Renewal of the Mind part 1

[joannbkkpr]

RENEWAL OF THE MIND

What is the renewal of the mind?
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:5a
New is the key word here. The great I AM is not going to make things better. He is going to make ALL THINGS NEW. Better has a past…New has a future…
The Mind: A Battlefield

The mind of man is a man’s thinking organ. Through the mind, we know, think, imagine, recollect and understand. The intellectual power, rationality, wisdom, and intelligence of man all belong to the mind. Our mind is everything related to our brain. The mind is psychology is the brain in physiology. The mind occupies a big part in man’s life because the mind directs man’s life because the mind directs man’s conduct the most.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5; For though we walk in flesh, we do not war according to flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful before God for the overthrowing of strongholds, as we overthrow reasonings and every high thing rising up against the knowledge of God and take captive every thought unto obedience of Christ.
At the time you are saved your mind is changed. God wants your mind to have this change before He can give you life. Then you can receive a new heart and start on the adventure of RENEWAL.

The heart runs after the mind…emotion is identified by the mind and used appropriately for God’s glory. Then emotion and reason can work together in renewal.

Situation:
Your mate/friend does something that really hurts you. Anger results and you act on it by snapping back with a hurtful remark. You believe you did this because you were hurt. “Well, I just hurt, and it made me angry…this is the just who I am.” I want to be “right” instead of in relationship.

Suggestions:
• Think through the situation (function of the mind) and direct the heart to identify with own or other’s feelings. (Do I really think this person whom I have been in relationship with would deliberately hurt me?)
• Decide what to do with what you are feeling, not justify what the heart may have already decided.

(Okay I am feeling angry (emotion/heart) …mind, what should I do with these feelings? And God’s word says “not to let the sun go down on anger” if you have ought, seek out the one and talk)

Example
You didn’t snap at your spouse because you were hurt. You did it because you let your heart decide your course of action rather than a renewed mind inspired by the Holy Spirit. You have the right to feel, but not to hurt others. You have emotions, don’t deny this, but rely on the renewed mind to decide on a response instead of a reaction.

The Three Thoughts:
• God’s thoughts
• Your thoughts
• Enemy thoughts

The enemy cannot read your mind, but God can. A thought is in the mind grasping a matter …unstoppable train of thought is a matter of grasping the mind. What does the un-renewed mind look like? Because the enemy is against the renewal of your mind, he will obstruct this renewal causing you to become ignorant, forgetful, diminished in the pursuit of renewal.

Examples of Each:
• Improper thoughts
• Misunderstanding God’s truth
• Receiving suggestions from the enemy
• Empty mindedness
• Passivity of the mind

Deliverance/Renewal’s First Step: Regaining the Ground

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV, We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Ephesians 4:17-18 ESV, 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

• Let’s start with THE GREAT DECEPTION: “ITS JUST THE WAY I AM!”
• So, I don’t talk about it, everything will be fine, it’s the way I am.
• So, if I won’t look down, I won’t fall …cuz that’s the way I am.
• When I am rejected or have a bad habit, it will go away, I just won’t care, that’s the way I am.
• Ill just pretend that I have tried to change, couldn’t do it, so it must be the way God made me.
• My father was angry, so it is natural for me to be angry that’s the way my family is.
• I’ve been this way all my life.
• I just have an assertive personality, that’s the way I am.

Paths to Renewal
• Knowing renewal is the key to living as a Christian.
• Overcoming the mindsets that keep us bound.
• Walk in the Spirit, with a renewed mind that line up with God’s word.
• Thinking that is sound and subject to God’s way of doing things.
• To not walk in the flesh.
• To understand that the mind is the control center of our lives.
• That our thought patterns and beliefs inform and shape our behavior.
• That in the renewal of the mind we enter into the most important part of our walk with God.
• That you can break any habit or behavior by making a willful decision to renew your mind daily through the mediation and study of God’s Word.
• The renewal of your mind is not a one-time done, but an ongoing process that must continue throughout our lives.
• That our minds can be renewed to the point where even our subconscious thoughts and automatic responses become aligned with the word of God.

SO
Re-surrender:
Renewal begins by offering up our whole body, soul, mind and spirit to the LORD.

Rejoice:
Rejoice in the Lord always…

Remember:
• The good things you have and are becoming in Christ.
• The deliverances the Lord as brought.
• The way He has led us.
• The blessings He has bestowed us.
• The victories He has won in your life.
• The encouragement He has given and has prompted others to give you.

Reckon:
You are dead to old desires and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, His perspective and guidance.

Reconsider:
Any and all negative conditionings that has led you in the past. Understand that the renewal of the mind maximizes health, provision, and help in adverse situations.

Realize:
You need to reprogram your thinking to what is excellent, good honorable, right, true and worthy.

Replace:
What is fleshly with what is God’s word, with Spirit controlled scriptural principles. Let God’s word dwell in you richly. Pray for God’s will to work in and through you by His power.

Reconcile:
With anyone you are in conflict with. Bless those who persecute you and pray for those who will not reconcile with you. Be liberal in your love.

Resist:
Conformity to the world. Resist the worldly mentality of going along to get along.

Recharge:
Do not think you can go very long on self-charging of your spiritual batteries. You need to recharging of God’s grace given through the edification, encouragement and enrichment of other members of Christ’s body. You are not alone.

Rethink:
There may be better ways to use your spiritual gifts with others. Fellowship, relationships, and ministry is where God wants to maximize your usefulness and He will partner with you in the Kingdom work.

The exchange is the mind of Christ for yours.
THE ADVENTURE AND JOURNEY OF RENEWAL OF THE MIND IN CHRIST BEGINS WHEN THE COMFORTABLE PATTERNS OF THE OLD LIFE ARE LEFT BEHIND. -David Roher