Touched By An Angel Series

Series: Jesus Is Better- The Better Messenger [#2]

TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL

Hebrews 1:4-14

Introduction:

You don’t have to look very far on T.V. anymore to find a program or movie about angels. There are series such as “Touched By An Angel” that are good; but many times the focus is placed upon the angels and not God. I remember a movie titled “Angels In The Outfield”. Although there is nothing terrible about this movie as far as bad language or violence; once again it focuses on angels and not God. As a youth minister, I taught a series on angels, and this series always seemed to be one of the most popular amongst the youth that I would teach. The students were enamored by the study of angels.

Just as in our times when we have put a lot of emphasis upon angels, so did the people during the time this book of the Bible was written. Some believed that angels were so important, that they worshipped them. Others went so far with this, that they were teaching that Jesus Christ was also an angel. Now we know that to not be true. The writer here in our passage gives us 7 proofs that Jesus is better than the angels.

Last week we learned that Jesus is a better messenger than the prophets and this morning we will see why Jesus is a better messenger than the angels. Before we see why Jesus is better than the angels, I want us to identify some key facts about angels so that we can make the comparisons between the angels and Jesus clearer.

 The origin of angels.

Angles did not just appear or evolve into being; they were created by God, just as everything else was. If you thought that as a Christian, once you died and went to Heaven that you would be made an angel, you are wrong. You will not become an angel because God created angels to be angels and humans to be humans.

At creation, the number of angels was forever fixed. You will never read of God creating more angels and Jesus said they do not reproduce themselves. Since angels cannot reproduce, they are considered a company or host of beings, not a race. God’s purpose for the creation of angels was to glorify Jesus.

 The nature of angels.

They are invisible, while on some occasions, we do find in Scripture when they have shown themselves. The angels usually remain invisible so that we might not worship them instead of God. The angels are innumerable. Of course, God knows how many there are; but to man they are uncountable. Many times Scripture compares the number of angels to the number of stars. We cannot count all of them.

Although there are innumerable angels, they each have a separate personality, probably no two exactly alike. In behavioral science, there are 3 necessary features that must be found in order to say the creature has a personality:

 Intelligence.

 Will.

 Emotion.

Because of Adam’s fall, angels are superior to men.

 They are stronger.

 They are smarter.

 They are swifter.

 They are superior to man because they are unhindered by a fallen nature and they are not bound by time and law of gravity.

Angels are inferior to God.

 They are not omnipresent, that is in all places at the same time.

 They are not omnipotent, that is all powerful.

 They are not omniscient, that is all knowing.

 The moral classification of angels.

It is believed that all angels were originally created without fault, just as Adam was. Lucifer, Heaven’s chief angel, started a revolt against God. Not only did Lucifer, or Satan, rebel against God; but he was able to persuade 1/3 of Heaven’s angels to rebel with him. From the point of this rebellion, the faithful angels are referred to as holy and elect angels while the fallen angels are referred to as the devil’s angels. For just one moment realize, we are not in a physical battle, but a spiritual battle.

Hebrews 1:4-14 (NIV)

“So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end." To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”