JOHN BOWLIN
MINISTRIES
Preaching and Teaching Everywhere
"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
Transformed
Romans 12:2
"And the day came when the risk to remain the same was grater than the risk to change...."
Metamorphosis is not easy, not simple, and the process is filled with challenges. It is the process a caterpillar undergoes, as it becomes a butterfly. Metamorphosis is not about being a caterpillar or a butterfly, but the journey from caterpillar to butterfly. It brings dramatic change in character or appearance of those who go through it. It is about remolding, realigning, and readjusting to what God is calling you to become next in your life. It is about the willingness to take quantum leaps in your life and make total changes, often times radical and sudden.
Metamorphosis is about rebirth. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new". (2 Corinthians 5:17). Romans 12:2 challenges us to not conform to being caterpillars in our life, but to be transformed into butterflies. In this scripture, Paul says, “Don’t be conformed to the pattern of this world, or age—this era; today’s worldview.” This writing challenges us not to reflect or embody the things of this world.
Metamorphosis is about transformation. Are you ready?
Paul highlights the importance of the renewing of our mind because our minds govern our choices. Renewal of our mind brings a new perspective, a change of focus—a new way of seeing things. It also brings us to a place of being able to respond thoughtfully to the anxiety in our lives, rather than reacting emotionally which we all do from time to time.
As we experience the renewal of our minds, we become better able to see things from the Creator’s perspective, rather than our own narrow one.
Transformation occurs from the inside out. It takes place in the heart and in the mind.
It Takes Courage To Grow Up and Turn Out To Be Who God Designed You to Be!
TRANSFORMATION BY THE RENEWING OF THE MIND
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind.” The word transformed is the same Greek word as in 2 Corinthians 3:18. In 2 Corinthians 3 transformation is by the Holy Spirit, and in Romans 12 transformation takes place in our mind. This shows that transformation is accomplished by the Spirit through the renewing of our mind. If our mind is not renewed, we cannot be transformed.
Overthrowing Reasonings and Taking Captive Every Thought unto the Obedience of Christ
Second Corinthians 10:5 says, “As we overthrow reasonings and every high thing rising up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought unto the obedience of Christ.” Have you ever overthrown your reasonings? Every day we have many reasonings; even at this moment we may have reasonings. To overthrow reasonings and take captive every thought unto the obedience of Christ is the real renewing of the mind.
Ephesians 1:18 says, “The eyes of your heart having been enlightened.” The eyes of our heart involve our understanding, which is a function of the mind. With our understanding there are eyes, not the physical eyes but the inner man, in other words our re-born spirit has eyes, and these eyes need to be enlightened. This means that our mind, our understanding, needs to be transformed by being renewed with the Word of God daily.
If we check with ourselves, we will see that we have many imaginations. It takes practice to quiet our mind. We also need to take captive every thought unto the obedience of Christ. Our thoughts need to be taken captive. We need to practice and exercise to do this.
Putting Off the Old Man by Being Renewed in the Spirit of the Mind
Originally, our soul was something in the old creation, but the Lord’s salvation transforms it into a new creation. Our mind is a mind of our own national culture. Therefore, we need a change of mind. First Corinthians 2:16 says that "We have the mind of Christ." By the new birth we have the mind of Christ. After we are regenerated, we need a change of mind.
Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “That you put off, as regards your former manner of life, the old man, which is being corrupted according to the lusts of the deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man, which was created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the reality.” Putting off the old man and putting on the new man depend on our being renewed in the spirit of our mind.
We renew our minds by studying the Word of God. The Bible teaches us to have "the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16). The
only way we can have the mind of Christ is to study His Word, believe it in our heart, and act upon it. The Word of God also teaches us to think on whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report , or whatever has virtue or praise (Phil. 4:8). So the Word of God does have much to say about the mind!
Some Christians are fearful to speak or preach about the mind, they immediately think of Christian Science. However, the Bible does have a great deal to say about the mind. Isaiah 26:3 says: "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."
The Word of God exhorts us to have the MIND of Christ (Phil. 2:5). And Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things." It makes a great deal of difference what one thinks. It is much easier to follow what man thinks about things than to follow what God says about the situation. Sometimes it is the hardest thing in the world to get one's mind to give up what man says and go with what God says. We need to meditate and think on God's Word as well as believe it in our hearts.
To build a solid faith life, you need to believe and confess daily what God the Father is to you, what Jesus is doing for you now at the right hand of the Father, and what the Holy Spirit is doing in you. Then you will grow to the place where you will not be afraid of circumstances, change or the unknown; and you will not be afraid of any disease or any condition. Instead, you will face life fearlessly—a conqueror!
Romans 8:37 tells us: "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."
The Lord Jesus transforms us completely, erasing a past full of faults, sins and “dirt” and writing a new history of life for us – a story of peace! One that was a “caterpillar” becomes a “butterfly”. And it’s not easy to endure all this transformation, because everything involves changes. It’s not easy for the caterpillar to spend days getting trapped in the dark, tight cocoon, unable to see the light and colors. But it’s worth waiting this time to be transformed into a dazzling creature. Christ changes our lives, from the moment that we completely surrender to Him.
The Word of God tells us that as this metamorphosis happens in our lives, we will transform into new creatures. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Lord was transfigured before his disciples, that is, adopted a distinct figure; He revealed his glory to them that they had not seen with the veil of flesh, but transfigured. “Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light” (Matthew 17:1-2)
When Jesus appears with glory in a transfigured appearance to his disciples, we then will see God’s purpose for our lives, “Jesus glorified”. This is the image that God wants us to turn to us to be like Him. “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Scripture tells us that the transformation (metamorphosis), the Christian life is through the renewal of the understanding, that is, MIND! Where the metamorphosis should happen is not only in the body or in the behavior, but mainly in the MIND!
Our minds play important roles in a Christian life, genuine transformation it is necessary to leave the old ways behind, after all, no one ever saw a caterpillar flying around.
“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:22).
RENEW YOUR MIND WITH GOD'S WORD
Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me’” (Matthew 16:24).
The Church of Christ should not conform to the worldly vices, but should fight for the transformation of all into the image of Jesus.
We are followers of Christ and have been washed and sanctified. “Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God”. (John 3:3)
The reason why the MIND is renewed is that we may do the will of God: the MIND that is renewed is best suited to appreciate and understand His will.
The Will of God, what is good, and perfect, and acceptable. The will of God relates to his commands in regard to our conduct, His Word, His providential dealings in relation to our external circumstances.
If all would separate from the patterns of the world, Christ would be glorified. If all would renew their minds, they would lose their appetite for the things of the world, seeking only to do the will of God, they would not be slow to find it.
“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who continues asking will receive. He who continues searching will find. And he who continues knocking will have the door opened for him (Matthew 7:7-8).