Angels Surround Us

Text: “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7).

How many of you really believe that angels exist?

How many of you believe each one of us has a guardian angel?

I believe there are many, many angels who watch over God’s children. They not only watch over God’s children, but they watch over all that God has created.

I also believe these angels are working all the time on the planet earth as well as on the other planets God created. They don’t work 8 hours per day and 5 days per week. They are constantly working and they never get tired. They never complain like we do.

There has been talk in the past about unidentified flying objects. I’m not sure, but I believe in the 1960’s there was much talk about these unidentified objects being inhabitants from Mars or other planets. Could these unidentified objects have been angels carrying God’s messages to mankind? I think there is a good possibility.

Is there anything in the New Testament concerning angels?

Let’s look!

How did Joseph feel when he found out Mary was pregnant and they were only engaged? Engagement at this time was as good or binding as the actual marriage and could only be broken by getting a divorce. He did not want to make a public example of Mary so Joseph thought about doing it secretly, but then something interesting happened.

Matthew recorded these words: “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy spirit’” (Matthew 1:20).

God works in mysterious ways and sending a messenger or angel is one way to make sure the correct message is received by the right person.

One day when Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the temple “…an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense” (Luke 1:11). As you recall, “…the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John” (Luke 1:13).

What a wonderful way to announce a pregnancy. Elizabeth did not have to have Zacharias run down to CVS and buy a quick pregnancy test. When God speaks there is no doubt. I wonder how many men and women in this day and age have had this type of experience.

Is it possible? I think it is because God is the same yesterday as He is today and He will be tomorrow. People just do not listen and if they do, they do not believe.

Do you remember the announcement of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds who were out in the fields watching their sheep by night? I can imagine the night being clear, cool and crisp. The sheep were all gathered together under the light of the moon.

The shepherds were probably sitting around the campfire perhaps have something to eat and something to drink. I can hear them talking about the events of the day. Maybe they had to rescue a sheep or two that strayed from the fold.

As they were talking some strange and exciting happened. Luke puts it this way: “And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid” (Luke 2:9).

If you had been one of those shepherds would you have been afraid? Would you have been terrified? Would you have been startled? Would you have thought it was a dream? What would you have done?

I believe we would have reacted just like the shepherds. This was an experience like none other they had ever witnessed. I have a feeling these shepherds were special because God chose them to reveal the birth of His Son.

Is it possible that these shepherds were the ones responsible for supplying the lambs that were used for sacrifices in the temple?

I don’t know because Scripture does not tell us this, but I do think it is possible. Perhaps the shepherds had a very close relationship with God and God was giving them the opportunity to see “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

To make this announcement of the birth of “The Lamb of God” the angel, God’s messenger, appeared to the shepherds and stood before them in a light that was indescribable. It was a natural thing for the shepherds to be afraid, but “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people’” (Luke 2:10).