Chpt 3 – Renew, Acknowledge & Experience
Philemon 1:6 prays “that the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”
Every born again believer already has the faith of God (Gal. 2:20); the same precious faith as the Apostle Peter (2 Pet. 1:1). The possession of faith is not the issue. We don’t need to beg God to give us more faith. We need to learn to release what we already have. That’s what Paul was praying in this verse.
Let’s see if we can get a greater understanding of what the Apostle Paul was writing here by examining a few of the word and phrases:
“Communicate” means to “release” or “transfer” or “share.”
“Every good thing.” This definitely would include Jesus Himself. Think about it! We are one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17)! And so much more!!!
“Which is in you” Paul prayed that we would have “a deeper understanding of every blessing which we ALREADY have in our life in union with Christ.” These blessings include: love (Rom. 8:39; 1 Tim. 1:14; 1 John 3:17), forgiveness (Eph. 1:7; 4:32), reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19), salvation (Eph. 1:13; 2 Tim. 2:10) , the gift of no condemnation (Rom. 8:1), freedom (Gal. 2:4), eternal life (Rom. 6:23; 2 Tim. 1:1; 1 John 3:15, 5:20), peace (Phil. 4:7), sanctification (1 Cor. 1:2, 30; Phil. 1:1, 4:21; 2 Tim. 1:9), righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30, 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9), authority (Eph. 2:6), new life (Eph. 2:5), an inheritance (Eph. 1:10-11), strength (Eph. 6:10), and provision (Phil. 4:19). Indeed, every blessing is ours in Christ (Eph. 1:3). In Him we are complete (Col. 2:10). Truly we are “privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God” (1 Cor. 3:23). “In union with Christ you have become rich in all things…” (1 Cor. 1:5).
“Effectual” means it begins to “work” or “produce.”
How does our faith work and produce? By acknowledging every good thing that’s already in us, as we saw above! What a wonderful focus! Here’s another scripture that describes what’s ALREADY inside our new born again spirits:
“And of His fullness have all we received and grace for grace” (John 1:16)! Under the New Covenant, we have all received (past tense) His fullness!
As a believer, God gave us everything when we were born again! In our spirit, we received the same measure of faith, the same power, the same wisdom, and the same ability as every other Christian! 1 Corinthians 1:24 tells us that Jesus became wisdom for us! Wow! No wonder we’re told that whenever we lack wisdom, we can simply ask! And He’ll give it to us! We just need to be listening! Expecting (James 1:5)! We’re His Beloved!
Our spirits are all identical to the Lord Jesus Christ in every way! Our spirit isn’t in the process of growing and maturing! It’s already complete; we’ve already got everything! It’s like a camel! In it’s hump it has everything it needs to survive in the desert!
The rest of our Christian life is learning how to manifest in the physical realm what’s already in our born-again spirit. Our faith becomes effective, productive, operative by acknowledging every good thing in us (in our spirit) in Christ.
KEY: Recognize, believe and acknowledge the good things ALREADY in us in Christ!
One-Third Complete
As we begin acknowledging what He has already done, His presence and power start manifesting in our lives! Acknowledging the good things in us in Christ cause our faith to work and produce supernatural results!
It’s not His power these Christians doubt but rather His willingness to use it on their behalf. The truth is, when we were born again, God put His power, anointing, victory, joy, peace – everything – in us in abundance! Renew your mind to these truths! Look at the spiritual mirror instead of the physical realm!
One-third of our salvation is already complete! Saved, sanctified, holy and empowered as we will ever be throughout all eternity! The Christian life is renewing our mind and acknowledging the perfection already in our spirit so our soul and physical body can experience these benefits of salvation!
Conformed or Transformed – It’s Your Choice!
Romans 12:1 – “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Let’s see if we can get a greater understanding of what the Apostle Paul was writing here by examining a few of the word and phrases:
“I urge you” I implore you. The new life we have in Christ is too good to miss out on! Why waste another minute walking after the rotten ways of the flesh, when we can enjoy the blessed and abundant life of the spirit?
“The mercies of God” It is the love and compassion of God that inspires us to act. Extravagant love inspires an extravagant response.
“Present your bodies” Don’t be a schmuck and live like a slave of sin; live for the Lord (Rom. 6:13).
“A living and holy sacrifice” We are alive and we are holy. We don’t present ourselves to become holy but because we are holy. Jesus makes us that way!
“Spiritual” The original word (logikos) means logical or rational, not spiritual. Living for God is a right and proper response to His goodness and mercy. Indeed, it is an act of worship.
Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Let’s see if we can get a greater understanding of what the Apostle Paul was writing here by examining a few of the word and phrases:
“Be not conformed” Don’t go along with the corrupt values of the present age. This world tells us we need to do this and that to be loved, accepted, and promoted. Don’t listen. Religion will tell us that we need to earn the favor of God. Don’t believe it. We are dearly-loved children of God, and we have nothing to prove!
“Be transformed” Genuine change comes as we behold the Lord and allow His word to take root in our hearts.
Although we were made into a brand new creation the instant we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, some things did not change. Old habits, attitudes and mindsets (your old nature) can thwart the purposes of God in our life making us unfruitful and miserable. The remedy? Change the way you think. But how?
Be transformed by the renewing your mind!
“By renewing of your mind” – Renovate our thinking. Apply the hammer of God’s word to any argument or stronghold that harms our faith. Abandon those mindsets that don’t align with the message of grace, and be quick to believe the goodness of God!
Renewing our mind to the Word facilitates our transformation! God’s Word tells us what is spiritually true! It gives us the new values and attitudes we should conform our lives to. As we continually look into the Lord’s spiritual mirror, we will begin to see and experience ourselves for who we really are!
“Transformed” = “metamorphosis” Picture a little worm spinning a cocoon and then coming out as a butterfly. God created us to be victorious, healthy, healed and loving! This comes through renewing our mind!
Whatever we think in our soul, our body will just go along for the ride! It’s our mind, our thoughts, our attitudes that determine what we will experience: victory and the life of God in our spirit or the defeat and death of the fallen natural realm. That’s why it’s so important to be transformed!
How can we be living sacrifices when sacrifices are always dead? This is speaking of the fact that offering ourselves to God is not just a one-time deal. We die to our own desires daily. This has to be a living, ongoing commitment to the Lord.
The Apollo spacecraft traveled to the moon, but it was not just as simple as blasting off and landing on the moon. Course corrections were made every ten minutes or so for the entire trip. And then, they only landed a few feet inside the targeted landing area of 500 miles. Yet the mission was a success.
Likewise, there has to be a starting place for this decision to be a living sacrifice. We have to “blast off,” or start our journey, sometime, but we don’t ever “arrive” in this life. We just leave and start toward the goal (Phil. 3:12-13). We may be making course corrections every ten minutes for the rest of our lives. But if we keep making these small course corrections, we can be confident we’ll make it!!!
“May prove what the will of God is” When we align ourselves to God’s Word, we can be sure that we are walking in His will. God’s will is for us to trust Him in all things and be led by the Spirit.
To jump to Chpt 4: Realty? Carnal or Spiritual?, Click here: https://www.newidinme.com/chpt-4-reality-carnal-or-spiritual