The transformative work of Christ is a result of the man that has received the grace of God for Salvation, he settles down to learning Christ. He settles down to begin to renew his mind. And as we have been taught that it is our soul that got saved, our mind is not saved at salvation. Our mind needs renewal. It is a spiritual and instantaneous work. The day a man opens his heart and receives by faith the work of Christ by his death, he is instantly saved. It is an instantaneous work not an installmental. Nobody is saved gradually. Everyone that opens his or her heart to receive that which the Lord has done for us in Christ Jesus through his death and he receives that offering is completely saved. But he or she can be saved and not transformed.
So therefore, it is the reason why you see someone who says he is saved yet he still has enough to deal with or overcome. But when the person opens his heart to the word of God, by learning Christ, renewal of mind begins to bring a change of lifestyle, that is what is called The transformative work of Christ.
Transformative work of Christ focuses on:
1) CHANGING US INTO CHRIST-LIKENESS. Salvation does not make that happen automatically. But as we are saved and we open our hearts to God’s word, the work of the spirit and the work of the spirit of Grace, we have been transformed. It is a progressive work and we all have different junctions or space that we are journeying with the lord. And we must recognise or be conscious of that.
Actually, nobody gets transformed without being saved. So redemption is built on the platform of salvation. It is redemption that precedes transformation.
A man that is not saved can’t be transformed.
2) Transformation is achieved THROUGH HOLY SPIRIT work in our lives. 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 2:13
3) Transformation ENABLES US TO LIVE A LIFE PLEASING TO GOD bearing fruit and glorifying him.
4) Transformation involves CHARACTER TRANSFORMATION, RENEWAL OF MIND AND EMPOWERING US FOR GOD’S SERVICE.
5) Transformation equips us to work out our salvation. Philipians 2:12.
TOOLS FOR TRANSFORMATION
There are two tools for transformation: Primary tool and secondary tool.
• PRIMARY TOOL
The primary tool is a strong platform that God has put in place to change life and that is THE WORD OF GOD.
God does not have any other means to reach men except through his word. If God wants to help a man, he sends his word. And this word comes in different platforms and means.
The word of God comes via teaching and studying of the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV ” For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The word of the God is alive, active, it is powerful, it can expose our mind to us. It’s like we are standing before the mirror and the word of God mirrors us and shows us ourselves.And the only thing we will do is to submit. That is not salvation work, it is the progressive work of Christ based on us studying and learning Christ, which is, checking out the principles and culture of Christ.
The word of God is alive not dead. Even if the preacher that preached a particular message is long dead, the word of God that was spoken will still be alive. And when we give ourselves to the word, it brings change and transformation.
Psalms 29:3-11
The voice of the lord, which is also the word of God, has the ability to break habits. The voice can split, scatter and rearrange. The voice of the lord can divide, it can shake things. It can uproot. The voice can produce. The voice of the lord brings arguments and debate to an end.
That is why whenever we teach scriptures, we don’t need to help the scripture, allow the scripture to explain itself. The word of God brings to bear the reality and the mind of the will of God. We don’t have an opinion on the word of God because the word has been spoken. The word of God has the ability to prevail over our lives.
The word of the lord can stand alone, it can defend itself. Scriptures do not need people’s opinion. That is why we need to learn properly so that we will not be tossed to and fro. It is not about who says it or what it is saying, it is about what the word of God is saying.
• SECONDARY TOOL
There is nothing we will talk about in the secondary tool that is not rooted in the primary tool (The word of God).
The first secondary tool is PRAYER.
Prayer is not primarily a tool to get from the lord, it is a tool for God to transform us. God is not essentially interested in the things that he wants to give us, he is interested in us getting transformed in the process of getting what we want.
The SERVICE AND MINISTRY ARE OPPORTUNITIES. They are an avenue to be more tolerating. There is a largeness of heart that service and ministry bring to us. They cannot be overridden.
It is not out of place for people that needs growth to be brought our way. This is why we are projects in the Lord’s hand.
We have lost several opportunities to grow as a result of anger. We have been around the system and not grown beyond the level we are.
The Bible talks about Moses being the meekest man on the face of the earth. Moses beseeched the Lord concerning Israel to make them see the promise land. However, no one could plead for him when he was told that he would not see the promised land. This shows even the meek can miss it.
If serving people does not increase our capacity in having patience we are not learning Christ. We must have the capacity of having a large heart.
We must not pretend our anger under the passion for Christ. We must not be found fueled by anger when preaching the word.
Ministry gives us the opportunity of meeting people that are still learning Christ the same way we are learning Christ.
The church contains imperfect people that are made perfect through Christ. It is analogous to a rehabilitation centre.
This is why Paul said to the church that, “he that steals should steal no more.” Ephesians 4:28
The Ministry gives us an opportunity to serve people and to grow. We are not just sharing knowledge in this way. We tolerate people when they even step on our toes. It is Christ’s culture to forgive. We must have a forgiving mindset.
We should be careful not to drive away people that God has sent to us. We should not be found talking rudely to them.
Largeness of heart is the byproduct of leveraging on a platform for service and ministry.
The Bible among many examples speak on this in Matthew 20:28, Galatians 5:13, Romans 12:10 and Romans 14:19
Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Fourthly, TRIALS CAN TRANSFORM THE BELIEVER. James in his letters speaks about this.
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
God does not need to test us but can allow them, When He does this, He is allowing it for His glory.
God does not just want you to get the money but to be transformed in the process. In Philippians 4 vs 6 – 7 the Bible admonishes us to be anxious for nothing. We see that it’s not only about the things that we need. God does not only want us to have money but also peace. Some of us miss out on the blessings of God because we didn’t submit to the dealings of God. Don’t waste the delay and the pain, profit from it.
Capacity is built up in your waiting season. So communing with God through prayer fosters intimacy, guidance, instructions and strength for transformation and ultimately it changes us. We will not just get things but much more these things should change us.
OUR YIELDEDNESS AND OBEDIENCE is a tool for transformation. This brings us to a place of conformity and facilitates transformation. The Bible speaking in John 14:15 says, if you love me, keep my commandments. Our yieldedness becomes a tool for God to carry out his plans and purposes for our lives. It becomes a platform for God to reach out to us. The safest place to be, is in the will of God even when you are crying. Just be sure that the current situation that you are in is what God intends to do with your life.
When you yield and surrender, it’s a platform for transformation. He has a way of bringing to pass the counsel of the father for our lives. God is interested in you more than what you can get from him. Abraham was at a point in his life where he was lamenting about his situation and God told him, “I am your shield and exceeding great reward” that means he had possessed God. So if a man possesses God what other thing is superior to God?
Scripture admonishes us to walk before God and be perfect, submit to his agenda, lose yourself with him. Do not be smarter than God. We should get foolish with God. When the Pharisees crucified Jesus, they thought they had successfully hindered the agenda of God. They didn’t know that in the death of Jesus was power and glory that was meant to be revealed. If they had known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Submit to God’s agenda and do not depend on your wisdom. Let God take the driver seat of your life.
3) Service and ministry platform and opportunities are tools in the hand of God for transformation. Some preachers you know now were not this “cool, calm and collected”, but through service, they became transformed. There is a largeness of heart that service and ministry gives. Sometimes God can intentionally bring a stubborn headed person your way as a leader so that you can be transformed. Pls submit.
THE LOCAL CHURCH IS AN AGENDA AND SYSTEM OF TRANSFORMATION.
Until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. ..
If we understand this scripture well, we can go ahead asking that God sends trials. We all need to grow and get to the point where we understand the capacity of what we carry until we experience something.
God has something he wants to produce in us. Do well to submit, so that you don’t frustrate his dealings over your life.
James 1:2-4 (MSG)
You should not try to get out of a situation prematurely and understand that there is a dealing of God over you. Try not to frustrate the program of God in your life.
While you may be praying for patience, God will not take it away automatically. He will bring situations your way that will teach you patience rather.
Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 1:3.(TPT, NLT)
There is usually profit in that pain. We are no longer focused on our troubles.
God does not test us but he permits it to help us grow in character.
Isaiah 48:10
God has people sometimes he wants to use to reach out to a generation. We all are saved but should embrace transformation.
There is a Community and Accountability Program God puts in place to change us.
Hebrews 10:24-25.
The way to stir up love and good works is among a community, it is on that platform of network relationship and community, a platform of accountability. This will help us get to a point where our love walk grows.
There is an agenda God has put in place for us. Many are able to drop some habits because of their interactions with a community of right minds.
Our relationships and networks are meant to make us better and advance in the program of God. We should bring a push for transformation among ourselves.
Salvation will not birth it but your intentionality to change. Permit the right voices around you, who will call forth all that God has made you.