Angels: How it Relates to You
Angels: Who they Are, What they Can Do, How it Relates to You • Sermon • Submitted
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I. Introduction
I. Introduction
Angels are an important part of our faith…but they are often neglected in the study of our faith.
We have been talking about angels for the past three weeks....during the first week we talked about who they are…last week we talked about what they can do....this morning we will talk about how it relates to you....in other words: why does it even matter?
Many times we study the specifics of a particular topic or doctrine and people say “why does it even matter?....we’ll all find out in the end anyway....so who cares, right?” Well it matters....because it’s in the Bible....and if it’s in the Bible, at Morningside Baptist Church, we study it.
So, just to remind you:
§ 34 of the 66 books mention angels
§ 17 OT books, multiple times in many of those
§ 17 NT books, multiple times in many of those
§ Angels mentioned over 300 times in the entire Bible
If they had been mentioned just ONCE in the Bible they would be important.....but because they are mentioned SO many times in the Bible, we know that they are especially important.
So what we’re going to do today, just like we did last week, is take several selected Scriptures and study what the bible says about these Heavenly creatures today…with a special emphasis on why it should matter to you.
a. Scripture:
a. Scripture:
And as always, I’m going to ask you to stand with me, if you are able, as we read from God’s Holy, Perfect, Sufficient and inerrant Word.
<Pray>
Thank you, and you may be seated.
II. Contextualization
II. Contextualization
a. So in the past couple of weeks as a part of our discussion on who angels are, we discussed where they came from, what they look like, and how many there are. We learned in that that angels are immaterial ministering spirits that are messengers from God. They are referred to in the Old Testament Hebrew as Malak, meaning “messenger” and in the New Testament koine Greek as “ang-el-os”, which also means “messenger” or delegate....a representative from God. We also discussed that they are created beings, just like humans. They were created before the world was…and their number is immense. But God is not making anymore of them....the Bible says they were creat”ed,” meaning in the past tense. So humans, when they die, do not become angels. We also need to understand that they are “who’s”…not “what’s”....angels are persons…with personalities just like people. They have names and characteristics. They are not cosmic robots.
Then we discussed what they can do....we discovered that, like people, angels have been given free will…which is why Satan and his co-conspirators had the ability to disobey God and be thrown out of His presence....We discovered that angels have special abilities such as transcending time....traveling short distances in a short time....special knowledge and wisdom....and we also learned that not only are NOT all angels the same....but it is perhaps even true that all angels are completely different in species....while some share types.
And today we focus on why it matters....or perhaps why it SHOULD matter.
III. Major Points - These are the “purpose”
III. Major Points - These are the “purpose”
1. They Serve God
2. They Have Position
3. They Minister
IV. Point #1: They Serve God
IV. Point #1: They Serve God
Explanation
Angels are God’s messengers....and they were all created for specific purposes to serve God in specific ways. Isaiah tells is in Chapter 6 and verse 3 of his book that some angels even sing continually in God’s presence singing “holy, holy, holy.” They exist for his glory… tells us that like ALL creatures, angels were created “by HIM and for Him.”
But they specifically serve God in many ways. One way in which they served God was simply to glorify Him. They were created specifically for God’s glory. says:
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!
So one reason they exist is to glorify God....that affects YOU and should matter to YOU because guess what....YOU were too! You were also created to glorify God....we can learn a little something from the angels can’t we, amen?....
“He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.
Deuteronomy 10:21
They also serve God....
This one seem a bit obvious because the word angel actually means “servant” or “messenger.” Job is pretty specific that they humble themselves and present themselves before the Lord for Service.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
Why should that matter to us? Well like with praise, we too are meant to serve the Lord…obviously not in the same way as angels because we have different abilities and purposes than they do, but we are meant to serve as well.
And also, angels reflect who God is....Angels are directly in God’s presence all the time....they are meant to be holy creatures....certainly they are holier than we are because we were banished from God’s presence in the Garden of Eden due to our sin. So in looking at who angels are, you will see many of the Lord’s characteristics as well...
Within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form.
As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.
So we see a lot of God in who angels are....so that’s another reason it benefits us to study them.
Illustration
A master martial artist once asked Bruce Lee to teach him everything he knew about martial arts. Bruce held up two cups, both filled with liquid. "The first cup," said Bruce, "represents all of your knowledge about martial arts. The second cup represents all of my knowledge about martial arts. If you want to fill your cup with my knowledge, you must first empty your cup of your knowledge."
Application
Angels serve the Lord properly and praise Him FULLY because it is ALL they do. You see nature abhors a vacuum…and Satan LOVES a vacuum. If you want to praise God fully....quit praising other things....if you want to serve God fully, stop serving the world. Drop what the world has you worshiping and worship Him....it sounds simple, but how many people put FINANCES before God....or family before God....or ANYTHING before God....what we can learn from angels is that they ALWAYS put God first....and we can learn from that, amen?
In order for Christ to become the focus of your life, however, you must first empty your cup of the things that contradict that focus. But rest assured, what you gain in this process is well worth all that is lost
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
You
V. Point #2: They Have Position
V. Point #2: They Have Position
Explanation
Angels are important, not just because they exist....not just because they have names and personalities and purpose…but because they have position…as further evidence of God’s care in creating angels and their importance, He took the time to create a hierarchy of positions within the community of angels. If they weren’t important to study about, God would not have given them the time that He did.
Angels, in terms of creation rank below God, but above humans.
What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
In other words: you made Jesus a little below the angels, which is where man sits....and Jesus was made into a man...
But, as I said before, WITHIN angels, there are also classifications and a hierarchy.
The top rank in angels is the Archangel....at one time, this title belonged to Satan before he was cast out of Heaven....now the Archangel is one called Michael.
Daniel tells us something about him...
“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
Daniel
Michael appears to be the chief angel. Under the Archangel are angels called the “chief princes.”
“However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.
“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
Under the princes are Cheerubim....they are proclaimers and protectors of God’s Glory
So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.
Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!
Psalm
Another piece of God’s spiritual army are what are simply called “Living Creatures.” Their functions are simply to worship God direct His judgments. I won’t read it for the sake of time, but you can take a look at Revelation chapters 6-7, 14, and chapter 19.
These “living creatures” are similar to cherubim, but they have six wings, not four, and one face, rather than 4 as in
Next we have seraphim - which means “burning ones”....They are proclaimers of God’s holiness. That is their job. You can read about those in .
And finally, we have the general population of messengers from God simply called “angels.” Satan and his minions have the rank of “angel”....except that they are fallen and evil....we refer to them as demons or evil spirits.
Illustration
You know as interesting as the positions of angels are, we have positions here. Ad our positions are based on our abilities and gifts just as those of angels affect how they serve. In the Body of Christ, we all serve differently, but towards the common goal. In the church we have positions....some are pastors and preachers....some are teachers....some are deacons and provide spiritual guidance as Mr. Alvin and Mr. Jeff do for me....some are greeters…some visit....some call and encourage others....Just like angels have ways to serve, so do we....we can learn from angels, amen?
Application
VI. Point #3: They Minister
VI. Point #3: They Minister
Explanation
We keep going back to ....but it is central to understanding who they are...
Jebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
They look after the young and old…listen to what Matthew says:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
THEIR angels....it seems to infer that each one has their own angels. This is where the whole idea of guardian angels come from. There are certainly enough for each one to have his own guardian angels.
They serve the Lord....regularly presenting themselves before them as in …they constantly run errands for the Lord....They even escort believers’ souls into the presence of the Lord, listen to this:
“Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.
Luke 16:
My home Pastor Brother Wade went to be with the Lord on Friday....and it was ANGELS that escorted his soul before the Lord....what a wonderful thought that is…He did not have to fear or be afraid there he was with these beautiful warriors of God and perfectly safe for all eternity…what a lovely thought.
Some angels even exist to fight evil angels/demons in cosmic spiritual warefare that is constantly going on around us...
talks about that...
“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
There is a battle going on around us. The Bible is clear about that.
Illustration
Hannah really enjoys these military shows....shows about special forces and their lives and what kinds of problems they face. Our favorite one for a long time was called “The Unit.” In this show, this special group of military personnel fight in some of the most dangerous and worst place sin the world....and their families are kept oblivious. They have no or little contact when their husband’s go on missions....and their husband’s can’t tell them anything about it after the fact…they never have any idea what kind of crazy danger their husbands get into every week....
Application
Folks: we have no idea what kind of crazy danger and battles are going on around us....it’s kind of scary if you really think about it…but I take solace and have peace because God created angels to have my back and yours, amen? Angels of great power and wisdom....they are protecting us on God’s behalf…isn’t that wonderful? How many of you are glad God created angels, amen? Me too.
VII. Conclusion
VII. Conclusion
a. Let me ask you this morning, are you living like you believe in the God that created such wonderful creatures? HE is the one who loves you and wants to save your soul and change your life…will you let Him?
b. Let’s Pray