Today’s New Covenant nugget is from 2 Corinthians 3:18
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.
THE WORD ‘GLORY’ IS TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK WORD, ‘DOXA’. IT CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED AS ‘THE EXALTED ONE’S ANOINTED REVELATION, OR THE EXALTED ONE’S ANOINTED OPINION’
2 Corinthians 3:18 paraphrased
The Word of God is like a mirror, reflecting who we really are in Christ and as we meditate upon the revelations of God, we are supernaturally transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit from revelation to revelation – as our minds are renewed through fresh revelation and our opinions and world views are replaced by the truth of the Word, a new species of being manifests in us.
The Greek word translated as ‘transformed’ is ‘metamorphóō’… literally, ‘METAMORPHOSIS’, or transformed into a new species of being. The Lord wants to transform you and I into a different species of being… to be exactly like Him, so that we can continue the works of Jesus! This metamorphosis is a continual process as we are continually transformed into the image of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the Word of God.
A worm transformed into a beautiful butterfly…
One of the best illustrations of metamorphosis is that of a worm, or a caterpillar being transformed into a beautiful butterfly. A worm represents one of the lowest, ugly, creepy forms of life… low to the ground and subject to being stepped on and crushed - a butterfly represents a beautiful creature that can fly above circumstances. A worm represents man in his lowest form, subject to all circumstances – a butterfly represents the transformed man, blessed, beautiful and with the ability to soar above all danger and divorce circumstances.
The worm begins by ejecting a sticky, silk like substance out of his mouth until he is totally enclosed, isolated and surrounded by it… like worms, people often entrap themselves by what comes out of their mouths – some call it ‘word vomit’ – negative, unscriptural words of doubt and unbelief… critical words, course, unloving words and words of death come out of people’s mouths like the sticky substance that comes out of a worm… pretty soon, they are stuck in it, surrounded by it and totally entrapped by the effects of their words.
Entrapment leads to isolation, and like with the worm, isolation leads to death… death of vision, death of hope, death of all that you are. Death is a vital part of transformation… you do not want to take any of the old with you into your new level. Death is painful, but unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit (John 12:24)
Many of us are in isolation right now because of C-19, but have you ever considered that the Lord also has a hand in this season of isolation. He wants to do a work in you to prepare you for a new season. Whether it is an isolation resulting from your words, from C-19, because the Lord is preparing you for new things, or, all of the above… He has set you aside and is using the isolation to transform you into what you need to be for His next season in your life.
So, the first stage of metamorphosis is the cocoon… the isolation of the old man, then the death of the old man, then the transformation in isolation… the caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly in isolation - most spiritual transformation also happens in isolation – in your season of isolation, make time to get into the presence of the Lord, declare the Word over yourself, worship, pray in the Spirit and with all manner of prayer and yield to the power of God to transform you by the Holy Spirit.
After transformation in isolation the new you is revealed in resurrection power. As you yield to the Spirit, you are going to come out of this totally transformed!
GRACE IS WHAT TRANSFORMS YOU!
Paul said, ‘But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
Paul rightly attributed who he had become in Christ to grace and unmerited favor. It was grace upon grace that transformed a murderer and a hater of Christians to one of the greatest men of God that has ever lived. Whatever good that you may see in me, it is because of His grace. By the grace of God I have been transformed into who I am and into what I am and it is by the grace of God that I will continue to be transformed into the image of Jesus!
Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
The Greek word for ‘created’ is ‘ktizo’ and it literally means to be completely transformed, or to be recreated into a new species of being.
Ephesians 2:8-10 paraphrased
You have been recreated and transformed into a whole, healthy, blessed, prosperous, anointed person BY GRACE through faith and not of your own doing, so that no one can boast. For we are His handiwork, recreated and completely transformed in Christ Jesus for our personal assignments in Him, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The Lord does not fix broken people, He transforms them and creates a new species of being. Created in Christ for good works… in other words, He transforms and recreates you for the good works that you are called to do – the works that you have not been able to do in your own strength or as the ‘pre-transformed’ person. As you go through transformation you will gain supernatural ability to do those things that God has prepared beforehand, that you should walk in them.
ENROLL YOURSELF INTO THE SCHOOL OF THE SPIRIT – ENROLL YOURSELF INTO SPIRITUAL METAMORPHOSIS TO GET READY FOR YOUR NEW LEVEL!
EVERY NEW LEVEL REQUIRES TRANSFORMATION
Blessings on you, Nick
