Brother Meschack Mulenda
Do you recall our revelation-filled camp theme from last year, “The New Shape”? It drew inspiration from the beginning of creation when the earth was formless until the Spirit of God’s presence took shape (Genesis 1:1-3).
For believers, this signifies the transformation of our minds into the New Shape through the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5). God’s original intention was for us to live in communion with Him and reflect His nature. While humanity initially fell short due to disobedience, Jesus Christ, the second Adam, came to restore God’s original plan through Salvation (John 5:18; Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:1-4).
Through Salvation, we receive the New Shape, which is, in fact, the Original Shape God intended for us at Creation. In our current age, the world eagerly anticipates the manifestation of God’s sons and daughters—those who glorify the Father by reflecting His nature in the New Shape brought by Salvation in Christ (Romans 8:19; Matthew 5:14).
This implies that we deviated from the Original Shape due to Adam’s disobedience, and now, with Salvation through faith in Christ, we must strive to Stay in that New Shape. Falling out of shape means losing three essential qualities God granted us at creation: dominion over self, connection, and intimacy with the Spirit of God, and dominion over the flesh. Dominion over self was initially granted to humanity. However, Adam’s disobedience disrupted this submission to God. In contrast, Jesus Christ, the Word of God incarnate, fully submitted to God and received dominion over all things in Heaven and on Earth. Nature itself obeys Christ because of His dominion.
This dominion is only obtained through submission to God; human wisdom alone cannot bring about submission in the visible world.
The loss of intimacy and connection with the Holy Spirit is another consequence of falling out of the New Shape. Our minds remain the battleground for submission to God. Although we are born again through a single confession, the transformation of the mind is a lifelong process. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this transformation, which is why meditating on the Word of God is essential. Faith brings salvation, while the Word of God brings transformation (Romans 12:2).
In our fast-paced world, it’s essential to develop avenues for constant access to the Word of God. Seeking the kingdom of God means maintaining access to His Word and meditating on it regularly (Joshua 1:8). We have been given everything pertaining to life and godliness in Christ, ensuring we are not overwhelmed by worldly pursuits (2 Peter 1:3). The trajectory of our lives depends on the information we receive, making meditation on the Word of God a matter of life and death.
The Holy Spirit provides discernment regarding God’s Word, as only His Spirit can truly understand the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:11-12). Human wisdom is insufficient to grasp the Word of God; revelation and transformation come through the Spirit. This is why, despite being saved, a mind not transformed by the Spirit can lead to defeat.
In the Old Covenant, believers had a limited understanding of God’s redemption plan and often misrepresented Him. However, Jesus Christ, in whom the Holy Spirit constantly rested, fully represented God on earth. His interactions demonstrated God’s character—merciful, forgiving, and loving. The Holy Spirit resting in Jesus magnified the Father’s glory in the Son.
The third spiritual asset lost outside the New Shape is dominion over the flesh. Our bodies continually wrestle with our spirits until Christ’s return.
This struggle often manifests as a desire to serve God while holding onto worldly pursuits, making us unavailable for God’s work. We must adopt a reward-minded attitude—relying on God’s reward rather than worldly gain.
So, how do we Stay in the New Shape? By immersing ourselves in the Word of God through meditation, prayer, and service. Meditation transforms and renews our minds. Prayer is vital to our life of meditation, protecting us from the enemy’s deception. Lastly, our service to God maintains us in His presence and the New Shape, as those who serve are the greatest in the Kingdom of God (Luke 22:26).
