SOARING LIKE AN EAGLE WHEN YOU LIVE WITH TURKEYS
(# 7- The Victorious Attitude) Isa. 40:31
Introduction
SOARING LIKE AN EAGLE WHEN YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH TURKEYS.
* WOULDN'T LIFE BE AN AWFUL LOT BETTER IF THERE WEREN'T SO MANY TURKEYS IN THE WORLD?
* TURKEYS - those who rub you the wrong way or do things different than you do. Everybody! We've got it right and the rest of the world is made up of turkeys.
- We think - "Wouldn't it be a marvellous thing if other people were just like me."
* YOU'VE RUN ACROSS THEM, HAVEN'T YOU - PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TURKEYS.
- how in the world are you supposed to soar like an eagle when you've got to live with so many turkeys.
- There are turkeys in my home. My wife could tell you who's the biggest one.
- Turkeys in my church. Turkeys where you work. I could be a better person if it wasn't for the turkeys in my life.
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isa. 40:31)
** BIG INTERVAL - WATCHING BALD EAGLE. Thought, it would be great to soar like an eagle and get a different perspective on life.
- I want to soar like an eagle and reach my maximum potential for God. HOW CAN I DO THAT WHEN I LIVE WITH TURKEYS. ACTUALLY, LIVING WITH TURKEYS IS A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE.
Illustrate:
Following WW 2, a general and young lieutenant boarded a train in England.
- Only two seats across from them was a beautiful young woman and her grandmother.
- General and lieutenant sat facing the women.
- As train pulled out, it went through a long tunnel. For about 20 seconds there was total darkness.
- In the silence of the moment those on the train heard two things - kiss & slap
EVERYONE ON THE TRAIN HAD THEIR OWN IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENED.
Young Lady - I'm flattered that the lieutenant kissed me, but I'm embarrassed that Grandmother slapped him.
Grandmother - I'm aggravated that that young man kissed my granddaughter, but I'm proud that she slapped him for it.
General- My lieutenant showed a lot of guts kissing that girl. But I wish she hadn't slapped me by mistake.
Lieutenant- Only one that knew what really happened. In that brief moment of darkness, he saw his opportunity to kiss a pretty girl and slap his General.
* We all have our own perspective when it comes to people. That perspective is our attitude. When it comes to living with people, you and I need to get our attitude in line with God's attitude toward people if we want to reach our maximum potential. If you don't do that, you'll be a turkey all your life.
** 2 Things that Last for Eternity
- God's Word - People
- People are important to God and they should be important to us.
5 PRINCIPLES FOR MAINTAINING A VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
- If you apply these, you will soar in your relationship with God and with people. You will become like an eagle, soaring above the circumstances of life, getting a different perspective of people, and you will reach your potential.
HOW DO YOU SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE WHEN YOU LIVE WITH TURKEYS.
I. Guard Your Mouth
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:6-8)
* Many believers are not careful with their mouth. Spill out their verbal venom before they put their mind in gear.
* If you want to soar like an eagle - reach maximum potential - learn to guard your tongue.
1. The Mouth Can Build or Destroy
- Give life or take it away.
- Give life to the eagle in someone else or you can kill a turkey.
* There are turkeys in your life - can kill that turkey with your tongue. Or you can use your tongue to build up and create an eagle.
* TONGUE CAN BUILD OR DESTROY
* LEARN TO TAME THE TONGUE
2. The Mouth Speaks What's in the Heart
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. (Matt. 12:33-35)
* A Turkey Heart Produces Turkey Talk
- When you: use tongue unwisely - gossip - unfairly criticize - tear down instead of build up, YOU'RE A TURKEY AND WILL NEVER SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE.
* Takes an Eagle Heart to Soar like Eagle
- Get eagle heart when your heart is in tune with God's heart
- have love and concern for people
- Then tame your tongue so that it builds up instead of tears down
3. The Mouth Is to Be Used for Edification
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph. 4:29-32)
Evil speaking -gk "blasphemia- blaspheme or slander == ongoing defamation of someone that rises from a bitter heart. -- Bitter heart brings evil speaking
Foul Language - talk that destroys people - used of rotten fruit
- Foul conversation is out of character with the new life we have
* TONGUE IS LIKE A FIRE AND HARD TO CONTROL
* IN THE NEW LIFE, WE ARE TO LEARN HOW TO CONTROL OUR TONGUES IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE
i) Only Speak what is Good for Edification
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Eph. 4:29)
Some people would have to stop talking altogether.
* Build Up - constructive - encouraging - uplifting
* As believers we are to live on a whole new level when it comes to our talk.
ii) According to the Need of the Moment
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (NIV )
* Only what is appropriate - constructive and contributes to the situation, not inflame it
* Something may be the truth but be better unsaid.
Illustrate: "You little dictator,a soft word turns away wrath. (Prov 15:1). Who do you think you are?"
- Opportunity to put her in her place. But God helped me speak only according to the need and won the day. Congregation supported me. Harsh words would not have helped.
- Sometimes we need to know when to shut up.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (Prov. 25:11)
iii) To Bring Grace To The Hearer
* Some people shoot their mouths off and hurt people with their sharp mean words.
- Others will say they mean well. - No they don't. That's a lie. They have a turkey heart and that's why they have turkey talk.
* Mature believers are concerned about how their words affect others.
IF YOU WANT TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE, YOU'VE GOT TO GUARD YOUR TONGUE.
II. Look for and See the Good in Others
But the LORD said to Samuel,"Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7)
* Always look at the heart. When you live with turkeys, look for the good in them.
1. Everybody Has Some Good
- Look for it. Find it. Concentrate on it.
2. Soaring Eagles Look for and Find the Good in Everybody
3. Bring Out the Good in Others
* My job is to bring the good out in people and help them reach their potential for Christ. My job is to help turkeys discover the eagle God has placed in them.
Illustrate: Sang in a Men’s Choir - Music director's role was to make us sound good.
Illustrate: Victor Frank- Nazi camps.
"If you treat people to a vision of themselves, if you apparently overrate them, you make them become what they are capable of becoming. ... If we take them as they should be, we help them become what they can be."
Henry Ford: "My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."
* If we find the good - encourage them - build them etc. they will outdo themselves.
- You begin to make an eagle out of a turkey.
** You draw out the good by encouragement and believe in them.
Reggie Jackson said, "A great baseball manager has the knack of making ball players think they are better than they think they are. He forces you to have a good opinion of yourself. He lets you know he believes in you. He makes you get more out of yourself. And once you learn how good you really are, you never settle for playing anything less than your best."
* IF YOU WANT TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE, DEVELOP PEOPLE AND DRAW THE GOOD OUT OF PEOPLE SO THAT THEY BECOME BETTER THAN THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE AND DEVELOP THEIR FULL POTENTIAL FOR CHRIST.
III. Determine to Have an Attitude of Love
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:3-7)
* We've read it, now let's live it.
* IF YOU WANT TO SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE, YOU'VE GOT TO DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF LOVE FOR PEOPLE. YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE TURKEYS.
1. Love Is Self-Sacrifice
Agape - self-sacrificing; a love that gives for the other person whether or not the person is worthy of that love
** TURKEYS AREN'T WORTH LOVING, BUT LOVE THEM ANYWAY.
2. Love Is a Command
"'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)
* Not an emotion- a command -to put others first.
3 . Love Has Turkey Blinders
Love covers a multitude of sins. (Prov. 10:12)
Bearing with one another in love. (Eph. 4:3)
"Forbearing" = overlook faults - to put up with another's faults
** WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEBODY YOU AUTOMATICALLY HAVE TURKEY BLINDERS ON AND YOU DON'T LOOK FOR, OR CONCENTRATE ON, A PERSON'S FAULTS AND ALL THAT'S WRONG WITH THEM.
* Let's put our turkey blinders on so we don't see the turkeys all around us. Instead what we will see are young eagles growing to their full potential.
IV. Express Appreciation and Affection
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph. 4:29-30)
1. People Need Encouragement and Affection
* Even turkeys need encouragement.
* YOU'LL BE SURPRISED HOW TURKEYS RESPOND WHEN YOU SHOW THEM APPRECIATION AND AFFECTION.
Illustrate: Testimony of man to counsellor:
"From my earliest recollections I do not remember a compliment or affirmation from my father. His father also had thought it unmanly to express affection or even appreciation. My grandfather was a perfectionist who worked hard and expected everyone else to do the same without positive reinforcement. And since he was neither positive nor relational, he had constant turnover in employees.
Because of my background, it has been difficult for me to encourage my family. This critical and negative attitude has hindered my work. I raised five children and lived a Christian life before them. Sadly, it is easier for them to recognize my love for God than my love for them. They are all starved for positive affirmation. The tragedy is that they have received the bad attitude trait, and now I see them passing it down to my precious grandchildren.
Never before have I been so aware of "catching an attitude" from surrounding conditions. Obviously, this wrong attitude has been passed along for five generations. It is now time to stop it! Today I made a conscious decision to change. This will not be done overnight, but it will be done. It will not be accomplished easily, but it will be accomplished!"
* PEOPLE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT, AFFIRMATION AND AFFECTION -- EVEN TURKEYS.
2. You Soar like an Eagle when You Are an Encourager.
* Not only will you help the turkeys develop their eagle potential, your own life will be enriched. You are lifted up and you feel better about life when you are an encourager.
3. You Will Cause Others to Soar Like an Eagle When You Become an Encourager.
John Mark:
Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 15:37-40)
Paul and Barnabas (Son of Encouragement) Mark. - Paul thought Mark was a turkey.
Years later
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. (2 Tim. 4:11-12)
* BARNABAS THE ENCOURAGER SPENT YEARS WITH THAT TURKEY, JOHN MARK.
- built him up and encouraged him until he began to soar like an eagle.
- years later, Paul said, "Send him to me. I need eagles on my team."
* LEARN TO BE AN ENCOURAGER AND YOU WILL SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE.
V. Cultivate a Servant's Heart
1. To Soar like an Eagle, You Need to Have The Heart and Mind of Jesus.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Phil. 2:5-9)
* Be a servant among the turkeys.
- Serve the turkeys - Help the turkeys - Build the turkeys up.
* To soar like an eagle you've got to have the heart and mind of Christ. He loves turkeys.
2. To Soar like an Eagle, You've Got to Lose Yourself.
* LOSE YOURSELF IN A SERVANT'S ATTITUDE.
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matt. 10:39)
- Find yourself when you lose yourself and focus on others.
* JESUS LOST HIMSELF AT THE CROSS WHEN HE GAVE EVERYTHING FOR US TURKEYS.
- Because He loves people so much, He calls us to sacrifice and give ourselves for the sake of others.
3. To Soar Like an Eagle, You've Got to Help Set the Turkeys Free to Be Eagles
* Help turkeys reach their potential - develop them. Help them become all that God intended them to be.
- Don't see people for what they are, but for what they can be in Christ.
* CULTIVATE A SERVANT'S HEART.
Conclusion
* You will never soar like an eagle with a turkey's heart.
- You'll never soar like an eagle with a turkey attitude towards others.
- You'll never soar like an eagle as long as you act like a turkey. You'll always flop about like a turkey.
* Turkey is a bird that can't fly. Awful.
God Wants You to Soar like an Eagle, Not Flop like a Turkey.
When it comes to people, YOU NEED TO HAVE AN EAGLE HEART, AN EAGLE ATTITUDE, EAGLE TALK AND EAGLE WALK.
APPLICATION
** In Your Attitude Towards People, in which of these areas do you need to allow God to work.
WRITE: Biggest Turkey You Have to Live With
LOOK AT 5 PRINCIPLES: What do you need to do in regards to that turkey.
1. Guard Your Mouth
2. Look For The Good In Others
3. Determine To Have An Attitude Of Love
4. Express Appreciation and Affection
5. Cultivate A Servant's Heart
* WHEN YOU ALLOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO RENEW YOUR STRENGTH, AND MAKE YOU MORE LIKE JESUS, YOU'LL HAVE AN EAGLE HEART, AN EAGLE ATTITUDE, AND YOU'LL DISPLAY EAGLE TALK AND AN EAGLE WALK.
YOU WILL SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE WHEN YOU:
1. Guard Your Mouth
2. Look For The Good In Others
3. Determine To Have An Attitude Of Love
4. Express Appreciation and Affection
5. Cultivate A Servant's Heart
