TEXT:  Hebrews 1:13-14

INTRODUCTION:

A.      MOST IDEAS ABOUT ANGELS COMES FROM SUPERSTITION.

          1.       aggelos (ang'-el-os);  from aggello (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially

                   an "angel"; by implication, a pastor: KJV-- angel, messenger.

          2.       angelos, most frequently of an order of created beings, superior to man

C.      WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT ANGELS?

I.      ANGELS ARE CREATED BEINGS.

A.      GOD THE CREATOR OF ALL( Neh. 9:6 ).

          1.       The host is made up of angels( Psa. 103:20-21 ).

          2.       In heaven their function is praise( Rev 5:11-14;  Psa. 148:5 ).

B.      VAST NUMBER

          1.       ( Matt. 26:53 ).  12 legions.  12 x 6000.

          2.       ( Dan. 7:10 ).  Literally 100 million.  ( Heb. 12:22 ).

C.      BOTH GOOD AND BAD ANGELS.

          1.       Angels created good( James 1:13;  Psa. 89:14 ).

          2.       Free moral agents( Jude 6;  2 Pet. 2:4, 9 ).  HELD RESPONSIBLE!

          3.       Punishment of the evil( Matt. 25:41 ).

D.      INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ANGELS.

          1.       Different orders of angels( 1 Thess. 4:16;  Rev. 12:7 ).

          2.       Immortal not given to mortal needs( Luke 20:35-36 )

          3.       Obedient and subservient( 1 Pet. 3:22 ).

II.     THE RANK OF ANGELS AND MEN.

A.      Psalm 8:4-6.  SPEAKS OF MAN, APPLIED TO JESUS( Heb. 2:6-7 ).

          1.       Jesus became a man.

          2.       Man was given dominion( Gen. 1:26-28 ).

          3.       Lower than the angels( see KJV, ASV, NIV;  2 Pet. 2:11 ).

B.      THOUGH THEY ARE ABOVE US, NO WORSHIP( Rev. 22:8-9; Col. 2:18 ).

C.      SATAN AND HIS ANGELS WANT WORSHIP( Matt. 4:9-10 ).

D.      REDEEMED MAN IS TO BE ELEVATED( 1 Cor. 6:3;  1 John 3:2 ).

III.    ANGELS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

A.      APPEARANCES:

          1.       To Hagar, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Moses, Balaam, Elijah, etc.

          2.       Always functioning in God's purpose.

                   a.       Guarding the Garden( Gen. 3:24 ).

                   b.       Going before Israel( Exod. 23:20;  33:2 ).

          3.       Medium of revelation to the prophets( 2 Kings 1:15;  Dan. 4:13-14;

                   9:21-22;  Zech. 1:9-11;  Acts 8:26 ).

B.      MINISTERED THE LAW TO MOSES( Acts 7:53;  Gal. 3:19;  Heb. 2:2 ).

IV.   ANGELS AND MEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

A.      "THEIR" ANGELS( Matt. 18:10 ).

          1.       "Guardian" angels?  Specific angel for each?  Like a parole officer.

                   BW Johnson, McGarvey. 

          2.       General, as all angels work for us.

          3.       Problem:  Who becomes the focus?  Who do we pray to?

B.      THEY DO MINISTER FOR GOD( Heb. 1:7;  Heb. 1:13-14;  Heb 13:2 ).

          1.       Direct instances( Acts 5:19-20;  8:26;  10:3;  12:7; 27:24 ).

          2.       ( Luke 16:22 ).  Literal or literary.

C.      THEY ARE AWARE.

          1.       Of God's plan( 1 Pet. 1:12;  Rev 5:11-13 ).

          2.       Of our affairs( Luke 15:7, 10;  1 Tim 5:21).

D.      WHAT ELSE DO THEY DO? IS THERE A SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENT?

V.    ANGELS AND JESUS( 1 Tim. 3:16 ).

A.      ANNOUNCED AND ATTENDED BIRTH( Luke 1 & 2 and Matt. 1 ).

B.      Ministers to Jesus after the temptation( Matt. 4:11 ),  AND IN THE

          GARDEN( Luke 22:43 ), Present at the tomb of Jesus( Matt. 28:2-6 ),  AND

          PRESENT AT THE ASCENSION( Acts 1:10-11 ).

C.      JESUS WAS MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS( Heb. 2:6-8 ).

          1.       Lowered himself( Phil. 2:5-8 ).

          2.       Elevated by God

                   ( Heb. 1:3-4, 6, 9, 13;  2:1-3, 5, 6-9;  Eph. 1:20-23;  Phil. 2:9-10 ).

D.      JESUS WILL COME AGAIN WITH THE ANGELS.

          1.       In Judgment( Matt. 25:31 ).

          2.       They will gather the elect( Matt. 24:31 ).

          3.       They will participate somehow( Matt. 13:41;  16:27;  2 Thess. 1:7-9 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      MORE COULD BE SAID, SHOULD BE SAID.

B.      WHEN JESUS COMES WITH HIS ANGELS, WILL YOU BE READY?