Scripture: 1 Thes 5:23

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thrust: Only by renewing our spirit man daily can we serve God continually and fervently.

I. WHAT: Meaning of Renewal of Spirit

A. General Meaning

• Renew: literally, make new again
• Restore something broken so that it resumes former state
• Repair something malfunctioning so that it regains original usefulness

B. Specific Meaning

Biblical slant: At the end of renewal, the Christian is not just restored to his former condition but also raised to a newer state and higher effectiveness

Metamorphosis: from most basic state to finest flourish of full maturity

From (1) condemned sinner, to (2) cleansed saint, to (3) commissioned showpiece.

I am a worm and not a man (Ps 22:6)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Cor 5:17, ESV)

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18, NASB)

Excursus on Two Types of Believers

1. The Carnal Man

2. The Spiritual Man

I… could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food… until now you were not able to receive it… even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. (1 Cor 3:1-3)

The Carnal Man (sarkikos)

• Saved by grace, justified by faith, not fully sanctified

For by this time, you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food… unskilled in the word… a child… solid food is for the mature… who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:12-14)

The Spiritual Man (pneumatikos)

• Led by the Spirit and so are sons [huios] of God
• Child [teknon]: carnal Christian who walks by sight and feelings 
• Son [huios]: spiritual Christian who walks by faith according to God’s Word

Summation: Spiritual renewal is the transformation of a sinner to a saint; from a babe in Christ (teknon) to a son of God (huios).

II. WHY: Importance of Spiritual Renewal

A. Spiritual Renewal is Our Responsibility

B. Spiritual Renewal Brings Growth and Maturity

²⁹ For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called he also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. (Rom 8:29-30, ESV)

• Progression in Spiritual Renewal: Foreknew --> Predestined --> Called --> Justified --> Glorified

… make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue… with knowledge… with self-control… with steadfastness… with godliness… with brotherly affection… with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Pet 1:5-8, ESV)

C. Spiritual Renewal Imparts Vitality

So, we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. (2 Cor 4:16-18)

Go to GOD’S GARAGE to Replace with New Tyres

Go to the SPIRIT’S KIOSK to Pump Fresh Oil

Go to CHRIST’S CLINIC for the Healing Balm of Gilead

D. Spiritual Renewal Increases Our Capacity

Put an SSD (Spirit-Sensitive Drive) in your inner man to rejuvenate, renovate, reinvigorate your spirit man!

III. HOW: Process of Spiritual Renewal

I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. (Rom 7:18)

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Rom 7:24)

I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom 7:25)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1)

A. Alter our Diet

i. Feed your spirit man God’s Word

… present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15)

ii. Drink more Living Water from the Fount of Life

iii. Sup with the Bread of Life

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev 3:20)

B. Align to New Orientation

i. Be Christ-Minded

Have this mind … which is yours in Christ (Php 2:5)

[Christ] took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And… obediently humbled Himself… by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. (Php 2:7-8)

ii. Be Spirit-Minded

… in fact, the Spirit of God dwells in you (Rom 5:9)

… by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons (huios) of God. (Rom 5:13-14)

iii. Be Heavenly-Minded

… do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Col 3:1-2)

• Seek: look intently for a thing of worth, e.g., Jesus, the Good Shepherd left 99 to look for one lost sheep
• Set: a fixed, firm determination to pursue things eternal

… lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Mt 6:20)

C. Adopt New Spiritual Drives

i. Stay Hungry

Get your daily bread to tide you through the day

ii. Stay Thirsty

iii. Stay Needy

Not that I have already obtained… or am already perfect, but I press on… because Christ… has made me His own… I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Php 3:12-14)

I press on all the more!

Conclusion

• Spiritual renewal is total transformation from inside out: transformed from glory to glory.
• Spiritual renewal is necessary because of battle between flesh and spirit wears us down; but we don’t lose heart. 
• Spiritual renewal comes when we alter our diet, align to new orientations, and adopt new spiritual drives
• Spiritual renewal gives impetus to serve God more fervently and more passionately.