The Renewed Mind — Know Your Freedoms!

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are to renew our minds. OK, great! We can do that!  

How?

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

We renew our minds by knowledge of the Word of God and the freedoms God gave us when we chose to accept His Son, Christ Jesus, as our Lord -- that is, to model our lives upon the life of Christ and the Word of God -- and truly believed in our hearts that God raised His Son from the dead.  We put off the "old man" nature we were born with, and seek God.  

So, where do you find God?  You have to first start in His Word.

I Cor 2:12-14  12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

All things pertaining to God, all things freely given to us of God, all spiritual matters, these things we must know and understand by the spirit of God in that is in each of us.  We cannot "learn God" by man's wisdom, that is foolishness.  We must open us our spiritual eyes to see God.

What things "freely given to us" by God to we need to see?

II Tim 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

That we have been given freedom from fear of our enemy’s greatest weapon -- death. Death hath no more dominion over us because we are already citizens of heaven, Sons of God's Kingdom, which is under God’s exclusive jurisdiction.  Instead, we have the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind -- the ability to think in whole thoughts.

Romans 8:1-2  1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

That we already have as one of our "Sonship rights" freedom from God’s condemnation. God is with us, so who can be against us?  

Hebrews 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

We have been given freedom from fear of man.

III John 2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Freedom from poverty and sickness -- we have the ability to claim "good health."

II Tim. 3:16-17  16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Freedom from wrong believing.  We are thoroughly furnished so that we can do all sorts of good works.  

We have been given the Word of God and the teachings of Christ and His disciples as our roadmap to right believing. Study the Word, knowing that it does not contradict itself, and that it explains itself in three ways — in the immediate context of the Book, the Chapter, and the verses; in the Book and the Testament as a whole; and where a word or phrase was first used before.

Matt 8:13-17 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.  14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.  15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.  16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:  17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

We have been given freedom from sickness, according to the strength of our believing. 

Note here and later in the book of Acts that this is freedom from multiple sicknesses, even death, through our ability to claim all promised things from our Father, in the name of His Son -- our Lord, Jesus Christ. If it’s promised (and over 900 things are promised in His Word), then we have it!

John 10:7-11 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.  9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

We have been given freedom from material and spiritual poverty -- because we have given the gift of an "abundant life."  A more abundant life!

Christ is the door to all these freedoms.  He is the way, the truth, and the light.  No man cometh unto the Father except through Jesus Christ, His son.

Phil 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

We have God-given freedom from all our needs by our Lord Christ Jesus -- according to his riches in glory" -- and how rich in glory is our God, anyway?  Boundlessly rich!  Rich beyond measure, far beyond our understanding, and certainly over, above and beyond any and all our needs!

Mark 11:22-24  22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.  23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Believing is not just mental assent -- it's taking believing action!

So ... what are your waiting for?  

Above all -- BELIEVE!!