TO COOPERATE IS VITALLY IMPORTANT

Table of Contents

1. Personal Testimony: Not Strangers to Pain or Need
2. Victory Comes Through Following the Spirit and the Word
3. Predestined to Be Conformed to the Image of Christ
4. Raised With Christ Into Newness of Life
5. Spirit, Soul, and Body
6. Transformation in the Earth Walk
7. The Importance of Renewing the Mind
8. Thinking in Agreement With Spiritual Reality
9. Setting the Mind on Things Above
10. Putting On the New Man
11. The Dangers of Erroneous Thinking
12. Speaking and Thinking According to Truth
13. Identity in Christ
14. Thoughts Shape Life
15. Closing Encouragement and Giving

Personal Testimony: Not Strangers to Pain or Need

Pastor Leonard begins the teaching by speaking honestly about the pain and hardships he and Pastor Lori have experienced throughout life. He explains that although they currently live pain-free and active lives, they are not strangers to suffering, surgeries, cancer, financial hardship, or relationship challenges. He shares that he still works physically demanding pest control jobs, carries heavy backpack sprayers, climbs ladders, and crawls through attics and crawl spaces. Pastor Lori also exercises regularly and walks in health and strength.

The pastors emphasize that the principles they teach are not merely sermons or theories. They have personally applied these truths in their own lives. Pastor Leonard explains that when believers follow the Spirit and follow the Word of God, they will find victory in every area of life. The focus of the message is not pretending difficulties do not exist, but learning how to cooperate with what God has already accomplished in the believer’s inner man.

Victory Comes Through Following the Spirit and the Word

Pastor Leonard explains that the solutions they teach come from implementing God’s Word in practical life. They stress that victory over pain, lack, and relational struggles comes through cooperating with the Spirit rather than living according to outward circumstances.

The pastors explain that many Christians know spiritual truths intellectually but fail to cooperate with them in thought life and daily living. Transformation requires agreement with God’s truth.

Predestined to Be Conformed to the Image of Christ

Pastor Lori reads:
Romans 8:29– “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Pastor Leonard explains that because of God’s foreknowledge, believers were predestined to become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that this means believers are intended to reflect the exact image and likeness of Christ. He explains that Jesus is called the “firstborn among many brethren” because He was the first raised from the dead into resurrection life, and believers were united with Him in that resurrection.

Pastor Leonard connects this truth to Romans 6-“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”
He explains that believers were raised together with Christ into newness of life and are now part of the “many brethren” who share in His resurrection reality.

Raised With Christ Into Newness of Life

The pastors teach that believers are spiritually united with Christ in His resurrection. Pastor Leonard explains that this resurrection reality is already true in the believer’s spirit. However, the outward manifestation of that reality in daily life requires cooperation through renewed thinking.
He explains that many believers fail to experience transformation because they do not align their thinking with the truth of who they already are spiritually.

Spirit, Soul, and Body

Pastor Lori reads:
1 Thessalonians 5:23- “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Leonard explains that human beings consist of spirit, soul, and body. He says believers primarily are spirit beings. According to him, the spirit man is already perfect, glorified, whole, and complete in Christ.

He explains that the soul consists of the mind, will, and emotions, where free will and personal choices operate. The body is the physical outward vessel. He teaches that being conformed to the image of Christ is not speaking about the already perfected inner spirit, but rather the outward earthly walk becoming a reflection of the inward spiritual reality.

Transformation in the Earth Walk

Pastor Leonard explains that transformation in daily life happens when believers align their thoughts and beliefs with spiritual truth. He explains that financial blessing, healing, healthy relationships, and abundant living stem from thinking and believing correctly.

The pastors emphasize that transformation does not occur automatically in outward living simply because spiritual truth exists inwardly. Rather, transformation manifests as the mind becomes renewed.
Pastor Leonard says believers must line their thinking up with the truth of God’s Word and the reality of their spiritual identity.

The Importance of Renewing the Mind

Pastor Lori reads Romans 12:2- “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Pastor Leonard explains that this verse is not describing three separate wills of God, but rather a progression of transformation. He says God has already predestined believers to reflect Christ outwardly, but this outward transformation happens through renewed thinking. Transformation becomes more complete as believers increasingly understand the reality of their perfected spiritual nature and align their minds with God’s Word.

The pastors repeatedly stress that transformation happens through thinking.

Thinking in Agreement With Spiritual Reality

The pastors explain that believers must think according to spiritual truth rather than earthly appearances.
Pastor Leonard references
Colossians 3- “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

He teaches that believers should think “above” because they are seated with Christ spiritually. According to Pastor Leonard, believers should not think low or according to earthly limitations, but should think from the perspective of their union with Christ.

Setting the Mind on Things Above

Pastor Leonard explains that the renewed mind focuses on heavenly truth rather than pain, need, fear, or worldly thinking. He says this mindset allows outward transformation to take place progressively.
The pastors repeatedly connect thought life to spiritual cooperation. They explain that believers who continually meditate on truth will increasingly experience transformation in outward life.

Putting On the New Man

Pastor Leonard references: Ephesians 4:23-24- “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

He explains that “putting on the new man” refers to outward living reflecting inward spiritual truth. According to Pastor Leonard, believers are already righteous and holy inwardly, but must cooperate through renewed thinking so that this reality becomes visible in daily life.

He explains that decades earlier, he failed to renew his mind and therefore continued living with pain, lack, and relational struggles. Transformation only began to occur when he aligned his thinking with the truth of who he was in Christ.

The Dangers of Erroneous Thinking

Pastor Leonard warns against “stinking thinking” and erroneous beliefs that contradict God’s Word. He explains that when his mindset became inferior to the truth of Scripture, transformation stopped operating in his life.

The pastors teach that negative thought patterns can hinder the outward manifestation of spiritual truth. They emphasize that renewing the mind is not optional but vitally important for transformation.

Speaking and Thinking According to Truth

Pastor Leonard references Philippians 4:13-“I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.”

He tells Pastor Lori that she truly believes this verse and lives from it daily. Pastor Lori explains that what people think about eventually becomes what they speak, and what they continually speak reflects what they truly believe. The pastors stress that thought life directly affects the body, emotions, and outward living.

Pastor Lori says the spirit realm operates through thoughts because believers cannot physically see the Lord standing before them speaking audibly. She explains that spiritual communication and influence often come through inward thought life.

Identity in Christ

Pastor Leonard references 1 Corinthians 6:17- “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”

The pastors begin declaring truths about the believer’s identity in Christ:

“I am one with Jesus.”
“I am healed.”
“I am whole.”
“I am righteous.”
“I am blameless.”
“I am holy.”
“I am worthy.”
“I am filled with His peace.”
“I am filled with His joy.”
Pastor Leonard explains that believers already are these things spiritually. They are not becoming these realities inwardly because they already possess them in Christ. However, outward transformation becomes visible as the mind is renewed.

Thoughts Shape Life

Pastor Lori explains that people are always thinking, even while trying not to think. She says thoughts continue throughout the day, during sleep, and even through dreams.

The pastors teach that many people allow physical pain, financial need, or relationship problems to dominate their thinking instead of spiritual truth. Pastor Lori says, “What we think about is what we bring about.” She emphasizes that believers must intentionally renew their minds because thought life shapes outward experience.

Closing Encouragement and Giving

Near the conclusion, Pastor Leonard mentions a book he authored called “I Am, I Can, and I Have Positioned in Readiness,” available on Amazon. He explains that the book is intended to help believers begin the renewal and transformation process. The pastors thank viewers for their letters, gifts, offerings, and support.

Pastor Leonard explains that believers who are image bearers of Christ naturally become givers because God Himself is a giver. He says giving should flow naturally from identity in Christ rather than from legalistic debates about tithing.

The pastors encourage viewers to visit their website, connect through their various media platforms, and share the teachings with friends and family. Pastor Lori closes by thanking viewers for being “God’s hand extended.”

We hope this article blessed you and strengthened your understanding of the importance of renewing the mind and cooperating with the truth of who you already are in Christ. Share this teaching with others so they, too, can experience transformation, peace, healing, and victory through the renewing power of God’s Word.