A Blueprint for Renewing Your Mind
Incarcerated: Taking Toxic Thoughts Captive • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 47:37
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A Blueprint for Renewing Your Mind
A Blueprint for Renewing Your Mind
Anchor Verse
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Recap
Week 1 - Defined and Identified a toxic thought - pick one thought your struggling with.
Week 2 - Stages of building a stronghold --- Extractions process - weeds.
Shovel - Truth
Gloves - Faith
Week Killer - Word of God
Counter lies with the truth
Today we are going to develop this more by providing a blue print for renewing your mind.
We are going to continue with our garden analogy.
Introduction:
Imagine for a moment, you have a beautiful flower garden in your back yard. Every Sunday morning you sit on your back porch drinking your coffee admiring your flowers and spending time with God.
But this morning as you looked at your flower garden one morning, you notice something's seems off.
You notice that some of your plants are not looking good, they are faded and wilting over.
Your devastated..
You panic and run to see what is going on, and you find the ground dry and cracked, weeds have begun to take over your garden.
Why?
Then you remember that its been two weeks since you watered your flowers.
Now, what if I told you that garden is a lot like our minds?
Weeds of worry and fear are everywhere, thorns of doubt are choking out the beauty. It's a picture of neglect.
Connection:
Let's get real for a moment.
We've all walked through seasons where our minds feel more like a battlefield than a peaceful flower garden.
You know what I'm talking about—the constant worry, fear, anxiety, that turns into countless sleepless nights.
It's exhausting.
But here's the thing: it doesn't have to be this way.
Imagine, instead, a mind like a beautiful flower garden—a place of peace, joy, and vibrant life.
This isn't just a nice thought; it's possible.
It starts with us making a choice today.
Are we going to let the weeds take over?
Or are we going to partner with God in the most incredible garden renovation project ever?
Some of us, if we're honest, have let the garden of our mind become overgrown with negativity and doubt.
But here's the good news:
Today, we're rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty because we're going to start the process of rebuilding the garden of our minds.
And the best part?
We've got the ultimate Gardener on our side.
Main Teaching:
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul passionately urges us, by the incredible mercy of God, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.
But what does it truly mean to live out this sacrificial lifestyle?
Think about it like this: God isn't interested in mere lip service or shallow commitments.
He wants our whole lives—every thought, every action, every moment—dedicated to Him.
This is what it means to present ourselves as living sacrifices, continually surrendered to God's will.
Now, let's dive deeper into the Greek to unpack the significance of this sacrifice.
The term "living sacrifice" in Greek, ζῶσαν θυσίαν (zōsan thysian), emphasizes a dynamic, ongoing dedication to God.
It's not a one-time event but a daily choice to lay down our desires and ambitions at the feet of Jesus.
Imagine your life as a garden. Just as a gardener tends to their garden with care and attention, we must cultivate our hearts, removing anything that hinders our relationship with God.
This means clearing out the weeds of sin, negative thoughts, and distractions that choke out spiritual growth.
But it's not just about removing the bad; it's also about making room for the good.
This is where the renewing of our minds comes in.
The Greek word for "transformed" is μεταμορφοῦσθε (metamorphousthe), which paints a vivid picture of radical change, like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.
This transformation isn't just external; it's a complete renovation of our innermost being, by the power of God.
So, how do we experience this transformation?
It starts with immersing ourselves in the truth of God's Word. The phrase "renewing of your mind" in Greek, ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοὸς (anakainōsei tou noos), suggests a deep, inner renovation—a restoration of our mental faculties to align with God's truth.
This how we begin to bring our thoughts into captivity and realign them with God’s Word.
As we meditate on Scripture day and night, allowing God's Word to saturate our minds, we begin to see the world through His perspective.
Our thoughts are transformed, our desires aligned with His will, and our actions reflect His character.
Application:
Now, let's apply this truth to our daily lives.
Last week I shared with you seven stages to building a stronghold, I am going to share with you seven stages begin the process of tearing down the strongholds.... Renewing Your Mind.
Scripture often refers to our mind as the heart and the heart as the mind or attitude in many places in scripture.
We are a three part being according to scripture. Spirit, Soul, and Body.
The soul is what we are addressing today, which consist of Mind, the will, emotion, and conscience. The word heart in the Bible is often used interchangeably when addressing the mind.
1. Clear the Ground
Think of your heart as the soil of a garden. Before anything new can be planted, the ground must be cleared of weeds and debris from our hearts.
So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you.
It's like grabbing a spiritual rake and getting to work.
This step is about repentance and confession.
Let's be real; we've all got stuff we need to clear out.
But here's the promise: He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Repentance and Confession is our spiritual rake, which help prepare our hearts for the seeds of truth.
Repentance is not optional, is a commandment from the Lord.
If you want true freedom, you must have a repentance.
The truth is this, if a stronghold exist, then you are believing a lie.
The foundation for all stronghold are lies, every stronghold starts with a toxic thought, which we can define as a lie that redirects your faith from God.
Remember this: The very first sin committed in the garden of Eden was a lie that laid the foundation for the fall of man.
Repentance STOPS the conformity, and prepares the mind for transformation.
2. Cultivate the Soil
Once the ground is cleared, it's time to till the soil. This involves breaking up the hardened places in our hearts, allowing God's Word to penetrate deep within us.
Ezekiel 36:26 speaks right into this: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
Through prayer and fasting, we soften our hearts, making them receptive to God's truth.
Prayer and Fasting is our spiritual tiller.
It's how we start breaking up those hard places, asking God to remove anything that's keeping us from fully receiving His Word.
As we pray, we need to ask God to identify and remove the "stones" in our hearts—perhaps unforgiveness, bitterness, or pride—that prevent His Word from taking root.
3. Plant Seeds
With the soil prepared, it's time to plant seeds
Not just any seed..
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
This means saturating our minds with Scripture, memorizing verses, and meditating on God's promises.
As we plant the seeds of His Word in our hearts, they take root and begin to bear fruit in our lives.
The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
This is about taking God's promises and planting them deep in our hearts.
Pick verses that resonate with your struggles, memorize them, meditate on them.
Remember you must counter each lie with the truth.
This isn't a one-and-done deal; it's a lifestyle of letting God's truth take root in our lives.
4. Watering
Any gardener will tell you that consistent watering is key to growth.
Just as a garden needs regular watering to thrive, our spiritual lives require consistent nourishment from God's Word.
Watering our garden means consistently nurturing the seeds we've planted.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psalm 1:2-3 paints this picture beautifully, saying that the person who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night is like a tree planted by streams of water.
This step is about daily soaking in God's Word , through reading, prayer, and connection with fellow believers.
It's how we nurture the seeds we've planted and see growth.
Just as a garden needs regular watering to thrive, our spiritual growth depends on consistent nourishment from God's Word.
5. Pruning
As our spiritual garden grows, it's important to prune away anything that hinders its growth.
This may mean cutting out unhealthy habits, toxic relationships, or negative thought patterns.
By pruning away the deadwood in our lives, we make room for new growth and fruitfulness.
Growth isn't just about adding; sometimes, it's about cutting away.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:2 tells us that He prunes us so that we can bear more fruit.
Pruning is about focusing on what truly matters and letting go of what doesn't.
This might mean saying no to certain activities, habits, or even relationships that hinder our growth.
Pruning is painful but necessary for producing more fruit.
6. Harvesting the Fruit
What is the goal of all this work?
The ultimate goal of tending to our spiritual garden is to produce fruit—evidence of God's transforming work in our lives.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 lists these beautiful characteristics: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
This is the evidence of God's work in our hearts, the result of a well-tended garden.
The ultimate goal of renew our minds with God’s Blue Print is to produce fruit—the fruit of the Spirit.
As we align our thoughts with God's Word, the evidence of our transformation will be visible not just to us but to those around us.
7. Sharing the Harvest
Finally, it's not just about enjoying the fruit ourselves; it's about sharing it with others.
With our garden flourishing and fruit in abundance, final step is to share this harvest with the world around us.
The fruit of the Spirit in our lives is not just for our own benefit but is meant to nourish and inspire others.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:19-20 calls us to go and make disciples, sharing what we've learned, spreading the seeds of truth further. It's about using our lives, transformed by the love of God, to impact those around us.
Sharing the harvest means living out our faith in such a way that others are drawn to Christ through our words, actions, and character.
Call to Action:
As we embark on this journey together, let's take deliberate steps to cultivate our spiritual gardens.
This week, let's commit to reflection, prayer, and action:
Reflect: Set aside time to honestly assess the state of your spiritual life. Identify areas that need attention, whether they're weeds to be pulled or soil to be tilled.
Engage: Dedicate time each day to engage with God's Word through reading, prayer, and meditation.
Consistency is key, so start with a manageable amount of time and build from there.
Share: Don't keep your spiritual growth to yourself. Share your journey and experiences with someone else.
Your testimony could be the catalyst for growth in their life.
Conclusion:
As we conclude, let's remember that our minds are like gardens, in constant need of tending.
Let's ask ourselves:
Where does my garden need work?
What areas need clearing, and which truths need planting?
Together, let's commit to allowing God to rebuild our minds into fertile ground for His truth.
Let's pray for His guidance, strength, and wisdom as we embark on this journey of growth and transformation.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the promise of renewal, for the hope of a transformed mind. As we commit to rebuilding our garden, guide our hands and hearts. Help us to clear, to plant, to water, and to harvest according to Your will. May our lives reflect Your beauty and Your truth to the world around us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Next Week...
Next Week...