Category: Impact

IMPACT (7)

Be an irresistible influence for the glory of God. You were made by God to make an impact for His glory. God has impacted you by providing the gift of eternal life through the atoning work of Jesus upon the cross. God has impacted you by filling you with His Holy Spirit. Now it is time for you to make an impact for Him. To be an irresistible influence is to allow Jesus to shine His light and to share His love through you. Living a life that draws others to Christ requires being intentional about the opportunities God provides. Andrew was an irresistible influence for God’s glory. He intentionally brought others to Jesus. “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” John 1:41-42 (NIV) “Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’” John 6:8-9 (NIV) Will you seek to be an irresistible influence for God’s glory each day? Seize the opportunities God places before you to draw others to Christ. Invite others to become followers of Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Impact Intercession

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“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2:1-4 (NIV) You can make an eternal impact through intercessory prayer. Intercession is simply speaking to God on behalf of another person. If I were to tell you that I am praying for you, it means that I am going to be speaking to God on your behalf. I am going to intercede for you. Intercession is building a bridge for others through prayer. As you pray for individuals, seek to get in their skin to identify what they need and what they are experiencing. The Holy Spirit will prompt you to pray specifically for the needs of those individuals. I am deeply moved by the reality of intercessory prayer. As I pray for others, I am joining the Holy Spirit in His intercessory prayer ministry. I am also joining Jesus, who is at the right hand of the Father, in His intercessory prayer ministry. Feast on these verses: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” Romans 8:26-27 (NIV) “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34 (NIV) Let’s commit to make an eternal impact through embracing intercessory prayer. Who is God placing on your heart right now? Speak to God on their behalf. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Impact Interruptions Opportunities

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“As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.” Luke 8:42-44 (NIV) Often God makes His greatest impact through you when you are on your way to do something unrelated. Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus’s twelve year old daughter who was dying. On His way, Jesus was interrupted by the touch of a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. Jesus turned the interruption into an opportunity to make an eternal impact. She was healed. “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Eph 5:15-16 (NIV) “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” Col 4:5 (NIV) Be attentive to the interruptions that you encounter as you are doing life. When you face an interruption, look to see what God might be inviting you to do in order to make an eternal impact. Often the interruption is the invitation to join God in His activity. Pardon the interruption; it may have eternity written all over it! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Impact Motive

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“‘Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.’” Matt 6:1 (NIV) You will make no Kingdom impact if you are serving yourself. If you are displaying acts of kindness to be applauded by others, you will limit the Kingdom impact available to you. God rewards your conversation and your conduct based on your motives. Motives matter to God. The world is enamored by the externals. God is not impressed. The heart of God is moved when a child of God is serving, giving, and living to bring glory to God. “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” 1 Sam 16:7 (NIV) “‘And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.’” 1 Chron 28:9 (NIV) Evaluate your motives. Why do you do what you do? Who are you trying to please? Is your heart pure? Pour your life out to bring glory to God. He alone is worthy! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Holy Discontent Impact

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“Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, ‘The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.’” Num 14:5-9 (NIV) You always find what you are looking for. If you are looking for giants in the land, you will find them. If you are looking for the milk and honey, you will find it. If you are looking for the activity of God, you will find it. God is always at work. Joshua and Caleb embraced God’s perspective on their situation. They were not satisfied with what they had already experienced with God. They lived with a heart of holy discontent which caused them to crave more. They wanted a fresh encounter of God’s presence and provision. What are you looking for? Are you searching for the activity of God so that you can join Him? Can you affirm the reality that the Lord is with you? Don’t be satisfied with the God-moments of years gone by. Seek to join God in His activity now. God is at work now. Are you willing to make an eternal impact by aligning your life with God’s activity? Live with a heart of holy discontent. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Impact Status Quo

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“That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, ‘If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?’” Num 14:1-3 (NIV) There is a consistent gravitational pull on our lives to go back to our old patterns. The children of Israel were satisfied with the status quo. They did not want to pursue all that God had in store for them. They wanted to bypass the miracles of God and His abiding presence in order to return to the familiarity of Egypt. Even though they were in bondage as slaves in Egypt, they desired to settle with the status quo and not do something great for God’s glory. “Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’” Luke 9:62 (NIV) “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13-14 (NIV) Don’t allow the status quo to keep you from doing something great for God’s glory. Push through the gravitational pull that seeks to lure you back into your comfort zone. Fix your gaze straight ahead. Focus your life on God’s agenda. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Impact

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“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Eph 3:20-21 (NIV) What kind of impact will you make with the time, energy, and resources God has given you? How much is God able to do through a life totally yielded to Him? There’s room for you to do something great for God. He wants to do more than you could ever ask or imagine. God’s plan for your life is much larger than what you can accomplish on your own. In order to make an eternal impact with your life, you will need to move into the realm of faith. Begin operating your life on the basis of what God can do. How much is God able to do? “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.” Dan 3:17 (NIV) “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21 (NIV) “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.” Heb 11:6 (NIV) The level of your faith will determine the level of your impact in God’s kingdom. Faith is the currency of heaven. Earnestly seek the Lord and ask Him to increase your faith and to enable you to put your faith into action. Are you ready for God to do more than you have experienced up to this point? There’s more! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor