Renewing the Mind
“A Process of Restoring the Spirit and Rescuing the Soul!”
By the Watchman Dana G Smith
keywords: world, spirit, renewing, LORD, Believers, mind, Holy Spirit
Words: 3757

the LORD God or ?

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.

Hebrews 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

1 Peter 1:13  ¶Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

There is no doubt today that the believer that does conform to the world will be an unbeliever, a lukewarm Laodacian Christian, or even an unbeliever in time. The world seeks to bring the believer far from the roots that should hold him or her. It’s [by this I mean the world, the devil, demons, spirits, and the flesh of man itself] attacks basically come in three areas of life: ‘lust of the flesh’, ‘lust of the eyes’, and ‘pride of life’. The enemy of our soul attacks our biblical roots which are grounded in the Word of God, Prayer, and a life of leading and nurturing by the Spirit of God. In this life as believers in Y’Shua [Jesus], belief and faith are paramount. “For without faith, it is impossible to please God, for those who come to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” ~ Hebrews 11:6.  In this verse we find co-equals here, namely ‘faith’ and its brother ‘belief’. Without these we are lost. How can we belief if we have no faith and how can we have faith without any belief?  But as Christians, let me say this, we are more believers than Christian. Why? Because I know many Christians who are not believers, yet for the believers I know, they believe, and they are also Christian.  Maybe a play on words, but the truth remains that today in America, the Christian faith is close to idol worship and carnality. It is rooted and rotted in the nation of America where the ‘sugar plum gospel’ and the ‘fairy tale Jesus’ sit around in a haze of unbelief and convince themselves everything will be okay. This is the time of the Laodacian church, no doubt, but we also have the ‘Dead’ Sardis church here as well. This is why, for those who will ‘believe’, and have ‘faith’, they must learn to lean on, rely upon, and trust in the Lord more than ever. Not giving themselves over to mindless thinking, or to men’s tall tales, or to doctrines of men which are wrong, but they must learn to ‘renew’ their minds in Christ.

“Renew”, strong’s 342, an adjustment of one’s moral and spiritual vision. Renovation, Restoration, Transformation, change of heart and life, via the work of the Holy Spirit in transformation or regeneration.

2 Corinthians 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

In this, though, let us be aware of our weapons, for they are mighty through God. We can literally pull down or cast down the strongholds of darkness. When imaginations, men’s reasonings, satan’s trickeries, demonic thoughts, or any other fleshly high thing enters into our minds, we can pull these down. Just as the walls of Jericho came down when Israel marched around it and then gave a blast of the trumpet, so we can bring down these. We can cast down these ‘high things’ literally ‘height’, that arise from the regions of the air where the prince of darkness and his legions exalt themselves over God and us. They and the thoughts, imaginations, and trickeries which enter our minds and thoughts can be brought down finally in one powerful word by the power of Christ. We bring these thoughts and those idea’s into captivity rounding them up, breaking the spirits who try to sway us with these and lay them against the knowledge of God and of Christ. Through our own obedience to Christ and his Spirit, these are herded up, brought into alignment with Gods word and cast them down. These come down with faith, obedience, and belief coupled with action and the power of God through the Spirit. They must give sway to this power for they are defeated!

Further, Hebrews the third chapter tells of a generation that did not enter in because of unbelief. These had ‘evil hearts’, an evil so insidious that it is called ‘unbelief’. This ‘unbelief’ caused this generation to depart from the living God. In their ‘unbelief’ they followed idols, served the flesh, and did things that the gentile nations around them did. In fact their sins were much more grievous than the gentiles nations themselves. Through this ‘deceit’ of sin, the hearts were hardened, the minds corrupted and seared against God and they would not listen. They did not hear from God for the stubbornness they held in rebellion against God. Thus this generation did not enter into the LORD’S rest. Why? They believed not!

Hebrews 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

The question today is, will the American church and Christians be able to stand what is coming? Will they reach a time when all they have been taught in doctrine and church foundational teachings will be seen as false? Many today ignore our warnings of what is coming to America. The truth be told, this is coming, but not as soon as many may think, which I speak here of regarding the LORD’S timing in all this, prophetically speaking. But the things that will come ahead of destruction of America is pure ‘smelter’ of the LORD. It is filled with famines, pestilences, bloodshed, sickness, wars, and natural disasters. In addition America and those in this nation will experience judgments that come as well. Now I say this because these events will not be the complete anniliation of this country, which will come in time, but will be unlike anything the nations and especially America has ever seen or experienced. Life in America will never be as it used to be. That is why, as a believer, the renewing of the mind is so important today.

In the midst of so much information, we are becoming deaf to the truth! What is truth? Can you find out? If you went to 100 churches, it would be the truth that these churches who all follow Jesus Christ would have different teachings on the same subject. If you found 10 Pastors or Evangelists how many would actually agree on doctrine and end times prophecy? Daily you and I are bombarded with information from news, the Internet, churches, prophets, pastors, friends, unbelievers, and skeptics. All that information has to go somewhere. It goes through your ears into your mind and some of it will grip your heart. When the heart is gripped, this will cause physical sensations. Some of these are fear which will cause sweating, uneasiness, nervousness, and even physical symptoms. Watching bloodshed, violence, and  horrid sex scenes will fill  your mind with lust, deceit, and feelings no Godly person should have.  This is where we must focus. Look not to the right or left. Look to the LORD. I mean really, look, be quiet, get in his Word and read it. Then read it again, meditate on it, read it, think on it, mull it over and then apply it. Receive it by faith and stand in belief! But in this there is the ‘renewing’ that the Apostle Paul talked about in Romans 12. This is speaking of the Power of the Holy Spirit to make changes in your life, heart, and mind. It is supernatural in scope and practical in its power to achieve those changes. All you have to do is read, receive it, believe it, and let the faith have her perfect work. It is here that too many depend on inner voices, spirits in the night, dreams, and men’s idea’s on what is going on and what is happening! The truth be told, here, much of what is listened too by many in the Christian realm concerning last days and prophecy is false. We linger too much on this. We need to take a step back, knowing what is coming, but taking time to really ‘refresh and renew’ our minds and hearts. Let the Spirit of God cleanse us, so to speak of all those vain thoughts and detrimental false teachings that are going on. It is here that people need to walk in ‘faith and belief’ and allow true ‘regeneration, renewing, and refreshing’ by the Holy Spirit to cleanse their thoughts, minds, hearts, of any and all trash gathered in the day’s information overload. We have air filters to filter out the air, we have water filters to filter out the impurities in our water, we have gas filters, movie ratings which filter the content of movies, and virtually every other kind of filter. We have the kidney’s and the liver in our body to filter out the impurities. This is where it stops for the unbeliever. They have no such filter as we do. For we, through the Holy Spirit can have our minds and heart renewed in Him, our LORD. But we must stop; i.e. be still and stop listening to all the vanity around us and focus totally on Him.

Take the scripture below. When was the time you were in actual ‘perfect peace’? Note, this comes only if your mind is stayed on the LORD God.

Isaiah 26:2  Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

The word LORD here [the first LORD] is yhwh, or Yahweh. It is the divine, personal name of God and relates personally to his chosen or covenant people. That is those who specifically do what he says. Those things he says in his commandments, which make or form a bond or covenant with those who keep his commandments. Even Jesus said, ‘if you love me, you will keep my commandments.’ It is here that those who know the LORD, will do what he says. In doing this we form a relationship and a bond. As we do those things pleasing in his sight and also walk by faith, we can know peace, a peace that comes from placing our mind and heart totally on the LORD.

The divine name YHWH appears only in the Bible. Its precise meaning is much debated. God chose it as His personal name by which He related specifically to His chosen or covenant people.

The second word LORD here is ‘yah’, a shortened form of the first LORD, but in the Hebrew is the same as ‘yhwh’ and means the same. The word Jehovah here also means ‘yhwh’ or ‘Yahweh’.  The meaning in this context here is that the word for ‘personal, divine, and covenant name’ for the LORD [yhwh, Yahweh] is used three times, i.e. LORD is used twice, and Jehovah once, all meaning and referring to the special covenant name of God and his relationship with his people who are special. By using this word ‘yhwh’ and its form ‘yah’, we have an important witness to the truth. It means, pay attention to this, it is important! The Word says by the mouth of ’2 or 3′ witnesses let every word be established. Here we have the witness of ‘yhwh’ himself who cannot lie, repeated three times for our understanding. The Lord is saying to us, “this peace does come from disobedience but obedience, not from stubbornness of heart, but of willingly following the LORD and doing those things which please me”. It is a walk by faith of both obedience and servitude! In that walk, the people of God have a special place of covenantal ‘peace’ when they stay or put their mind upon the LORD and walk in obedience to his will.

It is here as well during shortages, troubles, and heartaches that our faith must come full measure. Let’s start with the basics of what the LORD told us to do. All the law and the prophets hang on two commandments, namely this:”Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself”.

Matthew 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38  This is the first and great commandment.
39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

With that in mind, if we follow those commandments and then understand as well the relationship we have with the LORD God, our Father, he will provide. What do we need to do? The scripture says to ‘seek the kingdom of God’ first! Do not seek what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, or be doubtful in your mind! Don’t walk in unbelief! This is an example of what we must do in our minds and soul. We must renew, redo, and let the Spirit of God make a permanent impression in us that our thinking must change and also our actions. Putting aside the flesh and its weakness, we focus our heart and minds on God, trusting in him to provide no matter what. But in times of stress, we filter out the vain trash the devil puts in our minds through the Word of God, prayer, and the Spirit. In this, we ‘renew’ our minds in the LORD and walk in obedience and victory in him.

Luke 12:28  If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29  And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Remember again, God has given us something the world and the unbeliever doesn’t have! What is that! We have a Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind! Therefore, walk in this power, love, and sound mind! But in order to do that you must walk in obedience to the LORD, be in communion with him and his will. Remember the LORD is the vine, we are the branches. From Him we get fed and nourished! It is substantive and real, coming from the Holy Spirit’s power in our life and the Word of God, from which comes faith.

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

There are many today that are in fact, religious! There are those who have a form of godliness but they deny the power of it. There are those who are ‘children of disobedience’ who refuse to walk in obedience to the LORD and are under his wrath. Many today, including unbelieving Christians have given themselves over to the worlds version of morality and faith. But you did not learn this from Christ nor his Spirit. We are to put off that corruption from our former life and be ‘renewed in the spirit of our mind’.  This renewal comes from the power of the Holy Spirit in your life!

Ephesians 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20  But ye have not so learned Christ;
21  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Here let it be noted that there are vain and dangerous minds out there! It is from this we have been delivered through Christ. The work of ‘regeneration’ by the Holy Spirit works effectual in our lives if we let him do his work.

Dangerous minds of the flesh:

Ephesians 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The dangers of the fleshly mind: fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind!

This is the corrupt side of man, the one that does not get fulfillment. Once man is caught up in this fleshly merry go round, there is not a single day of peace. Once you indulge the flesh and the desires of the mind, they will always be hungry. This is the corrupt nature of man, from the fall. Caught up in this, pushed by demons and spirits of lust, man is lost and has no hope. The only total cure and hope is deliverance by Christ Jesus. For through Christ we understand and have been made aware of our sins, the Holiness of God, and the redemption needed through Christ. But for the unbelieving and defiled, there is nothing pure. They see nothing wrong in what they do! The reason is their own mind and conscience is defiled.

Titus 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

We therefore, through Christ do not walk as other gentiles or even as some Jews walk, in the useless vanity of their mind. For we have made peace through the blood of the cross of Christ and through Jesus our LORD we have along with all others who believe on him and walk in obedience to his Word are reconciled unto God. One day, we will be all united in Christ forever, ‘male and female, Jew and gentile, will be all one in Christ.’ But first, we have a life here to finish with victory. We obtain that victory through Christ and our faith in Him.

Ephesians 4:17  ¶This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Colossians 1:20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

In conclusion, let me urge you to get your ‘filter’ in gear today. Put off all the vain information, teachings, thoughts, attitudes, and anything else that is not of God by ‘renewing your mind’ in the LORD. Get into prayer, fasting, reading and applying the Word of God, and letting the Spirit of God cleanse your mind, heart, and soul today. Sit before the LORD, read the Word, meditate on it, and ask the LORD to cleanse your mind, heart, and soul of those vain things that have come into your system. Let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God be the filter in your heart and life today. This is the ‘renewing and regeneration’ in action. In this, let me add, remove therefore all the sources from your living space as well that are not conducive to the LORDS will and Word for your life. Let me add a final note here that in doing this, we ‘rebuke those demons and spirits’ that put the vain thoughts and trash in our minds and bind them in Jesus name, casting them away from us, forbidding them to speak to us forever.’ We use the Word of God as a weapon, speaking it against the enemy. The Word is the bullet, propelled by the Spirit of God, and spoken in faith by the believer. When done correctly in faith and in the name of Jesus Christ, all powers and principalities must bend and bow or they will break.  For some, though, fasting and prayer is needed, but this is another subject.

Endnote:
In your renewed mind and life you are:
-Enlightened through the Spirit of God and not the new age or the world
-You have Spiritual understanding of God, his holiness, and his love, and your redemption.
-You know God, talk to him, have a relationship with him through Christ Jesus
-You know Gods way, through Christ Jesus to life and hope eternal
-You have a heart filled from Gods love, through his Spirit of love and compassion for both God and man. You are his light and salt in the earth.
-You walk in mercy and compassion from this love, this is faith in action, which pleases God.[Read James]

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.