Romans 12:2 – Renewing – International Smallgroup

Teaching from Steve

The verse in various translations

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:2 ESV)

Do not conform 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. (Rom 12:2 NIV)

And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. (Rom 12:2 AMP)

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Rom 12:2 MSG)

Pattern of this world…

The pattern of this world belongs to Satan, and it has ever since Adam fell to temptation. Because of this, we are born into sin, and so we sin, along with the rest of the world. The world, or “the dominion of darkness” has particular ways and goes round by certain means. Every Christian who is saved is saved out of that dominion, that pattern, and that way of thinking and doing things.

As followers of Jesus, we are taught that everything is exactly the opposite of what we once thought. Our renewed spirit is totally different and agrees with the ways of Heaven, but our flesh is not yet renewed, therefore it has embedded within it old habits that run according to the “elementary principles of the world.” In order for our old flesh to fall into line with our new spirit, and the Holy Spirit within us, our minds must be transformed by renewal.

Only then will God’s ways, higher than our own (Isa 55:9), truly begin to look as lovely as they are. The mind is renewed by intention and feeding it the truth.

Renewable – unending source of power..

Other meanings? E.g. Renewal of subscription.. etc..

What Does ‘Renewing of the Mind’ Mean in the Bible? Simply stated, renewing your mind according to Romans 12:2 means interpreting life through the lens of God’s Word and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, rather than through the lens of your experience, woundedness, trauma, preferences, or the opinions of others.

How: Holy Spirit … convicting us of sin and leading us to repentance.

Allow Holy Spirit to lead you.
Spend time in prayer . Speaking in tongues.
Meditate on God s word.
Hear the voice of God.
Obey God.
Set your mind on things which are above.

11 ways to be renewed

1. Resurrender

Renewal begins by offering up our whole body, soul, mind and spirit to the Lord. Luke 10:27 “”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind…” It takes a conscious effort to present oneself to the Lord by disciplining ourselves for godliness. Paul urges us to be present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Every day we are required to re-surrender, re-submit and realign our mind, will and emotions with the purposes of God

2. Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord Always – Phil 4:4…
“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”. – New 8:10

When we find our strength through the joy of the Lord He renews our desire to please Him in all respects. By delighting in the Lord He gives us the desires of our hearts. Regardless of our circumstances His joy is transcendent over all disappointments, difficulties and discouragements.

3. Remember

Remember the good things you have and are becoming in Christ. Do not fall back into mediocrity and self destructive tendencies

Sometimes we as Christians need to stop along life’s road and look back. Although it might have been winding and steep, we can see how God directed us by His faithfulness. Here’s how F.E. Marsh described what the Christian can see when he looks back:

The deliverances the Lord has wrought (Deut 5:15).
The way He has led (Deut 8:2)
The blessings He has bestowed (Deut 32:7-12).
The victories He has won (Deut 11:2-7).
The encouragements He has given (Jos 23:14).

When we face difficulties, we sometimes forget God’s past faithfulness. We see only the detours and the dangerous path. But look back and you will also see the joy of victory, the challenge of the climb, and the presence of your traveling Companion who has promised never to leave you nor forsake you.

4. Reckon

RECKON yourself as dead to old desires and be filled with the Spirit’s power, perspective and guidance.

Too many people allow the old desires to be fed instead of feeding from the Spirit’s supernatural forces. Calculate all the benefits you have in Christ’s forgiveness, hope, faith and love. Compare these benefits with the empty promises offered by fleshly desires.

“He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

5. Reconsider

All of the negative conditioning that has led you in the past and realize you need to reprogram your thinking to what is excellent, good, honourable, right, true, and worthy of praise. Without an effort to reconsider how our faulty assumptions affect our decision making we will tend to operate under the same old destructive thought patterns.

6. Replace

REPLACE what is fleshly with what is God’s word. Paul wrote, “Put away anger, jealousy, wrath, slander and clamour and put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other just as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:22-32).. Let God’s word dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with songs and hymns and spiritual songs. “Singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do, do it all in the name and the authority of Jesus” (Col. 3:16-17).

7. Realize

REALIZE God’s will for your life is what is best in all situations. “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God and the peace of God that passes all comprehension will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). People are not aware that God’s will is better than all human ways, our human perspectives and our human patterns of response. A full realization of God’s will is only made possible through prayerful petitions that allow the Spirit of God to work in and through us by His power. Prayerful people are better able to perceive what God wants to bring to life through and in their relationships, activities and ministries.

8. Reconcile

RECONCILE with those who are in conflict with you by addressing them as brothers or sisters. Paul writes, “I beseech you therefore, brethren.” Even though Paul was a great apostle, he humbly addresses mean, unkind and uncaring people as brethren. He expresses affection, concern and kindness to those who are least deserving of it. Bless those who persecute you and pray for those who try to do you harm. Be liberal in your love with expressions of thankfulness, warmth and support for their needs as far as it is possible.

9. Resist

RESIST the conformity to the world. Know that the greatest enemy to renewal is conformity to the patterns of the world with its lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and boastful pride of life. If people provoke us we are not to lose our cool. We are not to be boastful, argumentative or rude when we are criticized. We are to not be divisive when we do not get our way. We are to not prematurely write people off because they do not measure up to our standards. The rule of the gospel is positive, not the politically correct mentality of going along to get along.

10. Reconsider

RECONSIDER the effects that renewal brings in leading us to the will of God. We will be given greater clarity, hope and fulfilment through the will of God which is good, acceptable and perfect. People who are in the will of God are healthier, more blessed and able to make the best out of the most adverse situations. They are maximizing their contributions for eternity. They will be promoted to positions of great responsibility not only in this life but also in the one to come. “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much” Luke 6:10-12. We will gain a greater sense of God’s favour and of those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. We will find ourselves living with greater love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. We will not fall into patterns of depression, anger or fear that our needs will not be met. We are overcomers with good rather than victims of what is evil.

11. Recharge

RECHARGE your batteries with His grace. Paul writes, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but think so as to have sound judgment as God has allotted to each of measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3). God infuses new energy, vitality and ideas in to our mind when we are renewed by His word, His Spirit and the fellowship of other believers. Do not think you can go very long on self-charging of your spiritual batteries. We need the recharging of God’s grace given through the edification, encouragement and enrichment of other members of Christ’s body and their spiritual gifts.