Mounting Up with Wings Like Eagles

Mounting Up with Wings Like Eagles

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” – “Isaiah 40:31”

Introduction: –

The COVID-19 (Corona) virus is a significant challenged to the people of God. It has stopped us gathering together in our traditional worship settings, but I want to declare right now – it will NEVER stop the Church! We are called will fight this crisis on our knees in prayer — and as we will fight it together. “Nothing, absolutely nothing, is able to separate us from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus our Lord” – “Romans 8:39”.

The coronavirus COVID-19 may be impacting our daily lives, and — for many of us — consuming our thoughts and conversations every hour. It’s also driving many into physical isolation as many self-isolate and try to stay home as much as possible to lower the risk of contracting and spreading the disease.

I want to take a small amount of your time and attention and call us to re-focus upon the words of “Isaiah: 40: 31” which says to us “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Its very family I know but please stay with me.

We live in a godless society and in that society there are many things that could cause the strongest and most mature amongst us to faint by the wayside and grow weary. It’s not only those who are getting on in years (I’m now 67) but also the youth who grow weary and faint such is the strength of influence of this World in which we dwell.

However, wonderfully God has made a divine provision for all of us. Such is the provision that we need not grow weary and faint in our faith journey and in well doing. The truth is though that we do find ourselves at times doubting the truth of these words spoken by the Prophet Isaiah.

Why is this? Well! Let me give a few reasons.

1. The Primary Cause – “Ignorance of the Resources at our Disposal”
2. The Secondary Cause – “Failure to Tap into Gods Resources”

• The Primary Cause – “Ignorance of the Resources at our Disposal”

We have and we serve a great and almighty God. He is sovereign over all (even corona) and He rules in the Heavens. He brings to pass those things without failure that He has determined. However, this same God who is clothed with majesty and honour is also our Heavenly Father. He cares for us and is concerned with our every need. This same God has provided for all Children of Faith for all who will reach out their hands and take the strength and power that is required.

Yet!, the truth is that we all at various times find ourselves “weak and faint” and we find ourselves “dragging our feet with weariness” – Why?, because we are ignorant of the resource that is available. How?, Simple, we neglect the “basic and fundamental principles that are required” namely (Reading / Meditating upon Gods Word, taking time to (Worship/Praise and Pray).

• The Secondary Cause – “Failure to Tap into Gods Resources”

In “Verse 29” of “Isaiah: 40” we read “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless”.

If we like or desire something its only natural that when offered it we reach out and take it for our own and enjoy it. However, its amazing how many never do this. They continue in a state of weariness and waywardness, finding life and their journey of faith getting harder and harder. How amazing it is that this is continued in when there is an abundant supply of strength being offered in place of weakness.

How then do we take the offering that God has offered to us? Well! The answer is found in “Verse 31” where it tells us “They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength”. What does that mean for us? – Does it mean “Worshipping, Praising, Praying and attending Corporate Church Gatherings” I believe that it means all of these things. However, intrinsically it means to keep silence before the Lord.

In “Isaiah 41:1” we read the following “”Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; …….” In silence our confidence is revealed as it reveals our utter dependence upon Him, it reveals a readiness to hear His voice and manifests an attitude that brings the strength of God in the midst of our conflict.

All this brings to us three specific things.

1. We Will Receive Gods Strength in Place of our Weakness

This literally means “Change or Exchange our weakness for His strength”. If we today find ourselves in a position where we cannot cope then let me encourage you to “swop your weakness, inadequacy and impotence” for His strength.

• He Wants to Give Us Physical Strength

I’ve just recently turned 67yrs of age, and whilst there are others who are older than me a common experience of us who are getting “long in the tooth” is that we get physically tired quicker. In “Ecclesiastes 12: 1 – 5” we read “Honour and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigour wanes, Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire. In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can’t come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by birdsong. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white,

Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you’re well on your way to eternal rest,

While your friends make plans for your funeral.” The Message

I’m sure that there are those who can identify with this – but its not just the “oldies” who find themselves like this it’s an experience that in a variety of ways is common to all of us.

In it though He wants to impart physical strength.

• He Wants to Give Us Mental Strength

The time in which we live is riddled like a worm with people who are suffering from mental disabilities and breakdowns are so so common. Does God want His Children to experience this? Well! I cannot speak for Him and the outworking of His sovereignty or purposes. What I do know though is that “everything that befalls the child of God” is only by “Divine Permission”. There is no such thing as a “maverick molecule” that is able to operate outside of His Divine Governance.

I also know that “all things work together for good” – “Romans 8: 28” in respect of Gods Children.

We love to quote this verse and neglect Verse 29 which reminds us that the all things are for the purpose of transforming us into the image of His Son.

The promise that God works all things together for good does not mean that all things, taken by themselves, are good. Some things and events are decidedly bad. But God is able to work them together for good. He sees the big picture; we can be confident that He has a master plan.

“Remember He is the artist and you are only the picture. You can’t see it. So quietly submit to be painted—i.e., keep fulfilling all the obvious duties of your station (you really know quite well enough what they are!), asking forgiveness for each failure and then leaving it alone. You are in the right way. Walk—don’t keep on looking at it.” – C.S. Lewis

The promise that God works all things together for good mean does not mean that we will acquire all that we want or desire. The All Things is all about God’s goodness and our confidence that His plan will work out as He sees fit.

• Since His plan is always good, Christians can take confidence that, no matter our circumstances or environments, God is active and will conclude things according to His good and wise design. With this knowledge we can learn to be content.

The promise that God works all things together for good means God’s plan will not be thwarted. Wonderfully, we are part of His plan, having been “called according to his purpose” – “Romans 8:28”. When we trust God and His way, we can be sure that He is active and powerful on our behalf and that’s what we are reassured of in “Ephesians 3:20” – He is able to “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us….”

In the midst of our worrying lets always remember that our God knows the future, and His desires will be accomplished. “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” is what “Isaiah 46:10” reminds us off.

When things appear to be chaotic and out of control, God is still in charge. We sometimes worry about what’s happening to us because we do not know what is best for us. But God does.

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis

• He Wants to Give Us Moral Strength

We are bombarded from every side with images, comments and attitudes that the enemy has seen fit to utilise to break down our moral fortitude and what does the Scripture say to combat this – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – “Philippians 4:8”

2. We Shall Enjoy a Life Above Average

In the Natural we cannot help being just ordinary people – However, we are not in the Natural we are Spiritual and that means we are able to enjoy a life of abundance and certainly above the average.

If today your are living out an Ordinary Life  then it really is time to re-evaluate both “Who You Are” and “Whose You Are” if you do that in sincerity you will start to be challenged to live Life in the Spirit. If we live in the Spirit we do not fulfil the lusts of the flesh that “contain and emasculate” us No! We live a life of abundance.

The Scripture tells us in “Colossians 3:1-2” – “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above… Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” The result is that in doing so we find that the Mind of Christ enables us to live without our feet planted into this worlds concrete recognising that we are of another world.

3. We Shall Do Supernatural Things

Amazingly we shall Run and not be Weary, and One Man Shall Chase a Thousand. I wonder how content we are. We can simply drift through our journey of faith, doing the bare necessities and saying all the right things – But is that what it’s all about? Heaven forbid.

We are made in the image of God to reflect His Glory and His Non-Natural Attributes. His desire is to express through us the miraculous – but Do we expect it? In fact, the question could be asked Do we need it?

“Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the LORD your God fights for you, just as he has promised.” – “Joshua 3:10” New Living Translation

4. We Shall Live Victoriously in the Hardest of Places

In this period life for many is very hard. There is fear, confusion and an ever-increasing apathy. We think we have got it hard but in reality its only because we have relatively always had it easy.

Characteristics of Eagles

The bird itself is about 4 kilogram in weight but it can carry on its wings the weight of 20 kilograms.

• What I am saying is that your size has nothing to do with what God wants to do with your life. Your faith does not have to be the size of your problems.

When an eagle is hungry, it does not cry like other birds. It is easy to know when a cock or hen is hungry, but it is not so with the eagle.

• So, a believer who is mounting up with wings as eagles will not be the one who will come to Church and cannot participate in the praise worship, or who will not be happy with what is going on.

The eagle is probably the only bird that can go 30,000 feet above sea level, meaning that it can travel as far as the aircraft can go.

• So, when you mount up with wings as eagles, God expects your prayer life and everything you do to be like that.

When an eagle is being pursued by a stubborn enemy, it heads towards the sun, not many birds can look directly at the sun. And as it does that, whatever is pursuing it, runs back. So, when you mount up as the eagle, and your prayer flies high, whatever is pursuing you will just have to scatter.

• When the Bible says that they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, it is saying that they must be highflyers like the eagle.

The eagle has very sharp eyes too, eight times sharper than the eyes of man.

• Your spiritual eyes will be sharp as you mount up as the eagle.

God is saying we should have wings to fly over mountains. For an eagle, a mountain is not a problem. It will always fly over it. For an eagle, rivers, storms, clouds, rains, etc., are no problems.

So, therefore the Lord is using the eagle as an example of what we ought to be.

Every true child of God should be an eagle Christian.

Conclusion: –

The question for us today is “How many people will like God to use them?” If you are ready to be used by God, He might first destroy the nest that we have built for ourselves, just like the eagle destroys the nest of its eaglets.

God is more interested in our spiritual revival than in our comfort. God will have to destroy the comfort of many first before He can get them. A lot of people are complaining about their unfavorable situations, when God is interested in getting across to them. Therefore, sometimes God withdraws the nest, i.e. your comfort, so that you can become serious.

In these days all of us should continue to pray daily that our hearts are guarded – there is so much in the current global situation that would seek to distract us from our primary reason for existence – to worship God.  It’s so easy to get distracted by all the news and forget that we were created to worship, and this should be our response to any difficult time that threatens to try and take a higher place than worshiping God in our hearts.  I am reminded that “Mathew 25” doesn’t say ‘feed the hungry, clothe the poor – unless there’s a pandemic” – “Matthew 28” doesn’t say ‘Go and make Disciples of all nations – unless there’s a pandemic”

Our primary mission hasn’t changed, the call of God hasn’t changed – and there is a temporary increased hunger for ‘Good News’ and a sure hope and foundation for the future that hasn’t been seen for so long.  The fields are ripe for harvest – we need to pray for more workers both here in the UK and abroad – may many rise up to their call that laid out so clearly in Scripture.

Let’s Rise Up, Let’s Soar in all of the days ahead.