Theological Concept of Transformation

(Written by Lilian Schmid)

Transformation comes like this:

1- Reconciliation- Repentance and Forgiveness

God wants to reconcile everyone and everything to Himself

reconciliation of ourselves to God
reconciliation to our cities
reconciliation to our nation

Let's read Colossians 1:20-23

...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

2- Healing

After we start the process of reconciliation and repentance the process of Healing starts to surface.

Healing our mind - body and soul
Healing the land where sin and crime affected our cities.
Healing the nations to heal the hurt when nations came against each other in war, suffering, and poverty

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [Matthew 9:35]

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. [Matthew 14:14]

"The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." [Matthew 11:5]

...down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. [Revelation 22:2]

The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. We are not to conclude that there were diseases to be healed, but that in the city were the means which banished disease and death. The reader cannot fail to trace the correspondence with the home of the sinless race in Eden.

There was there a river that went out of Eden to water the garden (Genesis 2:10). Here there is a river, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1).

There was a tree of life in Paradise. In the New Jerusalem, on either side of the river stands the tree of life bearing twelve manner of fruits, or rather fruit twelve times a year, every month.

The river and the tree are symbols of the life bestowed by the grace of God. The river flows from the throne of God and the Lamb; from the fountain whence life and immortality come. The tree yields its fruit at all times, so that the supply never fails. Everything about the tree is healthful. Even the leaves are for the healing of the nations.

There is a book, a river and a tree of life. Christ is the life, and all refer in some way to Christ. Trees and rivers presented most attractive features in an oriental city, and are beautiful emblems of the full supplies of life, grace and bliss that shall pervade the heavenly city.

3- Transformation

...who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
[Philippians 3:21]

Transforming our cities and nations - Spiritual Application For Us Today

I believe God wants to rebuild and transform our cities today for Jesus Christ. God has and will continue to use the Church to transform lives and communities. A foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been laid. The temple has been built. But, today, at least in the western church, there are no walls around our cities!

The Lord wants to establish His presence in every area of life. Our work, our schools, our neighbourhoods, in small businesses, in the corporate world, in government, in education, through medicine - you name it. Our heavenly Father IS in 'all of life' and He desires for us to take part in what He is doing on the planet. What we do and how we live our lives is important to God. And WHERE we live most of our lives is what I'll simply call - The Marketplace. (My loose definition is: wherever you go during the week after you've attended a church service on Sunday morning.) So basically, our local marketplace is OUR city where we live and work.

Do you think the Lord's name is lifted up and exalted in the city where you live? Is Jesus reigning at the local colleges, in the board rooms, the corporate headquarters, the local city government, the hospitals, the research parks, mum & dad retail stores or on the street where you live or at the gym where you work out or wherever YOUR marketplace is?

Oh sure, we do see God moving in little pockets where Christians are praying, but overall, our everyday environment is not characterised by God's presence. The Christians who do find each other in the marketplace are usually quiet about their faith and bunkered down, trying to stay out of the line of the enemy's fire. So as Christians, what are we to do?

Well, I believe it is time to build a SPIRITUAL WALL around our cities.

Just like Nehemiah did in the Old Testament, we must begin by building a wall to protect us from evil. Once a spiritual wall is built, security and safety for believers will be dramatically increased ... a strengthening of the Christian community will form ... non Christians will be blessed by a supernatural presence of God .... Christian leaders in government, in education, in the private sector, etc. will be empowered to stand strong for their faith and the name of Jesus ... a corporate will from the local body of Christ will emerge ... increased financial resources will flow towards Kingdom work ... a place where the sick, the poor and the wounded can go and have access to a 'city of refuge' to heal and be transformed by God's love ... the churches (united) will work together with their fellow believers in the marketplace for true transformation!

A good example that transformation starts from within a household, within your business and across the City is in Luke 19 when Jesus passes through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem - this is how Transformation must begin:

The story of Zacchaeus' Self Transformation
Engage in Trade and how to use your money
Transforming the City

A. Today Salvation has Come to your Household

This is a great story with truth about seeking the LORD with a pure transformational repentant heart, a great message for us with Jesus entering Jerusalem.

Jesus is passing through Jericho and doesn't plan to stop - but the Chief tax collector - also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was. He was short so he couldn't see him because of the crowd - so he climbs up the tree.

Zacchaeus also ran ahead - planned it out and strategised just to see Jesus - he planned and sought Jesus out, will you do that? When Jesus reached him he looked up - and told him to come down QUICKLY for "...today I must stay at YOUR HOUSE!"

Zacchaeus came down quickly and RECEIVED HIM WITH JOY. That is exactly what we are to do - receive the Word with JOY!!!

While people started to grumble about Jesus being with this tax collector - Zacchaeus started to transform in front of their eyes - he said...

"Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over."
[Luke 19:8]

Now that was a quick turn around!! Jesus speaks the words of salvation for his household and what a huge blessing that was!!! Think about what good you could do for YOUR HOUSEHOLD if you turn around completely to Jesus and live the Gospel!

And Jesus claims this man as a son of Abraham and makes it known that He comes to seek and save the lost!! And save the lost He does! This is the perfect example: we should receive Jesus with JOY - and then change our lives for His glory - then see salvation come to our households! Transformation comes from within first.

B. Engage in (Kingdom) Trade

Here we see Jesus about to enter into Jerusalem - and he realises that the apostles think that the kingdom of God will come immediately so He tells them this parable.

The parable is all about the servant making something of the gold coins that the Nobleman gives them! The key here is - we have all been given the gift of gold - our faith! Our hearts! What are we doing with the deposit of faith that has been given to us? We are called to make trades with it for others and make that investment in others and receive a return on investment for the LORD! Return on Investment!

Nothing here is ours alone - all is God's and we are His servants - and so the two servants that returned more coins on the investment of one, received rewards of lands - but the one who kept the one gold coin and hid it in a handkerchief because he was afraid of God - his gold coin was taken away and given to the one with ten!!!

But Jesus says

"Everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
[Luke 19:26]

Jesus wants us fully engaged in the work at hand - the work of redemption!! Souls to be saved! Pray - seek - knock - keep following God's plan but remember that we are in the business of saving souls!

What are you doing with your gift of faith??? Is it having an effect on people? How can you grow your faith - practice, study, reflect. We've been given gold - now we have to seek after the GRACE of GOD to grow it with all our hearts!

C. Jesus Weeps for Jerusalem

When Jesus enters Jerusalem, two things happen - we see Jesus lament for Jerusalem and cleanse the temple in Jerusalem.

Lamenting, Jesus sees the city of Jerusalem drawing near to them and He weeps - he knows the destruction that its enemies will have upon it and knows that without knowing how to make peace - there will be utter chaos. The way of peace has been hidden from their eyes!!!!

The next thing Jesus does is cleanse the temple!!! And then the city; He says to them

"My house shall be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves."
[Luke 19:46]

So Jesus weeping for Jerusalem has turned into action! This is the cleansing action that Jesus needs to take right now.

Can you do the same for Sydney?