From Tiffany | CCW Staff
Recently a couple staff members were discussing the renewing of one’s mind. They were referring to youth who had mental stumbling blocks that are a different shape than most of ours. We all have them, in one form or another. They are the roots and stones that you stub your toe on, or the ones that trip you up when the light gets dim. This caused me to jump headlong into the study of the renewing of one’s mind.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
Define Transform | To change markedly the appearance or form of; To change the nature, function, or condition of; To change in character(The Free Dictionary, Merriam-Webster).
Tyndale’s Life Application Study Bible puts it this way, “Paul warned Christians: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world” that are usually selfish and often corrupting. Wise Christians decide that much worldly behavior is off-limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this world’s values, however, must go even deeper than just behavior and customs; it must be firmly planted in our mind…Only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects our minds are we truly transformed.”
This begs the question…How do we become transformed?
As the Psalmist, David, says to meditate on the Word of God.
“O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all Thy commandments. I will praise Thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned Thy righteous judgments. I will keep Thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. . .I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.” (Psalms 119:5-16)
The things we should be filling our mind and spirits with are these: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance(Galatians 5:22-23)
James 3:17-18 speaks of wisdom. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
The trading out of the old for the new.
Our minds are like sponges. We soak things up. When we wring out the old dirty water, it allows room for fresh clean water. Make certain that the new water that is being absorbed is going to bring life, His pure life. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”(Philippians 4:8-9)
Through Christ we have the strength of overcoming. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) What a great comfort to know that even though we face trials and hardships, physically and spiritually, no matter what we face HE is greater than all.
As Christians, God has given us a “sound mind” and the opportunity to use it for His will. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”( II Timothy 1:7 ) Take hold of this promise. We have to put off the old man, the old filth that can be the plague of our minds. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”(James 1:21-22) Resist evil, and fight the battle on God’s side. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”(James 4:7-8)
We are created in His image. He wants us to strive to be perfect, as Christ was perfect, the Spotless Lamb. “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”(Ephesians 4:22-24) God created in righteousness and true holiness…Revelation 4:11 speaks about how all things were created by God and for His pleasure. He values each and every one’s life. For His pleasure we were created for good. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” He tells us to seek after Him, we are His pleasure and He longs to be close to us. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”(Matthew 7:7-8)
The proverbial “dying to self” allows the Holy Spirit reign within us. We need to give God the reigns and let Him take over. This doesn’t mean allow apathy or passivity to creep into your character; instead it means to let Him be the Commander as you carry out the mission.
Smith Wigglesworth defines dying to self as “dying to desire.”
Dying Brings Life
“…for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2Cor 12:10
I must understand how mortality can be “swallowed up” (2Cor 5:4). I must know how the old body, the old tendencies to the fallen nature, may be swallowed up. There is a verse we must come to. It would serve us to look at it now: “Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2Cor 4:10).
What is this “dying of the Lord”? It is dying to desire. In the measure that we look to one another for our help, we lose faith in God. If you rely upon any man or woman, upon any human assistance, to help you, you fall out of the greater purpose God has for you.
You must learn that no earthly source can ever assist you in this. You are going to this realm of life only by mortality being swallowed up by life: “And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal 2:20). It is a process of dying and living.
This life I am speaking about absolutely ravishes you. It absolutely severs you from earthly connections. It absolutely disjoins you from all earthly help. And I can understand this word now more than ever: “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin” (Heb 12:4).
The great striving to the point of bloodshed–blood being the very essence of life–we have not yet resisted to that degree, but we will. I know the Scripture says we have not, but I know it means that we have not arrived there yet. But thank God, we are in it in a measure. (Excerpt from Smith Wigglesworth Devotional)
This is just a small tidbit of my findings…
Next step: Launch out!
Thus saith the Lord unto His people: lo, ye have touched only the fringes. Yea, thou hast lingered upon the shore lines. Launch out, yea, launch out upon the vast bosom of My love and mercy, yea, My mighty power and limitless resources.
For lo, if thou wouldst enter into all that I have for thee, thou must walk by faith upon the waters. Thou must relinquish forever thy doubts; and thy thoughts of self-preservation thou must forever cast aside. For I will carry thee, and I will have chosen and prepared for thee. Thou shalt not take even the first step in thine own strength.
For thou art not able in thyself — even as flesh is ever unable to walk the way of the Spirit, but Mine arm shall uphold thee, and the power of My Spirit shall bear thee up.
Yea, thou shalt walk upon the waves, and the storm shall but drive thee more quickly to the desired port.
Chart and compass shalt thou not need, for, lo, My Spirit shall direct thy goings, and are not the winds held in My fist?
Be not fearful but believing.
(Excerpt from Come Away My Beloved, King’s Farspan, Inc. 1970
Frances J. Roberts)
