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Miracle New Creation

Exhibit the Miracle

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Cor 5:17 (NIV) Exhibit the miracle; you are a new creation. In Christ, you are a new creation. The light of God’s love has illuminated your life and transformed your forever. You are no longer bound by the past. You are no longer a prisoner of sin. You have been purchased with the shed blood of Jesus. God has placed you in the display window of life to present to others the grace He has lavished on you. You are a living exhibit of the grace of God. You were shown mercy in order that Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience in you as an example to others (1 Tim. 1:15-16). Portray the grace you have received. Encourage others in their journey by displaying the new creation God has redeemed you to be. The new has come. In Christ, you have been re-created to bear His image and to bring forth His message of salvation. God has chosen you to exhibit the miracle you are in Christ. Don’t hide the grace God has extended you. Don’t conceal the mercy you have received. Continue to grow in your love relationship with Christ and choose to glow in this dark world. Allow the light of God’s love to radiate through the brokenness in your life. Portray the love of God by treating others the way God has graciously treated you. You are a living miracle of the gracious work of God. He has pursued you with His unfailing love and rescued you from eternal damnation. God has made you a new creation. Exhibit the miracle you are in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Meeting Needs Ministry Miracle

Meeting Needs

“They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.” Luke 9:17 (NIV) God wants to use you to meet needs. In order to meet needs, you must be sensitive to the needs of others. Living a life of “other-centeredness” is essential to joining God in His personal touch ministry. Selfishness will blind you to the needs around you. Selfishness will steer your focus inward every time. Jesus told the disciples to feed the multitudes. The number of men was five thousand besides the women and children. Jesus was asking the disciples to feed over fifteen thousand people. All they could find was a little boy with a sack lunch with five loaves of bread and two fish.  “Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people”(Luke 9:16 NIV). Jesus multiplied what He had been given in order to meet the physical needs of the masses. They all ate and were satisfied! Where did the twelve basketfuls of leftovers come from? There is a valuable lesson to learn here. Just bring Jesus what you have. Jesus will take what you have and multiply it to meet needs. God will never ask you to do anything without providing everything you need to accomplish His will. Perhaps you know the saying, “Where God guides, He always provides.” Will you make yourself available for God’s use this week? Will you look for opportunities to meet the needs that God brings into your path? Be sensitive. Be selfless. Be willing to seize the opportunities God gives you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Categories
Healing Legalism Miracle Obedience Sabbath

The Comfortable Life (2)

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.’” John 5:8-10 (NIV) What brings you personal comfort? What do you long for each day? Maybe you desire to be rid of relational tension. Maybe your idea of comfort is being nestled behind a good book. Perhaps you long for the mornings when you are winding up or you long for the evenings when you are winding down. The environment that brings you comfort may be that of peace and quiet or laughter and passionate verbal interaction. The invalid of 38 years received the comfort of instant healing when Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” And “at once” that man was healed. There was no delay. After 38 years, the lame man’s healing came instantly. The comfort of his instant healing was strained by the poison of legalism. The Jews were unable to celebrate the miracle of this man’s healing because they were so transfixed on the fact that Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath. Their legalism kept them from recognizing the Lord. Legalism bypasses relationship. God has not saved you from your sin and sealed you by His Holy Spirit so that you will live in the bondage of legalism. In Christ, God has saved you so that you can walk in the freedom of your new identity in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Categories
Complacency Healing Lame Miracle

The Comfortable Life (1)

“One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” John 5:5-6 (NIV) We know more than we are doing. We know that we are to eat right, exercise, and get plenty of rest in order to be healthy. We know that we are to give, save, pay bills, and pay taxes. We know that we are to make the most of every moment that God gives us. We know that we are to forgive others, to love others, to pray for others, to be considerate of others, and to serve others. Yet, we don’t always do the things we know we are supposed to do. Jesus asked a thirty-eight year old invalid if he wanted to get well. That question seems out of place. Why wouldn’t a lame man want to walk? What would keep a person from wanting to experience healing? It is a matter of want. If you had the “want to” then you would find a “way to” be healed. Sometimes we can become comfortable with our misery. The question is, “Do you want to get well?” Do you want to continue living like you are living? Do you want to continue to operate in your current reality? Jesus is the answer to your situation. Are you obeying what you know? Have you responded to what He has already revealed to you?   Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

Categories
Freedom Liberty Life Miracle Resurrection

Living the Life (7)

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’” John 11:43-44 (NIV) Are you living the life God has given? Jesus left heaven and came to earth to dwell among us and ultimately give His life in death upon the cross so that we could know and experience true life. Jesus has removed the obstacles and provided the only way to salvation. Jesus is the way. Death could not prevent Jesus from bringing forth life even to Lazarus, who had been dead four days. As the stench of death permeated the graveyard, Jesus called Lazarus by name to come forth from the dead. As Lazarus came out of the tomb, Jesus commanded them to take the graves clothes off and to let him go. What is keeping you from living the life God has given? What kind of grave clothes have kept you bound? Release those things which prevent you from walking in the fullness of God’s provision. Let go of those thoughts and attitudes that inhibit the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. Jesus has paid full price for your freedom. Jesus has called you forth from the dead. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Eph 2:1-2 (NIV) “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NIV) Take the grave clothes off and walk in the grace God provides. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor

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Bridger Generation Death Jesus Miracle

Bridger Generation (3)

“Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.” Luke 8:40-42 (NIV) Have you ever been desperate? Our natural tendency is to be strong and independent and seek to figure things out on our own. However, in those seasons of desperation, we recognize that we are finite and that God is infinite. God has a way of reminding us of our dependency upon Him. Sometimes the reminder comes in the package of suffering. The ruler of the synagogue, Jairus, was suffering as a parent as he watched his only daughter at the tender age of twelve lay dying. Jairus sought Jesus and fell at His feet. Jairus was in a season of desperation and pleaded with Jesus to come to his house to rescue his dying daughter. On His way, Jesus was interrupted by the woman with the issue of blood. Jesus healed this woman and then the report came that Jairus’ daughter had died. “Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.’” Luke 8:50 (NIV) “When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. ‘Stop wailing,’ Jesus said. ‘She is not dead but asleep.’” Luke 8:51-52 (NIV) “They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.” Luke 8:53-55 (NIV) Jesus is the answer for every generation. The Bridger generation, those born between 1984 and 2002, has needs that only Jesus can meet. Will you be available to share Jesus with the next generation? Those in desperation need a demonstration of the love that Jesus provides. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor