"The Transformation of the Passionate Believer"

[Kathy]

Kathi Pelton: "The Transformation of the Passionate Believer"
by Kathi Pelton Sep 15, 2008

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I
in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."
John 15:5-6

There has been much talk about a transformation or metamorphosis
occurring in the Body of Christ throughout the world. As I pondered
what this transformation looks like, the verse in John 15:5-6 kept
coming to my mind.

I know that God is drawing us into a deeper and truer intimacy and
passion for Him. Abiding in this passionate relationship is bringing
a restoration to true Christianity and Bridal intimacy.

During this journey of transition, a friend of our family told me
the true story of the life of the "the passion vine butterfly."

Looking at the Life of the Passion Vine Butterfly

Here are the facts regarding this amazingly prophetic little insect:

Entomologists study insects. Etymologists say that the word
"butterfly" was originally "flutter by," but over the centuries it
metamorphosed into its current form. The butterfly was once called a
"flutter by," because as any amateur entomologist will tell you,
this is what butterflies do.

However, not all butterflies exhibit this in-flight behavior. The
"Passion Vine Butterfly" (Heliconius), flies in a slow, serene,
straight line. This butterfly is so named because of its special
relationship with the plant called the "Passion Vine" (passiflora).

The Passion Vine produces a cyanide releasing chemical that makes it
inedible to most insects. But the caterpillars of the Passion Vine
Butterfly are able to process the chemical without harm and
voraciously eat the leaves of the passion vine. Not only do the
caterpillars suffer no ill effects, but they store the poison in
their bodies, thus becoming inedible to birds of prey and other
predators.

This protection is retained when they metamorphose into butterflies.
Since the Passion Vine Butterfly is unpalatable to birds, it does
not need to fly in a "rapid and erratic fashion to avoid being
eaten." Instead, it slowly flies in a straight, purposeful path from
flower to flower.

There are mimics of the Passion Vine Butterfly that, due to
coloration and general body shape, look very much like the Passion
Vine Butterfly. These look-alike butterflies do not have the
protective toxin in their bodies and therefore can be eaten by the
birds - though most birds leave them alone as they are "fooled" by
the mimicry.

However, there is one tropical American bird, the jacamar
(galbulidae), that is able to distinguish between the inedible
passion vine butterfly and the tasty mimics. The jacamar sits up in
a tree and observes how the butterflies fly. If the flight pattern
is slow and straight, the jacamar knows that even though it would be
easy to catch, it would have a bitter taste and be inedible. If the
butterfly has the rapid, erratic, typical "flutter by" flight
pattern exhibited by most butterflies, it knows that it is not a
Passion Vine Butterfly despite the colorization, and it swoops down
for a meal.

I believe that God is calling us to eat and drink of our "Passion
Vine," Jesus Christ. We are to commune with Him and be partakers of
His Blood and His body so that we might live. We are to feed upon
the Bread of Life. We are to abide in Him, our Passion Vine, and as
we abide in Him we will be like those caterpillars that can digest
this "cyanide" and metamorphose into a butterfly that is not
susceptible to the predator (the enemy) that would want to take our
lives. We will also be distinguished by our "flight
pattern"...rather than moving in a rapid (frantic) or erratic
pattern, we will move in a serene, slow and straight pattern (the
rest of the Lord).

The Passion of Christ

I found this story of a Jesuit priest in Peru during the 1600's who
saw the Passion Vine and the Passion Vine Butterfly as a symbolic
picture of the Passion of Christ. Here is what he wrote:

"The crown of thorns, the nails, the color of Jesus' robe, the whips
for scourging, were all seen in the complex structure of the flower
now known as the Passion Vine Flower. This plant contains cyanogenic
glycosides which release the poison cyanide. When the caterpillar of
the Passion Vine Butterfly eats the leaves of this poisonous plant,
it then has the ability to form a cocoon and become a butterfly. So
too, when we accept the work of Christ's Passion; when we 'eat His
body and drink His Blood,' we have the ability to be transformed
into a new creation.

"And just as the Passion Vine Butterfly takes a straight flight path
as it need not fear predators, so too, we have 'Christ in us, the
Hope of Glory' and are now able to walk the 'straight and narrow.'
Indeed, if we try to walk in our own strength, we will only be
'faking it' and the mimicry will not fool the prowling lion who
seeks one whom he may devour - just like the jacamar looks for the
butterfly that can't fly straight.

"Entomologists say that the mimics of the Passion Vine Butterfly use
about 20% more energy in flight than the ones they mimic. Are we
weary? Let us return to the One who says that His yoke is easy and
whose burden is light...light as a butterfly."

What a wonderful picture of our metamorphosis. Through the Blood and
Body of our crucified Christ, we are a new creation that now can fly
straight and slow...and serene, not fearing our predators that seek
to devour us. We have taken the communion of the "passion vine,"
Jesus Christ, and now we can enter into His true rest.

To Know Christ Alone

"For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to
make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of
nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him
crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:2 (Amplified Bible)

Recently, I was enjoying a conversation with a man that I highly
respect. For years now I have watched in awe the journey of this
man's life and witnessed his involvement in decisions that not only
affect individuals but also nations; he is a man who moves straight
and steady...always watching and waiting to see what the Father is
doing. He has always had a deep intimacy with the Lord that causes
him to "hit the mark" and to make wise decisions.

During our conversation, he began to tell me about the "plumb line"
that he lives his life by. He said that each day (and in every
circumstance and decision) he looks for the plumb line that Paul
spoke of in 1 Corinthians 2:2, "To know Christ alone, and Him
crucified."

He proceeded to explain to me how he is always searching for where
Christ is and what He is doing and then he aligns himself as closely
as he can get to that. Christ alone (through the power of the Holy
Spirit) is his compass, his delight, and the wisdom that he lives by.

As he spoke, I entered into a deeper understanding that I cannot put
my confidence in any knowledge that I may have gained, nor anything
that I have been acquainted with; but instead, I need to daily find
where Jesus is in each moment and every decision and then get as
close as I can to Him. To only do what I see my Father
doing...because that is where Jesus will be.

But the verse goes on to say, "...and Him crucified." Through the
Cross of Christ, we have been reconciled to God and filled with the
Holy Spirit who will lead us, not with the wisdom of man, but
instead with the wisdom that comes only from God alone. By the power
given to us through our crucified Christ, our weakness and
dependency on His Spirit becomes the threshold for many to be
carried into salvation, truth and relationship with the invisible
God. The Cross is the threshold that we crossed to obtain eternal
life, and it is the power that comes from the Cross that enables us
to walk in confidence...slow and steady and fruitful.

Dependency on the Vine

We know that Christ is the true Vine, and just as the Passion Vine
Butterfly depends upon the chemical that comes from the passion vine
to keep it from harm, so we need to continually depend upon and feed
upon the fruit of our true Vine to keep us from harm.

Apart from the chemical imparted to the caterpillar (that will
become the Passion Vine Butterfly), it is not protected from
predators, but as it feeds upon this vine it is infused with a
protection that allows it, after becoming a butterfly, to fly slow
and straight. No longer does it need to flutter up and down, here
and there, trying to escape the predator that seeks to take its life.

As we abide in Christ and seek to know Him, we are infused with His
precious Spirit that allows us to fly slow and straight, because we
know that even our greatest enemy will recognize His Spirit who is
within us.

I have to admit that much of my Christian walk has been spent
"fluttering" rather than flying straight. I have walked in too much
fear of the "predator" who seeks to devour our lives; forgetting
that I have been infused with the Holy Spirit who is also like
cyanide to the enemy. Our authority to fly slow and straight comes
from the power of the Cross...from our Savior and Friend, the
crucified Christ. As we remain in Him and go only where He is going
and do only what He is doing, we will be kept from the "fearful
fluttering" that attracts our predator's attention.

Ask the Lord to give you the confidence that the Passion Vine
Butterfly moves in. We no longer want to live our lives "fluttering"
in fear, but instead we want to live and move slow and steady,
knowing that His Spirit is our shield and rampart. We want to abide
in and near the Vine to keep our lives filled with His Spirit. If we
are truly spiritual "Passion Vine Butterflies," then why do we fly
as if we are imposters? Only the mimics have to flutter because they
are not filled with the true chemical that makes them inedible to
their predators.

A New Level of Surrender

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My
ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the Heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your
thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9

Since the very beginning of 2008, I have personally felt as though I
was in a refiner's fire where all the "precious" in my life is being
purified and all the worthless is being burned away. The interesting
thing is that much of what I thought was precious has been burned
away as worthless. Many things: thoughts, beliefs and even personal
convictions, God has burned away because they had become "laws
written in stone" by me rather than by the wisdom of His Spirit.

I have been challenged again and again to walk in every circumstance
by the leading of His Spirit of grace rather than by what knowledge
I have gained through past life experiences...making laws from past
successes.

There is a spirit of surrender coming upon many that is causing them
to allow the Holy Spirit to rid them of all of their own ways...even
things that seemed good. I believe it is the making of the new
wineskin so that the new wine will not be spilled out as God pours
it forth. We have seen that God is pouring forth new wine, but it
cannot be contained in old wineskins.

In God's mercy, He is exposing all that would cause a bursting and
spilling of His new wine. Though some exposures are quite high
profile, I believe that all of God's people are going through
personal exposures of the areas in their lives that have become
brittle and old...or where we have strayed from abiding in the true
Vine. Remember as we pray for one another that where sin abounds,
grace abounds even more. We pray for grace for those that have
fallen and for our own fallen places.

"God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they
were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace
became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and
brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead,
giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:20-21

God is removing the stumbling blocks that are in the way of His
Kingdom being established. He has called us to prepare the way for a
great harvest and for His Kingdom coming to earth. He is preparing
the way for the fullness of the Gentiles and the opening of the eyes
of the Jews.

God longs to restore those who are bruised with sorrow for their
sin. This is a time to pray for true repentance within all of the
Body of Christ...for all of our wanderings and for all the areas
that we have strayed from the purity of knowing Christ alone, and
Him crucified. Let's look at Isaiah 57:14-19 from the Amplified
Bible:

"And the word of One shall go forth, 'Cast up, cast up, prepare the
way! Take up the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual
return] of My people.'

"For thus says the high and lofty One - He Who inhabits eternity,
Whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, but with
him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to
revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the
thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].

"'For I will not contend forever, neither will I be angry always,
for [if I did stay angry] the spirit [of man] would faint and be
consumed before Me, and [My purpose in] creating the souls of men
would be frustrated.

"'Because of the iniquity of his [Judah's] covetousness and unjust
gain I was angry and smote him. I hid My face and was angry, and he
went on turning away and backsliding in the way of his [own willful]
heart.

"'I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him; I will lead
him also and will recompense him and restore comfort to him and to
those who mourn for him.

"Peace, peace, to him who is far off [both Jew and Gentile] and to
him who is near!' says the Lord; 'I create the fruit of his lips,
and I will heal him [make his lips blossom anew with speech in
thankful praise].'"

These verses are of great comfort to many of God's people in this
hour. This is His promise of healing for not only the one who falls,
but also for all those who mourn due to his fallings. We are
learning as a people to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn
with those who mourn. If we are one in the Spirit, then when one
falls we all must own it and come to a place of corporate
repentance. And when one is restored we can all rejoice in a
corporate celebration.

God is calling us to abide in Him (the True Vine) and to drink of
Him so that we might be those who fly slow and straight. No more
fluttering, no more mimicking, no more fearful or frantic behaviors.
It is a time of surrendering to the grace of His discipline and His
transformation.

Will we allow Him to create in His Church the new wineskin that will
hold the new wine? My white flag of surrender is raised and I want
to go and drink from our Passion Vine.

Kathi Pelton
Light Streams Ministries
Email: jkpe...@sbcglobal.net