Renewing Our Mind (MW)

Renewing Our Mind (MW)

Introduction

1 Peter 2:9 KJV 1900

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

John 10:10 KJV 1900

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This abundant life is only possible with a renewed mind in Christ.

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Defining our Terms

What is this World?

1 John 2:16 KJV 1900

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Lust of the Flesh: Seeking Physical Satisfaction

Lust of the Eyes: Seeking What Pleases Our Eyes

Pride of Life: Seeking Self-Dependence (Arrogance, Self-Promotion, Greed)

Stones into Bread: Lust of the Flesh

Kingdoms of the World: Lust of the Eyes

Jump from the Temple: Pride of Life (Angels will Protect)

To Live Differently from the World...

What does “Renewing of the Mind” mean?

Interpreting Life Through the Lens of God’s Word

Allowing God’s Spirit to Focus Us

Not Living with a Renewed Mind

Interpreting life the lens of our own experiences

Our woundedness, trauma, preferences, or opinions

The Renewed Mind

It’s a fundamental shift toward seeing the word, our-self, others, and God

It is making a daily, moment by moment choice to choose the Mind of Christ which lives inside of us as new creations…Rather than operating from our own experiences.

The Christians’ Tools for Renewing our Mind

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 KJV 1900

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We walk (live) in the flesh…we are not battling our physical selves…We do not rely on human ingenuity or manmade plans to bring victory.

Our tools to prosper in this life are not physical

The Christians Weapons

Ephesians 6:10–18 KJV 1900

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

But God is mighty to conquer our fortified strongholds

Stronghold = Fortress

Casting down imaginations or the reasoning of our…Mind!

We capture those invading thoughts, subdue them, and turn to obedience in Christ

The Importance of Living Renewed in our Mind

So we don’t:

Walk in Defeat

Walk in Struggle

Walk in Confusion

Walk in the Muck of Life

So we break the Patterns that Entrap Us

Living Religiously and/or Obediently without renewing our mind leads to Disillusionment

DISILLUSIONED is having lost faith or trust in something formerly regarded as good or valuable

We live right, we pray, we go to church, we read our Bible, but we have not allowed our Mind to be Transformed…we have failed to reshape our thinking.

We start to question God, God are you real, do you love me, do you care for me?

Our faith begins to waiver

Yet, God has given us all we need to live victoriously

While Salvation is Instant, Sanctification is a Process

Romans 8:13 KJV 1900

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Colossians 3:5–10 KJV 1900

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE

Effects of Renewing our Mind

Aligns our Mind with the Truth of God’s Word

We can recognize the lies of the enemy that invade our thoughts

We can replace the lies with the Truth of God’s word

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV 1900

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Does this thought agree with God’s promises over my life or not? If not then I cast it away—rejecting its influence in my life – and I plant in its place one of God’s promises from His Word.

2 Peter 1:3–4 KJV 1900

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Proverbs 23:7 KJV 1900

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.

Ways to Renew Our Mind

Recognize

Capture the thoughts and compare it to God’s Word, God’s Promises and ask, “Is this of God?”

Replace

If it’s not of God, replace the thought with a Promise of God’s Word

Reinforce

Keep at it…recognize, replace!