Angels: Activating God’s Secret Agents
Angels on Defense
February 14, 2010
Introduction
A Byron Preston
B Every believer can recall some incident, critical danger-miraculously preserved.
1 Near car wrecks, fierce temptation, tractor rolling over, tree stand, kid wandering in the road, etc...the presence of angels could explain why tragedy was averted.
a The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Psalms 34:7 (NASB)
b For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 1 Cor 4:9 (NASB) Paul believed angels were watching him (not paranoia, but a promise).
aa When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.12 For now we see in a mirror dimly , but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 1 Cor 13:11-12 (NASB) One day, our eyes will be fully open to the full extent of the ministry angels have given us.
bb Ministering “spirits”
2 I believe God assigns angels (guardian angels) over us, perhaps at the time of infancy.
a See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. Matt 18:10 (NASB)
b These angels work on our behalf, for our protection (cf. Psalm 91).
3 I believe they always protect the Lord’s investment.
a That’s you! God has a plan, purpose, destiny, number of days.
b Angels are there in your life to keep you safe, sound, protection from demonic forces.
C Today, let’s look at how these angels can be activated by following protocols found in Psalm 91.
1 Not worshiping, praying, mistaking angels with Holy Spirit.
2 We know God uses angels to work the destinies of men/ nations/regions.
a At times God manifests His presence in different ways (dove at baptism).
b At times, He has chosen to manifest His presence through His angels, visible to men.
D I pray we get in on what God is doing in this realm when His secret agents are active.
I Angels protect & deliver us
A I believe Psalm 91 reveals three steps of protocol to unlock the increased angelic protection in our lives.
1 Intimacy-moving to safer ground. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!"Psalms 91:1-2 (NASB)
a In biblical times, devout Jewish men wore a covering to temple called a tallith (prayer shawl), a private covering.
aa Symbolized they spent private, intimate time alone with God, in a secret place.
bb Abide means to tarry all night; it speaks of the intimacy of husband & wife who tarry all night loving each other.
b When we spend time alone with God, we experience His covering.
aa Want to avoid evil, desire to obey...abide in Him.
bb How? V. 2: “I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge, my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
cc When we audibly confess His Word out of our mouth, we proclaim His power/might/
promise/praise, & He inhabits our praise!
dd Gateway to His presence, secret place, shelter
2 Invincibility-the first line of defense. For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence.4 He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day;6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.7 A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you.8 You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Psalms 91:3-8 (NASB) Invincibility means you can escape from the devil’s traps.
a In His shadow/secret place, I am able to be set free, loosed from the traps the devil sets before me (snares in biblical times were baited traps for birds or animals).
aa If I’m in His shadow, I’m not cheating on my wife, sleeping with my boyfriend, drunk, gossiping, withholding my tithe, cursing people.
bb Snares are there, & sometimes we get “hung up”-He delivers us!
cc Deliver means set free, loosens us, takes us out, pulls us along (IL: coon).
b You can be abiding & still have disaster, disease, or disappointment. The difference is these things won’t deter you from Jesus-set free.
3 Immunity-the deepest level of protection (invincibility breaks you free from evil’s snare, immunity means you’re out of its way when it gets to you/off limits to demonic attack).
a Once again, it starts with intimacy. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. Psalms 91:9 (NASB)
b Four things begin to happen when you operate with immunity:
aa Accidents stop happening. No evil will befall you Psalms 91:10a (NASB) Cars don’t hit yours, appliances keep working, tires stay up.
bb Sickness stops spreading. Nor will any plague come near your tent. Psalms 91:10 (NASB)
cc Angels start helping. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.12 They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. Psalms 91:11-12 (NASB) Intimacy increases angelic activity; they’ll even keep you from tripping over a rock.
dd Devil starts losing. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down. Psalms 91:13 (NASB) What the devil used to hang over your head is now under your feet!
ee Angels will warn you/protect you from al the enemy may try to bring against you.
c (IL) Since 2005, millions of dollars have been spent putting ultra-sensitive sensors on the bottom of the Indian Ocean. Ocean rises 12" in a nanosecond & a signal is sent to a satellite & transmits a warning to the countries affected.
aa God has put early warning devices in our lives that guard us, paths...angels.
bb If we’re not connected with God, we won’t get the warning He’s sending.
B Why us? Because He loves you, & you love Him.
1 "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble ; I will rescue him and honor him. Psalms 91:14-15 (NASB) Once we set our love on Him, He sets us on high.
a “I will deliver him.” (cf. 3) The enemy can’t build a spiritual prison that can hold you.
b “I will set him securely on high because he has known my name.” You worry about God’s name, & he’ll take care of you reputation.
c “He will call upon Me and I will answer him.”
d “I will be with him in time of trouble.” Never alone
e “I will honor him” The only applause that matters is that of heaven, “well done”.
f "With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation." Psalms 91:16 (NASB) You’ll live longer, fuller, richer, deeper, more satisfied, overflowing, pressed down till you cross the finish line!
g “I will show him my ‘salvation’”. Salvation is Hebrew “Yeshua”, Hebrew for “Jesus”.
aa The best promise saved for last-God will show you Jesus!
bb To see Jesus is the beginning & end of everything.
2 Angels don’t understand Jesus the way we do.
a Never sinned, don’t age, get sick, don’t know what it’s like to be...
aa Lost/found; blackened by sin/washed in the blood
bb Redeemed, wonderfully saved, understand His mercy/grace
cc Filled with the Holy Ghost
b God has blessed us to see His Yeshua, Salvation, Jesus!
Conclusion
A And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release , so that they might obtain a better resurrection;36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. Heb 11:32-40 (NASB)
1 Especially v. 35: “...and others...”
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