Rev. David Holwick ZJ
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
November 9, 2003
Hebrews 1:14
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I. Angels are hot.
A. They continue to be very popular.
According to a Time Magazine/CNN poll a few years back, 69% of
American adults believe in the existence of angels.
(Since then it has climbed to 72%)
46% of Americans believe they have their own Guardian Angel.
Almost one-third (32%) say they have, at one time or another,
personally felt an angelic presence in their life.
If there is such a thing as a universal idea, one that cuts
across cultures and religions, common through the centuries,
it is this belief in angels.
Not only do Christians, Jews, and Muslims have angels, but
Buddhism, Hinduism, and Zoroastrianism do, too.
Winged figures appear in primitive Sumerian carvings, Egyptian
tombs, Assyrian reliefs, and Greek vases.
B. Popularity can lead to hokiness.
Life magazine tells the story of Jane Howard, who conducts
angel seminars and teaches people to be on "angel alert,"
watching for clues as to an angel's presence.
That article also mentions Cheryl Welsh-Charrier, who refers to
herself as an "angelic counselor."
For a mere $75.00 she will give a 90 minute session where she
will introduce you to your guardian angels.
C. The quest for the spiritual.
1) Much of modern popularity is related to our quest for
spirituality.
2) We are intrigued by the supernatural - as long as it
doesn't put moral demands on us.
3) So religion is old-fashioned but angels are cool.
II. What the Bible really says about angels.
A. Modern views of angels are too tame and watered-down.
B. Angels should invoke awe.
1) Actually, they inspire terror.
2) Typical response (John in Revelation) is to fall down and
worship them.
3) Among their most common statements: "Don't be afraid."
a) Angel to Zechariah, father of John the Baptist.
b) Angel to virgin Mary.
c) Angel to shepherds at Christmas.
d) Women at tomb of Jesus.
C. Angels are motivators.
Halford Luccock once noted that we often hear the expression,
"the voice of an angel."
He began wondering what an angel would sound like.
So he did some research, and discovered than an angel's voice
sounds remarkably like a person saying, "Hurry up!"
He says that most people are under the delusion that the
voice of an angel is always beautiful.
However, the words "Get up" are rarely beautiful,
particularly at 7 a.m.
Yet that's what the angels always say in the Bible.
An angel comes to Peter in jail and says, "Quick, get up!"
Then he whacks him on his side for good measure. Acts 12:7
An angel says to Gideon, "Go in the strength you have."
Judg 6:14
As Elijah sat under the tree brooding, an angel of the
Lord came to him and said, "Get up and eat!" 1 Kg 19:5
No more moping around or feeling sorry for himself.
An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, when Herod is
slaughtering the infants, and says, "Go quickly." Matt 2:13
#5594
1) I always thought that I would like to hear an angel.
2) Now I am not so sure.
III. Angels come in several varieties.
A. Spiritual creatures associated with God's throne.
1) Cherubim in Holy of Holies.
2) Seraphim in God's heavenly temple.
3) Living Creatures near God's throne in Revelation 4:6.
a) They have wings, but also multiple heads, eyes & hands.
b) They are not exactly angels, but give us idea of wings.
B. Angels are associated with human contact.
1) Run-of-the-mill angels.
a) "Angel" means simply messenger.
b) They appear as humans but have special knowledge and
power. (no wings, only male)
c) Many people don't catch on to their real identity.
2) Archangels.
a) Higher up angels, occur only a few times.
b) They are only ones given names (Gabriel, Michael).
3) The Angel of the Lord.
a) Jacob wrestled with him and thought he beat God.
b) Appears as a representation of God Himself.
c) Some speculate he was Jesus in the years before he
was born in Bethlehem.
4) Fallen angels.
a) Apparently angels have free will, because some of them
rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven.
b) Satan is often put in this category, as well as demons.
C. Angels are not deceased humans.
In popular culture, an angel is often portrayed as a beloved
family member who dies and then gets his wings.
The parents or children left on earth then seek guidance and
help from their departed relative-now-turned-angel.
So what's the problem with that?
For one thing, the Bible is very clear that angels are NOT
repackaged souls of people.
They are spiritual beings created by God to serve his purposes.
By portraying them as reincarnated humans, the horrible reality
of death as the dreadful consequence of sin is blunted.
There is no judgment or hell to consider if we all turn into
cute angels when we die.
#26056
IV. What angels do.
A. The give us messages from God.
1) Sometimes warnings, or judgment, or encouragement.
2) An actor's story:
Actor Mickey Rooney tells about an experience he while
entertaining at a hotel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
When he went down to breakfast one morning a busboy with
long golden hair and wearing a white jacket suddenly
walked up to his table.
Without introducing himself, the young man said:
"Mr. Rooney, I want you to know how much Jesus Christ
loves you."
With that, the busboy disappeared.
When Rooney went to pay his breakfast check, he inquired of
the lady at the cash register about the busboy with
the golden hair.
Rooney said he wanted to talk to the boy.
But the cashier said no such person worked there.
Mickey Rooney went on to say to millions of people watching
by television that he believes it was an angel who
appeared to him.
Soon after this incident, he became a Christian.
#14703
B. They look out for us. Hebrews 1:14
1) These creatures before whom great saints fell to the ground
aquiver are actually our servants.
2) Angel secret agents - one of their most fascinating jobs is
to physically protect and deliver believers.
a) Some see each believer having their own guardian angel.
b) Children have angels who represent them before God.
C. We are a little lower than angels, but only for now. Psalm 8
1) The New Testament contains intriguing hints that being human
has its advantages, which even an angel must acknowledge.
2) Angels long to search out truths of salvation. 1 Pet 1:12
a) They cheer when a human is saved. Luke 15:10
b) They watch us struggle. 1 Cor 4:9
3) When we are glorified, we will have all their attributes and
more. Luke 20:36
a) We will even judge angels. 1 Cor 6:3
V. Worship carefully.
A. Bible warns us not to worship angels. Colossians 2:18
1) Big element of New Age worship.
a) Angel pins everywhere.
2) John on Patmos bows to one, but is ordered not to.
Twice the angel messenger in Revelation tells John,
"Do not [worship me]!
I am a fellow servant with you and with your comrades
who hold the testimony of Jesus.
Worship God!" Rev. 19:10, 22:9
B. Jesus alone should be the focus of our worship.
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
Some of the material in this sermon is derived from "Angels," by Rev. Dr.
David E. Leininger of St. Paul Presbyterian Church in Greensboro,
North Carolina (http://www.unidial.com/~stpaul/pulpit.html), sermon
#6981; and "Just the Facts About Angels," by Dr. Gary Dyer of First
Baptist Church in Midland, Texas (http://www.fbc-midland.org/
resources/sermons/), sermon #16071.
# 5594 "Arise, Hurry!" author unknown, Roddy Chestnut Illustration
Collection.
#14703 "Mickey Rooney's Angel," author unknown, Fredericksburg
Illustration Collection, July 1997.
#26056 "What's Wrong With Spirituality?" by Ruth E. Van Reken,
Christian Reader, March/April 1997.
These and 25,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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