’s Word will not bring understanding until you apply it. Application leads to clarification, maturation, and transformation. Where do you start? You start by reading God’s Word. Next, you meditate on God’s Word. Then, you apply God’s Word. Let’s take the verses we just read and meditate on them and then apply them. Today, instead of leaning on my own understanding, I will trust in the Lord and acknowledge His ways. Today, instead of swerving from God’s Word to me, I will get His wisdom and His understanding. Today, instead of coasting through life, I will diligently get understanding. Obey what you know! Apply what God has spoken into your life with understanding! Walk in the light God gives you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Wisdom

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Eph 1:7-8 (NIV) God gives you wisdom to know and comprehend the redemption you have received. God’s wisdom enables you to embrace your new identity in Christ. His wisdom gives you the ability to walk in His ways. Yet, without the Holy Spirit living in an individual, the things of God will not make sense. A person without the indwelling Holy Spirit will not be able to detect the activity of God. It will not make sense to them. “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor 2:14 (NIV) Spiritual realities are detected by spiritual sight. The wisdom God grants enables us to see His realities. The things that come from the Spirit of God can only be discerned by spiritual vision. Are you lacking God’s wisdom? Then ask God to make His wisdom evident in your life so that you can discern His activity. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does”James 1:5-8 (NIV). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Mystery

“And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment–to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” Eph 1:9-10 (NIV) The mystery Paul is speaking of is not mysterious. He is speaking about something once hidden now made known. God is a God of revelation. As Henry Blackaby says, “God reveals Himself, His purposes, and His ways.” God wants you to know His will. God invites you into a relationship through which you come to learn how to walk with Him. Read these two verses again and notice how many times God’s activity is revealed. He made known… The mystery of His will… According to His good pleasure… Which He purposed… Under one Head… Even Christ. Have you noticed the activity of God in your life? There’s no mystery here! God is at work! It brings God pleasure to reveal His will to you. God is moved by the relational interaction between Himself and the one He pursues. You are that one! God pursues you with His everlasting love in order to bring you into harmony with His purpose and plans. You are treasured by God. Spend some time tracing the activity of God in your life. You may want to write down some spiritual markers in your life that have identified God’s activity in and through your circumstances. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Guarantee

Perhaps you have heard the expression, “Life has no guarantees!” Well, that’s just not true. If you are “in Christ”, then you have a guarantee that no one can disrupt. God guarantees your safe and secure eternal destiny. How does God indicate the security of our future? Explore the following from His Word: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Cor 1:21-22 (NIV) God gives His Holy Spirit to us at conversion. The moment we confess Jesus as Lord and embrace the reality that God raised Him from the dead, we are saved and filled with His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells us permanently. He does not move in and then move out. His indwelling Presence becomes our guarantee. “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Cor 5:5 (NIV) Have you received God’s deposit? Read Ephesians 1:13-14 and reflect on your current reality. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Sabbath

“They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. ‘He put mud on my eyes,’ the man replied, ‘and I washed, and now I see.’” “Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.’” John 9:13-16 (NIV) Jesus placed the needs of others above the legalistic views of the Pharisees. He was willing to do something helpful and holy on the Sabbath. Yet, Jesus was criticized for his actions. What are you willing to do on the Sabbath? What kind of Saturday will you experience? Sometimes the most spiritual activity you can embrace on a Saturday is to disconnect from the rush and routine of your everyday life. Maybe a day of rest could be the healing that Jesus desires to give you. For you it may mean turning your cell phone off. It may mean carving out time to simply not be available or accessible for anyone. Jesus embraced the discipline of getting away from the crowds and the tugs of life. He frequently went up on a mountainside to commune with our Heavenly Father. Yet, Jesus was willing to seize the opportunity to extend personal touch ministry. Because of His willingness to embrace a Sabbath rest, He had something to give those in need. What does your day look like? Are you over extended or over committed? Have you said “yes” too much and not said “no” enough? May God give you Sabbath rest! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Forgiveness

Are you ready for the next “in Christ” reality? You can say it now… I am forgiven. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Eph 1:7-8 (NIV) If you are in Christ, then you are forgiven. Because of Christ’s atonement, you have been declared righteous. Your sins have been forgiven. Notice the key in the above verse is, “through his blood.” “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Heb 9:22 (NIV) Jesus shed His blood to pay the debt of our sin in full. Claim your “in Christ” realities today: I am a Saint. I am blessed. I am chosen. I am adopted. I am accepted. I am redeemed. I am forgiven. Now walk in the reality of being in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Alignment

Prayer is aligning my life with God’s agenda. God has a plan for your life. He has a purpose for you to fulfill. How do you get connected to that purpose and plan? Through alignment! Prayer is the avenue through which we connect with God. He has already broken down the barriers that separated us. God grants us access to Him through prayer based on the atonement of Christ. Because Jesus paid the penalty for our sin, we have the privilege of communing with God through prayer. The Israelites communed with God through the use of the Tabernacle. “‘Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.’” Ex 25:8-9 (NIV) As believers, we commune with God through Jesus. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb 4:14-16 (NIV) As a Christ follower, you have direct access to God through Jesus. Are you aligned with God’s agenda? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Options

“‘Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’” Josh 24:14-15 (NIV) Before the foundation of the world, God chose you. However, God gives you options. You can choose Him or refuse Him. You can accept His offer of forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus or reject His offer of forgiveness. You can receive the gift of eternal life by placing your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross or you can deny the gift of eternal life. You have options. That’s the power of God’s love. We are not robots. We are not plastic. We are real human beings with real feelings and real thoughts. We have the capacity to activate our will to choose a certain direction in life. There are many paths available to us, but they do not lead to life. There’s only one path that leads to life. “Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’” “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:5-6 (NIV) Jesus is the only way! Are you willing to choose Him? Joshua did not vacillate. He resolved to serve God. He took ownership for leading his family spiritually. He included his family in the commitment to serve the Lord. He lived out what he expected of his family. Yes, you have options. In fact, the enemy will place many attractive options before you. Don’t give in. Choose to surrender fully to Jesus and serve him wholeheartedly. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (NIV) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Redemption

It’s time to celebrate another “in Christ” reality. Are you ready to say it aloud? I am redeemed. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Eph 1:7-8 (NIV) Our position of being “in Christ” unlocks the treasure chest of His resources. It is imperative that you make certain that you are in Christ. Your union with Him will determine your “in Christ” realities. I am a Saint. I am blessed. I am chosen. I am adopted. I am accepted. I am redeemed. Redemption in the language of the New Testament carries the idea of purchasing (or redeeming) a slave in order to set him free. Jesus purchased you with His blood in order to set you free. He ransomed you through His death. Do you realize how valuable you are in God’s sight? Do you understand that Jesus paid your sin debt in full? You have been redeemed! I am reminded of the song “He paid a debt He did not owe. I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away.” Thank God for His redeeming love! Rejoice in your new identity that Christ purchased! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Nurturing

I have the wonderful privilege of mentoring five men each Monday morning at 8:30am. We seek to sharpen one another as described in Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”(NIV). The primary focus of our weekly connect time is to nurture the life of Christ in us. God wants you to grow spiritually. What does that look like? Spiritual growth looks like a believer who is becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ. It is a process by which you participate with God in His activity. God does not expect you to fly solo. Being a Christ follower is a commitment to walk in fellowship with God and other believers. So how do you grow? You grow by feeding on God’s Word. You grow by reading and applying the Bible. My mentoring group decided to read the book of Ephesians everyday as part of our spiritual devotion and development. My pastor, Dr. David Fleming, is preaching expositionally (verse by verse) through the book of Ephesians each Sunday morning. As I read through all six chapters of Ephesians each day my walk with God is enriched. Then, I have the wonderful privilege of hearing a message from the Lord through my pastor each Sunday morning out of Ephesians. Meditate on this powerful verse from Ephesians: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” Eph 1:17 (NIV) Are you willing to commit to read Ephesians each day as you nurture the life of Christ in you? Let’s walk together through God’s Word so that we may know Him better! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Accepting Others

Hurting people hurt people. Have you been wounded by someone recently? What is your natural reaction? You probably want to wound them for wounding you. But is it possible to look at the person behind the behavior? What if you sought to place yourself in their skin to seek to understand why they would act in a hurtful way? Maybe they are deeply hurting. Maybe they are searching for something to anesthetize their pain. You cannot control how they treat you. However, you can control how you respond to their treatment of you. When you react, it is you reacting. When you respond, it is the Holy Spirit living in you expressing His nature and character through you. Jesus is the ultimate pattern for us to model our lives after. He exemplified how to respond to difficult people. “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23 (NIV) Rather than retaliating, Jesus entrusted Himself to the Judge who is all-knowing and all-seeing. God doesn’t miss even a fragment of an interaction that you have with others. Entrust yourself to His care. He knows what you are dealing with. By the way, He created the person who has wounded you. In fact, God even gave them His best by allowing Jesus to die on the cross for them also. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7 (NIV) Accepting others will not come naturally. Accepting others, especially difficult people, comes supernaturally as you surrender your life completely to the Lordship of Christ. Allow Him to be Lord of your life and your interactions with people who may potentially hurt you. Jesus specializes in pain management. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Accepted

How do you respond to rejection? Do you allow it to inject you with insecurity or do you challenge the rejection? It’s time to verbalize your “in Christ” realities: I am a Saint. I am Blessed. I am Chosen. I am Adopted. I am Accepted. “…to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Eph 1:6 (NIV) Have you accepted God’s acceptance of you? He took the initiative to demonstrate His acceptance of you by freely giving you His grace in Jesus. Do you measure up to His standard of righteousness? No! However, God declared you righteous when you accepted the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. When rejection surfaces combat lies with the truth of God’s acceptance of you. Your peace in this life will be proportionate to your acceptance of God’s acceptance of you. Your acceptance of God’s acceptance of you will give you lasting peace and eternal security. Some people may reject you. Some people may misunderstand you. However, you can respond to rejection by living in light of your acceptance of God’s acceptance of you. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV) Your acceptance has permanence! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Rejection

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Mark 8:31 (NIV) Rejection hurts. Have you been there? When you don’t feel that you measure up to a standard that has been established or an expectation that has been articulated, rejection seeps in. You begin to experience pain, discontentment, and insecurity. During those times when you are misunderstood rejection begins to shadow your vision and stifle your optimism. Jesus lived in the midst of steep legalism in His day. The elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law sought to shackle others by their self imposed rules and regulations. They promoted religion by works which embodied excessive “do’s and don’ts” that totally bypassed intimacy with our Heavenly Father. The suffering of Jesus included rejection. He was not accepted by those who claimed to be religious. Rejection was perpetual during His three and a half year public ministry. His being rejected ultimately led to His being crucified. When you compare your current bouts with rejection to that of Jesus, it seems as though our rejection encounters are light. Yet, they are real and they are painful. Rejection hits us hard and tends to knock the wind out of us. What kind of rejection are you currently facing? How long has the rejection lingered? There is good news on the way that will give you a whole new perspective on how to respond to rejection. Spend some time sharing your hurt with Jesus in prayer. Let Him hear you express your pain as you call out His Name. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Position

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:1-2 (NIV) Try to measure God’s love. There isn’t a scale large enough to calculate His love. You become a child after your physical birth. However, you do not become a child of God until you respond to His offer of salvation. At salvation, you are not made righteous, you are declared righteous by God. He lavishes you with His love and you become a child of God. Your new position in Christ enables you to enjoy peace with God and assurance of eternal life. Rejoice that you are a child of God and recognize that the best is yet to come. What you will be has not yet been made known. One day you will be like Jesus and see Him as He is. There’s more to come! Enjoy each day walking with Jesus. Focus on knowing Him intimately and making Him known globally. Your position in Christ changes everything including the here and now as well as the hereafter. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Adopted

Solidify the “in Christ” realities… Reality number one: I am a Saint. Reality number two: I am Blessed. Reality number three: I am Chosen. Reality number four: I am Adopted. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (NIV) If you are in Christ, then you are adopted. God gave the right for you to become a child of God. In love, God predestined you to be adopted as his child through Jesus Christ. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will–to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Eph 1:4-6 (NIV) God’s grace is the gateway to our adoption into His family. Your adoption is formalized at conversion. God takes the initiative to draw you by convicting you of sin and convincing you of His righteousness. He gives you the freedom to choose Him or refuse Him. His salvation is available to all but only effective for those who place their trust in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Adoption is not an option. Adoption is a reality for those who are in Christ. Spend some time thanking God for His willingness to adopt you into His family. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Chosen

“I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.” Psalms 119:30 (NIV) Have you ever wondered what makes people do good things? Why would someone choose the way of truth? Why would someone set their heart on God’s laws? Perhaps one’s behavior is related to one’s position in Christ. We have been exploring the “in Christ” realities found in Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. Reality number one: I am a saint! Reality number two: I am blessed! Reality number three: I am chosen! “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Eph 1:4 (NIV) Did you choose God or did God choose you? That’s right…you were chosen by God long before you were even born. The song says, “While He (Jesus) was on the cross, I was on His mind.” Even before Jesus came to earth to live a sinless life, die a substitutionary death, and defeat sin and death, you were chosen by God. Before God splattered the stars in the universe, you were chosen. Before God spoke light into existence, you were chosen. Before God separated the day from the night, you were chosen. Why were you chosen? You were chosen by God to be holy and blameless in His sight. Can you pull that off by yourself? No! Does God expect you to pull that off by yourself? No! Jesus came so that you could live the life of choseness. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Unique

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) What do your fingerprint, DNA, and snowflakes have in common? Each has been uniquely designed by God and there are no two alike. Out of 6.4 billion people alive on planet earth today, there is no one exactly like you. Even if you are an identical twin, there are unique differences between you and your look alike. God made you uniquely to fulfill His purpose and to bring Him glory on the earth. As a child of the King, you have been identified as chosen. You were selected by God to be part of His family. You were chosen to be part of His royal priesthood, His holy nation, and His possession. How does your uniqueness benefit God? You were uniquely chosen by God to declare His praises. You have a song to sing! He called you out of darkness. Do you remember where you were when God came to your rescue? He brought you into His wonderful light. From darkness into the light is the theme of our praise. You are uniquely designed by God and for God. You are His. Are you willing to allow Him to shine through your uniqueness to impact the nations for His glory? Are you willing to uniquely know Him and uniquely show Him to your family, your friends, and your future relationships? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Vertical

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’” “‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’” Mark 12:28-31 (NIV) What really matters in this life? It depends on your point of reference. If you are living for what can be seen, then the answer may be very complex. However, if you are living for that which is unseen, then the answer is very simple. Love God and love others. Jesus modeled this kind of focus in His earthly ministry. He stayed connected to the Father through daily intimacy. He guarded His priorities. He protected His love relationship with the Father. Jesus allocated His time to reflect His core values. Are you loving God with all of your heart? Are you loving God with all of your soul, mind, and strength? This represents your vertical relationship. Your vertical relationship is your number one priority. Your effectiveness in the Kingdom of God will never rise above the level of your intimacy with God. Think about the cross for a moment. Notice the vertical beam. This represents your relationship to God. Are you rightly related to God through faith in Jesus Christ? Are you daily nurturing your love relationship with Him? Stay vertical! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Blessed

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Eph 1:3 (NIV) You are God’s treasure. Can you imagine the Creator of the universe being the reason for your existence? You are not an accident. He purposed for you to be born. You were planned by God. Another reality of being in Christ is that you are blessed. If you are in Christ, then you can say, “I am blessed.” Go ahead and say it aloud! God has blessed you in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. God’s resources are unlimited. He never runs out! He never runs dry! His shelves are never empty! Our God of abundance has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ. When someone asks you today, “How are you doing?”…don’t say, “Oh, I’m doing alright.” Instead, say with conviction and confidence and assurance, “I am blessed!” Doesn’t that want to make you shout? Don’t ever forget who you are and Who’s you are! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Saint

In her book, Breaking Free, Beth Moore reminds us of our position in Christ in the following affirmations: God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do. I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ. God’s Word is alive and active in me. Seek to memorize these five statements and speak them aloud each morning to start your day off in the right frame of mind. It will affect your outlook and attitude in a life giving way. Focus with me on the third affirmation: I am who God says I am. Repeat that phrase to yourself and allow it to sink in. Let’s see how we can connect this truth with Paul’s “in Christ” realities. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:” Eph 1:1 (NIV) If you are in Christ then you can affirm this reality: Reality #1: I am a saint. If you are in Christ then God says that you are a saint. A saint is one who has been set apart by God. Your faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross transfers your identity to that of a saint. It doesn’t mean that you are perfect and immune to the presence of sin. It means that God positions you as a saint. You have a new standing before God and with God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

If/Then

God’s love is unconditional. Some of God’s promises are conditional. For example, see if you can locate God’s conditional promise to Solomon. “When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said: ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.’” 2 Chron 7:11-15 (NIV) Did you find it? God’s conditional promise to Solomon had an if/then element. If my people will…then I will. Yes! We want God to hear from heaven and we want God to forgive our sin and we want God to heal our land. Yet, God’s promise is conditioned by our willingness to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. In the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul gives us an if/then promise without using the words if and then. He unveils the realities of being “in Christ.” Now that you have underlined or highlighted Paul’s use of “in Christ” in the book of Ephesians, see if you can detect the benefits or realities of being “in Christ.” For example, if I am in Christ, then I am…! Write down each reality and spend some time reflecting on one reality at a time. Over the next few days, we will explore each reality together. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Regeneration

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.’” “In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’” John 3:1-3 (NIV) Jesus encountered Nic at night. Nicodemus was a very religious man but did not have a relationship with Jesus. He was an outstanding law abiding citizen as far as society was concerned, but missed the mark of God’s perfection. He recognized Jesus as a unique teacher but failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. The encounter shifted as Jesus announced that a person must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus thought Jesus meant that a person must be born again physically. However, Jesus was speaking of a spiritual rebirth. To be born again means to be born from above. It means to be born into. At conversion, you are born from above which means God regenerates, redeems, and reconciles you. When you place your faith in Jesus alone for salvation, you are born into His family. “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) When you are born again your new identity is that of being “in Christ.” Once you are “in Christ” you become the recipient of God’s treasures as affirmed in Ephesians chapter one. Read Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus and underline or highlight the phrase “in Christ” each time you see it. Then, close your eyes, smile, and express your gratitude to God for your new identity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Union

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col 1:27 (NIV) When you say, “I do” to Jesus, there is a union formed that cannot be broken. You become one with Christ. You are united with Him. Once you are “in Christ” there are eternal benefits and immediate realities. Notice how Paul uses the union reality in the first chapter of Ephesians through being “in Christ.” “…the faithful in Christ Jesus (1:1), …blessing in Christ (1:3), …he chose us in Christ (1:4), …given us in the One he loves (1:6), …in him we have redemption (1:7), …which he purposed in Christ (1:9), …in him we were also chosen (1:11), …you also were included in Christ (1:12), …marked in him with a seal (1:14).“ Let me ask you a question that has eternal consequences: Are you in Christ? Think about your life and travel back in your mind to the place where you recognized your lostness and became aware of your need for union with Jesus. Do you remember the eternal transaction? Can you recall the moment you became a Christ follower and gave evidence of your union with Him? What about now? Is it obvious to others that you are in Christ? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care

Peace

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph 1:2 (NIV) Paul begins his letter to the church at Ephesus by identifying man’s two greatest needs: grace and peace. The peace that Paul speaks of is not connected to circumstances and is not a reflection of your level of happiness. Peace comes from God and by His grace. Remember that grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. We come to know God’s grace by placing our faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Romans 5:1-2 (NIV) I am justified. It is just-if-I’d never sinned. God sees me through the shed blood of Jesus. Now I have peace with God because I am a recipient of His grace. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 (NIV) Be still for a few moments and just reflect on the presence of God’s peace in your life right now. Are you at peace with God? Are you experiencing harmony with God? Confess any sin that the Holy Spirit reveals. Rest in God’s provision. Remember, only God can give you peace. Receive His peace and walk in the peace that God provides. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care