Our minds need to be constantly renewed, moving away from the mind of the flesh and into the mind of Christ. Ultimately, all who have the mind of Christ, those who belong to God, will be sanctified, or transformed by the renewing of the mind by the Holy Spirit. “…DO NOT BE CONFORMED (suschēmatizō: to be like everyone else, to “fit in”) to this world, but be TRANSFORMED (metamorphoō: to be changed into another form) by the renewing of your mind (our minds are enlightened by the Holy Spirit), that YOU MAY PROVE what is that good and acceptable and PERFECT WILL OF GOD.” (Romans 12:2)
Here is the problem in the church world today, many people go to church, study the bible for a while but are never transformed, how do I know this because when Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God he said “…the kingdom of heaven will be like TEN virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. FIVE (1/2 of the kingdom of heaven) of them were foolish (conformed) and FIVE were wise (transformed). The foolish ones took their lamps but DID NOT TAKE ANY OIL with them. The wise ones, however, TOOK OIL IN JARS along with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:1-4)
This “oil” is the Holy Spirit in Genesis 1:2 “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the SPIRIT OF GOD (the Holy Spirit) was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “LET THERE BE LIGHT,” and there was light.” (Genesis 1:2,3) The sun and moon were created day 4, this is a spiritual enlightenment that comes when we are TRANSFORMED.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU. AWAY FROM ME, YOU EVILDOERS!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)
The 5 foolish virgins went to try to buy oil and came back late, knocking on the door saying, “‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But He answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I DO NOT KNOW YOU.’” (Matthew 25:11-12) JESUS SAID HE did not know them because they were “NOT DOING, THE WILL OF MY FATHER” “So you, too, must KEEP WATCH! For you do not know the day or hour of My return.” (Matthew 25:13) MAKE SURE YOU’RE DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER!
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham