Renewing the Mind
By Dr. Bill Bailey (February 2003)
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"And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect
will of God." (Romans 12:2, KJV, emphasis
added.) |
OK, a strange example, to be sure... but bear with
me! Your mind has probably become like concrete, it is thoroughly
mixed up and well set! You need to break it up, and start over! This
requires restructuring the mind, pouring a new foundation, as it
were!
Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin says in his book, Man on Three Dimensions, "One
of the greatest needs of the church today is that God's people renew
their minds with the Word of God. Just because a person is a
Christian, and even filled with the Holy Spirit, doesn't mean that
he has a renewed mind. The mind becomes renewed with the Word of
God."1 We need to renew our minds by reading, studying,
and meditating on the Word of God. In this way, we can develop our
minds until we are no longer simply assenting to the truths of God's
Word, we are actually living them!
Dr. Hagin goes on to say, "First of all, we must understand the
difference between real faith and mental assent. Mental assent
agrees that the Bible is true but doesn't act on it. Real faith is
acting on God's Word. Mental assent says, 'I know God's Word is true
all right. I know God promised me certain things and that I ought to
have them.' Faith sees the object of prayer as already having been
attained. Faith says, 'The Word of God says it, I believe it, and I
have it now,' even though it may not be seen in the natural. Faith
says, 'I have it now not because I can see it, not because I
actually possess it, but because God promised it.' 'Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen'
(Heb. 11:1). Another translation of this verse reads, 'faith is
giving substance to things hoped for.' Our faith gives substance to
it and so we can say, 'It is mine.'"1 This process of
renewing the mind takes time, as does development in God's Word.
Dr. T.L. Osborn reminds us, "Since it is written, Faith comes by
hearing the word of God, then the best way to build faith in your
heart that God is willing to heal you is for you to hear that part
of God's word which promises you healing. Faith for spiritual
healing comes by hearing the gospel: He bore our sins. Faith for
physical healing comes by hearing the gospel: He bore our
sicknesses."2 Therefore, if you have need of physical
healing, you need to renew your mind to the truths of God's Word
concerning healing.
We saw in the article, "How to Receive
Healing," that we must "do" the Word, and when we "do" the Word,
our spirit main dominates us. "Those who are living in the flesh are
living in unbelief, and always are engaged in warfare. Life is a
battle for them. Their minds never have been renewed with the Word
of God, and they don't know that Jesus already has won the battle.
They don't know the devil is a defeated foe. They still are trying
to fight him in their own power, and some have fought until they are
totally exhausted and depleted. But when the mind has been renewed
with the Word of God, the spirit through the renewed mind can control
the body. The soul (mind) will then take sides with the spirit,
because it knows the Word. It is renewed with the Word. It will
allow the spirit to dominate. Then God's Spirit will dominate
through man's spirit."3 And if the Spirit of God
dominates our human spirit, then we will be successful in life!
1 Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin, Man On Three
Dimensions, Kenneth Hagin Ministries, pages 12 and 13.
2 Dr. T.L. Osborn, One Hundred Divine Healing Facts, Harrison
House Publishers, pages 20 and 21.
3 Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin, The Human Spirit, Kenneth Hagin
Ministries, page 7.