On Wings of Eagles

By D.D. Evans

Understanding discipleship throught the Biblical metaphors of Christian living.

"Upon Wings of Eagles" is written to help you develop a better scriptural understanding of yourself and the people, to whom you minister. When there is understanding, we better cope with the people and challenges of life. Have you ever thought, "why is it that some people never seem to get it? Why can't they have the joy that I've experienced and want them to have?" Jesus did not minister to everyone in the dame way. Through four metaphors, he explains our differences and how we must grow to have the fullness of Christ in our lives. With that understanding, you may teach others to, mount up "On wings of Eagles".

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.D.Evans
• Release date: Dec 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393311713

D.D. Evans

D.D.Evans has been in ministry and counseling for over 38 years and currently serves as a hospital chaplain in the Houston, Texas area. Married for 48 years he is the father of two daughters and the grandfather of three granddaughters and one grandson.

Book preview

Chapter 1: On Wings of Eagles

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.  He hath made everything beautiful in his time. (Ecc. 3:1,11)

As in receiving salvation, so, it is in receiving anything from God, we must first recognize our need to receive it. If we do not recognize the need in our life, we will not be saved, healed, delivered, or empowered. Recognition of our need is the first step in making all things beautiful in our walk with the Lord. Jesus gave us the steps of spiritual growth found in Matthew 5:3-12 (these will be detailed later):

Recognize (spiritual poverty)

Repent(mourning over our condition brings comfort.)

Relinquish(meekness is not weakness but our lives under God’s control.)

Replenish(hungry for the things of God.)

Receive(merciful is to be helpful and we shall receive help.)

Reprove(pure in heart judging ourselves with confession, whereby we are

cleansed.)

Reconcile(peace makers reconcile others to God. – 2 Corinthians 5:18)

Resist(the persecuted resist the devil and he flees from them. – James 4:7)

The first step, in the list, is to recognize our need for salvation defined by our spiritual bankruptcy. In other words, before a gift can be given, the recipient must reach out to receive it. Otherwise the gift remains with the giver. Even though God seeks us out, before we know to seek for him, if we fail to respond to his invitation he will bring calamity into our lives to help us recognize our need for salvation. (Isaiah 45:7; Proverbs 13:15) Our eternal state is more important to God than our physical comfort. Jesus said of the rich man that it was hard for him to be saved, because of their physical wealth. (Matthew 29:23-26) He simply, does not recognize his need to be saved.

In like manner, beyond simple redemption from our sins, if we will not seek his empowerment, promised to us by Jesus in Acts 1:8 and John 7:38, then as Christians, we will bump around in the dark, enduring hardship unnecessarily, until we recognize our need for his wonderful gift.  Until we develop a hunger to grow; we won’t. If we do not grow then, we are in danger of apathy. (Revelation 3:15-16)

There are seven metaphors, in scripture that describe believers: salt (Matt 5:13), light (Matt 5:14), soil (Mrk 4:14-20), wheat (Matt 13:24-30), vine branches (Jhn 15:5), sheep (Matt 10:16; 25:32-33), eagles (Lu 17:31-17) The following chapters cover four metaphors, given to us by Jesus, to help us understand the four levels of comprehension seen in the church, today. (I am sure that you will find yourself in one of them.) We begin in the gospel of Mark, chapter four. Consider the four types of soil that identify the conditions of the human spirit, which is where growth takes place. As you consider your own spiritual condition, remember, the admonition of Hebrews 6:1 leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. As you find yourself in one of these metaphors it is the will of God that you grow beyond where you are, into the fullness of the stature of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)

Chapter 2: Soil, an old concept in soul conservation

The first metaphor is about the various types of soil, available for  planting:

Mark 4:14 The sower soweth the word.

The wayside soul: Mark 4:15 "And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts".

We have an enemy who comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10) Numerous times I have heard new adult Christians tell me that things went fairly smoothly, before they became a Christian, and now things seem to fall apart. Satan’s designs are methodical, each level becoming more severe: steal the word of faith, destroy our world (if we manage to hang on to our faith), and finally attempt to kill our faith, through seduction and isolation from God. But what the devil intended for evil; God will change for good. (Genesis 50:18-20) In Psalm 91:16, we read that God will show us his great salvation. How can he do that, except that we are in a position to need saving? Some people think that when they say, I do to Jesus, that all their problems are over, but it