ON EAGLES WINGS

 

      June 25th,  2006

 

 

  • Hi my name is Mike Barnett and I am the lead pastor at New Heights Christian Fellowship – we meet in the old Farmington Lutheran Church building on fifth and Walnut St. just a few blocks from here – we would love to see you on a Sunday morning.

 

  • We have a vision of helping people connect with God and connect with people. We really are not a religious church, but more of a relational church.

 

  • A lot of people have been burned or hurt by churches.

 

  • Sometimes it’s our fault because we have unrealistic expectations of what going to a church will do for us.

 

  • Often times the church fails to meet a perceived criteria and the person becomes disillusioned with church altogether.

 

  • Many professing Christians have become disgruntled with church in general.

 

  • But to be more specific….Many professing Christians today face a barrier that is keeping them from reaching their full potential in Christ.

 

  • They want to do great things for God, but doubt they are good enough, strong enough, young enough, old enough, smart enough, educated enough, prepared enough and the excuses and rationalizations go on and on.

 

  • This killer of potential among many church goers and professing Christians today is DISCOURAGEMENT!

 

  • Proverbs 13:12 says: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”  Proverbs 13:12

 

  • A lot of well meaning professing Christians and nominal church goers have a “sick heart” today because their hope has been deferred and put on hold.

 

  • They hoped to overcome life’s problems, yet the problems they face seem to be getting larger.

 

  • They hoped to be happy, yet they experience more sadness each passing day.

 

  • They hoped to have a strong marriage and good relationships, but real intimacy seems to elude them.

 

  • They hope to have been of great use by God, advancing his Kingdom, but they seem to be caught in a life of bills, responsibility, boredom and drudgery.

 

  • Has your hopes and dreams been delayed?

 

  • Has your heart grown sick in the waiting period?

 

  • Then there is hope for you this morning.

 

  • THIS HOPE IS ONLY FOUND IN GOD’S WORD.

 

  • This hope is not found in other people.

 

  • This hope is not found in your job.

 

  • This hope is not found in external circumstances.

 

  • This hope is not found in success – however you may define it.

 

  • THIS HOPE IS ONLY FOUND IN GOD – IN JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF!

 

The Bible says in Isaiah 40:27-31:

Why do you say, O Jacob,
       and complain, O Israel,
       "My way is hidden from the LORD;
       my cause is disregarded by my God"?

 28 Do you not know?
       Have you not heard?
       The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
       He will not grow tired or weary,
       and his understanding no one can fathom.

 29 He gives strength to the weary
       and increases the power of the weak.

 30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;

 31 but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:27-31

·        Like the Israelites of long ago, Many Christians are saying to themselves, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”.

 

·        GOD’S RESPONSE TO THEM IS: Do you not know? Have you not heard? That I am the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. I will not grow tired or weary even when you are.

·         

·        GOD’S RESPONSE  TO THEM IS: I give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak.

 

·        GOD’S RESPONSE TO THEM IS: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in me will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like Eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

 

·        The Hebrew word to “hope” actually means to trust in and to look to God full of expectation that He will deliver you from your sick heart that has grown hopeless.

 

·        You can go to church and still have a sick heart.

 

·        You can be a part of self help groups go to seminars and try new programs to your life and still have a sick heart.

 

·        You can acquire new hobbies and new activities into your life and still have a sick heart.

 

·        You can surround yourself with people night and day and still have a sick heart.

 

·        You can change your job and still have a sick heart

 

·        You can change your location and still have a sick heart.

 

·        You can do all the right things from the world’s perspective and still have a sick heart.

 

·        You can add new people and new events, new activities, new methods and techniques to your life and still have a sick heart.

 

·        GOD PROMISES THOSE WHO SEEK HIM A NEW HEART

 

Jeremiah 24:5-7 says:

5 "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. [a] 6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. 7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

·        AS YOU WAIT ON GOD, HE WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART!

 

·        AS YOU LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART SOLE AND MIND, HE WILL RENEW YOUR HEART AND MAKE IT LIKE HIS!

 

Matthew 22:37-40 says:

37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

 

·        As you trust in God with all your heart, he will “renew your strength and soar on wings they Eagles.

 

·        The Hebrew Verb for renew, is used of “Changes of clothes in Genesis 35:2 and Judges 14:12

 

Genesis 35:2 says:

2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.

·        Paul encourages Christians to clothe themselves with Christ

 

Romans 13:12-14 says:

12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.[a]

 

NOTE: This Concept of taking off the old sick self and putting on the new self in Christ is found throughout the scriptures!

 

Ephesians 4:22-24 says:

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  Ephesians 4:22-24

 

·        WHEN PROFESSING CHRIST FOLLOWERS CLOTHE THEMSELVES WITH CHRIST, THEY ACTUALLY RISE UP ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES.

 

Psalms 103:1-6

 1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
       all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
       and forget not all his benefits-

 3 who forgives all your sins
       and heals all your diseases,

 4 who redeems your life from the pit
       and crowns you with love and compassion,

 5 who satisfies your desires with good things
       so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 6 The LORD works righteousness
       and justice for all the oppressed.

 

Ephesians 6:10-18 tells a Christian how to specifically clothe themselves with Christ on a daily basis:

 

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.  Ephesians 6:10-18

 

·        A CHRISTIAN IS URGED TO CLOTHE THEMSELVES WITH CHRIST AND THEREBY SOAR ABOVE, THE DISCOURAGEMENT OF THE WORLD THAT TRIES TO BRING THEM DOWN.

 

·        Such a person knows the joy of flying high with Christ in among the trials, sufferings and difficulties of this world.

 

James 1:1-5 says:

 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

NOTE: A Christ follower does not run from trials because they know that as they clothe themselves with Christ, they will rise above them.

 

That’s why 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 tells a Christian to:

“Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus”.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-21

 

·        A Christian can be joyful always when they are clothed with Christ.

 

·        A Christian can be joyful always when they expectantly wait and hope in the Lord.

 

·        A Christian can be joyful always when they exchange their sick heart for the healthily, whole, vibrant heart of God.

 

Jeremiah 7:5-8 says:

This is what the LORD says:
       "Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
       who depends on flesh for his strength
       and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

 6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
       he will not see prosperity when it comes.
       He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
       in a salt land where no one lives.

 7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
       whose confidence is in him.

 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
       that sends out its roots by the stream.
       It does not fear when heat comes;
       its leaves are always green.
       It has no worries in a year of drought
       and never fails to bear fruit."

 

DO YOU HAVE A SICK HEART, FROM YOUR HOPE BEING DEFFERRED?

 

THEN WAIT ON THE LORD AND TRUST IN HIM AND HE WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH AND CLOTH YOU IN CHRIST.

 

YOUR LIFE WILL NOT BE HIDDEN FROM GOD – BUT HIDDEN IN CHRIST SO THAT WHEN GOD SEES YOU HE WILL NOT SEE YOUR SICK HEART, BUT THE HEART OF CHRIST!

 

Isaiah 40:27-31 says:

Why do you say, O Jacob,
       and complain, O Israel,
       "My way is hidden from the LORD;
       my cause is disregarded by my God"?

 

Because Colossians 3:1-4

1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

 

·        For those of you who have been convicted of your sins

 

·        For those of you who have confessed your sins

 

·        For those of you who have repented of your sins

 

·        For those of you who call on the name of Jesus Christ for salvation

 

·        For those of you who submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ…….

 

·        YOUR LIFE IS NOW HIDDEN IN CHRIST AND ANYTHING HIDDEN IN CHRIST CANNOT BE LOST FROM GOD’S SIGHT!

 

·        CHRISTIAN, YOU HAVE A NEW HOPE IN CHRIST

 

·        CHRISTIAN YOU HAVE A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

 

·        CHRISTIAN YOU HAVE A NEW HEART IN CHRIST

 

·        THE OLD HAS GONE – THE NEW HAS COME!

 

·        CHRISTIAN – CLOTHE YOUSELF WITH CHRIST AND SOAR WITH HIM TO NEW HEIGHTS!

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 says:

 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

 

ILLUS – FEMALE EAGLE TEST FUTURE MATE WHO ONE DAY HAS SAVE HER CHILDREN.

 

·        When the Eagle is a year old he begins to take care of himself. Having left the security of his parents, he is now out on his own. He has much to learn about being an Eagle – flying, hunting and courting. Spring fever has some to the Eagle. It starts with a game of tag and could last for days. Then the Female eagle becomes bored with this game so she invents her own. This, game, however is not really her own invention, the eagles have been play it for centuries. The female Eagle makes a dive down to the ground and grabs a stick with her talons, not a very big stick, just something to play with.  Then she ascends high up into the sky with the make eagle right on her tail. When she reaches an altitude between eight and ten thousand feet Begins to fly in a three dimensional figure eight with wide circles and curves. The male eagle, still playing tag, is staying right behind her in a peculiar figure eight pattern. All of a sudden, the female drops the stick and the male, being such a gentlemen, attempts to retrieve it for her. He breaks the pattern and swoops to catch the sick. After having caught the stick, he attempts to return it; however the female seems quite uninterested and dives down after a larger stick to play with.  The male eagle doesn’t take her rejection to heart, he simply returns the stick to the ground and falls in after the female who ascends to an altitude of sis to eight thousand feet. And so this came continues. Each time she drops the stick, the male retrieves it. Each time she flies a little lower, a little faster and with a bigger stick each time. If the male ever fails to catch the falling stick, the female will chase him off and will not play anymore. The game climaxes when the female is flying a tremendous speed in a nip and tuck figure eight, less than 500 feet from the ground releasing an object weighing almost as much as she weighs expecting the male to grab to log without crashing into the ground (he almost has to be an Olympic star to be able to do that). After finally satisfying the female that he is a fit husband, the eagles make their vows at an attitude of fifteen thousand feet by locking their talons together feet to feet and turning head over heels. This monumental moment in the eagles life is also enhanced with both birds screaming at each other in joy. The birds will mate and stay together for life. They will raise many eaglets together and is the reason she so shrewdly tested the husband strength before marriage. When it is time for her eaglets to leave the nest and begin to fly, the mother eagle begins tearing up the soft, safe next to get her eagles to jump out of it. If that does not work she will nudge him out. The helpless eagle now falling from the nest, is sure that his mother is insane. As he is falling an instinct takes over “the instinct to live”  He screams for help and begins to imitate his parents. He flaps his young and clumsy wings until he is so weak he can no longer flap. He is now only a few feet from certain death when he suddenly he catches a glimpse of his father who swoops up under baby eaglet just before he crashes into the ground below.  With lighting speed, father eagle has correctly calculated the last possible moment to save the eaglet and has executed his job with perfection. You can now see the importance of the dating game. Each must be precision pilots if they are to save their young and help to become mature eagles.

 

Exodus 19:3-6 says:

 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you [a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

 

  • Likewise God test his Children with trials, tribulations and suffering so they can rescue others in their time of need.

 

  • God has allowed sufferings in your life just like the Female Eagles drops larger sticks closer to the group, testing his strength and endurance.

 

  • God is testing you and preparing you for a task far greater than your trials and suffering.

 

  • But I believe that God is doing an new work in your life - He is going to fulfill your longing for deliverance.

 

·        GOD IS PREPARING YOU THROUGH THESE PRESENT SUFFERINGS, SO HE CAN RISE YOU UP – TO HELP OTHERS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.

 

·        LIKE THE FATHER EAGLE – YOUR STRENGTH AND FAITH HAS BEEN TESTED, BUT WHEN THE TESTING IS OVER – GOD WILL USE YOU TO DELIVER OTHERS WHO ARE FALLING FROM THE SKY!

 

·        YOU WILL NOT ONLY RISE UP ON WINGS AS EAGLES, BUT YOU WILL EMPOWER OTHERS TO LIVE FOR CHRIST!

 

·        THE LORD JESUS WILL USE YOU TO DELIVER OTHERS AS HE HAS DELIVERED YOU!

 

·        IN THE MEAN TIME JESUS SAYS TO YOU

 

John 14:27 says:

27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.