Having a Transformed Mind
To walk a Christian walk the mind is very much involved and this is where Satan launches an unrelentless attack, leading to disparity and depression!
Mark 12:30: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”
Here we are told by our Lord that we are to love God with “all of man’s four powers (heart, soul, strength, mind).” RWP. Luke 10:27.
This morning I would like to emphasize just one of these four powers: the mind. Gary Collins says it like this: “Let the mind of the master be the master of your mind.” Ref: Gary R. Collins, The Magnificent Mind (Waco, Texas: Word, 1985).
I want to look at a classic text this morning in regards to having the proper Christian “mind set”
Romans 12: 2a & 2b: “. . . And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. . .”
I) Be Ye Transformed- We must Have a Transformed Mind
Here we have a: Present Tense (happening now); Passive Voice (subject is receiving the action; Imperative Mood (command/direct request)
Transformation Defined: . . . means to change across from one form to another.” We get our word “metamorphosis” from this. Ref: Earle, Ralph. Word Meanings in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Hendrickson, 1998. 199.
Biblically Usages Defined: (3)
Used to describe the transfiguration of The Lord Jesus (Matthew 17:2; Mark. 9:2)
Matt 17:2: And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
“. . . there was a fact and a power in that vision which mere radiance and the appearance of the dead patriarchs could not wholly convey: a revelation of Deity breaking out in that glorified face and form. . .” Ref: Vincent, Marvin R. Word Studies in the New Testament, Matthew 17:2. Covenant Parsonage, NY. 1886. E Sword, Version 10.0.5.
Used to describe the glorious change wrought in the believer (2 Corinthians 3:18)- 2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Used here in Romans 12:2 . . . be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Transformation begins from within and permeates outwardly
Greek Word: Metamorpheo = English Term: Metamorphosis.
Metamorphosis is a Biological change whereby a caterpillar becomes a butterfly- The same creature which enters the filthy tomb eventually emerges, but the change is so remarkable that it cannot be recognized as the same.
The Holy Spirit wishes to work in the life of a believer, but to do it He must have control of the body and free access to the mind. The mind is the organ of thought.
Transformation achieved through:
Possession of the Holy Spirit
We are to occupy the mind with/as Christ: Philippians 2:5-7: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
We must set affections on things above- Colossians 3:2- “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
We must strive to become Christ Like: (1) By walking in love; as Jesus did!
(2) By walking in obedience; as Jesus did!
II) Be Renewed- We Must Have a Renewed Mind: Romans 12:2c. . . “(12a) And be not conformed to this world: but (12b) be ye transformed (12c) by the renewing of your mind . . .
To make new, to transform, to change from natural enmity to the love of God and His law; to implant holy affections in the heart. Eph. 4:23- “. . . and being renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
By the renewing …. Of/In Your Mind- Our mind is equipped to do the following tasks: think, imagine, remember and understand. This ultimately affects our: intellect, reasoning, wisdom, and. . . . walk.
Please Note: This is where Satan launches his attacks --- THE MIND. Let’s finish by looking at some different minds sets. Proverbs 23:7: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. . .”
NEGATIVE MIND SETS (unregenerate minds sets)
A Hardened and Blinded Mind- (2 Corinthians 4:4) “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not....”
A Corrupt Mind- (2 Timothy 3:8) “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds...”
A Debased Mind- (Romans 1:28) “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind…”
A Carnal Mind- (Romans 8:7) “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
POSITIVE MIND SETS (regenerate mind sets)
A Renewed Mind- (Rom 12:2) “... but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
A Mind Drawn to the Cross: (Rom 6:6) “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him....” A mind drawn to the cross will be positive!
A Mind Working with the Spirit of God. A mind indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit will be positive.
A controlled mind- A mind of faith and stability (we win) will be positive!
A Mind Filled with God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16,17) Turn to text
A Pure Mind- (2 Peter 3:1) “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds.....”
Pure Mind carries the idea of a mind that has been, “separated or sifted by rolling, as in a sieve . . . or as one that has been, “tested by the sunlight.” Ref: Vincent, Marvin R. Word Studies in the New Testament, 2 Peter 3:1. Covenant Parsonage, NY. 1886. E Sword, Version 10.0.5.
A Mind that Loves God- (Matthew 22:37) “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
A mind with God’s Implanted Law- (Hebrews 8:10) “...I will put my laws into their mind...”
A Christlike Mind- (I Corinthians 2:16) “...but we have the mind of Christ.”
A Unified Mind- (Romans 12:16) “Be of the same mind one toward another…”
DANGERS OF THE MIND
An Unrenewed Mind- Different from an un-regenerated mind
An Improper Mind- “not proper; not strictly belonging, applicable, correct” Ref: dictionary.com. Improper. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/improper. Accessed January 20, 2012.
An Misunderstanding Mind- Eve is a good example (i.e.: accepting suggestions- (I John 4:1) ... but try the spirits whether they are of God...)
A blank mind- Exercise your mind.
A Passive Mind- awaiting some eternal force to activate the mind. This is how demon oppression (for regenerate) or possession (for unregenerate) occurs.
Today, are you serving God or Satan? Have you been transformed (changed) by the renewing of your mind? Or, are you still a caterpillar in the cocoon of the world (unregenerate) awaiting transformation and renewal. You can be transformed by the life giving Word of God and through the sacrificial shed bllod of Jesus Christ this morning.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18a: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new [transformed]. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. . .”
CLOSING COMMENTS
FOR THE CHRISTIAN:
“. . . the caterpillar has the amazing ability to morph into something beautiful – a butterfly. The process makes the creature appear dead and silent for a while, but an inner transformation or metamorphosis is taking place. This is the manner of transformation God intends we undergo through offering our bodies as living sacrifices to God.” Ref: Contributor- Nigel Heath. SermonCentral.Com. http://www.sermoncentral.com/Illustrations/SearchResults.asp?Category=&Page=5&Sort=rank&keyword=butterfly&ScriptureBookA2=&ScriptureVerse2=&TopicID=0&since2=0. Accessed January 19, 2012.
In Romans 12:2 it describes an inward renewal of our mind through which our inner spirit is changed into the likeness of Christ.
AND GOD SAID: Let us FORM man in our image.
THE DEVIL SAYS: I will DEFORM man by sin.
THE WORLD SAYS: We must CONFORM man in our image.
EDUCATION SAYS: Let us INFORM man by knowledge.
SOCIETY SAYS: We will REFORM man by culture.
ONLY CHRIST SAYS: I will TRANSFORM man by grace.
Ref: Middletown Bible. PreceptAustin.Org. Romans 12:2. http://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_122.htm#12:2. Accessed January 19, 2012.
