BE TRANSFORMED: PURSUING GOD’S HEART FOR

FAMILIESAvril Vavrosky L.Th; MA

OMF International Missionary

Vice President of United Prayer Ministry

TRANSFORMATION LEADS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY

SESSION THREE

What Is A Transformed Family?

This session will deal with what the transformed life looks like for families. What does it mean to reflect the Lord’s glory: in ourselves, marriage and family? What does it mean to have the mind of Christ? Is it true that all battles are fought in the mind: whether you will be happy or sad, fat or thin, happily married or miserable, healthy or sickly begin in the mind? Just how powerful is the mind? What control do I have over my mind? What is God’s role in all of this and what part are we subject to the fallen world?

I. THE CHRISITAN’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom. 12:2a)

Romans 12:2The Message

Place Your Life before God

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.

A. EXEGESIS

1. Conform. (1 Pet. 1:14; 1 Jn. 2:15) suschematizo i.e. conform to the same pattern, fashion self according to

• God does not want us conformed to this present world system and its values and false belief systems. The word refers to conforming oneself to the outer fashion or accommodating oneself to a model/pattern.

Exegesis

2. Pattern of this world: with all its evil and corruption cf. 1 Cor. 1:20; II Cor. 10:2; 1 Jn.2:15. Paul implies here that the present world system is evil and under Satan’s control.

Exegesis

3. Transformed: The same word is used for transfiguration. To make a thorough or dramatic change in character or form. Here it is a process, not a single event. (Titus 3:5)

4. Renewing is a continuous, present tense. 2 Cor. 4:16; Col. 3:10; Eph; 4:23 Ps. 51:10. Here it means to make new spiritually, restore, renovate

B. APPLICATION

The world has an enormous influence on our mind and ultimately on our life and marriage.

This is worldly wisdom which God says is foolish to Him. (1 Cor. 3:19) Paul knows that all battles are first won or lost in the mind, hence the need to renew the mind. You have the world and Satan battling for your mind. We must prepare by being alert to erroneous thinking (1 Peter 1:13). Someone once said, “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a destiny.”

Application

The word “schematic” comes from suschematizo and is an electronic wiring diagram. God does not want His children programmed by the world’s value system but rather by the Word of God. In other words, who we are cannot be defined by music, movies, TV, art, fashion or even society. As we live according to God’s standards set forth in His Word, we live as free and powerful people. We are then safe, protected and blessed. God’s favor is all over our lives.

Application

2. The Bible is full of truth about the importance of controlling our minds.

a. Unbelievers set their minds on what comes naturally to humans—pursuing sensual, selfish or materialistic things (Rom. 8:5-7).

b. God gives disobedient people over to their depraved minds (Rom. 1:28).

c. We have to be careful that our minds aren’t led away from pure devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:2-3).

d. Controlling our thoughts is a vital part of spiritual warfare (2 Cor. 10:4-5). 

e. “Set your mind on things above” Col. 3:2.

II. GOD’S STANDARD FOR THE MIND

1. Alive (Rom. 8:6) – Rom. 8:6: “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”

2. Peaceful (Rom. 8:6 ) (Amplified Bible) Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

God’s standard for the mind.

3. Single-minded – the mind of Christ is single-minded: “But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3)

God’s standard for the mind.

4. Lowly: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3)

5. Pure: “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.” (Titus 1:15) Here purity is described as the natural state of believers. The impure are corrupt.

God’s standard for the mind.

6. Sensitive and Responsive – this implies a spiritual sensitivity to God and is imperative for spiritual growth. “Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. (Ephesians 4:19). The opposite of sensitivity is callous, past feeling, hardened heart and cold towards the things of God.

The opposite of:

• Alive = death;

• Peaceful = chaotic;

• Single-minded = worldly;

• Lowly = proud;

• Pure = impure and corrupt;

• Sensitive and responsive = callous, hardened and unresponsive

III. HOW TO PRACTICALLY DEVELOP THE MIND OF CHRIST• A. AREAS THAT CAN BE GOOD OR

BAD

• Habits

• Loyalties

• Relationships

• Prejudices

A. AREAS THAT CAN BE GOOD OR BAD

• Ambitions

• Duties

• Debt

• Possessions/hoarding

B. AREAS THAT ARE DAMAGING

• Fear (2 Tim. 1:7)

• Mental Health Issues (Isa. 26:3; 61:1-3)

• Emotional Bondage (Isa. 61:1-3)

• Weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:10)

• Diseases (Ps. 103:3)

B. AREAS THAT ARE DAMAGING

• Hurts (Isa. 61:1-3)

• Worry (Phil. 4:6-7; 2 Cor. 10:5)

• Lack of faith/trust (Heb. 11:6)

• Unforgiveness (Matt. 6:12)

• Pride and Arrogance (Prov. 8:13)

C. ACTION STEPS TO A RENEWED MIND

1. Scripture renews the mind. Pray Scripture over the area that needs renewing. Find all the verses that pertain to your problem and then study those verses until your mind is renewed.

2. Change your thinking. Paul says that you are to think in a certain way, God’s way. Phil. 4. You have to train your mind. Every time a negative one comes forward, confess that immediately and change it to a positive. I prefer to replace the negative thought with a Scripture verse that fits.

Action Steps

3. How do I know that my mind is renewed? It’s simple: the renewed mind changes the way you think, feel and act. Want to know if your thoughts have been renewed? Think of something that used to upset you, a person, circumstance etc.

4. Fill your mind with these thoughts: who I am in Christ; God never leaves me or forsakes me; think on all the things that God does for you.

Action Steps

5. Develop a thankful heart and mind. Each day I write down 5 things where I saw God at work in my life yesterday. Most days I come up with a page of things that God did for me. Incidentally, those who have a thankful heart are more psychologically sound than those who are not, according to the Medical field!

Action Steps

6. If you want to be happy, even in difficult times, you must think rightly. How do you do that?

• A. Screen your thoughts. Let the Word of God be the grid of your mind. Reject the thoughts that aren’t compatible with the Bible. Ask yourself these questions:

Action StepsScreen your thoughts

– What’s the source? – Where will it lead me? – Is this scripturally sound? – Is this thought going to build me up or tear me

down? – Can I share this thought with someone else? – Does this thought make me feel guilty? – Does this fit who I am as a follower of Jesus?

Action Steps

B. Reject ungodly thoughts. – If you ask yourself the questions above and

realize the thought isn’t godly, choose not to think about it again.

C. Cultivate godly thoughts. – Dwell on things that are good and practice

living out those thoughts (Phil. 4:4-9).

D. RENEWED MIND RESULTS IN A TRANSFORMED MIND

Spiritual transformation…….Is essential, not optional, for followers of

ChristIs a gradual process and does not happen

overnight.Requires my obedience Requires my participation and God’s help

Renewed Mind…Transformed Mind

Takes place through relationships, experiences and spiritual practices, helping me conform to the image of Christ and helping me relate to others

Results in a changed life, every aspect of my life which flows over into my lifestyle, relationships, work and play.

Takes place constantly in accordance with how much you yield your life to Christ. The more you submit the greater and more dramatic the transformation.

Renewed Mind…Transformed Mind

Is not confined to a set of rules or principles to follow – it is spontaneous, and often you are not even aware that transformation is going on until one day you realize that things are different!

Is not self-serving, individualistic, but takes place in community and finds expression in serving others

Renewed Mind…Transformed Mind

Is the covenant right of all God’s children and is not confined to your background, educational standard, social standing, and your age or even you personality. If you desire spiritual transformation it is available right now. You can begin your journey. You don’t need to wait until you are “holy”.

Renewed Mind…Transformed Mind

Is gauged by your love for God and His people.

Means that we agree with Him about what’s good and evil in this world. We share His values and begin to think like Him (2 Cor. 2:16).

IV. CONFESSION

• Who you will be in the future is a result of what you think in the present. If you don’t like where you’re headed, begin to think godly, positive thoughts, and God will change your destiny.

• See handout. Use the handout for confession. If the Holy Spirit convicted you of anything else in this session, then please confess this too.