When Ps Laker sent out his “My Year of Exploits” form on 31 Dec 2023 and asked us to say what is my rhema scripture for 2024 – I chose Romans 12:1-21

 

I was blown away when Ps Lakers mentioned this very scripture as the T in EXPLOITS:

“transformation by renewing of the mind”.

Transformation means to change fundamentally and completely from one state to another.

This can be physical transformation or internal change of character or mind-set.

 

We see this reference to transformation in various scripture.

 

Matt 17:1-2 The Transfiguration

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. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:18:

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.

 

Romans 12:1-2 says:

 

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 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.

 

Why I love Romans so much is that Paul is so specific in his instruction.

 

The first part of this scripture says I need to:

• Give my body to God as a living and holy sacrifice.

• Don’t just copy others.

• Let God transform me.

Paul then says how to do this in verse 3 when he says “measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us”.

 

To me this means we must have full faith in God and just let go. Give ourselves fully to God and have full faith that God will transform us.

 

In Romans 3:30 we are told, “There is only one God and he makes people right with himself only by faith.”

 

By our faith in God any change is possible:

Romans 4:20-25

 

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as 2 righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s

benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. This means our transformation is possible!

 

Pray for Faith and Letting Go.

 

Part 2 – Changing How We Think

The second part of this scripture says I need to:

• Change the way I think.

• Then I can turn into a new person.

• Then I will know God’s will for me.

Wow! Sounds so simple but how do I change the way I think?

 

Here Paul shares some insights with us in

Romans 12:3-5: Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

 

From this I understand that we must be humble and remember we don’t know it all.

This means we must expose ourselves to different ways of thinking. As Pastor Lakers says often, a man is limited by the knowledge he possesses.

 

So get more knowledge. Expand your thinking by reading the Word more deeply. By hearing

what others say about the scripture. By reading the research and background notes for each

book in the Bible. It’s amazing the insights and context you receive by reading these

sections.

 

Paul is also reminding us that we are a part of Christ’s body, a part of His church. We belong to each other and must support each other.

 

But learning from others and asking for help requires a level of humility. We are admitting we don’t know something.

Again we need to let go and ask for help. Have faith that God will provide it if we ask:

Matthew 7:7

 

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

And:

 

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. 

 

 

 

Do you have a thought pattern or way of thinking that you know isn’t working for you anymore but you can’t seem to shake it?

 

Perhaps it’s leading to a pattern of behaviour that’s causing issues for you at home or at work or with relationships.

An example was just last night as I was writing this presentation:

[testimony]

Gentlemen, what is the main thing holding you back right now in achieving your exploits for this year?

We also need faith and humility to give up old ways of thinking and start a new thought pattern.

This requires us to accept that the old way of thinking isn’t helping us anymore. That perhaps we’ve been wrong in the way we’ve been thinking about this.

 

 

That’s when our egos get it the way as no one wants to admit they’ve been wrong.

 

But as we know EGO means – Edging God Out – and when our ego is in control it’s a sign that we aren’t living with full faith in God.

 

If we have full faith in God then we can let the ego go, we know He has our back and we can place in His hands our old way of thinking and ask Him to help change it.

Change is made concrete with practice. Therefore, as Ps Lakers shared on 1 Jan, we need to put into place a small step that embodies the change in thought we are seeking.

 

For example, for me it’s to take a deep breath before I answer the next time I’m asked to

help with something around the house (especially if I’ve had a big day at work). That way any frustration I may have from that day’s events can dissipate before I answer.

Gentlemen, let’s now pause and reflect on the following 4 questions – if you can write down

the answers or do so later):

 

1. What thought pattern do I have that’s causing me issues or holding me back?

2. What behaviour is this thought pattern then manifesting into? Eg angry words, avoidance and not facing difficult decisions, pornography, lustful thoughts etc.

3. What impact is this having on my connection with God, my family, my friends or my colleagues? Eg is it leading to conflict, feelings of shame, holding back?

4. What action or small step will I be taking to embody the change in thought I am seeking?

 

Let’s pray – today in Jesus’ name we boldly declare:

• That the shackles of our old way of thinking are now broken and forever removed!

• Lord, we place in your hands with full faith the renewal of our mind and to change the way we think to thoughts that glorify you.

• We pray for humility to learn from others and hear your teachings with a new mind. 

• That we may implement the small step we declared and to demonstrate we can change our way of thinking.

• That the shackles of our old way of thinking are now broken and forever removed!

• Lord, we place in your hands with full faith the renewal of our mind and to change the way we think to thoughts that glorify you.

• We pray for humility to learn from others and hear your teachings with a new mind. 

• That we may implement the small step we declared and to demonstrate we can change our way of thinking.