Angels 211003
Hebrews 13:2 “Do not
neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares.” Nowhere in scripture are we instructed, or even
encouraged, to seek angels to minister to us. However angels are often reveled
as being present in our time of need.
Elisha’s servant was not aware of the presence of a vast
army of the heavenly hosts. The king of Syria realized that there was a spy in
the midst of his advisers. So he sent some of his fighting men to find Elisha.
When they found him the king sent a very large army to take Elisha and his
servant. The story is in 2 Kings 6. The army of Syria came by night and
surrounded the prophet’s location. In the morning when Elisha’s servant went
outside he saw a great army and rushed in to tell his master about the danger
they were in. 2 Kings 6:15b-17, And the
servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said,
“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with
them.” 17 Then
Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the
Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was
full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
The prophet took command of the situation through prayer to
God not by commanding the angelic army. He knew they were there and asked that
his servant be given sight of them. Then he followed God’s direction and
defeated God’s enemies.
What can we learn from this event about angels?
They are usually invisible there are so many of them we
would certainly be distracted by their presence. Elisha’s servant could not see them until the
prophet prayed. Then he saw that the mountain was filled with unseen horses and
chariots of fire. We learn that there are millions of angels. In fact,
according to John’s vision in Revelation 5:11, Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures
and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and
thousands of thousands,
There is a vast number of angels and they have different
jobs or ranks. Scripture indicates that there is rank and order among the
angels. One angel, Michael, is called an “archangel” in Jude 9, a title that
indicates rule or authority over other angels. He is called “one of the chief
princes” in Daniel 10:13. Michael also appears to be a leader in the angelic
army: “Now war arose in heaven, Michael
and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,
but they were defeated” (Revelation 12:7–8). And Paul tells us that the
Lord will return from heaven “with the voice
of an archangel” (1 Thessalonians. 4:16). Whether this refers to Michael as
the only archangel, or whether there are other archangels, Scripture does not
tell us.
We can consider the appearance of “the commander of the Lord’s army”, who met with Joshua, as being
an archangel or a pre-incarnate appearance of God the Son. He allowed Joshua to
worship him. (Joshua 5:13-15). There is
no reference to an angel accepting worship. For example, When John attempted to
worship the angel who had shown him the visions, (Revelation 22:9) he said to me, “You must not do that! I am
a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who
keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
As we see from these two examples angels can become visible.
Let’s look at other examples from the Gospels and the Book of Acts.
Of course, the birth narratives would be first. Matthew
1:18-21, tells us about the promise of Jesus’ birth. An angel directed Joseph
in a dream how to protect the baby Jesus. (Matthew 2:13; 19-20). After Jesus
was baptized he went into the wilderness. After 40 days of prayer and fasting
he was tempted by the devil as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. Angels ministered to
him. I assume the angels who ministered to Jesus were visable. Then the devil left him, and behold, angels
came and were ministering to him.
There was the meeting with the women at the empty tomb found
in Matthew 28:2-6. And behold, there was
a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and
rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like
lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of
him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the
angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who
was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay.
In Luke we find an angel instructing Zechariah, the father
of John the Baptist. Zechariah was going through the temple routine. When he
saw the angel he was told, Luke 1:13-17,
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife
Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And
you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for
he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink,
and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And
he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and
he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of
the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to
make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” The man was amazed and afraid.
In his confusion he asked how he could know the angel spoke truth. First, the
angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand
in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this
good news.” I sense a rebuke in Gabriel’s words. After all, did he have to
name himself and affirm his job that placed him in God’s presence as a priest?
Good news? His prayer has been heard! Oh yes, for the first 20 years he and
Elizabeth prayed daily for a son. Then they passed childbearing age. Now they
could be content with nephews and nieces. Remember, Zach was an old man and
Lizzy was advanced in years. He might be “old” but he would never use that word
for her. Smart man!! I can imagine the confusion in this couple’s emotions. The
firstborn male baby sanctified the womb!
This blessing from God had apparently been kept from them
all those years. They did not understand. Why would God hold them back from a
blessed child? You might remember Lazarus whose sisters had asked Jesus to come
and bring healing to their sick brother. Instead of coming immediately Jesus
waited. When he arrived at the grave Lazarus had been there four days. Both
Martha and Mary had the same question. “Why? If you had come, Jesus, you could
have healed him.” In their mind Jesus was four days late. The story is found in
the Gospel of John chapter 10 and 11. Jesus wasn’t late! He was right on time!
That was proven out when he said, “Lazarus, come forth”! Often times we think
that God has failed to meet the deadline. Jesus had said to his disciples that
Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death but it would be for God’s glory.
Let’s go back to the angels and Jesus’ birth narrative.
Six months later, the same angel was sent by God to Nazareth
in Galilee to meet a young woman named Mary. She was betrothed to Joseph, a man
of the house of David. And the virgin’s
name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O
favored one, the Lord is with you!” Luke 1:27-28
I doubt there has
ever been anyone more confused than Mary might’ve been. We have no instruction
as to her true age. Some say she was about 13 years old. Others believe she was
a little older and Joseph was a little younger making them about same age.
Let’s say 17 years old. I don’t know why we think we have to know. It makes
little difference in the outcome of their life story. Apparently Joseph was old
enough to be off the scene when Jesus’ ministry began about 30 years later.
Nonetheless Mary was confronted by a man who turned out to be an angel. Not
just any angel but Gabriel who seems to be the deliveryman for God’s messages
to people. But there is not any real truth to back up that statement.
Luke picks up the story when the King of the universe was
born in a stable. Luke 2:8-15 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, “Fear not, for behold, I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby
wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God
and saying, 14 “Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing
that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
If the appearance of the angels was a common event at that
time in history we have no record of it happening in this manner in any other
literature.
Like Matthew, Luke has little mention of angels after Jesus’
ministry begins. There is so much we can include — time will not allow!
Jesus knew he was facing the end of his life on earth. The
last few weeks have been very busy and he was exhausted. After observing the
Passover Jesus led his disciples to the Mount of Olives. It was his custom to
go there for times of prayer and rest. He encouraged his disciples to rest
while he prayed. Luke 22:41-43 And he
withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying,
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my
will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an
angel from heaven, strengthening him.
We have no way of knowing how much Jesus was really involved
with angels. It seems to me that his times of prayer away from the crowds might
have been a time when the angels might have asked questions.
It is very obvious that the angels had spent time observing
what was going on in Jesus’ ministry. I suppose that will need to wait on
another message.
We do know that angels were present when he entered the
world and when he left! His disciples had traveled with him for some 40 days
after his resurrection. They were with him according to Luke, who is the author
of Acts, the disciples still had questions for Jesus up to the very end. After
he had stated the promise of the Holy Spirit and the expansion of their
ministry they were left standing — gazing into heaven — as Jesus was lifted up.
I can just imagine the bewilderment of the angels. They lived in obedience to
the FATHER. Jesus had just given direction to his disciples and departed the
scene on the clouds. Now, instead of going they were standing! Things haven’t
changed much over the past 2000 years. Luke’s record of their lack of obedience
is found in, Acts 1:9-11. And while they
were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white
robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking
into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in
the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
They finally got organized and began to share the good news
that Jesus whom they had seen die was ALIVE. That’s basically the gospel — the
good news!
Their next encounter with angels, so far as we know,
occurred at the jail. The high priest and his crowd was very angry at the
expansion of the Christian church. Luke records the fact that thousands came
for salvation and healing. They had gotten rid of Jesus only to be surrounded
by huge crowds that bore his name. So they rounded up the apostles.
Acts 5:17-20 But
the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the
Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the
apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the
night an angel of the Lord opened the prison
doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the
temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And
when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
One of the first deacons became the first missionary to
Samaria. He had a very successful ministry there but God had more work for him
to do. Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go
toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a
desert place.
Today, there might have been some debate as to whether or
not Philip should go. His ministry was very successful! Now he was ordered, by
an angel, to go to a desert place. Remember what the consequence of that trip
was? He left the crowds to find himself looking at a very fancy chariot with a
man sitting in it reading from a scroll. That one man was the treasurer of
Ethiopia! He was reading from the scroll of Isaiah and he came to faith in
Christ as Philip provided the direction. He was baptized, Philip was taken out
of the scene and set down many miles away to resume his ministry in Samaria.
All
scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2016.
Wheaton: Standard Bible Society..
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