Angels & Demons, Pt. 1 - “Angels Unaware”

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Hebrews 1:6,7, 14 “And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.” And of the angels He says, “Who makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.”  (14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

It was sometime during World War II that Tommy Kit, my boss for many years while in high school, was away in battle on the seas of the South Pacific.  His ship was hit with a torpedo and the call came to “abandon ship.”  They all jumped, and that was the last thing Tommy remembered.  The next thing he recalled was being lifted from the wave tossed shoreline, and set down on the sands, miraculously surviving the trip ashore.  As he looked up to see who helped him, no one was there.  Tommy believed it was an angel.

In the hours following the fall of the Twin Towers on 9/11, a rescuer heard a faint cry. It was a young woman who had been under the rubble for over 24 hours had all but given up hope. A backslidden believer, she cried out to God, and cried out for help to the rescuers.  Hours later she heard a voice, and then a few minutes later, after much rubble was removed, she saw a hand from a man who identified himself as “Paul.”  He pulled her up, called the ambulance, and she was rushed to a nearby hospital, alive and well.  Paul was never found, even though the story about her written in Time Magazine asked for him to reveal himself so she could thank him.  She stood here at Gateway, gave her testimony, and expressed her belief that Paul was an angel sent to rescue her from sure death.

Angels have always fascinated us from the beginning of time.  The appearances of these celestial beings date back to the Old Testament patriarchs Abraham, Jacob, and the Prophets.

Even in our culture, Angels have always caught the imagination of the media and entertainment world.  Hollywood and television have made a fortune on angels, often as comedies.  One of our favorites is the spoof “Angels in the Outfield.”  Remember that fantastic catch?

As in some many cases, the idea of angels originated in the Bible. 

According to Scripture, God created these angelic beings sometime before he created the earth and human beings. It was in the eternities past that God created them as His special envoys to bring His message to His creation. 

They exist in the invisible world around us. In modern times this invisible world is called the Fifth Dimension, or the Twilight Zone.  In his book “Screwtape Letters,” C.S. Lewis wrote, “This invisible world is more real than the our own, yet Satan deceives us into thinking that it does not exist.”  The Greek philosopher Plato said, “It is the unseen world that controls the world that we see.”  

Sometimes these invisible angels take a human or animal form to do the work of God or, unfortunately, the work of the Devil.   Yes, Scripture clearly teaches that many of the angels left their original created state as God’s servants, to serve the Devil.  As we study Scripture, learn that Satan deceived some of the angels when he was cast out of the heavens,

II Peter 2:4, tells us “God did not spare (the rebel) angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.” We’ll talk more about “demons” or “fallen angels” later.

Don’t look now, but this room is filled with angelic beings even as I speak.  If we could lift the veil that separates the visible from the invisible, we could see angels everywhere.  Let me prove it to you from Scripture.  The Bible teaches….

1- GOD ASSIGNS GUARDIAN ANGELS. Matt. 18:1-10  (MES)

 “The disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom? ”For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me. “But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! (10) “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?”

Let me give a special word to you parents who have children.  Isn’t it comforting to know that God has assigned angels to watch over them?  That’s why it is so important to bring them to Jesus.  Don’t hinder them from knowing and serving Jesus by your own spiritual indifference. 

If there is an invisible war going on around us today (and there is) cry out to God to keep those angels close to your children lest Satan begin their destruction in childhood.  Can you see why we are focusing on Children’s Ministry here at Gateway? D. L. Moody once reported two and one half converts at one of his meeting.  When his wife asked if two adults and one child got saved, he responded, “No, two children and one adult. The children have a full life ahead, and the adult had one half left to live!”

Can I say that those Guardian Angels assigned to the children don’t leave them when they grow up?  Yes, all true believers probably have a special angel who is in touch with God about our needs. 

2. ANGELS MINISTER IN TIMES OF NEED.  Heb. 1:7,14 “And of the angels He says, “Who makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.”  (14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”  (MES) “Isn’t it obvious that all angels are sent to help out with those lined up to receive salvation?”

I’m not sure it is obvious to many of us.  Do you believe it today?  I think the reason is found in Hebrews 13:2- “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Did I read that correctly?  Because they come from the unseen world around us, they can take the form of a homeless person, or hungry bum on the street asking for a donation; or a stranger asking directions; or a visitor to church searching for truth.

How many times has someone who might have been an Angel unaware helped us?  Stop for a moment and think of the times it may have happened in your life.

3. ANGELS ARE ASSIGNED TO CHURCHES.

In Revelation 2-3, we know of at least seven angels, assigned to the Seven Churches of Revelation.  The word “angel” literally means, “one who is sent; messenger; envoy”

Listen, would God give Ephesus an angel and not Gateway?  I don’t believe it.  I believe that God assigns angels to churches, especially when He sees Satan on the attack.  I’ll share some things about that later, but for today let me praise God for the angels sent to help Gateway through these 44 years:

-Surviving with 16 people, no buildings, little salary, no growth for 11yrs

-Explosive growth in 70’s & 80’s, buying this property and our relocation.

-Divine protection over these past 2 years of “stormy weather.”

No one could convince me that God isn’t sending ministering spirits, (Heb. 1:14) “Isn’t it obvious that all angels are sent to help out with those lined up to receive salvation?”   When a church is ready to explode in power and growth, God knows Satan is going to attack.  Well, here come the angels!

If God assigns angels to churches, then for sure He sends them to their pastors, Rev. 2:1- “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars (pastors) in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands (churches)” This is my personal blessed assurance today.

Isn’t it comforting to know that Jesus is walking among His churches right now?  Though unseen, He and his angels are ministering to each one of us if we will receive the work of the Holy Spirit.

-Unsaved, uncommitted, open your heart to Him right now.

-Backslidden, indifferent Christian, turn back, repent, and get right!

-Christ-follower, in the midst of a battle, He is here!

4-ANGELS ARE ASSIGNED TO NATIONS.  

A very revealing thing happens in Daniel 10.  Daniel was informed by his angel that Michael the archangel had been in a ferocious battle against the great “prince” (demon) of the Kingdom of Persia for 21 days.  Michael has won the battle, and his prayers have finally broken through to God. Vs. 10:14-”But now I have come to give you understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days.” 

I believe that there are demonic forces controlling nations today.  How else can we explain the diabolical actions of many world governments and leaders in past history and the world today?

If there are demonic domains over nations then we can believe that there are angelic forces protecting Nations that are called by God of fulfill his purposes on earth.

This is true of Israel, in God’s promise to Abraham, Gen. 12:2,3-       

“And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Our Founding Father’s believed God’s promise for America. Ben Franklin said, “God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”   Remember what George Washington said, “I am sure there never was a people who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States.”

The great battle America faces today is not with a liberal, biblically disoriented Congress and Administration; not with terrorist forces at home and Mid-East; not with a young generation gone wild with sex, drugs, rebellion; but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the invisible world around us.

5. ANGELS ANNOUNCE CHRIST’S RETURN.

Galatians 3:19 tells us that the angels were involved in Christ’s first coming, (MES)  “The purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Obviously this law was not a firsthand encounter with God. It was arranged by angelic messengers through Moses.”

Yes, and they will be involved in His second coming.  I Thess. 4:13-18  “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (MES)  Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.

II Thess. 1:7-10  “When the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day”

Oh yes, as our text in Hebrews 1 states,  (MES) “Isn’t it obvious that all angels are sent to help out with those lined up to receive salvation?  (NLT)  “Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.”

I’m not sure unbelievers have angels tending to them today, but I am sure that every born-again, Spirit-baptized, Christ-follower has angels, though often unaware, helping them, their families, businesses, ministries.  

Do you?  

 

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