Transformation

1. Class 2 – Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind Transformation

2. The Problem • As we’ve established, there’s nothing about our fleshly mind that is redeemable • We must change our thinking and deaden what is natural to us • Transformation is deep down, below the surface • Spirituality is a natural emergence from a mind aligned with God • And it is a life-long process

3. Robert Roberts, The Law of Moses “When the six days were ended, the earth had been transformed from a dark and lifeless prison house to a beautiful and well-furnished habitation of life and light.”

4. Diseases of the Soul, D. Gillett “The Truth is not just an arrangement whereby men who ought to die, can escape. It is a superlative declaration that ruined men can be remade at the spiritual centre of their life—now and hereafter; not just deliverance from a penalty, but the revelation of Divine righteousness at the disposal of man; not just amelioration, but altogether renewal. Salvation is not only deliverance from death, not only forgiveness of sin; at last it is the power to do right, to master the antagonistic forces of heredity and environment. The enfeebled will is empowered. The paralysis is healed. The bound soul is set at liberty.”

5. The “Marred” Remade • Jeremiah 18:2-6 • “marred” (New Englishman’s) – preterite, past tense. Also used in… • Genesis 6:12 – “And God looked upon the earth, and behold it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” • Jeremiah 13:7 – “Then I went to Euphrates and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.” • Important to note that in this example, it was not the potter’s skill that corrupted or marred. Rather, it speaks of the pottery that of itself had become corrupt and no longer useful • But, instead of discarding the marred pottery, the potter returns (margin) and makes it to what seems good to him

6. Diseases of the Soul, D. Gillett “Those who suffer from this disease deserve help and encouragement. For them too often there are days of despair when the joy of life turns rancid. Too often there are dull days, when the saffron is lost and the shadows stretch ahead. There are days of doubt when Egypt seems nearer than Canaan, when to nurse the failure is easier than striving for the victory. The cure is through confidence. Recovery comes through a restoration of trust. The afflicted must be helped to the conviction that their condition is not unique. They are not too bad for the Physician. They will be no good without him. He believed that broken men were worth dying for, in spite of their bad health. He knew the very worst about men, but clung tenaciously to the belief that in them he could realise the best.”

7. The Ministry of Reconciliation Colossians 1:19-23 • Verse 19 – “all fullness dwell” – pleroma – Thayer’s says it is like an empty ship, being now filled with freight and merchandise, sailors, oarsmen, soldiers • Jesus emptied himself so that what could fill him up was the character and works of his Father • This, then, is the objective for transformation – to empty ourselves and be filled with God’s character • We were once aliens and enemies in our minds • But now, we are reconciled and presented holy, unblameable and unreprovable in his sight

8. What Are We Filling Our Ship With? “Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.” Deuteronomy 7:26

9. Joined to World or Christ? “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined (kollao – to glue, to cleave) to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 Failing to resist sin and fleshly alliances is not just a matter of obedience. It robs us of the power and spirit of the Lord, which he uses to transform us. Join the world and you will conform. Join the Lord and he will transform!

10. How Paul Viewed His Conversion 1 Timothy 1:12-15 “enabled” – endunamoo – to inwardly strengthen, to “instrengthen” “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil. 4:13 (vs. 16) his life was a “pattern” (Greek: horizon – as far as one can see). Chief of the sinners, remade through mercy and longsuffering No matter the qualifications and skills one might possess, we can only be enabled, “instrengthened” by our Lord. Unless we change our thinking and our source of strength, we are “without strength” and impotent - Romans 5:6

11. So, How Does Transformation Actually Occur?

12. Ephesians 4:20-24 “But you have learned nothing like that from Christ, if you have really heard his voice and understood the truth that he has taught you. No, what you learned was to fling off the dirty clothes of the old way of living, which were rotted through and through with lust's illusions, and, with yourselves mentally and spiritually re-made, to put on the clean fresh clothes of the new life which was made by God's design for righteousness and the holiness which is no illusion.” JBP “…be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Here’s the good news! While our fleshly mind is enmity to God, our minds are remade by his teachings!

13. Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformedby the renewingof your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ” “reasonable service” – logikos– “your intelligent service” Darby. “as an act of intelligent service” JBP “transformed” – metamorphoo– to change into another form “renewing”– anakainosis – to adjust, renovate, make new – “by the renovation of your minds” Murdock 1852

14. Metamorphoo “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed (metamorphoo) into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

15. Renovation • Adam and Eve, prior to sin, did not need renovation • Their minds had not been cluttered with fleshly thinking that distanced them from God • Our renovation is to bring our minds back to the spiritual operation always intended – where life would have been without sin • A life in harmony with God’s purpose and His character

16. Renovation - anakainosis

17. Renovation Process • As minds heal from carnal abuse, the Lord re-shapes our thinking • He helps us to remove unneeded walls, low cupboards – the elements of our thinking that are not useful • The mind of Christ is one where all the unhelpful clutter is removed and replaced with a beautiful new design • It is now capable of operating effectively and when used, will produce “God thinking” instead of “Flesh thinking”

18. “Big Words, Little Meanings” – D. Gillett “When a disciple is at peace with God, the world is at peace with him. The sky is bluer, the earth is greener, the flowers brighter, the bird song sweeter. Gradually the world’s allurement is more resistible; its influence more defeatable. A man is saying, “All I counted dear, I count now as dross”. It means that life was won out of death, in order that it could be repeated in those who are called out of darkness into marvellous light.”

19. What Needs Renovation? • Understanding our intrinsic need for change? • Our view of the workplace? • How we perceive our brothers and sisters? • Plans for “golden years” of retirement? • Our jadedness to sin around us? • Conformity to behavior and thinking of the world? • Our pride which blocks true reliance on God?

20. A New Source of Strength

21. Mighty Samson, Now Powerless “Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” Judges 16:27-28

22. Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh” “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

23. What Was that Thorn in the Flesh? • Galatians 4:13-15 • It was this trial that uniquely kept Paul from boasting • This trial uniquely demonstrated the weakness of the flesh and the power of the Word of God What’s your thorn? What may the Lord have put into your life that keeps your need for him in focus, that reminds us of the weakness of the flesh and the power that only resides in our Lord?

24. Minds Open to Transformation “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness… Hebrews 12:9-12 unto them which are exercised thereby.”

25. Renew is to Change Isa. 40:28-31 renew their strength – to change their strength LXX – “…but they that wait on God shall renew their strength; they shall put on new feathers like eagles…”

26. Eagle Feathers • Eaglets are born with juvenile feathers, incapable of flight • They have blood feathers (or pin feathers) on their bodies. • These blood feathers have a shaft that encases the growing feather and feeds it blood (hence the name). • Once the feather grows and unfurls, the shaft will fall off or the eaglet will pull it off. • Eventually the blood feathers will lead to a full coat of feathers and ability to fly

27. Renewal • 2 Corinthians 4:15-16 – note connection to Isaiah 40 • Titus 3:3-6 – “regeneration” palingenesia – new birth, spiritual regeneration • Colossians 3:10 – note RV “being renewed unto knowledge”

28. Transformation Examples

29. Goading of Saints • Psalm 119:65-73 • “before I was afflicted, I went astray” (vs. 67) • “to learn” – lamad – to goad (vs. 71-73) • Compare this to Acts 9:5 As saints being remade, we know that the Lord will be active in goading us to walk in the right way. Like Saul, we may resist, or we can change our thinking and walk aright. We need a commitment to learning!

30. The Teaching Process “O God, thou hast taught (lamad – to goad) me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee! Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.” Psalm 71:17-21

31. Transformed Thinking of Peter • Afraid for his life and unwilling to stand for his Lord, he denies him three times in courtyard at trial • Acts4:24-29 – boldness of preaching, even after being beaten • 1 Peter 4:12-19 – rejoice in sufferings for Christ, commit the keeping of your soul in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator

32. Lesson in Patient Endurance • Luke 9:52-56 • John 4:42 • Acts 1:8 • Acts 8:25

33. Godliness With Contentment • Acts 9:13-16 – “I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” • 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – a thorn in the flesh • Philippians 4:9-13

34. David’s Learning 1 Chronicles 28:2-6 • David could easily have been paralyzed by his rejection as the builder of the Temple • But, he had learned by now to look back in his life and see all the times he was chosen by God • This allowed him to “prepare abundantly before his death” (22:5) • Learning was to focus on what you CAN do, not what you CAN’T – to see what God has done in the past as an assurance of his ability to do so again

35. Jacob’s Reflection on His Life • To Pharaoh – Genesis 47:7-9 • Seventeen years later – Genesis 48:15-16

36. Renovation in Men • The Lord works with men and women to help them change their thinking • Sometimes this is done through goadings that may encourage us to return to right paths • Other times it can be through a life-changing event that shakes one’s world • In the end, the purpose is to reshape our minds and make them conducive to the Lord’s work

37. “Christ Our Righteousness”, Bro, F. Pearce, The Christadelphian, 1992 “This, then, is the true purpose of God with the human creation: to invite those who are willing to hear, to understand this truth. Then of their own will they may choose to order their lives in His ways, developing His spirit instead of their own, and by steady persistence under His influence, to develop characters able to commune with Him. Rejoicing in His ways they will become His “friends”, as Abraham was, and as the faithful followers of Jesus are to him.”

38. So, What Transforms My Mind?

39. The “Engrafted Word” “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21 “engrafted” – emphutos – only place found in Bible. RV uses word “implanted.” Not the same word as “grafted in” in Romans 11:24 about wild and natural olive tree.

40. Perfectly Engrafted Word – Matthew 4:3-10 • “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” • “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” • “For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

41. Keys to Transformation • As His workmanship, God works with us in many ways to renovate our minds • A legalistic approach focuses on using muscular Christianity to extrude good works • But, such “transformations” are imitations that are forced and unnatural and will bring inconsistency and double-mindedness • We must place our labors in the development of the mind of Christ • The fruit will then emerge from deep within – and naturally • Our spiritual development will not feel artificial and will be consistent • It is the “peace” that we seek today

42. Next Session… Prepared Unto All Good Works