Renewing the Mind
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2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
A) Our culture that we live in as a whole no longer holds a Biblical world view.
Cultural Research Center of Barna Group did a survey on America’s world view.
70% of American’s identify as Christians but only 6% of Americans hold a Biblical world view.
Whats fascinating is that such a large group identifies as Christian and yet denies the Bible.
• The only way we know what it means to be a Christian comes from the Bible.
• The reason we understand and preach the Gospel is because its in the Bible.
• The only way I know God sent His only Son is because I have read it in the Bible.
A few possible explanations for the disconnect:
a. They believe they are Christians are not or they do not have have the Spirit of God in them bringing conviction.
b. They do know what God’s Word says but are not a doer of the Word.
c.They are Christians that haven’t gone through the transformation process of renewing the mind.
B) Were is the personal transformation? Are we the same person we were 5 years ago? 1 year ago? A month ago?
Are we walking in more freedom? less bondage? Less sin? Do we live in more peace? Are we more fruitful? Do we walk in more love towards God and others? I’m I closer to fulfilling the call that God has for my life?
We ask the question if I’m learning about God, going to church, reading my Bible, why do I struggle to have the same issues, thoughts, and feelings over and over?
I know I’m a Christian, I’ve been a Christian all my life or for 25 years, I know I have the Spirit in me, I know the Bible, I pray and receive prayer, but why isn’t there much change in my life. My life looks a lot like before I came to know Him. It looks a lot like those who do not know God.
Illustration
Suppose you just started out playing football:
• OLD: however the coach was abusive. He belittled his team and ruled with fear and intimidation. In order to make the team you had to learn how to cope, succeed, and survive under his authority.
• MOVE: Then you ended up moving to a new town and started on a different football team. The old coach was gone. You were no longer under his authority and no longer had any relationship with him.
• NEW: New coach was nothing like the old. He was kind and respectful to his team, and he motivated the players out of love.
• OUR CHANGE: You might relate to your new team and coach in the manner you were trained under your old coach. Hopefully that would change over time as you begin to have a different attitude towards the team and how you see the game.
• STARTED WRONG: We all started on the wrong team. We were born physically alive but spiritually dead. (Eph 2:1)
I learned how to live independently from God
I learned how to protect myself
I learned to provide for myself because if I didn’t no one else would
I had no relationship with God and no knowledge of His ways so my will and my way reigned supreme. My way was right in my own eyes. That’s self righteousness.
I tried by my own effort to succeed in this fallen world(Eph 2:2-3)
As a result sinful thoughts and desires was deeply ingrained in my mind
I lived a life foreign from God and His promises
My mind was shaped by my environment, who I hung around with, the schools I went to, my home life, my family, and the things I watched and listened to, my sinful desires that came from within and without.
Then I became a Christian. I was transferred to a new team and got a new coach. But nobody pushed the clear button in my memory banks. All the previous training experiences, memories, and habits were still programmed into my mind.
I brought all these mindsets into my Christian walk with God and all the baggage that came from those mindsets.
These are like tire tracks in a wet pasture. After the ruts have been established and dried over time, the driver doesn’t have to steer anymore.
• The vehicle will just follow those ruts, and any attempt to steer out of them will be met with resistance.
C) Answer: We must have our minds renewed.
Our mind is renewed to the degree that the Word and Spirit of God dictates my every day life.
That the Love of God dictates my every day life.
If our thinking patterns haven’t been renewed then they still reflect the patterns of the world, flesh, and devil. We are still thinking and walking out in accordance with the old man.
For example;
21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------HOW TO!
1) What’s the end game in renewing our minds?
The why behind the what.
What is the end purpose of renewing our minds? Is it to have more knowledge? Does more knowledge equate to character?
1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.
Biblical knowledge is part of the process of renewing our minds and is important but it isn’t our end goal. The more knowledge I have of God does not automatically produce character in my life.
Knowledge isn’t the end goal of renewing the mind but love from a pure heart.
5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1 EAGERLY PURSUE and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).
Knowledge without love puffs up. It’s called pride.
We have so much knowledge at our fingertips.
General knowledge is doubling every 13 months. Are we better off when it comes evil and overcoming the sinful nature? Do we have significantly less crime? less murder? less sexual sin? less selfishness? less greed? Elbert Einstein said “it has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”
What about Biblical knowledge? I have 1200 books in my digital library here on phone. We have more Christian books and information available to us than ever before.
2) How do we begin to renew our minds?
To begin to renew our minds we must read , study , meditate , and do the Word of God every day.
Illustration: Imagine your mind is a pot of coffee.
Because you chose to mix coffee grounds with the water, the liquid is dark and dirty. There is no way you can filter out the coffee from the water.
Now suppose there is a bowl of crystal clear ice next to the pot. Each day, you take one ice cube and put it in the pot.
At first you do not notice any difference, but as you add one cube per day, there will come a time when you won’t be able to taste, smell, or see the coffee in the pot.
Although the coffee is still there, the ice has diluted it. This method will only work if you don’t also keep adding a scoop of coffee every day.
Reading is through the scripture is skimming the Bible. Its planting seed.
Study is going deeper. Its breaking down scripture to know why its there. What is a poetical passage saying , who is it speaking to, and why. It digs into the original language, the context, the culture background, and what are some possible interpretations. Most of all how can I apply this to my life?
Its deep thinking which we really don’t do anymore. Its slowing down to think and focus on subject.
Meditation is more like prayer. Its slowing down and letting the Holy Spirit bring to life what you have read and studied. It’s bringing revelation.
3) Renewing the Mind is realizing who we are in Christ and applying it to our lives
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Renewing the mind includes taking off the old man and putting on the new man.