God Gained Another Angel

What happens when I die?

Activity:

What comes to mind when you hear people say “God gained another angel?”

What do you think when people say RIP? (obviously it means Rest in peace…) but what do you think?

Who are Angels?

Who was Satan.

What do we become when we die?

Discuss this for a few minutes:

TRANSITION:

I feel like there has been alot of death lately. Maybe it’s just me…

It seems like too many families have lost a father or a mother.

Too many teens have died to young.

Death is always sobering.

It brings out many emotions.

But it also brings out core beliefs!

This is important, potentially dangerous, and sobering.

What do I mean by that.

When emotions are high and we are discussing life and death,

These are important conversations.

Wrong beliefs about life and death can be very dangerous because we may believe lies.

It is sobering because when someone dies, it always reminds us how fragile life is.

What happens to you when you die? What do you become in heaven?

According to CIA World Factbook, there are about 151,600 deaths every day.

Does that mean that God gains 150,000 new angels every day?

Why does this matter?

Here’s why it matters:

When people are their most vulnerable going through the worst times of their life, we want to be sure we share truth with them and not lies.

Is it true then that when you die you become an angel?

Did heaven gain another angel when so and so dies?

Now this statement may be made from a heart of sympathy, but still…

It is in our grief that we are often most vulnerable and may accept something that is simply not true.

As believers, we need to always speak truth!

1. Who are angels?

1. “messenger’s of God.”

Throughout Scripture we see Angels showing up and delivering a message.

Joshua - Angel tells him what to do at Jerico

Mary - Angel tells her she will have a son and to name him Jesus.

2. Protectors:

Daniel 6:22 “22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.””

- Angels shut the lions mouths to protect Daniel.

Rescued disciples from prison for preaching Jesus

Acts 5:19 “19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,”

3. Worship God

Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 5:12 “12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!””

4. Warriors

2 Kings 19:35 “35 And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.”

Angels are incredible...

But what is the key difference between angels and humans?

Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Revelation describe events most scholars agree describe Satan’s fall from heaven.

Satan was an angel, but he rebelled and took 1/3 of the angels of heaven with him.

However, what is interesting is that God doesn’t seek redemption for his angels.

There seems to be a biblical case that

2. God offers us redemption. He doesn’t offer Angels redemption.

Romans 5:8 “8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

When someone famous dies, what 3 letters show up on everyone’s social media page?

RIP

But if the drummer for the rock band overdoses on 15 different types of drugs…

Is he really resting in peace?

Honestly… Truthfully… he’s probably eternally separated from God in hell.

Dude… real people… really go to hell.

That is sobering.

As believers, this is part of our job. To hold the line.

To be the reminder. To be the sober one in the room.

These are the stakes of life every day.

If we are all in for Jesus, we’ve got to be ALL IN.

The whole truth and nothing but the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Especially in moments of deep sadness and brokenness, we can’t check truth at the door.

We must rely on the truth of Scripture and the freedom it provides.

There is only peace in Christ. Without Him, friends… there is no peace.

You know what the worst part of hell is.

You know the truth…

You know that in the constant suffering, you had the opportunity to enter heaven with God.

God didn’t turn you down, you turned God down.

There is now no exit, no way out, no second chance… NO redo.

Y’all.. Why do we need to tell people about Jesus?

Because I really believe this. Do you?

Illustration:

A few weeks ago, my car battery was having some issues.

I fought with it for a couple days and finally took it to Batteries plus to get it looked at.

I met a guy named Evan.

Recent college graduate.

Lives at home.

Goes to church… but I’m not sure if he really believes it.

I invited him to our church for Easter and he didn’t come.

But I’ve been praying for him.

I texted Him today just to let him know that.

Why did I do any of that?

Was it comfortable for me to do that?

You know what the better question is?

WHY HAVEN”T I DONE THAT EVERY DAY!

If Jesus is who He says He is, and I believe He is, then why don’t I share Him with someone every day!

We’ve got to get our head out of the sand and wake up!

As Human beings we have something nothing else in creation does.

Redemption.

And yet, ironically, the one thing that saves us, we are often too reluctant to share.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that to be me?

I want to share what I know.

I want people to know there is a real God and a real hell and I really want them to spent eternity with God.

Which brings me to my final point.

We aren’t angels.

We are offered redemption

But is God really offering that to everybody?

3. God Heart:

A. 2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

B. I Timothy 2:4 “4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

C. Matthew 11:29 “29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

When we read 2 Peter… we need to remember, it’s God’s desire that all should come to know Him!

Jacob.

When I was in college, I had a terrible RA named Jacob.

I honestly didn’t like the guy. He always played video games and played loudly.

He was very lazy and didn’t apply himself.

He ended up dropping out of school.

Last year, I saw on facebook he died.

He was about 2 years older than me, an alcoholic, and sadly died from liver disease.

I don’t know if he knew Jesus or not, but that’s not the worst part to me…

The worst part is, I wrote him off.

I viewed him as unlovable.

Now, we aren’t God and it’s not ultimately our responsibility to play God and force people to love Him.

But it is our job to recognize that even the most unlovable are loved by God.

They aren’t angels, they are offered redemption.

Are you fulfilling your calling by reminding them of the redemption offered to them?

As 1 Timothy says, God desires all people to know the truth.

When Jesus was hanging on that cross, He didn’t die for everyone except the annoying people.

He died for them too.

Redemption is offered for all!

SO here are two takeaways from today:

A relationship with Christ is available to anyone and everyone. It’s not our job to count people out.

Not everyone wants it… but it is still our job to remind them of the truth.

What are you doing with the truth?

Are you sharing it?

If not, why not?

If it’s a “I don’t know it well enough.” issue, then friends, lets know it!

Ask questions!

Talk to me, text me, message me, let’s talk!

Pray!

Ask God to give you opportunities to share Him, and then take those opportunities!

Don’t miss them!

As a student in school right now, I know this may sound intimidating, but you will never have a greater mission field to share the gospel with people your age than you do right now in school.

Don’t waste your life.

Don’t miss the opportunity!

We are the only ones offered redemption, so let’s be sure we are sharing that redemption with our peers!