Title: The Angels of God
1The Angels of God
- Class 3
- The Angels work for YOU!
2- Hebrews 114
- 14 Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits
sent forth to minister for those who will inherit
salvation?
They are with us all the time not just when
troubles come. Learn to be aware of their
presence and appreciate their help. If we hope to
be equal to angels, we must learn to serve like
them now. Its too late to wait till the kingdom
starts. Christadelphian Bible marking lessons
completely skip this aspect of the angels! So do
most hymns.
3- Revelation 228-9
- 8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And
when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship
before the feet of the angel who showed me these
things. - 9 Then he said to me, "See that you do not do
that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your
brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the
words of this book. Worship God."
The angels work unselfishly as our
fellow-servants, so that we can join them in
their work as members of the family of God
4- 1 Corinthians 49-13
- 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the
apostles, last, as men condemned to death for we
have been made a spectacle to the world, both to
angels and to men. - 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are
wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong!
You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! - 11 To the present hour we both hunger and
thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten,
and homeless. - 12 And we labor, working with our own hands.
Being reviled, we bless being persecuted, we
endure - 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been
made as the filth of the world, the offscouring
of all things until now.
Angels are sometimes surprised at what saints
must experience. Imagine their wonder at what
Jesus had to go through!
5- Isaiah 639
- 9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, and
the Angel of His Presence saved them in His love
and in His pity He redeemed them and He bore
them and carried them all the days of old.
The angel working with Moses (probably Michael)
expressed the same love, concern, compassion and
mercy that God himself would feel. The angels are
family extensions of God himself, who live and
feel like God. The angels who work with us act
and feel the same way!
6- Psalm 347
- 7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those
who fear Him, and delivers them.
Note the context David was scared and came up
with a plan. Act like an insane person before
Achish so he would let him live. On the surface
it looked like David was just scheming his way
through the problem. David did act, but in his
own mind, he was fully aware of Gods angel
helping him through the situation. Always make
God the center of our plans. Pray and plead for
His guidance and assistance. Then be aware of
His angels helping us through the events of our
lives spouses, children, jobs, accidents,
medical problems.
7- Judges 523-24
- 23 'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD,
'Curse its inhabitants bitterly, because they did
not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of
the LORD against the mighty. (Meroz was a
village 12 miles from Samaria) - 24 "Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of
Heber the Kenite blessed is she among women in
tents.
We can make things difficult for our angels.
Their patience can run out! They can become so
disappointed in people that they curse them.
Lets make sure we dont disappoint our angels,
but give them reasons to bless us.
8- Acts 72-3
- 2 And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen
The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham
when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in
Haran, - 3 "and said to him, 'Get out of your country and
from your relatives, and come to a land that I
will show you.'
An angel first appeared to Abraham when he lived
in Ur and began his promises to Abraham.
9- Genesis 121-4
- 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram "Get out of
your country, from your family and from your
father's house, to a land that I will show you. - 2 I will make you a great nation I will bless
you and make your name great and you shall be a
blessing. - 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will
curse him who curses you and in you all the
families of the earth shall be blessed." - 4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to
him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was
seventy-five years old when he departed from
Haran.
10- Genesis 157-9
- 7 Then He said to him, "I am the LORD, who
brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give
you this land to inherit it." - 8 And he said, "Lord GOD, how shall I know that
I will inherit it?" - 9 So He said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old
heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a
three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young
pigeon.
The angel asked Abraham to leave Ur and promised
to work through Abraham and his family if he
would believe. Angels still work the same way
today. Pray for your families appreciate the
help of our angels.
11- Genesis 167-11
- 7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a
spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring
on the way to Shur. - 8 And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where
have you come from, and where are you going?" She
said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my
mistress Sarai." - 9 The Angel of the LORD said to her, "Return
to your mistress, and submit yourself under her
hand." - 10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I
will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so
that they shall not be counted for multitude." - 11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her
"Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a
son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the
LORD has heard your affliction.
Angels look for us too, when we are depressed and
discouraged. They wont leave us alone because
they want us to succeed!
12- Genesis 171-3
- 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD
appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty
God walk before Me and be blameless. - 2 "And I will make My covenant between Me and
you, and will multiply you exceedingly." - 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked
with him, saying - 22 Then He finished talking with him, and God
went up from Abraham.
An angel appeared to personally confirm the
covenant with Abraham and let him know Sarah
would finally have a son.
13- Genesis 181-2
- 1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth
trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent
door in the heat of the day. - 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold,
three men were standing by him and when he saw
them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and
bowed himself to the ground, - 4 "Please let a little water be brought, and
wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the
tree. - 5 "And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you
may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass
by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant."
They said, "Do as you have said." - 8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which
he had prepared, and set it before them and he
stood by them under the tree as they ate.
Note how accommodating these angels were!
14- Genesis 1812-13
- 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself,
saying, "After I have grown old, shall I have
pleasure, my lord being old also?" - 13 And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah
laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child,
since I am old? - 1 Peter 35-6
- 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy
women who trusted in God also adorned themselves,
being submissive to their own husbands, - 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord,
whose daughters you are if you do good and are
not afraid with any terror.
We cant fool angels. They read our thoughts.
They know our motives. They need to in order to
be ministers for us!
15- Genesis 1817-19
- 17 And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham
what I am doing, - 18 "since Abraham shall surely become a great and
mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth
shall be blessed in him? - 19 "For I have known him, in order that he may
command his children and his household after him,
that they keep the way of the LORD, to do
righteousness and justice, that the LORD may
bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."
Note the discussion and decision-making of the
angels, as they work together in Gods service!
16- Genesis 1820-22
- 20 And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against
Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their
sin is very grave, - 21 "I will go down now and see whether they have
done altogether according to the outcry against
it that has come to Me and if not, I will know." - 22 Then the men (2 of the angels) turned away
from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham
still stood before the LORD.
Angels are not omniscient they need to be
present to see what is happening. Thats why they
are with us all the time! They are aware of
outcries against sin!
17- Genesis 1823-26
- 23 And Abraham came near and said, "Would You
also destroy the righteous with the wicked? - 24 "Suppose there were fifty righteous within the
city would You also destroy the place and not
spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? - 25 "Far be it from You to do such a thing as
this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so
that the righteous should be as the wicked far
be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the
earth do right?" - 26 So the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty
righteous within the city, then I will spare all
the place for their sakes."
Look at the power of prayer! Angels respond to
our desires to save our family and friends!
18- Genesis 191-2
- 1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the
evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of
Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them,
and he bowed himself with his face toward the
ground. - 2 And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn
in to your servant's house and spend the night,
and wash your feet then you may rise early and
go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will
spend the night in the open square. (they came
down to see for themselves!) - 3 But he insisted strongly so they turned in to
him and entered his house. Then he made them a
feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
Note how accommodating the angels were to Lot.
They do respond to our wants and needs.
19- Genesis 1910-13
- 10 But the men reached out their hands and pulled
Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. - 11 And they struck the men who were at the
doorway of the house with blindness, both small
and great, so that they became weary trying to
find the door. - 12 Then the men said to Lot, "Have you anyone
else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters,
and whomever you have in the city-- take them out
of this place! - 13 "For we will destroy this place, because the
outcry against them has grown great before the
face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to
destroy it."
Once again angels can affect the sight of
men. Note the loving compassion of the angels who
wanted to save Lots family for Abrahams sake.
20- Genesis 1915-17
- 15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot
to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your
two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed
in the punishment of the city." - 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of
his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his
two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him,
and they brought him out and set him outside the
city. - 17 So it came to pass, when they had brought
them outside, that he said, "Escape for your
life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in
the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be
destroyed.
Angels dont usually force us because they want
us to make the good decisions. There may be times
when they force our hands out of compassion and
mercy.
21Remember Lot was righteous and the angels knew
it!
- 2 Peter 26-9
- 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah
into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making
them an example to those who afterward would live
ungodly - 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed
by the filthy conduct of the wicked - 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them,
tormented his righteous soul from day to day by
seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- - 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly
out of temptations and to reserve the unjust
under punishment for the day of judgment,
22- Genesis 1918-22
- 18 Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!
- 19 "Indeed now, your servant has found favor in
your sight, and you have increased your mercy
which you have shown me by saving my life but I
cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil
overtake me and I die. - 20 "See now, this city is near enough to flee
to, and it is a little one please let me escape
there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall
live." - 21 And he said to him, "See, I have favored you
concerning this thing also, in that I will not
overthrow this city for which you have spoken. - 22 "Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do
anything until you arrive there." Therefore the
name of the city was called Zoar.
The angel responded to Lots request, and had to
wait for Lot to get to Zoar! Patience, kindness
mercy. Just Like God himself!
23- Genesis 1925-26
- 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain,
all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew
on the ground. - 26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she
became a pillar of salt.
Angels are merciful, but they are also to be
feared for their justice. Imagine the
disappointment of Lots wifes angel when she
looked back ? Years of patient work ended in a
moment by a bad choice. Lets commit today to
appreciate all the angels do for us and try not
to let them down by our choices.
24Characteristics of Angels revealed in Genesis
18-19
- Can appear as normal men
- Want to save us
- Can develop a personal relationship with us
- Can read our thoughts
- Need to be present to know whats happening
- Willing to reason with us
- Willing to accommodate us (within reason)
- Discuss with each other to make decisions
- Are extremely patient merciful with us
25- Genesis 201-3
- 1 And Abraham journeyed from there to the South,
and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in
Gerar. - 2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my
sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and
took Sarah. - 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night,
and said to him, "Indeed you are a dead man
because of the woman whom you have taken, for she
is a man's wife."
An angel protected Sarah and made sure the
covenant with Abraham would be fulfilled.
26- Genesis 247
- 7 "The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my
father's house and from the land of my family,
and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, 'To
your descendants I give this land,' He will send
His angel before you, and you shall take a wife
for my son from there. - 39 "And I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman
will not follow me.' - 40 "But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I
walk, will send His angel with you and prosper
your way and you shall take a wife for my son
from my family and from my father's house.
Note Abrahams awareness of the angels and his
confidence that God would work through them. We
need to walk like Abraham.
27- Genesis 454-5
- 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please
come near to me." So they came near. Then he
said "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold
into Egypt. - 5 "But now, do not therefore be grieved nor
angry with yourselves because you sold me here
for God sent me before you to preserve life. - Genesis 5019-20
- 19 Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for
am I in the place of God? - 20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me
but God meant it for good, in order to bring it
about as it is this day, to save many people
alive.
When we feel the presence of the angels and
confidently trust they are in control, it
diffuses our anger, pain, frustration and
jealousy we experience in our dealings with one
another. The angels are working for our good!
28- 1 Kings 194-7
- 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the
wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom
tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said,
"It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am
no better than my fathers!" - 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree,
suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him,
"Arise and eat." - 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a
cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he
ate and drank, and lay down again. - 7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second
time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat,
because the journey is too great for you."
Note the compassion and kindness of the angel
even though Elijah was on a mission to plead with
God against Israel (Rom 111)
29- 2 Kings 13, 15
- 3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the
Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of
the king of Samaria, and say to them, 'Is it
because there is no God in Israel that you are
going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of
Ekron?' - 15 And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go
down with him do not be afraid of him." So he
arose and went down with him to the king.
The angel encouraged Elijah to meet with Ahaziah.
Note how gentle and patient the angel was with
Elijah. We must learn to treat each other this
way to be useful ministers of God in the kingdom!
30Angels involvement at Christs Return
- Matt 1339-41 (wheat tares)
- 39 "The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the
harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers
are the angels. - 40 "Therefore as the tares are gathered and
burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of
this age. - 41 "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and
they will gather out of His kingdom all things
that offend, and those who practice lawlessness - Matt 1349-50 (dragnet)
- 49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The
angels will come forth, separate the wicked from
among the just, - 50 "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There
will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Angels will eliminate the wicked so the righteous
may shine!
31Angels involvement at Christs Return
- Matt 2531-32 (sheep goats)
- 31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and
all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on
the throne of His glory. - 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him,
and He will separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
Angels will be involved in the resurrection
judgment. Lets get to know and trust our angels
so we can confidently rejoice when they appear to
take us to the judgment seat of Christ!
32Thats it for now!
- Next well look at why YOU need the Angels - They
really are your Friends ?