Author: Stephen Trammell

Real Temptation (5)

“Avoid every kind of evil.” 1 Thess 5:22 (NIV) Have you ever done something that compromised your convictions and broke the heart of God? When you look back on the experience, you still can’t believe that you did such a thing. When you get too close to the edge, you slip down the slippery slope and immense guilt follows. Have you been there? As we continue observing our MAP for walking in victory, let’s use the letter “A” to remind us to Avoid Slippery Slopes. Because of our resident sin nature, we have a tendency to see how close we can get to the edge without slipping and falling. God’s Word teaches us to guard our lives and to conduct our lives with caution. Slippery slopes abound. Opportunities to compromise our convictions are unlimited. “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.” 1 Thess 4:3-5 (NIV) “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Heb 12:4 (NIV) God has called us to a lifestyle of self-control. Take the initiative to avoid slipper slopes. Ask God to give you wisdom to see the terrain as it is and to detect the slippery slopes awaiting your arrival. Living in a fallen world is a struggle. Resist sin at all costs. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Purity Struggle Temptation

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“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 (NIV) God has called us to a lifestyle of moral purity. As followers of Jesus Christ, our constant assignment is to keep from being polluted by the world. Sin is rampant in our society and sin is present within our sin nature. As we battle temptation from within, we must establish guardrails to keep us on the straight and narrow path of holiness. Let’s consider using a MAP for walking in victory. The letter “M” will remind us to Monitor Media Input. In our age of technology, we have unprecedented access to images that dishonor God. High definition televisions, computers, and cell phones provide an array of images that pollute and contaminate the mind of the child of God. Filtering what we allow to come into our minds is a proactive step to walking in victory. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Phil 4:8 (NIV) “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Tim 2:22 (NIV) Take the initiative to monitor media input. When you put garbage in, you will get garbage out. When you put Christ in, you get Christ out. Fill your mind with that which brings honor to God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Desire Gluttony Laziness Predictable Process Temptation

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“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:15 (NIV) Temptation has a predictable process. James gives uses the metaphor of childbirth to capture the predictable process of temptation. In his letter to the Jews who were scattered outside of Palestine, James writes about the trials from without and the temptations from within. We have God-given desires that are natural and are vital to life. For example, we have the desire for food. Without that desire we would die. We also have the desire for rest. Without that desire we would die. Yet, both desires can become sin when we take them beyond God’s intended purpose. If we take our desire for food too far, we commit the sin of gluttony. In like manner, if we take our desire for rest too far, we commit the sin of laziness. Arm yourself with the knowledge of the predictable process of temptation. We idolize something we desire. The next step is that we rationalize why we should have the desire fulfilled. In other words, we talked ourselves into compromising convictions. Then we strategize by coming up with a plan to obtain the object we are idolizing. Ultimately, we capitalize on the opportunity by seizing what we have desired. Remorse and guilt follow. Look back over poor choices you have made in your lifetime. See if you can identify this predictable process. Here’s the key to victory: The sooner in the process you avoid the sin, the more likely you will overcome the temptation. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Character of God Holiness Love Serpent Temptation

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“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” James 1:13-14 (NIV) God is holy and God is love. The nature of God will not allow temptation to be an instrument of heaven. God cannot be tempted by evil because God is holy. As John MacArthur affirms, “God is aware of evil but untouched by it, like a sunbeam shining on a dump is untouched by the trash.” God is not the originator of temptation. God does not tempt anyone because God is love. In His love, God does not initiate temptation, but God will allow temptation to come into a person’s life. The temptation provides the opportunity to choose the righteous path and to bring honor to God through the proper response. When we choose to give in to temptation, we believe that it is the best option at that moment. Satan’s goal is to get us to doubt God’s Word and to doubt God’s best. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’” Gen 3:1 (NIV) God cannot be tempted by evil. God does not tempt anyone. How will you choose to respond to the temptation that God allows into your path? Will you take God at His Word and trust Him? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Choices Faithfulness of God Temptation

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“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Cor 10:13 (NIV) Temptation is an opportunity to honor God. Our response to temptation will determine whether we honor God or dishonor God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not temptation exempt. Living in a fallen world and retaining our sin nature guarantee the presence of temptation. It is not a matter of if we will face temptation, but a matter of when we will face temptation. Even Jesus was tempted. Temptation is a common feature in this life. Of course, temptation comes in different forms depending on where we are most susceptible. Satan knows what our weaknesses are and what will entice us toward sin. We are not left alone to fend for ourselves. God is here! God is faithful! We can anchor our faith to the faithfulness of God. He will never leave us. He will not abandon us. In fact, God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear with Him. Temptation is a constant reminder of our dependency upon God. We need God! God will also provide an exit strategy. When temptation knocks at our door, we don’t have to submit to the temptation. God will always provide a way of escape so that we can stand up under the load and stress of the temptation. How will you respond when temptation comes your way? Will you seize the opportunity to honor God? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Alignment Discipline Suffering Trials

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“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!’” Luke 15:17 (NIV) Do you have someone in your life who is currently suffering the consequences of their poor choices? Everything within you wants to shift into rescue mode. You want to pull them out of reaping what they have sown. Their trial has become your trial because of the love you have for them. The prodigal son traveled down the road filled with the potholes of selfish choices. The consequences of his sinful lifestyle were in full bloom. The fast lane had not delivered what it promised. What I admire most about his father, is that he allowed the natural consequences to flow. Instead of rescuing his son, the father gave God room to work and to produce deep conviction in his straying son’s life. Yes! It took a pigpen experience for the son to come to his senses. What if the father would have interrupted the process? What if the father would have chased the son down and prevented him from reaching the pigpen? Sometimes we just need to give God room to work to bring those He has created back to Himself. There are times when God wants to use us in the process of bringing a rebelling son or daughter back into alignment. Don’t bypass God’s disciplinary process. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Heb 12:11 (NIV) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Faith Suffering Trials Trust

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“Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.” Matt 8:24 (NIV) Trials have a tendency to sneak up on us like weeds in a flowerbed. We can be living in the land of the familiar and enjoying our daily routine when all of the sudden, we get surprised by an unexpected interruption. Maybe we get an unwanted notice in the mail, or the check engine light in our car comes on, or the doctor walks in the room with a concerned look in his eyes. Life is filled with seasons of uncertainty. Who do you turn to when trials come into your life? The disciples went to Jesus and woke Him and said, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” We must give them credit at this point. They knew to turn to Jesus. But, Jesus questioned them about their lack of faith and their pressing fear. Why would they be afraid of anything, knowing that Jesus was with them? Jesus seized the opportunity to demonstrate His power over nature. Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and it was completely calm. The disciples experienced the demonstration of Jesus’ power. Whatever trials come our way, remember that Jesus is our sufficiency. The storms of this life can never catch Jesus by surprise. Jesus is in the boat! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Delays Hannah Omniscience Suffering Trials

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“As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, ‘How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.’” 1 Sam 1:12-14 (NIV) Have you ever been misunderstood? When you are hurting, your emotions will be expressed through anger, suppression, depression, or grief. At some point, your hurt will manifest. For Hannah, her pain was being expressed through heartfelt prayer. She was unveiling her broken heart before the Lord. Hannah was barren. Eli misinterpreted her pain as that of being drunk. That was far from the truth of Hannah’s condition. She wasn’t drunk. She was devastated with the reality of her circumstances. Can you relate? “‘Not so, my lord,’ Hannah replied, ‘I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.’” 1 Sam 1:15-16 (NIV) “Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the LORD for him.’” 1 Sam 1:19-20 (NIV) God knows what you are feeling right now. God knows where you are and where you are headed. Nothing catches God by surprise. Maybe you are experiencing a delay that just doesn’t make sense to you. Know that God has a purpose for every delay we endure. God understands our feelings and our frustrations even when others may not understand. God is all-knowing. God has the final say! For those who have misunderstood you, will you entrust them to God? For the delays you are experiencing, will you entrust them to God as well? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Adversity Spiritual Maturity Suffering Trials

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“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 (NIV) Spiritual maturity may involve adversity. The child of God is not exempt from adversity. Often, God will allow adversity to enter our journey in order to move us toward spiritual maturity. God expects us to grow spiritually. Mediocrity, lethargy, and apathy are foreign to the maturation process. God enables us to grow through seasons of uncertainty and through seasons of drought. We are reminded of our inadequacy and our total dependency upon God. God’s desire is for us to not lack anything. Trials produce the canvas upon which the providence of God is painted for our personal engagement. “…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Eph 4:13 (NIV) “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) Our response to adversity demonstrates our level of spiritual maturity. Our response to difficult circumstances can also propel our spiritual maturity to the next level. Here’s the bottom line: Are you becoming more Christlike in the midst of the trials you face? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Faith Suffering Testimony Trials

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 (NIV) Without a test, there is no testimony. God allows trials to come into our lives in order to prove the authenticity of our faith. We are like a tube of toothpaste, when squeezed whatever is on the inside comes out. Trials have a way of revealing character. When our faith is tested, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the character of Christ being developed in us. Our testimony is enriched as our faith increases. Learning how to trust God when trials ensue is part of our spiritual formation. God does not waste the trauma that comes into our lives. When difficult circumstances are in view, our faith is fortified. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Heb 12:1 (NIV) “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” 2 Thess 1:4 (NIV) Review your spiritual journey and identify those hard places in your life that proved your faith. You will find that some of your most meaningful moments with God were during those seasons of intensity and adversity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Faith Perspective Suffering Trials Wisdom

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“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NIV) View your trials from God’s perspective. Knowledge is needed to take things apart. Wisdom is needed to put things back together. When your life is coming apart, you need God’s wisdom to put your life in order. Trials tend to skew our vision and stifle our passion. It is so easy to lose perspective when facing trials. Our tendency is to be captured by the immediate and bypass the future that God has in store for us. Why do we wait so long in the process to turn to God in prayer? We try to figure out circumstances on our own and frantically search for answers apart from God. Nothing comes into our lives without God’s permission. If God permits trials, then God will use those trials for our good and for His glory. If only we can embrace that reality earlier in the process of our trials. God is both the Creator and Sustainer of our lives. He knows where we are and what we are facing and where we are heading. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10 (NIV) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5-6 (NIV) In faith, turn to God and ask for His wisdom. Seek to gain God’s perspective on the trials you face. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Joy Rejoice Suffering Trials

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 (NIV) Rejoice is a choice. Living in a fallen world comes at a price. The consequences of sin have rippled throughout our family tree all the way back to Adam and Eve. When sin entered the human race, trials became the shadow. Trials are as much a part of life as the air we breathe. The question is not a matter of whether we will face trials or not in this life. The issue is how we choose to respond to the trials we face. Trials are inevitable in a fallen world. However, we can choose to rejoice in the midst of the trials we navigate. We need not be surprised by the multifaceted trials that come our way. Instead, we need to live in the ready mode in order to anticipate trials and more specifically, plan our response to trials. Will you choose to rejoice? You cannot choose your trials, but you can choose your response to the trials. “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.” Phil 1:29 (NIV) “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV) Consider the trials that you are currently experiencing. How will you respond today? Will your choice be to rejoice? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Conceal Fishing Following Reveal Soul Consciousness Soulwinning

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“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:16-18 (NIV) If you’re not fishing, you’re not following. To be a true follower of Jesus Christ, you must be fishing for souls. Jesus has called every follower of His to fish for men, women, boys, and girls. Our purpose for existence is to know Jesus personally, to grow in Jesus progressively, and to go for Jesus intentionally. Know: As a follower of Jesus Christ, your lifestyle should include both private and public worship. To know Jesus personally gives expression through your daily intimacy with Him in private worship. You bring your worship of Jesus with you to a gathering of fellow followers of Christ in public worship. Grow: Are you growing in your love relationship with Jesus? Are you connected to a small group of Christ-followers in order to grow progressively in community, in Bible knowledge and application, and in exercising your spiritual gifts? Are you growing in your knowing? Go: As you know Christ and grow in Christ, you are compelled to go into the world to represent Christ. Your lifestyle becomes intentional. Your soul-consciousness is elevated. Your passion to reach the lost at any cost is ignited. Now, let’s go fishing! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Conceal Great Commission Mission Reveal Soulwinning

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“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” Matt 28:18-20 (NIV) The Great Commission is our mission. I live in awe of the reality that God would choose someone like to me to be adopted into His family, to be included in His redemption story, and to be empowered for His redemptive mission. If you have turned your life over to Jesus Christ and allowed Him to become the Lord of your life, you to have been adopted, included, and empowered by God and for God. Your life has true meaning and your life matters to God and directly impacts the population of heaven. You have been given authority by Jesus to make disciples of all people groups. Now that’s something worth giving your life to! Don’t get distracted by materialism and the pursuit of prestige. Don’t allow your passion for God and His redemptive activity to be dissolved by the pursuit of worldly pleasures. Laser focus your life on that which moves the heart of God. Give your life to influencing people for Christ. As you go, make disciples. Maximize every opportunity that God gives you to make Jesus known. You may be the only Jesus others see. Reveal God’s love to every person you come into contact with. Be an irresistible influence for Christ on this broken planet called earth. Reveal the grace you have been given by God to others. Reveal the mercy you have received through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Reveal the hope to others that you have come to know firsthand. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Ascension Conceal Experience Pentecost Reveal

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“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” Acts 1:10-11 (NIV) The disciples experienced a monumental moment as they witnessed the ascension of Jesus. Jesus had walked with them and invested in them and mentored them. Jesus sacrificed His life upon the cross for them and was raised from the dead. Jesus interacted with the disciples during His forty days of post-resurrection appearances. Now, Jesus ascends before their eyes back into heaven. Can you imagine what they were feeling and thinking? How would you respond to such an experience? Where do you go after witnessing such a miraculous event? “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.” Acts 1:12 (NIV) “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14 (NIV) It is possible to seek to live in a God-moment meant as an isolated experience and miss God’s next assignment for you. God allows you to have special moments where He reveals more of Himself to you so that you can know Him more deeply and obey Him completely. Keep moving with God. Had the disciples been unwilling to keep moving with God, they would have missed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They had to go to Jerusalem and engage in a “ten day prayer meeting” in the upper room in order to have the experience of becoming Spirit-filled followers of Christ. God has used Henry Blackaby and his workbook, Experiencing God, to enhance my walk with God over the years. Contemplate this powerful quote from Henry Blackaby, “You cannot stay where you are and go with God.” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Conceal God Moments Mountaintop Experiences Reveal

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“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” Matt 17:1-2 (NIV) God moments are difficult to transfer. If only life was a perpetual mountaintop experience. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be on a constant spiritual high and never come down? Peter, James, and John had a once in a lifetime experience with Jesus on the top of a mountain. Jesus was transfigured before them. Peter wanted to build three shelters in order to stay on the mountaintop and live in the radiance of Jesus’ glory. Jesus used the experience to teach Peter, James, and John the necessity to come down the mountain to meet the needs of people in the valley. In other words, God surprises us with mountaintop experiences to reveal His glory so that we can go into the world to reveal God’s glory to others. Consider the terrain of your spiritual journey. Can you recall the mountaintop experiences you have had with God? Did God reveal His glory to you in those moments so that you would stay in the moment? No! God gave you those special glimpses into His nature and character so that you could go into the valley of life to connect with people in desperate need of God’s salvation. God moments can be difficult to transfer to others. Often, the God moments are for you to be encouraged and strengthened personally. The experience should motivate you to go into the world to declare the message of reconciliation to a world alienated from God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Authentic Worship Conceal Evangelism Isaiah Reveal

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“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” Isaiah 6:1 (NIV) Authentic worship leads to sensitivity to God’s activity. When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he encountered the holiness of God. As a result, Isaiah had a heightened awareness of both his personal sin and the sin of those around him. The light of God’s holiness had exposed the darkness within him and around him. Isaiah was so overwhelmed by his encounter of God, that he said, “Woe is me.” Through his personal encounter with God, Isaiah heard the voice of God calling out to him. Isaiah was sensitive to God’s activity. He made himself available for God’s use by saying, “Here am I. Send me!” Have you reached that place in your walk with God? Have you encountered God’s presence at the level of hearing God’s invitation to join Him in His redemptive activity? Your worship of the One True Living God should result in a corresponding willingness to participate with God in His world redemption plan. Your heart aligns with the heart of God and you submit your will to God’s will. His agenda becomes your passion. Are you willing to place your “yes” on the altar unconditionally? Be willing to say to God, “Lord, I’m yours. Use me.” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Conceal Influence Light of the World Reveal Witness

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“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.” Matt 5:14-16 (NIV) Uncover your candle. Jesus has transformed your life so that you will become an agent of transformation in the world. Jesus has illuminated your life so that you will reflect His light and extend His love to a lost and dying world. As a child of God, you are the light of the world. God has strategically placed you in a dark culture in order to shine His light in you and through you. You are alive right now on purpose. You live, work, study, and play right where God has placed you to know Jesus and to make Him known. Is your light shining? Is your candle burning brightly for the Lord? God has created people who need the light you have. God has brought them into your life and placed them in your sphere of influence so that you can let your light shine before them. Don’t fear the open doors God places before you. Don’t divert from the path God has placed you on. Don’t neglect crossing the bridges God has built for you. You will come into contact with people today who need the light God has placed within you. Will you uncover the candle? Will you allow the light of Jesus to shine through you in order to reveal His love to others? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Conceal Reveal Worship

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“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col 3:17 (NIV) You have the power to conceal or reveal God’s glory. God reveals His glory to you as you worship Him privately and corporately. Whether you encounter God personally through private worship or in a setting with other believers, God reveals His glory. He wants you know His nature and His character. God wants you to come to know Him by experience. As God reveals Himself to you, your relationship deepens. Your understanding of God’s purposes and ways grows as you spend time with Him. The question becomes: What are you going to do with what God reveals to you? Are you going to conceal His glory or reveal His glory? Authentic worship is a lifestyle. It is not what you come to on Sunday morning or what you go away from on Sunday afternoon. Worship is living a life that honors God as you are doing life. Everything you do should be an act of worship. Even menial tasks can be used to reveal God’s glory. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1 (NIV) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31 (NIV) God will orchestrate opportunities today for you to reveal His glory to others. What will others come to know about God’s nature and character through your willingness to reveal His glory? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Focus Vertical Worship

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“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Col 3:16 (NIV) It is possible to worship the act of worship. When you become consumed with your personal preferences and neglect embracing the true focus of worship, you start worshiping worship. Often we ask the wrong question, “What do I like in worship?” If worshiping God becomes horizontal, the focus shifts to personal preferences. The proper question to ask when it comes to worship is, “What moves the heart of God?” Worship is not about what I like but all about what moves the heart of God. My orientation moves from inward to upward. My focus becomes vertical. Does my expression of worship move the heart of God? Am I singing songs with gratitude in my heart to God? Assess your private worship and your public worship. Think through what you are bringing to the worship experience. Is God the object of your expression of affection? Does God get your best? Put gratitude in your attitude and bring your worship to God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Receptivity Sin Word of God Worship

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The condition of your heart before God affects your private and public worship. If you want to have a high level of receptivity to God’s Word, your heart must be right before God. Sin will harden your heart towards God. Sin will hinder your capacity to hear from God. “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) “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.’” Isaiah 29:13 (NIV) Keep your heart clean before God. Stay tender. Be teachable. Maintain purity in your thought life. Consistently confess known sin and live a life of moral purity. Surrender daily to the Lordship of Christ and do not give the devil a foothold in your life. At all costs, do not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit. Ask God to enable you to demonstrate a life of character and integrity. Crucify the flesh. Make no provision for the flesh. Keep your life in check. Weed the flowerbed of your life. Sounds like a commitment to perpetual care doesn’t it? Sin will create an immense deficit in bringing your worship to God. In fact, sin can easily become your worship. Guard your heart! Consecrate yourself before God and allow the light of His holiness to identify areas of your life that need to be surrendered. Bring your worship of God to God with a heart of purity! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

God's Word Hearing Listening to God Receptivity Worship

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“‘But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.’” Matt 13:23 (NIV) There are levels of receptivity. Have you noticed how you can read the Bible during a given season that you are in and then read the same passage of Scripture at another season of life and get something radically different from the very same passage? It has so much to do with your level of receptivity. I have noticed in my own life that when I am going through a season of brokenness, God’s Word captures my heart at a different level. When I am longing for God’s comfort, the Book of Psalms comes alive for me. When I am in need of direction and insight for a decision I need to make, Proverbs just delivers with clarity. If I am simply wanting to become more like Christ in how I treat others, reading the Gospels develops in me a new perspective on viewing others through the eyes of Christ. The condition of your heart directly affects the level of revelation that takes root in your life. When your heart resembles the hard path, the thorny ground, or the rocky ground, your level of receptivity to God’s Word diminishes exponentially. Here’s the good news: your heart can resemble good soil. Your heart can be tender and receptive to God’s Word and yield a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. Your intake of God’s Word can be beneficial, productive, and life changing if the condition of your heart is right. Let’s explore this some more… Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Bible Christ-centered Pastor Teacher Worship

Bringing Your Worship (4)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Col 3:16 (NIV) Is God’s Word at home in your heart? Your intake of God’s Word will determine your level of living on mission with God. The primary tool of revelation that God uses for His children is the Bible. God reveals Himself through His Word. You can read the Bible. You can listen to the Bible. You can sit under the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Romans 10:14-15 (NIV) “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 (NIV) Your worship includes the intentional intake of God’s Word. God has appointed and anointed pastors and teachers to communicate His Word in a creative and compelling way. Are you currently sitting under that kind of preaching and teaching? God speaks through human instrumentality. Do you consistently receive a Word from God through the preaching and teaching that you are exposing yourself to? There are many options out there. Make certain that you are connected to a Bible centered and Christ honoring local fellowship of believers led by a God fearing pastor. Don’t compromise on this one. Be sure to find anointed Bible teachers to help you grow in your understanding and application of God’s Word. Make room in your heart for God’s Word! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Corporate Worship Expression Worship

Bringing Your Worship (3)

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Heb 10:23-25 (NIV) God desires a common expression of our worship to Him. You were made to worship God. Your private worship nurtures and expresses your abiding relationship with Christ. Your public worship with other believers is the common expression of worship. God is not looking for every believer to express worship the exact same way. God wants you to express your worship to Him based on your unique personality and temperament. What does your public worship look like? How do you express your love to God in worship during a public gathering of believers? Are you reserved or outwardly expressive? Do you use physical gestures such as raising your hands in surrender or standing or kneeling? Does your corporate worship environment help you connect with God in worship or does it inhibit your worship? I have often heard that you are not to come to church to worship, but to come to church worshiping. The corporate worship experience should be an outflow of your daily private worship experiences. The question then becomes: Are you bringing your worship to church? Spend some time assessing the difference between your private and public worship. When do you feel most connected to God? When do you sense the most freedom and the most passion in expressing your love to God in worship? Maybe a worthy goal would be to bring your public worship up to where your private worship is or to bring your private worship up to where your public worship is depending on which one is more engaging. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Abiding in Christ Intimacy with God Quiet Time Solitude Worship

Bringing Your Worship (2)

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date May 21, 2008
61 Comments on Bringing Your Worship (2)

“‘Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.’” John 15:4 (NIV) To nurture an abiding relationship with Christ involves a daily experience. Your private worship is vital to having an ongoing vibrant love relationship with Christ. Are you growing in your daily intimacy with God? It takes time to develop intimacy. You may say that you just don’t have enough time to fit private worship into your schedule. The reality is that we make space for that which we value. Do you value intimacy with God? Are you willing to plan for and prepare for a daily experience with God? If you go on a business trip or on a family vacation, you prepare for it. If you are anticipating a major exam in school or fulfilling a commitment to teach a small group Bible study, you prepare for it. The same is true in our daily walk with God. To have a meaningful and productive daily experience with God, you treat it as something you value and treasure. You prepare for your daily intimacy with God. If my private worship time alone with God is important, then how should I prepare for it? Select a time each day when you are at your best. Find a physical location that enhances your experience with God. If you enjoy nature, then plan to have your quiet time outdoors. If you enjoy soft music playing as you spend time with God, then have the music ready for the moment. If you prefer solitude, then search for that room or closet or other environment that will provide that kind of atmosphere. Have a Bible reading plan in place whether it is to read through the Bible in one year, read one chapter, or read a few verses each day. Choose to jot down insights gleaned from your reading time. Reflect on what God is saying to you. Spend time in prayer sharing your heart with God and listening for His voice. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Encounter Salvation Worship

Bringing Your Worship (1)

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:11-13 (NIV) To have a dynamic worship experience, you must have a personal encounter. Do you have the Son? If you have the Son, then you have eternal life. So, how do you get the Son? The Bible teaches that belief in the completed work of Jesus on the cross is essential for salvation. “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) “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV) Do you believe in the Person and work of Jesus on the cross? Jesus paid full price for your salvation so that you can know Him personally and eternally. Once you have a personal love relationship with Jesus, you have the wonderful privilege of worshiping Him. Express your love to Jesus in worship for who He is and for what He has done. Your personal encounter with Christ at salvation opens the door for you to experience the dynamic worship of Christ. Express your worship to God for sending Jesus to your rescue. Rejoice in the personal encounter with Christ that changed your forever! Eternity in Heaven is your reality. Abundant life on earth is your blessing in Christ. Bring your worship of Him to Him! Jesus is worthy! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Pastor Prayer Praying

How To Pray For Your Pastor

Post author By Stephen Trammell
Post date May 19, 2008
55 Comments on How To Pray For Your Pastor

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” Col 4:2-4 (NIV) Do you ever pray for your pastor? If so, what exactly are you praying for? How do you pray for your pastor? What are his needs? Of course, your pastor has the same basic needs that you have. He has a need to be loved, accepted, and useful. Let’s go beyond the basics and look inside your pastor’s life on a positional level. In his role as pastor, how can you best pray for him? As you devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful, pray to God for an open door for your pastor’s message. Pray that God will give your pastor opportunities to deliver God’s message. Ask God to tear down walls of division and to build bridges of connection to enable your pastor to speak forth God’s Word. “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.” 2 Thess 3:1 (NIV) “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Eph 6:19-20 (NIV) Where there is an opportunity for your pastor to deliver God’s message, you can anticipate opposition. Satan does not want your pastor to preach the Gospel. You can combat the spiritual forces of evil through prayer on behalf of your pastor. You can conduct warfare prayer for your pastor. Pray that he will preach with clarity. Pray that your pastor’s message will spread rapidly and be honored. Pray to God for your pastor that he will make known the mystery of the Gospel and to declare it fearlessly. Why pray for your pastor? Pray for your pastor in order to create opportunities for the Lord’s message to be heard and to combat opposition in the spirit realm. Pause right now to pray for your pastor by name. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Faith Influence Parenting Passion

Sincere Faith (7)

“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Tim 1:5 (NIV) Your reputation is based on what others say about you. Your character is based on what you really are when no one is looking. Nothing neutralizes your witness faster than hypocrisy. In reality, you can fool people by projecting a persona that does not line up with the reality of your personal character. However, God sees the unseen and knows the unknown. Paul exhorted Timothy to operate in love from a heart that is pure, a conscience that is well informed, and a faith that is sincere. The value of a sincere faith is immeasurable. Are you for real? Does your public life line up with your private life? Is your faith sincere? God knows the real you. God sees the sincerity of your faith. “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) “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.” Prov 16:2 (NIV) Comparing yourself to others will not add value to your pursuit of becoming like Christ. Allow Jesus to be your standard for measurement. Confess any attitudes or actions that distract and damage your relentless pursuit of Christlikeness. Be willing to pray a dangerous prayer asking God to search your heart. Ask God to reveal anything in your life that brings Him displeasure. A sincere faith is worth finding and worth following. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Faith Inheritance Parenting Passion

Sincere Faith (6)

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim 3:14-15 (NIV) Make good on what your parents leave you. Financial prosperity may not travel through your family tree, yet sincere faith can. Consider what your parents have left you in the realm of faith. What did they model before you as a child? How did they impart sincere faith throughout your upbringing? Were they instrumental in developing your appetite for reading God’s Word? Did God use them to strengthen your prayer life and to fortify your faith in God? Whatever your parents have left you in the realm of faith, make good on it. Maximize what you have been given. Standing on their shoulders, your sincere faith can grow and even multiply through the relationships in your sphere of influence. Paul instructed Timothy to continue in what he had learned from the holy Scriptures. God’s Word is your best teacher. If your parents pointed you to God’s Word and demonstrated an abiding love for His Word, you are blessed. If your parents did not hand down that kind of passion for God’s Word, don’t allow their neglect to immobilize you. Commit to feeding your appetite for reading the Bible and choose to impart that lifestyle to others. What are you doing with what you have been given? Eliminate excuses and embrace daily spiritual disciplines that will enhance your walk with God and impact others for God’s glory. One of the most powerful investments in your day is the investment of time you allocate to reading the Bible. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Faith Learning Life Lessons Parenting

Sincere Faith (5)

“‘Honor your father and mother’–which is the first commandment with a promise—‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’” Eph 6:2-3 (NIV) One way to honor your parents is to learn what they know. Recently I visited my dad on the front porch of the nursing home where he resides. My parents have been divorced for over thirty years now. The beauty of the visit was the fact that my mom went with me to see my dad. It was very interesting and meaningful at the same time. One of the highlights of our visit took place when I asked my dad to tell about his upbringing and eventual marriage to my mom. I asked him to help me understand what caused him to take his first drink of alcohol and to help me understand what led him down the path to becoming an alcoholic. Some of the most powerful lessons I have learned in life have come from being reared in a single-parent family since age seven. For me to fail to learn what my parents know would be cheating myself valuable life lessons that could enrich my life. It would be like swimming over an exotic reef without a snorkel and fins to capture the essence of aquatic life beneath the surface. Learn what your parents know. Commit to grow by seeking to know. God has allowed your parents to live life years in advance of you so that you can benefit from their experience. You can honor your parents by learning what they know. Glean all you can from their faith journey. Your sincere faith always has room to grow. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor