“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Phil 2:12-13 (NIV) How does faith work? Faith works through you. God works in you so that He can do a work through you. God’s heart is for the nations to worship Him. Can you see it? Imagine every person on planet earth from every language confessing Jesus as Lord and joining God in His redemptive activity. Imagine being so in tune with God’s work in you that you naturally allow God to work through you to touch the nations for His glory. As you pray, give, and go so that everyone may know of God’s love personally, the kingdom of God expands. The number of people delivered from the clutches of hell and placed in the kingdom of light multiplies as you faithfully allow God to work through you. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV) “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10 (NIV) You have been formed and fashioned by God to know Him personally through a saving relationship made possible by the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. Now that you know Him personally, make Jesus known. Give your life to expressing your faith in Jesus in such a way that those who don’t know Jesus will come to know Him personally. Let the faith that worked for you in salvation work in you and through you to bring others to a saving faith in Jesus. Does anything else really matter in light of eternity? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Author: Stephen Trammell
“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 (NIV) How does faith work? Faith works in you. God’s desire and design for you is to bring you to a point of maturity and completion. You are still in the process of becoming who you are in Christ. Each day, you are either becoming more like Christ or less like Christ. As John Eldredge says in his book, Walking with God, “We see the original and intended shape of our lives in Jesus.” Jesus is the model to follow. “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” Col 4:12 (NIV) “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Heb 5:13-14 (NIV) God wants you to develop the faith He has placed inside of you. The orientation of your entire life is to be focused on growing spiritually and being used of God perpetually. Feed the faith planted in you by nurturing your walk with God daily. Your moment by moment awareness of God’s activity in you and around you will produce a desire to mature in the faith. Are you working out the faith that God has put in you? Are you growing in your love relationship with Jesus? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) How does faith work? Faith works for you. God is always at work to bring us to the point of recognizing our need for a saving relationship with Jesus. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and convinces us of our need for salvation. God enables us through faith to respond to His gift of eternal life. In faith we choose to receive God’s provision of forgiveness made available through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. “‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’” John 3:16 (NIV) “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) Have you experienced faith working for you? God took the initiative to bring you into a right relationship with Himself. Jesus paid the ultimate price for the forgiveness of your sins. At salvation, you became the temple of the Holy Spirit. Faith is not a feeling. Faith is a fact of God’s activity in your life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” James 2:20-22 (NIV) Your good works will not produce salvation. If only you could work your way to heaven! Then the challenge would be knowing how much work would be required by God for you to deserve entrance into heaven. How would you know if you have done enough to get there? What if you almost made it, but fell short by one good deed? Fortunately, God does not base your salvation on your works. The Bible does not present a works salvation, but a salvation that works. You cannot work for your salvation, but your salvation will be evidenced by good works. In response to God’s gracious gift of salvation, you will want to express your appreciation to God through deeds of righteousness. Your deeds will not produce righteousness, but your righteousness in Christ will produce righteous deeds. Your “want to” changes as a result of your salvation. “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) “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” 1 John 3:24 (NIV) Your salvation is a gift from God and is marked by a life of obedience. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.” James 2:19 (NIV) Believing in God will not get you to heaven. God has revealed Himself generally through nature and specifically through the incarnate Word, Jesus. To say that you believe in God is not sufficient for salvation. James asserts that even the demons believe there is one God. Their monotheism is not enough. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity embrace monotheism. However, believing in one God does not produce salvation. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 (NIV) “‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’” Acts 4:12 (NIV) “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 (NIV) God has revealed Himself to us in the Person of Jesus Christ. The question is: What will you do with Jesus? The atoning work of Jesus on the cross is sufficient to save anyone, but effective only for those who trust in Christ alone for salvation. The gift of eternal life doesn’t become a gift to you until you personally receive it. Do you believe that Jesus is God’s Son? Do you believe that Jesus died to pay your sin debt in full? Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven? Have you received the gift of eternal life? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:15-17 (NIV) Your actions speak so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying. If you have been born from above, adopted into God’s family, and filled with the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t the reality of your salvation be evidenced? If you have experienced transformation on the inside, shouldn’t that show up on the outside? Faith void of action is dead. Your faith is to be demonstrated by action. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matt 5:16 (NIV) “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia–your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead–Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 Thess 1:8-10 (NIV) God has put you in the display window of life to demonstrate your faith in practical ways. Find a need and meet it. Shine the light of Jesus and share the love of Jesus. Pray continually, give sacrificially, and worship passionately. May those who know you but don’t know Jesus, come to know Jesus because they know you. May your faith be that convincing! May your faith be activated and demonstrated to a watching world! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” James 2:14 (NIV) You can profess Christ and not possess Christ. What does it take for a person to be saved? Is it possible to have saving faith without deeds? Will my faith be demonstrated by my deeds? So many have embraced an “easy believism” theology which can produce a false sense of security. You can spend your entire life on the earth thinking that you are saved and in reality, be lost. “‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’” Matt 7:21 (NIV) “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV) Your eternal destiny is determined by how you respond to God’s offer of salvation found in Christ alone. Knowing about Christ is not sufficient for salvation. You must know Christ personally through faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Take inventory of your spiritual condition. Don’t rely on feelings. Trace your steps and identify the moment you had a life-changing experience. Clarify your conversion experience. When did you come to realize your sin and your need for God’s forgiveness? When you did acknowledge that Jesus is God’s Son and the only way to heaven? When did you receive God’s gift of eternal life? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12-13 (NIV) Grace is getting what we do not deserve. We do not deserve God’s love. We do not deserve God’s gift of eternal life. We do not deserve our new identity in Christ. We do not deserve having our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Yet, God graced us with these and many other spiritual realities. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Because of our sin, we deserve separation, punishment, and alienation. Because of our sin, we deserve eternal damnation. Because of our sin, we deserve total isolation from God’s abiding Presence. Yet, God extends His mercy to us and did not give us what we deserved. Instead, God has blessed us, redeemed us, included us, sealed us, and lavished us with His love. Because of God’s mercy, we have a song to sing and a message to declare. As recipients of God’s mercy, we have been given a clean canvas upon which we join God in His redemptive activity. May God’s merciful treatment of us radically transforms our conversation and our conduct! May our words and our walk exhibit mercy to others as God has exhibited to us! “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 (NIV) Viewing others from God’s perspective will produce the fragrance of mercy in our lives. May that aroma bring others closer to the love of God that we have found in Christ! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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God’s Perspective (6)
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12-13 (NIV) Imagine being transferred instantly before the throne of God. You are standing before God right now and you fall on your face before God and He asks you to give an account for your treatment of others. Where would that place you in the area of God’s approval and affirmation? How would you measure up to God’s standard of perfection? God is a God of justice. And yes, God is a God of mercy. Without God’s justice, mercy would not exist. Without God’s mercy, justice would not exist. God declared His justice on your sin when Jesus took upon God’s wrath for your sin on the cross. God demonstrated His mercy by providing for the forgiveness of your sin. How will you treat others in light of what God has done for you? “‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.’” Matt 5:7 (NIV) “‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’” Matt 7:1-2 (NIV) Our tendency is to use binoculars when judging our lives and using a microscope when judging the lives of others. Thank God for His mercy. God wants our conversation and our conduct to reflect the mercy we have received from Him. God is not asking us to do anything in our relationship with others that He has not already done for us. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.” James 2:9-11 (NIV) Have you ever heard of the domino effect? If you accidentally tip one domino, it triggers an effect that ultimately impacts every other domino. Tip toeing through life in a fallen world is very similar to the domino effect. It doesn’t take much to sin. One impure thought is sin. Failing to do what God wants you do is sin. Doing what God does not want you to do is sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 (NIV) “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 (NIV) “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4 (NIV) Our sin nature causes a chain reaction. The more we sin the more our sin nature craves sin. Whatever you feed grows and whatever you starve dies. Crucify the flesh! Make no provision for sin! Favoritism is a sin that we can succumb to subtly. It can sneak up on us. We can drift from having God’s perspective and fail to see others through His eyes. Let’s commit to stay sensitive to the presence of sin. Sometimes favoritism is not as tangible in our own lives. We may not even realize that we are showing favoritism. Let’s ask God to help detect even a fraction of favoritism resident in our lives. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.” James 2:8 (NIV) We are by nature self-absorbed, self-centered, and self-focused. When anything happens around us our first question is: How will this affect me? In many ways, we act as though the earth really does rotate around us. The reality of our fallen nature pops up from time to time like a ground hog trying to catch a glimpse of daylight. Jesus acknowledges the presence of our self-love. We truly love ourselves. As one of my colleagues would often say, “Sometimes you just have to be good to yourself!” We have no problem being good to ourselves do we? We value comfort. We value pleasure. We value looking good and feeling good and sleeping good. As we begin viewing others from God’s perspective, we will begin to value others the way God values them. The resulting choice will be to love others as we love ourselves. In other words, we will begin to treat others the way we want to be treated. We will love others with the same kind of love that we desire to receive. James identifies that we are doing right when we love others as we love ourselves. Longing to do right is not enough. Putting our faith in action by loving others brings honor to God. Do you love others as much as you love yourself? Ouch! That’s a painful question. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?” James 2:5-7 (NIV) What is your definition of rich? As you view those in your circles, whom would you identify as rich? In our materialistic culture, we tend to rank wealth based on the acquisition of possessions or the accumulation of exorbitant funds. If only we could operate from God’s perspective. God defines rich based on faith and not funds. In God’s economy, the poor in the eyes of the world are made rich in faith and inherit the eternal riches of God treasure by faith in Jesus. God is the equalizer. God elevates the poor. God can also easily dissipate the rich in the eyes of the world. Maybe we just need to reflect on life from God’s perspective. Maybe we need to contemplate what true wealth is. You can rich as far as the world’s standards are concerned and yet be destitute in God’s economy. Forsaking God’s offer of eternal life would keep a person in total desperation regardless of his or her earthly assets. Calculate the value you currently place on others. Do you allow their social status to dictate how you treat them? Do you allow their appearance to formulate your view of them? What if you began to view others from God’s perspective? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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God’s Perspective (2)
“Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4 (NIV) The corporate worship setting is sacred. When we gather with fellow believers to express our love to God in corporate worship, we are obeying God and demonstrating a reverence for His glory. The worship environment is conducive to encouraging each other and edifying the body of Christ. However, the corporate setting for worship can also be an environment where discrimination seeps in. Making a judgment about one’s appearance based on their attire is condescending to the very one Christ died for. For us to give preferential treatment to those endowed with financial prowess would be tragic in the eyes of God. For us to consider withholding our love, affirmation, acceptance, and inclusion of those less fortunate would break the heart of God. We become the judges when we start ranking human beings and attaching varying levels of worth based on externals. Preferential treatment misrepresents the character of God. We need to embrace God’s perspective on those He created and sent His Son to die for. God took the initiative to establish our value through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Every person matters to God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to place the same value on others that God does. We are to see others through the saving work of Jesus on the cross. Is there anyone you are currently looking down on? Have you minimized the value God places on others? Let’s be reminded of where we were when God found us in our sin. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.” James 2:1 (NIV) James gives perspective to the believers who have been dispersed by the persecution in Jerusalem. He is writing to the Jews of the Diaspora. They are living outside of their homeland. They are being exposed to different cultures and to different philosophies for living. James reminds them that they are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Their position in Christ is to inform their behavior toward others. We have been transformed by God’s grace and adopted into His family. Our identity is that of being believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Our lives take on new meaning as we embrace the way of Jesus. His life and His mission become our reality. Jesus wants to transform the culture through us. Thus, we are not to show favoritism. We are not to value one person over another. We are not to favor one people group over another people group. “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.’” Lev 19:15 (NIV) “I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.” 1 Tim 5:21 (NIV) The spirit of favoritism does not reflect the heart of God. As His children, we are not to show favoritism. God has called us to extend His love to every people group on earth. That means to impartially radiate His love and compassion to every person regardless of their skin color or social status. A great start would be for you to begin praying for people who are not like you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 (NIV) How would you define success? The bumper sticker says, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Is that success? God’s definition of success is summed up in one word: obedience. As you faithfully and consistently put God’s Word into practice, you will be successful in God’s economy. Faithful application of God’s Word will lead to transformation. Your obedience to God’s Word will result in perpetual life change. You will become more and more like Christ. What does that transformation look like in the real world? “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” James 1:26 (NIV) “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 (NIV) Both your conversation and conduct will be transformed by the consistent application of God’s Word. The way you speak will be radically transformed. The way you view others and the way you treat others will be radically transformed. God’s Word will be alive and active in you. Your relationship with God and your relationship with people will take on a new dimension proportionate to your obedience to God’s Word. Look within and detect areas of your life that need be come under the authority of God’s Word. Yield to the call of God to consistently apply His Word in daily living. Allow all of your relationships to be transformed by the application of God’s Word. Let God change you on the inside. Let Christ in you become evident to the watching world. Remember, you are still in the process of becoming who you are in Christ. Be patient. God is enabling you to workout what He has worked in. Look into the mirror of His Word each day and give Jesus the reigns to your life. Your transformation has eternal implications. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 (NIV) Information and examination without application will lead to frustration. God wants you to look intently into His Word. Pour your life into the reading and studying of God’s Word. Don’t neglect the discipline of investigation. Dive deep into God’s Word. Be sure to come out of investigation with application. Personalize God’s Word by asking: So what? Now what? God reveals Himself to you through His Word so that you will do what He says. God reveals His heart and His agenda so that you can literally put feet to the faith God imparts. Move from being a hearer of the Word only, to being a doer of the Word. Activate God’s Word in your life through practical living. Put God’s Word into practice. Start with loving God with all of your heart, mind, and strength. Launch into loving your neighbor as yourself. Begin forgiving others as God has forgiven you. Passionately serve others as Christ modeled faithfully. Be merciful. Be compassionate. Be gentle. Be faithful. Be considerate. Be patient. Just do what God says! Move from information to examination and then to application. There’s another level that has eternal implications. Are you ready to go to the next level? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” James 1:23-24 (NIV) God’s Word is a mirror. As we read and hear God’s Word, we begin to see God for who He is and we begin to see ourselves as we really are in light of who God is. God’s Word reveals God’s holiness and our sinfulness. We have the opportunity to move from information to examination. In our spiritual growth, we seek to allow God’s Word to penetrate our lives. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV) “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb 4:12 (NIV) Are you willing to go to the next level and ask God to search your heart? Will you begin reading God’s Word and hearing God’s Word with the intent of examination? Invite the light of God’s Word to expose areas of darkness or neglect that have embedded in your life. Confess known sin and fully surrender to the Spirit’s control. Walk circumspectly in light of what God reveals to you through His Word. God is for you. God has already demonstrated His unconditional love by giving His best, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. You are forgiven! You are free to draw near to God and allow Him to draw near to you. Move from information to examination. Are you ready to go to the next level? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 (NIV) We are bombarded with information. From billboards to books, from electronic media to engaging magazines, there is no void of information. The accessibility of information is literally at our fingertips. If you really want to know something, there are unlimited avenues of securing the information that you are seeking. The Bible is still the most read book on planet earth. As you read God’s Word, you have the opportunity to listen to what God is saying and then to do what He says. However, you also have the opportunity to keep God’s Word at a distance. You can listen to God’s Word for information purposes only. Your reading and hearing of God’s Word becomes a cognitive exercise that yields minimal fruit in your life. God wants your level of listening to move beyond that of information. The reality is that we know more than we are doing. It is not that we need to know more at this point, but rather obey what we already know. You can literally deceive yourself by listening to the Word of God at the level of information. God’s Word is designed for more than just informing you about facts and trends. God’s Word is to inform you about the nature and character of God. God’s Word is to inform you about His world redemption plan and where you fit into the process. However, you can stay at the level of knowing about God and His plan without allowing the information to directly impact your life. God wants you to go to the next level. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Obey His Way (3)
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” James 1:22-24 (NIV) What does a life of instant obedience look like? It looks like humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance in action. It is not enough to know to do right. You must place into action what you know. Application is the activation of faith. Notice how Jesus describes such a life. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matt 7:24-27 (NIV) Jesus authenticates that hearing God’s Word is not enough. You must put feet to your faith by putting God’s Word into practice. Application determines whether you are building on sand or on the rock. Take a close look at your conduct both in private and in public. What does your conduct declare about your faith? Are you obeying what you know? Is your conduct consistent with the character of Christ? Are you building on the rock or on sand? Obey His way! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.” Gen 12:4 (NIV) What is keeping you from obeying God? Do you fear the unknown? Are you uncomfortable making a move without having more information? Maybe God has chosen to limit His revelation to match your obedience. Once you obey what He has already said, then He will show you the next step. Abram took God at His word! He simply obeyed God. God told Abram to leave and go to a land that He would show him. Guess what? Abram left, as the Lord told him. He obeyed. You can never go wrong obeying God. His way is always the best way. Even when it doesn’t make sense or seem remotely logical, God’s way is the right way. If you are confused about your next step, just obey what He has already said. Start there! Identify what you are wrestling with right now? What is keeping you from taking the next step? Place that fear or frustration before the Lord in prayer and see how He helps you take the next step. You can trust God with your present circumstances and your future hopes and dreams. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Obey His Way (1)
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 (NIV) Is your number one priority to obey God? Obeying God begins with surrendering to the Lordship of Christ and giving Him complete control of your life. God has given you two ears and one mouth. Be quick to listen. Listen to God’s Word so that you can discover God’s way. Obeying God is always the best choice. Obedience to God is not only a mark of spiritual maturity; it is the birthmark of being born again. Obeying God is a non-negotiable. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands” I Jn 2:3 NIV “Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” 1 Sam 3:10 (NIV) Are you in tune with the voice of God? God is a God of revelation. He chooses to reveal Himself to you. Are you listening? God reveals His ways so that you can obey Him. Obedience to God is always the best option. Obey His way. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“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) Is it possible to stay clean while living in a dirty world? Every possibility for contaminating our lives is available to us. Sin is rampant. We face trials from without and temptation from within. The cultural current is moving in the opposite direction of the Christ honoring flow. We must make a conscious and continuous decision to walk in purity. “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 (NIV) “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12 (NIV) Purify yourself and perfect holiness. Purify your heart and set an example for the believers in purity. In Christ, you are positionally pure. In Christ, you are a new creation. In Christ, you are adopted into God’s family. Now live out practically what you are positionally in Christ. The only way to reign in this life is to allow Christ to reign in your life. Submit to His authority in your life. Allow Jesus to live His life through you. Staying clean while living in a dirty world is only possible in the strength Christ provides. Jesus has already set the example. Jesus has demonstrated the life of purity in a sin-polluted culture. Jesus lived a sinless life and died a sacrificial death so that you can walk in victory. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“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 5:10 (NIV) Everyone will live forever somewhere. What you do with Christ during your brief stay on planet earth will determine whether you spend eternity in heaven or hell. Your response to God’s offer of salvation is the deciding factor to your eternal destination. As Bruce Wilkinson says, “Your belief determines where you will spend eternity; your behavior determines how you will spend eternity.” “You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” Romans 14:10 (NIV) “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:9-11 (NIV) Every human being will stand before God to give an account for his or her life. Every person will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Those who reject God’s offer of salvation while living on earth will still bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but it will be eternally too late. Believers will go to the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive reward and heaven while unbelievers will go to the White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) to receive punishment and hell. Live circumspectly! Live in full awareness of God’s holiness, purity, and justice! Take as many people with you to heaven as you possibly can in full surrender to the Spirit’s control. Make the most of every opportunity! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Transformation
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Cor 3:18 (NIV) We are still on the Potter’s wheel. How refreshing to know that we are still in the process of becoming who we are in Christ! God is not through with us. We are the clay and God is the Potter. His loving and corrective touch continues to mold and shape our lives for His glory. We are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29 (NIV) “And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.” 1 Cor 15:49 (NIV) As we walk with God daily and stay close to Him in prayer and the reading of His Word, we are being transformed with an ever-increasing glory. The glory of God will be revealed in us and through us more and more as we abide in Christ. God draws near to us as we draw near to Him. The glow of God radiates from our life as we exhibit His love and express His life-saving message. Are there any areas of your life that you have failed to surrender to the Lordship of Christ? Are there any habits or patterns of neglect that are currently hindering the process of transformation in your life? Yield to the Potter’s touch. Allow God to perfect the image of Christ in you. May you become more like Christ today as a result of your willingness to fully surrender to the work of God in your life! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Cor 1:3-4 (NIV) God redeems pain. When you look into the rear view mirror of your life, you can probably recall painful experiences that you have had in your past. Some of those experiences may be the direct result of poor choices that you made and some of those experiences may be related to poor choices that someone else made. You may look back and recognize painful experiences that were not attached to poor choices at all. It may be that you simply encountered pain as a result of living in a fallen world. Grief is an ongoing pain that resides within us as we try to navigate a path without someone who has meant so much to us. Grief can be encountered as a result of job loss, a shift in our personal health status, or a shattered dream. Are you currently experiencing any level of grief in your life? Can you identify the source of your grief? God is the Father of compassion. He is the God of all comfort. God comforts us so that we can comfort others. God blesses us with experiences that elevate our need for God. We come to realize our dependency upon God and how desperate we really are for God. God does not bring comfort into our lives so that we can become comfortable. God brings comfort into our lives during seasons of pain and difficulty so that we can comfort others who go through trying circumstances. We come to know God by personal experience. We become better equipped to bring comfort to others. Who are you building a bridge of comfort to? Who has God brought into your path lately who simply needs to know God’s comfort through you? That’s one of the many ways that God redeems your pain. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Influential (3)
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Psalms 68:5 (NIV) God is your heavenly Father. Long before you decided what to do with God, God decided what to do with you. God took the initiative to reconcile you to Himself through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. God is the both the Creator and Sustainer of life. God is love. God is holy. God is eternal. God is the ultimate Father. Your life is secure in His hands. God has chosen you, redeemed you, forgiven you, included you, and sealed you by His Holy Spirit. You are the recipient of His unconditional love. You are the beneficiary of His mercy and grace. Your acceptance of God’s gift of eternal life has transformed your status. You are now a child of God and your name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Your standing before God is now made right by the imputed righteousness of Christ. God sees you through the blood of Jesus. You have been made acceptable in His sight. “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’” Matt 6:9-10 (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) The most influential person in your life should be God. The fatherhood of God has become a reality in your life as you have chosen to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Whether you have a godly biological father or not does not nullify the abiding relationship that you have with God. Your heavenly Father will never let you down. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Your heavenly Father is perfect. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Influential (2)
“To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” 2 Tim 1:2 (NIV) Can you imagine having the Apostle Paul as a spiritual father? Timothy enjoyed the privilege of having Paul as an authentic spiritual father. Paul invested in Timothy’s life. It is very likely that Paul led Timothy to faith in Jesus Christ. Paul provided Timothy with firsthand experience on his missionary journeys. Timothy observed Paul’s faith in action. Their relationship was mutually beneficial and made a tremendous Kingdom impact for the glory of God. If you have had an authentic spiritual father in your life, then you are blessed with a special deposit. God has given you a tangible expression of His love and grace by allowing you to do life with a spiritual father who embodies the character of Christ. Think about the spiritual father that God has brought into your life. Think about the insights you have gleaned and the experiences you have captured through the relational velocity of a spiritual father. Perhaps you have more than one spiritual father. It is possible to have many spiritual fathers who have invested in your life over the years. Give thanks to God for the influential spiritual relationships that have helped you in becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek.” Acts 16:1 (NIV) Timothy’s father is not mentioned by name in the Bible. We only know that his dad was a Greek. However, Timothy’s mother and grandmother are mentioned by name along with their spiritual influence in Timothy’s life. We just don’t know how long Timothy’s father was in the picture. Maybe he was a disconnected dad or an absent father. Maybe he left Timothy’s mother and separated himself from Timothy. Everyone has a biological father. Some people have the privilege of knowing their dad and some grow up having never known their biological father. There are so many levels of proximity. What about your relationship with your biological father? At what level has your biological father been involved in your life? Do you know who he is? If so, do you have a growing relationship with him? Would you consider the relationship healthy? If you have never met your biological father, what would you want to say to him if you were to meet him? The truth is that your biological father has been influential in your life either directly or indirectly. You were created by God through your mom and dad. Your unique DNA includes both your mom and your dad. Acknowledge your biological father’s imperfections. He has never been perfect and will not be perfect until his transformation in glory. Be willing to extend forgiveness to him for the areas in your life where you feel neglected and maybe even betrayed. If you have a healthy relationship with your father, express your gratitude to him for his investment in your life. Maybe your biological father is no longer alive on earth. Spend some time expressing thanks to God for the biological father He gave to you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Real Temptation (7)
“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.” Heb 4:15 (NIV) Jesus understands your trials from without and your struggles from within. In our contemporary vernacular: Jesus has been there and done that. Jesus has been tempted in every way, just as we are. He understands our struggles. Jesus endured temptation and chose to honor God throughout the process. Jesus entered the process and completed the process sinless. Our example is Jesus. Our pattern for victory is Jesus. God never intended for us to live the Christian life outside of His enabling. In and of ourselves, we are insufficient. Our sufficiency is found in Christ. As we abide in Christ and submit to the Spirit’s control in our life, victory results. “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) “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Eph 5:17-18 (NIV) Surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Surrender fully to the Spirit’s control in your life. Jesus has been where you are and He knows what you need to walk in victory. Allow Jesus to live His life through you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Real Temptation (6)
“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.” Prov 4:25 (NIV) Eyesight is an amazing feature of the human body. God’s creation throughout the earth is awesome to behold whether taking in the sight of the blue sky in the day or the star filled sky at night or observing a butterfly dancing from leaf to leaf. From gazing at the flowing wildflowers in the open field to examining the intricacies of a cell under a microscope, eyesight is a gift from God. As we seek to walk in victory in this life on planet earth, let’s use the letter “P” in our MAP to remind us to Practice Bouncing Eyes. There is so much to look at from day to day. To walk in victory, we must very selective in what we allow to come into our minds through the open window of our eyes. “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matt 5:28 (NIV) “’I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.’” Job 31:1 (NIV) Take the initiative to practice bouncing eyes. Train your eyes to bounce off of anything that does not honor God. As Billy Graham has said, “The first look is natural; the second look is sin.” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor