Christian Life Church
May 8, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” Hebrews 1:7
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Wednesday 6:30 PM
Unseen Realities: A Biblical Survey of the Spirit Realm Session 2 May 8, 2024
Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
Hebrews 1:7
WHAT SCRIPTURE REVEALS ABOUT ANGELS
Their designation reveals a primary function.
Angel
· Hebrew – mal’ak or mal’akim
oThe word means “messenger.”
§From the Semitic word “to send”
§Melākah – refers to a “trade mission” or “business journey”
§Used of human messengers sent to deliver a message (Genesis 32:3; Deuteronomy 2:26: 2 Samuel 11:9)
§Also references prophets sent by God. (Haggai 1:13; 2 Chronicles 36:15)
· Greek – angelos
oThis word likewise highlights the concept of being a divine messenger.
· The term’s force centers around being sent out by God to serve His purposes, not just to deliver messages.
· God is pleased to share the essence of His activity with angels and men.
· “Angel” is more of a job description than a title.
oA spirit being dispatched from God to convey messages from God.
· Consider the following examples:
oAngels delivered the law of Moses. (Acts 7:53; Hebrews 2:1-3; Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalm 68:17)
oAngels announced the births of several individuals. Examples include Ishmael (Genesis 16:7-12), Isaac (Genesis 18:1-5, 16, 22), Samson (Judges 13:3-24), John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-20), and Jesus (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:8-15).
oAn angel communicated with Joseph to protect the child Jesus. (Matthew 2:13-15; 2:19-23).
oAngels declared the resurrection. (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12)
oAngels communicated with the apostles. (Acts 1:9-11; 5:17-20; 27:22-26)
oAngels spoke specific direction to ensure the Gospel reached certain individuals.
§Philip, the Evangelist and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-27)
§Cornelius’ instructions to call for Simon Peter (Acts 10 :1-8; 10:30-33
· Notice that angels do not proclaim the Gospel message.
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa (Acts 10:1-8)
· Angels often appear as men in scripture. They may or may not evidence glory when they are seen.
o At times, they are observed walking, talking, and eating like men (Genesis 18:2, 8, 9, 16; 19:1)
o Other times they may appear with dazzling light and glory (Matthew 28:3-4; Luke 2:9)
Angelic interaction with humanity and service to God
· Angels engage in cosmic and terrestrial spiritual warfare.
o Daniel and the angelic messenger (Daniel 10:2-18)
o Michael the Archangel intervenes against the Prince of Persia.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:12-13)
· Angels may engage in physical realm battles as well.
o Hezekiah and Sennacherib (2 Kings 19)
o 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were cut down by one angel during the night.
§ Columbia - 139,698 (2022) = 76%
§ Williams-Brice Capacity, 77,559-less than half this number
§ Let us live within the reality of 2 Chronicles 20:15; the battle belongs to the Lord!
· Angels are agents of divine protection over individuals and God’s people.
o Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:20-23)
o Elisha and his servant at Dothan (2 Kings 6:16)
o North Burma Christian Mission-Russell and Gertrude Morse
· Angels aid in giving divine guidance.
o Examples of Philip and Cornelius previously mentioned
o Joseph instructed to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20-21)
o Joseph’s warning to flee to Egypt ahead of Herod’s massacre (Matthew 2:13)
o Paul’s shipwreck (Acts 27:23-25)
· Angels minister deliverance and divine intervention.
o Myrtle Beach, a personal story
o The Apostles arrested by the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:19-20)
o Simon Peter awaiting trial before Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:5-10)
o Jesus may have affirmed the Jewish belief in guardian angels. (Matthew 18:10)
§ Rabbinic literature and the Talmud
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:12)
· Angels participate in comforting, encouraging, and strengthening God’s people.
o Elijah fleeing from Jezebel (I Kings 19:1-8)
o Jesus following His wilderness temptation (Matthew 4:11)
o During Jesus’ travail in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43)
o Eunice Chitty’s story
· Angels partner in the believer’s spiritual refinement and faith-proving.
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2)
o Near East hospitality involved hosting and caring for visitors
o Food Lion
o Mom and Dad’s neighbor
Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
Hebrews 1:7
WHAT SCRIPTURE REVEALS ABOUT ANGELS
Their designation reveals a primary function.
Angel
· Hebrew – mal’ak or mal’akim
oThe word means “messenger.”
§From the Semitic word “to send”
§Melākah – refers to a “trade mission” or “business journey”
§Used of human messengers sent to deliver a message (Genesis 32:3; Deuteronomy 2:26: 2 Samuel 11:9)
§Also references prophets sent by God. (Haggai 1:13; 2 Chronicles 36:15)
· Greek – angelos
oThis word likewise highlights the concept of being a divine messenger.
· The term’s force centers around being sent out by God to serve His purposes, not just to deliver messages.
· God is pleased to share the essence of His activity with angels and men.
· “Angel” is more of a job description than a title.
oA spirit being dispatched from God to convey messages from God.
· Consider the following examples:
oAngels delivered the law of Moses. (Acts 7:53; Hebrews 2:1-3; Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalm 68:17)
oAngels announced the births of several individuals. Examples include Ishmael (Genesis 16:7-12), Isaac (Genesis 18:1-5, 16, 22), Samson (Judges 13:3-24), John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-20), and Jesus (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:8-15).
oAn angel communicated with Joseph to protect the child Jesus. (Matthew 2:13-15; 2:19-23).
oAngels declared the resurrection. (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12)
oAngels communicated with the apostles. (Acts 1:9-11; 5:17-20; 27:22-26)
oAngels spoke specific direction to ensure the Gospel reached certain individuals.
§Philip, the Evangelist and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-27)
§Cornelius’ instructions to call for Simon Peter (Acts 10 :1-8; 10:30-33
· Notice that angels do not proclaim the Gospel message.
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa (Acts 10:1-8)
· Angels often appear as men in scripture. They may or may not evidence glory when they are seen.
o At times, they are observed walking, talking, and eating like men (Genesis 18:2, 8, 9, 16; 19:1)
o Other times they may appear with dazzling light and glory (Matthew 28:3-4; Luke 2:9)
Angelic interaction with humanity and service to God
· Angels engage in cosmic and terrestrial spiritual warfare.
o Daniel and the angelic messenger (Daniel 10:2-18)
o Michael the Archangel intervenes against the Prince of Persia.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:12-13)
· Angels may engage in physical realm battles as well.
o Hezekiah and Sennacherib (2 Kings 19)
o 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were cut down by one angel during the night.
§ Columbia - 139,698 (2022) = 76%
§ Williams-Brice Capacity, 77,559-less than half this number
§ Let us live within the reality of 2 Chronicles 20:15; the battle belongs to the Lord!
· Angels are agents of divine protection over individuals and God’s people.
o Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:20-23)
o Elisha and his servant at Dothan (2 Kings 6:16)
o North Burma Christian Mission-Russell and Gertrude Morse
· Angels aid in giving divine guidance.
o Examples of Philip and Cornelius previously mentioned
o Joseph instructed to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20-21)
o Joseph’s warning to flee to Egypt ahead of Herod’s massacre (Matthew 2:13)
o Paul’s shipwreck (Acts 27:23-25)
· Angels minister deliverance and divine intervention.
o Myrtle Beach, a personal story
o The Apostles arrested by the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:19-20)
o Simon Peter awaiting trial before Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:5-10)
o Jesus may have affirmed the Jewish belief in guardian angels. (Matthew 18:10)
§ Rabbinic literature and the Talmud
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:12)
· Angels participate in comforting, encouraging, and strengthening God’s people.
o Elijah fleeing from Jezebel (I Kings 19:1-8)
o Jesus following His wilderness temptation (Matthew 4:11)
o During Jesus’ travail in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43)
o Eunice Chitty’s story
· Angels partner in the believer’s spiritual refinement and faith-proving.
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2)
o Near East hospitality involved hosting and caring for visitors
o Food Lion
o Mom and Dad’s neighbor