Transformation, Transition, and Tranquility

By Thomas J. Horne B.S. M.Div. Th.D.

The purpose of this book is to help every believer reach his or her fullest potential of a “higher calling” while transforming, transitioning and finally reaching tranquility.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663216038

Thomas J. Horne B.S. M.Div. Th.D.

Dr. Thomas J. Horne was born and raised in Lilesville North Carolina. He is an anointed teacher and preacher of the gospel. He is also a multi-gifted musician and recording artist “No Doubt”. His music and preaching have opened doors of ministry throughout the eastern seaboard including France and Germany.

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Copyright © 2021 Thomas J. Horne B.S. M.Div. Th.D.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-1602-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-2872-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-1603-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021918022

iUniverse rev. date: 09/08/2021

Contents

Introduction

Part I: Transformation

Chapter 1 Preaching the Word

• Why Preach the Word? (The Foolishness of Preaching)

• The Importance of the Spoken Word

• Conformed

• Why Transformation?

Chapter 2 A Renewed Mind

• A Renewed Mind

• Remembering Jesus

• Remember So You Can Pass It On

• Why Remember?

• In the Absence of Jesus

• Giving Thanks

• Releasing of Beneficial Blessing

• Giving Thanks is an Act of Faith

• Giving Thanks Sends a Message

• The Greek Word and Definition of Giving Thanks

• Giving Thanks Is an Offering of Praise

• Count It All Joy

Part II: Transition

Chapter 3 What is Transition?

• Why Transition?

Chapter 4 How to Transition

• Why Transition Isn’t Easy

• Pressing

• Knowing Who You Are

• A Blessed Man

• How Are We Blessed?

• Calling It Like It Is

• I Will Bless the Lord

Chapter 5 Blind Bartimaeus’s Transition

• Waiting for a Transition

• The Waiting!

• Initial Transition

• Transition Takes Time

• The End of Time

• The Accuser of Our Brethren

• Why Accuse the Brethren?

Chapter 6 Evolving in Transition (Spiritual Evolution)

• Salvation (The beginning of Spiritual Evolution)

• Evolving in Obedience

• Why Is Obedience Important?

• Obedience unto Death

• Obedience Earns God’s Respect and Trust

Chapter 7 Evolving in Transition (Evolving through Suffering)

Chapter 8 Evolving from Feelings and Emotions

• How to Deal with Feelings

• The Most Important Part about Dealing with Feelings

• Encouraging Yourself

Part III: Tranquility (Peace, Quiet, Rest)

Chapter 9 What is Tranquility (Peace, Quiet, Rest)

• What is Tranquility?

• How Do We Obtain Tranquility?

Chapter 10 Why Tranquility? (Peace, Quiet, Rest)

• Perfect Peace

• How Do We Keep Our Minds?

• Hold Fast the Profession (Confession) of Faith

• Trusting God

• Faith versus Trust

Chapter 11 Eternal Tranquility? (Peace, Quiet, Rest)

Chapter 12 Final: Transformation, Transition and Tranquility

• Caught Up Together

References

Introduction

While living in a changing world as believers and facing changing times, it’s important that after we transform to new creatures in Christ, we continue the transformation as we transition to a higher level of ministry. Transformation is not just a spiritual thing we undergo; it is a mental and physical undertaking as well. We should transform in the way we think, transform in the things we do, transform in the places we go, transform in our attitudes, and transform in the habits we practice.

Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. The apostle Paul said, I’m trying to apprehend that which I’m apprehended of Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12).

Paul was stating that he was not there yet—and neither are we. We have to keep transforming and transitioning every day until we reach a place of tranquility. Tranquility is having a harmonious relationship with God that is accomplished through the Gospel and having a sense of rest and contentment. This doesn’t mean resting from work; it means resting in work. This means that you can continue the work, but you should have a sense of peace and rest while working.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3). The vine’s complete expository dictionary defines the Greek word teleios, which is translated to the English word perfect, meaning wholistic, well-rounded, or complete peace. When we reach a place of tranquility, we obtain perfect peace (wholistic, well-rounded, or complete peace). The purpose of this book is to help every believer reach his or her fullest potential of a higher calling while transforming, transitioning, and finally reaching tranquility.

PART I

Transformation

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Chapter 1

Preaching the Word

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

—2 Timothy 4:2–4

I will try to keep this simple. First of all, preach the word in this scriptural verse means preach the Word of God. In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). This verse did not tell us to preach a word; it told us to preach the Word.

A word can be anything. The Greek word Logos means anything written; a saying or statement. An exit sign is a Logos. A stop sign is a Logos. A bathroom sign for men or for women is a Logos. A Logos can be anything written; a saying or statement, but the Word in the Bible is not a word. It is the Word of God.

The Greek word for the spoken Word of God is Rhema, which also means the preached Word of God by the Holy Spirit.

Why Preach the Word? (The Foolishness of Preaching)

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased god by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

—1 Corinthians 1:21

For years, I questioned why God called preaching foolishness. One day, God boldly told me why. He said, I called preaching foolishness because I had to call a man to tell another man how to live right. I have not looked at preaching the same way since God told me that. God plainly explained it to me. He said, If one man can hear and obey me, then any other man should be able to also. It is foolishness to tell another man what he can hear from God himself, but this is the foolishness that God has called us preacher too.

I want to be the first to say that I am not a fan of theatrics or attention-getting gestures in the pulpit. I really feel that the pulpit should be a holy and sacred place where God chooses Sunday after Sunday to speak and manifest Himself through His preached Word. We are living in a day and time when the world is competing with the Word of God. It is trying to steal the attention of sinners and the attention of God’s people. I can somewhat understand why the foolishness of preaching pleases God.

Preaching has two sides; one side is the sacred and holy side, which carries the anointed preached Word with signs and wonders from God, and the other side is the foolish things we do as preachers to get the attention of the people. I actually think it’s weird and somewhat foolish to set a bush on fire just to get a man’s attention, but that is what God chose to do to get Moses’s attention.

After God got Moses’s attention, God spoke to him. The devil is using the world to steal the attention of the people. God uses the power of his preached Word to compel people to come to Him (Romans 1:16), but that’s just part of it.