Author: Stephen Trammell

Categories
Discipline Focus Intentionality

Intentionality

“Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (NIV) How do you live your life? You can choose to float down lazy river and simply allow the current to take you wherever it wants to go. You can decide to live a life of intentionality and focus your life on God’s agenda. You can live with passion, intensity, and purpose. Paul was a focused fully devoted follower of Christ. In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul referenced the Isthmian Games that were similar to our modern day Olympics. In our present day Olympics, first place receives a gold medal, second place receives a silver medal, and third place receives a bronze metal. In Paul’s day, only one prize was awarded. That’s why Paul said, “Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Cor. 9:24). The Christian life demands discipline, focus, and intentionality. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you must make moment-by-moment decisions to surrender to the Lordship of Christ and to starve the cravings of the sinful nature. You must make a conscious choice to run with purpose and to focus your life on continuing the ministry of Jesus on the earth. Being spiritually fit mandates being intentional about exercising your spiritual muscles and being intentional about joining God in His activity. Embrace healthy daily spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, journaling, meditating on God’s Word, memorizing Scripture, practicing solitude, and practicing God’s Presence. Give sacrificially to bless and benefit others. Share your testimony of God’s saving grace with others. Splash Living Water by being an irresistible influence for God’s glory! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Humility Selflessness Sensitivity

Sensitivity

“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” 1 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV) Have you ever been offended by someone who was acting selfishly? A self-centered person can quickly become toxic and infect those in their sphere of influence. It is possible to call yourself a Christian and slip into selfish ways that erode relationships and diminish your testimony. I remember the story one of my professors shared during my seminary days about his weekly routine of washing his car in the driveway of his seminary home every Sunday. He told about the tension his weekly ritual created with a fellow professor who also lived on the campus. The other professor was deeply offended by my professors insistence on washing his own car on a Sunday. Obviously he held a deep conviction related to a believer not washing his car on a Sunday. My professor took the high road and graciously apologized for the offense and committed to stop washing his vehicle on Sundays. Even though my professor personally felt that there was absolutely nothing ungodly about washing his car on a Sunday, since it offended his brother in Christ, he chose not to do it again. “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” Rom. 14:13 (NIV) Is there any activity you engage in that has become a stumbling block to a fellow believer? Perhaps the activity does not violate your personal convictions based on God’s Word, but you have come to realize that your activity has become a stumbling block to someone else. What is the godly response? What would benefit the other person? This may be one of the most powerful opportunities for you to display the love of Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Devotion Focus Loyalty

Loyalty

“I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 7:35 (NIV) In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he emphasizes the relationship that stands above all other relationships. Paul does not demean the value of marriage or the virtue of singleness, but he elevates the relationship that is primary for every believer. The one relationship that is supreme and deserves our utmost devotion is our love relationship with Jesus. Think about the tugs on your life and the relationships connected to those tugs. After a while, you come to realize that there is not enough of you to satisfy every tug on your life. As Andy Stanley says in his book, Choosing to Cheat, “Someone in your life is going to feel cheated.” Who will you cheat? Often we choose to cheat the Lord by diluting our devotion to Him. We know that His love is unconditional and that He will receive us back. As a result, we may drift from our first love and soon be walking at a guilty distance instead of maintaining intimacy with the Lord. “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Ps. 86:11 (NIV) “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” Jer. 24:7 (NIV) What adjustments do you need to make in your allocation of time and energy in order to have an undivided heart? What is keeping you from giving Jesus first place in your life? Identify those things that have divided your devotion and confess them to the Lord. Lordship and loyalty go together! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Forgiveness Justification Sanctification

Sanctity

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 (NIV) How would God reverse the curse sin produced? What would God do to restore fallen humanity? The most incredible display of unconditional love became God’s response to man’s sin. God provided for the removal of our sin through the sacrifice of His only Son. God allowed Jesus to pay our sin debt in full and to purchase our salvation. The shedding of blood was essential for the forgiveness of our sin. God chose to sacrifice an animal to provide garments of skin for Adam and Eve after their fall (Gen. 3:21). God took the initiative to reconcile and to restore them through the shedding of blood. Adam and Eve still had to face the natural consequences of their sin. They were still banished from the garden and Adam had to work the ground (Gen. 3:23). “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.” Rom. 5:18 (NIV) Through Adam’s sin, condemnation came to us all. As a result, we are born in sin and inherit the sin nature. However, through the obedience of Jesus on the cross, we are made righteous. Upon our trusting in Jesus alone for salvation, we receive the imputed righteousness of Christ. We are justified through faith, receive peace from God, and gain access into His grace (Rom. 5:1-2). The righteousness of Christ is deposited into our account. We are reconciled to God through the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus paid it all! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Discipline Influence Purity

Purity

“Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 (NIV) God pursued you with His redeeming love to bring you into a vibrant love relationship that you could never earn. God took the initiative to reconcile you to Himself through Christ so that you could have a personal and eternal relationship with Him. Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed so that you can enjoy unbroken fellowship with God. The sacrifice of Christ has been applied to your life. Now that you are in Christ, you are a new creation. You are a child of God. Get rid of anything that stains your garment of grace. Remove anything that pollutes your purity in Christ. “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Rom. 13:14 (NIV) “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Cor. 7:1 (NIV) Sin has the capacity to infect your life like the infusion of yeast through a whole batch of dough. Get rid of old yeast! Purify your life from the contaminates of our fallen world. Seek to clothe yourself with Christlikeness as you run from sin and run to Jesus in moment-by-moment surrender to His Lordship. God’s will for you is purity. You are positionally pure in Christ because of His sacrifice on the cross on your behalf. Practice purity by loving what God loves and hating what God hates. If you mess up then confess up! Confess your sin instantly and specifically and then thoroughly receive God’s forgiveness. Purity paves the way to intimacy! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Consistency Integrity Paul

Integrity

“For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.” 1 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV) Hypocrisy corrodes the connection we make with a lost and dying world. Our influence for Christ is inhibited when there is a discrepancy between our words and our actions. Being an irresistible influence for Christ mandates integrity. Paul invested in Timothy’s life and was instrumental in Timothy’s coming to faith in Christ. Timothy had shadowed Paul and had insight into both Paul’s public and private life. Paul was now sending Timothy to the church at Corinth to remind them of Paul’s way of life in Christ Jesus. Timothy was positioned to give firsthand testimony to Paul’s integrity as a fully devoted follower of Christ. Paul’s way of life in Christ agreed with what he taught everywhere in every church. His faith and his practice were in sync. Paul’s lifestyle was in alignment with his loyalty to Christ. When you examined Paul’s behavior, it was in-tune with his beliefs. Paul’s conduct was consistent with his convictions. Let me share with you one of the most engaging definitions of integrity that I have ever heard. Integrity is when the tongue in your mouth lines up with the tongue in your shoe. When your speech matches your path on the street, then integrity is exhibited. When there is misalignment between our talk and our walk, hypocrisy erupts. Does your way of life in Christ line up with your convictions and conversations? Is there any area of your life that is out of sync with your true identity in Christ? Ask the Lord to reveal inconsistencies and choose to live a life of integrity that brings glory to God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Growth Harvest Partnership

Partnership in Planting

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NIV) Who was more important in the kingdom of God: Paul or Apollos? Both were devoted to God’s mission of reaching others with the saving news of Jesus. Both men were fully devoted followers of Christ and selflessly served to advance the kingdom of God. Both men were devoted to honoring God and benefiting others. God makes it clear in His Word that neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything. Our value in the kingdom of God is not based on our productivity. I remember early on in my ministry, I would be asked by fellow pastors, “How many are you running at your church?” I wasn’t sure if they wanted to know how many we were running on Sunday in a worship service or how many we were running off by preaching the truth. Through a season of searching for God’s answer to my dilemma, God affirmed that my value in His kingdom is not based on the size church I pastor. My value in the kingdom of God is based on my faithfulness to God. Success is defined by God as obedience! Are we obedient in partnering with God’s people to accomplish God’s mission on the earth with what God has entrusted to us? Are we faithful with what we have been given to accomplish God’s will? We are to be faithful in planting the seed of the Gospel and we are to be faithful to water the seed and to remember that God makes things grow. Let’s do our part to plant and water and leave the results up to God? God will make the seed grow! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Discernment Holy Spirit Sensitivity

Spiritual Discernment

“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 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) Watching a 3-D movie without 3-D glasses can be very frustrating. The images on the screen appear blurry and create discomfort as you try to fixate on the images that just don’t seem to come into focus. Once you place the 3-D glasses in place, everything becomes clear and you begin to enjoy the full effects of the three dimensional experience. It’s rather entertaining to join others in trying to reach out to touch the objects that seem to come off of the screen into the air just before your face. Without the Spirit, trying to discern the activity of God is impossible. Life will appear blurry and the movement of God’s Spirit will be difficult to detect. Living the abundant Christian life mandates viewing life through the lens of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual perception comes through appropriating the spiritual lens provided to us by God through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. When you became a child of God, you instantaneously became the temple of the Holy Spirit. He moved in to take up permanent residence in your life. Your body is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. He lives in you to illuminate God’s Word and to validate God’s will. As you come to know God better, you will learn how to detect and respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. You will begin to see what others miss because you will be viewing life through the lens of the Holy Spirit. What others deem as foolish, you will deem as the clear activity of God in 3-D, namely, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Faithfulness of God Fellowship Intimacy

Faithful Fellowship

“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV) The Christian life is not about your story that you invite God into. The Christian life is about God’s story that He invites you into. What are you doing with the standing invitation issued by God? You have been invited into the most amazing story of redemption that not only benefits your life personally, but also benefits others. God calls you to Himself in salvation and He calls you to Himself through the ongoing process of sanctification. Your love relationship with Jesus is rooted in the faithfulness of God. Perhaps you have been deeply wounded by someone who was unfaithful to you. Maybe they inflicted pain in your life by their infidelity. If you have ever experienced the trauma of a ruptured relationship, you quickly come to place a tremendous value on the commodity of faithfulness. God created you to enjoy unbroken fellowship with His Son and our Savior, Jesus. God designed you to know Him personally and intimately so that you can join Him in making Jesus known intentionally. Your life matters to God! He establishes your love relationship with Jesus in the abundant soil of His faithfulness. God has never been unfaithful to you. He will never forsake you. Union with Christ gives you eternal security and perpetual intimacy. You can enjoy the eternal and immediate benefits of God’s faithfulness by delighting in the fellowship with Jesus promised by God. When the veil of the temple was torn in two, it was torn from top to bottom. God initiated the love relationship we get to enjoy. Through the death of Christ on the cross, the way for us to enter into God’s Presence was granted. What are you doing with the sacred privilege of fellowship with the Lord? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Good Shepherd I am sayings Intimacy

Cultivating Intimacy

“‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.’” John 10:14-15 (NIV) Is intimacy with God your top priority? Are you nurturing the life of Christ in you? Respond to the Good Shepherd’s intimacy. You determine the level of intimacy with God. When intimacy with God is your top priority, there are some clear indicators that arise. For example, when intimacy with God is your top priority, you will hunger for God’s Word, you will thirst for His righteousness, you will have a passion for prayer, and you will have a compassion for people. Intimacy with God will generate a devotion to private and corporate worship, a sensitivity to God’s activity, a righteous anger towards sin, and a righteous ambition for God’s agenda. As you maintain intimacy with God, you will be fully surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, you will practice instant obedience, and you will be laser-focused on pleasing God. God’s will is for you to have a growing relationship with Jesus. God does not want you to settle into the monotony of mediocrity or to compromise your commitment to Christ-likeness. God wants you to passionately pursue Him and to know Him personally and intimately. What is keeping your from cultivating an intimate love relationship with the Lord? Make room for the relationship that establishes the pace for all other relationships. Carve out space for daily unhurried time alone with the Lord. Secure a place of solitude and draw near to God. Invest energy into seeking Him with all of your heart. Unveil the deepest recesses of your heart and entrust every area of your life to His Lordship. He is the Good Shepherd! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
I am sayings Sacrificial Love Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (NIV) Who is the most loving person in your life? Where have you received the highest level of unconditional love? Perhaps someone specific comes to mind. It may be a person whom is now in heaven or someone who is still an active part of your life. Think about how that person imparted life to you and added value to your life. I wanted you to feel that personal love in order to bring you into the sea of love exhibited by the Good Shepherd. Jesus is our Good Shepherd and He willingly laid down His life for us. There has never been a greater love than that which Jesus demonstrated by His selfless life, sacrificial death, miraculous resurrection, and His visible upcoming return. Jesus died voluntarily to do for us that which we could never do for ourselves. Jesus eliminated the vast gulf that separated us from our holy God. Jesus took the initiative to lay down His life so that we could come into a vibrant and eternal union with God. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Pet. 2:24-25 (NIV) Receive the Good Shepherd’s initiative. He has demolished the barrier that separates you from God. Jesus laid down His life and rose from the dead so that you could live in victory. Place your faith in His completed work on the cross and experience His victory. Now share the victory with others! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Certainty Discipline Temptation

Continue in Him

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:9 (NIV) Continue to live in Him so that you will not live in sin. As a child of God, when you choose to yield to temptation you are no longer acting consistent with your new identity in Christ. To practice sin is to operate out of character as a person redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. If you are born of God it means that you have experienced the divine transaction of transferring your trust from yourself to Jesus alone for salvation. To be born of God means to be regenerated. Your sins have been removed and you received the imputed righteousness of Christ. Christ is now in you and He is the hope of glory! John is not referring to occasional acts of sin. You will periodically step into a pothole of sin as you live in this fallen world. However, as a child of God, your life is not to be characterized by sin. There should be no established and continual patterns of sinful behavior present in your life. You cannot abide in Christ and choose the way of sin simultaneously. You cannot walk in the Spirit and embrace sin at the same time. As a follower of Christ, you have to deliberately choose to rebel against Jesus in order to facilitate even a fraction of sin. Continue to live in Him by anticipating His return, by starving the flesh, by feeding the Spirit, and by practicing His presence. Choose to bring honor to God by living in alignment with your new identity in Christ. Continue to live in Him by making no provision for the flesh, by confessing sin, and by guarding your heart. God’s seed remains in you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Atonement Certainty Devil

Walk in Victory

“He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3:8 (NIV) As a fully devoted follower of Christ, you combat three enemies. You combat the devil’s agenda, the world’s appeal, and your flesh’s appetite. The devil’s mission is to get you off mission. His goal is to get you to drift from God’s will and to dilute your devotion to the Lord. The world seeks to entice you with pleasure that pollutes your purity and dilutes your passion. Your flesh seeks to unleash a gravitational pull to get you to succumb to the cravings of your sinful nature. Jesus appeared to destroy the devil’s work. Jesus vacated the glory of heaven in order to come to this sin infested earth to destroy the work of the devil. Here’s the wonderful life-changing message: Jesus has defeated your enemy. The devil has no jurisdiction over your life as a child of God. When the enemy attacks you, he is trespassing on your Heavenly Father’s territory. You are a child of the Living God and your life is now hidden with Christ. As a child of God, you longer have to walk in the way of the world. You no longer have to yield to the promptings of the flesh. You have been delivered from the grasp of the devil. You have been set free to walk in victory! Jesus has defeated the devil, sin, and the grave. In Christ, you are the recipient of the victory declared by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Are you walking in victory? Claim the promises of God and the completed work of Jesus on the cross. You are who God says you are and you can do what God says you can do! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Certainty Forgiveness Identity

Embrace Your New Identity

“But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” 1 John 3:5-6 (NIV) Jesus established your new identity by removing your sins. Jesus willingly left the glory of heaven to come to earth in order to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He lived a sinless life and died a sacrificial death to pay the penalty of our sin. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” John 1:29 (NIV) “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Cor. 5:21 (NIV) There’s hope for every person who turns from their sin and to Jesus alone for salvation. Jesus has already done all the work to provide the gift of eternal life and to establish our new identity. Are you living in light of your sins being forgiven? Have you experienced the renewal that comes through the total cleansing of sin? In Jesus there is no sin. To become a follower of Jesus is to take on His nature and to reflect His character. Jesus lives in you to produce His life in you and through you. Embrace your new identity by surrendering to the Lordship of Christ and giving Him total access to every area of your life. If there is unconfessed sin in your life, don’t hesitate to confess your sin specifically and instantly. Uncover any fraction of sin in your life and choose to walk in alignment with your new identity in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Certainty Glorification Purity

Pursue Purity

“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. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3 (NIV) Since your birth, your body has been in a perpetual state of decay. Your physical body is only a temporary tent for life on this broken planet. You will not take your body with you to heaven. On that great and glorious day as a child of God, you will get to trade-in your body for the glorified body God has designed for you. When Jesus appears, we shall be like Him. As a child of God, you can live with absolute enthusiasm and excitement because of the hope produced by the future appearing of Jesus. You will see Jesus as He is. The One you have come to know personally, the One you have trusted as your personal Lord and Savior, and the One you have communed with and prayed to all of these years will be visibly before you. You will see Jesus and you will receive the glorified body designed specifically for you. Aren’t you excited about your future? There are some accessories that will not be featured in your glorified body. The glorified body God has for you does not have cancer, congestive heart failure, asthma, macular degeneration, AIDS, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, or a fraction of sickness. Your glorified body will be adorned with the glory of God and saturated with the absence of sin. Your battle against Satan, the world, and the flesh will be eliminated! Pursue purity. Be holy just as Jesus is holy. Run from sin and run to Jesus until He comes again! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Anticipation Certainty Rapture

Anticipate His Return

“And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 (NIV) Did you know that Jesus is coming again? It is so easy to settle into the cadence of a busy life and become numb towards the reality of the return of Jesus Christ. Being absorbed by the cultural current and distracted by the tugs of life can impair our vision and dissolve our attentiveness to the activity of God. Your appointment has been confirmed. There is a specific time and date by which Jesus will return. No one knows that exact moment established by God. We are to live in the ready-mode! Live with expectancy. Jesus is coming again! Will you be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming? What will Jesus find you doing upon His return? It matters how you live and how you allocate your time and energy. What are you giving your life to? “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:9-10 (NIV) Anticipate His return. Live with a heightened awareness of appearing before Jesus one day to give an account for your life. Focus your life on pleasing Him! Eliminate distractions and remove obstacles that hinder your faith. Make the smile of God the passion of your life. Nothing matters more than living to bring pleasure to God. Live in light of the return of Jesus. Continue to walk with Him and continue to serve Him. Be ready for your appointment! It has been confirmed! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Gate I am sayings Sufficiency

Everlasting Sufficiency

“‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’” John 10:10 (NIV) God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. Satan hates you and has a deceptive plan for your life. Satan’s agenda is to deplete you and to defeat you. Don’t allow the thief to steal your joy, kill your peace, or destroy your passion. Don’t allow the thief to neutralize your zeal, to vandalize your victory, or to jeopardize your testimony. Don’t allow the thief to distract your devotion, to discourage your discipline, or to deflate your demeanor. Embrace the great promise of everlasting sufficiency that Jesus provides. Jesus is the Shepherd and His agenda is to complete your life. Jesus has come to deliver your from darkness and defeat. Remember, the tomb is empty so that your life doesn’t have to be! Allow the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul to infuse you with His power, to inject you with His love, and to inspire you with His compassion. Allow the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul to ignite your worship, to excite your prayer life, and to incite your sensitivity to His activity. My mind is made up: I have been designed by God and for God. My eyes are looking up: Jesus sought me! Jesus bought me with His own blood! Jesus thought of me before I ever thought of Him! My faith is growing up: He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion! Remind the devil that your sin has been removed, the blood of Jesus has been applied, and your eternal security is securely fastened in the all-sufficient, all-powerful, and all-knowing nail-scarred hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Gate I am sayings Satisfaction

Endless Satisfaction

“‘I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.’” John 10:9 (NIV) Has your life on this broken planet delivered what it promised? Have you ever been disappointed with your life? God never intended for this world to satisfy the longings of your heart. The treasures of earth cannot complete the treasure chest of your existence. God created you with a longing that will never be satisfied by temporal pursuits and earthly manna. Enjoy the green pasture of endless satisfaction that comes through an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the gate for the sheep. In Him, you will be granted the privilege of coming in and going out to find pasture. As John Piper says, “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Ps. 23:1-3 (NIV) “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Pet. 2:25 (NIV) Soul nourishment comes through an ongoing love relationship with Jesus that is real and personal. Enjoy the endless satisfaction of His green pasture by feeding on His Word, resting in His purpose, and trusting in His daily provision. Jesus is more than enough. He is your sufficiency. Jesus has already overcome any obstacle that you face. Entrust your life to Him and seek Him with all of your heart. Draw close to Jesus and cultivate a vibrant prayer life. Build meaningful relationships with other sheep and live to benefit others. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Eternal security Gate I am sayings

The Gate

“‘I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.’” John 10:9 (NIV) In Bible times, the shepherd would lay down at the entrance of the sheep pen in order to provide protection and security for the sheep from the threat of beasts of prey. The sheep were vulnerable outside of the shepherd’s care. His willingness to serve as the gate gave the sheep security and access to the pasture. Jesus is the gate. It is through Him that a person enters into a saving relationship that provides eternal security and perpetual spiritual nourishment. Jesus is the gate that grants access to the spiritual resources of heaven. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13 (NIV) To enter through Jesus is to believe in His name and to be born again (John 3:3). Being born again is the event of conversion whereby you experience the regeneration provided by the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus is the gate through which you experience the divine transaction by transferring your trust from yourself to Christ alone for salvation. A few weeks ago a couple church members joined me in visiting some first-time guests. We walked up their driveway and had the privilege of sharing the plan of salvation with the entire family and they each prayed to invite Jesus to take over their life. I congratulated them on their decision and the reality of their spiritual birthday. The dad let us know that it was also his physical birthday. His daughter immediately announced, “Daddy, you need two birthday cakes!” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Clarity I am sayings Light of the World

Light of the World

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12 (NIV) Are you a recipient of the Light? When you turned from your sin and turned to Jesus alone for salvation, you became a child of God and a recipient of the Light of the World. Just as Jesus illuminated His world during His earthly ministry, He has called us and commissioned us to be the light of the world by continuing His ministry on the earth. “There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” John 1:6-9 (NIV) Your role in this Christian life is to point people to Jesus. When others view your life, they should see Jesus. You may be the only Jesus others see. As Dr. Johnny Hunt says, “People in your community may not read the Bible, but they will read the gospel according to your life.” What are they reading? Help others get delivered from darkness by introducing them to the Light of the World. Intercede for them and invest in them by navigating them through the journey of discovering the Light of the World. Let the light of Jesus shine through your life and love people to Jesus. There’s no higher calling than participating with God in His redemptive activity by shining His light and sharing His love. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Clarity I am sayings Light of the World

Make Jesus Visible

“’You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.’” Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) Let’s go light our world with the love of Jesus, the compassion of Jesus, the humility of Jesus, and the servitude of Jesus. Let’s go light our world by shining His light, sharing His love, mending broken hearts, extending personal touch ministry, serving the less fortunate, and encouraging the distraught. Let’s go light our world by practicing instant obedience, maintaining intimacy with God, loving what God loves, and hating what God hates. Let’s go light our world by interceding for the lost, investing in lives of lost people, going public with our personal testimony, and giving financially to the Lord’s work. Let’s go light our world by making ourselves available for God’s use, being responsive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and living in light of eternity. Make Jesus visible by declaring that lost people go to hell, proclaiming that saved people go to heaven, and clarifying that Jesus is the only way. Make Jesus visible by demonstrating that people matter to God and affirming that God is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Unless we reveal the light, others will be unable to receive the light. If they don’t receive the light, they will be unable to walk in the light. If they don’t walk in the light, they will be unable to reveal the light. Make Jesus visible! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
God's Character Jonah Mercy

God’s Mercy

“And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” Jonah 2:10 (NIV) Where would you be if God were not the God of second chances? You would be without hope and without a future. God will not only pursue you with His redeeming love, but He also gives you a second chance to obey His will. The fish obeyed God in the midst of Jonah’s rebellion. God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry ground. Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time (Jon. 3:1).  After a three day aquatic experience of prayer in the belly of the fish, Jonah was now hurled onto the beach for a second chance to obey God’s way. The wonderful news is that Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh (Jon. 3:3). Jonah responded to God the first time by saying, “Lord, here I am, send someone else!” The second time, Jonah responded by saying, “Lord, here I am, send me!” On the Ship Jonah was singing, “I did it my way!” Inside the Fish Jonah was singing, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord!” Jonah came to know God as the God of second chance. Jonah learned a valuable lesson about obeying God. Ponder the grace of God in your own life. Think through the decisions you have made over your lifetime to choose to go your own way. Do you remember how God pursued you with His redeeming love? God is so patient, so tender, and so persistent. He wants you to come to know Him by experience as the God of second chances. Don’t give up. God has not given up on you. What God has begun in your life, He will bring to completion (Phil. 1:6). God always finishes what He starts. What God originates He always orchestrates. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Desperation Jonah Praying

Praying through Seaweed

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.” Jonah 2:1 (NIV) If you spent three days and three nights inside a great fish that God provided, you would probably place that in the category of a life changing experience. Your entire life would be marked by that one experience with God. You would never be the same. Your view of God and your reverence for God would be catapulted to a new level. “The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.” Jon. 2:5 (NIV) “To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.” Jon. 2:6 (NIV) Can you imagine Jonah, with seaweed wrapped around his head, praying to God from inside this large fish that God provided? I wonder if Jonah was kneeling, standing, floating, or treading water while he was praying. It clearly illustrates that God is willing to go to extreme measures to rescue us from ourselves and from our sin. You don’t have to wait for God to bring you to a place of desperation to call out to Him in prayer. You have the perpetual invitation to nurture your love relationship with God in moment-by-moment prayer and surrender. Remove the seaweed that tends to cling to your mind and embrace the opportunity to commune with the Creator of the universe. Whether you are in the tumultuous waters within the large fish called life or on the tranquil dry ground of daily life, pray to our Living God. God loves you and His heart beats for you. You are the apple of His eye! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
God's Purpose Jonah Rebellion

God’s Pursuit

“Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.” Jonah 1:4 (NIV) God gives you the freedom to choose to obey His will or to reject His will. You can run from God or you can run to God. If you choose to disobey God’s will and embrace your own direction, God will allow you to go your own way. Thankfully, God will pursue you with His redeeming love. Running from God activates the disciplinary process that can ultimately produce restoration. Running from God generates a natural flow of consequences that God will use to bring you back into fellowship with Himself (Prov 3:11-12). Sometimes God will allow pain to come into your life to signal that something is out of balance. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Pain is an effective tool that God may choose to use in order to pursue you. Jonah was not a storm-chaser, but God used a storm to chase Jonah. Notice the progression of God’s pursuit of Jonah: “God sent a great wind (v.4), a violent storm (v.4b), the sea was getting rougher and rougher (v.11), the sea grew even wilder than before (v.13), and the raging sea (v.15).” Sometimes God has to turn up the volume in your life to get your undivided attention. How is God pursuing you with His redeeming love? Is there anything out of balance in your life that dishonors God? God loves you and will pursue you to reconcile you and restore you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Disobedience Jonah Running

Running from God

“But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.” Jonah 1:3 (NIV) Our natural proclivity is to do life our own way. We value independence and we like to make decisions that benefit us personally. Often we bypass God’s way and face the natural consequences of our selfishness. Instead of running to God, Jonah sought to run from God in order to avoid obeying God’s will. God told Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it. Jonah refused to embrace God’s way and chose to go the opposite direction. Running from God generates consequences that affect innocent people. Jonah’s disobedience put the sailors on the ship at risk. Their journey was interrupted by the consequences inflicted upon Jonah. Jonah’s rebellion against God eroded his peace and stifled his fellowship with God. When you choose to run from God, your relationship with God will be negatively impacted. You cannot enjoy peace with God and unbroken fellowship with God while running from God. Satan will provide the transportation for disobedience. The enemy gladly accommodates your decision to run from God. You are created by God not to be robotic, but to be relational. Thus, you have the freedom to obey God or the freedom to disobey God. You can choose to submit to His will or refuse to obey Him. God will let you go your own way. However, God will pursue you with His redeeming love. Decide today to follow God’s will. Surrender your life completely to the Lord and keep your “yes” on the altar. God’s way is always the best option! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Jesus Journey Trust

Right On Time

“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 (Eccles. 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 Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Bread of Life Clarity I am sayings

Bread of Life

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35 (NIV) Have you ever wondered what Jesus said about Himself? His self-disclosure gives us insight into the relational velocity available to us. Understanding His identity erases ambiguity and brings clarity. Let’s explore the seven “I am” sayings of Christ to gain clarity on our true identity in Christ. Jesus challenged the crowd to stop working for food that perishes and to devote their passion to fulfilling the hunger of their souls. Their greatest need was the bread Jesus had to offer as He declared, “I am the bread of life.” Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Affirm the identity of Christ. Respond to the invitation of Jesus by coming to Him and believing in Him. You will never be hungry and you will never go thirsty. Jesus will be the bread of your life. “‘Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me’” (John 6:57 NIV). Because Jesus is the Bread of Life, your soul is nourished, your mind is renewed, and your heart is revived. Because Jesus is the Bread of Life, your ears are captivated by the Voice of Truth, your eyes are focused on the redemptive activity of God, and your mouth is filled with words of life. Because Jesus is the Bread of Life, your hands are transformed into the compassionate hands of Jesus. Because Jesus is the Bread of Life, your feet are fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace and your feet are grounded in the firm foundation of God’s infallible, inerrant, and unchanging Word. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Abiding in Christ Connected Fruit

Fruitful Connection

“‘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) God will never ask you to do anything without equipping you to do it. God has an assignment for you to complete during your time on earth. God’s assignment requires His empowerment. You cannot fulfill God’s agenda without God provision. God’s assignment for your life flows out of your abiding relationship with Christ. God’s command is not for you to bear fruit, but rather to focus your energy on abiding in Christ. Your fruitfulness will be proportionate to your level of intimacy with Christ. Don’t bypass your love relationship with Christ in order to seek to bear fruit. Your passion is not to be channeled in the area of bearing fruit. As you stay connected to Christ and allow His energy, His strength, and His life to flow through you, you will bear much fruit. Because He is the vine, you are fruitful. Jesus is the source! Stay connected to Him. Guard your love relationship with Him. Protect your daily walk with Christ. Don’t allow anything or anyone to rob your relationship with Him. Ensure that your abiding relationship with Christ gets your best and not your leftovers. Don’t give Jesus your crumbs. He deserves your passionate pursuit. Are you connected? Are you abiding? You are the branch. Remain in Him and He will bear His fruit through you. Focus on abiding! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Abiding in Christ Fruit of the Spirit Surrender

Where’s the Fruit?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) Which fruit is most lacking in your life? If patience is lacking, then God will often allow challenging circumstances to come into your life to develop that particular fruit of the Spirit in you. If there is a deficit of gentleness in your demeanor, then God will often engineer opportunities for that fruit of the Spirit to be expanded in your life. God values you and the display of the fruit of His Spirit through you. Sometimes God will allow difficult people to come into your life in order to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit most neglected in your life. Learning how to love difficult people is a fertile environment for that particular fruit of the Spirit to be developed. Loving difficult people with the same love that God chooses to love you with does not come naturally. Loving difficult people necessitates a supernatural enabling that only comes through the Spirit filled life. God will develop the fruit of His Spirit in you and through you as you yield to His control. Your flesh will battle to be placed in the display window of life. Therefore, you must choose to allow the Holy Spirit to take full possession of your life in order for His fruit to be displayed. The fruit of the Spirit is featured best in the midst of the trying circumstances you face and the difficult people you embrace. Crucify the sinful nature (Gal. 5:24) and keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). Allow God to develop the fruit of the Spirit in your life so that others will be drawn to Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Categories
Compassion Generosity Humility

Godly Garments

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (NIV) What are you displaying for a watching world to see? You are chosen, holy, and dearly loved by God. Display the garments you have been given in Christ. As a child of the Living God, you have a spiritual wardrobe that must be put on each day. God places you in the display window of life to give evidence of the reality of Jesus living His life through you. Are you exhibiting the character of Christ? Put on the garment of compassion. Let others see your compassion in action. Put on the garment of kindness. Be gracious and kind toward others by placing their needs before your own. Put on the garment of humility. Don’t think less of yourself; just think of yourself less. Consider others better than yourself (Phil. 2:3). Be sure to put on the garment of gentleness. Show the tenderness of Christ as you interact with others today. Are you a patient person? Put on the garment of patience and trust God’s timing. Who you are in Christ on the inside needs to be evident on the outside. As you build meaningful relationships with others, demonstrate the character of Christ. As you navigate the difficult places in life, exhibit the character of Christ. God will use the tests you face in life to help build your testimony. When you are squeezed by the circumstances of life, what is on the inside of you will come out. Clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Let these garments become the fabric of your life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell