What Are They, and What Do They Do That is So Important?
Luke 1 & 2
Dec 8, 2019 PM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Luke 2:9-15)
A. Loads of singing about Angels at Christmas
1. Angels We Have heard on High
2. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
3. Half of the normal Christmas songs mention angels
B. I thought it would be cool to learn what the Bible says about Angels
C. I teach an entire course in the Bible Institute on Angels and Demons
D. But tonight will be a great summary of helpful truths about these incredibly powerful beings that the bible calls Angels
E. Because there are some really messed up ideas out there about angels
II. Message
A. Meaning of the word ‘Angel’
1. A Greek word
2. Means… a messenger; someone employed to communicate news or information from one person to another
3. Employed by God to communicate His will to man.
4. A spirit
B. Facts About Angels
1. Angels are Male (Luke 1:8-12)
a. They look like men
b. Human looking with Ten fingers, ten toes, eyes, mouth, chin, arms, legs
c. Luk 1:11,12 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
d. That means they are not female
e. Only male angels in heaven
2. They Announce Things (Luke 1:13-17; 1:26-33)
a. Like the coming birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias
b. Like the coming birth of the Son of God to Mary, and later to Joseph
c. An angel will announce the end of the world one day, during the Tribulation. (Rev 8:13) And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
3. They Have Names (Luke 1:18,19)
a. Luk 1:18,19 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
b. Jud 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
4. They Speak for God (Luke 1:19)
a. Spokesmen, messengers for God
b. Luke 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
c. Ambassadors from heaven
d. That’s why pastors are referred to as ANGELS in Revelation chapters 2 and 3
5. They Have Incredible Power (Luke 1:20)
a. They are incredibly powerful
b. This angel silenced the voice of Zecheriah
c. Another angel shut the mouths of lions
1) Dan 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
d. Killed 185,000 soldiers
1) 2Ki 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
e. They go ahead of us and answer our prayers and make things happen
1) Gen 24:6,7 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
6. They Know Us (Luke 1:26-28)
a. Watch us – probably pretty disappointed with us
b. Knew Mary by name
c. Knew all about you and me
7. They Enjoy Watching God Do Impossible Things (Luke 1:34,35,37)
a. The angel declared that there is nothing impossible with god because he had seen impossible things always done by God!
8. They Honour and Worship Jesus as much as they do God (Luke 1:30-33)
a. They receive no worship
b. All of heaven bows at the name of Jesus
c. Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
d. Angels cry out HOLY HOLY HOLY in His presence
e. Any angel that thought more of himself and less of Jesus was kicked out of heaven
9. They Are Glorious to See – like Stars (Luke 2:9)
a. They are as bright as stars in the sky, but are not stars
b. Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
c. Rev 9:1,2 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
10. There are Multitudes of Angels (Luke 2:13)
a. Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying
b. Dan 7:9,10 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
c. Rev 5:11,12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
11. They Have Emotions (Luke 2:13,14)
a. Luk 2:13,14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
b. Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
12. Wish for Peace on Earth (Luke 2:14)
a. Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
b. They see and hear all the fighting and abuse
c. They see and know what goes on all over this world – must be overwhelming
d. They wish only good will towards all mankind – because of how important we are to God
e. And they would love to see sinful men make peace with God and have grace with one another!
13. They Come and Go (Luke 2:15)
a. They don’t live here
b. They go up and Down to and from heaven
c. Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
d. So, They live in heaven, but work here
1) Gen 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it
2) John 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
C. Other Important facts About Angels
1. Created just before God created the earth on Day One
a. Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding....
b. Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God [ANGELS] shouted for joy?
2. They were created in the image of God – with free will
a. Called the sons of God, just like WE are at our new birth
b. Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
c. Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
d. Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
3. Are spiritual beings – not earthly, but of heaven
a. Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
b. Luk 24:36,37 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. [AN ANGEL]
4. They Do Not Have Wings
a. They look like men – full stop. No wings
b. Only the Cherubim and Seraphim have wings
5. They are at war – not just floating around doing nothing
a. Wresting through to bring answers to our prayers… Dan 10:12,13 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
b. Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
6. They are like WE will be when we get to heaven
a. Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
7. They Minister to and protect believers
a. Bringing to you what you need from the throne of God
b. Restraining Satan’s attacks
c. Keeping you alive, when you are stupid, and should be dead!
d. Mat 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
e. Mar 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
f. Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
g. Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
8. Carry us to God when we die
a. Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
III. Great Things About Angels
A. They are Real – not fairies, or trolls, or ghosts – but as real and you and I are!
B. They Envy Us – what a thought
1. Our ability to believe God without seeing Him
2. Our privilege of getting saved
3. Our personal GROWTH by faith
4. 1Pet 1:10-12 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
C. They interact with us without us knowing. They are the reason why so many of us are not dead yet
D. One day, every believer will be like them – able to go wherever we want, and with immeasurable power, and all out of worship of God!
E. Until then, it would do us well to be more like them
1. Announcing Things – preach the Bible
2. Speak for God – not for church, or political parties, but for GOD
3. Use the Incredible Power of prayer to get things done
4. They Enjoy Watching God Do Impossible Things – believe it
5. They Honour and Worship Jesus as much as you do God
6. Shine like Stars
a. Php 2:14,15 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world
7. There should be Multitudes of us at work, serving God like they do
8. Wish for Peace on Earth
9. Be MORE spiritual than carnal
10. Fight the right war – not just floating around doing nothing
11. Minister to and protect other believers