On Eagles' Wings Pt 521 — Don Courville

Isaiah’s Promise of Renewed Strength

The Prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 40, verse 28 through 31, said, Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?

There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increases strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 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. Heavenly Father, again we ask that you bless your word. We thank you for the wonderful word of God, and we thank you that you save souls, those that cry out to the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

Thank you for the wonderful gift of eternal life. Your word says the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We pray for any that are lost without Christ, that they would cry to the Lord to save them.

Thank you now for the time we have, in Jesus' name, amen. This opening passage we've now used for almost ten years, and at the first we quoted it every week and then we moved into other verses, but next week will be our last message on eagles' wings on this station of KKLL, and we want to again thank Maranatha Baptist Church for its encouragement and support for almost a year, this last year for us, and many of you that have encouraged us through the years, prayed for us, we just love you, and we thank you for the opportunity to minister to you.

Eating Christ by Faith in John 6

Now we're going to continue on, last week we started a message on the word of God from John chapter 6, and today we're going to continue on this message with you. 54, whoso eateth my flesh, that's continually eating, my flesh, and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day, meaning you receive Christ once and then you feed upon him continually.

Now this offended the Jews, and the ritualists have taken this, some take it that when they take communion they are actually literally eating the body and the flesh of Christ, cannibalism, and it's not even what it's talking about at all.

Communion was not even talked about until they got to chapter 13. So he's talking about living of Christ. Just you would live off of bread, just you would live off of Christ, he is your life. Now there is a key to this that unlocks all of this, to let you understand what he's talking about.

What does it mean to eat of Christ? What does it mean? Then, was he talking about eating his body? Literally, no. But he put out that to them to see which of them, which way they would go. Would they, and Peter went, Peter's illustration of the one that understood what he was talking about.

And those that got offended at him and they murmured and everything, they did not understand. In other words, Jesus threw out something to them, it wasn't a curve, or maybe it was a curve ball, but it was a, it was, he threw something out.

How would they receive this? Went right over their heads. If they're in darkness, they have not been drawn by the Father, they have not heard what God is saying, they are not on the spiritual level, they're in another world.

And they go away scratching their head, what's this mean? Eat him, eat his flesh and drink his blood, ah, that's gross. They missed the whole point. Peter got it, the disciples got it. Now, let's go on into the passage.

55, For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him. As, and that little word, as, I believe is the key word, as the living Father has sent me and I live by the Father, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

This is that bread which came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead, he that eateth of this bread shall live forever. Now, he's just giving you the key to the passage. These murmurers are the type that take away the Word of God, that change the Word of God, just like Jesus accused the Jews of doing, they took away the Word of God, they were adding to it, making traditions and whatever to stand up more than the Word of God.

They had the murmuring spirit. The murmuring spirit does not receive of the Spirit of God. Now, in going through this, I had some lessons. I'll just go through these quickly, because I want to come back over to my concluding remarks.

Pride, Fear, and Self-Will Resist the Word

One lesson is pride will keep you from taking the Word of God, receiving the Word of God, obeying the Word of God. It was their pride. The fear of man, being the leaders, would not come to Christ, receive Christ, partake of him, obey his words, do what he was saying, hear what he was saying, because of the fear of man.

No hunger. They had no hunger for God, really. They had no spiritual hunger. They had their little world going, their little program, whatever, and many come along. I don't want that. I don't have that.

No desire. I don't want that. Another reason that some would not take of Christ and receive from the Word of God is because of self-will. Well, that sounds really good, but boy, that conflicts with my plans.

I wanted to go this way. I don't want to go to a cross. I wanted to go down to the beach. And that's just about how practical Jesus is. He comes right into your life, and he knocks on your door, and he says, will you receive me as your Savior or reject me?

Oh, I'd love to receive you just like the young rich ruler. Can I do it tomorrow? Jesus says, now. Well, I'd love to do it, Lord, but I've got this thing I've got to do this afternoon. It's now. Many are in hell because of later.

I'll do it later. I'll do it later. And then not only is it like that for receiving Christ, but also it's for obeying him by the Spirit day by day, moment by moment. When Johnny's told to take out the garbage, or Susie, or whatever, later, Mom, I'm busy right now.

Now, they're saying that their will is more important than Mom's will, and this will carry over in their relationship with God. This is why I said to you, what we do now will affect us later in life. It's a lot easier to learn to obey now while you're a young twig.

You know, we could take a little oak tree out here and go out there and bend it over now real easy, but you come back in 50 years from now, 100 years from now, and you try to bend that thing over, you won't budge it.

And that's the way a lot of older people are. They're just like an oak. They are already set. Bend the twig now. Obey now. Now, another thing they have not heard, there is pride, fear of man, no hunger, self-will, have not heard.

Believing as the Means of Receiving Life

That was on the negative side. On the positive side of this is believing is receiving, or actually like, let me put it like this. This is what the Scripture says. Believing is having. If you believe in Christ, then you have Christ.

When you believe, you have. There's a miracle happens there. Many say, I believe and I have, but their life says, I don't believe and I don't have. Believing is having. Look at 330. Well, you don't have to turn back there, but John, oops, John 336, what's it say?

He that believeth on the Son hath what? Everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Another one is 524. We read that one. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath what?

Everlasting life. Now I'm going somewhere. I'm not there yet. But we're on our way and we're picking up some things as we go. 654 then, we come to 654 and he says, whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath what?

Eternal life. Now, wait a minute. Didn't the other scriptures said, if you believed, you have eternal life. And this comes back and Jesus says, if you eat and you drink, you have eternal life. Do you see how many miss it?

They don't get it to come over here that this eating and this drinking is the same as believing and receiving. And they're off in another world thinking about eating Christ literally, showing that they are in darkness.

Do you eat of Christ? Do you? How do you eat of Christ? Now, let's keep going and see if we can get into that a little bit. Eating is having eternal life, okay? Look at verse 56, he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him.

Not only is it having eternal life, but it is having communion with the Lord because that word dwelling, that's the word for abiding. He that dwelleth abideth. Eating is communion with the Lord. Eating is communion with the Lord in your spirit, not talking about eating his body at all.

The Words of Jesus Are Spirit and Life

63 through 68, 63 through 68, the Lord then tied this thing together like this. He said, it is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.

What do you eat? You eat bread for your body. You eat the words of God, the words of God. This is why the enemy wants to take away the word of God out of men's hearts because they are spirit and they are life.

Jesus said, it is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing, nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. And now, slip down to 68, when Jesus, when the crowds are peeling off, Jesus turned to Peter because in 66 it said, from that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, will you also go away? Peter was lit up like a light bulb. He understood this. He caught it. Have you caught it? He understood this. And Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go?

Thou hast the words of eternal life. Peter had caught it that every word that Jesus gave, gave life. Isn't there a proverb that says we speak words of life when we speak words of death? Peter caught it that Jesus, everything he said, it brought life.

He began to see the Pharisees, they were speaking things and it brought death. Now out of your life, we will speak life, we will live life before others, or we will speak death, or we will have a testimony of death.

But Peter saw that Jesus, his words brought life. Somebody came to him and said, would you heal? And Jesus said, I'm going to go, and he said, no, just speak the word. That man had ears to hear. He was up on the higher level.

Just speak the word. And Jesus, ah, that's wonderful. He liked that because this man had risen up to the level of the Spirit, the word of God. Jesus said, the flesh provides nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.

Just read the word, meditate on the word, and it gives you life. Dwelling, abiding, eating. One more thing, I call this the wonderful words of life. We get that song, the wonderful words of life. Do you have a situation that is death to your soul, to your spirit?

Something that you know is not right, or maybe it's a habit, maybe it's a work situation or whatever. Go to God's word and ask him to put life into that area that's dead. I don't know if you follow what I'm saying.

The Word of God Brings Life to Dead Hearts

But if Jesus came in to the disciples, remember when they were there in the room under the cloud of gloom? The Lord had been crucified. As far as you know, he was dead. And somebody come busting in there and said, he's alive.

That was words of life. They perked up a little bit. Alive? What do you mean? He's alive. Then Jesus came himself and spoke peace unto them. What happened to their lives? Their lives were changed. They were never the same again.

The word of God will bring life into dead areas, into dead hearts. This is why when we're witnessing to somebody, give them the word. Always try to at least give them a word or a rhema from God, a word from God.

Because the spirit of God will take that, because the spirit works with the word. Let me conclude by asking you a question. Do you love God? Do you love God? Do I love God? Do you love God? Jesus said, John 14, verse 14, 15.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. If ye love me, keep my commandments. Verse 21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

Loving God Means Obeying His Word

Loving God is not some gushy, mushy feeling. It is obeying Him. Loving God is obeying His word. The reason many of our churches are becoming uncomfortable for a lot of people is because the churches are not loving God too much.

They're loving the world and the ways of the world. And that's why they're not obeying the word of God, because they don't love God that much. 15, verse 14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

John 17, 7, 8, and 14. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee, for I have given unto them, what did Jesus give the disciples? I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me.

Think about it. Those disciples received the words of God through Jesus Christ. He was the avenue. The Pharisees said, we love God. Jesus said, no you don't. If you love God, you love me. Also, he said in one more verse, also in verse 14.

I have given them thy word. And what happens to disciples that get the word of God? And the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. That's why the Lord says, think it not strange, considering the fiery trial that's going to try you.

Because when you begin to eat of the bread of life, it's going to put life into you. And Satan does not like life. He does not like Christ. It's actually the life of Christ in you. I want to read these statements.

A person eats Christ's flesh, drinks his blood, he is a partaker of Christ by receiving the word the Holy Spirit teaches you. A person eats Christ's flesh, drinks his blood, then you become a partaker of Christ by receiving the word as the Holy Spirit teaches you.

You're taught by the Spirit of God. So whatever, have you ever noticed this? Whatever the Bible says about itself, this is a good study for you. Whatever the Bible says about itself, it says about Christ also.

Christ and the Word as Truth and Light

Did you know that? I'll just give you a couple of illustrations. This would be fun to go off and do about a couple dozen of them. But listen, in John 14, 6, Jesus said that he's the truth. I'm the truth.

In John 17, 17, what is the truth? Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Jesus is truth. The word is truth. Whatever the Bible says about itself, it also says about Christ. You want another one?

One more. You can see these are the easy ones. What about light? Christ is light. That's in John 8, 12. Go back to John 8, 12. Let me just read it to you. You know it. He says, I am the light of the world.

Then spake Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world. He that follows me shall not walk in darkness. Does the Scripture say anything else about light? Job. I'll tell you about Job in a minute.

But Psalms 119, 105, thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a what? And a light unto my path. Jesus, and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. So the word is lamp. Peter saw it. Do you see it? Does the word offend you?

Does the word comfort you? Does the word confront you? Does the word correct you? Does the word feed you? You say, yes, it feeds me. It comforts me. It corrects me. But it does not offend me. Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.

Living by Every Word of God

What did Job say when he was in his trial? And I'll close down on this one. It's getting late. In Job, in chapter 23, 12, he said, I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Jesus said, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Every word. I have in my hand the Bible that has the word of God. I'm to live by it. If I pick and choose, just like you kids, I don't want my spinach, I don't want to eat this and this and this. You know, we pick and choose with other things, and then we think we can pick and choose with God's word.

It really will conflict with our wills. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Let's pray. Lord, this is a simple truth that our spirits would receive.

And I just pray that you challenge us to realize that your word, we cannot separate your word from you. And this is the way it is in our lives also. We cannot separate our word from us. Help us to be more careful about what we say even from this.

And also to recognize that we will speak words of life or words of death. Peter realized, Lord, that you were speaking words of life. God has the words of life. And he caught it. And thus, the principle has taught us that we will live as we partake of the living word, the living bread.

Lord, thank you for this lesson. Thank you for your word. We just want to thank you this morning for your word. What a wonderful thing that we have the word of God in print. No wonder Satan hates this Bible so much, this word.

No wonder there's such an attack on believers that hold to the word of God. Thank you for your word, Lord. Just thank you for yourself for coming down to feed us. Oh, we just deserve nothing from you, deserve to go to hell for all eternity, be separated from you.

But you love us so much. You didn't leave us. You came down and you spoke to us. And then you gave us the written word. We have used the living word and your written word. We just want to thank you for giving us these wonderful words of life.

In Jesus' name, amen. Well, you've been listening to On Eagle's Wings with the last part of the morning message at Maranatha Baptist Church. The book of Proverbs, chapter 30, verse 5 and 6. Every word of God is pure.

He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. You know, when Jesus came, many of the scribes and Pharisees would not believe the words of Jesus.

Thus, they would not believe God. He was the word. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. Again, we want to encourage you to receive Christ as your Savior, to look to him and him alone for your salvation.

Until next time, the Lord bless you, and we remind you again that next week, Lord Willen will be our last service with you, our last program on the air on KKLL.