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Angel?, Are You an Introduction:
This lesson will hopefully bring this subject to full circle. In the beginning
we defined angel (Malah) to mean messenger.
It is sometimes translated as priest (Malachi
2.7), prophet (Haggai 1.13), and
referring to John the baptizer (Malachi
3.1). We need to remember that it is often used in referring to “heavenly
host” and angels in heaven. However, it can refer to us in certain ways. You
are an angel You
are my angel If
someone would ask you if you were an angel, what would you say? Probably no
because of the normal use of the word, however, we need to be more like the
angels and indeed there are numerous similarities between angels and us. I)
Nature A)
Spiritual beings 1.
Angels are created spiritual beings,
Psalm 148.1-5
a. We know they were created by God although the Bible does not expressly
say when.
b. We know they are spiritual because they are in heaven, 1
Corinthians 15.50
c. Eternal beings not growing old or dying 2)
Man is a created spiritual being, Genesis
1.26, 27; 2.7
a. We inhabit a temporary physical body that will eventually go back to
the dust of the ground.
b. It is our soul/spirit that separates us from all other created beings
in Genesis 1.
i. Abraham understood this fact,
Hebrews 11.8-10
ii. The real world is the spiritual world and the temporary world is the
physical. Job 7.6
c. Man’s soul will never perish that is why heaven and hell are for
eternity. B)
Free will, Jude 5-6 1.
Angels have the ability to obey or disobey God, 2
Peter 2.4
a. Any free will creature must have the ability to exercise their free
will.
b. This means they can choose to do good or bad. 2.
Each of us has freedom of choice
a. Moses choose to serve God instead of Pharaoh or self, Hebrews
11.24-25
b. Judas choose to sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, Matthew
26.15-16 II)
Role or Work A)
Reveal God’s word to those that did not know it 1.
Angel spoke to Moses in the burning bush, Exodus 3.2ff
a. Angel gave the Law to Moses on
b. Galatians 3.19 the Old Law revealed through the angels 2.
We are to speak the word of God to those that do not know it, 1 Peter 4.11
a. Philip was directed by an angel to the Ethiopian Eunuch, Acts
8.26,29,35-38
b. Would you agree that Philip was God’s messenger?
c. The words of Mordecai may apply to us today, Esther
4.14b.
d. We are to preach and teach God’s word, 2
Timothy 4.1-2 B)
Directed and guided others 1.
Angels directed people so they could serve God
a. Elijah was directed in 2 Kings
1.1ff
b. Philip was directed in Acts 8. 2.
We are to direct and guide people according to God’s word
a. Our families/children, Eph. 6.4
i. We as parents are to help them on the pathway of life by teaching them
about God, Jesus, and
His word.
ii. We are to fight for our children, Nehemiah
4.14
b. We are to direct our neighbors, friends, etc. Matthew
5.13ff
i. Usually our manner of life, being different from the world
ii. Most of the time people will notice our example first and our words
second. C)
Offer assurance and comfort 1.
Angels provided help to God’s servants
a. Elijah received food and water, 1
Kings 19.5-8
b. Told Paul that he would survive to preach the Gospel in
c. Provided strength to Jesus, Luke
22.43 2.
We are to provide assurance and comfort
a. Many one another passages.
b. List of passages includes
i. Be kindly affectionate, Romans
12.10
ii. Love one another, Romans 13.8
iii. Receive one another as Jesus received you, Romans
15.7
iv) Admonish one another, Romans
15.14
v) Wait for one another, 1
Corinthians 11.33
vi) Care for one another, 1
Corinthians 12.25
vii) Submitting to one another, Ephesians
5.21
viii) Exhort one another daily, Hebrews
3.13
ix) Consider one another, Hebrews
10.24
x) Pray for one another, James
5.16
c. We are to provide aid, James
1.27, Galatians 6.10
d. Barnabas was called the “son of encouragement” Acts
4.36. How about us? D)
Worship God 1.
They surround the throne of God in worship, Revelation
7.11-12
a. Often asked question is what heaven will be like?
b. Eternity in heaven will not be a “vacation” but a time to worship
God. 2.
We worship God now looking forward to worshipping Him in heaven, Psalm 95.6-7
a. Church in Acts was a worshipping God, Acts
2.42; 4.24, etc.
b. Worship requires us to praise God, show adoration, to bow down to Him.
Conclusion:
So are you an angel? It is about
like people saying I may be a Christian but I am no saint. It depends on which
definition you are going by. We should be doing those things listed in this
lesson because we will also appear before the judgment seat and receive our
reward. |