From Modification to Transformation: Embracing True Change

There are places in life that cannot be reached by simply making small improvements or modifications; they require a complete transformation—a metamorphosis that only the Holy Spirit can bring about. God’s plans for each of us are not just to make us better versions of ourselves, but to fundamentally change us from the inside out, so that we can access the fullness of what He has prepared. Just as a caterpillar must become a butterfly to soar to new heights, we must allow God to do more than adjust our behaviors; we must let Him change our very nature.

God’s plans are good, filled with hope and a future, but they require our participation. Sometimes that participation is about doing, but more often, it’s about becoming. Transformation is the vehicle that carries us into God’s purposes. The enemy’s strategy is to convince us that modification is enough, that we’ve already arrived, so we stop pursuing true change. But modification only makes us faster caterpillars; transformation gives us wings.

The story of Saul in Acts 9 is a powerful example. Saul was already religious, already moral by many standards, but he needed a spiritual transformation. His encounter with Jesus didn’t just make him a better Pharisee; it made him a new creation. The scales fell from his eyes, and he saw the world—and himself—differently. This is what the Holy Spirit wants to do in us: not just to help us do better, but to become different.

Transformation happens when we stop resisting the Holy Spirit’s work in four key areas: revelation, repentance, release, and reformation. First, we must let the Spirit reveal what needs to change, even if we think we’re doing well. Second, we must respond with repentance—a true change of mind and direction, not just an apology. Third, we must be willing to release old identities and attachments, even good ones, so we can embrace who God is making us to be. Finally, we must allow the Spirit to reform us, to revisit and relearn what we thought we knew, so that our faith is continually deepened and renewed.

True fulfillment and contentment are found not in striving to do better, but in becoming the kind of person God has called us to be. This is the journey from modification to transformation, from crawling to flying, from “I was” to “I am not the same.”

Key Takeaways

• 1. Transformation is not the same as modification. Modification tweaks behaviors or habits, but leaves the core unchanged; transformation is a fundamental change of nature. God is not interested in making us better versions of our old selves, but in making us new creations who can access places and purposes that were previously unreachable. [06:05]
• 2. The enemy’s greatest deception is to convince us that we have already been transformed when we have only been modified. When we believe we have arrived, we stop seeking deeper change, and our spiritual growth stalls. True transformation requires humility and a willingness to see ourselves honestly in the light of the Holy Spirit’s revelation. [11:06]
• 3. The process of transformation involves four key responses to the Holy Spirit: revelation, repentance, release, and reformation. We must allow the Spirit to show us what needs to change, respond with genuine repentance (a change of mind and direction), release old identities and attachments, and be open to relearning and reforming our understanding of God and ourselves. [23:13]
• 4. Releasing old identities—even good ones—is often a lonely and confusing process, but it is necessary for discovering the new self God is forming in us. The “cocoon” season of isolation is not punishment, but preparation; it is where God produces the butterfly. Our new tribe and new purpose await us on the other side of transformation. [33:28]
• 5. True fulfillment and contentment are only found in becoming the kind of person God has called us to be, not just in doing the right things. Godliness with contentment is great gain, and this comes from allowing the Holy Spirit to address not just our actions, but our brokenness and inner life. Only then can we look in the mirror and say, “I am not the same.” [39:06]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Introduction: God’s Plans Require Transformation
• [05:08] - Participation: Doing vs. Becoming
• [06:05] - Transformation as Transportation
• [11:06] - Modification vs. Transformation
• [13:32] - Saul’s Story: From Religious to Spiritual
• [15:45] - The Power of Immediate Change
• [20:08] - Radical Transformation Confounds Others
• [21:52] - The Spirit’s Desire: Butterflies, Not Faster Caterpillars
• [23:13] - Four Ways to Partner with the Holy Spirit
• [25:29] - Revelation: Seeing What Needs to Change
• [28:27] - Repentance: The U-Turn of Faith
• [33:28] - Release: Letting Go of Old Identities
• [35:52] - Identity and Seasons of Influence
• [37:12] - Reformation: Relearning and Deepening Faith
• [39:06] - True Fulfillment: Becoming, Not Just Doing
• [41:52] - Prayer and Response

Bible Reading

Acts 9:17-19 (ESV) — > So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.

Observation Questions

1. What happened to Saul when Ananias laid hands on him, and what was the immediate result? (Acts 9:17-18)
2. According to the sermon, what is the difference between modification and transformation? [06:05]
3. How did Saul’s encounter with Jesus change not just his actions, but his entire identity? [13:32]
4. What four steps did the pastor say are part of the transformation process with the Holy Spirit? [23:13]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does the pastor say that God’s plans for us require more than just small improvements or modifications? What does this say about God’s intentions for our lives? [06:05]
2. In what ways can the enemy deceive us into settling for modification instead of true transformation? Why is this dangerous for our spiritual growth? [11:06]
3. The sermon describes Saul’s transformation as moving from “religious” to “spiritual.” What does this mean, and how might it apply to people in the church today? [13:32]
4. Why is it sometimes difficult to release old identities, even when they are “good” things? What does the “cocoon” season represent in our spiritual journey? [33:28]

Application Questions

1. The pastor said, “Some of us have butterfly dreams but caterpillar discipline.” Is there an area in your life where you feel you’ve only made small changes (modification) instead of allowing God to bring real transformation? What would it look like to let God give you “wings” in that area? [06:05]
2. Think about the four steps: revelation, repentance, release, and reformation. Which of these do you find most challenging right now, and why? [23:13]
3. The sermon talked about the danger of comparing ourselves to others when the Holy Spirit is trying to reveal something to us. Can you share a time when you resisted God’s prompting because you thought you were “good enough” compared to others? What would it look like to respond differently? [26:39]
4. Saul had to let go of his old identity as a Pharisee to become who God called him to be. Is there an identity, role, or attachment in your life that God might be asking you to release? How does the idea of a “cocoon season” help you process that change? [33:28]
5. The pastor said, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Are you striving to “do better,” or are you letting God make you a different kind of person? What’s one step you can take this week to focus on becoming, not just doing? [39:06]
6. The sermon mentioned that true transformation can sometimes be lonely, as you wait for your “new tribe.” Have you experienced a season like this? How did you handle it, and what encouragement would you give to someone in that place now? [33:28]
7. When you look in the mirror, can you honestly say, “I am not the same”? If not, what is one area where you want to invite the Holy Spirit to bring transformation? [40:35]