5. Mystery of Metamorphosis
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
The word “transformed” here in this scripture is derived from the Greek word, “metamophoo”, which means an inward (inside-out) change. Metamorphosis is a process of change from within which brings about a new physical appearance. A very good example is the butterfly. It goes through four stages of life; A complete metamorphosis. It is first of all in an egg form(Incubation Stage), then becomes a caterpillar(Larva Stage), thirdly becomes a pupa(Resting Stage) and finally becomes a beautiful butterfly(Adult Stage).
i). Incubation Stage:
This is the seed stage when the egg is laid often on a leaf. During this stage, there is first of all a conception. This is when the egg is fertilized. Every great entity or system is always started as a seed of idea and then fertilized when the idea is mixed with belief. The fertilized egg now goes through a gestation period. This is the development period until it is eventually hatched out as a caterpillar. We must carefully meditate on God’s word to develop our ideas until it is taken to the next stage.
ii). Larva Stage:
The caterpillar’s first meal is its own eggshell. Every Kingdom person must deal with and have a mastery over self to go to the next level.
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Proverbs 25:28
“I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” 1 Corinthians 6:20
The caterpillar then constantly feed on leaves, flowers and even meat (wooly aphids). This helps it to grow and increase up to several thousand times in size before its next stage. When we constantly feed on God’s word and all necessary and relevant information, our mindset is enlarged several million times. It is when we increase to God’s ordained standard for us that we are permitted to go to the next level. Reading, hearing, meditating, studying and applying the Word on a daily basis bring us unprecedented promotion.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” Hebrews 5:12
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14
Exponential growth is only experienced when we make a decision to not just feed on the milk of the word but also on the meat of God’s word.
The caterpillar feeds with its jaws, called mandibles. We must become strong as adults to eat meat and even the bones of God’s word.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 6:10
iii). Resting Stage:
This is when the caterpillar turns into a pupa. It becomes a cocoon, a chrysalis. After toiling to grow for a season in our lives in the Kingdom, we get to a season of rest. This is when everything seems to be in an auto-run state. We hardly struggle to get things done. This is the resting stage. Our spiritual senses are keen. We hear God easily through the voice of His Holy Spirit; our spiritual eyes are sharpened; we are only moved by the wind of the Spirit; we enjoy the taste of God’s word as it daily becomes sweeter than the honey and the honeycomb; we easily smell and identify the presence of unclean spirits and constantly flee from every appearance of evil.
This stage can be reached when we constantly retreat into His presence. We become good listeners by keeping quiet for Him to speak to our hearts. We become fully alive in the spirit. Our intuition is sharpened. We rest in the Lord in all situations knowing fully well that everything works together for our good.
I so much love the weekly watchword of my church, His Purpose Church,
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
iv) Adult Stage:
Here in this stage, the butterfly emerges out of its cocoon into a beautiful adult. The butterfly will however have to exert some force and push out itself from the cocoon box before it can be free. Jesus declared to His disciples that:
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12
Paul also wrote,
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
Before we can be free and become who God has destined us to be, we must PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens); we must travail to birth our destiny.
“Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” Isaiah 66:7, 8
Elijah himself had to pray until something happened before rain fell upon the land. He took the posture of a travailing woman that is about to give birth.
“So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,”
“And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.” 1 Kings 18:42, 45
The woman who was about to give birth to a destiny child in John’s revelation also travailed.
“And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.” Revelation 12:2
It is so amazing! The outcome of a Kingdom citizen’s travails is a beautiful child. My prayer is that all your travail will bring forth beautiful fruits in Jesus’ name!
I was with my wife in the labour room during the birth of our first and second children. She went through birth-pains but continued pushing until the bundles of joy were brought forth into this world. The time of travail is the time that that miracle you have conceived for seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, or decades is delivered to you here on earth in a tangible form.
I noticed a trend each time my wife put to bed. She first of all experienced a lot of pain while travailing and her face was then filled with joy after taking a delivery of her baby.
“A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.” John 16:21
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
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