Sermon Central
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Why Eagles Fly And Chickens Flutter
Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 28, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: Christians, like Eagles, are destined to fly high in Christ's victorious nature and righteousness. They don't conform to the nature of fallen creatures, who can only flutter slightly above the ground of sin and corruption. Have you realized your genetic heritage yet?
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WHY EAGLES FLY AND
CHICKENS FLUTTER
Rom. 12:2
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Often we get into the same messes as those we’re critical of.
2. An EMT was working in the emergency room when a father brought in his son who had taken a tire off a miniature car and poked it into his nose. The father was embarrassed and the EMT assured him that kids frequently did that.
3. The technician quickly removed the tire and father and son were quickly on their way home. But a few minutes later, the father was back in the ER asking to talk to the EMT in private.
4. "While we were on our way home I was looking at that little tire and wondering, ‘How on earth did my son did this up his nose’," and then he went on to explain the problem.
5. Fortunately, it only took the EMT just a few seconds to get the tire out of dad's nose!
B. ILLUSTRATION
1. There is a legend that long ago, the chicken was very similar to the eagle; in fact they were very good friends. It was not uncommon to see them flying side by side through the air.
2. One day the chicken said, "Let's drop down to that farm and get a bite to eat; my stomach is growling." "That sounds like a good idea to me," replied the Eagle. They landed next to a cow.
3. "Welcome," said the cow. "Help yourself to some of this corn." The two birds looked at each other with surprise, not accustomed to other animals sharing their food.
4. "Why are you willing to share your corn with us?" asked the Eagle. "Oh, we have plenty to eat here, the farmer gives us all we want." The Eagle and the chicken jumped right in and ate their fill.
5. The chicken asked, "Do you have to work for your food?" The cow answered, "No we don't! The farmer gives us food and shelter free of charge!" The chicken and the Eagle were shocked! They had always had to search for food and work for shelter.
6. When it came time to leave, the chicken said "Maybe we should stay here. We get all the food we want and a nice barn; that sure beats those nests and I'm tired of working for a living."
7. But the Eagle said, "I don't know; it sounds too good to be true. Besides, I like flying high and free. I love my freedom too much to give it up." So the Eagle and the chicken said goodbye, and the Eagle sailed up into the wild blue yonder.
8. Everything went fine for a while with the chicken, but one day he heard the farmer say that the preacher was coming and that they would have fried chicken for dinner!
9. Hearing that, the chicken decided it was time to leave, but when he began to fly, he found he could only flutter! So the next day the farmer's family and the preacher ate fried chicken.
10. When you give up spiritual freedom for security, your ability to fly turns into a flutter!
C. THESIS
Why do Eagles fly and chickens flutter? Because…
I. EAGLES ARE EAGLES BY BIRTH
A. EAGLES ARE BORN TO FLY FAR ALOFT, TO BE THE KING OF THE BIRDS
1. In 1784, Benjamin Franklin wrote his daughter and expressed unhappiness over the choice of the Eagle as the symbol of America. He felt it was a mistake to not select his preference -- the turkey. Although we would like to think we are always right, sometimes we're not! I'm glad he didn't get his way!
2. The Eagle is among the largest and most powerful of birds. The Eagle is certainly more noble looking than a turkey!
B. AS THE EAGLE’S DESTINY IS DETERMINED BY BIRTH, SO IS THE CHRISTIAN’S
1. Just as the Eagle is by birth destined for the clouds and is the King of the birds, so are we by birth -- being born again in our spiritual nature -- destined for greatness.
2. Both Eagles and chickens start off as eggs. They both have feathers and wings. They both can fly to some degree. But the genetic blueprint of the Eagle destines it to be a symbol of power and ascendancy. A chicken however, will always be a chicken, and never rise above a flutter, because that's what it's destined for.
3. The Word of God tells us that if we are born from above, we are not like the people around us. There may be an outward similarity now, but due to our spiritual genes, we will grow up into very different creatures.
4. We are going to have heavenly bodies, enjoy eternal life and glory, and rule & reign with Christ for all eternity! Unfortunately, the people without Christ will not rise to the joys of heaven, but only flutter into the