A Renewing Mind (2)

Romans 12:1-2

In the Armenian sermon I stressed the importance of making a commitment to God. I highlighted how we can be a “living sacrifice” and I said that worship is daily life. I said it is not just a decision; it is a commitment.

Let me illustrate with this story:

-A pig and hen were walking in the street and they saw a sign that read “Serving Breakfast for the Poor.” The chicken said to pig, “Let us donate eggs and ham for this kitchen.”

“Not so fast” said the pig. “For you it will be just a contribution; for me it will be total commitment.”

We are in the business of TOTAL COMMITMENT.

In order to continue to present our bodies as living sacrifices, we need a mind, a new mindset, a constantly renewing mind, “the mind of Christ” as Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 2.

Let me read verse 2 again: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Two important words : Do not conform, and be transformed.

-The Greek word is syschematizo which means: to conform one's self to another's pattern, (fashion one's self according to).

-It is to be transformed from the outside. I am not longer like when I was at 17 years of age. Although I am the same person, my external appearance is changing year by year. Now Paul is saying, “You don’t have to adopt the fashions of this world.” It does not mean we should wear strange clothes and be alienated from the world. No, yet we do not have to chose the worldly lifestyle that we face every day. Do not be like chameleons.

So what do we do?

-Be transformed. The Greek word is: metamorphoo. This is an inner change, which has observable outward manifestation. This you cannot do by yourself. Only God can change our inner being.

-It starts from offering ourselves as living sacrifices to Jesus.

-It starts when we worship God in our daily life, worship is not a song it is lifestyle.

-It happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, shape our minds.

-It is the work of the Holy Spirit but also needs cooperation from the believer.

-This is commitment, a serious commitment to have the mind of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

The easy way to remember this concept is this: to change the way you think.

How can we do this practically?

- It is a process.

It takes time. I became a Christian when I was 17. Remember from the Galatians that it takes time to learn to walk in the Spirit. There is no graduation. The further I nourish my mind with Spiritual things, the more I find God’s will in my life -something which is perfect and pleasing. When God’s Spirit dwells in us, He teaches us a new way of thinking.

-Now examine your life. Most of us spend 40-60 hours working in some kind of occupation. We spend hours with nonbeliever colleagues, friends. We drive and hear all kinds of programs and music. TV, movies and media are strong “teachers” influencing our lives. Our job is to cooperate with God’s Spirit by seeking to nurture our minds with information that will reprogram our thinking and it will be in line with the values of God.

Today is renewal Sunday. Let me call it commitment Sunday.

What are we committing to?

1. We are committing to be disciples of Jesus. We cannot have the mind of Jesus if we do not allow ourselves to be teachable. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you daily to understand His word and apply it in your life. Commit yourself to have a daily devotional time with God, reading His Word, meditating on it, and applying it.

Paul says it well: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Phil 3:12)

2. Collective commitment. I don’t know how one can be a Christian or practice Christianity without a body. Commit yourself to our church, or any church God is calling you to. At CACC, I need soldiers who are committed to the local body. In the Armenian sermon I gave the example of a plane which needs to take off. Without commitment we cannot take off. We can make noise, and stay on the ground.

Please be part of a group. We live in a large area; CACC has different local groups to meet your needs. Be part of a Bible study group. It helps you to have the Renewing Mind of Christ. One of my favorite times is our local small group Bible studies. Right there we are community. We learn from the Word of God and we shape each other. “Iron shapes iron.”

3. Commitment to a ministry. CACC has many ministries. Stop complaining that nothing happens in CACC.

The Word of God says all of us have gifts; we need to put them in practice. Stop being a spectator; be a performer.

Let me finish with Paul as he concludes that the Spirit of God is our tutor in giving us a new mind:

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words (1Cor. 10-13)

Let us approach the Table that our Lord prepared for us. Let us examine our lives before the cross. Through the sacrifice of Jesus we can confess and receive a new life and make a commitment.

Amen