The Angel Ministry
I Cor. 4:9
The Bible teaches that we, as members of the body of Christ, minister to angels. Did you know that?
Some are in the bus ministry…they minister to bus kids and their families.
Some are in the s.s. ministry…and they teach and minister to their class.
Some are in our meal ministry or another ministry…
…but everyone here who has been saved is ALSO in the angel ministry. We minister to angels everyday, whether we realize it or not. Angels are learning things about God by watching us!
Put your thinking cap on and pay close attention, because this is more teachy than preachy, and more educational than entertaining.
I. Angels are watching us.
How would you live your life if you knew you were being watched at all times?
Ill.—The Truman Show—his life changed the day he realized he was being watched.
We wouldn’t want to be watched in that context, but angels ARE watching us!
A. We cannot see them in this age…they exist in another dimension.
B. They can see us.
1 Tim. 5:21
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Paul tells Timothy, “There’s 3 reasons to do what I’ve told you: God is watching, Jesus is watching, and the angels are watching.”
Ill—Pastor of a very small church would only have 15 or 20 on a good day, yet he studied for hours on end for every message. His wife asked him why he would work so hard for so few. He said, “you’re forgetting what a large audience I actually have.” And then he quoted her this verse:
1 Cor. 4:9
For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
“Spectacle” = For public show
In the Greek it’s theotron = theatre.
Acts 19:29
And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
Back to the previous verse, ‘we are made a theatre to the angels’.
Ill.—at a professional baseball game there are a handful of men on the field w/ 40,000 + people in the grandstands watching. The players are making a spectacle of themselves…and each of them are hoping to do something “spectacular”!
C. Angels are curious creatures. They are carefully scrutinizing our lives. They are paying close attention.
Ill.—cats have a curious nature. Matter of fact, it was curiosity that did what to the cat? [killed!]
Angels have a different nature than we have, and they are curious to learn more. There are ‘angels among us’, and they are, no doubt, in this very room, watching and learning.
II. Angels are learning about God’s wisdom by observing us.
A. They are not omniscient. They are limited in their knowledge. They have the capacity to learn. There are things they have not experienced and do not fully understand.
1 Peter 1:10-12
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: [11] Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. [12] Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
The prophets didn’t understand…it seemed like they were writing about 2 different Messiahs, 1 that suffers and 1 that would be glorious. But they were writing for future generations to understand…that’s us! Today we know, there is only 1 Messiah, and He both suffered and is glorious!
But here’s our point for tonite: even the angels didn’t understand, and so they look into it! God doesn’t share all the details of His plan with His heavenly servants, the angels. They are simply to do their job.
B. They are curious of what they don’t understand. But we can understand it today by the Holy Spirit of God…truly we are a privileged people to live in the day in which we do.
1 Cor. 2:7-8
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
These ‘princes’ are obviously demonic angels which fell from heaven. And had they known what impact Jesus’ crucifixion would have on this world, they never would have allowed it to happen.
It was Satan and his demons who put it into the heart of mankind to kill Jesus…they were the inspiration…but God was using them to fulfil His higher purpose that He never let them in on!
Do you know what Satan did the moment that Jesus died? He rejoiced! For 3 days he danced on the grave of Jesus, and hell went on holiday! Satan declared victory, but what he and his angels did not understand is that they unwittingly had performed the will of God. The devil had no idea how far reaching the effects of the cross would be. That’s why the cross today is an embarrassing memory for him! It was at the cross that Satan was led into an ambush. He was faked out, so to speak. ‘Psych’! The very thing he thought would guarantee his victory would actually guarantee his defeat! Satan thought he had brought death to God, but actually God was winning the victory over death, the grave, and hell itself!
Hang with me, because we’re building something here. Why is this so significant that Satan played right into God’s hand? Because the original conflict between God and Satan was a conflict over wisdom. Some would say it was over power, but it was not. Satan knew he didn’t have more power than his creator, and he never claimed to be more powerful than God. What he claimed to be was wiser than God. He believed that he could do more w/ his power and “great wisdom” than God could do w/ more power and His “limited wisdom.” And so, Satan’s boast was, “I know better…no secret can be hidden from me!”
So, God used the prophets and gave all the facts, but it was shrouded in mystery. It’s like God says, “I’m so much wiser than you, I can spell it all out for you, and you still won’t be able to defeat me!”
The prophets didn’t understand God’s revelation. The disciples, too, didn’t understand. They were in hiding for those 3 days, and as far they were thinking, their leader had been killed.
Before His death, Jesus spelled it out clearly for Peter saying, I’m gonna die, and 3 days later rise again. And Peter said, “not so, Lord.”
And even the angels didn’t understand God’s master plan, nor did Satan and his angels.
The cross is the focal point of God’s master plan. And it still stands today as a testimony of not only God’s power, but His wisdom! And just as God’s wisdom is exalted thru His awesome plan, Satan’s lack of wisdom [by comparison] is made a spectacle for the ages!
This answers 2 major questions:
1. Why does Satan hate us believers so much, roaming about like a lion to devour us? We are fruit growing on that tree that was ‘supposed’ to be the end of his competition with God. We are a reminder of his embarrassing loss on that day!
2. Why are angels following us around? Because they know nothing of the grace and wisdom of God and His redemptive salvation. They know no forgiveness. They are more curious than ever, just as we are about them. They know the power of God all too well, but they are still learning about His manifold wisdom.
Ephes. 3:9-10
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: [10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
The angels learn by the church, as they watch not only our services, but our daily lives as parts of the body, they can see God’s wisdom unfolding His master plan, step by step.
Do you see His wisdom working in your life?
And how are you doing in your ministry? You know, your ‘angel ministry’!? How is the teaching going? Oh, they’ll learn from you, whether good or bad, success or failure, but what are they learning about God’s grace and wisdom from you? Do they see you standing in Christ and living a life of victory? Do they see you walking in the flesh and carnality, in worldliness?
No, we’re not trying to please the angels or put on a good show for them. We are to focus on Christ, who is watching, and we know that man is looking. But it doesn’t hurt to have some added motivation.
Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
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http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/AngelMinistry.html
