Transition for Transformation Week 3: The Prerequisite by Bro. Taji Brown

Transition for Transformation: The Prerequisite by Taji Brown

Focus Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7- "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

A prerequisite must happen first or something required as a prior condition. For example, having money is a prerequisite to purchasing something. I can remember when I met with my academic advisor when it was time to register for classes at my university. Before taking any courses specific to my major, I had to take prerequisite courses. These classes were the first steps I needed to take before becoming who I intended to be based on my desired major. In a nutshell, "you have to crawl before you walk."

I find this to be true on multiple levels. For starters, let me be the first to tell you that TRANSITION is the prerequisite for TRANSFORMATION. In Luke 3, a transition was occurring with John the Baptist, paving the way for Jesus to transform the world for all of eternity. I want to suggest that John the Baptist at that time was a prerequisite for the coming of Jesus. He prepared the hearts of the people to receive Christ once He came. John understood that he was the prerequisite, sent to plow the ground, build a new road, and get people ready for the shift. John also knew that he was not the shift and that the focus was on the coming of Jesus.

During this third week of Advent, we should reflect upon the joy that comes through Jesus' arrival and through the salvation He has gifted us. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4)." Even during the holidays, people can find themselves feeling the "blues" because of loved ones who are no longer with us in the natural world, financially stressed trying to buy gifts you cannot afford, or you may feel all alone. Just remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. He came so that you may have life and have it in abundance. "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10)." The joy of salvation is a prerequisite for overcoming every trial and tribulation, knowing that you have a place in eternity forever once you have received this gift from our Savior Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:5 continues by saying, "Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near." Therefore, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God assured that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and came to save those who are crushed in spirit. He does that by showing up, being present, never leaving nor forsaking us. Hold fast to the fact that, "We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15)." Thanks be to God that this gives us access to the Throne of Grace. May I suggest that grace and mercy are prerequisites to finding ever-present help in a time of need? I would like to insert that parenthetically: (grace and mercy is the reason  

you got out of bed this morning, the reason you are mentally capable of reading this blog at this very moment, the reason why you have not lost your mind amid a pandemic, the reason why you are still making it, and grace and mercy gives you a direct connection to Holy Ghost power). If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side, interceding for us, holding back death with the hands of sufficient grace and brand-new mercies, where would we be? "In Your presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11)."

If I were to hang my hat on a particular scripture from the focus text, it would have to be Philippians 4:6. "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." If you ask me, this is where most of your transition occurs for the transformation. That would be in a posture of prayer, seeking the face of Abba Father. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2)!" God mapped out an example of a prerequisite in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Humbling yourself, praying, seeking God's face, and turning from your wicked ways as a child of God are prerequisites for God hearing you from heaven, forgiving your sin, and healing your land. You begin to shift in prayer from physical change to chemical change. In science, a chemical change is irreversible. This sounds like a transformation to me. This is where you labor, evolve, and progress to be complete, made whole, lacking nothing. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7)."

Last but not least, may I propose that joy is a prerequisite for peace. If you study the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians five, you will notice that they start in this order: love, joy, peace. This makes me believe that being filled with the joy of the Lord is a prior condition to having the peace of God, which cannot be comprehended. Look at it this way; God so LOVED the world that He sent His One and Only Begotten Son, who brought JOY to the world and left us PEACE through the Comforter. To sum it up, be sure to find joy during this Advent season as you transition for the transformation.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we come to you rejoicing on this day, with praise on our lips and gratitude in our hearts. We thank You today and every day for the coming of Jesus. We thank You, Father, for the gift of salvation. We thank You that we have the privilege of prayer and can meet You at the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help us in times of trouble. As we reflect on Jesus, may we be transformed to be more like Him inside and out by the renewing of our minds. Comfort those during these trying times who may need Your loving touch. I pray for an immediate shift and transition to greater love, joy, and peace in Jesus' name. Amen.