Be Transformed

The last time I was with you I began a series called Collide. There are two worlds that exist today. One of Believers and the other of unbelievers. God is calling all believers to reach out to those that are unbelievers. These two worlds are colliding. In order for us to reach the unbelievers we must understand that God wants us to be transformed into a person that God wants us to be.

My text today is a concentration of one verse found in Romans 12. I want to read to you verse 2.

Romans 12:2 NIV

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Today, I want you to think about something as I break down this verse. Jesus gave up his life so that you and I could have an abundant life. He doesn’t want you to just have a mediocre life, but an abundant life.

Look at what Jesus said in John 10:10.

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

That is why Jesus came and died for us. He wants to give you life. But in order for us to experience that abundant life, we must put Romans 12:2 to work in our life.

Let’s read Romans 12:2 again.

Romans 12:2 NIV

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The first thing Paul Tells us ...

1. Do Not Conform to the Pattern of this World

When you look up the word conform it means “to become or be like.”

When we offer our entire self to God, there is a change that should take place in our relation to the world. God is calling us to a different life-style than what the world offers with its behavior and customs. Believers are to live as citizens of a future world. God is preparing something great for all believers. Our home is not this world.

You will feel pressure though to conform to the patterns of this world. Do not give in to that pressure. That is why it is so important that we live differently, act differently. This place that we are living in is just temporary.

But we shouldn’t just try not to conform to the pattern of the world but we should take it a step further and be transformed.

2. Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

The Greek word for “transformed” is metamorphousthe. This is the root for our English word metamorphosis. As believers we are to experience a complete transformation from the inside out. And the complete change must begin in our mind. Our mind is where all our thoughts and actions begin.

Paul spoke about this to the Ephesians in Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4:22–24 NIV

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

One of the ways for us as Christians to renew ourselves is to be involved in activities that renew our mind. Renewing refers to a new way of thinking, a mind desiring to be conformed to God rather than to the world. We will never be truly transformed without this renewing of our mind.

We have to put good stuff in our minds. You need to make it a point to read at least one verse each and every day. Make God’s Word a part of your daily activities.

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

As we memorize and meditate upon God’s Word, our way of thinking changes. Our minds become first informed, and then conformed to the pattern of God, the pattern for which we were originally designed.

Once you have followed 1 and 2 then that opens you up to my third point.

3. Then You Will Be able to Test and Approve what God’s Will is

When we have our minds transformed and we are becoming more like Christ every single day, then we want God’s will. Not our own will, but God’s will.

And it is only when we are being transformed that we will be able to know and do and enjoy what God desires for us.

Knowing God’s will is not always easy. There will be times that God changes everything that you have planned for your self. God will take you in a different direction then what you may have planned

And of course the only way that you are going to know what God’s will for your life is, is by spending time with him. Reading his word and having a conversation with him.

How much time do you spend watching television each week?

How much time do you spend running around each week do things that don’t really matter, they are just fun things that you like to do?

How much time do you spend at work each week?

These are legitimate questions that we should as ourselves and then ask, how much time do I spend reading or listening to God’s Word? How much time do I spend talking to God? How much time do I spend on the things of God?

If we want to know God’s Will then we have to spend time with him. And here’s the thing we don’t just want to know God’s Will but we want to know...

4. God’s Good, Pleasing and Perfect Will

If you are to look in the Greek text the 3 adjectives used here, good, pleasing, and perfect are used as nouns. You see God’s will is what is good. God’s will is what is pleasing to God. God’s will is what is perfect for each believer.

As we are being transformed, and we are getting to know who God is and we begin doing God’s will, that is when we discover that what God plans for us is good. What God plans for us is pleasing to him. We make him happy. And what God plans for us is perfect for us.

God does not make mistakes. When he asks us to do something, it is perfect. We may not always understand it, but when he opens the door for us, we need to step in and do what he is calling us to do.

This morning, I want you to know that it is never too late to make a divine appointment with Christ. If you have not given your life over to Christ, then you need to do so today. Don’t wait any longer. This will be the best decision you have ever made.

If you have asked Jesus to be Lord of your life then you need to work on that relationship. It doesn’t matter how long you have been a Christian you can continue to live the life that God wants you to live.

Spend time in God’s Word. Spend time in prayer. Spend time in worship and praise. Just spend time with the father.