For the past couple of months I have been going through a series of teachings on Kingdom Culture and how it really is supposed to work in the lives of believers. The things I have learned and the revelation Holy Spirit has given me are truly life-changing! Or a much better word would be transformational. 

 

The dictionary definition of the word transform is “to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of.” The word used in Romans 12:2 is metamorphoō which means to change into another form. The word metamorphosis comes from that word and we all can immediately picture a caterpillar being transformed into a butterfly. We can imagine something ugly and lowly becoming something transcendently beautiful! That is a picture of the Christian life!

 

Transformation is radical! You cannot be partially transformed. How would a butterfly look or function if it was part butterfly and part caterpillar? In order to be an effective Kingdom representative, you have to strive for total transformation! It’s a radical departure from your old life!!!

 

The Word didn’t say some things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). It says that all things become new! You are a totally new creation. Your mind just has to catch up with the rest of you!!! You have to divorce yourself from the world’s way of doing and thinking and talking, and align yourself with God’s way of doing and thinking and talking. You have to cast off the caterpillar mentality and cultivate the Kingdom mindset. 

 

Transformation is a process. That caterpillar did not turn into a butterfly overnight! And our caterpillar mentality will not change completely overnight either. Change/transformation is not easy!!! It can be painful!!! It can be difficult!!! It can be complicated!!! But for those who will strive and press toward the goal, keeping their eyes on the prize, it will be worth it!!!

 

So how do we renew our minds? The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:22-24:

 

That, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. 

We are to follow the process:

• Completely discard our former nature

• Replace our worldly attitude with a Kingdom perspective

• Continually renew our minds, replacing the lies with the Truth

• Be clothed in our new self with righteousness and holiness

 

There are many who never even begin this process believing that being simply “born-again” is enough. I pray that they would come into the knowledge of the Truth that the Kingdom lifestyle must always begin with repentance and it will not end until we see Him face to face.

 

 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

 

Repentance is an often misunderstood word. Jesus used the word metanoia. It means a change of mind and heart. It has been defined as a change in the intellectual, emotional and moral state, in the whole inner nature of a man. It is a spiritual conversion. 

 

Here is a quote that sheds new light on the word repent:

 

“New Testament metanoia is a divine call to a radical mind-shift in the way men think about religion. Therefore “repentance” is an entirely unsatisfactory translation of the amazing word “metanoia” which gives a completely different feeling to the preaching of Jesus and His apostles. Was the major proclamation of Jesus and the apostles “Repent! Feel sorry for your sins!”? Or was it “Metanoia! Think a new way!”?”

http://www.timothyministry.com

 

Someone who is truly repentant will turn from their old ways and embrace the Kingdom way of living. They will take the life-changing, transformational journey into the Kingdom Culture.