February 11, 2007 am      The Butterfly affect!       Luke 6:17-26

By Ronald E. George Jr.  At the  Fayetteville Baptist Church

Bullfrogs and butterflies have both been born again.  Have you?  The disciples were.

Luke 6:17 (NIV) He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God . 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

I.  The caterpillar. 

Where are you coming from?  What do you want?  Do you want to hear Him?  Do you want to be healed of your diseases?  Are you troubled by an evil spirit?  Do you want to be cured?  Do you want to touch Him?  Do you want to feel his power?  Do you want to be healed?  Are you poor?  Are you hungry?  Are you sad?  Do you weep?  Do others hate you?  Are you excluded and ignored?  Are you rejected because you are a Christian? 

People have diseases.  They are troubled and many are troubled by evil spirits.  They are poor in finances, in well being, and in their ways.  Poor people have poor ways.  They are hungry.  They are sad.  They are hated, excluded, insulted, and rejected.  They are rich.  They are well fed.  They laugh.  Others speak well of them. 

We need a change.  Do you need a change?  Do you want one?  You weren’t created to remain a caterpillar…  You were created to change. 

II.  The cocoon.  The A-ffect of the butterfly indicates action.   In the cocoon is where the action takes place.    The cocoon is the chamber of change.  It is the place where the Lord’s hand touches you and changes you.  How do you feel?  Do you feel like something is missing?  Think about it?  Do you realize that God wants to change your life?  He wants to give you the best He has to offer you in this life.  Don’t settle.  Take the best. 

Let God wrap you in His love and Spirit.  He will change your life into the beautiful life He created you for.  You must be recreated and born from above.  You must be born again.  John 3:3.  The love of the Lord through his people who have been born again creates a cocoon of change for you.  You can change through the Lord. 

In the waters of baptism the water surrounds you symbolically as the Lord surrounds you with His love.  This is the cocoon.  He has a cocoon for you.  He wants you to emerge as a one of his children. 

III.   The Butterfly A-ffect.

The affect of the butterfly also shows that the butterfly now has action of its own. 

Have you seen the people who have been healed of their diseases?

Have you seen the people who have been cured of evil spirits?

Have you seen the people who are poor but blessed by God?

Have you seen the people who are hungry but now they are satisfied and filled by God?

Have you seen the people who were weeping but now God has given them hope?

Have you seen the people who were hated, excluded, insulted, and rejected because of the Lord?  They are now accepted by God and by others.  They don’t need approval of the world.  They want approval from the Lord, and they have it.  He approves of them.

Have you seen the people who are now rewarded by their Father in Heaven? 

These are the disciples of the Lord who are the new butterflies.  They have been born again. 

IV.  The Warning of the Butterfly: 

Let those who are rich, well fed, laugh, and well thought of in the world without the Lord take warning.  You need to experience the butterfly affect.  These who have been born again affect a change on the world.  Their testimony shows that you need a change too.  Their testimony shows that you can have a change.  They did it and so can you. 

Remember the disciples of old and the disciples of the 21^st century who affect you.   The affect of the new life in Christ will change you and the world in which you live.  Is it time for a change?  The disciples were afraid of loosing their lives before they saw the empty tomb and the risen Lord.  Afterward, they were excited about their new found life.  They told everyone.  The butterfly affect is real then and today.  Do you need a change?