A Christmas Message:
•••Luke 1:5-45
^^^Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11 NIV)•••
^^^But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” [31] Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:30-31 NIV)•••
^^^“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. ( Isaiah 54:1 NIV)•••
^^^[36] Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. [37] Nothing is impossible for God!”.( Luke 1:36-37 CEV)√√
✓✓And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38 ESV)√√
^^^[45] You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:45 NLT)√√ **Shows Mary knew God’s promises to Abraham –evident also in the song***
✓✓Because of Faith, His mouth was opened✓✓
[63] He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” [64] Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. (Luke 1:63-64 NIV)
Ministry of Angels:
√√They are countless, but have ranks – Rev 5:11
1. Servants
√√Hebrews 1:14: “Therefore, angels are only servants — spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation” (NLT). ¶¶
√√[2] Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2 NIV
√√–Took care of Jesus needs: Matthew 4:11 (AMP), Mark 1:13, Luke 22:43¶¶, 1 Kings
2. Messangers – Gabriel to Zechariah & Mary
3. Involved in God’s plan of salvation
–“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10). ¶¶
–Cherubim guarded the way to the tree of life in eden – Genesis
3. Protection:
[11] For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; [12] they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalms 91:11-12.
Acts 12:7-10 (v7)Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.¶¶
–Daniel 6:22 God sent his angel to shut the lions mouth. ✓
“When we cried to the LORD, He heard our voice, and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Here we are in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory” (Numbers 20:16).
“Then the high priest and all his associates, the members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in jail. But during the night the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out” (Acts 5:17-19).
4. Give direction:
“Then the angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road) (Acts 8:26)
5. Assist in answering Prayers:
Daniel 9:20-27
6. Holy Angels don’t accept worship
Revelation 22:9
7. Are involved at Believers Death
Luke 16:22, Jude 9
…………………………
•The Lord is looking for fruit…….
[2] Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. [3] The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:2-3 NIV
———
•
[3] “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. Isaiah 5:3 NIV
—–
•[19] If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;
Isaiah 1:19 NIV
•Isaiah 54:6 – All like sheep have gone astray
•[9] Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. Isaiah 1:9 NIV
…………………………
