Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

Angels Where They Came from, and What They Do.
Hebrews 1:4-14

Introduction
Today many people have an unusual interest in angels. Dr Duane Garrett has written a book titled ANGELS and the NEW SPIRITUALITY. He has coined two new words to describe the interest in Angels today. One word is ANGELPHILIA and he gives the definition as; an extreme interest in or devotion to angels. The second word is ANGELPHILE and he gives it the definition of ' one who is in the condition of having an extreme interest in or devotion to angels.
There is even an "Angel Watch Network" based in Mountainside, N.J., with 1,800 members who monitor angel activity. The Angel Collection Club of America has 1,600 members. One lady named Joyce Berg of Beloit, Wisconsin, holds the known record with 10,455 different angel artifacts.
Several people seem to think angels are some kind of magical genies. You can read fanciful stories where people claim an angel did what they wanted them to do and they are dogmatic about it. It is almost like their angel is at there beck and call for anything they want to happen.
If we believe a story about angels it should be in agreement with the word of God. The text gives a very brief but precise statement concerning angels. It tell us:

1. Angels are . . Spirits Created by God

2. Angels are . . .Sent at the Commission of God.

3. Angels are . . Servants as the Caretakers for God..
 
 

The word translated ministering is #3010 in strong's numbering.
It is a combination of the word LAOS People, and the word ERGON Work.

3010 leitourgikos (li-toorg-ik-os');
from the same as 3008; functional publicly ("liturgic"); i.e. beneficient: KJV-- ministering.

3011 leitourgos (li-toorg-os');
from a derivative of 2992 and 2041; a public servant, i.e. a functionary in the Temple or Gospel, or (genitive case) a worshipper (of God) or benefactor (of man): KJV-- minister (-ed).

2992 laos (lah-os');
apparently a primary word; a people (in general; thus differing from 1218, which denotes one's own populace): KJV-- people.

2041 ergon (er'-gon);
from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act: KJV-- deed, doing, labour, work.

A. Look at God's .. Work in Creating these Angelic Spirits.

John 1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (NAS)

Col 1:16
16 For by Him all things were created, {both} in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. (NAS)

1.God created all Angels as Good. Gen 1:31
31 And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (NAS)

a. Today there are Good and bad angels. Rev 12:7-9 (NAS)
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war,
8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown

(1.How can you tell the difference between Good and Bad Angels?

a). Holy angels will never contradict the Bible.

b) Holy angels will always be consistent with the character of Christ.

c) A real meeting with a holy angel will glorify God, not the angel. Holy angels never bring attention to themselves. They usually do their work and disappear.

B. Look at God's . . Will in Creating these Angelic Spirits.

Ps 148:2-5
2 Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all stars of light! 4 Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. (NAS)
Rev 4:11
11 "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created." (NAS)

C. Look at God's . . Way in Creating these Angelic Spirits.

1. The Way of God in Creating . . Worshiping Spirits. Heb 1:6 (and many other verses)

6 And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, "And let all the angels of God worship Him." (NAS)

2.The Way of God in Creating . . Wonderful Spirits. Ps 103:20

20 Bless the LORD, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word! (NAS)

Illustration Corrie ten Boom (from , "'Angels" by Billy Graham)
Together we entered the terrifying building. At a table were women who took away all our possessions. Everyone had to undress completely and then go to a room where her hair was checked.
I asked a woman who was busy checking the possessions of the new arrivals if I might use the toilet. She pointed to a door, and I discovered that the convenience was nothing more than a hole in the shower room floor. Betsie stayed close beside me all the time. suddenly I had an inspiration, "Quick, take off your woolen underwear," I whispered to her. I rolled it up with mine and laid the bundle in a corner with my little Bible. the spot was alive with cockroaches, but I didn't worry about that. I felt wonderfully relieved and happy. "The Lord is busy answering our prayers, Betsie," I whispered. "We shall not have to make the sacrifice of all our clothes."
We hurried back to the row of women waiting to be undressed. A little later, after we had our showers and put on our shirts and shabby dresses, I hid the roll of underwear and my Bible under my dress. It did bulge out obviously through my dress; but I prayed, "Lord, cause now Thine angels to surround me; and let them not be transparent today, for the guards must not see me." I felt perfectly at ease. Calmly I passed the guards. Everyone was checked, from the front, the sides, the back. Not a bulge escaped the eyes of the guard. The woman just in front of me had hidden a woolen vest under her dress; it was taken from her. They let me pass, for they did not see me. Betsie, right behind me, was searched.
But outside awaited another danger. On each side of the door were women who looked everyone over for a second time. They felt over the body of each one who passed. I knew they would not see me, for the angels were still surrounding me. I was not even surprised when they passed me by; but within me rose the jubilant cry, "O Lord, if Thou dost so answer prayer, I can face even Ravensbruck unafraid."

Application

Angels are ministering (li-toorg-ik-os') spirits created by God. They work for people at the will of God. It is possible an angel has worked for each of us who are the children of God. It is possible an angel will appear to some of us in a special need.
 

A. Angels are . . Sent at the Commissioning of God. (I give just a few examples )

1. Sent to Guard. Gen 3:24

24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life. (NAS)

2. Sent to Guide. Acts 8:26

26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert {road} ) (NAS)

3. When are they Sent?

a. When it pleases God to do so.

B. Angels are . . Servers at the Commissioning of God. (I give just a few examples )

1. Serve in . . Protecting. II Ki 6:16-17 (NAS)

16 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and

2. Serve in . . Purifying. Isa 6:6-7

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, with a burning coal in his hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 And he touched my mouth {with it} and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is forgiven." (NAS)

3. Serve in Prayers. Rev 8:3-4

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. (NAS)

Illustration Angel Stories Email, linda@applecity.com

In the spring of 1982 I was the speaker at a morning prayer group which meets in a town near Springfield, Illinois. Before I spoke, a neighboring pastor shared about his recent trip to Mexico. He, along with several others, had gone there on a preaching mission. While they were returning, their van developed mechanical problems. After jacking up the van, the pastor crawled underneath to check out the problem. The jack collapsed, and he suddenly felt the crushing weight of the van on his chest. His companions quickly grabbed the bumper to lift the van. They weren't able to budge it. He cried out, "Jesus! Jesus!" Within a few seconds a youthful-looking Mexican came running toward them. He was thin and small in stature. He was smiling. As he reached the van, he grabbed the van and lifted it. The others joined in, and the van lifted like a feather.

As he was freed, the pastor felt his chest expand and the broken bones mend. The visitor then lowered the van, waved to them, and ran in the direction from which he had come, until he disappeared on the horizon. No one knew who the mysterious visitor was or where he had come from.

Application

Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.

A. Angels Serve as they . . Inform. Matt 1:20-21

20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." (NAS)

B. Angel Serve as they . . Impede the Work of the Devil. Matt 4:11

11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and {began} to minister to Him. (NAS)

C. Angel Serve as they . . Invigorate. Luke 22:43

43 Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. (NAS)

Illustration Michael "Angel Story" Email, linda@applecity.com
My 14 yr. old son, Michael, was hit by a Semi truck on Oct. 15 1996. He sustained a traumatic brain injury. He had a subdural hematoma an intra cerebral hematoma and a fractured skull. From the minute I ran to the accident and took one look and him I knew the only thing I could do was pray. He was transferred to a hospital more than fifty miles away from the first hospital to the next He coded numerous times. When I first talked to the doctors they told me there was no hope. This went on for 13 days, When Michael finally responded and started breathing on his own all 7 doctors said he was a miracle, that clinically they could not explain it.
Approximately four (4) weeks later Michael started talking and asked for his grandpa who passed away five (5) months earlier of pancreatic cancer. I told Michael that Grandpa had died of cancer in May. He went crazy and said "Oh no my grandpa didn't die! He has been sitting on my bed talking to me" Michael said, "Mommy my body hurt so bad all I wanted to do was die. But Grandpa was sitting on the end of my bed saying, 'Buddy hang on you can't die. It will make your Mom, Grandma and sister too sad'."
For the weeks to come Michael kept referring to the bright lights that he had seen as angels.

Application

The Bible affirms the truth about angels. It is the only reliable source for the study of angels.

1. Angels are . . Spirits Created by God

2. Angels are . . .Sent at the Commission of God.

3. Angels are . . Servants as the Caretakers for God.. br wp="br1">