Transform Your Mind

The Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Rome to not just give their but to be healed and transformed in their mind by renewing it wirh the mind of Christ. Many of us hold back in our surrender because of things we’ve been through that create barriers within the relationship God wants to have with us. But in this Bible study we explore and discover the intention of divine peace that has been predestined to us, the practical methods to apply in the process of healing emotional trauma, and accepting the reconciliation Christ has given us through his death. Peace is no longer something you have to chase, it’s merely in the ask and trust of the King. 

Transcript

Copy Transcript Copied

SPEAKER_00 0:18

I want to say welcome to the Rima Bible study. And of course, you know me. I'm Bishop Williams. And we're here with you for the next 20 minutes or so. And we're just going to be having a wonderful time sharing the Word of God with you. Today we're going to talk about the soul. And we believe it's quite an important part of one's being. And I believe most people hear about it, even talk about it, but never really stop to understand what it really is all about. And let me just reiterate that you know you are made up of three components. Let's call it that. Three division, uh, as it were. And it is the body, the soul, and the spirit. Now, the soul is important because it helps to uh, as it were, gives direction, it gives uh understanding to what is happening. It is the middle ground between the body and the spirit. And it has uh different different functions. One of those functions is it gives you self-consciousness. That's one of the first things that a soul does. And it also is a processing plant. Yes. Now, just like the stomach to the physical body, you put things in there and it processes it. Take out what is not good, what it doesn't want, and dispose of it, and what it does feel the body needs, it absorbed. So it is with the soul. But this is from a more spiritual aspect. Yes, the soul, when we speak of the soul, now most people think in terms of psychology and the psychological impact it has on one. But for those of us that believe in God, the soul is more than just an emotional state of our being. The soul, as I said, it is a processing plant. And so one must understand what it processed, what exactly happened, what's going on within the soul. First and foremost, it contains the mind. Now, again, this is something that everyone talks about. The mind, you hear people talk about mind control. You didn't talk about what state the mind is in. It also leads on to mental conditioning, psychological order, and all of that. So the soul really is an important part of your being. And so when you think in terms of the soul, you need to understand that what you put into your soul is what is going to flow into your spirit and also into your body and the environment around you. And that is why I believe it is important for you to have an understanding of what the soul is all about. Now, the apostle Paul in Thessalonians 5.23, it says that he's saying to the believers, I pray God that your spirit, soul, and body be preserved, blameless, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, this is really important for us to understand why he says that. Now, not many people really understand that your body is an important part of your not only your existing life, but your life going forward. Yes, your body, um we do appreciate the fact that it will decay at death for those who die. Of course, for those who um won't die, and um the Bible tells us that we are going to be changed, yes, from uh this ability to corrupt, ability to die, to the inability to corrupt and the inability to die. So your body is important, and that's why the apostle Paul is saying to saying that he praying that we preserve this very, very important house, because our body houses our soul, it houses our spirit, and this is crucial. Now, when we understand that the soul embodies the mind, and this is one of the, especially in these times, is one of the important things that I think a lot of people are concerned about. And you know, they they sort of put it as mental state, but that mental state is really talking about your mind health. So this is really, really important to know. A lot of people are sick sick um mentally. Why? Because their mind is going through various traumatic situations. And I just want to share with you how we can address that problem. Now, let's take Jesus. We know that he comes and he teaches us the fundamental of life and how we are to live, what are the important things if we want to live a very productive and healthy lifestyle. And we know in the Old Testament, he gives us what is commonly called the Ten Commandments. Now, the Israelites were instructed to keep it and to live by it. So when Jesus came and established the new covenant that we to today call the New Testament, what was happening here is Jesus compounded those ten commandments into two. And is and here are the two. He said, Love God with all your spirit, your soul, your mind, your body, and of course, number two, your neighbor as yourself. So when one look at these compounded commandments, because of course, if you love God and love your neighbor, you're never going to do anything against them. And that is what he was getting to. So rather than having to try to memorize 10, he said, just memorize one. Love God with your total and absolute, absolute being. Now, what is important is that one of the pillars of what is called the Torah, uh, which is the Jewish um uh faith, was a scripture that he gave to them, and that is, hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God, and you shall love him with your spirit, your soul, your body. And he said, also your mind. And I thought about it, and I'm thinking, okay, he's already mentioned the soul, why the mind? And it really began to dawn on me how important not just to acknowledge that you have a soul, but the operation within the soul is that the mind, it is like the engine in the car. Yes, it is that which gives direction, it is that which gives power, it is that which connects you, your natural world, to your divine world. I would say your spiritual world. Because everyone needs to remember that you are a spirit. And here God has placed something within us that connects both the natural and the spiritual world. But like as I said, like your car, you could go in there, you have the keys, it has the wheels, it has everything, but if you don't have an engine to power the thing, you're not going anywhere at all. And so the mind is that engine of your soul, and it drives both your spiritual as well as your natural body and natural world around you. So it is important for one to appreciate and understand that this is what God is looking for, how you treat your mind, how you relate to your mind, that is most important. Now, in the book of Philippians, chapter 4, amen, the Bible tells us about what we should do where our mind is concerned. In other words, which I don't think a lot of people really understand, that the mind requires attention. It requires you to work with it and work on it. Now, why is that? In chapter 6 of Philippians 4, uh Philippians 4, uh, chapter 4 and verse 6, it says, Do not worry about anything. Now, if it wasn't important to God that you should not worry, why would he say that? So he wants us to know that worry handicaps the productivity of the mind. And therefore, God is telling us do not worry about things. Because why? Number one, it demonstrates lack of faith. It demonstrates lack of trust, that you don't trust your creator, you don't trust the one who made you, the one who keeps the blood running in your vein and all of that. So he instructors don't. But he said, with prior, that is communication, uh, communicate, tell, talk to God, because you and God must be in a relationship. And that is what he's looking for: relationship. So when he says now, but with prior and supplication are, you know, deep into, you know, I see supplication like having a heart to heart with somebody who you love, somebody who you care about, and you just decide, okay, I'm going through some things and I'm gonna have a heart to heart. Now they may not even be able to help you, but the fact that you can communicate what you're experiencing, who knows what could happen. That's what God is saying is that communicate with him because he has the ability to help you whatever state you find yourself in. And then he went further and he said it like this He said, with thanksgiving. And this is really powerful when he said with Thanksgiving, because he's saying that even before you see the things happening that you're desiring, he said, begin to thank him for it. That is trust. You know, imagine somebody promises you something, and you say you say to them, Look, I need this, and they said, Okay, I haven't got it this moment, but I'm going to get it and get it and bring it for you. And then you said, I thank you so much. You haven't received it yet, but you are thanking the individual that in anticipation of it coming. So God is saying, do the same thing with him, knowing that he guarantees to bring you the things you need. But you must be in a state of thankfulness to him. And this is what he said, because it demonstrates your trust, it demonstrates how you see him, and most important, it demonstrates your relationship with him. And therefore, he went on in verse 8 to tell us and give us a list of things, which he said that is the healing process for the mind. That if your mind is out of sync, if it is out of balance, then the Bible, through through the word of God through through the Bible, is telling you how to fix you. That's what it is doing. And it said, now how can I fix my mind? Because a lot of people, when they go through mind problems, mind issues are, you know, as it as we commonly say, mental problem, is because they are losing control of the mind, of their minds, and don't know how to address it. Now, for some people, they may try to use medical means, which, you know, we don't have a problem with, but of course, there is something that is far more important, I believe, to address and to fix the mind and hear the maker of the mind tell us how this should be done. And he tells us that we should take on board those things, these those things that bring value and he brings virtue to your mind. And we see the list of it. Now, it went further to tell us in the book of Psalms, and tell us how I think Psalms 119 and verse 11, it tells us what and how we should fix ourselves. And it says, now, how can a young man cleanse his ways? Now, his ways stems from his thought process, which again goes back to his mind. He said, How can you do that? He said, by taking heed to the word of God. And the word of God is what is listed in Philippians 4 and verse 8. And after you put these into practice, after you get your spirit, your mind, and your body in balance by what you do with your mind. He then said in verse 19, he says, My God can supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. That is when you are fixed, when you are balanced, when you can appreciate the fact that your God, our Father, can do, can cause us to do whatever we need to do. And then in verse 13, he said it like this. He said that I can do all things. You see, a person with a steady, uh, steadfast mind, uh mind that is in balance with God and with humanity, he said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That is what he's saying that is gonna happen. So I want you to know that once you bring your mind in line with God, with God and with God's word, then you are truly a success going to happen. Now, the Bible also went on further to uh address how important it is for us to have our mind in the right place. Here it is in Romans chapter 12 and verses 1 to 3. It says here that we should not be conformed to this world, but be he transformed by the renewing of your mind. Again, you see how much value that God places on your mind. He said, now that's what we need to do. Don't conform, be wise, because conformity to a system and to a world that is changing, constantly changing, you know, it lacks stability. It lacks, in fact, in most cases, people cannot even find hope in the system. However, God is saying that when you conform to his laws, to his instruction, then you are guaranteed to have success. And that's why he tells us that be he transformed by the renewing of your mind. You have the power, you have the right, you have the responsibility to renew your mind. And that is so important. Now, he also tells us that we are to gird up the loins of our mind. And this, you know, it sort of reminds you of a weightlifter, somebody who is going to lift a heavy weight and they're going to protect their loins. So they would use a broad belt to draw it tight so it have support. And that's what he's saying is that there are things that is going to be happening to you, happening in your life, happening in your family, that may feel like a heavy weight. But when your mind is supported by, as it were, the belt of the word, you are gonna make it. And that is what God wants you to know today. So get your mind in the right place, thinking the right thing, going about um life the right way, and you will see absolute success. So I want to say thank you for listening, and it's great to have you sharing with us today in this room of Bible study. God bless you. And before we close, we're just gonna have a word of prayer with you. If you want to bow your head with me, where right where you are, we can pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you for this another day. We thank you that you have made us wonderful. You gave us, Lord God, a perfect body, soul, and spirit. And we are asking you today to bless everyone that is listening. I pray for those who are finding it a problem to control their mind, to work with their with their with their spirit, and to live in their body the way they should. But today I pray that they would have learned, they would have understood what they need to do to bring balance to their life. God bless you. In Jesus' name. Amen.