Sermon Tone Analysis

A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY-THE ANGELS, FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH

Spring Valley Mennonite; December 19, 2021; Hebrews 1:14, Luke 2:8-14

How far it is from heaven to earth?

How long does such a trip take?

I only ask such a question to introduce out travelers this morning, who are the angels.

The answer I would give is that it seems from scripture that time or travel is not an issue with angelic visitations.

They suddenly appear and disappear, sometimes we are aware of their presence, and more often, they complete their mission and we are delivered from danger or have a prayer answered.

It is impossible to read the Biblical Christmas story without noticing the presence of angels.

Angels deliver messages to Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist, to Mary and to Joseph, and to shepherds in a field outside Bethlehem.

As we continue our theme of Christmas Journeys, angels were busy delivering messages which instructed and informed the main characters in the Christmas account.

While these verses which tell of the birth of Christ are rich with angel appearances, angels only occasionally show up in the New Testament Biblical record until we reach the Book of Revelation where angels are agents of judgment.

Angels remain an item of popularity.

An internet search on "Angel experiences" will produce just under 40 million hits!

If you visit any of these "angel sites" you will be disappointed to find that there is very little mention of God or Jesus.

The impression from our popular culture is that angels are "safe" to believe in, because they always seem to always do good things for people and demand little.

Now, I don't want to give the impression that all stories we hear of angel encounters are untrue, for Scripture gives numerous instances where angels did appear to people, to instruct, comfort or protect.

Hebrews 1:14: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

The Christmas story would not be complete without the angel messengers.

However, we need to be aware that we have an enemy Satan who has the name of "the deceiver".

He will do anything to divert our attention away from the truth, even giving false experiences of angels.

Note that 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns that, "...even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light".

Much of the contemporary information about angels in our popular culture is, at best, distracting from the truth, and at worst, false and toxic.

With that warning, let's move forward on a positive note; Angels did play a big part in the preparations for and announcing the birth of our Savior.

I would like to begin with some facts concerning angels as background to the activities of angels surrounding the incarnation.

I.

A QUICK PRIMER ON ANGELS

First, angels are created beings, and their creation preceded that of we humans.

In Job 38:4, God asks Job, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth...when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

The angels joined in praising God when the earth was created.

We are not told exactly when the angels were created.

Secondly, and this is very important, for this contradicts what many people believe: we do not become angels when we die, or children who die do not become "little angels".

Humans always stay human and angels always remain as angels.

Although Scripture tells us that the number of angels neither increase or decrease, Angels are very numerous.

Hebrews 12:22, as well as numerous other places uses the word "myriads" to describe the number of angels, "myriads" being defined as "a number beyond human comprehension".

Deuteronomy speaks of the Law being given among ten thousand holy ones.

When arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told his disciples to "stand down"; if He wished, He could call twelve legions of angels to assist.

"Twelve legions" could have amounted to as many as 60-80 Thousand angels!

But also, consider that the number 12 in the Bible signifies completeness, so Jesus could have been referring to the whole contingent of angels-every one in existence-would come to His aid if He would call them (which makes sense).

Angels are individual beings.

They have the capacity to think, to feel, so they can experience joy.

Luke 15:10 tells us that "there is joy in the presence of angels of God over one sinner who repents".

Angels question and wonder, and desire to understand the things of Jesus Christ.

Peter says the events of the death and resurrection are "things the angels desire to look into".

Angels are curious about God's program of salvation for humans.

Angels exist to praise and glorify God, and to serve His purposes.

They carry out His will on earth.

Angels surround the throne of God, continually crying out "holy, holy, holy".

Angels also had the capacity to choose whether to obey or not (like humans), and were created in a state of "untested holiness".

Lucifer was the highest of the Angels, called in Ezekiel 28:14 "The Anointed Cherub".

He apparently held the highest exalted position among angels until sin was found in his heart.

He willed to disobey and dishonor God.

We know this fallen angel as Satan.

A vast number of angels followed him in rebellion; these became the evil angels or demons.

But unlike humans, fallen angels are never given the chance to repent.

Perhaps this is why angels are curious about God's program of redemption for humans.

Angels are invisible until God chooses to reveal them for a particular purpose.

They are invisible because they belong in the spiritual world.

They, like God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and even Satan are usually hidden from our view.

This does not make them less real!

When angels do appear, they may appear magnificently glorious (like they did to the shepherds) or as ordinary men (as they did to Abraham).

They always appear as men; there is never a depiction of a feminine angel (contrary, as I think of it, of most human artistic renderings of angels.

Aren't most figurines of angels feminine?)

But let me add that Scripture also tells us that angels neither marry or are given in marriage.

Angels may be without gender at all! Their representation as masculine may be an accommodation to humans to avoid confusion.

We would not know what to do with a being who appears in human form if they were without gender.

They all appear male in their appearances.

More important to our present study is the purpose and ministry of angels.

Again, consider Hebrews 1:14: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation?"

The word "angel" means "messenger".

Angels are God's messengers and servants.

They are sent on missions and they do things for people- "ministering to them" --as God gives them instruction.

They appear in the Bible primarily in conjunction with a particular mission on which they have been sent.

By this passage in Hebrews 1:14, we are to understand that holy angels are involved in our lives, perhaps on a daily basis.

The concept of "guardian angels" comes from Matthew 18:10: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven."

Yet, we must remember that angels do what GOD tells them; we have no control over them.

Nowhere are we told to try and communicate with, pray to, or try to control angels.

One of the websites I visited advocated calling on our "angel guides" for help or guidance.

This is unbiblical, unprofitable and likely certainly inspired by Satan.

Such "angel guides" would most likely be demons.

As I study what the Bible says about angels, I find many reasons to believe that angels are involved in our daily lives.

But our focus and thanksgiving should be to the Father, whatever means He might use to minister to us.

Although humans never become angels, and angels do not become humans, angels can appear in human form, and so believers are instructed in Hebrews 13:2, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for there by some have entertained angels unawares."

That stranger we help or who helps us just might be an angel!

With this background, I would turn the direction of this message to what we may learn from the angels that first Christmastime.

II.

MESSENGERS THAT FIRST CHRISTMASTIME

God needed to clearly communicate His plan for the Incarnation of His Son.

He did so through the agency of Angels.

God's first Christmas message went to a priest named Zacharias.

To Zacharias: The Angle Gabriel appeared to Zacharias announcing the coming birth of John the Baptist, as recorded in Luke chapter 1. John was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.

In the visit of Mary to Elizabeth, while still in the womb, John testified of the presence of Messiah Jesus!

This was a confirming affirmation to Mary that the tiny baby growing in her was the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit's "overshadowing" had created a child.

As I begin to list these appearances of the angels that first Christmas, let me make a very important observation.

What is significant and important in these appearances is not so much the angels-the messengers-but the MESSAGE DELIVERED.

When the FedEx or UPS man brings a package, do we get all excited about the delivery man-or the package?

Without the package, the man loses all significance.

One of the tendencies of humans is to attach too much importance to that which inspires awe in us.

Angels can certainly do inspire awe when they appear in their unveiled and reflected glory, for they have been in the presence of God.

We must remember that angels are only messengers-the message or service they render is the issue of importance.

Perhaps that is why angels for the most part remain hidden in their ministry to us, working invisibly behind the scenes.