Yahweh Sabaoth - The LORD of hosts part 1

Sing a Mighty Fortress is our God!

USe Psalm 91 as the responsive

The LORD God of hosts is the God of angel armies.

Psalm 46:7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

The Angels obey our God.

Isaiah 13:4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The Lord of hosts musters The army for battle.

As a child, I had quite the imagination. I know some of you grew up on the farm and you worked from the time you got up until you went to bed. At 15 I went to farm and didn’t leave until I was 36 and spent a lot of time there but before that I grew up in the suburbs. I had to entertain myself with imagination. I read the Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and World War 2 books. My Father had a pool table. It became a battle field often. The bushes in the back yard became the battle fields of Narnia and any time I journeyed out into the woods alone they became the fields of middle earth. Today I go back to my child hood days and use my imagination but today I am not picturing a work of fiction but trying to picture the very real spiritual realm where angels and demons do battle. The LORD God commands the armies of heaven. and controls them to do his bidding. It is a spiritual warfare out there and God is in control. Has anyone ever read the fiction novels of the author Frank Paretti on Spiritual Warfare he paints a picture of a church with a heaven’s eye view of the spiritual warfare going on in the background unsceen to the parisioners. Let me tell you we are in the middle of a very real battle I am so glad I have the LORD of hosts on my side.

He is the angel’s sovereign commander.

Isaiah 6:3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

When we recently discussed that God is our KING!! We looked to Isaiah 6 Where the seraphim were worshipping God. The word seraphim means burning one. They look kind of funky 6 wings and from Ezekiel and revelation I believe that they most likely have 4 faces that of a man an eagle an lion and an ox. They praise God forever. I believe they are God’s special servants praising His name continually and doing His command. But they are only first line of Heaven’s Ranks of Angels. If they are so odd looking just imagine what other anels may appear as.

God has an innumerable company of angels.

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

So often we reference the number of angels by the statement we will look at in a minute that our Jesus could have called twelve thousand angels. But trust me when God says innumerable he means innumerable. He can count the hairs of your head and the stars in the sky but when it comes to angels. That number isn’t countable. I believe God knows the number it is just uncountable to us. God can handle it.

Jesus is the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 26:53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

Jesus commands angels just like His father. They are equal one in the same and yet separate. But Jesus commands cherabim serraphim and archangels. He says jump they say how high.

Jesus often commands His angels to help you.

Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Jesus commands angels they obey Him and not you. Don’t go home and try to do some voodoo woodu to try and get an angel on your side. Don’t pray to angel command an angel. That is a scary thing you might wind up with a fallen angel and you shouldn’t play around with those things. We pray to Jesus, God the Father, the Holy Spirit they send out the angels to do His bidding. You are not in control of them He is. Now when it comes to fallen angels remember carefully that they tremble at the name of Jesus because He is the LORD of hosts and angels minister to believers and those who would become believers. How many of you hear have to admit. Jesus was protecting and watching out for you long before you were saved.

The LORD of HOSTS uses His angels to protect you.

Psalm 91:11–12 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

This verse is prophetic of Jesus sure. But you must also acknowledge that this verse is for the believer safely abiding in the presence of God. Angels are there to help you when you need it most.

Do you remember the story from 2 Kings Elisha has had been a part of the spiritual CIA when he is relaying all the information from the King of Syria’s bedchambers to the front lines. He was God’s super spy and the King of Syria sent a small army to kidnap Elisha. Elisha never panicked even when his servant did. He simply had faith in the LORD of HOSTS

KEEP CALM, Have faith in the LORD OF HOSTS.

2 Kings 6:16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

I love it that Elisha prays and his eyes are opened to see the armies of heaven around the Syrian army. You would see the world better if you have those kind of Elisha eyes. That army was described as full of horses and fiery chariots. AWESOME!!!! Can I tell you something. You come to this church be prepared to believe the Bible. We believe that is what really happened that was no fable or fictional story that teaches a lesson. THAT WOULD BE BALOGNE AND CHEESE! God is the LORD OF HOSTS. And His armies may be doing battle over your heart right now. Let’s pray that God will work in your life and that you will surrender your heart to him.

Jesus is the Commander of the army of the LORD.

Joshua 5:13–15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Joshua is about to go fight Jericho. A big deal. You can go find the fallen city of Jericho today. Even the worst archaelogists who tried to cover up truths about the scripture had to reveal compelling evidence that you can find the ancient sight of Jericho. But Joshua was scared He needed to know that God would fight this battle for Him. That the God of angel armies was there. Jesus showed up in a Christophany. THIS IS NOT A STORY specifically about the LORD of HOSTS but you will have to find out why that is important next week. But this shows that the same Jesus who fights for us and could have called twelve thousand angels fights for us. Are you for us or our adversaries. Well that depends, are you for God or against Him. Joshua was on the LORD’s side. Good for Him but do you notice take your sandals off your feet the place you are standing is holy ground. That means that he is the presence of the one who deserved worship that is no angel that is Jesus the safe way to see God.

THERE ARE NO SHOES IN HEAVEN.

Revelation 19:6–8 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

There we are face to face with the LORD of HOSTS. At the marriage supper of the Lamb we are given new clothes. Robes of Righteousness. By His grace but notice in the presence of Jesus there is no footwear. I looked could not find any shoes in heaven. If found beautiful feet but no shoes. We are in the presence of the LORD of HOSTS.

Only the LORD of HOSTS deserves our worship.

Revelation 19:9–10 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Only Jesus deserves our worship. He is the LORD of Hosts He is the only one who we should fall at His feet. I took us to Joshua. Who fell and worship at the feet of the commander of the army of the LORD take off your shoes you are on holy ground. That was Jesus, no question in my mind. Because when we get to heaven and John tries to worship at the feet of an angel. NO NO NO WORSHIP GOD. To God and God alone.

The LORD OF HOSTS revealed.

Revelation 19:11–14 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

WOW I can’t think of a better description of the LORD OF HOSTS. The armies of Heaven I have in my mind being on one of those white horses. Maybe not. I like to think I will but maybe that is reserved for Cherubs God’s army is quite large. Doesn’t matter. There is the Champion the King the LORD of hosts.

Worship the LAMB with the hosts of heaven.

Revelation 7:9–10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

You thought the armies of heavenly angels was huge wait until you add the family of God. Today people are obsessed with the size of the universe and believe it can’t all be empty space what a waste of space. I have a belief that heaven is full of life. innumerable angels and believers all apart of God’s great kingdom we will need this entire universe to fill with God’s great kingdom we might be on the straight and narrow now with few being on the road but you can’t imagine the crowds of the hosts of heaven.

Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before Him.

Revelation 7:11–12 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

I could go on and on about watching the worship service in heaven. I am going to go to heaven to one big church service count me out some people say. I tell you what sometimes when we are worshipping God. I leave this stage and in my imagination picture heaven. We sing, I’d rather have jesus the last verse of trust and obey or when we all get to heaven and that’s it. I am heaven bound.

Are you ready for heaven?

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

You have to be born again to enter heaven. Heaven is coming. Are you ready? It could be at any moment

Angels escort believers to heaven at death.

Luke 16:22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

A lot of our theology about the afterlife comes from the story of the rich man and Lazarus. I don’t believe that is a parable told by Christ. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. I believe it was real. There was really a man named Lazarus who this happened to. I like to think that it is talking about the Lazarus from John 11 but there is too much evidence that Lazarus was wealthy. But I believe it was a true story because Lazarus recieved a real name and the rich man didn’t. I don’t think that was an accident. I think that angels actually escorted him to paradise at God’s command. I believe it will happen to you. I am not alone on this Robert Jefferies and Billy Graham also taught this. I know the arguement.

At death we are instantly with the LORD.

2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Whose to say that the moment you take your last breath that those angels don’t instantly take your hand and three times the speed of light you are in heaven faster than your mind can comprehend and there you are being ushered. Like a bride being walked down the aisle to introduce you to the groom JESUS CHRIST!!!!! What a picture. I don’t know for sure the details but that’s OK His angels beacon me from heaven’s open door and I can’t feel at home in this world any more. I’m going to heaven can’t wait, going to see Jesus can’t wait.

All are invited to the wedding feast.

Matthew 22:1–4 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” 

This is a kingdom parable and it fits so well with today’s message about the LORD of Hosts. He is the groom the church is His bride and the marriage supper of the Lamb we see the hosts of heaven who prepare for LORD SABAOTH to be revealed on judgment day. It all starts with an invitation. COME!!! COME!!! Many People Say NAH not for me.… THE FATHER SAYS COME!!!!!!!! COME!!!!

Many made light of the invitation.

Matthew 22:5–7 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

They rejected the invitation they killed his messangers the prophets and preachers and evangelists. God sent His armies the LORD of HOSTS to deal with them. That was in the past but please don’t take this lightly the father says COME!!!

The wedding is ready.

Matthew 22:8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

The invitation remains.

Matthew 22:9–10 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Make sure you have the right clothes.

Matthew 22:11–14 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

You need to be ready to see the LORD of HOSTS. The marriage supper of the Lamb is coming

Your clothes won’t do.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

Be properly dressed to meet the LORD OF HOSTS.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

You need the robes of righteousness the

Jesus purchased our wedding garment.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Believe on the name of the LORD Jesus and you will be saved. You will be born again. Come to the cross and leave your filthy rags there and take up those robes of righteousness. Be dressed for the kingdom