This is the conclusion to our four part series on Transformation. You can view the video where we taught it live here.
The renewing of the mind does not happen by osmosis, but by an intentional plan to dismantle wrong beliefs and establish positive strongholds in specific areas of our lives. Besides meditating on scripture, there is probably no greater strategic step we can take to renew our minds than declarations. This is so exciting because it is an irrefutable law of the spirit that if we renew our minds, we will be transformed. It will work for everyone no matter what our past has been. Truly, nobody’s past can limit their future, but current beliefs can. Declarations help us renew our minds so our lives will be truly transformed.
— Steve Backlund, Igniting Hope Ministries —
The Second Path for Transformation
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The word for transformed here is the same one used in Romans 12:2, metamorphoo. So this verse illustrates a second way to be transformed.
How? By beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord. You can be transformed by being in the Presence of the Lord.
To behold means to see and perceive and experience. It says “beholding with unveiled face”. That means with nothing masking or hiding. Fully open.
But it doesn’t just say we are transformed when we behold the glory of the Lord, it says when we behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord.
What does a mirror show you? Your reflection. You see you when you look in the mirror.
There is something about being in the Presence of the Lord; you not only see Him, but you see you – as God sees you. And then you are transformed into that image.
1 John 3:2 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
We shall be like Him when we see Him as He is.
There are many testimonies of people that have encounters with God, and come out of them a changed person.
Moses was living the life of a simple shepherd for 40 years after he fled Egypt. One day he saw something that captured his attention – a bush that was on fire, but was not burning up. When he went to check it out, he had an encounter with God. He learned that he was the one to deliver Israel from Egypt. That was not a new concept to him. He had an idea when he killed the Egyptian (Acts 7:25). That didn’t turn out right because he was using his own natural efforts trying to bring about God’s plans and purpose. He pretty much abandoned that vision, but God brought him back to it 40 years later.
We also read how Moses’ face glowed – he was transformed – after spending time in God’s presence on the mountain.
Gideon received a visitation from an angel, who called him a “mighty man of valor” – while he was hiding from the Midianites threshing grain in a winepress. But God does not see us as we are now, He sees us as we are to become.
Saul when the Spirit came upon him:
1 Samuel 10:5-6 5 After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.
6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
So we have these two methods of transformation – by being a mind renewer, or a beholder. Both are valid. Each person will lean towards one method or the other. But we need both.
A person who is a mind renewer and not a beholder, can devalue intimacy with God and people. They have a tendency to be into formulas.
Someone who is a beholder and not a mind renewer, lives for and loves encounters and the Presence of God. They will chase meetings where they can feel God. But they can place too much emphasis on what they feel – they believe that what they feel is true.
David was a beholder. That is obvious by reading the Psalms. He spoke about being in God’s presence all the time. You can also see in the Psalms that he had a tendency to fluctuate emotionally. But even though he had his ups and downs, he stayed true to the Lord His entire life. He became the standard against which all the kings of Israel were measured against.
Solomon had an encounter with God to kick him off – the dream where God told him to ask for anything he wanted, and Solomon asked for wisdom. But we see after that, that he was a man of great study – he pursued knowledge and wisdom.
But he also ended up compromising, because he disobeyed one of the directives of God, in that he “loved many foreign women”. And in his old age, he allowed them to have small temples and shrines to their gods in Israel, and even joined them in worshipping those idols.
Look in the Mirror
James 1:21-25 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 2:12 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
Vs. 21 the word implanted is able to save your soul. Save – to make whole. This is not talking about being born again here, that is the salvation of your spirit. James is addressing Christians who would already be born again. Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions. It is changing our thinking processes and beliefs.
Vs. 22 Be a doer, not just a mental-assenter. A mental assenter agrees with the Word – “Oh, yes, I believe it just that way!” – but does not act on it.
Vs. 23 observing his natural face; lit., the face of his nature, or the face of his birth. Specifically, the face of his new birth.
Vs. 24 He looks and sees the face of his new birth or nature, then goes away and forgets what a manner of man he was.
Vs. 25 The perfect law of liberty. This is the Word of God.
We Shall Be Like Him
1 John 3:2 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Why will we be like Him when He is revealed and we see Him face to face, as He really is?
1 John 4:17 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
As He is, so are we. 1 John 3:2 says that we will be like Him in heaven, and nobody has a problem with that. But 1 John 4:17 says as He is, so are we in this world! We are already like Him on the inside. When we see Him face to face, we shall behold that glory of the Lord and the last transformation will take place.
So why aren’t we more like Him now?
1 Corinthians 13:12 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
In this life, our view in the mirror is dim. Now we have partial knowledge, but then we shall know ourselves even as God fully knows us. And we shall know the truth, and the truth shall make us free!
Abiding
John 15:4-7 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
John 8:31-32 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
To abide means to dwell, or make your home in. We are told to abide in Jesus, and to abide in His word. The result is that we will know truth, and that truth will make us free – it will transform us.
Practicing the Presence of God
There is a book written many years ago by a monk in a monastery, Brother Lawrence, called Practicing the Presence of God. He was just the dishwasher at the monastery, but he took it upon himself to believe that God was with him at all times, even when he was just washing dishes. And he had encounter after encounter with God.
“Practice” is where you repeat an action over and over in order to get better at it.
The key to “practicing” the presence of God is setting aside a regular time to do it. I play guitar. If I don’t put aside time to practice, distractions and other things will come up that will keep me from it.
We enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4) so that’s a great place to start. Put on some worship music to set an atmosphere.
Put away distractions. Put your phone out of reach!
In Everyday Life
Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
In all your ways… Start acknowledging God is with you even in the mundane affairs of everyday life. Many times we have the attitude that we don’t want to “bother” Him when what we are doing is not “spiritual”. The idea is to be mindful and aware of Him at all times. This is what Brother Lawrence did.
Join Him in your inner conversations. You’ll find that He will talk back! He’ll give you insights and revelations. You will have encounters that will change your life.
Continued in Part Five
