The Scottish preacher John McNeill liked to tell about an eagle that had been captured when it was quite young.
The farmer who snared the bird put a restraint on it so it couldn’t fly, and then he turned it loose to roam in the barnyard.
It wasn’t long till the eagle began to act like the chickens, scratching and pecking at the ground. This bird that once soared high in the heavens seemed satisfied to live the barnyard life of the lowly hen.
One day the farmer was visited by a shepherd, who lived in the mountains where the eagles lived.
Seeing the eagle, the shepherd said to the farmer, "What a shame to keep that bird hobbled here in your barnyard! Why don’t you let it go?"
The farmer agreed, so they cut off the restraint. But the eagle continued to wander around, scratching and pecking as before.
The shepherd picked it up and set it on a high stone wall. For the first time in months, the eagle saw the grand expanse of blue sky and the glowing sun. Then it spread its wings and with a leap soared off into a tremendous spiral flight, up and up and up.
At last it was acting like an eagle again.
1. Introduction
A. What a lesson for the church of Jesus Christ.
B. We gather for nights of revival, conduct evangelistic services, schedule special events and programs; while we continue to live beneath our calling. A calling of divine significance.
C. We are like eagles; designed by God for greatness in Christ; who are perfectly content to continue to live like those around us. The sad truth is, we are surrounded by chickens
01. Oh, we speak better; not like those foul-mouthed neighbors of ours
02. We go to church on Sundays, prayer meetings on Wednesdays, maybe even a small group session during the week
03. We curb our vices; don’t smoke, drink or chew (and don’t hang out with girls that do)
04. We seem healthy on the outside; nothing seems wrong; yet we aren’t living the way God intended us to live
05. God doesn’t need eagles to be chickens; he has chickens for that!
D. Studies by Barna Research suggest there is little difference in the lifestyle of those who profess to be born again Christians and those who do not profess such a faith.
01. We wonder why revival doesn’t come; why aren’t sinners drawn to the church?
02. Why should they be? What do they see in us that would compel them to know Christ?
03. Perhaps we’re experiencing a reversed-revival; one where the world is converting Christians instead of Christians converting the world.
a) Is it possible that chickens are re-training eagles? If they are, it wouldn’t be the first time it happened.
E. In the church at Colosse, the young believers were struggling with their new faith. They were beautiful new creatures in Christ Jesus, yet they were surrounded by those who challenged their faith, and kept them from seeing the full measure of God’s desire for them.
01. They wanted them to fit in…be like they were
02. Like the eagle that was restrained and could no longer see over the wall, these young believers were losing sight of the life of holiness they were called to.
03. Paul writes to encourage, admonish and correct them. He reinforces the doctrine they have been taught, and gives them rules for Holy living that will not only affect them, but those around them. Turn with me to Colossians 3: 1-17. (READ)
F. Let’s look at four components of holiness that will pave the way for revival in the church
2. Set Your Heart on Heavenly Things (vv.1-4)
A. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ
01. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! (2 Cor. 5:17)
02. The things that the old man wanted should no longer drive you
03. They are part of the “deceased”; those things died when you died in Christ!
B. As you focus on these heavenly things, Christ becomes alive in you, and you begin to prepare for his return as you should
01. Let me assure you that this commitment will change you, and cause others to wonder “what happened?” to the one they “used to know”.
a) This is the beginning of one-on-one evangelism and the probable source of any modern day revival (apart from God)
b) Times have changed; society has changed; chance are we won’t get the unsaved to the cross and into the church in the same ways we used to.
(1) That doesn’t mean we throw everything out; it means we adapt our method to meet people where they are
(2) WE ADAPT THE METHOD, NOT THE MESSAGE
3. Forget the Earthly Things (vv.5-11)
A. You used to walk….in the life you once lived. Period. Paul leaves no room for discussion. His assumption of their walk in Christ is an affirmation to them; an encouragement
01. It was that way; Christ took it away; it’s now THIS way
02. You are better off than that; a positive affirmation; (Paul is a terrific motivator)
B. Paul then gives the grocery list of things that turn eagles into chickens
01. Anger, rage, malice, slander, lying
02. Social sins; racism, profiling, stereotyping, “class status”
03. There is no room for these in the revived church
04. We are to reach the world with the Gospel. The whole world. No exceptions.
C. Off with the old, on with the new self
01. This new self is being renewed daily to be more like Christ, which is the goal of every believer
02. If we daily get more like Christ, imagine the progress we will make by next year at this time; maybe you will invite me back to see how it’s going?
4. Live a New Life in Christ (vv. 12-14)
A. Imitate Christ’s attitudes
01. Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
02. Bear with each other, forgive as the Lord forgave you! ( a tall order)
B. Over all, PUT ON LOVE; which binds them all together
01. Let love guide every thought and action in your life
02. Do those outside our fellowship see the love that is INSIDE our fellowship?
03. In perfect unity; everyone wants to belong; would they want to belong to our group?
C. Let the peace of God rule your hearts
D. Be thankful
E. Stay in the word, continue to worship
F. When you set your mind on heavenly things and forget the earthly things, YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY LIVE A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
5. Do Everything for the Benefit of Christ (v. 17)
A. Those who live a new life in Christ have one purpose; to bring others to a right relationship with Him. There should be no motive more powerful than this, and it should be the first and foremost mission of every church.
B. Give no thought to who gets the credit; give it to Jesus
C. When we do it all for Jesus, our works are magnified far beyond what we could achieve on our own.
D. It isn’t about big buildings; or memberships in the thousands; or attracting the attention of men. It is about reaching souls for Christ while there is still time and opportunity.
6. Conclusion
A. It’s about revival.
01. Revival that starts in the heart and soul of every believer in the church
02. Revival that extends to our community, neighboring communities, and towns far away
a) Believe me, they will come. If word of this sort of revival gets out, you won’t be able to keep them away!
03. Revival that doesn’t rest on it’s laurels; or it’s history
a) We have a wonderful history; God is aware of it, he created it. The question isn’t about our history, IT’S ABOUT OUR PRESENT!
B. Maybe you’re here tonight and never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior
C. Maybe you’re here tonight knowing you’ve drifted off course; an eagle acting like a chicken
01. True, lasting revival cannot begin without you
a) Regardless of the sin in your life, God wants you to FLY
b) Let Him set you atop that wall as the shepherd in my opening story so you can see what you’ve been missing
D. Imagine a revival that doesn’t include you
01. Come, as we sing, and let Jesus put you into flight
