The Worm And The 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