Pastor Richard Waialeale
June 16, 2019 - W1924

The Renewing Of Your Mind (Romans 12:1-2)

Matters Of The Heart

Pastor Richard Waialeale

June 15 & 16, 2019

Happy Father’s Day! Welcome to New Hope! 

I’m starting with a story about sacrifice, dedication, and a little bit of Father’s Day: 

Back in the early 1900s, a gangster named Al Capone virtually owned Chicago.  He littered Chicago with everything that was evil. People wondered how this guy stayed out of jail.  Well, Al Capone had one of the best lawyers—his nickname was Easy Eddie.

Easy Eddie did an excellent job of keeping his boss out of jail; and Al Capone paid him well! Easy Eddie lived the high life and cared little for anything that was happening around him—until he had a son. His baby boy was the only soft spot in his heart and Easy Eddie gave him everything!  He wanted him to be better than himself and tried to teach him right from wrong.  Yet, with all his influence and wealth, there were two things that Easy Eddie could not pass on to his son: a good name and a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie came to a crossroads in his life, and he had to make a difficult decision. He wanted to make right all the wrongs that he had done; and it meant ratting—telling the truth about Al Capone.  He knew that testifying against the mob would come at a high price, and Easy Eddie testified against Al Capone! Within less than a year, Easy Eddie’s life ended in a blaze of gunfire!  In his eyes, he gave his son the greatest gift he could offer him—but it cost him his life!

Now hold that story right here—I’m shifting to another story:  World War II produced many heroes; and one was an Air Force commander, a pilot named Butch O’Hare.  Butch was assigned to an aircraft carrier,The Lexington,stationed in the South Pacific.

One day, the entire squadron was commanded to go airborne and headed east.  After being airborne, Butch discovered that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel; so he had to turn around.  On the way back, he intercepted some enemy planes.  Long story short, Butch destroyed five planes, and when he ran out of ammunition, he started clipping off the wings of those planes, sacrificing his own plane!

This took place in 1942.  All of this was recorded on film on a camera that was mounted on the plane.  For that action, Butch became the first naval ace of World War II to be awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor.  A year later at 29, Butch was killed in action, but his hometown would not allow his memory to fade.  Today, O’Hare Airport in Chicago is named in his honor.  Oh, by the way, Butch O’Hare was the son of Easy Eddie.  Just thought you might want to know the influence of a father!

Today, we’ll talk about a love relationship with God, our Father in Heaven.  In our series, Matters Of The Heart, Pastor Wayne talked about the Greatest Commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Today, we’ll focus on The Renewing Of The Mind. 

Romans 12:1-2 NIV says, “¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

One of the key principles in scripture is that anytime the word therefore is used, an action step or application is about to follow. Paul is saying, [therefore] in light of everything we talked about, this is the way you should live. 

A true test of our beliefs is the way we behave.  Paul is practical.  He deals in relationships and is saying, the same person behind the pulpit must be the same person in public; the same person sitting in church must be the same person in public. From time to time, I say, only two things can change a person: Brain surgery and Jesus.  Let’s take Jesus, right?

So how do we discover God’s will for our lives and apply it to our relationships? God’s will is not a formula, and it’s not a feeling. Three powerful principles outline God’s will for our lives:  

1. DEDICATION (sacrifice) 

Romans 12:1-2 NIV says, “¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. That sounds kind of extreme, but here's what the scripture is saying:  Commit your entire life to Christ! Be willing, in advance, to do whatever He tells you to do—even before you know what it is!  

Sacrifice means total unconditional dedication to God, offer your bodies, as living sacrifices, then it is “holy and pleasing to God.” Anytime you make a commitment of your life to God, you are worshiping because it’s a commitment of your time, praise, money, life, talents, and energy—that's an act of worship! 

When I conduct premarital counseling, the question I ask the couple is: “How do you know that what you are doing is meant to be?” The answer should be, “I believe God put us together.”  In other words, God called them to be husband and wife—they are dedicated, committed, and all in!  In marriage, you don't know what will happen in the future, but you’re leaving it up to God.

The movie, 42, is a story of legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in major league baseball.  Jackie was noted for his incredible talents, amazing ability, but most of all, for his character, that even in the thick of racial discrimination and criticism, Jackie demonstration self-control!

One of the most interesting scenes in the movie is when Jackie Robinson meets the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey, for the very first time. Rickey tells Jackie what he needs to do in order for the team to succeed: “People won’t like what we're doing here. They'll do anything to get you to react. They'll echo a curse with a curse. They'll only hear your response—your reaction.  If you follow a blow with a low, they'll call you the most awful names and try to get you to respond—to lose your temper.  Your enemy will be in full force to destroy you, but you can't beat them on their own low ground!  Then he said, "Like our Savior Jesus Christ, you gotta have the guts to turn the other cheek.  Jackie, are you willing to do that?” 

Jackie was being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to play professional major league baseball, but it came with a heavy price—all the challenges in life!  Here's the point:  Jesus Christ offers us the opportunity of a lifetime. When we lift our hands to say, “Yes,” to Him, we don't know what will happen in the future, but we're saying, “I'm committed, dedicated, and sacrificing. I'm going for it.  I’m all in, even when I don't know what's ahead. Sacrifice means unconditional dedication to God! This is your act of spiritual worship—committing your time, praise, money, life, talents, and energy. 

2. INSULATION (separate from the world)

Paul continues: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world." The Phillips translation says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,” meaning, don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold!

Insulation is like this:  A fish can spend its entire life in salt water, yet when you cook it, you need salt to flavor it!  If God can keep a fish in salt water its entire life and not let the salt penetrate or permeate its body, God can keep a Christian in a non-Christian world pure—that’s insulation!

Avoid imitation; it has no connection. Let me explain:  A story is told of a hometown guest visiting the White House during the presidency of Calvin Coolidge.  They were invited to dinner with the President; it was quite an honor, but the family was worried about their table manners, so they decided to copy whatever the President did—imitate him.

The President walked in, and everybody stood, protocol.  The President sat down; they sat down.  The President starts having dinner, they have dinner. The strategy worked for a little while until after dinner when coffee was served. The President took his coffee; they took their coffee. The President takes the coffee cup, removes the saucer, and pours a little bit of coffee on the saucer. They do the same. The President bends over and puts the coffee on the floor for the cat!  Here's the point: There is no connection between what is done and why it's done. Think about why you do what you do!

If you want to know God's will, don't get your cues from the world. Many Christians accept automatically whatever standard the world is setting, even though God says it's wrong. Don't imitate or isolate, but learn how to live in a world without letting it influence you!

One of my favorite places in all of Japan is Toyosu Market, where they sell square watermelons! Farmers grow these watermelons in tempered glass cubes, and the watermelons assume the shape of the containers. The Japanese feel that square watermelons fit better in the refrigerator and they’re easier to cut—won’t roll! I use this illustration only as a reminder that the forces of the world will exert their influence and attempt to shape us into their mold! 

3.  TRANSFORMATION (let God change your thoughts)

The scripture continues, "…be transformed by the renewing of your mind."Paul is talking about the Holy Spirit changing us on the inside that we'll know His will. The word transform is metamorphosis. Jesus was metamorphosed when He was supernaturally changed.

Scripture teaches us the way we think determines the way we feel; and the way we feel determines the way we act.  To be transformed by the renewing of your mind starts with our thought life.  Proverbs 23:7 NKJV says,“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Just reading the Bible every morning, doing devotions, knowing God’s Word backwards and forward, will not change or transform you.  Reading scriptures just to get insights into theology is good, but metamorphosis will not take place.  Transformation occurs when we study God’s Word to have a touch of Jesus. John 1:1 NKJV says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It's the incarnation of the Word becoming flesh (personable, teachable) keeping our minds on Him. Don't do what your mind tells you to do—do only what the Bible tells you to do!   

THREE ACTION STEPS: 

Scripture continues: “God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Literally what this means is God's plan for your life is tailor?made; uniquely designed just for you; a custom fit; and it’s an original! It releases you from comparison:  

1.     It’s a good life.
2.     It’s pleasing, acceptable
3.     It’s perfect. Tailor made, custom fit.

God is saying don't follow the ways of the world. How can you follow what everybody else is doing when God's will is tailor?made just for you?  Nothing can improve on God's will for your life!  Allow the transforming Word of God work within you to produce outward result, instead of permitting external pressure shape us. The true test of belief is how we behave—our actions! 

STUDY QUESTIONS:

1.     What are some things you imitate without knowing the reason?
2.     How do you keep the world from transforming you?
3.     What happened when you made a commitment not knowing what was to happen?
4.     How have you transformed after committing your life to Christ? 
5.     How does the Word of God insulate you?