School of the MiraculousSample

Renewing Our Mind

When I was growing up, one of my favorite TV cartoons was The Transformers. It was about alien robots who could assume the structure and shape of any machine they scanned. They became whatever they gazed upon. In a much more profound way, we experience a process of spiritual and mental transformation when we continually gaze upon the Lord:

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. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

After years of preaching and teaching the uncompromised Word of God, I have come to the conclusion that there is almost nothing more significant than the supernatural power of a transformed mind. The Bible tells us not to be conformed to the world. The Greek word rendered “conformed” in Romans 12:2 means “to conform one’s self (i.e. one’s mind and character) to another’s pattern, (fashion one’s self according to).” 

We are commanded not to take on the shape of the world, but to take on a higher form by renewing our mind. Simply put, if you want to experience God on a greater level, you must change the way you think!

What Controls You?

Why is change so necessary in this process? I’m glad you asked!

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:15–16)

When the Bible says, “Love not the world,” this isn’t a reference to the physical planet or the people in it, but rather to the fallen world system that operates on the earth. This system is governed by “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Let me be clear: to love the world is not just to participate in sinful activities, such as illicit sex, drugs, or violence. It also includes possessing a “worldly” mind-set. To think like the world and embrace its ideas is just as much loving the world as committing any of the “big” sins we can conceive of.

We must understand how the human senses operate under the influence of the sinful nature. The “lust of the flesh” refers to a preoccupation with being gratified by what we can feel or experience. The “lust of the eyes” is an unwholesome desire to have the things that we see. The “pride of life” is basically vanity. All of these amount to an obsession with, and deification of, the natural senses.

The reality is, sin has conditioned the human race to be preoccupied with our five human senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Yet, when we were born again, we were delivered from being governed by our senses. The senses are God-given and are good and beneficial in themselves, but they are often influenced by the sinful nature, and we were never meant to be controlled by them. We were meant to be governed and controlled by the Spirit of God.

The kingdom of God is governed by a totally different system of rules and regulations than the world is. If we want to function supernaturally, we must be transformed in our priorities and thinking. In the Greek, the word for “transformed” in Romans 12:2 is metamorphoo, meaning “to metamorphose,” “to transform,” or “to change into another form.” Again, note that we are to change forms. This is not a physical transformation (although physical change can be good), but rather a spiritual transformation.

“Be you transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Our thoughts are powerful. The Bible tells us, “For as [a person] thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Our thoughts influence every area of our lives, prompting our attitudes and actions. In order to manifest the will and plan of God, we must embrace a spiritual mind-set.

Secrets of a Spiritual Mind

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

God will not manifest Himself in a way that runs contrary to the Bible because He and His Word are one. (See John 1:1–2.) Thus, a spiritual outlook based on God’s Word and the work of His Spirit is essential for releasing heaven on earth. We already possess the mind of Christ by virtue of the indwelling Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2:16), but we must learn to yield to the mind of Christ daily. This requires us to actively challenge any thoughts that are not in alignment with the Word of God.

Often, it is uncomfortable (and sometimes offensive to us) to confront our wrong thinking. If the Bible clearly reveals a reality that is intended for believers, but it is not manifest in your life, it means your life needs adjustment. You can never base your theology solely on your personal experiences. Yet the more we grow spiritually, our personal experiences should be a reflection of sound theology.

Do you see why it is so important for us to renew our mind? What would happen if we learned to live our lives according to the mind of Christ? What would happen if His thoughts became our thoughts? How would this change the fabric of our spiritual experience? Every time we renew our mind, we gain access to greater dimensions of God’s glory and power!

Imagine for a moment a caterpillar. It spends the early part of its life crawling on the ground, eating leaves. Then, one day, it surrounds itself with a cocoon so that it can undergo metamorphosis. While in this protective case, it begins to change into a different type of insect. After the process is complete, it emerges from the cocoon as a butterfly. Now it can fly! The potential to be a butterfly was latent until the transformation took place. The same is true of you and me. Like the caterpillar, we must undergo a transformation to release the full potential that God has placed within us. The renewal of our minds is the catalyst for this supernatural transformation in our lives. The difference between a “caterpillar Christian” and a “butterfly Christian” is the way they think.