應當要如鷹展翅上騰（賽40章）

但那等候耶和華的、必從新得力、他們必如鷹展翅上騰、他們奔跑卻不困倦、行走卻不疲乏。（賽 40：31）

這段經文也是這個部落格經文出處。

進入台灣總會，也成為聯總的世界代表之後，一直在思考真教會復興的問題。是的！客觀的條件所看到的，不僅是真教會有軟弱，就連其他基督教會的傳教也遇到了瓶頸。但是在此章經文中，天父真神提醒我們，不要將自己與其他基督教會相提並論，尤其不能將祂與其他宗教的神明相提並論，因為祂説：

你們究竟將誰比神、用甚麼形像與神比較呢？（賽 40：18）

那聖者說：你們將誰比我、叫他與我相等呢？（賽 40：25）

讀到這裡，看了令人慚愧！因為我們常會說：「阿就現代人都不容易接受福音啊！」、「各教會也都是遇到一樣的瓶頸啊！」等，好像在說教會不發展是正常的現象？在此先知（18節)與真神(25節)都提一樣的問題：你們究竟把真神與世界上的誰一起相比了？能比較嗎？不知道我們的真神是無敵的嗎？

你們豈不曾知道麼？你們豈不曾聽見麼？從起初豈沒有人告訴你們麼？自從立地的根基、你們豈沒有明白麼?神坐在地球大圈之上、地上的居民好像蝗蟲．他鋪張穹蒼如幔子、展開諸天如可住的帳棚。（賽 40：21-22)

忘了神怎麼創造世界了嗎？在神有難成的事嗎？其實我們的軟弱、教會的不發展，是人的緣故，因為在神，凡事都能！但是我們卻將教會的不發展歸咎於世界的轉變、為自己的軟弱找藉口。正如這裡說的「雅各」、「以色列」都是在指今日的真教會：

雅各啊！你為何說：「我的道路向耶和華隱藏？」以色列啊！你為何言：「我的冤屈神並不查問？」（賽 40：27）

今天教會最大的問題是「人意當道」。教育提升了，財力豐厚了，有才能的人多了，使信徒無法謙虛，以致於無法虛心聆聽神的聲音。屬靈的戰爭要靠屬靈的能力，正如國際的戰爭要有精良的武器一般，不是小朋友的竹槍、竹劍就可以抵禦外侮的。教會的復興，要靠回轉，也就是不要效法這世界，當思考剛有真教會之初，一百多年前時的宣教經驗，靠的就是聖靈的力量，經由聖靈建立真教會，再由聖靈拓展福音的國界，成就今天全球五大洲皆有真耶穌教會的現況。

這裡說，神的教會的帶領，要由神的工人以身作則，將人帶回到神的面前，由神來「親自牧養」，祂的工人當成為忠心的僕人，也就是「祂説什麼，我們就做什麼」，不要自作聰明：

報好信息給錫安的啊！你要登高山．報好信息給耶路撒冷的啊！你要極力揚聲．揚聲不要懼怕、對猶大的城邑說、看哪！你們的　神。主耶和華必像大能者臨到、他的膀臂必為他掌權．他的賞賜在他那裏、他的報應在他面前。他必像牧人牧養自己的羊群、用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在懷中、慢慢引導那乳養小羊的。（賽 40：9-11)

交出主權吧！真教會的復興，就是要將主權交給神，就像早時的真教會，凡事求問神，讓主耶穌基督親自成為教會的牧人，任何工人都不該妄自尊大，不可強調自我的看法與主張，人人都當以無用的僕人自居，明白所做的一切只是盡自己的本分，因為只是聽命行事，「神說的都要去做，神沒說的都不可做」，這才是真正忠心（trustworthy)的僕人。

要相信主耶穌的能力，就是要認清神是積極的、永不疲乏，所以不用為什擔心教會為何不發展，因為聖經已告訴我們「末後這殿的榮耀，必大過先前的」（該 2：9)，「這殿」絕對不是「第二聖殿」，因為那時看見猶大第二聖殿的老年人都哭了，因為規模「小」太多，所以「這殿」是末後的真教會。

你豈不曾知道麼？你豈不曾聽見麼？永在的神耶和華、創造地極的主、並不疲乏、也不困倦．他的智慧無法測度。（賽 40：28）

我們該做的，就是用心查考聖經神的話，學習庇哩亞的信徒，在信仰的生命中學習真認識神，才能明白如何「交出主權」給主，完全照主的吩咐來經營教會，讓聖靈的力量主導真教會，用屬靈的力量來打每一場靈戰，搶救靈魂。

弟兄們、隨即在夜間打發保羅和西拉往庇哩亞去．二人到了、就進入猶太人的會堂。這地方的人、賢於帖撒羅尼迦的人、甘心領受這道、天天考查聖經、要曉得這道是與不是。（徒 17：10-11)

聖經中屬靈的真信徒，常以「飛鷹」來形容，因為鷹會等候上升氣流，不會沒理由、自以為是的做「無效的」揮動翅膀的動作，浪費力氣。他們會看準時機，時候一到，展翅上騰，輕易地飛向高空，擁有超越一切萬物的更高眼界，能夠洞悉未來，也認清了危險。這是許多想飛就飛的鳥類所無法理解的。

但那等候耶和華的、必從新得力、他們必如鷹展翅上騰、他們奔跑卻不困倦、行走卻不疲乏。（賽 40：31）

身為教會的牧者，要學習等候的智慧，就是要學習飛鷹，能看見上升氣流（神的旨意、神的話語），能洞悉時候（神的時候），時候一到，縱身一跳（時候到了就不用客氣，可以放手一搏！），就可以看見教會中因順服而得神喜悅，因喜悅而做的工，然後一起參與並享受祂拓展神國境界的喜悅！

亞波羅算甚麼？保羅算甚麼？無非是執事、照主所賜給他們各人的、引導你們相信。我栽種了、亞波羅澆灌了．惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼、澆灌的也算不得甚麼．只在那叫他生長的神。（林前 3：5-7)

by Isaiah Kao

They will mount up with wings like eagles (Isaiah 40)

June 1, 2026

“Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:31 NASB2020)

This passage is the source of the name of this blog post.

After joining the Taiwan General Assembly and becoming the world delegate of the International Assembly, I have been thinking about the revival of the True Church. Yes! Objectively speaking, not only does the True Church have weaknesses, but even the missionary work of other Christian churches has encountered bottlenecks. However, in this chapter, the Father in heaven reminds us not to compare ourselves with other Christian churches, especially not to compare Him with the gods of other religions, because He says:

“To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?” (Isaiah 40:18 NASB2020)

““To whom then will you compare Me That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.”

(Isaiah 40:25 NASB2020)

Reading this makes me ashamed! We often say things like, "It's so hard for people nowadays to accept the gospel!" or "All churches are facing the same bottleneck!" It's as if we're saying that the lack of advancing in church is normal? Here, the prophet (verse 18) and the true God (verse 25) both raise the same question: Whom do you compare the true God to in this world? Can you even compare Him? Don't you know that our true God is invincible?

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to live in.”

 (Isaiah 40:21-22 NASB2020)

Have we forgotten how God created the world? Is anything too difficult for God? Actually, our weakness and the lack of church growth are due to human error, because with God all things are possible! However, we blame the church's lack of growth on the world's changes, making excuses for our own weakness. As mentioned here, "Jacob" and "Israel" refer to the True Church today:

“Why do you say, Jacob, and you assert, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”?” (Isaiah 40:27 NASB2020)

The biggest problem for the church today is "human will prevailing." Improved education, abundant wealth, and a greater number of talented people have made believers unable to be humble, and thus unable to listen carefully to God's voice. Spiritual warfare relies on spiritual strength, just as worldwide warfare requires sophisticated weaponry; it cannot be defended by children's bamboo spears and swords. The revival of the church depends on turning back, that is, not imitating the world. We should reflect on the missionary experience of the early days of the True Church, over a hundred years ago, which relied on the power of the Holy Spirit. The True Church was established through the Holy Spirit, and then the borders of the gospel were expanded by the Holy Spirit, resulting in the present situation where True Jesus Church exists on all five continents.

This passage states that the leadership of God's church must be led by God's workers, who will set an example and bring people back to God's presence, so that God can "personally shepherd" them. His workers should be faithful servants, meaning "whatever He says, we will do," without presumption:

“Go up on a high mountain, Zion, messenger of good news, Raise your voice forcefully, Jerusalem, messenger of good news; Raise it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” Behold, the Lord God will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His compensation is with Him, And His reward before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in the fold of His robe; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” (Isaiah 40:9-11 NASB2020)

Give up your sovereignty! The revival of the True Church means surrendering sovereignty to God, just as the early True Church did. In all things, we should consult God, allowing the Lord Jesus Christ to be the shepherd of the church. No worker should be arrogant, nor should they emphasize their own opinions and ideas. Everyone should consider themselves a useless servant, understanding that everything they do is simply fulfilling their duty, because they are merely obeying commands. "Do what God says, and do nothing that God hasn't said." This is what it means to be a truly trustworthy servant.

To believe in the power of the Lord Jesus means recognizing that God is proactive and never gets tired. Therefore, there is no need to worry about why the church is not developing, because the Bible tells us that “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ (Haggai 2:9a NASB2020) This "house" is definitely not the "second house," because the old people who saw the second temple in Judah wept because it was so much smaller. Therefore, this "house" is the True Church in the last days.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable.” (Isaiah 40:28 NASB2020)

What we should do is diligently study the Word of God in the Bible, learn from the Berea believers, and learn to truly know God in our faith. Only then can we understand how to "surrender the sovereignty" to the Lord, conducts the church completely according to His commands, allow the power of the Holy Spirit to guide the True Church, and use spiritual strength to fight every spiritual battle to save souls.

“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:10-11 NASB2020)

True spiritual believers in the Bible are often described as "eagles," because eagles wait for updrafts and do not waste energy on pointless, self-righteous flapping of their wings. They will seize the opportune moment, and when the time comes, they will soar effortlessly into the sky, possessing a higher perspective that transcends all things, able to foresee the future and recognize danger. This is something many birds that fly at will cannot comprehend.

“Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:31 NASB2020)

As shepherds of the church, we must learn the wisdom of waiting, which is to learn from the eagle, to see the updrafts (God's will, God's word), to discern the timing (God's time), and when the time comes, to leap forward (when the time comes, there's no need to hesitate, you can go all out!). Then we can see the work done in the church that pleases God through obedience, and then participate together in and enjoy the joy of His expanding Kingdom!

“What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7 NASB2020)

by Isaiah Kao