All About Eagle

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Easton Bible Dictionary

M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. EAGLE:

(Herb. nesher; properly the griffon vulture or great vulture, so called from its tearing its prey with its beak), referred to for its swiftness of flight (Deuteronomy 28:49; 2 Samuel 1:23), its mounting high in the air (Job 39:27), its strength (Psalms 103:5), its setting its nest in high places (Jeremiah 49:16), and its power of vision (Job 39:27-30).

This "ravenous bird" is a symbol of those nations whom God employs and sends forth to do a work of destruction, sweeping away whatever is decaying and putrescent (Matthew 24:28; Isaiah 46:11; Ezekiel 39:4; Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 4:13; 48:40). It is said that the eagle sheds his feathers in the beginning of spring, and with fresh plumage assumes the appearance of youth. To this, allusion is made in Psalms 103:5 and Isaiah 40:31. God's care over his people is likened to that of the eagle in training

its young to fly (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11, 12). An interesting illustration is thus recorded by Sir Humphry Davy:, "I once saw a very interesting sight above the crags of Ben Nevis. Two parent eagles were teaching their offspring, two young birds, the maneuvers of flight. They began by rising from the top of the mountain in the eye of the sun. It was about mid-day, and bright for the climate. They at first made small circles, and the young birds imitated them. They paused on their wings, waiting till they had made their flight, and then took a second and larger gyration, always rising toward the sun, and enlarging their circle of flight so as to make a gradually ascending spiral. The young ones still and slowly followed, apparently flying better as they mounted; and they continued this sublime exercise, always rising till they became mere points in the air, and the young ones were lost, and afterwards their parents, to our aching sight." (See Isaiah 40:31.)

There have been observed in Palestine four distinct species of eagles, (1) the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos);

(2) the spotted eagle (Aquila naevia);

(3) the common species, the imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca); and (4) the Circaetos gallicus, which preys on reptiles.

The eagle was unclean by the Levitical law (Leviticus 11:13; Deuteronomy 14:12). »Bible Study Resources»Dictionary»Bible Word Compendium

A COMPENDIUM OF BIBLE WORDS EAGLE

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South Asian Connection - Portal for South Asian Christians - http://www.southasianconnection.com

7 Highly Effective Eagle Habits from the Bible

http://www.southasianconnection.com/articles/542/1/7-Highly-Effective-Eagle-Habits-from-the-Bible/Page1.html

By Abraham Israel Published on 09/9/2010

Eagles are the only birds that loves the storm. When all other birds try to flee from the storm and hide itself from the fierceness of it, eagles fly in to it and will use the wind of the strom to rise higher in a fraction of seconds. It uses the pressure of the storm to glide higher without using its own energy. It is able to do this because God has created it uniquely with an ability to lock its wings in a fixed position, in the midst of the fierce storm winds. After a certain period of experiencing storms face to face, the eagles love to play in the storms. As we face the stormy wind of afflictions in life, the Holy Spirit helps us lock our mind in a fixed position with the grace of God through faith in the finished work of the Cross, which helps us not to spend our energy but just stay in the storm and enjoy the lift and height of heavenly mindedness in a greater and greater altitude.

One facet of the face of God is an eagle face which each of the four living creatures named as Cherubim had. They are placed around the throne of God to protect its holiness and proclaim the glory of God when it is revealed to them (Ezek 1:3-10; 10:15; Rev 4:6-10). Each time the living creatures revealed a facet of God, we see the elders who represent the Church of God fall down before God and worship Him by casting their crowns (Rev 4:9-11). In other words, when ever they realised their royal identity that God has lavished upon them, they humbled themselves before God and give Him all the glory for what He has given them because of His benevolence. Lack of revelation always deprecates the glory due to God, but abundant revelation glorifies God. The eagles represented the royalty of God. Because we are God's children adopted in to His great lineage of royalty, we are called in the Bible as "a royal

priesthood", "kings" and "His own special people" (1 Peter 2:9; Rev 1:6). As God children we need to know deeply about this kingly lineage that we have and need to remind ourselves of it especially when we feel as worthless trash because of the devil's soulish ideas that come from the third rated world system of governance. Royals are always taught to behave and live in a royal way, which is totally different from the way people live outside of it. We also need to teach ourselves to think, live and behave like the royalty of God's family when we live in this world. We are in the world but not of the world (John 17:11, 16).

We are going to know about the eagle, because God has called us to be one with such a royal characteristics to exhibit as long as we live on this earth. Because we are the ones who have a royal character of an eagle with in us, we just need to learn what is inside us and remind ourselves of it when we feel otherwise. You might have heard about a story of an eagle egg which was placed in the crow's

Abraham Israel Abraham Israel is an apostolic bible teacher and a preacher of the Word of God who loves to dig out the truths of the Bible and bring it out in a revelatory and inspired way. Abraham Israel loves to write under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. His only desire is to see people enter in to the Kingdom of God as many as are the stars in the sky in this final season of the end time harvest before the second coming of Jesus Christ.

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nest and got hatched by it. The eaglet did not know that it is an eagle and stayed with the crow in the lower altitude thinking of a crow by being with them. One day when it saw an eagle trying to attack the crow flocks, something within it said, soar higher and the eagle will get scared. Once the eaglet believed it can, it went after the attacking eagle higher and higher in to the high places, till it surrendered to the young energetic eagle. Surprised by the power within it, the young eagle left the crow flocks forever to live in the higher altitude of greatness and royalty. In the same way we as believers not knowing the royal lineage of our God has been living in the crow crowd of wordly people in the low altitude of the earth. But I believe as you come to understand the eagle face of the royalty of our Heavenly Father, you too will soon believe you can and begin to soar high in your spirit in to the heavenly mindedness of our God and live perpetually in the lifestyle of royalty. The crow based earthly low altitude thinking of the old man in thrown away and replaced with the "I can do all things through Christ" (Phil 4:13) renewed high altitude heavenly thinking of the eagle for the glory of God (Eph 4:22-24). Remember the apostolic exhortation of Apsotle Paul to soar in to high places by setting our minds on things above (Col 3:1-2).

1. Eagles Flock Together

As the old saying goes, "Birds of like feathers flock together". Eagles do not mix with other birds but always only enjoys to fly in the high altitude of the eagle only. We as the children God are told not to forsake the assembling of saints but come together and encourage each other to live a royal lifestyle of God with other believers. This royal character of our heavenly Father and lifestyle is the heavenly attitude of high altitude sermon of Jesus on the mount (Heb 10:25; 3:13; 1 Thess 5:11; Matt 5:1-48). Also like Jesus, Moses and many other saints of the past, we go alone and pray with the Heavenly Father (Matt 6:6; Exod 24:15, 18; Luke 6:12). We soar alone in the spirit realm with God the Father many times.

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2. Eagles Sees a Long Distance Prey or Enemy

Eagles have strong vision and so are able to identify its prey and focusses on it until it gets the prey and at the same time it is able to see from afar its enemy the snakes trying to sneak in to its nest in order to steal its egg or to kill its young ones. Though eagles build its nest on high rocks and places, snakes have a tendency and ability to climb it. But the strong vision of eagles keeps the enemies away from its nest. We as the children of God are focussed on our reward which is to kill the unbelief, sorrow, depression and eat the positive things of peace, joy and righteouness as a result of killing it (Isa 61:2-3; Rom 14:17). The demons and devils have a tendency and ability to attack our nest which is our home, finance, relationships, health, spiritual well being and soulish wholeness (1 Peter 5:8). The demonic realm of principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this age who are trying to steal, kill and destroy our abundant life of God within our families, loved ones and our community, we see by the foresight and strong vision of God from far off and strart to resist it by attacking it, the enemy who tries to come in will become scared and flee away (John 10:10; Eph 6:12; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9-10). The Lord will reveal the plans of the enemy within our spiritual foresight like for the prophet Elisha. When the Lord reveals the plans of the enemy in advance to us, the enemies of our soul will become frustrated, powerless and confused till they can no more attack us who are the people of God (2 Kings 6:23; Matt 4:11; Luke 4:13). This has recently happened to me in my life too. The Lord showed the enemy trying to kill a lukewarm believer whom I know very well in a vision. I prayed for him to be shown mercies and had peace after that. Afterwards I met his mother a few weeks later and she told that this particular believer met with an accident and if not for God's grace would have died on that spot itself. I told her the time that it might have occured and she said that it was the same time he met with an accident. I praise God for the strong vision of royalty he gives to us in various times which outwits the enemies plans completely.

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3. Eagles Do Not Eat Dead Things

Eagles never consume dead things but vultures do. Because we are the ones with the royal

characteristics of an eagle within us, Jesus said, "55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." (John 6:55-57). His blood that we drink is our faith in the saving blood of Jesus and the flesh of Jesus that we eat is the words that He has spoken to us which we keep in our lives (Matt 26:26-28; John 6:63; 10:27; 14:15). We the believers are the one who eat fresh flesh of Jesus' words from heaven through the Holy Spirit's teachings which always makes us live His life on earth royally (John 1:14; 6:63; 11:26; 1 Cor 2:13).

4. Eagles Loves the Storm

Eagles are the only birds that loves the storm. When all other birds try to flee from the storm and hide itself from the fierceness of it, eagles fly in to it and will use the wind of the strom to rise higher in a fraction of seconds. It uses the pressure of the storm to glide higher without using its own energy. It is able to do this because God has created it uniquely with an ability to lock its wings in a fixed position, in the midst of the fierce storm winds. After a certain period of experiencing storms face to face, the eagles

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love to play in the storms. The storms in life that we as God's royal eagles face are trials, tribulations and temptations (John 16:33; James 1:12). As we face the stormy wind of afflictions in life, the Holy Spirit helps us lock our mind in a fixed position with the grace of God through faith in the finished work of the Cross, which helps us not to spend our energy but just stay in the storm and enjoy the lift and height of heavenly mindedness in a greater and greater altitude (1 Cor 10:13; Eph 6:16; 1 Peter 5:9-10; Phil 4:7). After a period of time we start to love the trials because of the positive things of peace that we are able to experience in the storm and the heavenly after effects of being lifted in to great height of spirituality and ecstacy in believing (1 Peter 1:8), which would not have been possible without it. This is the reason Apostle James said, "2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2-4). We as a person of royalty need to take a quality decision of accepting trials willingly with joy because it lifts us in to higher altitude of spirituality without us wasting even an ounce of energy. After we start to use all the manuveres in the midst of stroms, we will surely say, "Bring it on with a stout chest and our head held high".

5. Eagles Tests Before Trusting

The female eagle during courtship always takes a male one in to the air after picking up a twig from the ground and go to a certain height and will drop it for the male to chase it. Once the male catches hold of it and brings back, the female flies in to a higher altitude and drops it in the same way. This is repeated until the female gets an assurance that the male one has mastered the art of seriously picking up the twigs in real love and affection. Once they get hooked up in trust, the father and the mother eagle mate for life. And they work together as parents. Apostle Paul made it clear that we must enter the kingdom of God's parental and a lover's joy, peace and righteousness only through tribulations (2 Tim 3:12; Acts 14:22; Rom 14:17). God tests us through various trials in order to test our love for the Lord and purify it by making us learn obedience through suffering (Ps 66:10; Heb 5:8). God tested Abraham before he trusted Him as his dear friend for eternity (Gen 22:1, 9-12, 16-17; Is 41:8; James 2:21-23). Some of us try to test God like the grumbling Israelites did, which is totally a wrong attitude that arises out of our sinful soulish mind (Exod 17:7). God must be trusted because he is perfect (Matt 5:48), we need to be tested because we are imperfect beings who need to be purified through various trials, temptation and tribulations in order to be made perfect (Rom 5:3-5; Deut 8:16; Mal 3:3). Once the tests are over, God trusts us and establishes us for eternity ahead (1 Peter 5:9-10). This is a royal courtship with God that we must undergo in order to be establised for eternity.

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6. Eagles Trains Its Children to Maturity

Eagles always builds its nest on high places where the enemies cannot easily reach. God always sets his weak amd lowly in mind children's in high places far above the reach of the enemy by His sovereign power (Matt 5:3-4; Job 5:11; Ps 91:14). The male eagles pick up thorns and lays it on the cliff as an outer shell of protection and then it brings twigs to form another layer over it for ruggedness and agility. And again it places a layer of thorns over it for the nest to withstand enemies penetration and then places a layer of soft-grass just before the inner most layer of rugs which completes the nest. The finishing touches for the nest is completed with its feathers kept over the outermost layers of rugs. In the life of Joseph his circumstances and his place of stay was full of thorns. He was thrown in to a well by his own brothers because of jealousy and was sold to some nomadic Arabians as a commodity, who again took him to Egypt and was resold as a slave to an officer of the Pharaoh. From there he was thrown in to a prison where his feet were hurt by the fetters and was laid in irons for no fault of his (Ps 105:17-18). The presence of God and His grace were the feathers that was always present all around Joseph which kept him inside the nest of thorns where he prospered and did not bleed to death by the thorns of his

circumstances (Gen 39:2, 21, 23). When we go through the times of hardship and trials for no reason of our mistake, God covers us with His feathers and protects us under the shelter of His wings. And only there we find our refuge and His faithfulness becomes out shield and rampart in the midst of all our throny and harsh circumstances (Ps 91:1-4).

Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. All the members of the Trinity participate in the royal training of all

believers. The Father loved us and sent His only begotten Son to transfer us in to the kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ (Col 1:13), the Son of God died on behalf of us redemptively and qualified us to be participants of the training of the royals (Col 1:14, 21) and the Holy Spirit works as the agent executive and facilitator in ministering the training course of the royals (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27).

While in training the mother eagle will thrown the eaglets outside of its nest and the eaglets will get scared and will always try to come back in to the comfort zone of the nest. Slowly the eagle will begin to remove the feather, rugs and soft grass inside its nest step by step so that the eaglets can be trained to fly like them. The eaglets may feel that their mother and father are doing cruel things to them as they feel the thorns prick them and make them bleed. Many times we as believers try to stay in the comfort zone of the old season that the Lord has kept us to grow for a time. But the Lord takes us in to situations that may seem very cruel as we start to bleed because of the hardship of thorns we face in the new season, but the Lord's motive in doing it is to make ours fears flee and teach us to soar in faith. Because of the

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thorns we feel inside the comfort zone of our old and outdated season, we slowly jump out in to the new season like the eaglets jump out of the thorny nest.

Then the mother eagle pushes them off the cliff of their nest into the air. As they shriek in fear, father eagle flies out and picks them up on his back before they fall, and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their wings. God said to the Israelites who faced

consistent trials, tribulations and time of great testings in the transitory time of wilderness, "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself." (Exod 19:4, NLT). God also said to them, "9 For the LORD’s portion is His people...10 He found him in a desert land...a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. 11 As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, 12 So the LORD alone led him.... 13 “He made him ride in the heights of the earth, that he might eat the produce of the fields; He made him draw honey from the rock, and oil from the flinty rock" ( Deut 32:9-13). God always throws us off from the familiar

surroundings during the transitory time between the old and new season. This makes us to get caught in a great fall off guard and suddenly we feel as though we are going to die because of the great fall, but instead we are safely taken in to His wings of our Heavenly Abba Daddy to find comfort from all our fear. Slowly we start to enjoy the fall and the fresh air knowing that we will be taken by the safe wings of God each time. As we fall like the eaglets in to great trials and fall, the blood of Jesus starts to flow inside our wings and strengthens our faith in the protecting sovereign hand of the Lord over our life. The great things that happens during this time is that we learn to live in the so called danger of fall by our faith and also specially we start to enjoy the trials and tribulation (Rom 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). Fear of the fall flies away because of trusting in God's love and sovereign protection and we soar consistently flapping the wings of faith and learn to stay that way without toiling (1 John 4:18-19; Gal 5:6; Heb 4:3).

7. Eagles Retires Until New Feathers Grow

When the eagles get older and weak because of the worn out feathers which slows down its flight speed and manueveres, the eagles retires away in the rocks and will pluck away all its old feathers until it is completely bare. It waits until a new set of feather grows and comes out of his body. It stays in the hiding place until all the new feathers comes back to make it fly dynamically and royally again without much effort or toil. Likewise, we take of our old man of soulish self after a season of flying in faith and wait in the presence of the Lord to make us rise up with the new feathers of faith from the new man by renewing our minds with the word of God (Eph 4:22-24). This is what Apostle Paul spoke about when he said, "8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy

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language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Col 3:8-10). We need to wait upon the Lord in constant prayer of the secret hiding place of God's presence inorder to be renewed with new feathers and be strengthened to mount up and soar again like young eagles in faith (Is 40:31; Ps 32:7; 119:114; 31:20; Matt 6:6).

May we all live royally as an eagle and soar in our faith for the glory of God in our end time generation!

Abraham Israel

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The Eagle Christian

Dr. Glen Clifton

THE EAGLE CHRISTIAN By Dr. Glen Clifton 1.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints, nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable (no man can fathom). He gives power to the weak (strength to the weary), and to those who have not might, He increases strength. Even youth grow tired and weary, and the young men stumble and fall. But those who hope (wait on) the Lord, will renew their strength; They will soar (mount up) on wings of EAGLES; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

LOOK AT THE EAGLE: What is God trying to show us in the metaphoric language? God ransacks nature to describe in earthly terms, the divine.

In this passage God uses the EAGLE in all its majesty, kingship and sovereignty of the air to describe the CHRISTIAN, who is of the highest and strongest ideal. The EAGLE is the King of all the foul of the air, symbolic of Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Christian should live as children of the King!

Unfortunately, many of us (Christians) would have to be categorized with a sparrow, the crow, the turkey or the buzzard ... NOT AS EAGLES. It is interesting to note, that the EAGLE is on the endangered species list. History is replete with men who stood on mountains, who dared to give themselves completely and totally to God. My question to you today is: Where are all the SPIRITUAL HEROES today? Where are the CHRISTIAN EAGLES?

Do you know why the Lord’s inner circle consisted of Peter, James and John? It is because they chose to be. You can be just as close to God as you want to be. It is YOUR CHOICE! Jesus said, “You come unto me. I don’t refuse anybody.” John 6:37

Understanding The Bible

TOPICAL BIBLE STUDIES

"The Eagle Christian"

Dr. Glen Clifton

Isaiah 40:28-31

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I. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF EAGLES 1ST: there is the IMPERIAL EAGLE.

The imperial EAGLE (the Bald or American) speaks of sovereignty and kingship. Revelation 1:6 says that Jesus Christ has made us “kings and priests.” Romans 5:17 says, “We reign in life through one Christ Jesus.” Through Christ’s redemption, every believer is to be raised from the squalor of sin and from the pit of depravity to a brand new relationship in Christ.

In II Corinthians 2:14, Paul declares that we have power to always triumph in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:13 lets us know that we can do all things through Christ’s kingship. Jesus Christ, our King, said in Matthew 28:18ff, “All authority is given unto Me in heaven and in earth, and as King, I bid you go in my name.” Jesus has total and absolute authority. He is King, and He is Sovereign. WE CHRISTIANS, as part of His Royal Family, should walk accordingly.

2ND: the other EAGLE is the GOLDEN EAGLE.

Gold in the Bible speaks of DEITY, of God. Every Christian who has been bought with the blood of Jesus has a NEW GOD NATURE. “Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17 Our new nature ... because of Jesus ... is as PURE GOLD. Cleansed! Purified!

II Peter 1:4 says we are ‘partakers of His divine nature.’ He imparted His nature in your spirit. So now, all that He is, you and I can be. God intends for us to be as EAGLES!

Deuteronomy 32:11 says, “As an EAGLE stirs up its nest hovering over its young, spreading its wings to catch them and bearing them on its pinions,” so God leads His covenant people. God teaches us to enter into maturity of character.

II. HOW DOES AN EAGLE LEARN TO FLY?

For the little EAGLET that is newborn in the nest, life couldn’t be better. All it has to do is open its little beak and the mother feeds him the choice tidbits of the kill. Life in the nest is filled with joy, and every need is supplied.

Every Christian who comes to Christ has the same ecstasy. He is immediately filled with joy. God answers prayer and our lives are changed. But, at the same time, God begins to kill the old nature in each one of us. God is trying to make us to know our capacity. God begins to teach us to use the new life within us. He Who loves us will not allow us to stay in that nest and cripple us by constantly being dependent on His power and provision.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:20, “For He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works within us.” We have to learn how to use God’s power and release it in our lives. He doesn’t want us to stay hedged up under His care in the nursery school.

One day the MOTHER EAGLE DOESN’T BRING A KILL. She hovers and soars over and around the nest. Then she tears it apart and begins to push the EAGLET towards the cliff. The EAGLET cries, “Oh God, she’s going to kill me,” as she tumbles over the cliff, helplessly through the air, as it tumbles from the nest. It hears the whir of great wings and mom soars right under it and catches it to bear it back to the cliff. Just as the LITTLE EAGLET catches its breath, the MOTHER knocks it off the cliff again and down it goes, starting the whole process again. Are you beginning to see the picture here…of our own life.

Sometimes, as Christians, we pretend that nothing bad is going to happen to us, that life is going to be all ease from the fellowship of His suffering. NOTHING could be farther from the truth. We get into another error in failing to realize what God is doing.

After several falls, the EAGLET asks the question, “I wonder what mom is trying to teach me? Surely she loves Page 2 of 6 AncientPath.net, "The Eagle Christian" - Dr. Glen E. Clifton

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me. I don’t know why she would want to destroy me.” Again, mother comes. This time it is different as the EAGLET sticks out its wings and finds out it can maneuver. It is rather awkward, and it is certainly not pretty. The EAGLET has never done this before, but it is learning the MYSTERY of the air currents to soar just like its mother.

You may say, “I rebuke you Devil,” when trials and troubles come. CAREFUL! You may be talking to the wrong person. It may be Jesus working in you. Oh, I know the Devil comes after you, but everything that befalls you isn’t of the Devil, though he may be God’s tool. Job said, “He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (23:10). God, as the mother EAGLE, may be orchestrating certain events in our lives out of love…in order to teach us the mysteries of the air currents of the Spirit of God.

The CHURCH in America today is filled with perpetual cripples who copped out on their flying lessons before they finished the race. They didn’t endure to the end. They bailed out early when God asked them for maturity. LISTEN: God is in the business of asking His men and women to grow up ... SPIRITUALLY! Stop crying! Stop complaining and whining! Learn to endure hardness as a good soldier. QUIT BLAMING others for your failures. Quit blaming some ‘ole hypocrite in the church…as the reason you refuse to serve the Lord.

LISTEN: God is more interested in the PRODUCTION of CHARACTER than He is in the PROVISION of our COMFORT. He may strip you of everything you have. REMEMBER: JOB lost everything ... wife, family, business, animals ... EVERYTHING! If your heart is pure toward Jesus, then I suggest to you that God is producing character in your life.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” II Corinthians 5:17. When you become a Christian, you then, are a partaker of the divine nature of God. We become the children of God. John wrote, “As many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become the children of God…” (John l:12). A Christian now has the right, the privilege, and the obligation to live as a totally new species.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:6 “God has raised us up and made us to sit together in heavenly places.” Are you a Child of the King? Then you are a Prince or a Princess ... LIVE LIKE ONE!

III. WHAT ARE THE FLIGHT HABITS OF AN EAGLE?

The Word of God says in Proverbs 30:18-19, “There are FOUR THINGS too hard for me: the way of the EAGLE in the air, the way of the SERPENT on the rock, the way of the SHIP in the midst of the sea, and the way of a MAN with his maid.

THE MYSTERY of the SERPENT on the rock is the mystery of inequity in the relationship between the Devil and Jesus. The MYSTERY of the MAN and the maid is the mystery of the relationship of Jesus and His bride - You and I. The MYSTERY of the SHIP is a mystery of the church on its way through this world to its heavenly destiny. And the MYSTERY OF THE EAGLE IN THE AIR is the mystery of the completely VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN.

This SPIRITUAL MYSTERY IS: You cannot SOAR until you DIE ... TO SELF! One must die to ambition, pride, titles, programs, etc. You cannot live until you die to the fleshly ambitions of self. Your focus is not “me” or “mine”, but your focus is on the Lord. Paul said it this way, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:13,14). It’s Lord, what do you want me do? What do you want me to say? Where do You want me to go?

IV. EAGLES DON’T JUST FLY ... THEY MOUNT-UP ... THEY SOAR!!!

If doesn’t say in our passage that EAGLES fly ... they MOUNT UP ... they SOAR! The EAGLE has an innate, intuitive understanding by God about currents and their ministries. He knows how to use them. CHRISTIAN LISTEN: When God places his Spirit within us, He begins to teach us NEW SPIRITUAL TRUTHS ... about the

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MYSTERIES OF SPIRITUAL LIFE.

WATCH the giant EAGLE perched on a rocky mountains in the top of a tall tree. He looks so majestic. There is something exciting about him as he stands poised. He looks right into the face of that monstrous adversary, the STORM. For: “The wind blows wherever it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit,” John 3:8 tells us. Jesus explained this to Nicodemus.

As the EAGLE looks into the midst of the gale, the wind and storm, thunder and lightening, he raises his wings as if to say, “Hallelujah, here comes another storm, another chance to ride higher than I did the last time.” He grabs a gust of wind and rides it up ... and SOARS!

Paul glorified in tribulation, for it produces patience and character. (Rom. 5:3,4). The EAGLE loves the storm, for it is in our EXTREMITY that brings God OPPORTUNITY to lift us up beyond ourselves and our

circumstances that He may be glorified in the world that watches us. They then, can marvel and take note, that we have been with Jesus, and want a Savior like that. The Bible says, “I bare you on EAGLE'S WINGS, and brought you unto myself,” Exodus 19:4. The EAGLE soars aloft above the storms, hurricanes and the tornado. The EAGLE is the only bird that soars above all storms and gazes directly into the sun. Likewise, man, with wings of faith and trust can rise above the storms of our own life and look to God for freedom and peace of mind.

TURKEYS live in the dark woods because they are scared. They are birds of fear. Fear brings bondage. They never soar. ILLUSTRATION: When I was a boy in South Texas, my daddy and I would go into the woods to hunt for turkey. When our shotguns went off, they never flew, they just ran through the mesquite trees and brush. TURKEYS are bound to the ground, and the lower, baser things of life. The CHRISTIAN should never be chained to the things of the world. He is freed to fly ... soar ... spiritually.

BUZZARDS are big birds…mean and ugly. They also can fly for hours. But did you know that if you CAGE a BUZZARD in a pen that this 6 feet by 8 feet, with the top entirely open, that bird is a prisoner. The reason: he requires 10 to 12 feet to run to take off. Without a space to run, he makes no attempt to fly, and will remain a prisoner in his small jail.

The EAGLE likes the high open spaces, the mountains, the tall trees and the bright sunshine, and the freedom to soar. He can FLY straight up, or DIVE straight down to catch a prey. The EAGLE CHRISTIAN is one who wants to soar, and is not consumed with fear because of the things of the world. The CHRISTIAN bound to the ground is missing the liberty of higher things and the finer things that the Father wants to provide for His children.

V. MORE PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE EAGLE

The EAGLE has two sets of EYELIDS. One set is for down on the earth, and the other is for looking into the sky and the sun. It refers to BALANCE. Although the Christian lives IN the world, he is not to be OF the world, or not to be possessed BY the world and its gods.

The ENEMY of the EAGLE is the SERPENT. The snake climbs his way up the rocky crags, gets into the nest and tries to get at the EAGLE’S EGGS. The EAGLE deals with the snake in two ways. FIRST, she uses her great strong beak to peck it to death. REMEMBER when Jesus addressed the serpent in Luke 4? He used the Word of God to peck the Devil out of the wilderness. SECOND, she uses those great talons of strength and carries the critter way up in the heavens and drops the snake on the rocky crags and crushes it.

PERSONALLY, I like dropping the Devil on the Rock of Jesus. That’s what it means, “In the name of Jesus.” You can render the Devil harmless, when you drop him on the solid Rock of Jesus. QUESTION: Does the Devil control your life, or do you have dominion over Satan?

The EAGLE is a clean bird when he is free, but terribly dirty when caged. ILLUSTRATION: I was so upset Page 4 of 6 AncientPath.net, "The Eagle Christian" - Dr. Glen E. Clifton

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when I saw a captured GOLDEN EAGLE in a cage in the DENVER ZOO. The cage, though large, was too small for him. It was also full of the nasty leavings of all the birds. The EAGLE just hopped around like a small caged animal with no hope.

Christians are like that when they become caged in a box ... the box becomes fouled. It gets dirty. The Apostle Paul declared in Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made you free.” As a Christian, God has made you to be free. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace, joy, no confusion, and disorder, but liberty.” II Corinthians 3:17Bondage (slavery) is when some head gobbler (perhaps some pastor or deacon) says, “You are too free, come over and stay in my box.” That is what much of our pharisaical religious systems have done. They have kept us within the four walls of our pretty buildings ... chained to our belief-systems, and we find ourselves doing nothing spiritually. Some get bound in bitterness, deceit, jealousy and pride. When we are contained in the four walls of our church WE ARE NOT EXPERIENCING GOD ... and we NEVER SHARE CHRIST!

God gave the EAGLE cylindrical BONES. EAGLE life is in its bones. Any man who wants to know God, must have it in his bones. He will have a passion for the things of God. LIFE is in our innermost being! Paul said, “My hearts desire and prayer for Israel is that they may be saved. Rom. 10:1 He said, “for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31), It was in his bones…in his being! Sometimes we sing, “Oh, How I Love Jesus.” But, is it really in our innermost being? Do we really love Him?

The EAGLE has the power of SELF-RENEWAL. Psalms 103:5 says, “…Thy youth is renewed like the EAGLE.” When the EAGLE gets sick, he molts. His feathers begin to fall out, but he knows what to do. He finds a rock in the sun and he sits on the rock letting the sun do its healing work until the feathers grow back.

Here, do you see the DOUBLE-SYMBOL of Jesus? The Christian sits on the Rock (of Jesus), and he lets the SON of Righteousness shine on him until he’s healed. That is exactly what we are to do. We are to let Jesus shine on us as we sit on the Rock until we are healed, whether it is spiritual, physical or emotional.

VI. EAGLES DO NOT LIVE FOREVER

The EAGLE does not live forever and neither will you ... not in this earthly form. When it comes time to DIE the EAGLE turns his face into the sun. What better way to go out ... to face death ... than looking unto Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2). He has loved you all your life. When you have the Holy Spirit living within you, you can face any situation even death - with victory!

I John 3 says, “Now, we are the sons of God.” Romans 5:17 says, “Much more shall those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life in Christ Jesus.” The problem is: You have to learn to fly. You must catch the wind of the Spirit or be a spiritual cripple for the rest of your life.

When God carried Israel out of Egypt, Moses declared, “He carried them on the wings of an EAGLE.” (Exodus 19:4) They took the land of Canaan and enjoyed the manna, the honey and the abundance of an overcoming life, which is exactly what God wants every Christian to do.

NOW, THE CHOICE IS YOURS! Will you continue to be chained by sin, OR receive the freedom that only Jesus Christ can give? JOSHUA said it this way, “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…..but, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (24:15).

Are you a TURKEY, a BUZZARD or an EAGLE CHRISTIAN? Remember: SORROW looks back, WORRY looks around, BUT, FAITH LOOKS UP ... LIKE THE EAGLE!

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Bible Topics Index:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z

EAGLE, THE

A bird of prey. •

Job 9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the

prey.

Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered

together.

Unclean. •

Leviticus 11:13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the

fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

Deuteronomy 14:12 But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the

ossifrage, and the ospray,

Different kinds of. •

Leviticus 11:13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the

fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

Leviticus 11:18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,

Called the eagle of the heavens. •

Lamentations 4:19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they

pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

DESCRIBED AS •

Long-sighted. ◦

Job 39:29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

Swift. ◦

2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not

divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Soaring to heaven. ◦

Proverbs 23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings;

they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Strength of its feathers alluded to. •

Daniel 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did

eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

Greatness of its wings alluded to. •

Ezekiel 17:3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers,

which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:

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Ezekiel 17:7 There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did

bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

Peculiarity of its flight alluded to. •

Proverbs 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of

the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

Delights in the lofty cedars. •

Ezekiel 17:3-4 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers,

which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

Dwells in the high rocks. •

Job 39:27-28 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on

the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

Feeds her young with blood. •

Job 39:29-30 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood:

and where the slain are, there is she.

ILLUSTRATIVE •

Of wisdom and zeal of God's ministers. ◦

Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on

the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

Revelation 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had

a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

Of great and powerful kings. ◦

Ezekiel 17:3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of

feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:

Hosea 8:1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because

they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

(Renewed strength and beauty of,) of the renewal of saints. ◦

Psalms 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

(Mode of teaching her young to fly,) of God's care of His church. ◦

Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought

you unto myself.

Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her

wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

(Wings of,) of protection afforded to the church. ◦

Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the

wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

(Upward flight of,) of the saint's rapid progress toward heaven. ◦

Isaiah 40:31 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.

(Swiftness of,) of the melting away of riches. ◦

Proverbs 23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings;

they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

(Swiftness of,) of the swiftness of hostile armies. ◦

Deuteronomy 28:49 The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

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Jeremiah 4:13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are

swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.

Jeremiah 48:40 For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over

Moab.

Lamentations 4:19 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the

mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.

(Height and security of its dwelling,) of the fancied but fatal security of the wicked. ◦

Jeremiah 49:16 Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in

the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.

Obadiah 1:4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence

will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

(Increased baldness of, in the moulting season,) of calamities. ◦

Micah 1:16 Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for

they are gone into captivity from thee.

(Hasting to the prey,) of the swiftness of man's days. ◦

Job 9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

Was the standard of the Roman armies. •

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,

stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Matthew 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

.

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Eagle

Dr. Joe Temple

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Introduction

In this lesson we will be talking about eagles. I have reserved this subject for last for two reasons. More is said about eagles in Scripture than any other one bird. The other reason—maybe more important—the eagle is my favorite bird as far as scriptural bird watching is concerned, and the Lord has used the truth taught in the Word of God concerning the eagle in my own life personally a number of times over. For that reason, it is a precious study to me. The Lord gave me one verse concerning the eagle that we will be thinking about upon which I am still resting. Because of that verse, my children started an eagle collection for me, and I have nearly a hundred different kinds of eagles: wood, ceramic, and silver from various parts of the world. These all have a special significance to me, and I think that I can share some of the blessings with you from them.

I have mentioned to you before that the eagle is mentioned some twenty-six times in the Scripture by way of illustration. We are not counting the times that the eagle is simply mentioned as a fowl, but by way of the eagle used for illustration, it is something like twenty-six times.

Perhaps the reason for that is the amazement of Solomon concerning the eagle. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, and he certainly had a special gift of wisdom from God, as you know from your studying of the Word of God. He said that he was mystified by some things, and he named them in chapter 30 of the book of Proverbs, verse 18. He said:

Proverbs 30

He said, “There are three things that simply amaze me, actually four. 18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea,

four which I know not:

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I don't have the explanation for all that I see in connection with them, but they amaze me.” Then verse 19:

Proverbs 30

He said, “All of these things are so intrinsically interesting that it is difficult to explain all of the activities related to them.” We notice, particularly, the first statement of verse 19. He said, “Something that is too wonderful for me, something that I never get tired of

watching, and something that I can't fully explain is the way of an eagle in the air.”

Eagles Used as Illustrations

I am going to suggest to you the various things about the eagle which are used as illustrations, and I am going to give you the Scripture references. If you are interested, you can pursue them at your own leisure because we are only going to talk about four of them. The bird watchers in the Bible observing the eagle were impressed with the strength of her wings and used them as an illustration for redemption in Exodus, chapter 19, verse 4, and in Revelation, chapter 12, verse 14. They were impressed, likewise, with the swiftness of the flight of the eagle and used it as an illustration of the swift judgment of God upon those who were disobedient in Deuteronomy, chapter 28, verse 29; Jeremiah, chapter 48, verse 40; Jeremiah, chapter 49, verse 22; Isaiah, chapter 8, verse 1; Jeremiah, chapter 4, verse 13; and Habakkuk, chapter 1, verse 8. All of these are references to the swiftness of judgment. As the eagle flies swiftly to their prey, so does the judgment of God come. Each one of these verses has a little different flavor to it, so it isn't empty repetition.

The swiftness of the eagle is also used as an illustration of the

brevity of life. We had already established Job as a bird watcher; and in Job, chapter 9, verse 26, when he observed the eagle in her swift flight, he was reminded of how swiftly the days of our lives pass by. Interestingly enough, Solomon wrote of the swiftness of the eagle, and it has always been amusingly interesting to me the swiftness of the eagle as it is illustrated in how quickly your money gets away from you. I suspect that all of us have had some problem along that line. You have money and then the first thing you know, you don't have it.

When the biographies of both Saul and Jonathan were being written in II Samuel, chapter 1, verse 23, the swiftness of the eagle was used as an illustration of their prowess as warriors. In Ezekiel, chapter 17,

19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

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verses 3 and 7, the swiftness of the eagle was used to illustrate the mighty power and the swift judgment that the king of Babylon brought upon those who were disobedient to his rule and to his reign. You have heard of the bald eagle. The bald eagle is called a bald

eagle not because he has no feathers on his head, as men have no

hair on their head when they are bald, but because the feathers on the eagle's head are white; and at a distance, it gives the appearance of baldness—hence the name, bald eagle . The baldness of the eagle was used by Micah in chapter 1, verse 16, to describe the devastating judgment that God was going to bring on disobedient people. Micah said, “Your baldness will increase as the baldness of the eagle.” There are several references to nesting habits of the eagle. The fact that the eagle builds her nest on the highest crag and in the topmost part of the tree in each instance is used as an illustration of the foolishness of pride. In Job, chapter 39, verses 27-30, Job's pride was rebuked by a reference to the nesting habits of the eagle. In Jeremiah, chapter 49, verse 16, Jeremiah said, “Though Israel raised herself to the pinnacle as high as the eagle's nest, even to the starry sky, God would bring her down to her own level.” In Obadiah, verse 4, the same truth is emphasized concerning Moab: “Though she builds her nest as high as the eagle's nest, there certainly would be a coming down.”

In Psalm 103, verse 5, a habit connected with the eagle's molting process describes the rejuvenation that is possible for all who place their faith and their trust in God, and then the unusual strength of the eagle as far as her ability to last in long flights is concerned, is used by Isaiah to illustrate the enduring strength that is made possible for all believers in Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 31.

Then the eagle is used in several prophetic visions such as Ezekiel, chapter 1, verse 10, Ezekiel, chapter 10, verse 14, and Revelation, chapter 4, verse 7. There the eagle is used to describe one of the four descriptions of the living creatures, known as the cherubim and the

seraphim . In Daniel, chapter 2, verse 4, the nation of Babylon is

described as having great strength by picturing her as an animal that had eagle's wings.

I think you will find a perusal of these Scriptures at your own convenience profitable to you, and it is very possible that the Lord will give you some thoughts about them that I haven't even made an attempt to suggest.

An Illustration of Deliverance and Redemption

I would like for us to look at four of the passages that I gave you for the spiritual lessons and illustrations that we can draw from them. I would like to begin by saying that the first spiritual lesson that we

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may learn from the habits of the eagle is an illustration of deliverance and redemption. Turn back, please, to the book of Exodus, chapter 19. You will notice the address of Moses to the children of Israel after they had come out of the land of Egypt after they had been delivered from the hand of the Egyptians. I think it would be a good idea for us to just begin with the first verse. Notice as we read together:

Exodus 19

Actually, if you read the account of the exodus of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, you know that they walked; but if you keep in mind that behind them was the Egyptian army and before them was a body of water which they could not cross in their own strength, you will realize that their deliverance was divine. As Moses thought upon the divine deliverance—without the aid of human effort—there came to his mind a picture he had often seen of a mother eagle putting her eaglets on her wings and flying great distances with them. They did absolutely nothing but rest upon the wings of the mother. They were carried about through no strength of their own. It was all upon the mother eagle.

When we think of salvation by grace without the aid of human effort, I don't think we can find a better illustration than this one of the eagle. Just picture in your mind's eye how those little eaglets are supported entirely by the one who bears them on her wings. Can you imagine any of those little eagles claiming any credit for the journey, even being able to say, “I at least had to get on the wings.” Yet, I know any number of people who are so afraid to say that salvation is by grace alone—without the aid of human effort. They say, “Well, you have got to at least believe,” and they want to take some merit even for the faith that they put in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, we are told in Ephesians, chapter 2, that even the faith with which we believe is a gift of God. We can't even claim any credit for that. The wonderful thing about it is the eagle's wings are always underneath as long as we need them, but there will be times when we must do without them, as we shall see.

1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the

wilderness of Sinai.

2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

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Comparable to this verse in the book of Exodus is one in the very last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, chapter 12. While you are turning to Revelation, chapter 12, let me remind you that this chapter is the record of a sign. The book of Revelation is full of signs. People are concerned about the signs in the book of Revelation, and they wonder how anybody could know what the signs mean. Let me suggest here that any signs, any symbols in the book of Revelation that need an explanation is explained either in the book of Revelation or somewhere else in the Word of God. Notice what I said—any sign which needs an explanation. There are some signs and some symbols that don't need an explanation. If the explanation is needed, the explanation is found either in the book of Revelation or somewhere else in the Word of God. Will you notice verse 1:

Revelation 12

We do not have time for a detailed study of the book of Revelation, so you are just going to have to accept by faith what I say if this is new material to you, but this woman is the nation of Israel. Then in verse 2:

Revelation 12

The child was the Lord Jesus Christ. After the Lord Jesus Christ was born and fulfilled His purpose on the earth, He ascended up into Heaven in the last part of verse 5. Notice verse 6:

Revelation 12

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon [the dragon is the devil] , having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

5 And she brought forth a man child [the man child is the Lord

Jesus Christ] , who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and

her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

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Between verses 5 and verse 6 is the age of grace in which we live. In verse 6, the Tribulation has begun and this woman has to flee into the wilderness because of the persecution that was leveled against her. In verses 7-11, there is the story of the final rejection of Satan from Heaven. In verse 12, the middle of the Tribulation has occurred and judgment on the earth is going to increase, so you read in verse 12:

Revelation 12

The persecution of Israel increases in The tribulation period. What kind of trouble was Israel in in the land of Egypt? Persecution. That is the reason that she cried unto God, and God delivered her from the hand of Pharaoh. At the end of the age, yet future as we are

concerned, during the Tribulation period, the nation of Israel is going to be in need of deliverance. How is God going to provide that deliverance? In the same way that He provided it when He delivered her from Egypt. Look at verse 14:

Revelation 12

At the beginning of Israel's history, redemption was the theme provided by an eagle. In the end of Israel's history, redemption is the theme illustrated by the strength of an eagle. We are borne—what was true of Israel in many ways—on eagles' wings. Salvation is by grace without the aid of human efforts.

An Illustration of Renewal

Turn to Psalm 103 and notice a molting habit of the eagle which the Spirit of God is pleased to use as an illustration of the rejuvenation that we as believers need from time to time. Let's begin reading with

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time [three and one

half years] , from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

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verse 1:

Psalm 103

I wonder why David said this. He was familiar with the habits of eagles. Periodically, after a certain number of years, an eagle will go off to some distant point by itself. It will shed all of its old feathers and grow new feathers. It takes a period of time. Its claws will grow until new claws have appeared, the old claws being dead. When it leaves this secret place, it returns to its natural habitat looking like a young eagle, though it is many years old. This was the habit with which David was familiar when he said, “You know, God treats us like that. He meets our needs in such a fashion that our youth is renewed; our youth is restored to us just like the youth of an eagle.” I would like for you to notice that word renew there, because it is very significant to me that it is one of two Hebrew words which could have been used. The Spirit of God was pleased to use the Hebrew word z ered , which may be translated by the word rebuild or by the word repair . It is interesting that when the Spirit of God said, “We may renew the strength of our youth like the eagles,” that He used the very word that describes the process that I have shared with you.

Sometimes airplanes have to be put into the garage for repairs. Oftentimes I call the young man who flies me places that I need to go, and I say, “I need to go to such and such a place.” Sometimes He says, “I am sorry that I can't take you. The plane has so many hours on her. She is in the garage for repairs.” It doesn't mean that she is broken down; it means that after so many flying hours, it has to be gone over completely. It needs to be renewed.

I hope that you are getting the lesson without a great deal of

comment from me because surely you recognize that you and I need the same kind of renewal. You and I need to have the opportunity of renewing our experiences in the Lord, renewing our lives, so to speak.

For an illustration of what I am talking about, turn to the Ephesian letter, chapter 4. In this chapter of the Ephesian letter, we are told that we have been in right relationship to Jesus Christ through the

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; [now notice] so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

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new birth, and since we have that experience, there comes a time in our lives when we have to shed our feathers, when we have to get rid of the old claws. Those words are not actually used, but if you look at verse 22, you see:

Ephesians 4

Sometimes when we gather together in a place like this, away from all of the ordinary demands of life, it provides an opportunity for us to have our youth renewed. Sometimes that is true physically if you do not play too hard, but if you have your spirit renewed, you go back home with a new vigor and a new strength you did not have, and you feel young spiritually again.

I just ask this question to provoke our thinking, but I wonder, haven't you felt sometimes that your relationship to the Lord is a dry and a dusty thing, sort of an old hat? You are really not enjoying it. You are going through the motions, but they really don't mean to you what they once did. Maybe what you need to do is to follow the practice of the eagle: Get away somewhere and shed the old feathers and the old claws and sharpen the new ones, and be ready for new and interesting experences.

An Illustration of God's Training

Turn to Deuteronomy, chapter 32, as Moses calls to our attention another practice of the eagle which is an illustration of God's

training for us as His children. Notice the paragraph that begins with verse 11:

Deuteronomy 32

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

12 So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

14

Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams