We have to change if we are to do the works of Christ… but, can a person really change? I would say that change is the biggest miracle. The power to change is one hundred percent from the Lord, but changing requires faith, grace and persistent effort!
We cannot receive the new wine of the New Covenant with old wineskins… we have to use our faith and receive the grace to be supernaturally changed if we are going to fully walk according to our wonderful New Covenant in Christ!
Jeremiah 13:23 (NLT)
Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil.
The Hebrew word translated as change is ‘Hâphak’ (Haveg) – literally meaning ‘Transform’.
The Greek word for change in the scriptures that we are going to study is ‘Metamorphóō’ – ‘To transform in to a different species’.
CAN A PERSON CHANGE? IN THE OLD COVENANT, OR BY OUR OWN ABILITY… ABSOLUTELY NOT!
IN THE NEW COVENANT, THROUGH CHRIST? ABSOLUTELY!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; [A new species of being] old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The words ‘Have become’ is the Greek word, ‘Gínomai’ (Continuous Present tense) literally meaning, ‘All things have become and continue to become new…’
We cannot change ourselves, or others - change occurs in the anointed one by His anointing!
TWO ASPECTS OF CHANGE
#1. WHO WE ARE (WHAT WE ARE) ‘He is a new creature…’
#2. WHAT WE DO – BEHAVIOR
FIRSTLY, YOU WERE CHANGED, OR SUPERNATURALLY TRANSFORMED INTO A DIFFERENT SPECIES BY JESUS WHEN YOU GOT BORN AGAIN. - EMBRACE YOUR NEW IDENTITY!
NOW, WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY YIELD TO HIS TRANSFORMING POWER.
Romans 12:2 (AMPC)
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Romans 12:2 (TPT)
Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.
CONTINUAL TRANSFORMATION HAS TO BE ONGOING.
TRANSFORMATION OCCURS IN CHRIST, BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH A TOTAL TRANSFORMATION OF HOW WE THINK.
Renew… Renovate… Reprogram
2 Corinthians 3:15-18
15-16 But even to this day, when Moses [The Word] is read, a veil lies on their heart. (People who are not born again) Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Paraphrase
When we read, meditate and sit under the Word without the veil, it becomes a transforming mirror. As we speak the Word, study the Word, read the Word and sit under the Word, our minds are being renovated and our actions are being transformed from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord.
THE HOLY SPIRIT TRANSFORMS THROUGH THE IMPLANTED WORD.
Family, the moment you stop being transformed by the Holy Spirit through the Word is the moment you start going backwards spiritually. Change and transformation should be continual. Allow Him to make you new every second of every hour of every day, in Jesus Name!
