Degrees of Change Part 1

Transformation by the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

(White and black belt illustration) We mark degrees of martial arts rank with pieces of “medical tape”. It is cheap to purchase. It is typically used for healing purposes. But we use it to mark a measure. Each piece of tape marks knowledge, skill sets, technique, character, leadership, perseverance, endurance, service, diligence, sacrifice and maturity. But we have discovered that just because a student possess the ability, potential, technique and skill sets does not mean they have developed the maturity and leadership.

Degrees in transformation demands a surrender to God’s process that produces degrees of conflict, challenge, confrontation and change within you.

As I preach to the men in the prison and speak of how Jesus Christ can literally, seriously and evidentially transform their lives, change them into new men, overcome their past, redeem their future and give them a real and present hope, they welcome it. In fact, they are on the edge of their seats longing for it within their souls. Why? Because deep inside they have been looking for that change. Many of them have sought many things to try and bring about such a transformation in their lives that failed them.

I even caution them of the hardships, challenges, and struggles they will face if they accept this call to the Lordship of Christ. I do not hold back on presenting them what they will have to sacrifice and what the Lord will require of them for holiness. I do not water it down, soften it, or present God’s standards in some level of palatable compromise. And they still desire to know this relationship with the Lord and the Holy Spirit.

You might say, “Well sure Pastor. You have a captive audience.” But when I look out and see the Holy Spirit moving on these men. They begin to raise their hands with eyes filled with tears crying, “Lord Jesus change me please.” I believe in the power of my Lord, His Word and the Holy Spirit.

If we take a look throughout Biblical history we can highlight a few examples of those who experienced degrees of change through God’s process we call faith. Each of these are examples of those who went from being spiritual white belts to high ranking black belts of faith.

Noah was confronted with hearing and receiving unto obedience to God’s voice and instruction that cost him.

Abraham started with leaving and believing then was faced with the truth of his faith through sacrifice.

Moses encounters God and with it came lessons in humility and willingness to follow Gods way.

David endures God’s processes of brokenness and repentance that tested and tried his heart.

Samuel and Elijah lived out devotion to intimacy with the voice of God.

Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, Meshaal were confronted with opportunities to compromise their monogamous holiness unto death.

Judas was given a choice to serve self or the Lord.

Peter was confronted with the revelation of his self centeredness and a call to surrender of identity and destiny to the will of the Lord.

All of the disciples that stuck with Jesus encountered the baptism in the Fire of the Holy Spirit that gave them courage and resolve to hold firm to their faith and follow Christ no matter what.

John learned dependency on God and God alone though he be the only one and in the face of adversity and seeming contradiction. The voice of contradiction can almost drown out the voice of conviction if we let it. But the voice of contradiction is of the flesh where the voice of conviction is from the Holy Spirit.

Paul realizes that in the Lordship of Christ, Paul must decrease that Christ may increase. It is Christ who lives not Paul.

Jesus embraces the will of the Father and lays His at the altar. He resolves, not My will but Yours Father. Forgive them Father. Finish it Father. Resurrection life for them Father!

We have learned, in Hebrews and James, that true and genuine faith requires more than believing. Salvation does not come by mere good deeds and the accumulation of merit. It comes only through Jesus Christ. But faith is more than believing, for even the demons believe. Even Noah and Abraham’s obedience was counted as faith. So, why do we continue to seek to segregate these and justify one without the other?

2 Corinthians 3:18 speaks of us being transformed from one degree of glory to another. Understand, that the glory it speaks of is not your glory nor is it a reflection of you and your efforts by any degree. It is the Lord’s glory revealed through His Lordship in your life. As you decrease and Christ increases in you, God is glorified again and again to the degree of your changes and growing in the image of Christ Jesus.

Degrees of glory is the growing level of maturity that your life glorifies God in holiness. These degrees change only through surrender to His Lordship through the fruit and power of His Holy Spirit! It is not your doing, it is that of the Holy Spirit. It does, however, require your surrender.

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Do you want to be a better witness? You should. Every true disciple should want to let the testimony of Christ be increasingly evident through the life of Christ in them.

Acts 8:19 ESV

saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Your motive is not to heap credit, reputation, and vain glory for yourself. It is to impart it to others.

Romans 15:13 ESV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Hope, joy, peace through genuine faith abounds with those who live by the way of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What degree are you? Are you a spiritual white belt desiring to grow in the Lord? A yellow belt that cannot decide if they want to stick with it or not? A green belt that thinks they know more than they don’t but doesn't know it? A blue belt that wants to proceed but feels kind of stuck and maybe a little discouraged? Maybe you are a red belt that feels a sense of greatness and has tasted of the goodness of the Spirit and has found a new motivation to press on? Or maybe you are a spiritual brown belt that is uncertain if they are worthy and not really qualified to be used by God at a higher degree?

Regardless of where you are, God wants you to move you forward and activate the power of the Holy Spirit in your life to move you up a degree that He may again and again be glorified in your life. God wants to empower you, equip you, strengthen you, grow you, stretch you and use you for His glory.