Being TRANSFORMED for GOD EVERYDAY, Pt. 2

BEING A BELIEVER EVERYDAY

Rom 12:2; Selected Scriptures
By
D.Z. Cofield, Th. M., D. Min.
May 30, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Ephesians 4:17-24 (ESV) – Now this I say and testify in the Lord,
that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of
their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated
from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to
their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have
given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of
impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him,
as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to
your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on
the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness
and holiness.

Being TRANSFORMED for GOD Everyday, Pt. 1

1. You need to realize the WORLD is constantly trying to CONFORM you to its IMAGE.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) – 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.

Romans 12:2 (Phillips NT) – Don’t let the world around you
squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds
from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God
for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal
of true maturity.

2. You must CONTINUALLY give God your MIND.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) – 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.

Romans 12:2 (Phillips NT) – Don’t let the world around you
squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds
from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God
for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal
of true maturity.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV) – And even if our gospel is veiled, it is
veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this
world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from
seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the
image of God.

Romans 8:5-8 (ESV) – For those who live according to the flesh
set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live
according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on
the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is
hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Being TRANSFORMED for GOD Everyday, Pt. 2

1. You need to realize the evidence your mind has been
renewed will be seen in your ability to FIND and FOLLOW
God’s will.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) – 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.

Discern (prove – KJV) –

Note also how the will of God is described. God’s will is said to be…

• GOOD (agathon): beneficial, rich, bountiful, suitable, moral.

• ACCEPTABLE (euareston): pleasing, satisfactory, welcomed.

• PERFECT (teleios): without error or mistake, flawless,
complete, absolute, free from any need, short of nothing, completely fulfilled.

Romans 12:2 (MSG) – 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.

Romans 12:2 (Phillips NT) – Don’t let the world around you
squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from
within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God
for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the
goal of true maturity.

2. You will find and follow God’s will for your life when you
COMMIT to living in a way that PLEASES God.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (ESV) – Finally, then, brothers, we ask and
urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you
ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do
so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you
through the Lord Jesus.

Walk –

Ephesians 5:8-10 (ESV) – for at one time you were darkness, but
now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the
fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try
to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

A. You need to KNOW and OBEY God’s Word!

Joshua 1:8 (ESV) – This Book of the Law shall not depart from
your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you
may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then
you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good
success.

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV) – Blessed is the man who walks not in the
counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in
the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and
on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by
streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does
not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Matthew 4:3-4 (NLT2) – During that time the devil came and said
to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become
loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes
from the mouth of God.’”

B. You need to PRAY!

Luke 21:34-36 (NLT2) – “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled
by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t
let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a trap. For that day will come
upon everyone living on the earth. 36 Keep alert at all times. And
pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming
horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”

Philippians 4:6 (ETRV) – Don’t worry about anything, but pray and
ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you
have.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT2) – Never stop praying.

Matthew 6:10 (ESV) – Your kingdom come, your will be done, on
earth as it is in heaven.

C. You must FOCUS on making God‘s will the PRIORITY
of your life.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) – But seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV) – You keep him in perfect peace whose mind
is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD
forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV) – Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if
there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Romans 8:6 (ESV) – For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but
to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

L.I.F.E. Group Questions

1. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the
word transformation?
2. How did that transformation take place?
3. Is it easier to transform your mind or body? Explain
4. What do you need to do in order to maintain a transformation
after it takes place?
5. What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of your
mind?
6. What makes it hard to renew your mind? In other words, what
are some things you have to constantly battle with in your mind to
keep your mind renewed and in a good place?
7. What’s the relationship between renewing your mind and
changing how you think? Explain
8. What’s the relationship between renewing your mind and
changing how you behave? Explain
9. What’s the number one thing you have to let go of or move
forward from in order to experience a transforming of your mind?
Explain
10. How important is it to know that the fight to be transformed by
the renewing of your mind is an ongoing struggle?
11. What’s something you thought you had experienced a
transformation about that you’ve recently realized you still have to
address?
12. What’s the one spiritual discipline you have to focus on this week
to purposely renew your mind?