John & Doves,
The following is another
amazing indicator of how intricately God has planned His creation. This information
has really helped me understand the purifying fire I've gone through and I
hope it's edifying to others too.
God has placed in creation
everything necessary for men to know that there is a God, and that He is a
God of love and perfection while leaving no reason for men to ignore or deny
him.
Jesus always took something
in the natural to explain a Spiritual truth as in Mark 4 when teaching about
the Parable of the Sower. Throughout the Bible, God likens Himself and His
children to an Eagle. God never likened Himself or His Children to a turkey,
and this is why we should seek to know and understand the life of the Eagle.
Exodus 19:4, Ezekiel 1:10 and Psalms 91:4 reveals this truth. The word Eagle
is mentioned some 32 times in the Bible. The number 32 in God's arithmetic
means Covenant. God desires to reproduce Himself in us while showing us His
Covenant through the hidden life of the Eagle.
Eagles are the "King
of Birds". They are ageless and an International symbol of strength, beauty,
authority and freedom. TheEagle's wings are seven and a half feet in width.
Their talons are four times greater in strength than a human hand. In adult
stage, an Eagle can weigh 20 to 22 pounds while the female Eagle is usually
larger than the male. Eagles, from the time of their birth, have very unique
innate and physical characteristics. They are born with their mouths open
and eyes looking into the sun. They have two sets of eyelids. One is used
for hunting while the other is used for flying directly into the sun. Eagles
have the ability to see a distance of seven miles. They are born meat eaters
as well. It is obvious to see why God likens Himself and His children to the
Eagle. For instance, Eagles can fly directly into the sun. When we as Eagle
Christian begin to fall into trials and temptations, we too can fly directly
into the Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Father of light and His light blinds
the enemy! Another important characteristics is the Eagle's eyes. They are
always wet. As an Eagle Christian, we know that the word of God ensures us
in Psalms 126:5-6 that, "Those who sow in tears shall reap with songs of Joy."
(Disciple's Study Bible) Eagles also have a preening gland. This is especially
important in preparing for the day. From the previous day, the Eagle's feathers
have been beaten from the wind. The preening gland is used in an hour process
in which the feathers are ran through the mouth of the Eagle while breathing
out to steam clean the feathers. This process is done in order to reshape
and strengthen the feathers. Eagles have an oil secreted in a separate gland
as well. This is used to coat the feathers and make them moisture resistant.
All of this is especially helpful, considering fish are a primary source of
food for most Eagles. The preening process of the Eagle is a great lesson
in Holiness to the Eagle Christian. In the same way that the Eagle starts
his day with cleaning and preparing himself for what is ahead, the Eagle Christian
must also prepare themselves spiritually, removing all sin, being ready to
face the daily battles in which they too will encounter often causing their
spiritual feathers to get ruffled. When this occurs, they definitely need
the fresh Anointing of the Holy Spirit to renew them as well.
When an Eagle is around
the age of a year old, he begins to care for himself. This is a good lesson
for the Eagle Christian. Just as Paul said in First Corinthians 13:11, " When
I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became
a man, I put away childish things." (Disciple's Study Bible) The male Eagle
takes interest in the female Eagle around the age of three years old. When
this occurs, we know that spring fever has arrived! A game of tag between
the male and female Eagle begins. This could last for days. The female Eagle
takes a stick up in the air, approximately 8 to 10 thousand feet in a three
dimensional figure eight pattern, and she then requires the male Eagle to
catch the stick before it touches the ground. The male Eagle has to then return
the stick back to the female Eagle. Then the female Eagle, each time, flies
a little lower and faster with a larger stick. The game climaxes when the
female Eagle is less than five hundred feet from the ground and she releases
the stick. At this point, the male Eagle has to catch the stick before it
touches the ground or the female Eagle will chase the male Eagle off. If the
male Eagle catches the stick, he satisfies the female Eagle in knowing that
when they have baby Eaglets he will be able to catch the Eaglets when teaching
them how to fly thus assuring her that he will make a fit husband.
The marriage vows of
the Eagles are made while being suspended 10 to 15 thousand feet in the air.
This ceremony is done by locking talons together and turning head over heels
with both Eagles screaming in joy. Eagles are totally committed to their mates.
They will remain together for life, "In Richer or Poorer, In Sickness and
in Health to Death do They Part!" What a difference this would make if the
Church, the Bride Of Christ, could make such a commitment as this to God and
their families! With Eagles, if a mate happens to die, they choose another
mate not attached to another Eagle. As Eagle Christians, we should do the
same.
After marriage, the
Eagles begin to build their home. The first step to the building process is
to seek a proper location. In doing so they look for a high in accessible
location with their backs turned to a rock wall. A comparison to this in the
Bible is in Job 39:27-29, "Does the Eagle mount up at your command and make
his nest on a high inaccessible place. On a cliff he dwells and remains securely
upon the point of the rock and the stronghold. From there he spies out the
prey and his eyes see it afar off. " (Amp. Version) Eagles work together to
build their nest and to raise their youth. Eagle Christians are to do the
same as well with their Natural and Spiritual families. The Eagle's nest weighs
one to two tons. The nest is deep with a shallow 18 inch brooding area on
top. The mother Eagle will lay one to three eggs in the brooding area. When
preparing for birth, the mother Eagle will pull from her breast a downy fur
that makes a soft and warm bedding for the Eaglets. Once the Eaglets are born,
they have a constant cry for food. They are very unattractive with raccoon
looking eyes; however, they will grow into a beautiful species. A good Spiritual
parallel to this, is that we as Eagle Christians should never judge baby Eaglet
Christians by their outward appearance and behavior. Isaiah 33:22 says, "The
Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King: He will
save us." (Amp. Version)
Once the Eaglets reach
a certain age, the mother Eagle knows when it is time for the Eaglets to learn
to fly. This process begins with the mother Eagle taking her wing as a broom
and sweeping out of the nest all of the soft things the Eaglets have grown
accustomed to. In Deut. 32:11 it says, " As an Eagle stirs up it's nest, Hoovers
over it's young, Spreading out it's wings, Taking them up, carrying them on
it's wings." The mother Eagle then throws the brooding nest down the cliff
and takes the Eaglet for a wild ride on her back. While being airborne, she
flips over, and the Eaglet begins to try to fly. All awhile the papa Eagle
is overseeing the whole operation. If he sees the Eaglet cannot fly, he'll
fly down at speeds up to 200mph to catch the Eaglet before it hits the ground.
God will also do the same for us as He begins to stir our Spiritual nest and
remove us from our padded pews. As you begin to fly spiritually, you need
not fear because God is always near! In Deut. 33:26 it says, "He (GOD) descends
from the heavens in majestic splendor to help you." (K.J.Version)
Most Eaglets do not
learn how to fly the first time they try; however, they continue the flight
process until they have accomplished the goal of flying. Once the Eaglet learns
to fly, the papa and mama Eagle flies in a circle in celebration. In Exodus
19:4 we read, "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you
on Eagle's wings and brought you to myself." (K.J.Version) The word "bore"
means to lift by Divine form or power to the point of drawing one's self.
The adult Eagle has five primary feathers on each wing. This is so the Eagle
can adjust his wings during long training fights to keep the Eaglet from falling
to the ground while teaching him to fly. The Eaglet is always under the power
of his father during training. Eagle Christians should always trust that they
too are always under their Father's (God) power when they are learning to
fly Spiritually. There is no situation that our Father (God) can't bring us
out of !!
Partiality through
the Eagle's life, he will go through a molting process that will bring great
depression. Calcium deposits will appear on the Eagle's talons and beak. This
is a wilderness time that all Eagles will face. During this time, the Eagle
begins to walk like a Turkey. He has no strength to fly. Other Eagles who
have already gone through this molting process and survived, will fly above
the valley in which the Eagle is in, and drop fresh food to help strengthen
him. Unfortunately, some Eagles will not receive the help of other Eagle's
and will die in the valley while others will, and regain their strength. Once
they regain their strength, they will climb the mountain in which they were
raised on. The Eagle will then fly into the rock and beat the calcium deposits
off their beaks and talons. This is a very painful experience; however, it
must be done. After this experience, the Eagle will Soar again with greater
strength than ever before! As Eagle Christians we too will definitely go through
the valley, and without the help from the "Rock of our Salvation" (Jesus Christ)
we also will Spiritually die! Receiving help from our "Rock" is the only way
that we will regain our strength, leaving behind those things that so easily
beset us, making us stronger than ever before in the Lord!
Eagles do not eat
road kill (poodles and noodles). They are very wise as to what enters there
bodies. If only Eagle Christians would do the same, what great deliverance
it would bring to the church. Jesus told us in Matt. 24:28: "For wherever
the carcass (or body) is, there the Eagles will be gathered together." (K.J.
Version) If you are searching for meaning in your life, then look to the Eagle
Christian who Jesus dwells in. The carcass in Matt. 24:28 is Jesus, and we
must feed on him Spiritually! In Psalms 43:8 it says, "Oh, taste and see that
the Lord is good." (K.J. Version) The word "taste" here means "to eat, discern,
perceive and evaluate more than eating food, to have capacity to choose and
delight in good things." Jesus told us in John 6:57, "As the living father
sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will live
because of me." (K.J. Version) Jesus also told Pilot that he could not take
His life unless He laid it down. Jesus was Eagle killed so that he could become
the Crucified Carcass for the Body of Christ. As the woman was taken from
the side of the first Adam, everything needed to build the Church came out
of the side of the last Adam, Jesus Christ! You see, the first Adam in his
weakness, died with his Bride, but the last Adam, Jesus Christ, in His strength,
died for His Bride. AMEN!
As Eagle Christians,
we know that we will always have to deal with the enemy, who is the Serpent.
The Eagle's deal with the Serpent by laying hold of him with their talons,
removing his head and using their bill to peck the Serpent (snake) to death.
Eagle's will also pick the serpent up and drop him on a jagged rock causing
him to die. The Eagle Christian, using the Word of God as a Rock, can crush
and destroy the devil as well. In Luke 10:19 it says, "Behold, I give thee
authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the
enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (New K.J. Version)
In closing, it is totally
against our nature to stand still and do nothing when we are facing perplexing
trials. In fact, waiting patiently for God to act is one of the most difficult
things to do within the Christian walk. Devoted Christians have a tendency
to panic when the Lord does not move according to their time table; however,
waiting time is never wasted time with God! During these times, God is putting
the Eagle nature within the Christian. Isa. 40:31 says, "But those who wait
on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as
Eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (New
K.J. Version) The word Wait in the original Greek means, "to bind together
by twisting". From the word "wait", we get our modern word braid. Braid means
to "interweave," just as the Holy Spirit and the Word of God binds together
with our spirit, and " a threefold cord is not easily broken. "
In Christ Jesus, we
have been called to be Eagle Christians. To share in God's Majesty, not robbing
Him of His Glory, but to reveal, as Eagles, the Glory of God to men. Let us
always give Glory and Honor to the Master Eagle Himself who has mothered over
us, feed us, threw us out of the nest, borne us on His wings and taught us
how to fly. Let us give Glory to the Author and Finisher of our Flight lessons,
Jesus Christ!
For further study on
the Eagle Christian, we would like to refer you to Ken Price and the work
he has done at www.eaglechristian.net
Steve Mullin