I Believe I Can Fly
3-3-2001 (Lay Speaking School Session #3)
A bird is sitting on the edge of a tree branch and his mother comes right up behind him. Now the normal response for a human mother would be to bring him back to the safety of the nest near the center of the tree. The mother bird however pushes her child off the edge of the tree. The baby bird now has two options; one he can spread his wings and fly or he can become a messy splat on the ground. The mother knows that her child may very well die here today but also realizes that in order for him to figure out how to fly he must be put in a situation that calls for that.
In the same way as that mother pushes her child nudging him into his next step of life, God does the same for us. When Jeremiah told God that he was unable to do as he had been instructed to do, God reprimanded him telling him:
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.”
God took all of the excuses from Jeremiah and filled him with his power and words to go and tell the nations what God wanted told to them.
In the song, “I Believe I Can Fly,” R. Kelly says:
“Now I know the meaning of true love, I’m leaning on the everlasting arms. If I can see it, then I can do it. If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it.”
This is true, if we just believe; there is nothing we can’t achieve. God has provided a stutterer with the eloquent voice that made a pharaoh tremble and release the slaves that had been in bondage for years (Moses). He gave a dead man life (Lazarus). He even gave a terrible sinner who had caused much pain in his short life, a second chance (Me).
In each of these cases, God gave his speaker a great gift(s) to get the job done. He gave Moses his staff and Aaron to speak for him. He gave Jesus authority over life and death, and he gave me salvation and a loving congregation whom I will cherish all my life.
Also, in each instance, all that was required was the faith and belief that God could do all things in us and through us. Like the songs says, “If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it.” Many of us have seen “The Prince of Egypt” the most popular song from that movie states that “there can be miracles when you believe.” This is so true. All it took was Jeremiah’s believing that God would empower him and help him through his struggles and he was set to go.
“I was on the verge of breaking down, sometimes the silence can seem so loud. There are miracles in life I must achieve, but first I know it starts inside me. If I can see it, then I can be it. If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it.”
This is the continuance of the song “I Believe I can fly.” This is the next truth in this song. Sometimes it seems that the enemy can just destroy our defense lines, but we must realize that there are things in life that God has in store for us to do. We must first however realize that it all starts with us believing in ourselves to allow God to work through us.
Benediction: God has strange ways of picking people to work through. Take the scriptural example of Samson, Samson did everything wrong you could think of, yet God worked through him to bring a city to their knees and their death. If that doesn’t do it for you how about this story: Once a boy cursed and rejected God at every opportunity he got, he smoked, drank, and slept around with anyone. He had parents that were separated; he had lived through six agonizing months at the YWCA, and many other experiences, even suicide. Later this boy met Jesus at a Ray Boltz concert. This boy grew up to go to church at High Street United Methodist Church and then became the youth director at New Corydon United Methodist Church, it was here that the boy met Dan Perry and together they have worked to get the youth program and the church to start worshipping God in a true biblical fashion. This boy is me, in case you are still trying to figure it out. God has used me, a person that felt that they did not need him or any other deity in my life. A person that denied and cursed God at all intersections, if he can use me when I believe in his power and love he can use anyone.
Let us pray:
Dear Lord,
Oftentimes we sit and think that we are worthless in your sight and could never be used by you. Forgive us of our faithlessness, and strengthen us to be your servants and do as you ask. Help us to confess our human frailties, but to embrace our eternal gifts through you.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
