Podcast Summary: Delivered And Delusional // Forward (Part 3) // Pastor Michael Todd

Transformation Church Podcast
Date: February 1, 2026
Speaker: Pastor Michael Todd

Main Theme

This episode centers on the concept of moving forward in faith after being delivered from past struggles. Pastor Michael Todd challenges listeners to not become complacent in victory, reminding the church that deliverance is just the beginning—true transformation comes from continuously renewing the mind, living by God’s standards, and refusing the comfort of nostalgia. The message is deeply practical, encouraging individuals and the church to measure their lives by God’s unchanging standard rather than past successes, emotions, or comparisons.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Year of Moving Forward

• “We are going forward.” (03:30)
  • TC’s word for the year is “forward”—not settling at any milestone, but always pressing on for more in God.
  • Pastor Mike recounts sharing this vision with his friend and emphasizes, “This will not be where I camp out.” (04:45)

2. Freedom Is Not the Finish Line

• Many believers are content being rescued (“out of Egypt”) but neglect to pursue growth (“learning to swim”).
• Pastor compares spiritual comfort to lounging on a life raft without learning the skills to thrive and move ahead (07:00).
• Quote:
  • “Too many believers are now taking the life raft they got saved with and relaxing on it... and God said, you still don’t know how to swim.” (07:45)
• The call is to desire the “full plan of God, not just the saved plan” (08:20).

3. Remember, But Don’t Idolize the Past

• Drawing from Isaiah 43:15–19, Pastor Mike illustrates how God told Israel, “Forget all that” after delivering miracles, pressing the point that prior miracles shouldn’t be idolized or limit future expectations (13:10).
• Quote:
  • “God’s saying all the great things I’ve done for you, I want you to focus on forgetting it because it will cloud your ability to see what I’m about to do forward.” (15:50)
• He warns against being tethered to nostalgia or “glory days,” and challenges everyone to believe their best is still ahead (17:30).

4. Faith Is Always Forward

• Quote:
  • “Faith is forward. God is not looking at your past being like, I wish you could get back there.” (19:20)
• Emphasis on expecting more: “You ain't seen nothing yet.” (22:55)
• Pastor illustrates through personal stories—the sense of expectation in every setting, from red carpets to malls, is a picture of faith facing the future (23:40).

5. Delivered But Delusional

• Distinction between deliverance and true transformation:
  • “You can be delivered and still delusional.” (29:50)
• The Israelites were taken out of Egypt but failed to leave a slave mentality behind, leading them to wander for 40 years (31:05).
• Modern parallels: leaving destructive habits, relationships, or poverty—yet still carrying self-sabotaging behaviors or mindsets.
• Quote:
  • “There is something that followed you out of Egypt that is keeping you out of the promised land.” (39:35)

6. Understanding God’s Process

• The wilderness is not a destination—it’s a process to reshape thinking and character (34:00).
• Pastor uses humor to expose everyday examples of “delivered and delusional” (rewarding workouts with donuts, saving money yet leaving shopping notifications on, etc.) (37:10).

7. The Necessity of Standards

• The secret to moving from delivered to transformed is living by God’s standards, not just leaving sin behind (45:30).
• Practical illustration: measuring cups, tape measures—without standardized units, everyone’s “measurement” (in life, relationships, faith) is different, which leads to confusion and wandering off course (48:40).
• Quote:
  • “So many people have chosen uncertified measurements to base their life off of. And today, all I want you to know is that a good standard stays the same in every situation.” (53:15)

8. The Power of God’s Word as the Standard

• Scripture is the unchanging rule for life; without it, self-sabotage is inevitable, even when the promised land is in sight (01:00:03).
• Pastor Mike teases the upcoming unveiling of eight core “standards” for Transformation Church, forming the foundation for building God’s house (01:03:30).

9. Everyone Is Welcome, but Standards Remain

• The community is challenged to embrace standards for accountability, generosity, and inclusion (mentioning atheists, LGBTQ+ persons, etc. as God’s children and welcome in God’s house) (01:09:42).
• Quote:
  • “There will always be a standard... We will never let you come here, and you don’t feel the hand of God extending to you.” (01:10:12)

10. Invitation and Response

• The episode closes with a passionate altar call and prayer for those feeling stuck in the “wilderness,” calling them to say yes to Jesus and join in a life of forward-moving transformation (01:15:30).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You can be delivered and still delusional.” (29:50)
• “God’s saying... forget all that, because it will cloud your ability to see what I’m about to do forward.” (15:50)
• “Faith is forward.” (19:20)
• “There is something that followed you out of Egypt that is keeping you out of the promised land.” (39:35)
• “A good standard stays the same in every situation.” (53:15)
• “Sight with no standard leads to sabotage.” (01:00:03)
• “We will always give. We will always love people who don’t believe. I always want atheists in the building... they’re God’s children.” (01:10:12)
• “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” (repeated throughout starting at 22:55)

Important Timestamps

• 03:30: Church vision for the year: “We are going forward.”
• 07:45: Analogy of life raft and spiritual comfort.
• 13:10: Context from Isaiah 43; “forget all that.”
• 19:20: “Faith is forward”—the posture of expectation.
• 22:55: “You ain’t seen nothing yet”—theme is reinforced.
• 29:50: “Delivered and delusional”—core point introduction
• 39:35: Call to let Egypt (old habits, mindsets) die for good.
• 48:40: Illustration of standards and measurements in life.
• 53:15: Why standards matter—“a good standard stays the same.”
• 01:00:03: “Sight with no standard leads to sabotage.”
• 01:03:30: Promise of the eight standards/values for TC.
• 01:10:12: Inclusion and love as a foundational standard.
• 01:15:30: Final altar call and prayer for transformation.

Structure and Flow

• The tone is urgent, passionate, practical, and often humorous
• Pastor Mike uses analogies and interactive demonstrations to make the message relatable (life rafts, measuring cups, tape measures)
• The exhortation is both corporate and personal: challenge to the church and to individuals not to settle for “delivered” but to pursue true, ongoing transformation

Takeaways

• Deliverance is a starting point, not a destination
• Nostalgia can be a trap that limits faith for the present and future
• True transformation requires continually adopting God’s standards in every area of life
• The best is always ahead in Christ: “You ain’t seen nothing yet”
• Inclusion, accountability, and generosity are non-negotiable standards for the church community

This episode will inspire anyone feeling stuck after leaving behind old struggles, equipping them with both vision and practical tools for ongoing growth and transformation.