2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV): 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 'transformed' ('changed' in King James Version) here is 'metamorphoo' in Greek, which means 'being shaped, being fashioned'.
Notice also the words 'just as by the Spirit of the Lord' in this verse? As you can see here, it is the Spirit of the Lord that transforms you from glory to glory (i.e. to be more and more like Jesus), even as you behold (look to) Him!
I heard these words from the Lord the other day:
"My wind is blowing, and it is blowing stronger and stronger! Prepare yourself for the many things that I will do in you and speak to you. I will even show you things that eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things that I have prepared for those who love Me. This is the time to let go of your sorrows, and drink of My new wine! And you shall be changed! You shall be changed! You shall be changed! Don't resist Me, but receive a fresh new joy from Me. This joy from Me will be your strength!"
'Wine' here speaks of 'joy, celebration, liberty'. The Bible says 'where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty' (2 Corinthians 3:17). The Bible also says we are not to be drunk with wine made by man, in which is dissipation or a waste of time (Ephesians 5:18), but instead be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, i.e. to drink of this 'wine' that comes from heaven.
Nehemiah 8:10 says, 'Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength'. Therefore, people of God, no matter what has been troubling you recently, let this wind of the Spirit blow away every sorrow of your past, and let Him release to you a fresh new joy! By the way, the word 'strength' here is 'maowz' in Hebrew, which can also be defined as 'force, fortress'. In other words, this joy of the Lord will be the 'force' that the enemy (the devil) cannot stand, and will not be able to stand!
In Mark 2:22, Jesus says, "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins." This is also a time to prepare yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to change you, i.e. to change your heart and change your mindset, so that He can begin to do new things in your life.
Romans 12:2 says, 'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (same word 'changed', or 'metamorphoo') by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God'. The word 'prove' here is 'dokimazo' in Greek, which can mean 'to allow, to walk in'. You see, it's only when you are willing to be changed ('metamorphoo') by the Lord that you will begin walking in what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God in your life!
Look at Moses. Look at Joseph. Look at the apostle Paul. All of them had to be changed by the Lord first before God could fulfill their respective callings.
Many people want to be used by the Lord, but they are not willing to be changed by the Lord, especially from the inside out. As a matter of fact, a change in the inside (spiritual) leads to a change in the outside (physical).
A willingness to be used by the Lord is one thing, but a willingness to be changed by the Lord is even more important! Because it is when you are changed by the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:2) that you'll also be entrusted with the deeper things (and even secrets) of the Lord, such that 'eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him' (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
There's an Old Testament parallel here. In Numbers 4:1-4, the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the children of Levi... from thirty years old and above... all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting, This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting, relating to the most holy things."
'The most holy things' here speaks of 'the innermost, deepestmost of God's things', and 'Kohath' in this context means 'to be allied, to be joined (to the Lord)'. Interestingly, the name 'Levi' in Hebrew means 'attached (to the Lord)', from the word 'lavah' meaning 'to remain, to unite, to join oneself'.
The Bible says the Levites belong to the Lord (Numbers 3:45). Today, because of what Jesus has done for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago, know that you too belong to the Lord, and should also therefore be joined to the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17). There should never be a 'distance' between you and the Lord. Ask the Lord to change you in any area of your life that may have hindered your joining with the Lord, and that's when the Lord will also begin to entrust you with His things, His deeper things. Amen.
