January 7, 2019

Eagle Christian, Fly Away!

 My Dear Friend,

     My fellow believer in Christ, we will all fly away to God when either we pass or Jesus appears. But here's a monumental tip: we can fly away now, before that rapturous event, every day, just where we are, even in the worst situations! Paul showed us how.

     In the darkest "midnight," deep in the filthy bowels of the Philippian "inner prison," bound tightly with painful "stocks," repelled by the loathsome stench of human feces and urine, stunned by brutal public injustice, and still hurting terribly from a vicious beating, he and Silas showed themselves eagle Christians (Acts 16). They spread their wings of prayer and praise and, in worship, flew away toward heaven from the middle of hell. Are you in pain, grief, emotional hell?

     Fly away! Use both the substantial spiritual wings the great Eagle, Christ, has given you. Are yours underdeveloped by lack of use? Use them anyway, just as they are.

     First, spread your wing of praise and worship. Get alone with Christ and sing hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs not about but to Him, personally, sweetly, lovingly, with adoring awe. Don't rush this, take your time.

     Second, spread your other wing of prayer and thanksgiving. Thank the Lord for every single thing He has done for you, beginning with yesterday's blessings, helps, and provisions. In this atmosphere offer your petitions, asking your heavenly Father for every natural and spiritual need you have, large and small. Then humbly recite His promises to answer and ask Him confidently to fulfill them. Still not airborne?

     Don't "flap around" trying to lift yourself by human effort, by mere religious enthusiasm. There's no supernatural power there. Tell the Holy Spirit you need His help, you must have it. Ask Jesus to release a refilling of His Spirit. And then trust Him to do so as you wait on Him patiently, with abandoned spirit, worshiping and praying and offering thanks sweetly to Him. You won't stay grounded long.

     Soon, as the Spirit envelopes and refills you, your spirit will rise and soar and God's powerful grace, like spiritual anesthesia, will supernaturally separate your soul from the pain. As you become spiritually airborne you will experience three miracles: you will enter heaven (the presence of God), heaven will enter you, and everything will change.

     Suddenly, your midnight hour, with all its dark and cruel and unrelieved injustices, will have no more power over you. Your soul will be "free indeed" (John 8:36) to feed on God's Word, receive new insights, discern God's voice and hand, fellowship with others, thrive in your God-given duties and ministries, and grow wiser, stronger, and more Christlike, all while enjoying the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:6-7). But don't let your miracle end there.

     Be wise. Do the same thing every day, not just in dark, painful midnight-hour crises. Eagle Christian, God made you for the sky, not the mud; to soar, not to sink; to surge forward, not slide back; to overcome, not undercome. Use well and often the means He has provided. Spread your wings and fly away!

Spreading, rising, away!

Greg Hinnant Greg Hinnant Ministries