OUR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD!!




            I have a “news flash” for you: IF YOU’RE BREATHING – GOD ISN’T FINISHED WITH YOU YET! If you “think” you’re ‘something’, then, more than likely - you’ve got some distance to go before you arrive at your appointed destination!


Eagle’s Flight Ministries was conceived and birthed through a “need” Pastor and I saw while in the middle of change in our own lives. We knew God had called us; we were willing to ‘go the distance’ so-to-speak. What we did NOT know, however, is how long the road is between “willing” and “completion of the journey”! As you are well aware: we’re still on that road!

You see – God did not ‘call’ us to pastor only the folks who moved into this ministry alongside us.....He has also called us to minister to -and alongside - people yet to come into this ministry!


And now - after all these years together - we are beginning to truly embrace the real emergency our ministry leans towards: GO INTO ALL THE WORLD!

 People of God – We have some distance to go, yet. I know in my ‘heart’ that the Lord, Himself, has put us together for a “time such as this”. The Lord showed me (I believe) that our ministry is about to begin a new growth dimension that will require diligence, faithfulness, and persistence unlike anything we’ve ever encountered before now! Things are about to change on behalf of this church that is going to change not only the perspective of this local body; but also of the Christian community surrounding us! And one of the main reasons the community is touched is because of the Air-Time EFM has on television! I passed by a man we’ve known for many years in a store the other day. He told me he saw me, and listened to a sermon I had preached on TV.

Do you understand the importance of that statement? It means WE DO NOT GET ‘AWAY’ WITH ANYTHING!!! The entire City is aware of every move we make! And, it also tells us that our impact will have eternal results in lives we’ll never even KNOW ABOUT because we cannot “SEE” the hearts God will touch through the words-of-our-mouths!


Listen:

We are not unlike David. He was always in the middle of a “break-through”-type situation. He loved God with all his heart; and, he warred not only against the known enemy – but also against those in his own household! He took authority with boldness; yet with love and concern for those under his watch.

But even in the middle of war, David grew stronger and stronger in the Lord. As long as we continue to breathe, we will contend with the enemy of our souls - just as David did! But we will also grow stronger rather than weaker BECAUSE we KNOW Who our Redeemer and Commander-in-Chief is: Jesus Christ, our Rock!


(1 Tim 6:1 NKJV) LET AS MANY BONDSERVANTS AS ARE UNDER THE YOKE COUNT THEIR OWN MASTERS WORTHY OF ALL HONOR, SO THAT THE NAME OF GOD AND HIS DOCTRINE MAY NOT BE BLASPHEMED.

 Not only does the Bible teach that we are to be in submission to our leaders, it also says we are to TEACH OTHERS and encourage them to do the same thing!

This is exactly what David did! And as he totally submitted to God, David became more and more determined to wield the authority or influence God provided him with to bring about His Divine intention!

(2 Sam 3:1 NKJV) NOW THERE WAS A LONG WAR BETWEEN THE HOUSE OF SAUL AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID. BUT DAVID GREW STRONGER AND STRONGER, AND THE HOUSE OF SAUL GREW WEAKER AND WEAKER.

 Once the Lord had lifted His Presence and anointing from Saul, he became worse and worse, until he finally committed suicide. At that point, the Lord became stronger in David; and even what was left of Saul's reign became weak. In fact, when God says it's over - IT'S OVER!


Here is another attribute of David that is sometimes misunderstood:

David knew the concept of enabling others to go out and come in under his command – even though allowing that kind of authority to others made him vulnerable. But, you see, he knew his strength was in the Lord - not in a man! However, God has called “men” to do His work on earth. And that’s the place we all find ourselves: vulnerable to the fleshly desires - yet having to entrust that flesh with God’s plan for success in our lives!


(1 Pet 5:2 -3NKJV) SHEPHERD THE FLOCK OF GOD WHICH IS AMONG YOU, SERVING AS OVERSEERS, NOT BY COMPULSION BUT WILLINGLY, NOT FOR DISHONEST GAIN BUT EAGERLY; NOR AS BEING LORDS OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU, BUT BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK;

Authority is something that must be taken with boldness; tempered with love! There’s a flow of submission and authority within the Godhead. Holy Spirit is in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is in submission to God, the Father. Yet all Three submit to each other. And out of this love relationship comes POWER! You see – there CAN be submission and authority at the same time! That’s the very reason we’re successful on every mission trip we go on.


Obedience without submission is slavery! Authority only exists and works when someone submits! Submission is the reception of authority! Rebellion is the rejection of authority.

Rebellion always leads to frustration and breakdown of authority. Why is God opposed to rebellion?.......It was the downfall of Satan! He actually rebelled against God’s authority and place over him!


And when Satan over-reached God’s authority and competed WITH God, he became God’s adversary! Rebellion was the cause of Satan’s fall!

(Isa 14:12-15 NKJV) "HOW YOU ARE FALLEN FROM HEAVEN, O LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING! HOW YOU ARE CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND, YOU WHO WEAKENED THE NATIONS!

 FOR YOU HAVE SAID IN YOUR HEART: 'I WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN, I WILL EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD; I WILL ALSO SIT ON THE MOUNT OF THE CONGREGATION ON THE FARTHEST SIDES OF THE NORTH;

 I WILL ASCEND ABOVE THE HEIGHTS OF THE CLOUDS, I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH.' YET YOU SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN TO SHEOL, TO THE LOWEST DEPTHS OF THE PIT.


Listen:

God’s desire is to bring “ONE-NESS” to His Body. Without the life of the Head (God, the Father; Jesus, the Son; and the Holy Spirit) there will never be life in the body - which is us!!


When you truly meet God, the difficulty of obeying God’s authority evaporates. You absolutely CANNOT obey God’s authority WITHOUT GOD’S MERCY being on you! Therefore, we must:

1. Have a ‘spirit’ of obedience

2. Practice obedience

3. Learn to exercise delegated authority.


Why? Because if you learn only obedience and fail to know how to be IN authority when that authority is delegated, you will still be unfit for Kingdom work! We must KNOW our place. We must STAND in that place. We must not OVERRIDE our place, thereby, walking in rebellion. Listen: the Holy Spirit wishes to remove scars; heal fractured feelings; reveal insights; and open up dimensions of life beyond our understanding. And this doesn’t happen automatically; because He WILL NOT invade your space IF not invited!


(Lev 10:1-2 NKJV) THEN NADAB AND ABIHU, THE SONS OF AARON, EACH TOOK HIS CENSER AND PUT FIRE IN IT, PUT INCENSE ON IT, AND OFFERED PROFANE FIRE BEFORE THE LORD, WHICH HE HAD NOT COMMANDED THEM. SO FIRE WENT OUT FROM THE LORD AND DEVOURED THEM, AND THEY DIED BEFORE THE LORD.

This tells us God is serious about delegated authority – and whether you’re walking correctly in it! See, they had watched their father, Aaron, and they KNEW they had the ability - even the power to do the same things he did! What they FAILED to see was who represented God in the matter!!!

It is a very serious offense to ‘ASSUME’ when what you’re actually supposed to be is ‘SUBMITTED’!

-------------------------------

Now! There are three things for you to remember:


1. TO SPEAK AGAINST GOD’S DELEGATED AUTHORITY INCURS DIVINE WRATH

     (Example: Miriam and Aaron)

2. AUTHORITY IS GOD’S CHOICE - NOT MAN’S ATTAINMENT!

3. ALWAYS REMEMBER: REBELLION IS CONTAGIOUS!


When human eyes do not perceive that true authority comes from God, they tread on dangerous territory. Miriam and Aaron were sure God was pleased with them and that murmuring against Moses was understandably “right”! After all, he had made a ridiculous marriage choice in marrying an Ethiopian woman!!


BUT GOD PROCLAIMED MOSES AS HIS CHOSEN VESSEL AND HOW DARE THEY COME AGAINST GOD’S ANOINTED!!

You see: the “authority” Moses walked under was of God’s Own Hand! No one can change that - no matter WHAT they thought Moses was wrong about! They had no authority - or ‘right’ - to deal with it!


Rebellious words ascend to heaven and are heard by Almighty God. Whenever man touches God’s delegated authority, he touches God within that person! AND GOD, HIMSELF, TAKES THAT VERY PERSONALLY!


BOTTOM LINE:

God is methodical. He is NOT chaotic. He does NOT lack visible order or organization!

If you want to live spiritually and naturally correctly, learn to know and function within God’s Divine order!...................

            OUR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD OF US – NOT BEHIND US!


Respect for our leaders AND each other is paramount to our success as a ministry.


Tonight is the ‘starting point’ for us. We have the blessed opportunity to leave our past behind; and begin anew.

LET’S DO IT, IN JESUS’ NAME!!