Renewed
Mind
(Part 1 of
2)
By Dani’el Rendelman
www.emetministries.com
*This
teaching is available in
CD audio format.
For
information contact ravemet@comcast.net.
In
a beautiful transformation
of nature, the long, small
caterpillar turns into the
graceful and colorful butterfly.
Through the power of regeneration,
a new creation comes forward
to fulfill its purpose in
the eco-system. This process
of change is called “metamorphosis.”
This scientific term is
derived from an ancient
Greek word, “metamorphoo”
which literally means “to
transform, change, transfigure,
to fashion, or to form.”
This
is the same concept that
the author of Romans used
when he wrote, “Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in
view of Elohim's mercy,
to offer your bodies as
living sacrifices, holy
and pleasing to Elohim --
this is your spiritual act
of worship. Do not conform
any longer to the pattern
of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove
what Elohim's will is--his
good, pleasing and perfect
will,” Romans 12:1-2. As
Bible believers, we are
not to be like the rest
of the world, but we are
to be transformed; literally,
metamorphasized, by the
renewing of our mind. Like
a tadpole that becomes a
frog, is how a believer's
life should be truly different
from the norm of society,
when a person follows the
will of the Almighty.
The
pattern of this world
The
problem is that today’s
culture is all about patterns.
The news media, Hollywood,
and peers inspire how we
act, look, and feel. Schools
and universities produce
cloned graduates whose individuality
is swallowed up by being
accepted and fitting in
with the crowd. The way
we think is also shaped
by the people around us,
the movies we watch, and
the articles we read! Society
is like dough being shaped
by a boring cookie cutter
of worldly whims and desires.
If we think about it, we
will soon realize that every
part of our very life has
been formed by those around
us. (And all along, we thought
we were in control!!?!)
Even the rebel teenager,
who wants to be different,
will dress like the other
teens who desire the same.
In a desire to be different,
we are all actually, very
similar.
Unless
we have made conscious decisions
to change, our life is inside
the box of the world. Who
we are, that is, what we
think and how we act, is
directly affected by the
events of our past and the
people of our environment.
We speak English, probably
because the people around
us do so. We hold certain
religious beliefs because
we were carted off to church
as a child. Or we were not.
We think what we do about
politics, life, and the
Bible, based on the influence
of the world around us.
We are a sum and result
of the experiences and environments
of our past. Our parents,
teachers, friends, and the
happenings in our life,
have made us who we are
today.
The
shattering truth is that
to fulfill our destiny in
life, we must break the
mold of the world. We have
to be different; be separate
from the world. To follow
the Savior, we must be transformed,
be metamorphasized by a
change of mind. We need
to let our thinking be made
new. Become the butterfly.
Break out of the cocoon!
A
True Story
An
80-year-old couple were
having problems remembering
things, so they decided
to go to their doctor to
get checked out, to make
sure nothing was seriously
wrong with them. When they
arrived at the doctor's
office, they explained to
the doctor about the problems
they were having with their
memory.
After
checking the couple over,
the doctor tells them that
they are physically okay,
but might want to start
writing things down, making
notes to help them remember
things. The couple thanked
the doctor and left.
Later
that night while watching
TV, the old man got up from
his chair and his wife asks,
"Where are you going?"
He
replies, "To the kitchen."
She asks, "Will you
get me a bowl of ice cream?"
He replies, "Sure."
She
then asks him, "Don't
you think you should write
it down, so you can remember
it?"
He says, "No, I can
remember that."
She
then says, "Well, I
also would like some strawberries
on top. You had better write
that down 'cause I know
you'll forget that."
He
says, "I can remember
that, you want a bowl of
ice cream with strawberries."
She
replies, "Well, I also
would like whipped cream
on top. I know you will
forget that, so you better
write it down."
With
irritation in his voice,
he says, "I don't need
to write that down. I can
remember that." He
then, goes into the kitchen
fuming.
After
about 20 minutes, he returns
from the kitchen, handing
to her a plate of bacon
and eggs. She stares at
the plate for a moment and
says, "You forgot my
toast!"
It
as been said that the “mind
is a terrible thing to waste.”
Yet, waste it we do, by
not using our brain properly,
to the will of the Almighty.
The mind is the seat of
emotions where thoughts
are developed into a method
of thinking. The mind should
act like a filter that either
allows or prevents thoughts
from becoming actions. Most
folks though, have their
filter “clogged.” It is
clogged with bad ideas,
clogged with man-made theologies,
and clogged with false teachings.
Our filters are clogged
from the will of Elohim
by the world and its desires.
Abundant life is but a dream,
because the filter isn’t
used properly.
Currently,
we take information and
process it through our “modern
mindset.” Life and all of
its experiences pass through
our collection of memories,
knowledge, expectations,
and past. This creates a
very abstract type of thinking
that biases decisions, based
upon feelings and emotions.
The Hebrew mindset is very
different.
Friend,
our thoughts are the most
powerful forces in the universe.
What we think is the motivating
power behind everything
that takes place. The father
of philosophy once said,
“I think, therefore I am.”
What we think, what we focus
on is what we become, experience,
and expect. If we can control
our thoughts and get them
in line with the word of
Elohim then our actions
and therefore our life will
change. It is time for a
filter cleaning!
Check
Up from the Neck Up
To
clean our filter and begin
the transformation process,
we must take off the mind
of the olam hazeh and “put
on the mind of Moshiach,”
1 Corinthians 2:16. What
is the mind of messiah?
It is simply the thought
process of Elohim. It is
the way YHWH thinks. It
is the will of Elohim, as
revealed in the life of
the Savior. This is easy
to understand, as we accept
the fact the Messiah is
the “word/Torah made flesh.”
If the Messiah is the living
Torah then, to put on the
mind of Moshiach, is to
put on the mind of the Torah.
Torah, or the revealed will
of Elohim, is now the filter
through which all thoughts
must pass. The Moshiach’s
mind was the Torah made
flesh. Now, for the believer,
the Torah must filter all
actions and thoughts. His
mind must become our mind;
His thoughts our thoughts.
Yahshua
lived out completely, the
divine will of the Almighty.
He never sinned. Everything
He did was pleasing to the
Father. The Redeemer acted
out, thought on, taught
and brought about the fullness
of the Scriptures. “If any
man is in Messiah he is
a new creation,” wrote Rabbi
Shaul, in his second letter
to the Corinthians, 5: 17.
This
newness affects the ‘new’
or ‘renewed’ mind that comes
about, as we abide in Torah.
As
we press on towards YHWH’s
will, the mind should filter
out ideas, theologies, and
thoughts that do not line
up with the Torah, as revealed
in the first five books
of the Bible. This new mind
is completely different
from what we are accustomed
to and may definitely rub
us the wrong way, at first.
Yet, not renewing the mind
is the reason why so many
people, have so much difficulty
grasping the meaning of
the Scriptures. The dilemma
is that people are conditioned
to think and operate in
certain patterns. The pattern
of this world is staunchly
opposed, and opposite to,
the mindset of YHWH and
His word. The world is based
on a Western or Hellenistic
worldview, while the Bible
is based upon a Hebraic
background. It is simply
impossible to properly understand
the Bible, without a mind-set
that promotes knowledge
of Biblical times, the Hebrew
language, and even Judaism.
Wag
the Dog?
This
is an important subject
because the thoughts of
the intellect are the force
behind the actions and words
of every person. Regardless
of whether or not we want
to accept this fact, we
do actually think, before
we say or do anything. Indeed,
it is impossible to act
without thinking. The process
is lightening-fast, but
our brain commands our every
movement and word. The tail
does not wag the dog. We
do have control over what
we say or do, if and only
if, we control our thoughts.
Today, more than ever, believers
are confronted with the
challenge of being in the
world, and not of it. We
have to reject what has
always been, in order to
discover the way it was
meant-to-be. It is this
battle over the brain that
affects every area of life,
from the foods that are
eaten to the days that are
chosen for worship. Our
mind must be renewed or
‘made new’, in order to
walk in the fullness of
the abundant life, promised
in the Scriptures.
So,
how do we do it? How does
a follower of the Savior
put ‘on’ the Messiah’s mind?
What
changes must take place
to stop one from “being
conformed to the pattern
of this world but be transformed
by the renewing of the mind?”
In
his letter to the Romans,
12: 2, the Rabbi Shaul identified
for us how to change. "And
be not conformed to the
pattern of this world: but
be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that you may
prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect,
will of Elohim."
What
will it take to adopt the
worldview of the Almighty
Creator of the universe?
Will
we accept the challenge
to break out of the cocoon
of thinking of this world,
and flutter like a beautiful
butterfly?
The
Renewal Stool
Let
us consider that the renewed
mind is like a dairy milking
stool, one with three legs.
The seat of the stool is
the Torah, as revealed in
the first five books of
the Bible and as interpreted
by Rabbi Yahshua. Thus the
seat, or base of the renewed
mind, is the Torah. The
three legs are the three
impact areas that must be
considered. Without one
of these legs the stool
is unbalanced, unable to
stand. So, it is really
important to grasp all three
of these dynamics. Let us
not allow the simplicity
of these areas fool us.
They are easy to understand,
yet, they are also easy
to misunderstand.
In
part two of this teaching
we will consider how to
engage our focus and change
our environment. We will
also discuss the differences
of halakha versus theology,
and how the Hebrew and the
worldly minds are very different.
Our new path of study will
reveal how the Yisraelite
lifestyle is founded on
two important areas; the
first is the Torah itself.
And the second aspect of
a Hebrew worldview, are
the very controversial issues
of Judaism and tradition.
The goal of our learning
is transformation. The purpose
of our discussion is metamorphosis
– a changing of mind, of
actions, and of life. A
renewed mind is not a destination
of thinking, but a life-long
journey of thoughts focused
upon YHWH and His Torah.
This is just the start,
to our mind being renewed
and our wings busting out
of the cocoon of the world.
*
This teaching is available
in cd audio format. For
information contact ravemet@comcast.net
