Rom 12:1‑2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice (to be burned), holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed (fashioned alike) to this world (Kosmos): but be ye transformed by the renewing (renovating - to restore to a former state, See Eph 1:3-4) of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
English synonyms for conform and transform:
Con: together or jointly (See Amos 3:3)
Conform: don't make waves - don't rock the boat - follow the crowd - run with pack
Trans: on the other side of or to change
Transform: shift gears - sing different tune - turn the tables (See 1 Cor 10:21)
Vines Definition for renew
The adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon the life.
Note that it says, be ye transformed by the renewing. This therefore is something that happens as we change our mind and thus take on the mind of Christ and walk in the Spirit.
Rom 8:5‑14 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God (goes against and opposes what God says): for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 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. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons (huios - mature son - technon - son by birth) of God.
Isa 55:1‑9 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts (Was Yeshua's thoughts the Fathers thoughts), neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
1 Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind (thoughts - feeling and will) of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind (thoughts - feelings and will) of Christ.
Our minds need to be changed........
* About how we view others
* About how we view ourselves
* About how we view the Lord
* About how we view life situations
One of the purposes of a trial or test is to soften us and cause us to see something we were not able to see before.
Principle: When we begin to see, we will then begin to be transformed.
Job 42:1‑6 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
2 Cor 10:1‑5 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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;
2 Cor 10:5 And we destroy every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ. (ICB)
What you believe and think on is very important because..............
* An idea causes you to live a certain way - it develops a lifestyle
* It produces fruit in your lives - fruit of the spirit or works of the flesh
* Takes you somewhere - into God's purposes or away from them
Words are important because they are spirit and they can be used for good or evil.
Prov 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
If the right words can make us clean and bring life, it should be easy for you to see that the wrong words will make us unclean and bring death into our hearts. So be careful from now on who you listen to for they are scattering seed in your garden that will bring forth some type of fruit in the future.
2 Tim 2:16‑17 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Closing: People act wrong because they think wrong as we shall see.
Prov 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. IT TIME TO CHANGE OUR MIND
