“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) God has made it possible for everyone to come to repentance. The redemptive work of Christ on the cross is sufficient to save everyone who responds by faith to God’s offer of salvation. Jesus paid our sin debt in full. Jesus has taken the full wrath of God for our sin. The gift of eternal life is available to all and beneficial for everyone who repents of his or her sin and confesses Christ. My wife and I prayed for our children’s salvation before they were born. Once they were born, we asked God to reveal Himself to them in His perfect timing and to enable us to live out our faith before them. When our daughter was ready to receive the gift of eternal life, we knelt down in our den together as she prayed to God and invited Jesus to become her Lord and Savior. A few years later, our son made it known to us that he was ready to surrender his life to Christ and become a follower of Jesus. We knelt down together in our family room and he trusted Christ as his Savior and Lord. What a blessing to have both of our children’s names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! We continue to pray for our children specifically for their purity and their spiritual maturity. We want them to continue to be fully devoted followers of Christ and to live lives of moral purity. We have also been praying for their future mate’s salvation, purity, and spiritual maturity. If you do not have children, consider praying for your niece or nephew. You may want to begin praying for the children of someone you work with or go to church with. Pray for their salvation, their purity, and their spiritual maturity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Salvation
Categories
No Greater Task
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) God empowers us for participation in His redemptive activity. We cannot operate in God’s kingdom economy without God’s kingdom resources. God’s agenda can only be fulfilled by God’s enabling. Without God’s power, we cannot fulfill God’s mission. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit indwelt the believers and enabled them to speak forth the Gospel. Everyone heard the Good News in their own heart language. This miraculous communication of the Gospel was God’s demonstration that the Gospel is for everyone! What is your spiritual story? How did you come to know Christ personally? What has your life been like since being filled with the Holy Spirit? What does God’s Word say about how a person can be saved? If you have experienced the Gospel firsthand, then you are now ready to witness to Christ’s saving power. You are now ready to share your faith with others. Read Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10, and 10:13. God has reconciled you to Himself so that you can join God in reconciling others to Himself. Build bridges to those who don’t know Jesus so that they can have the saving relationship that you enjoy in Christ. There’s no greater task on planet earth! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Living the Redeemed Life
“And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” Deut 10:12-13 (NIV) What does the redeemed life look like in practical day-by-day living? Once a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, how does that new identity translate into daily living? God reveals His expectations for the redeemed life. Revere supremely. When you experience God’s redemption, your response to that redemption is a life of reverencing God. To revere God is to esteem Him and to give Him the rightful place He deserves in your life. Live righteously. The redeemed life results in a righteous lifestyle. Godliness replaces worldliness. Selflessness replaces selfishness. Instead of allowing the world to influence your behavior, you influence the culture with the character of Christ in you. Love completely. God loves you and demonstrated His love for you by allowing Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty of your sin. Love God completely by giving your heart to Him in full surrender. Express your love to Him in private and corporate worship. Serve passionately. Now that you have been redeemed, serve God by continuing the ministry of Jesus. Serve God by spreading the fragrance of Christ through random acts of kindness. Find a need and meet it. Obey instantly. Love what God loves and hate what God hates. “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:17 NIV). Choose to obey God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“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 1:9-10 (NIV) Before you were saved, you were running to sin and running from God. Now that you are saved, you run to God and run from sin. In Christ, you experience an authentic transformation whereby your sins are removed, you are reconciled to God, and you receive the imputed righteousness of Christ. Your appetite for sin is replaced with an appetite for righteousness. You hunger and thirst for God. There are no substitutes for a vibrant love relationship with the Lord. Nothing else will ever satisfy. The orientation of your life is centered on serving the living and true God. The witness of the Thessalonian believers was widespread. Their authentic transformation reverberated throughout Macedonia and Achaia. Their contagious faith had become known everywhere. Turning to God from idols, they embodied the servitude of Christ and served the living and true God. They became an irresistible influence for the Lord. When you experience the transformation Christ provides, you embrace a life of anticipation. You wait expectantly for the return of Christ from heaven. You live in light of His resurrection and His rescue. There is no one else who can rescue you from the coming wrath. God will judge sin. Those who have rejected God’s plan of salvation will spend eternity separated from God. Rejoice! Your transformation in Christ changes your eternal destiny. Hell is not your destination. The transformation you experienced in Christ assures your ultimate destination in heaven. Jesus will come for His church prior to the Tribulation. Jesus will come with His church after the Tribulation to establish His millennial reign upon the earth. Live in light of His return! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Solved Mystery
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col 1:27 (NIV) Is He in you? Do you have Christ living in you? God has unveiled the mystery. You can have Christ in you, the hope of glory. You were alienated from God without Christ and without hope. God chose to make Himself known to you so that you could have union with Christ. By His grace, God has made you fit for habitation by the Spirit of Christ. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 (NIV) “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.” Romans 8:9-10 (NIV) In Christ, you are dead to sin, but alive to righteousness. You have been justified through faith. In Christ, you have peace with God. Rejoice in the reality of Christ residing in you. The hope of glory is living in you. What if your friends and acquaintances had Christ in them? What if those in your workplace or on your campus had Christ in them? Can you imagine the entire population of every continent having Christ in them? Let’s be intentional about helping others have the opportunity to experience Christ in them, the hope of glory. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) Enjoying sacred communication with the Creator of the universe is one of your highest privileges. Praying to God for your children is one of your greatest investments in their future. Pray for their salvation. As you pray for your children’s salvation, be sure to join God in His redemptive activity. Your witness matters to your children. They are watching you. Let them see the evidence of the salvation you have in Christ. Let them observe the fruit of the Spirit exhibited through your life. As you pray for your children’s salvation, seek to live out the life of peace and abundance provided to you in Christ. God does not want anyone to perish. However, everyone has to respond to God’s offer of salvation by placing his or her faith in the completed work of Christ on the cross. The atoning work of Jesus on the cross is applied to those who turn from their sin and trust in Jesus alone for salvation. Your children have the freedom to choose Christ or to reject Christ. Pray for them to receive the gift of eternal life. You can impact your children’s forever through the avenue of prayer. Commit to pray for your children’s salvation. Commit to pray that they will come to see their need for the Savior. Pray for their heart to be tender toward God and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Entrusted to His Care
“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor 1:8 (NIV) What do you base your eternal security on? Are you placing your confidence in your own ability to finish strong? The same grace that saved you is the same grace that will keep you strong to the end. Jesus sacrificed His life to deliver you out of the kingdom of darkness and to place you in the kingdom of light. Your eternal security is not based on your performance, but rather on the grace of Jesus operative in your life. Once you are in Christ, you are secure for eternity. Your eternal security does not give you a license to sin. Don’t presume upon the grace of God. When you became a follower of Jesus Christ, you received the imputed righteousness of Christ. Your standing before God became that of being blameless. When God sees you, He sees you through the atoning work of Christ applied to your life. God views your life based on the shed blood of Jesus. You are now a saint because of your position in Christ. Jesus will keep you strong to the end. Join Him in that journey of holiness and purity. Participate with Christ by keeping yourself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27). In Christ, you are entrusted to His care. The caregiver of your soul is the Lord Jesus Christ. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). Your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27). Now walk in the security you have in Christ. Live a life pleasing to God and help others come to know the security they can have in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Cor 1:4 (NIV) Paul was writing from Ephesus on his third missionary journey a personal letter to the church at Corinth. He acknowledged God’s call on them to be holy along with the other believers who were calling on the name of the Lord. Paul gave evidence to the content of his prayer life for the church at Corinth through the theme of grace. God’s grace had been clearly given to the church at Corinth. Paul had spent eighteen months there teaching them the Word of God (Acts 18:11). The grace Paul identified in them was the same grace that had rescued Paul from the path of being a persecutor of the church. Paul had a life-changing encounter with God’s grace. Now he is giving thanks to God for the grace they have in Christ Jesus. When you became a follower of Jesus Christ, you encountered the grace of God firsthand. God gave you what you did not deserve. Because of your sin, you deserved alienation, separation, and eternal damnation. However, God graced you with His abiding peace and lavished you with His unconditional love. If you ever doubt God’s grace, just look into the rearview mirror of your life and recall the portraits of grace God has painted throughout the terrain of your past. In Christ Jesus, you have been given grace. God has blessed you with a new identity in Christ. You are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). You have been saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). You are God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10). God’s grace has been poured out on you abundantly (1 Ti. 1:14). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Rescued and Redeemed
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Col 1:13-14 (NIV) Desperate situations call for desperate measures. The extreme nature of our sin and rebellion demanded the extreme nature of complete atonement for our sin. Jesus was willing to endure the scorn and shame of the cross to pay the penalty of our sin in full. Because of His obedience to death on the cross, we are the recipients of God’s rescue package known as redemption. Jesus came to our rescue. He lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death, and rose victorious over the grave. As Isaiah prophesied, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 NIV). Jesus rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of light. In Jesus, we have redemption. In Jesus, we have the forgiveness of sins. Being rescued from sin and eternal separation from God places us on the path that leads to life. What a joy to live the rescued life! Now that you have been rescued from darkness, you have a life-changing message to share with others. What Jesus has done for you, He can do for others. What Jesus is doing in you, He can do in others. How will they know unless you are willing to share your rescue experience with them? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“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 Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
The Only Way
“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) Often I have heard people insert their belief that “we are all trying to get to the same place, just taking different paths to get there.” Scripture does not affirm that belief. In fact, there is only one way to get to heaven. Jesus is the only way! Now that is both exclusive and inclusive. Those who reject Jesus as the only way don’t receive the benefit of eternal life in heaven. They are excluded from heaven for failing to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Be informed, since Jesus is the only way to heaven, you can know for certain that you have the gift of eternal life. Everyone who trusts in Jesus alone for salvation is included in the eternal benefits of that decision. “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.” Romans 10:9 (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) Have you met the way? Have you embraced the truth? Have you experienced the life? Be informed and be transformed by the only One who can make an eternal difference in your life, Jesus. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) Have you ever lost your patience? Waiting in a fast food line for an extended period of time has a way of testing your capacity to embrace patience. In our instant gratification saturated society, we just don’t wait well. Our lifestyles have been conditioned through advancing technology to expect everything to come to fruition in a matter of seconds. Aren’t you thankful that God is patient with us? God has graciously given us time to respond to His salvation love gift. God has been patient with us in the process of our spiritual development. In the midst of our sins of omission and sins of commission, God patiently conforms us into the image of Christ. God forgives us of our sins and cleanses us of our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God’s patience means salvation! The heart of God is for everyone to come into a vibrant love relationship with Him through Christ. God does not want anyone to spend eternity in hell. God wants everyone to come to repentance. Yet, God has given us the freedom to choose Him or to reject Him. God did not create us to be robotic, but rather to be relational. Will some perish and experience eternal separation from God? Yes! Those who fail to confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead will spend eternity in hell (Rom. 10:9-10). God has provided the way for those who believe in Jesus to not perish (John 3:16). Everlasting life has been made available by God’s grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Have you come to repentance? Will you invest the rest of your life helping others come into a growing relationship with Jesus? Remember to be patient with others just as God has been patient with you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
Living in the Power
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Mt. 28:6 (NIV) Are you living in the power of the resurrection? Jesus is alive! The redemptive act of God has ushered forth new life and a new beginning. God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead changes everything. The darkness has turned to light. Sin and death no longer have mastery over us. Both have been defeated. Have you allowed the empty tomb to become a reality in your daily living? Are you walking in perpetual consciousness of God’s redemptive activity? There’s more to Easter than just dressing up and going to church. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead establishes our eternal destiny and enables us to proclaim His redemption story throughout the earth. Praise the Living God today! He rules and He reigns! Allow Jesus to have full access to your hurts, your habits, and your hang ups. Allow Him to bring His resurrection power to every area of your life so that you can live in fullness everyday. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you. Live in His resurrection power. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
Conversion Fruit
“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’” Luke 19:8 (NIV) The fruit of conversion is a life of obedience. When you are genuinely converted from being a slave to sin to being a slave to righteousness, the evidence of that transformation shows up in your daily talk and walk (Rm 6:17-18). Salvation transforms your conversation and your conduct. From the moment of conversion, you embrace a lifestyle of working out what God has worked in (Php. 2:12). Zacchaeus experienced authentic conversion. Upon placing his faith in Jesus alone for salvation, Zacchaeus had an immediate desire to make things right with those he wronged. His saving faith in Jesus was producing in him the appetite for living righteously. Convicted of his personal sin, Zacchaeus chose to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back four times the amount to those he cheated. It is possible to profess Christ and not possess Christ. Is Christ in you? Do you have the Spirit of Christ (Rm. 8:9)? In order to claim to live in Christ you must walk as Jesus did (I John 2:6). Possessing Christ is demonstrated through instant and perpetual obedience. To know Christ is to obey Christ. Are you giving clear evidence of your salvation to those in your sphere of influence? Is there anyone you need to forgive? Is there anyone you need to extend an apology to? Are your horizontal relationships right and unbroken? Let others see Jesus in you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a “sinner.”‘” Luke 19:5-7 (NIV) You have a choice. You can be a thermostat and set the environment or you can be a thermometer and reflect the environment. Jesus chose to be a thermostat. Jesus leveraged His influence to transform Zacchaeus and his family. Jesus was intentional about bringing life-change to this chief tax collector and his family. The people criticized Jesus for His actions. We are introduced to this concept of muttering and grumbling in the Old Testament as the children of Israel grumbled against God, Moses, and Aaron (Ex. 16:6-8). Jesus was willing to be misunderstood and criticized in order to bring eternal life to Zacchaeus and his family. Jesus was willing to endure opposition to present this family with the opportunity to be transformed by His love. Will you influence your environment or be influenced by your environment? Will you become like those around you or will they become like you? It depends upon your decision to be a thermostat or a thermometer. God has placed you here to be salt and light to influence this decaying and dark world with the purity and the light of His love (Mt. 5:13-16). God has planted you right where you are so that you can bloom for His glory and bring others into the kingdom of light. Are you willing to be criticized for loving the unlovable? Are you willing to be misunderstood for extending grace to the despised and forgotten? Be a thermostat for the glory of God! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Someone asked him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’” Luke 13:23 (NIV) Have you ever wondered how many people will be in heaven? As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, someone asked him if only a few people were going to be saved. That is a very important question. The answer to that question has eternal implications. What made this person ask such a question? Maybe he embraced a false sense of security as a Jew assuming that he was safely in the fold of the people of God. It could be that this individual noticed how the number of followers of Christ had dwindled as Jesus’ popularity reduced while persecution had elevated. Maybe the person asking the question had a genuine concern for the salvation of humanity. “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 2:3-4 (NIV) “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) God has provided the way for everyone who turns to Christ to be rescued from eternal damnation. Are you willing to participate with God in the redemptive process? Are you willing to be used of God to shine His light and share His love with a dark and decaying world? Consider those who do not have a saving relationship with Jesus. Will the saved be few? You can make a difference in the population in heaven. Your life is a witness. Will you intentionally build relationships with those who do not know Christ in order to bring the Good News to them? Allow others to experience the salvation that you have received. Let others enjoy the wonderful peace of having the assurance of heaven and eternal life. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
Share Your Story
“The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:38-39 (NIV) This demon-possessed man had not lived in a house, but lived in the tombs for a long time. When the demons came out of the man, Jesus gave them permission to go into a herd of pigs. The herd rushed down the bank into the lake and drowned. When the people of that region came to Jesus, they saw this man sitting at Jesus’ feet. The man was dressed and in his right mind. Jesus instructed the man to “return home and tell how much God has done for you.” What is your story? How did Jesus reveal Himself and His salvation plan to you? Revisit the circumstances leading up to your salvation event. Consider the people God brought into your path to introduce you to Jesus. Begin to pray and thank God for each person specifically. Review the changes that have taken place in your life since receiving God’s gift of eternal life. Calculate the progression of your faith and the levels of maturity gained over the years. Remember, salvation is an event followed by a process of maturation. What is different about your life now? Share your story! Let’s others know what the Lord has done for you. Proclaim the Good News of Jesus with those who do not have a personal relationship with Him. Testify of the atoning work of Jesus on the cross and the victory over sin, death, and hell. Share with others how Jesus came to your rescue and delivered you from the kingdom of darkness and placed you in the kingdom of light. Tell how you were an object of wrath, but because of God’s love and mercy, you have been made alive with Christ in order to show the incomparable riches of His grace (Eph. 2:3-7). God has given you a message worth making known and a story worth sharing! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
Grace for the Race
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph 2:8-9 (NIV) We need grace for the race called life. Outside of God’s grace, we would have never discovered the salvation we now have in Christ. God graced us with the gift of eternal life in response to our faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. It is not from ourselves. Salvation was initiated by God and extended to us by His grace. We do not work for salvation. But, once we are saved, we will want to work so that others can receive the gift of eternal life. Our work is sharing the grace found in Christ with others who have not come into a saving relationship with Christ. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb 4:16 (NIV) There’s no room for boasting about the salvation we have graciously received from God. The gift of eternal life has been made possible through the sacrificial death of Jesus upon the cross. Jesus died and rose from the dead so that we could be recipients of His grace and live in union with Him for eternity. Grace enables you to pray. Grace gives you access to our Holy God. You need God’s grace for every step of the race. And remember, the same grace that saves you is the same grace that keeps you. God’s grace will bring you safely home. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Ex 20:11 (NIV) Work can become a space invader. Do you have room in your life for rest? Of course not! You have too much to do and work is calling your name. “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go!” Work is demanding your time, energy, and attention. Work is biblical isn’t it? Doesn’t God expect you to work? Isn’t work God’s idea? Consider the reality that the Creator of the universe established a divine guideline for both work and rest. God was not tired after the six days of creation activity. God chose to model the value of working and resting. God established a pattern for us in order to keep life in balance and to do life God’s way. God knows what we need better than we know ourselves. He is the Creator and we are His creation. God is infinite and we are finite. God is all-knowing and we are limited in our understanding. God sees the whole picture while we see only a peep as through a key hole. When your work becomes a space invader, your life is out of balance. God does not want your work to rule your life and to dominate your energy allocation. God wants you to set aside a day each week to cease creating, forming, fashioning, meeting deadlines, and pushing yourself through the performance trap. You need a day to allow God to put you back together. That’s why God created the Sabbath day. You need a Sabbath. You need a day to allow God to re-create you. You need to transition off of the race track down pit road and allow God to change your spiritual tires, remove the debris from your spiritual windshield, and to refuel your spiritual tank. You need a weekly pit stop! Don’t allow work to invade your Sabbath. Don’t allow work to invade your family time. Ouch! That can be a challenge. God wants you to work when you are at work and be fully present when you are at home. God wants you to guard a day each week for His restorative work in you. Create space for God to put you back together! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Categories
God’s Will (5)
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) God’s will is that you be saved. The heart of God is for world redemption. The ultimate price has been paid for world redemption to be made possible. That price was paid by the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus paid the debt we could not pay to purchase the salvation we could not earn. Universalism teaches that all will be saved. However, the Bible is clear that only those who confess Jesus as Lord will be saved. Only those who have been born again will enter the kingdom of heaven. Without receiving the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, a person is without hope and without heaven. This would be an ideal time to take spiritual inventory of your own life and solidify your own salvation. It is God’s will that you be saved. Have you received God’s gift of eternal life? “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (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) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph 2:8-9 (NIV) God saves you to secure you for eternity in heaven and to empower you to shine His light and to share His love with the lost and dying world that He has placed you in. You are rescued by God so that you can join God is His world redemption activity. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“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
“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
“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
“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) There’s only one way. I have often heard people comment that we are all heading to the same place and that we are just taking different paths to get there. All paths do not lead to heaven. There is only one path to heaven. There is only one way to get to heaven. It’s not arrogant to say that Jesus is the only way. Actually, it is arrogant to say that there’s another way. Jesus is the only way. “‘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) “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31 (NIV) On March 28, 1979, I embraced Jesus as the way and the truth and the life by confessing my sin and inviting Jesus to take over my life. I surrendered to His Lordship and have sought to become more like Jesus day by day. I have the assurance of heaven and eternal life, not because of who I am, but because of who He is. Long before I decided what to do with God, He decided what to do with me. What’s your decision? Have you had a life changing experience? Do you know for certain that if you were to die tonight that you would go to heaven? If the rapture were to happen within the hour, are you ready? Are you rapture ready? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’” Matt 7:13-14 (NIV) How do you enter through the narrow gate that only a few find? What does it take to get in on what God has already made available? Let’s take a look at three steps to entering the narrow gate: Step 1: Admit that you are a sinner. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rm 3:23 (NIV) Step 2: Believe that Jesus is God’s Son. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in hims shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) Step 3: Confess Jesus as Lord of your life. “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.” Rm 10:9-10 (NIV) God loves us enough to make a way for us to be reconciled to Him. In fact, there is only one way to be restored to a right relationship with God. Jesus is the only way! “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 Enter through the narrow gate. Jesus is the way! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor