THE DETOX SERIES

How did we get here? This book is the progeny of a God-inspired movement that began when I challenged the congregation where I serve as Senior Pastor, True Foundation Transformation Church (Chicago), to journey with me on a 40 day look at ourselves, with the goal of ridding from our lives all things toxic, both within us and around us―the things and people that inhibit and divert us from being all that God created us to be, and the things and people found to be an obstruction to our quest of becoming our authentic or genuine self. On January 19th, 2014, we began a 40-day self and soul treatment of internal and external examination and excavation by reading the book, The 40 Day Soul Fast (Cindy Trimm). This book served as the catalyst of our transformational endeavor. I highly recommend it. This was a fast, not of abstaining from food and beverage, but one geared toward the cleansing of our mind, will and emotions of and from the various impurities and iniquities we know, or come to know, to be detrimental to our relationship and fellowship with God, as well as to our relationship and camaraderie with others. In fact, we even analyzed and scrutinized the relationships we have with others because we know that some can be the cause of incapacitating one's ability to live life at maximum potential and to embrace life in such a way that we enjoy life. It is true what the Bible says, "Bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV). Running with the wrong crowd has desecrated many reputations, perverted too many lives, and has shifted too many destinies from the path of righteousness to that of ungodliness. This is the message of our sermon, Fatal Attractions―to avoid, where and when possible, consorting with individuals of loose morals and principles, delinquent behavior and inclinations, and or with persons that have no reverence of God or relationship with God, other than for the purpose of witnessing to them of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being before them the 'light of the world' and the 'salt of the earth' that we are called to be as Christians. Never negate the fact that Scripture warns us: "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14). It also says, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:17). I am so excited over this opportunity to put into publication print the manuscripts of these seven sermons that I know will continue to impact lives for the better as they did when I preached them over the course of seven weeks. I know that the testimonies will too continue of liberation and edification, and I pray, illumination and motivation. Motivation to make a visit to the Potter's house and to take a sit on the Potter's wheel and allow the Hands of God to mold and shape or remold and reshape your thoughts, will, emotions, character, conduct, communication, and conversations, as well as your desire to live for Him in this world and before this world. Motivation to say to God: 'Lord, clean this house from the inside out', and to say to Him, as David did: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).