Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind!

Romans 12:1-2

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

I said this before in another post, but I must say it again; To read the scriptures and agree with them is one thing but to LIVE THE REALITY of the truths of scripture is entirely different!

Being transformed by the renewing of your mind is one such scripture that must become a reality for those in Christ, before we can begin to fully understand what the Spirit was speaking through Paul when the scripture was written.

G3339. metamorphoo met-am-or-fo'-o from 3326 and 3445; to transform (literally or figuratively, "metamorphose"):--change, transfigure, transform.

Transform 1 a: to change in composition or structure b: to change the outward form or appearance of c: to change in character or condition : convert (Merriam Webster)

To be transformed means to become something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than what you are now, physically AND spiritually!. To be changed into something else! The closest comparison to the transformation that Christians can experience in Christ is that of the Caterpillar's change into a Butterfly. 

2nd Corinrhians 3:17-18

"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Those who are in Christ and are pressing on to holiness and maturity are literally being transformed into the SAME IMAGE as our Lord and Savior!

So here's a few questions: Are you experiencing transformation and conformation into the image of Christ? Physically and spiritually? When you look at yourself in the mirror do you ever see manifestations of Jesus? Do you see and feel life in your body? Peace, joy, and love in your eyes? Do you see the face of an angel looking back at you? If not, then you must ask yourself why not?

In the scriptures we find one of the first martyrs, Stephen, who experienced the physical and spiritual transformation into the image of Christ. He was full of the Spirit, faith, and wisdom of God.

Acts 6:1-6

"Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them."

Acts 6:8-15

"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel."

Can we walk upon the face of this earth full of faith, power, wisdom, and the Spirit of God? I tell you YES!!! 

Can our faces be shining so full of light, glory, and beauty, that people behold our faces like those of angels? I tell you YES!!! 

As it was in the first century, so shall it be in the twenty first century!!

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone

Renewal Of The Mind

Esta mensagem tambem esta escrita em Portugues: "Renovacao da Mente" dia 01 de Marco de 2013

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed * to this world*, but be transformed *by the renewing* of your mind, that you may prove* what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

*conformed - 4964- suschematizo soos-khay-mat-id'-zo from 4862 and a derivative of 4976; to fashion alike, i.e. conform to the same pattern (figuratively):--conform to, fashion self according to.

*world - 165 - aion ahee-ohn' from the same as 104; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future):--age, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the , while the) world (began, without end). Compare 5550.

* be transformed - 3339 -  metamorphoo met-am-or-fo'-o from 3326 and 3445; to transform (literally or figuratively, "metamorphose"):--change, transfigure, transform.

met·a·mor·pho·sis (mt-môrf-ss)- (the free dictionary)

n. pl. met·a·mor·pho·ses (-sz)
1. A transformation, as by magic or sorcery.
2. A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function.
3. Biology A change in the form and often habits of an animal during normal development after the embryonic stage. Metamorphosis includes, in insects, the transformation of a maggot into an adult fly and a caterpillar into a butterfly and, in amphibians, the changing of a tadpole into a frog.
4. Pathology A usually degenerative change in the structure of a particular body tissue.

* renewing - 342 - anakainosis an-ak-ah'-ee-no-sis from 341; renovation:--renewing.

Renew (dictionary online) - to make like new : restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection, to make new spiritually ; to restore to existence ; to make extensive changes in ; to do again ; to begin again ; to become new or as new, etc...

* prove - 1381. dokimazo dok-im-ad'-zo from 1384; to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve:--allow, discern, examine, X like, (ap-)prove, try.

Meditating in the whole verse now: Do not conform/adapt with the same pattern/example of this world, this era, do not adequate to the same things that you see in this world, do not mold according to what the world shows you as a sample. But change from one way to another, change your way of life, change your character completely. And this change we know that can only occur with the work of the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. And all this is for you to experience, to prove, to discern, to allow what is the good, perfect and pleasant will OF GOD. We need to suffer a metamorphosis and we need to live according to the principles of God and not of the world where we live. Remember the process that the butterfly passes to be a beautiful butterfly and colorful and that makes the difference in the gardens. It is not born as a butterfly...it is transformed into one!

1 Peter 1:13-18

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,"

We need to ask God to renew our minds because He desires that we live a life of holiness, and that our conduct be holy all the time during our stay upon the face of this earth, and verse 18 speaks clearly that we also received traditions in our education, coming from our parents that are not conformed to what God wants us to do  (which most likely our parents received from their parents and their parents from their parents and go on and on...) that need to be conformed with the way God wants us to live for Him and not how our parents want us to live, even though as Christians we should respect and honor our parents.

Romans 7: 18,25

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

After we become children of God and the residence of the Spirit of God, He guides us, He is the one who helps us to do everything God desires from us, and as a child of God we mortify our flesh, not doing the will of the flesh anymore, but the will of God.

Romans 8:13

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Question: Is there a way to make carnal changes, changes that you yourself can make in habits and experience the good, pleasant and perfect will of God? The answer is: NO! Because all changes we make fleshly they can profit your flesh very little, but they cannot transform your inner man which is what God expects from us to be conformed to His image and likeness upon the face of this earth. Only the Spirit of God indwelling in us gives us the certainty to be made the likeness of our Creator! God desires us to be His image on the earth and in our inner man and in all our conduct  in EVERYTHING we do. He expects us to do EVERYTHING for His Glory, not for our glory! We are created to please God and not our flesh!

2 Corinthians 3:18

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Romans 8:28-29

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Now stop and meditate: What in your life conformed to the world? What are the thoughts you have that are worldly? Do you keep yourself worried about what to eat, what to wear, etc... as the world does? Do you keep yourself busy with everything is not related to the Kingdom of God?

And to all the saints, those who profess to be born from above: We cannot live according to the old man that was always deceived with the lusts of the eyes, the flesh and the pride of life, if we were instructed correctly in how to proceed to have a holy life we need to get rid of the old and we need to have our minds renewed and put on the new man and live in righteousness and holiness every day and everywhere we go.

Ephesians 4:17-24

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:9-10

9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

Galatians 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Medite: And you: Are you already crucified in Christ? Does Christ live in you?

Galatians 5:16

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Romans 6: 4, 13

4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Meditate: How have you been using the members of your body: For the glory of God or for iniquity and sin?

Now you can ask me: So, what can I do to change things that I know are in me or even the things I don't know that are in me in order to be made the image and likeness of God?

- Listen to the genuine message of the good news and believe in it

- Repent from your sins. The word repent -  3340- metanoeo met-an-o-eh'-o from 3326 and 3539; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction):--repent.

- Be baptized in the waters and you shall receive the promise of the Holy Spirit which seals you for the new covenant (the order here can be different, but this will depend on God)

- Persevere in the doctrine of the apostles, in the communion, breaking the bread and in prayers until the Lord Jesus Christ calls us home or until His Second Coming.

If you wish more details of what is to be born again and also about the Holy Spirit indwelling in our vessels, please read the messages in the link below:

What does it mean to be born again?
http://gospelofthekingdomofgod.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-does-it-mean-to-be-born-again.html
The Holy Spirit: Is He IN you?
http://gospelofthekingdomofgod.blogspot.com/2010/10/true-conversion-baptism-in-spirit.html

Are you prepared for a metamorphosis in your mind?

 

May God bless your understanding and give you faith to believe His words that never lie,

In Christ's love,

Cynthia R. Palmer