“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” John 13:14-15 (ESV) Who’s your boss? To whom are you yielding allegiance? I hope your answer is Jesus. His desire is not only to be the Savior of your life, but to also be the Lord of your life. In the language of the New Testament, “Lord” means one who has control over. Thus to make Jesus Lord of your life is to yield to His control. The Lordship of Christ denotes submitting to His authority and embracing His agenda. Let’s continue to unfold our PACE acrostic. The letter “C” is for control. Include this in your daily routine: Lift your hands toward heaven and turn your palms upward and say, “I surrender to Your control.” Now it is time to practice: Lift your hands toward heaven and say, “Lord, I praise You. I accept Your acceptance of me. I surrender to Your control.” Just in case you have not turned your life over to Jesus and allowed Him to become your Savior and Lord, consider this wonderful promise from God: “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 ESV). Surrender to the Lord’s control moment-by-moment to live in continuous victory. Enthrone Jesus as the Lord of your life. Yield every fiber of your being to His Lordship and leadership in your life. Allow Jesus to have His way to mold you and to shape you into the vessel of honor He has created you to be. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Surrender
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 (ESV) What are you giving your life to? There’s only so much of you to give away. God has given you a certain amount of time, energy, and resources to accomplish His will each day. Take a look at your priorities and assess your life. Detect where you are allocating your time, energy, and resources. One of Satan’s most effective tools to diffuse a believer’s focus is busyness. Your life becomes consumed with keeping too many plates spinning. Before you know it, you have over-committed and over-scheduled your life. Jesus has the answer. Jesus offers a promise that is activated upon your obedience. To seek first the kingdom of God is to align your life with God’s agenda. To seek first His kingdom is to embrace God’s priorities. Jesus includes the pursuit of His righteousness. When a person is born again, that person receives the imputed righteousness of Christ. The believer’s position is that of being in Christ. In order to seek His righteousness, you allow the righteousness on the inside of you to be worked out. It is the process of working out what God has worked in. Make it your priority to seek His kingdom and His righteousness. All the other things that you need will be provided to you as well. Before seeking things, seek God’s agenda. Seek to love what He loves and to hate what He hates. What has first place in your life? Who gets the most of you? Remove the competing objects of your affection. Make your daily pursuit of His kingdom and His righteousness your top priority. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (ESV) You cannot live the Christian life. Keep trying! Keep seeking to measure up to God’s standard of perfection! You will always miss the mark and fall short of the standard established by God. Even on your best day, your righteousness will not be sufficient to gain entrance into heaven where God allows no sin. Paul identified his spiritual union with Christ. Though Paul did not experience the physical crucifixion with Christ, he did experience the benefits of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Instead of Paul seeking to live the Christian life in his own strength, he lived by faith in the Son of God. Paul became a vessel through which Jesus could live His life through him. The life God had for Paul included full surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Have you come into union with Christ? Have you been crucified with Christ, died to self, and allowed Christ to live His life through you? The life you now live in your earthly body is to be lived by faith in the Son of God. Jesus loves you and gave His life for you. Jesus died in your place so that you could live in His place. You have been given a heavenly mission from God to allow Jesus to manifest His life in you and through you to a watching world. Become a fully devoted follower of Christ. Yield to His Lordship and to His leadership in your life. Submit to His authority and unleash His power. Living by faith in the Son of God releases God’s power. Christ is in you and He is the hope of glory (Col 1:27). Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.’” John 12:24 (ESV) Are you dying to live? God has placed within you unlimited potential. God created you to share His love and to shine His light. Your life purpose is to bring glory to God. There’s no higher calling and there’s no greater commission to give your life to than that of bringing glory to God. Are you living the life God has given? The seed must die. In order for the potential within the seed to be unleashed, the seed must die. Without death, the seed will not germinate. Growth and development are dependent upon the seed dying. In the life of the believer, death to self is vital. The child of God must surrender his or her personal agenda, personal aspirations, and personal ambitions. Choosing to sacrifice your personal preferences in light of God’s best for you is a crucial decision. “He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’” Gen. 22:2 (ESV) Is there an “Isaac” in your life that God wants you to be willing to sacrifice? Is there something in your life that needs to die in order for you to live the life God has for you? Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” John 12:23 (ESV) Victory comes through surrender. Our culture teaches you to take control of your life. Be the best! Give it your all! Get all you can! Be happy! Win at all costs! Reality shows have glamorized the self-centered life. The persistent themes suggest that your best life is all about you and what you can acquire during your short stay on this planet. Jesus demonstrated the opposite pursuit. Jesus left it all in Heaven so that He could come to earth, live and die a sinless death, be resurrected on the third day, and ascend back to His Father in Heaven. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Jesus oriented His life around the centrality of bringing glory to God. “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2 (ESV) “’Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven: ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’” John 12:28 (ESV) Jesus willingly put others first. He willingly endured the agony of crucifixion and looked to the resulting outcome of saving mankind and bringing glory to God. Your best life is not your life! Victory comes through surrender. Are you willing to follow the example of Christ and place God’s agenda first in your life? Are you willing to reflect honor to God? Live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Useful and Productive
“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.“ Ephesians 4:28 (ESV) You may have disengaged from this verse since you immediately recognized that you are not a thief. You are not stealing. You, in fact, have a strong work ethic and would never dream of stealing. So what is God trying to say to you through this verse? Look closely at the last phrase. Work. Do something useful and productive so that you can acquire more and attain greater prominence. Do something useful so you can gain momentum in the pursuit of the American dream. Is that right? Is that what God is saying? Not even close! God wants you to embrace a strong work ethic so that you can be a blessing to others. His desire is for you to work diligently so that you can share with those in need. You ought to get all the education you can so that you can excel and be the best at what God called you to do. Why? Because God deserves your best! However, it is not about you! It is about positioning yourself in alignment with God’s priorities so that you can be a blessing to others. God does not bless you so that you can funnel the blessings into your self-centered pursuits. God blesses you in order to expand your capacity to bless others. Do you have anything left to share with those in need? Statistics show that the average American lives on 120% of his or her income. That means we spend more than we make. Maybe it’s time to re-think the American dream. The life God blesses is the life given to being a blessing to those in need. You are blessed to be a blessing! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“‘Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.’” John 12:25-26 (ESV) Why did you wake up this morning? What are you giving your life to today? Who are you living for? God is working all things together for His glory and for your good. Today matters! God desires to conform you into the image of Christ. Christlikeness does not come without your willingness to fully surrender your life to the Holy Spirit’s control. As you choose to lose your life, the life of Christ becomes more evident in you. Consider embracing the attitude of servitude. Allow Jesus to live His life in you and through you. There’s room only for one to take the reins to your life. Will you give Jesus His rightful place in your life? You cannot live the life God has for you apart from Christ in you. Even on your best day, you will come up short of God’s perfection. “ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20 (ESV) Live by faith in the Son of God. Christ is in you and He is the hope of glory. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ and continue to follow His lead. Victory in this life comes through daily surrender to the One who gave His life for you. Align your life to serve your Heavenly Father in full surrender. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“And Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” John 12:23 (ESV) Victory comes through surrender. Our culture teaches you to take control of your life. Be the best! Give it your all! Get all you can! Be happy! Win at all costs! Reality shows have glamorized the self-centered life. The persistent themes suggest that your best life is all about you and what you can acquire during your short stay on this planet. Jesus demonstrated the opposite pursuit. Jesus left it all in Heaven so that He could come to earth, live and die a sinless death, be resurrected on the third day, and ascend back to His Father in Heaven. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Jesus oriented His life around the centrality of bringing glory to God. “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2 (ESV) “‘Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven: ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’” John 12:28 (ESV) Jesus willingly put others first. He willingly endured the agony of crucifixion and looked to the resulting outcome of saving mankind and bringing glory to God. Your best life is not your life! Victory comes through surrender. Are you willing to follow the example of Christ and place God’s agenda first in your life? Are you willing to reflect honor to God? Live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you! Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Available for God’s Use
“When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.” Luke 2:39-40 (NIV) Can you name the people God used to position you for the future you are now in? Think about their investment in your life. Weigh their deposits of encouragement, feedback, and godly counsel. You are a product of the decisions you have made over your lifetime and a product of God’s grace through others in your life. God chose to use Joseph and Mary to position Jesus for the future God had for Him. They obeyed the law and they obeyed God. They returned to their own town and were faithful in parenting Jesus. Jesus grew, became strong, and was filled with wisdom. God’s grace was upon Him. God could have positioned Jesus for the future without Joseph and Mary, yet He chose to use human instrumentality. Just as God has brought people into your life to position you for the future, God wants to use you to help others. Are you available to be used of God to position others for the future? God wants to touch others through your life. Your personal testimony of God’s faithfulness and your daily walk with Jesus are vital components for being used of God to impact the lives of others. You can make an immediate difference as well as an eternal difference in the lives of those God brings into your path. God has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ so that you can be a blessing to others. Will you make yourself available for God’s use? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38 (NIV) Why did God choose Mary to give birth to the Son of God? In His perfect wisdom, God chose Mary because He knew she would willingly make herself available for His use. Mary affirmed her availability by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant.” She honored God by her posture of availability and humility. She demonstrated such a beautiful portrait of being receptive and responsive to God’s will. Mary declared, “May it be to me as you have said.” In other words, she was acknowledging that she belonged to God for His glory. God uses people who are available. What is your level of availability for God’s use? Often our lives become so cluttered and overextended, that there’s little room for availability. Can you relate? God wants to use you. God is more concerned about your availability than your ability. In humility, make yourself available for God’s use. Remember that you were made by God to accomplish His plan. God’s plan includes you and your willingness to be His instrument. What needs to change in your life? Surrender everything in your life to the Lord’s control. Give Him free reign in your life. Make the necessary adjustments in your daily schedule to make room for God. Embrace a posture of humility to allow God to have His way in your life. Be receptive to God’s agenda and respond to God’s invitation to join Him. He loves you so much. Your availability matters to God. Would you be willing to say, “Lord, I’m Yours?” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) Which fruit is most lacking in your life? If patience is lacking, then God will often allow challenging circumstances to come into your life to develop that particular fruit of the Spirit in you. If there is a deficit of gentleness in your demeanor, then God will often engineer opportunities for that fruit of the Spirit to be expanded in your life. God values you and the display of the fruit of His Spirit through you. Sometimes God will allow difficult people to come into your life in order to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit most neglected in your life. Learning how to love difficult people is a fertile environment for that particular fruit of the Spirit to be developed. Loving difficult people with the same love that God chooses to love you with does not come naturally. Loving difficult people necessitates a supernatural enabling that only comes through the Spirit filled life. God will develop the fruit of His Spirit in you and through you as you yield to His control. Your flesh will battle to be placed in the display window of life. Therefore, you must choose to allow the Holy Spirit to take full possession of your life in order for His fruit to be displayed. The fruit of the Spirit is featured best in the midst of the trying circumstances you face and the difficult people you embrace. Crucify the sinful nature (Gal. 5:24) and keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). Allow God to develop the fruit of the Spirit in your life so that others will be drawn to Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Crucified with Christ
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NIV) You cannot live the Christian life. Keep trying! Keep seeking to measure up to God’s standard of perfection! You will always miss the mark and fall short of the standard established by God. Even on your best day, your righteousness will not be sufficient to gain entrance into heaven where God allows no sin. Paul identified his spiritual union with Christ. Though Paul did not experience the physical crucifixion with Christ, he did experience the benefits of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Instead of Paul seeking to live the Christian life in his own strength, he lived by faith in the Son of God. Paul became a vessel through which Jesus could live His life through him. The life God had for Paul included full surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Have you come into union with Christ? Have you been crucified with Christ, died to self, and allowed Christ to live His life through you? The life you now live in your earthly body is to be lived by faith in the Son of God. Jesus loves you and gave His life for you. Jesus died in your place so that you could live in His place. You have been given a heavenly mission from God to allow Jesus to manifest His life in you and through you to a watching world. Become a fully devoted follower of Christ. Yield to His Lordship and to His leadership in your life. Submit to His authority and unleash His power. Living by faith in the Son of God releases God’s power. Christ is in you and He is the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:22-23 (NIV) Jesus prayed that believers would be brought to complete unity. Jesus reconciled us to God through His atoning death on the cross. Every believer has been adopted into God’s forever family. Our unity in the midst of diversity is a witness to the watching world that Jesus has loved us just as the Father has loved Him. Unity is not natural. Displaying unity in the midst of apparent diversity is supernatural. Our new identity in Christ enables us to experience authentic community with other believers. As we deny ourselves and seek to consider others better than ourselves, we will exhibit the unity that brings glory to God. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 3:28 (NIV) “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Eph. 4:3 (NIV) In Christ, we are one with other believers. The Trinity, namely, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit model unity. We are to exhibit that same unity with those who are children of God. Are you seeking to keep the unity of the Spirit in the relationships you have with other followers of Christ? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Before You Were Born
“‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’” Jer 1:5 (NIV) Before you were born, God existed. God is eternal. That means that God has always been and God will always be. God was never born and God will never die. Yet, you have a beginning. You have a birth date! Nine months before your birth date, you were conceived. Thus, you have a date of conception. To know the heart of God for you, we must travel even further back into time. Before God formed you, He knew you. Wow! That means that you were not an accident. You were created by God for a divine purpose. Before you were born, God set you apart. The concept in the language of the Old Testament is that of being sanctified. Before you were born, God had in mind exactly what He wanted you to become and God had in mind exactly when He wanted to introduce you to life on planet earth. God orchestrated all of this before you were born. Before you were born, God set you apart to participate in His kingdom activity. God loves you and has a purpose for your life. God’s purpose for your life is for you to experience His redemptive love personally and then for you to join Him in expressing His redemptive love locally and globally. You have a massive mission to fulfill on this planet during the time God gives you. Don’t waste it! Don’t allow space invaders to rob you of your divine destiny. Don’t allow anything to steal your passion for God and your passion to be on mission with God. Allow God’s agenda to become your agenda. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Available for God’s Use
“When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.” Luke 2:39-40 (NIV) Can you name the people God used to position you for the future you are now in? Think about their investment in your life. Weigh their deposits of encouragement, feedback, and godly counsel. You are a product of the decisions you have made over your lifetime and a product of God’s grace through others in your life. God chose to use Joseph and Mary to position Jesus for the future God had for Him. They obeyed the law and they obeyed God. They returned to their own town and were faithful in parenting Jesus. Jesus grew, became strong, and was filled with wisdom. God’s grace was upon Him. God could have positioned Jesus for the future without Joseph and Mary, yet He chose to use human instrumentality. Just as God has brought people into your life to position you for the future, God wants to use you to help others. Are you available to be used of God to position others for the future? God wants to touch others through your life. Your personal testimony of God’s faithfulness and your daily walk with Jesus are vital components for being used of God to impact the lives of others. You can make an immediate difference as well as an eternal difference in the lives of those God brings into your path. God has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ so that you can be a blessing to others. Will you make yourself available for God’s use? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38 (NIV) Why did God choose Mary to give birth to the Son of God? In His perfect wisdom, God chose Mary because He knew she would willingly make herself available for His use. Mary affirmed her availability by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant.” She honored God by her posture of availability and humility. She demonstrated such a beautiful portrait of being receptive and responsive to God’s will. Mary declared, “May it be to me as you have said.” In other words, she was acknowledging that she belonged to God for His glory. God uses people who are available. What is your level of availability for God’s use? Often our lives become so cluttered and overextended, that there’s little room for availability. Can you relate? God wants to use you. God is more concerned about your availability than your ability. In humility, make yourself available for God’s use. Remember that you were made by God to accomplish His plan. God’s plan includes you and your willingness to be His instrument. What needs to change in your life? Surrender everything in your life to the Lord’s control. Give Him free reign in your life. Make the necessary adjustments in your daily schedule to make room for God. Embrace a posture of humility to allow God to have His way in your life. Be receptive to God’s agenda and respond to God’s invitation to join Him. He loves you so much. Your availability matters to God. Would you be willing to say, “Lord, I’m Yours?” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal 5:22-23 (NIV) Which fruit is most lacking in your life? If patience is lacking, then God will often allow challenging circumstances to come into your life to develop that particular fruit of the Spirit in you. If there is a deficit of gentleness in your demeanor, then God will often engineer opportunities for that fruit of the Spirit to be expanded in your life. God values you and the display of the fruit of His Spirit through you. Sometimes God will allow difficult people to come into your life in order to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit most neglected in your life. Learning how to love difficult people is a fertile environment for that particular fruit of the Spirit to be developed. Loving difficult people with the same love that God chooses to love you with does not come naturally. Loving difficult people necessitates a supernatural enabling that only comes through the Spirit filled life. God will develop the fruit of His Spirit in you and through you as you yield to His control. Your flesh will battle to be placed in the display window of life. Therefore, you must choose to allow the Holy Spirit to take full possession of your life in order for His fruit to be displayed. The fruit of the Spirit is featured best in the midst of the trying circumstances you face and the difficult people you embrace. Crucify the sinful nature (Gal. 5:24) and keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). Allow God to develop the fruit of the Spirit in your life so that others will be drawn to Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Crucified with Christ
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (NIV) You cannot live the Christian life. Keep trying! Keep seeking to measure up to God’s standard of perfection! You will always miss the mark and fall short of the standard established by God. Even on your best day, your righteousness will not be sufficient to gain entrance into heaven where God allows no sin. Paul identified his spiritual union with Christ. Though Paul did not experience the physical crucifixion with Christ, he did experience the benefits of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Instead of Paul seeking to live the Christian life in his own strength, he lived by faith in the Son of God. Paul became a vessel through which Jesus could live His life through him. The life God had for Paul included full surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Have you come into union with Christ? Have you been crucified with Christ, died to self, and allowed Christ to live His life through you? The life you now live in your earthly body is to be lived by faith in the Son of God. Jesus loves you and gave His life for you. Jesus died in your place so that you could live in His place. You have been given a heavenly mission from God to allow Jesus to manifest His life in you and through you to a watching world. Become a fully devoted follower of Christ. Yield to His Lordship and to His leadership in your life. Submit to His authority and unleash His power. Living by faith in the Son of God releases God’s power. Christ is in you and He is the hope of glory (Col 1:27). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:22-23 (NIV) Jesus prayed that believers would be brought to complete unity. Jesus reconciled us to God through His atoning death on the cross. Every believer has been adopted into God’s forever family. Our unity in the midst of diversity is a witness to the watching world that Jesus has loved us just as the Father has loved Him. Unity is not natural. Displaying unity in the midst of apparent diversity is supernatural. Our new identity in Christ enables us to experience authentic community with other believers. As we deny ourselves and seek to consider others better than ourselves, we will exhibit the unity that brings glory to God. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:28 (NIV) “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Eph 4:3 (NIV) In Christ, we are one with other believers. The Trinity, namely, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit model unity. We are to exhibit that same unity with those who are children of God. Are you seeking to keep the unity of the Spirit in the relationships you have with other followers of Christ? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Before You Were Born
“‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’” Jer 1:5 (NIV) Before you were born, God existed. God is eternal. That means that God has always been and God will always be. God was never born and God will never die. Yet, you have a beginning. You have a birth date! Nine months before your birth date, you were conceived. Thus, you have a date of conception. To know the heart of God for you, we must travel even further back into time. Before God formed you, He knew you. Wow! That means that you were not an accident. You were created by God for a divine purpose. Before you were born, God set you apart. The concept in the language of the Old Testament is that of being sanctified. Before you were born, God had in mind exactly what He wanted you to become and God had in mind exactly when He wanted to introduce you to life on planet earth. God orchestrated all of this before you were born. Before you were born, God set you apart to participate in His kingdom activity. God loves you and has a purpose for your life. God’s purpose for your life is for you to experience His redemptive love personally and then for you to join Him in expressing His redemptive love locally and globally. You have a massive mission to fulfill on this planet during the time God gives you. Don’t waste it! Don’t allow space invaders to rob you of your divine destiny. Don’t allow anything to steal your passion for God and your passion to be on mission with God. Allow God’s agenda to become your agenda. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15 (NIV) Who’s your boss? To whom are you yielding allegiance? I hope your answer is Jesus. His desire is not only to be the Savior of your life, but to also be the Lord of your life. In the language of the New Testament, “Lord” means one who has control over. Thus to make Jesus Lord of your life is to yield to His control. The Lordship of Christ denotes submitting to His authority and embracing His agenda. Let’s continue to unfold our PACE acrostic. The letter “C” is for control. Include this in your daily routine: Lift your hands toward heaven and turn your palms upward and say, “I surrender to Your control.” Now it is time to practice: Lift your hands toward heaven and say, “Lord, I praise You. I accept Your acceptance of me. I surrender to Your control.” Just in case you have not turned your life over to Jesus and allowed Him to become your Savior and Lord, consider this wonderful promise from God: “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). Surrender to the Lord’s control moment-by-moment to live in continuous victory. Enthrone Jesus as the Lord of your life. Yield every fiber of your being to His Lordship and leadership in your life. Allow Jesus to have His way to mold you and to shape you into the vessel of honor He has created you to be. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt 6:33 (NIV) What are you giving your life to? There’s only so much of you to give away. God has given you a certain amount of time, energy, and resources to accomplish His will each day. Take a look at your priorities and assess your life. Detect where you are allocating your time, energy, and resources. One of Satan’s most effective tools to diffuse a believer’s focus is busyness. Your life becomes consumed with keeping too many plates spinning. Before you know it, you have over-committed and over-scheduled your life. Jesus has the answer. Jesus offers a promise that is activated upon your obedience. To seek first the kingdom of God is to align your life with God’s agenda. To seek first His kingdom is to embrace God’s priorities. Jesus includes the pursuit of His righteousness. When a person is born again, that person receives the imputed righteousness of Christ. The believer’s position is that of being in Christ. In order to seek His righteousness, you allow the righteousness on the inside of you to be worked out. It is the process of working out what God has worked in. Make it your priority to seek His kingdom and His righteousness. All the other things that you need will be provided to you as well. Before seeking things, seek God’s agenda. Seek to love what He loves and to hate what He hates. What has first place in your life? Who gets the most of you? Remove the competing objects of your affection. Make your daily pursuit of His kingdom and His righteousness your top priority. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (NIV) You cannot live the Christian life. Keep trying! Keep seeking to measure up to God’s standard of perfection! You will always miss the mark and fall short of the standard established by God. Even on your best day, your righteousness will not be sufficient to gain entrance into heaven where God allows no sin. Paul identified his spiritual union with Christ. Though Paul did not experience the physical crucifixion with Christ, he did experience the benefits of the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Instead of Paul seeking to live the Christian life in his own strength, he lived by faith in the Son of God. Paul became a vessel through which Jesus could live His life through him. The life God had for Paul included full surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Have you come into union with Christ? Have you been crucified with Christ, died to self, and allowed Christ to live His life through you? The life you now live in your earthly body is to be lived by faith in the Son of God. Jesus loves you and gave His life for you. Jesus died in your place so that you could live in His place. You have been given a heavenly mission from God to allow Jesus to manifest His life in you and through you to a watching world. Become a fully devoted follower of Christ. Yield to His Lordship and to His leadership in your life. Submit to His authority and unleash His power. Living by faith in the Son of God releases God’s power. Christ is in you and He is the hope of glory (Col 1:27). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“’I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.’“ John 12:24 (NIV) Are you dying to live? God has placed within you unlimited potential. God created you to share His love and to shine His light. Your life purpose is to bring glory to God. There’s no higher calling and there’s no greater commission to give your life to than that of bringing glory to God. Are you living the life God has given? The seed must die. In order for the potential within the seed to be unleashed, the seed must die. Without death, the seed will not germinate. Growth and development are dependent upon the seed dying. In the life of the believer, death to self is vital. The child of God must surrender his or her personal agenda, personal aspirations, and personal ambitions. Choosing to sacrifice your personal preferences in light of God’s best for you is a crucial decision. “Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’“ Gen 22:2 (NIV) Is there an “Isaac” in your life that God wants you to be willing to sacrifice? Is there something in your life that needs to die in order for you to live the life God has for you? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’“ John 12:23 (NIV) Victory comes through surrender. Our culture teaches you to take control of your life. Be the best! Give it your all! Get all you can! Be happy! Win at all costs! Reality shows have glamorized the self-centered life. The persistent themes suggest that your best life is all about you and what you can acquire during your short stay on this planet. Jesus demonstrated the opposite pursuit. Jesus left it all in Heaven so that He could come to earth, live and die a sinless death, be resurrected on the third day, and ascend back to His Father in Heaven. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Jesus oriented His life around the centrality of bringing glory to God. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2 (NIV) “’Father, glorify your name!’“ John 12:28 (NIV) Jesus willingly put others first. He willingly endured the agony of crucifixion and looked to the resulting outcome of saving mankind and bringing glory to God. Your best life is not your life! Victory comes through surrender. Are you willing to follow the example of Christ and place God’s agenda first in your life? Are you willing to reflect honor to God? Live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Categories
Usefull and Productive
“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” Eph 4:28 (NIV) You may have disengaged from this verse since you immediately recognized that you are not a thief. You are not stealing. You, in fact, have a strong work ethic and would never dream of stealing. So what is God trying to say to you through this verse? Look closely at the last phrase. Work. Do something useful and productive so that you can acquire more and attain greater prominence. Do something useful so you can gain momentum in the pursuit of the American dream. Is that right? Is that what God is saying? Not even close! God wants you to embrace a strong work ethic so that you can be a blessing to others. His desire is for you to work diligently so that you can share with those in need. You ought to get all the education you can so that you can excel and be the best at what God called you to do. Why? Because God deserves your best! However, it is not about you! It is about positioning yourself in alignment with God’s priorities so that you can be a blessing to others. God does not bless you so that you can funnel the blessings into your self centered pursuits. God blesses you in order to expand your capacity to bless others. Do you have anything left to share with those in need? Statistics show that the average American lives on 120% of his or her income. That means we spend more than we make. Maybe it’s time to re-think the American dream. The life God blesses is the life given to being a blessing to those in need. You are blessed to be a blessing! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“‘The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.’” John 12:25-26 (NIV) Why did you wake up this morning? What are you giving your life to today? Who are you living for? God is working all things together for His glory and for your good. Today matters! God desires to conform you into the image of Christ. Christlikeness does not come without your willingness to fully surrender your life to the Holy Spirit’s control. As you choose to lose your life, the life of Christ becomes more evident in you. Consider embracing the attitude of servitude. Allow Jesus to live His life in you and through you. There’s room only for one to take the reins to your life. Will you give Jesus His rightful place in your life? You cannot live the life God has for you apart from Christ in you. Even on your best day, you will come up short of God’s perfection. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 (NIV) Live by faith in the Son of God. Christ is in you and He is the hope of glory. Surrender to the Lordship of Christ and continue to follow His lead. Victory in this life comes through daily surrender to the One who gave His life for you. Align your life to serve your Heavenly Father in full surrender. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’” John 12:23 (NIV) Victory comes through surrender. Our culture teaches you to take control of your life. Be the best! Give it your all! Get all you can! Be happy! Win at all costs! Reality shows have glamorized the self-centered life. The persistent themes suggest that your best life is all about you and what you can acquire during your short stay on this planet. Jesus demonstrated the opposite pursuit. Jesus left it all in Heaven so that He could come to earth, live and die a sinless death, be resurrected on the third day, and ascend back to His Father in Heaven. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. Jesus oriented His life around the centrality of bringing glory to God. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2 (NIV) “‘Father, glorify your name!’” John 12:28 (NIV) Jesus willingly put others first. He willingly endured the agony of crucifixion and looked to the resulting outcome of saving mankind and bringing glory to God. Your best life is not your life! Victory comes through surrender. Are you willing to follow the example of Christ and place God’s agenda first in your life? Are you willing to reflect honor to God? Live in such a way that those who know you, but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38 (NIV) Why did God choose Mary to give birth to the Son of God? In His perfect wisdom, God chose Mary because He knew she would willingly make herself available for His use. Mary affirmed her availability by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant.” She honored God by her posture of availability and humility. She demonstrated such a beautiful portrait of being receptive and responsive to God’s will. Mary declared, “May it be to me as you have said.” In other words, she was acknowledging that she belonged to God for His glory. God uses people who are available. What is your level of availability for God’s use? Often our lives become so cluttered and overextended, that there’s little room for availability. Can you relate? God wants to use you. God is more concerned about your availability than your ability. In humility, make yourself available for God’s use. Remember that you were made by God to accomplish His plan. God’s plan includes you and your willingness to be His instrument. What needs to change in your life? Surrender everything in your life to the Lord’s control. Give Him free reign in your life. Make the necessary adjustments in your daily schedule to make room for God. Embrace a posture of humility to allow God to have His way in your life. Be receptive to God’s agenda and respond to God’s invitation to join Him. He loves you so much. Your availability matters to God. Would you be willing to say, “Lord, I’m Yours?” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Col 1:17-18 (NIV) Jesus is supreme! He is eternal and supernal. Jesus is the glue that holds everything together. Without Him, life would not exist. Jesus is also the head of the church. He gave birth to the church and He has empowered the church to represent Him on the earth. In everything, Jesus reigns supreme. No one else can satisfy the longings of your heart. No one else can deliver you from the clutches of the enemy. No one else can rescue you from eternal damnation and place you on the path that leads to heaven and eternal life. Jesus is more than enough. He is sufficient to meet all of your needs. Jesus is more than capable to equip you to continue His ministry upon the earth. God did not create you to live out the Christian life on your own strength. You need God’s power to accomplish God’s mission. Will you allow Jesus to reign supreme in your life? Will you give Him both prominence and priority in your life? Jesus designed you to operate at your best when He is first in your life. Remove whatever occupies the throne of your life and allow Jesus to be enthroned in His rightful place. Surrender to His leadership and to His Lordship. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell