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The Worm And The Butterfly
Contributed by Gerry Pratt on Apr 24, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: The change that takes place in a Christian’s heart should be able to be compared to the change that happens when a worm becomes a butterfly.
1. When we caved in to sin, we were no different
from the world...we were crawling around like
worms.
a. When we are released from sin, through
forgiveness and humility, then we can
achieve the greatest hights of under-
standing.
b. Only then can we truly be “like God”.
1.) This is something that should
happen if we have become His
Children...born again...into His
family...THEN WE SHOULD
BE LIKE OUR FATHER!
B. Life is a learning experience.
1. Life, in Christ, is no different.
a. We should learn from our mistakes and
this should make our path forward...just
that much easier.
1.) Mistakes are only good if we can
lean from them.
2.) If we will not learn from them, then
we are doomed to repeat them.
a.) We will return to crawling
around with the other detest-
able slimy, slithery, evil
creatures of the earth who are
only worthy of destruction.
2. Indeed, life goes on, but there should be a
change from worm to butterfly.
a. One cannot fly if one hangs on to the
pupae shell.
1.) Our life in Christ is constantly
going through renewal stages...
this is good.
a.) It is bad for us, a Christians,
to not grow...to not change...
to not shed the old sinful
nature and ascend to new
hights.
CONCLUSION:
Off with the old...on with the new.
A. This happens when we are converted to Christ...
but it happens over and over as we stumble
through life.
1. Step one is to get out of the past...leave the
sin and habits of sin behind.
a. Fight the good fight between the flesh
and the spirit.
Rom. 8:1-9 - 1There 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. 2For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law
of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it
was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He
condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the righteous requirement
of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk
according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For
those who liveaccording to the flesh set their minds on the
things of the flesh, but those who live according to the
Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded
is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is
not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then,
those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are
not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, he is not His.
2. Step two is to humble self...to realize our
weaknesses and vulnerability...and to call
upon the Lord for our strength and guidance.
a. Jesus says that He is able to do the most
for us when we will get our sinful selves
out of the way.
1.) That doesn’t mean that there is
nothing for us to do...it means that
we need to constantly put to death
our selves.
a.) We need to constantly surpress
the lust of the flesh, the lust
of the eyes, and the boastful