TRANSFORMATION FORUM

"Itching Ears in the Making" 2 Tim 4:2-5 3 “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” NIV There are times in ministry when pastors are required to take a doctrinal stand for the protection of the saints from the deceptions of the Satan.   Pastors cannot live by or minister on the basis of what is easy.   We must be constantly on guard, a 24 hour of sentry duty, arresting any hint of heresy and apostasy.   I am writing this because a great error has been made by one of the great evangelical leaders of era, Billy Graham.   In addition to Dr. Graham, his evangelical association and son, Franklin Graham h

Jesus and the Holy Spirit Unity of Purpose “Joy of the Holy Spirit” Breaking the Barriers What is it about the burdens of life that can destroy our peace?   What is it about the unknown that can drive us to despair?   What is it about the “unknown” that can cause us worry, fear, anxiousness, etc.?   It can be very difficult to hear, to engage the Word of God when we are so oppressed by afflictions. In response to this significant problem, Christians need to work towards a greater level maturity.   That is right I said “work towards.”   I do not mean works of salvation.   I am speaking directly to works of faith!   We need to learn to trust more in God.   There is an effort on our part that is necessary, and that effort is to arrest our panic, seize our fears and focus on God.   I want us to live by the words of the prophet Zephaniah: Zeph. 3:17 17 The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you

Jesus and the Holy Spirit Unity of Purpose “Driven by the Spirit” Breaking Barriers Sometimes it is hard to hear the Word of God because of the weight that we carry.   The weight of struggles, of sin, of temptations; there can be a deep sense of spiritual hopelessness, even depression as we prepare to receive the Word of God.   Intellectually, we can sense a spirit of defeat, of condemnation.   We might even say, “Look at me God, I am a failure”, or “God, it is too much”, or “God, I just want to quit.”   So how do I hear when I feel so inadequate to be in God’s presence? What if I was to tell you, “You are the ark of His glory?”   Would you believe me?   Why do we only believe the things that speak to our sin nature and never the things that speak to glorified nature?   Why do we look to the things to come and endure the present?   Why do we “slug” our way through the present in drudgery and never sing the song of our present glory? John 17:22-23 “…And the glory w

Jesus and the Holy Spirit Unity of Purpose “He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”   Breaking the Barriers John 3:1-2 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." NKJV I have read this verses many times and have been captured by its many aspects and descriptions.   There are many individual things we can learn from but the most important thing was Nicodemus’ nighttime confession.   Have you ever been obsessed with what God is doing in your life?   You know, the “who”, the “what”, the “where” and most importantly, the “why”. Nicodemus has been painted in many different ways.   I see Nicodemus as desperately confessional.   We know Nicodemus paid attention to what Jesus was doing.   Nicodemus also gave serious thought about Jesus and what Jesus was do

Jesus and the Holy Spirit Unity of Purpose “It’s the truth!” Breaking the Barriers (Pre-sermon Devotion) Genesis 3:8-10 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord   God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord   God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" 10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." NIV Too often we come together deeply aware of how naked we are!   Even before we arrived at church, we knitted together some fig leaves, so as not to be too naked before God and each other.   You know what I mean, a rushed prayer of repentance without seek forgiveness; forced prayers of thanksgiving, reading a quick verse from the Bible, listening to KLOV on the way to church.   And if you had children, grandchildren to get ready for church, you know how naked you are; and we all know you did not have