Untitled Sermon (3)

From a Caterpillar to a Butterfly: Old Things Are Passed Away

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Maya Angelou

Was a renowed poet, author, and civil rights activist who left many inspiring quotes…there is one fitting for our message today, she writes:

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

This morning, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will look at the changes of the Caterpillar in relation to Paul reference to the church at Corinth to help us apply this verse to us today.

First and foremost, there is radical transformation that occurs when an individual comes to faith in Christ. This transformation signifies a complete spiritual renewal, where believers shed their past sinful lives and embrace a new nature that reflects Jesus’ righteousness, enabling one to live out their faith with confidence and with a purpose. As a new creature in Christ, we may look the same, but Rufus McDaniel, in 1914, wrote a song that said,

"What a wonderful change in my Life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart…floods of joy over my soul like the sea billows roll, since Jesus came into my heart….

Church, not only do we have been a molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism, also known as DNA, but there is another hereditary material that is developing and functioning in of the Christian Believers.

If I can illustrate to you the stages of a transformation process of a caterpillar to a butterfly and liken it unto the regeneration or transformation process that of a new Christian Believer.

Stage 1. Egg

On plants, the mature female Butterfly lays her eggs. Inside these tiny eggs, caterpillars grow. This egg stage is the beginning of LIFE, this is where the caterpillar life cycle starts.

The very essence of the New Creation was demonstrated at His death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection is the firstfruits of the new life promised to all who believe. It is in Him, creation is renewed, as He reconciles humanity back to the Father and restores what was once lost through sin, this gave way for us to be BORN AGAIN.

In our confession of faith, there is something working on the inside of us. There’s a change that is evolving, a covering or an over shadowing that is upon us. One may even experience a sense of stableness, your faith is acknowledged, you are placed in a fellowship of those of the same mind, of one accord, you are planted and growing in your new space.

Stage 2. Larva/Caterpillar

The eggs hatch into a very small caterpillar. The caterpillar learns its way around, eating all day long; in fact, the caterpillar increases in size 2 thousand times in two weeks by eating only milkweed leaves.

As a new creature in this stage:

The Holy Spirit renews your thoughts and attitudes (change of mind). We are eating day by day on the word…Jesus is the WORD… our daily consumption must be of Jesus Christ…. please note that the caterpillar only ate milkweed leaves, not maple leaves, fruit leaves, only milkweed leaves. That let’s us know that there is only one source of Spiritual food we should be eating….

On one occasion in JOHN 6 -Jesus says," Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal Life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

For Jesus, eating; drinking and digesting on His Word is believing. He promises eternal Life to those who believe in him.

The caterpillar’s job is to continuously consume food and grow. It is important to know that the caterpillar splits its skin as it grows and sheds it around four or five times. The caterpillar then stops eating and goes into the next stage, which is the Chrysalis Stage 3, it covers itself in film is covered, and the new DNA is turned on; a transformation process begins

Stage 3. Chrysalis (Metamorphosis) within a few weeks the caterpillar digests itself, releasing enzymes to dissolve all of its tissues.

Paul told the Romans “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.“

Daily killing the deed of this flesh will be our mission.

Romans 12:2 be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind……the Greek root word for transform in this verse is “meta-mor-phose” as like the caterpillar in the Chrysalis stage…..a metamorphosis is taking place.

LASTLY:

The Final*** Stage 4. The Beautiful Butterfly- Although it may appear that nothing is happening as one would look at the chrysalis hanging from the tree, yet there is a connection. Special cells are formingt, and they are currently dividing quickly. Soon and very soon it will be seen shining through an adult butterfly with legs, wings, eyes, and other features, developed into something beautiful for the world to see, the most amazing transformation.

The caterpillar is born to crawl, yet, reborn as a butterfly that can now fly .

He once fee on milkweed leaves, yet, now he’s tasting the sweet nectar of the flowers.

God did it Church, The same God that created the caterpillar, the buttefly in His own unquie way….has also created you to be a new creation.

As a new creature…..

Have you ever said to yourself:

I don’t quite feel the same anymore

My walk is different

My talk is different

I look at my hands and they even look new,

I look at my feet and they do too.

Think about Church

We once was lost but we are Believers

We can see the world from a different perspective— you are looking at it from the same lens that seen when He SAVED YOU.

While we were yet, sinners, Jesus died for us, Lost souls feed on the toxins of sin. But when Jesus came into my life, my soul salvation change my thinking, we have been washed by the blood of Jesus, attached firmly to Him and feeding on the nutrients of His Word. We ARE a New creature in Christ Jesus!

FROM a caterpillar to Butterfly

He has lifted us up out of the darkened, and directed us to His marvelous LIGHT.

In fact, the old version that you once were is not recoverable. Null and void. Being a New Creature in Jesus Paul says it gave way for men and women to be made new once and for all and for eternity, with no possibility of returning to the old.

A Butterfly can not go back to being a caterpillar, you can not reverse the cycle.

So it is my Brothers and sisters…..

Embrace YOUR NEWNESS,

Jesus made it possible, He paid the price for us so that you and I could be created a NEW

He hung, bled, and died.

3 days later Jesus GOT UP!!

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Not even the GRAVE could our Lord down

Because nothing can separated us from His LOVE

Than same LOVE is what LIFTED US.

Today, the offer still stands and is extended to you, whosoever will let him come…You too can experience this amazing grace, from death to LIFE

Romans 10:9-10

if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Maybe you desire to be Baptize, 4 Rededication

Or simply to make this Body, this Fellowship your Home Church. The Bethel Family welcome all with open arms to be a part of this grand Body of Believers.

Is there anybody?

All in the HOUSE are SAVED- SANCTIFIED AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.

Transition to

So we heard about Jesus and His disciples, gather together in the upper room.

Benediction:

Through Christ, we are not defined by our past but transformed into new creations, empowered to live with purpose and hope as we reflect His image to the world.

Spread your wings and FLY!!!!!!

In Jesus' Name, Amen