First Born from the Dead:
John 16:28 NIV I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
–COLOSSIANS 1:13 – 23,
2:6-15 (V8 then 19)
***It is not enough that Jesus have prominence in our lives. He must have preeminence in our lives. Jesus cannot simply be on our top-ten list. He must be everything**
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV
**Do you want to be called a Christian? Or do you want to be a Christian. Do you want to be thought of as yielded to God’s will? Or do you want to yield to God’s will? Do you want to appear that what matters most to you is Christ? Or do you want Christ to matter most?
–Jesus is the FIRST BORN (Born of a virgin without sin (New Creation).
Jesus is superior to Angels!!
2 Peter 1:3 (God has given us all resources that we need to be like him)
In the Bible, angels are described as “ministering spirits” who serve believers .
Hebrews 1:14: “Therefore, angels are only servants — spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation” (NLT).
When angels are mentioned, it is always in order to inform us further about God, what he does, and how he does it.
Categories of Angels:
–Elect / Holy Angels : 1 Timothy 5:21, Don’t accept worship – Revelation 22:9
— Fallen Angels: Serve Satan and hinder Gospel message : 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6
✓Types in Rank:
✓How many angels are there: Revelation 5:11
Duties of Holy Angels:
1. God’s Agents of judgement
–After He drove them out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).
— Angels judged the city of Jerusalem for their idolatry (Ezekiel 9:1-11).
— Angels judged Sodom & Gomorah(Genesis 19:1).
— Act with Authority: “And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord, descended from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:2,4).
2. God’s Messengers with divine revelation
–“You are the ones that have received the law as ordained by angels, but you have not obeyed it (Acts 7:53).
–What purpose then does the Law serve? It was added because of transgressions, until the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator (Galatians 3:19).
–The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, (Revelation 1:1).
–Angels announced the birth of Christ and John the Baptist (Matthew 1:20-21, Luke 1:11-13)
–Give warnings (Matthew 2:13)
–Instructions (Acts 10:3)
–Announced Birth of Samson and gave instructions
3. God’s Servants to those who will inherit eternal life. They rejoice when we get born again
–“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).
–Have been used to give physical provision: 1 Kings 19:5-7
–Took care of Jesus needs: Matthew 4:11 (AMP), Mark 1:13, Luke 22:43
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.
4. Provide protection
“The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert, the spring on the way to Shur” (Genesis 16:7).
–And they struck with blindness the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, so that they were unable to find the door (Genesis 19:11).
—2 Kings 6:17-20 Elisha & Gehaz
— Matthew 18:10 Children ✓
—Daniel 6:22 God sent his angel to shut the lions mouth. ✓
—Acts 12:11 Angel rescues Peter from Jail ✓
—Luke 16:22, Jude 9 – Are involved at believers death.
–Deliverance
“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).
–He will command his angels concerning you
5. 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)
6. Assist in answering Prayers:
–Daniel 9:20-27
–Acts 12:1-11
–Interceded on behalf of humanity
–Zechariah 1:12
7. Strengthen God’s People:
Acts 27:23-25
Judges 6:11-12 When Gideon was discouraged
8. Offer unending worship to God:
Revelation 4:8
9. Rejoiced when the foundations of the earth were laid
- Job
- Proverbs
10. Will preach the last Gospel
Revelation
Other Revelations:
Were seen by Jacob ascending and descending
“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
Beyond terrifying people at first sight (Luke 1:13, 29; 2:10; Matthew 28:4; Acts 10:3–4; Numbers 22:31; Judges 6:22–23), angels also seem prone to dramatic exits when their tasks are complete (Acts 12:10; Judges 6:21). In this case, Gabriel’s exit leaves Mary eager to visit Elisabeth (Luke 1:36) so they can mutually rejoice over their happy news (Luke 1:39–40).
–The Ministry of God’s Holy Angels: Continuation—
✓ They are God’s servants executing His plans.
” Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.” (Hebrews 1:7 NLT)
✓ One of the mission of God’s Holy Angels is to serve and care for God’s people.
••”Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14 NIV)
••”Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:11 NIV)
✓ Scripture makes reference to actual instances where people were visited by angels, seemingly unaware of whom they were speaking (Genesis 18:1–3; 19:1–3).
“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)
✓ They are involved in the mission of delivering God’s message.
••”But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. (Luke 1:13 NIV)
••The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. (Luke 1:19 NIV)
••But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30 NIV)
••Matthew 2:13
•• But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (Luke 2:10 NIV)
✓They radiate God’s glory
[9] An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (Luke 2:9 NIV)
✓They are involved in providing protection
•• “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 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).
✓ Can be sent to give insight during prayers
••He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. (Daniel 9:22 NIV)
✓ Fight with evil demonic powers while executing God’s plans & delivering messages to God’s people
•• But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. (Daniel 10:13 NIV)
✓ Different types of angels
••Seraphim – Isaiah 6:1-4
••Cherubim – Genesis 3:24
••Archangel – Jude 1:9, 1Thesalonians 4:16,
✓Should not be worshiped
“Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. (Colossians 2:18 NKJV)
✓There is a myriad upon myriad number of angels
Revelation 5:11 NLTThen I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.
✓God’s Holy angels don’t accept worship – Revelation 19:10
✓ Angels don’t marry: Matthew 22:30
✓ Angels are shown to be present during the death of a saint:
••Luke 16:22, Jude 9
✓ Are happy when people repent and turn to God.
••”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).
✓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.” (Acts 8:26)
✓ Before judgement, the last Gospel will be proclaimed by an angel.
•• And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world — to every nation, tribe, language, and people. (Revelation 14:16 NLT)
✓ Can be sent to give care to people .
••They took care of Jesus needs: Matthew 4:11 (AMP), Mark 1:13, Luke 22:43
••Then he [Elijah ] lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” (1 Kings 19:5 NIV)
✓Were involved at the resurrection of Jesus
••”There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.” (Matthew 28:2 NIV)
