Funeral Sermon June 8, 2021

Isaiah 40: 28-31

The New International Version Chapter 40

28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Ancient Hebrew culture revered eagles as mighty warriors that also cared fiercely for their young. Eagles carry their eaglets to safety, away from the threat of predators. Eagles are also known for their strength and courage in dangerous, turbulent weather, soaring above storm clouds and to safety. Eagles’ wings was a figure of speech commonly used to attribute these fine characteristics to a person. The Lord references eagles’ wings in Exodus 19:1–6, which is a recollection of how God delivered Israel from the Egyptians. In this passage, the Lord gives Moses a message for His people: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession” (verses 4–5). The prophet Isaiah uses wings like eagles in the same way, attributing the great characteristics of eagles to those who remain faithful to God and look forward to their heavenly reward. The phrase mount up is a translation of the Hebrew word ˈalah, which means “to go up, ascend, to go up over a boundary.” Isaiah is communicating the promise that God will provide renewed strength and courage to overcome obstacles, if Israel would only have patience and trust in the Lord’s sovereign timing. Upon reading Isaiah’s words, perhaps Israel recalled what God had said to them long ago as they fled Egypt, about how the Lord had delivered them “on eagles’ wings” with His great strength and power. Isaiah tells them that they, too, could have access to such deliverance. If they remained faithful to God, they would soar. Christians today can apply the principle of Isaiah 40:31 by trusting in God’s sovereignty and waiting faithfully for Him. “We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). God in His grace will provide power, strength, and courage to the weary, weak, and downtrodden when they are willing to be patient and wait on Him. God will cause us to mount up on eagles’ wings.

God is the God of Comfort: God wants to ease our grief and consoles us in our sorrow

God gives us Strength

God gives us hope

Hope in God

Hope is a total grounding of one’s confidence and expectation in God’s goodness and providential care even in the face of trouble.

How Do We Mount Up With Eagle Wings.           A. Prayer enables us to mount up.           B. Meditation enables us to mount up.           C. Godly fellowship enables us to mount up.           D. Heavenly thoughts enable us to mount up.           E. Christ focus enables us to mount up.           G. Bible study enables us to mount up.           H. Sharing God’s goodness enables us to mount up. Conclusion: You were made to soar with the wings of an eagle. But amid soaring, you may have serve with a towel in your hands. The trials of life often drain us of vitality and cause us to faint. But God has promised that if we wait upon Him, He will renew our strength. When the burdens of life confront you, mount up with eagle wings and fly to highest point; "there wait patiently upon the LORD."