“Checking Your Spiritual Status”
TEXT: Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)31 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.
Introduction: The Word Eagle or Eagles appear many times
throughout the Word of God.
(1) There is a reason for that; it often denotes the spiritual condition
of God’s people, (Spiritual Status) and calls for us to examine
our current spiritual status as opposed to where God would have
us be.
(2) When the Bible speaks of the eagle it brings to mind;
{a} The Eagle’s swiftness of flight.
{b} The act of mounting HIGH IN THE AIR
{c} The eagle is a symbol of strength.
{d} The eagle sets its nest in high places
{e} The Eagle’s powerful vision.
(3) God Himself is compared to a eagle training its young to fly.
Ex 19:4 (KJV)4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and
how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
{a} The eagle which carries its young upon its back.
{b} “and brought you unto myself.” Intimacy in relationship, Providential Care
(4) So it is clear that we have a choice; we can soar high in victory
like the eagle or we can find ourselves grounded, living in danger,
within the view and reach of the enemy.
(You can’t soar with the eagles, if you goanna run with the turkeys.)
Concerning Spiritual Status:
I. Are You Where You Want To Be In Your Relationship With God?
[A] Desire effects status.
Mark 11:24 (KJV)24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
(1) You will NEVER rise above your Heart’s desire!
(2) Desire: (Webster) to long for or to crave, to ask for or to solicit.
[B] I had rather be close to God during the worst of times than to be
away from Him during the best of times.
Phil 3:10 (KJV)
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(1) My desire: to be close to Him in whatever condition I find myself.
(2) It is far better to know Christ along with His sufferings than to
not know Him at all.
[C] If you are not where you want to be, if you are not comfortable
with your current spiritual status, you can change it!
[D] Without a desire to Know Him better, to have a deeper relationship
with Christ, to have the Power of the Holy Ghost abiding in you,
your relationship is absolutely going to suffer!!
II. Are You Where You Should Be?
[A] Satan will seek to rob one of his desire for God.
(1) He would fill your heart with a desire for earthly pleasures.
(2) He will try to occupy you with so many things so that you
have no time to focus on your spiritual condition.
[B] So it is not so much as : are you where you want to be as; are you
where you should be.
(1) If not, you need to seek God that He will replace the desire for
Spiritual things.
{a} Renewal, Revival, Restoration.
[C] Don’t settle for Spiritual Complacency.
(1) Eagles get tired;
(2) They need restoration
(3) God made a way; Molting Stage Each Spring
{a} The eagle’s feathers lose their luster.
It’s appearance is not as beautiful
{b} The eagle’s beak becomes dull
It can no longer rip through its prey as it once did.
When this happens it effects it’s meals.
{c} The eagle’s claws have become dull.
It is now having a hard time catching its prey.
Prey = Blessings
{d} Its feathers are worn and some are missing:
That means it cannot soar as high as it once did.
It may not be able to escape the enemy.
It’s well being is now at risk.
[D] The molting stage is a process of renewal-- God has provided for.
(1) In order to be renewed, the eagle must come down to ground
level (humility) and go through the molting stage.
Molting stage: Prayer & fasting
Broken and contrite
Humbled and rededicated
{a} Its vision becomes clear and powerful again.
{b} Its beak and claws become sharp again.
{c} Its feathers fill in and began to shine again.
He has regained his luster and come spring, he can
rise up and soar high with victory and strength.
(2) The eagle now looks like he did in days of his youth.
(3) The Glory days have returned!
Psalms 103:4-5 (KJV)4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
[D] Today you can have your spiritual strength renewed!!
III. Are You Where God Wants You To BE?
Let No write Ichabod over the doorway of your heart!!
Jer 29:11 (NIV)11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
[A] God has plans for you, but are you benefiting them?
[B] He has plans to: Bless you
Deliver you
Heal you
To rescue you
[C] If you are not where you want to be and you are not where you
should be, then you are definitely not where God wants you to
be!
[D] If you are unhappy about your curent status, begin today to take
the necessary steps to be renewed and revived!
(1) The road to spiritual recovery is right in front of you.
[E] Make no mistake: You cannot soar like the eagles if you have sin
in your life.
Jer 49:16 (NIV)
16 The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD.
IV. Getting To The Place Where You Need To Be
[A] It begins with you!
(1) No one else can regulate your spirituality.
(2) Conditions cannot determine the quality of your relationship
with God
(3) Regardless of of your circumstances and your surroundings, you
can be as close to God as you desire to be.
Examples: Daniel
Hebrew Three
Paul & Silas
Beware: Samson
David
{a} If Samson had realized his true spiritual condition, things
would have turned out much differently.
{b} During David’s time of temptation, had he taken the time
for spiritual renewal, things would have been much different.
Bringing It Home
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)31 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.
Wings: The eagle’s wings range from 7 to 9 feet in sweep.
As a result the eagle can fly untiringly while carrying
a heavy burden.
Wings represent strength
EXAMPLE: Ancient monuments appear with the heads of bulls,
lions, and different animals and men even to which
the wings of an eagle were added to symbolize strength.
“There is comfort in closeness”
Heb 10:22 (KJV)22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
For New Converts: The Book of James describes how we are to walk with God.
