A Warning Against Angel Worship Series

TEXT: Hebrews 1:4-14

ETS: Jesus is superior to the angels.

ESS: Believers are to worship Jesus, not angels.

OSS: Believers will gain a new understanding about the roles of Jesus and Angels.

PQ: How is Jesus superior to the angels?

UW: Facts

TOPIC: “A Warning Against Worshipping Angels”

INTRODUCTION:

There seems to be a growing trend in our world today. There is an increased emphasis on angels. While the ministry of angels is vital to the life of the believer, angels are not to be worshipped. Jesus alone is to be the object of our worship and devotion. Here is why...

I. JESUS HAS A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER (VS. 5).

A. He is better than the angels (vs. 4).

1. What is an angel?

a) a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God.

b) An angel is a created being that is sent by God to carry a message to a person or do God’s bidding.

2. What kinds of angels are there?

a) Seraphim = majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God. (Isa.6:1-3).

b) Archangel = chief of the angels the highest spirits of the religion of Zoroaster). (I Thess. 4:16).

c) Cherubim = winged angelic beings, often associated with worship and praise of God. The cherubim are first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 3:24 . When God drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, He placed cherubim at the east of the garden, “and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” They were similar in appearance to the statues of winged sphinxes that flanked the entrances to palaces and temples in ancient Babylonia and Assyria. A careful comparison of the first and tenth chapters of the book of Ezekiel shows clearly that the “four living creatures” ( Ezek. 1:5 ) were the same beings as the cherubim ( Ezekiel 10 ). Each had four faces—that of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle ( (Ezek. 1:10 ; also 10:14 )—and each had four wings. In their appearance, the cherubim “had the likeness of a man” ( Ezek. 1:5 ). These cherubim used two of their wings for flying and the other two for covering their bodies ( Ezek. 1:6 , 11 , 23 ). Under their wings the cherubim appeared to have the form, or likeness, of a man’s hand ( Ezek. 1:8 ; 10:7–8 , 21 ). (Exodus 25:17-20;Ezek 1:5; 10:2; Rev. 4:6-9).

B. Jesus is the Son of God (vs. 5).

1. He is God’s “Only begotten Son” (John 3:16)

2. He is the one and only “Word of God” (John 1:1)

II. ANGELS ARE MINISTERING SPIRITS (VS. 6-7,14).

A. The angels worship Him (vs. 6). (Isa. 6:1-3; Rev. 4:6-9)

1. They are worshippers of God, and not to be worshipped. (Exodus 20:4).

2. The angels are spirits who are messengers of God (vs.7).

a) They carry messages to men from God.

(1) They carried messages to prophets (Dan.9:21-23)

(2) They carried announcements about Jesus (Matt.1:20-21;28:5;Luke 2:8-15; Acts 1:10-11)

B. The angels minister to the people of God (vs. 14).

1. It is their job to minister to God’s people

(Acts 8:26;5:19-20)

III. JESUS IS LORD OF ALL CREATION (VSS. 8-13).

A. Jesus is enthroned as Lord of creation (vss. 8-9).

B. Jesus will be the victorious King who returns in glory (vss. 10-13).

1. Jesus will return in Glory (Rev. 19:11-16).

CONCLUSION:

A- Summary of main points.

B- Invitation to Discipleship.