Do you believe in angels? This question is repeated over and over in one of my favorite movies of all time: “Angels in the Outfield”
The word “angel” is used consistently in the Bible. They are consistently spoken of for example:
a) At creation they were present as Job said in Job 38: 4, 7 that at creation they “shouted for joy.”
b) Likewise, at the fall, angels were stationed to guard Adam and Eve away from the tree of life.
Genesis 3:41
Then we see them active in the rescue of Hagar and Lot, Jacob experienced a stairway with angels ascending and descending, at the Passover there was an angel, when the Law angels were present (Deuteronomy 33:2) at the Birth of Jesus there were angels, at the stoning of Stephen there were angels. Angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament and 177 times in the New Testament.
This book, Hebrews, that we are studying also tells us that they are present among us as we read: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this come have entertained angels without knowing it.“ Hebrews 13:2
In our world today there is a fascination with angels. One man in East Jordan, Michigan( Glen Forman) said was caught one on his home security camera and then moved out of frame. Then, there’s the question about the 9-11 memorial lights of 2016 (5 years after 9-11) that Richard McCormick snapped a picture that went global that many say was an angel. (Show pictures)
7 out of 10 people believe in angels according to the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affair Research. Interesting enough, 4 out of 10 that say they believe in angels say they believe even though they don’t go to church.
It’s understandable that people believe in angels because 89% of Americans believe in God. Yet, strangely enough only 58% of Americans believe in hell.
In Hebrews 1: 4-14 we have one of the most comprehensive discussions about angels in the Bible that not only communicates their ministry, but also compares angels to the Messiah; Jesus Christ. It places them in their proper perspective in relation to Christ.
Through this passage our curiosity is stirred, but also, our hearts are strengthened to know we have help when journeying through life with Jesus.
Transition: What do we learn from angels?
I. The Value of Our Salvation
vs. 14- “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out (dispatched) to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.”
Explanation:
To begin our discussion of angels, let’s start at the end and work our way back to the beginning. In verse 14 we read God’s job description for angels. He says: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out (dispatched) to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”
Take note of what God tells us about the angels; they are “sent out” – or dispatched” to come to our need, to render service, to provide the assistance necessary.
The point is that God has provided angelic help as we fight the spiritual battle. You are not in life alone. Not only do we have the person of God with us, but we have the “staff” of God with us. God uses angels to help us fulfill His historical plan.
Hebrews 1 communicates how they serve (you and me) – the inheritors of salvation. In other words, we have an invisible army. Two-thirds of all the angels still work for God, while 1/3 jumped ship after they were persuaded to give up God and follow the devil.
We have an army sent out as needed, by God, to minister to those who have inherited salvation.
It is interesting to read Luke 15:16 because it shows how angels are passionate about our salvation.
If you don’t remember Luke 15 is all about “things that are lost.”
Jesus told three parables about “lost things”
a) He tells a story about a shepherd who lost his sheep. (vs. 4-7)
b) He tells a story about a widow who lost a coin. (vs. 8-10)
c) Then he tell story about a Father who lost his son; the Prodigal who left home. (vs. 11 &
following)
As a climax to this crescendo of stories, he concludes the message saying: “Likewise, I say to you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.”
Listen: The moment you were “born again” angels started focusing on you.
I Corinthians 4:9 says: “...for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.”
The word “spectacle” refers to an arena. We are watched from above. We are the center of the drama that is unfolding on earth. We are center stage.
If our eyes could be opened this morning and see what is going on behind the veil of the physical we might be surprised that angels are watching over us. Angels are in attendance this morning because what is happening is significant. We are celebrating the salvation of Jesus, because we are inheritors of the greatest thing in human history; we are inheritors of salvation.
Listen: Salvation is the greatest gift of history. The Bible says: “Do not neglect such a great salvation.” Hebrews 2:3. It’s compared to a pearl of great price. Nothing compares to its value. Nothing on earth is worth more.
When Jesus’ blood is applied to your account; angels step up and step into your life. You are of supreme interest to them because they know you have the greatest treasure in your being.
Illustration: The most secure place in the world
Do you know what’s the most secure place in the world is? It’s above or the Federal Reserve Bank In New York, the Global Seed Vault in Norway, it’s better than Fort Knox or Area 51 in Nevada.
The place is the Vatican Street Archieve in Rome Italy. In the archieve there are 35,000 volumes of books about salvation with 53 miles of shelves. It is forbidden to reporters, students, and amateur historians. Authorization is only granted to a select few of academic scholars who have to renew their request for access every 6 months and must be at least 75 years old.
It is guarded by a Swiss guard and access is only given to three volumes a day that are previously requested.
Application:
Today, you need a heavenly perspective. You need to understand as a Christian what you are carrying around. Paul describes it in Ephesians 3: 8 this way. The calls it “ the unfathomable riches of Christ.”
Listen: Don’t you under estimate what you have inside you if you are a believer. You have the greatest treasure. Isaiah calls it “A storehouse of salvation.” Isaiah 33:6
The angels long to look upon it. They long to see what Jesus has given to you and how it is communicated through your transformed life. Angels can’t get their eyes off of us because we have through the grace of God become the depository of the more valuable thing that exists; the salvation of Jesus Christ.
Now pause for a minute. Let me ask you: “If you are a Christian, do have any understanding of what’s inside you? Do you take it for granted? Do you value your salvation appropriately? Do you celebrate your salvation consistently? Do you share your salvation effectively?”
Listen: You possess the possession of all possessions, you hold the holding of all holding, you are in the lap of luxury spiritually, you are rich beyond richness. Nothing is richer than the spiritual depository in your heart where Jesus lives.
If you have not accepted salvation, do you understand what you are walking away from every invitation, and every time you hear about Jesus? You are walking away from the greatest gift ever offered. God even calls people “fools” that do such a thing.
Angels help us see the value of salvation.
Transition: What do we learn from angels?
II. The Greatness Of Our Savior
Vs. 4-13- “having become as much better than the angels...”
Explanation:
When you understand how valuable your salvation and Jesus is; the world becomes so much less attractive to a person.
The angels by their mere existence stand to point to Jesus as the greatest, and how the world, and any other things pales in attraction to knowing Jesus.
The Jews this book was originally written to were seekers of angels. After all, a visit by an angel would be a highlight of someone’s life. After all, as said before; Abraham was visited by an angel, Jacob was visited by angels, Ezekiel was ushered up to heaven and saw angels, up next to a visit from God; the visit of an angel topped the list.
There was a lot of folklore about angels in their day. For example: They believed that 200 angels controlled the movement of the starts, one angel controlled the succession of the days on a calendar, a mighty angel took care of the seas, one rabbi even wrote that for every blade of grass there was an angel. They even believed that God’s law was given by angels.
Stephen noted this in Acts 7:53 as he said: “...you who received the law as ordained by angels, and you did not keep it.”
These recipients were very focused on angels; but were missing the focus of the angels; Jesus Christ. Therefore, he communicates that angels remind us that Jesus is the greatest in three ways:
a) They remind us of Christmas- (vs. 4-6) Look at verses 4-6. In this section of celebration of Jesus, we are reminded of what happened at Christmas. This was a phenomenal event. It was the moment God became something He had never been; He became a Son, a “first born.”
The mystery of Christ’s birth is awesome. Because in a moment we will be reminded that Jesus was the “Creator”--- but at Christmas; He became a Creation. God became a man. When he did, the angels worshipped him. They pointed to the fact that Jesus was God; manifested in a new and wonderful way. He became flesh so that it would be possible for His flesh to be torn, nailed to Calvary, and bleed and die for you and me. God who is a Spirit; became a “Son” to provide redemption for you and me.
Tony Evans summed it up saying: “The Incarnation solved our biggest problem; a Savior who was sinless, became fully human so He could die a real death for us.”
b) They remind Us of Creation- (vs. 7) Reminds us that God is a Creator and made everything with a purpose, including angels. The verse begins with the phrase, “Who makes the angels winds” The word “make” means “to create.” Angels were made to move and minister. They are like consistent moving winds and ministers that are ignited like fire.
Their existence reminds us that God made everything and everyone with a purpose.
He then points to who He is. He is King. He has a throne (vs. 8) a scepter (vs. 8) and a Kingdom (vs. 8) The angels serve the kingdom and give glory to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
He goes on in verse 10 and reminds us that He laid the foundation of the earth and heavens and that they are the works of His hands.
c) They remind us of Christ’s Coming- Angels will have a significant role. One of the roles, according to Revelation 16:12 is amazing. It reads: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the kinds of the east might be prepared.”
I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention to International news, but one of the hottest topics is that over the last several years the “mighty Euphrates” is drying up.
Here’s the Euphrates in 2021 and now in 2023
Many believe that this is the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy and that the signs of the times are pointing to the end and coming of Jesus.
In verse 11 we are told that angels are ready and perhaps already being dispatched to fulfill these types of prophecies. They know the truth is that creation is headed to its final hour as it reads: “They will perish (the foundations of earth and heavens), But you remain and they all will become like an old garment and like a mantle you will roll them up, like a garment they will also be changed, but you are the same, and your years will not come to an end.”
The point is: Jesus is eternal and the angels are carrying out the mission of the ages.
Illustration: Bulletproof Washington
On July 19, 1775 during the French and Indian War George Washingon’s life hung in the balance.
Washington wrote about it later saying: “By the all-powerful dispensations of providence I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation: for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot out from under me, yet I escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions all around me.”
Fifteen years later, an old respected Indian chief hunted down Washington and told him:
“I called to my young men and said, mark you that tall and daring Warrior (Washington). He is alone and exposed. Quick let your aim be certain, and he dies. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you knew not how to miss, t’was vain because. A power mightier far than we shielded you, seeing that you were under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, we ceased to fire at you... I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of Heaven, and who can never die in battle.”
This story was in every American school Textbook until 1934.
Application:
Many teachers of that era communicated that story and explained that God had dispatched angels to watch over George Washington to fulfill His plan to establish and bless the United States of America.
Yet, there is an even greater one who is “the Lord of Hosts” (as he is called) --- the captain of the army of heaven. The King Eternal who created the world, came into it, and is coming again who is the greatest of all because He is Lord of all, and all the angels know it, declare it, celebrate it, and remind us of it.
Transitional Sentence: What do the angels teach us?
III. The Purpose of Our Life
vs. 14- “Are they not all ministering spirits.....”
Explanation:
In the final statement of chapter one, we are reminded that angels are “ministering” spirits sent out to “render service” for the sake of those who inherit salvation.
Simply stated: They are ministering spirits who serve the people that minister.
If you understand what the writer is saying here, you will understand that angels are specifically dispatched for our benefit.
Interesting enough, angels are part of the support system for your life and fulfilling God’s plan for your life. They seek to assist you. Think about it: They were also Jesus’ support system.
The Bible tells us that after Jesus was tempted this is what happened: “Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.” Matthew 4:11
Likewise, when Elisha was menaced by the King of Syria and unable to defend himself his servant panicked and Elisha said: “Do not fear, more are with us that against us.”
Because his servant did not understand the Bible says that Elisha prayed” “O Lord, I pray open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened his eyes and he saw; and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. “ 2 Kings 6: 15-17
Likewise, angels were involved in the deliverance of Lot from Sodom. Angels shut the lions mouths in Daniels Lion’s Den. There’s hardly a servant of God in the Bible without an “angel story.”
Do you know why? God has chosen to dispatch his servants; to assist us as His servants. We have a purpose that matters, so much that God has given us an angelic support group that we don’t even see, that are at work on our behalf 24/7.
The existence of angels communicates loudly how important you are to the plan of God. God sent angels to assist with His plan for Jesus; and he sends them out to assist you as well.
Concluding Illustration: Empty space
Scientists have studied our “make up” for years and, as you know, they say we are made up of small fundamental units of matter called “atoms”
Yet, they also say that the majority of the atom is empty space. As a matter of fact, if you took all the atoms in the people in the human race and squeezed out all the empty space; you could fit all the entire human race in the volume of a sugar cube.
Do you know what that tells us? Scientifically we are 99.999999999999 percent empty space!"
Yet, do you know what dwells in that empty space? A soul, a spirit--something unseen-- like the angels in your life.
When I read that, it didn’t take much to understand that there’s a message here. God made us “scientifically empty” so He could “spiritually fill” us with Himself and give us a grand purpose because of our union with Jesus Christ.
God’s love and desire to use us is so mind blowing that Hebrews 2 says: "What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor. (Hebrews 2:6-7).
Today, would you embrace the place God has for you? A place of purpose, made possible through the provision of Jesus who is greatest! Don’t miss Jesus. Trust Him. Receive Him. Live for Him. He’s the greatest!
