Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

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In 1994 a television show debuted on network television that told the story of Monica, Tess, and Andrew who traveled around telling troubled and depressed people that God still loves them and hasn’t forgotten about them.

The show’s popularity exploded and it continued to be broadcast until 2003.

Does this show sound familiar to anyone?

Any guesses?

(Yes – no).

The show is none other than “Touched by an Angel” starring Roma Downey, Dellas Reese, and Jon Dye (Pic)

We seem to live in a world where people seem to be really interested in the existence of angels.

We have movies about “Angels in the Outfield” and “City of Angels.”

Most of them depict “good” angels but of course there are others that portray the “darker” side of angels (known as demons).

The popularity of angels is clearly evident with the success of “Willow Tree” creations – you know the sculptures of people in different positions which includes many different angels created by artist Susan Lordi from Kansas City, MO (Sample) – all of us should have bought stock in that company back in 1999 when the company began.

Angels have and continue to be an intriguing, fascinating, and mystifying topic of conversation and interest.

There has always been a curious infatuation with angels in the world.

According to a 2008 (ten years ago – we need a new survey) survey in “The Washington Times” half of Americans believe in angels and yet Barna Research Group found that only 4 out of 10 Christians firmly accept the teaching that a person can be influenced by spiritual forces like angels or demons.

Interesting!

Angels are real!

The Bible has tons of stories about angels and they are pretty amazing.

We considered one of those stories during our Christmas series when angels showed up to praise God after Jesus’ birth.

Need

In the midst of all this interest about angels there is a lot of confusion about angels as well.

We call people “angels” (like our kids or grandkids) to compliment them.

I read about a guy who used to always say his wife is an “angel” (nice compliment) because she’s always harping on something (Ouch).

Perhaps you’ve heard (or believe) the when people did they become an angel.

I’ve heard the saying that an angel cane “earn its wings” but I have no clue how that happens.

Angels have become the object of worship for many people.

And there groups who believe that Jesus is an angel.

There has always been a need for people to think rightly about angels and that’s true for us today.

If someone asked you “Who is greater, Jesus or the angels?”

– how would you answer?

JESUS?

– Good.

Jesus is always the “right” answer regardless the question being asked in church.

How many questions have been asked and the “safe” response is always Jesus.

“Is the Bible true?” – Jesus.

“How many books are in the OT?” - Jesus “How long will Pastor Jeff’s sermon be today?”

Jesus.

When we don’t know the answer, we say Jesus.

I’m being a bit tongue it cheek but it’s true.

In this case Jesus is the right answer.

“Is Jesus greater than angels?”

How do you know?

What proof could you offer?

We need to think rightly about Jesus and His relationship to the angels.

Take your Bible and turn to Hebrews.

Hebrews Chapter 1.

If you don’t have a Bible, we have extras in the pew so please grab one so you can follow along this morning.

Preview

Today is week two of our news series in HEBREWS: “Encountering the Greatness of Jesus.”

It’s a deep, hearty book.

As a reminder Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were struggling with persecution, suffering, and doubts and as a result were tempted to return to their old way of life under the Old Covenant system of Judaism (obeying the Law and sacrificial system).

The penman of Hebrews writes to these Jewish believers to highlight the superiority of Jesus so that they would “persevere” in the faith.

As we walk through HEBREWS together we’re going to see the greatness of Jesus on full display every step of the way.

· – Greater than the prophets

· – Greater than the angels

· – Greater than Moses.

· - Greater than Joshua.

· , , – Greater than Aaron.

· - A better Covenant.

· - A better Tabernacle.

· - A better Sacrifice.

I love the idea of having our hearts and minds saturated with the greatness of Jesus Christ so that we would be encouraged to continue following Him because He is our only hope!

Last week we got off to a roaring start and covered the first three verses of this letter and learned that Jesus is greater than ______________?

Today we’re going to discover that Jesus is greater than the angels. .

(Read )

I) JESUS IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS

The declaration and defense that Jesus is greater than the angels is the main theme of .

Why was it so important to show that Jesus was greater than angels?

The Jews believed that angels existed and were the messengers of God.

The Jews also had high regard for angels because of their ministry in relation to the giving of the Law.

God came to give the Law He was ordained by ten thousand holy ones ()

“You received the Law as ordained by angels” ()

“The Law was ordained by angels by the agency of a mediator (Moses)

( & )

The Jewish Christians to whom this letter was written to were on the cusp of going back to Judaism, going back to the Law mediated by angels, so the penman of Hebrews wrote this section to highlight that Jesus is greater than the angels as an encouragement for them to persevere.

It’s also possible that these Jewish Christians had been exposed to false teaching that was promoting the worship of angels so there was a need to highlight Jesus’ superiority over the angels.

Today we’ll zero in on the declaration and defense of Jesus’ superiority over the angels in .In this section we find two things” An Incredible Declaration that Jesus is greater than the angels followed by The Undeniable Proof that Jesus is greater than the angels.

Let’s walk through this together and glean the implications for our lives.

A) An Incredible Proclamation: Jesus is greater than the angels (1:4)

We begin with the First, please note “The Incredible Proclamation” that Jesus is in fact far greater than the angels—"So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs” ()—this is a bold declaration of Jesus’ superiority over the angels.

The “Incredible Proclamation” that Jesus is far greater than the angels calls for a primer on angels.

Let’s take a minute to consider the biblical view of angels as summarized by Brian Bell & if you want more detailed info I refer to you Dr. Robert Lightner’s “Handbook of Evangelical Theology or Wayne Grudem’s “Theology.”

CREATION OF ANGELS

Angels are God’s messengers (“Angelos” is the Greek word for “messenger”)They were created before man They were created simultaneously (they don’t procreate)They ar innumerable They have personality & great intelligence Angel is always masculine in ScriptureThere nature doesn’t include bodies (they are spirits) though they may be seen in bodies & appear as menThey do not experience physical death or cessation of existence

CATEGORIES OF ANGELS

Unfallen – Remained holy through their existence

Michael – Arch-angel, Head of all holy angels.Gabriel – One of the principle messengers of God (to Daniel, Zacharias, & Mary).Elect Angels – we are not given their names (called elect, holy angels)Cherubim – Living creatures who defend God’s holiness(i.e.

flaming sword in garden of Eden; 2 made of gold overshadowed the ark)Seraphim () - They have the function of praising God.

Fallen – Didn’t maintain their holiness

Fallen – Didn’t maintain their holiness

Fallen from their 1st estate (Demons) Led by Satan (Lucifer/devil) - rebelled against God (Isaiah) They became sinful in their nature & work; opposing God and His work

THE MINISTRY OF HOLY ANGELS

Given to worshiping God - Some “do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"() and they rejoice when a sinner repents ()

They deliver divine messages from God

They minister to believers () - though unseen we should recognize their ministry which is constant & effective.

They cheer & strengthen God’s people & defend, protect, & deliver God’s servants.

Angels guide us to sinners (Philip) and they guide us to believers (Cornelius to Peter)

Angels are amazing and awesome celestial beings!

And yet as great as they are, they pale in comparison to Christ.

As good as they are, Jesus is better!

Christ is far greater than the angels who reside in God’s presence and mediated Mosaic Law.