Renewing the Mind: Faith, Authority, and Grace
Summary
In our journey of faith, we must recognize that the battleground of our spiritual life is the mind. It is here that we must renew our thoughts to align with God's will, casting aside every lie of unbelief and every weight of sin that hinders us. We must speak with authority, declaring that everything opposing God's will be severed from our lives. This is not a passive stance; it is active and vocal, cutting off the unfruitful branches and weights that drag us down.
We are called to submit to God's authority, to humble ourselves, and to resist the enemy's thoughts. In doing so, we access the grace that empowers us to overcome. Our speech must echo that of our spiritual leaders, those who have walked the path of faith before us. We must also pray for an increase in faith, recognizing that it is faith that gives us access to God's grace.
Together, as a church body, we humble ourselves before God, submitting our lives to His perfect will. We ask for anything outside of His will to be removed, so we may be fully devoted to His desires. We surrender every care and worry, trusting that God will provide for our every need, from the most basic necessities to the divine appointments in our lives.
We must also understand that unbelief is an active force opposing God's will. It manifests in our lives by making us feel small and incapable. The children of Israel failed to possess the promised land because they saw themselves as grasshoppers in the face of giants. We must decide whether to believe God's word for our lives or to speak against it.
Counseling can be beneficial, but it is ultimately our faith in God's word that carries us out of our circumstances. The children of Israel failed to enter the promised land because they did not mix their faith with the word preached, resulting in an evil heart of unbelief. We must recognize and cut off anything that opposes God's plan for our lives.
Faith is the key to accessing the grace we need for victory. Unbelief attacks to break our faith, but when we stand firm in faith, we can access God's grace, which is the enabling power to accomplish His will. We must focus on God's ability to create new from brokenness, rather than dwelling on our past failures.
The gift of faith is a supernatural endowment that allows us to believe for what God believes. We pray for God to release this gift of faith into our lives and our city, transforming our perspective and enabling us to see opportunities for miracles where others see despair.
Key Takeaways:
- The renewal of our minds is essential for spiritual transformation. We must actively reject lies and weights that oppose God's will, speaking with authority to cut them off. This is not a silent battle; it requires our vocal declaration and faith-filled proclamations. [58:13]
- Submission to God and His authority is the foundation of our faith. When we submit, we position ourselves under God's protection and align with His will, which empowers us to resist the enemy effectively. This submission is a humble acknowledgment of our dependence on God's grace. [01:01:13]
- Unbelief is a destructive force that must be recognized and opposed. It seeks to undermine our identity and capability in Christ. We must choose to believe God's promises over the lies of unbelief, understanding that our words have the power to either align with God's will or oppose it. [12:08]
- Faith is the conduit through which we access God's grace. Without faith, we cannot please God or receive His grace, which is the divine empowerment for victory. We must ask God for greater faith, understanding that it is a gift that can be imparted to us. [31:26]
- Humility is crucial for the growth of our faith. Pride, whether it manifests as superiority or inferiority, must be eradicated from our lives. As we humble ourselves before God, we open ourselves to receive more of His grace, which strengthens and establishes us in our faith journey. [36:40]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
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."
James 4:7 (ESV)
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
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Observation Questions:
1. In Romans 12:2, what does it mean to not be conformed to this world, and how is the renewal of the mind described?
2. According to Romans 12:2, what is the result of renewing the mind in relation to God's will?
3. How does James 4:7 connect the act of submitting to God with resisting the devil?
4. Reflecting on Hebrews 11:6, why is faith essential for drawing near to God?
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What are some practical ways we can avoid being conformed to the world and instead be transformed by the renewal of our minds?
2. How can we discern God's will for our lives as suggested in Romans 12:2?
3. What does it look like in daily life to submit to God as a way to resist the devil, as instructed in James 4:7?
4. Considering Hebrews 11:6, how does faith play a role in pleasing God and accessing His rewards?
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Application Questions:
1. Identify a thought pattern you have that aligns with the world rather than with God. What is one step you can take this week to begin renewing your mind in that area?
2. Think of a recent decision you made. Did you seek to discern God's will in that situation? How might you approach it differently based on Romans 12:2?
3. Reflect on a temptation you face regularly. How can you actively submit that area to God this week as a means of resistance?
4. Choose one promise of God you struggle to believe. How can you exercise faith in that promise this week, and what practical action will you take to demonstrate that faith?
5. Consider an area of your life where you need to humble yourself. What is one tangible way you can cast your anxieties on God in this area, as 1 Peter 5:6-7 encourages?
Devotional
Day 1: Mindful Renewal for Spiritual Victory
The battleground of our spiritual life is often found within the confines of our own minds. It is here that the struggle between truth and lies, faith and unbelief, takes place. To emerge victorious, one must actively engage in the renewal of their thoughts, aligning them with the divine will of God. This process involves a conscious effort to reject the falsehoods that lead to sin and hinder spiritual growth. By speaking with authority and conviction, believers can sever ties with anything that opposes God's will, much like pruning unfruitful branches to promote new growth. This is not a passive endeavor but requires a vocal and assertive stance to ensure that one's life reflects the purity and purpose of God's intentions.
"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 (ESV)
Reflection: What specific lie or sin is hindering your spiritual growth, and how can you actively combat it today with God's truth? [58:13]
Day 2: Embracing Submission to Access Grace
Submission to God's authority is not a sign of weakness but a strategic position that places one under the Almighty's protection and aligns them with His divine will. This humble act of yielding is the bedrock upon which faith is built. It is through submission that believers can effectively resist the enemy's advances and access the grace that empowers them to overcome life's challenges. By echoing the words of spiritual leaders and those who have walked the path of faith, one can find strength and guidance. It is in the posture of humility that grace is most readily received, providing the necessary support to stand firm in faith.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7 (ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate a deeper level of submission to God's authority in your daily life? [01:01:13]
Day 3: Confronting Unbelief to Uphold Identity
Unbelief is a force that actively seeks to undermine a believer's identity and capability in Christ. It is essential to recognize this destructive power and oppose it with the truth of God's promises. When faced with challenges, one must decide to either believe in the word of God for their life or to succumb to the lies that belittle their worth and potential. Like the children of Israel who saw themselves as grasshoppers, believers today must choose to see themselves through the lens of faith, not through the eyes of fear and doubt.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)
Reflection: How has unbelief manifested in your life, and what steps can you take to affirm your identity in Christ today? [12:08]
Day 4: Faith as the Conduit of Divine Empowerment
Faith is more than just a belief; it is the conduit through which God's grace flows into our lives. Without faith, it is impossible to please God or to tap into the divine empowerment necessary for victory over sin and life's trials. Believers must actively seek an increase in faith, understanding that it is a gift from God that enables them to believe for the seemingly impossible. By asking for greater faith, one opens the door to God's limitless grace, which provides the strength and means to accomplish His will.
"And Jesus said to them, 'If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'" - Matthew 17:20 (ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to exercise greater faith, and how can you ask God to increase your faith in that area today? [31:26]
Day 5: Humility as the Pathway to Strength
In the kingdom of God, humility is not a sign of weakness but a pathway to strength and growth in faith. Pride, whether it manifests as a sense of superiority or inferiority, is a barrier to receiving God's grace. By humbling oneself before the Lord, a believer opens their heart to the fullness of His grace, which establishes and strengthens them on their faith journey. It is in this state of humility that one can truly experience the transformative power of God's love and mercy.
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." - James 4:6 (ESV)
Reflection: What aspect of pride do you need to surrender to God, and how can you practice humility in that area starting today? [36:40]
Quotes
1) "Your thinking is where the battle takes place. Lies of unbelief be brought down. Every branch that's unfruitful be cut off in your life." [58:13] (Download | )
2) "Grace is in this room. Somebody reach out and get ahold of that grace right now. You know what to do. Submit to God, spiritual authority." [01:01:13] (Download | )
3) "Unbelief, hear me, opposes the will of God. Amen. And so unbelief is attacking what God's desires are for the people that are sitting in this room right now." [13:31] (Download | )
4) "God specializes in taking brokenness and making it new. So when you focus on the broken part of your life and the legitimacy of why it can't happen, you're focusing on your past." [33:15] (Download | )
5) "The gift of faith is given. You know what the gift of faith does? It gives us not our faith, but it gives us the faith of God. It is a supernatural faith." [34:55] (Download | )
6) "The more you resist it, the stronger you get. The more you resist it, the less influence it has in your life. Unbelief begins to diminish." [41:38] (Download | )
7) "Submit yourselves therefore to God. And guess what you can do after you submit? That's exactly right. You can't resist the devil until you submit to God." [45:19] (Download | )
8) "When God puts us on a mission, he authorizes us and gives us authority for anything that would oppose that mission to be neutralized." [08:27] (Download | )
9) "The moment I step out of alignment, I open myself to the attacks of the enemy and he can mess with my mind. And when he messes with your mind, how do you overcome it?" [29:52] (Download | )
10) "The first act of submission is what? Submit to God. Spiritual authority and covering in our lives. Right. So the enemy can't attack us." [27:59] (Download | )
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