Sermon: Who's Hugging You?

11/15/09 Who’s hugging you?
Hebrews 1:14
Mark 1:12-13

• There are beings with great influence
• The devil’s busy in the world
• We don’t talk about angels
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16
 Michael is the trumpeter
• 69% of Americans believe in the existence of angels
• 46% believe they have guardian angels
• 32% said they felt an angelic presence
• Christians, Jews, Muslims believe in angels
• So do Hindus, Buddhists and many more

There are approximately 300 references to angels in Scripture

• Angels are created beings
• Their appearance in Scripture varies
• Only cherubim and seraphim are represented with wings
• Winged angels are in the courts of God
• Often in the OT angels appear as ordinary men
• Sometimes, however, their uniqueness is evident as they do things or appear in a fashion clearly non-human, such as the bright white appearance in the NT
• They are called “holy ones”, “heavenly hosts”
• Kings 22:19
• They worship God
• Isaiah (verse that says holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty?)
• Only two angels are named in Scripture
• Gabriel (messenger)
• Michael (Warrior)
• Jude 9
• Revelation 12:7

Angels belong to a different dimension
They have higher powers
They are ministering spirit and messengers
The writer explains the function of angels in Hebrews 1:13-14
His purpose is to show that angels are not equal with Jesus or God or the Holy Spirit
They are servants
The angels are commissioned to run errand for Jesus
They are commissioned to take messages to those who are part of God’s family
It is the limit of their activity
They are not to preach the gospel – that is reserved for the church – example of Cornelius being sent to Peter to have the gospel explained
Angels can aid, inspire, and guide us

I. Angels are God’s Ministering Spirits
• They are sent forth
• Sent to particular people
• Uniquely sent to those who have professed Christ
• They minister strength to God’s people
• Mark 1:12-13
• Luke 22:43
 Not wanting to suffer
 An angel strengthened Him
• Ministering angels strengthen us
• Acts 6:15
 Being attacks
• Acts 27:23-24
• Psalm 34:7
 We’re not alone
 Angels encamp around us
• Daniel 6:22
• Matthew 26:53
• Acts 5:19
• Acts 12:7
• Acts 12:11
• God dispatches them to strengthen and deliver us
• Angels protect God’s people
• Psalm 91:11-12
• We could have been destroyed many times but weren’t
• Isaiah 63:9
 God’s angels pursue us in love and mercy
• Matthew 18:10
 Angels guard the little children
• They minister to us in death
• Matthew 28:2
• Matthew 28:5-7
 Angel rolled away the stone and sat on the stone as if death isn’t the end
• People don’t transition into death like they’re alone
• They take your hand or speak to someone we cant see (as per experience of Dr Lineberger in hospital room of someone who is passing on)
• Luke 16:22
 The angels carried him
• John 1:51

II. Angels are God’s Messengers
• Matthew 11:10
• Messenger: one who is sent
• We get the word “apostle” from it
• They convey message on behalf o God
• The bible doesn’t draw us a picture of what angels look like
• Tells us, rather, what message they bring
• Genesis 16:7-10:
 She was driven out and was alone – the messenger tells her to go back
• Matthew 1:20
 An angel came with a word of hope
• Luke 2:9
 Word of encouragement
• Matthew 2:13
 Warning
• Acts 8:26
 Message of guidance
• Angles come to us
• Sometimes we don’t hear the message
• Acts 10:3
• Angels don’t tell us how to be saved because God uses churches and us
• Luke 15:10
• You hear the message
 Messenger may not look surreal (but may look normal/ordinary)
 When someone receives Christ, angels rejoice because someone listened to them
• They come from God and speak directly to us

Angels are a sign of God’s interest in His children, of His desire to give us guidance
In Scripture, God uses angels to guide people to begin new ventures, to protect themselves, to wait, and to trust

What should we do?
1.) Keep your eyes open to angels
• Don’t confine your vision to just wings

2.) Look for angels in people around you
• Hebrews 13:2

3.) Expect message to come
• Over 300 times angels are mentioned in the bible
• God sends messenger in time of trouble
• Expect he messenger to come