Angels

In this message, we take a fresh look at the ministry of angels, both in the Christmas story, and in our lives today. Click here for the recording of this 12/1 Service, and you can fast-forward to 24:58 to get to the start of the sermon.

Our text comes from Matthew and Luke

Matthew 1.18-20:

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…

Luke 1.26-28:

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 And he came to her and said…

Luke 2.8-10:

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

10 And the angel said to them…

Introduction…

• This year I want to look at those parts of the Christmas story that we may take for granted, like the role angels played in Christmas

  • The role they play today

  • The role they may play in your life, without you even knowing it

• I’m not referring to fat little naked babies with wings, flying about with Cupid’s bow ready to let the arrow fly

• Culture has turned the biblical concept of angels into cartoon-ish characters

• My hunch is that there may be more than one person listening who does not even believe in them

• As usual, our guidance is from the Word

Matthew 1

• Mary was found to be with child prior to the marital union

• Joseph was “just” (dikaios- equitable, righteous, fair) and did not want to embarrass Mary

• He decided to ”divorce” her quietly; he could have taken her to the village gate and had her stoned

• God sent an angel to intervene with a message, to which Joseph complied

Luke 1

• God sent Gabriel to Mary with a message of explanation about her pregnancy

Luke 2

• One angel, among many, made the shepherds aware of the birth of Jesus

• They likely were the first to hear the news of Jesus’ birth

What are Angels? (1/5)

• The Gk anggelos means messenger; malakh means the same in Hebrew

• Variously in the Bible they are referred to as- sons of God, heavenly beings, holy ones, heavenly hosts, Lord of hosts, Lord of armies

• They are spirits; supernatural celestial beings, Heb 1.14

• They were created to do God’s bidding, Ps 148.2-5, Col 1.16

What are Angels? (2/5)

• They were created prior to humanity, Job 38.7

• They can pass back and forth from the spirit realm to the natural realm, at will, unimpeded by physical boundaries, Acts 12.7

• They have superhuman strength, 2 Pet 2.11

• Yet, they are not all powerful, Ps 103.20, 2 Thess 1.7

• They are endowed with superior intellect and wisdom, 2 Sam 14.17, 20

• They are not all knowing, Mt 24.36, 1 Pet 1.12

What are Angels? (3/5)

• Jesus said angels are not sexual, and do not marry; they are presently superior to humanity, but at the Resurrection, humanity will be equal to them as “sons of the resurrection” Lk 20.34-

• Thus, they are created beings that have both human and divine attributes

• They always appear in human form, except for Isa 6

• There is no record of them appearing to a wicked person or warning the wicked of impending danger, Mt 24.37-39

What are Angels? (4/5)

• They always appear as men, never as women or children, and are always clothed

• They identify themselves with humanity in form, language and deed, in brief visits

• At times they are so disguised as men that they are not recognized as angels, Gen 18.2, 19.1, Josh 5.13, Judges 6.21-22, 13.21

• They were created holy, and given free will, like humans, Gen 1.21, Jude 6; some chose to rebel, Isa 14.12-15;

• Hence, demons are fallen former angels

What are Angels? (5/5)

• Of the good angels, two are named- the Archangel Michael, Jude 9, Rev 12.7-8, and Gabriel, Lk 1.13, 31, Dan 8.15-

• Bad angels/demons, are driven from Heaven, Rev 12.7-, and will end up in eternal fire, Mt 25.41

• The work of angels is to execute God’s will in Heaven and on Earth

• They praise, reverence, and obey God

• They promote goodness, and mediate God’s love and good will

What do Angels do?

1. They announce and forewarn, Gen 18.9-, Judges 13, Lk 1.13, 30, 2.8-15, Mt 2.13, Dan 8.19, Rev 1-22

2. They guide and instruct, Gen 24.7, 40, 28.12-15, Ex 14.19, 23.20, Num 20.16, Acts 7.38, 53, Job 33.23, Acts 10.3-5, 8.26-

3. They guard and defend, Ps 34.7, Gen 32.24-, Ex 14.19-, Num 22, Josh 5.14, Ps 91.11, Mt 26.53

4. They minister to those in need, Gen 21.17- 1 Kings 19.5-7, Acts 5.19, 126-11

5. They assist in judgment, Acts 12.23, Rev 18, 19, 20, Jn 1.51, Lk 9.26, 12.8-9, Mt 25.31, 24.31, Mk 13.27

6. They will praise God continually, Rev 19.1-3, Lk 2.12-

   (ZPEB, 1.160-166)

And so…

• They appear from Genesis to Revelation

• Appearing across 2000 years

• The Bible assumes their existence

• The NT both opens with them in Mt, and closes with them in Rev

What do we do with all this?

• If angels appeared to Joseph, Mary and the shepherds, they can appear to you

• Assume that angels are at work on your behalf in ways known, and/or unknown

• Demons and demonic forces are real, and to be avoided at all costs, including TV, the Internet, games, and other platforms

• Be kind to people you don’t know; they might be angels, Heb 13.2

• Know that angels can/do intervene at just the right time, for God’s own sovereign purposes, and for our benefit

Reference

• The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, vol 1, pp 160-166