1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,860 Welcome to Walk in the Truth podcast. How do we know where to find answers to the toughest 2 00:00:15,860 --> 00:00:21,080 questions in life? While the simplest answer is the Bible, where do we start this search 3 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:27,300 and how do we discover this truth? Today, in this teaching podcast, John Meador, lead 4 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:32,440 pastor of Cross City Church, takes a specific text of the Bible and helps us find truth 5 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:41,640 for the life we're searching for. Please take your Bibles and turn to the second chapter 6 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:47,040 of the book of Luke today, Luke chapter 2. On our journey all the way to Christmas, we're 7 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:53,200 going to be looking at Luke 1 and Luke 2, a Christmas story that most people know best. 8 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:59,000 Luke chapter 1, Luke chapter 2, although several gospels give accounts of the different events 9 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:04,720 leading up to Christ's birth, this one is the one we know the most. And today's characters 10 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:10,280 of Christmas has to do with amazing messengers. We're going to talk about angels today. Angels 11 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:15,960 is the subject of our message. Angels is the subject of the text. Luke chapter 2, beginning 12 00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:22,640 in verse 8, and we're going to find these supernatural, non-human creatures that God 13 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:27,320 has created and exactly how He uses angels and certainly how He used it in this Christmas 14 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:34,760 story. Let's stand together as we read God's word. Luke chapter 2, beginning in verse number 15 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:42,720 8. Luke chapter 2, verse 8, all this very familiar to you. The Bible says in the same 16 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:47,120 region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their 17 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:52,600 flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them and the glory of the Lord 18 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:59,080 shone around them and they were terribly frightened. Have you ever paused to think what that sight 19 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,720 must have looked like? What those shepherds must have seen and how they must have felt? 20 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:08,840 That was a pretty powerful image we have here. Verse 10, but the angel said to them, do not 21 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:14,500 be afraid for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people. 22 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:18,880 For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a savior who is Christ the 23 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,960 Lord. This will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in 24 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:29,440 a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts. 25 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:36,200 Now this would be myriads upon myriads more angels with him, praising God and saying, 26 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,720 glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased. And when 27 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:45,240 the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, 28 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,480 let us go straight to Bethlehem then and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord 29 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:54,240 has made known to us. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph and 30 00:02:54,240 --> 00:03:00,120 the baby as he lay in the manger. How many times have you heard this story and not maybe 31 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:05,560 thought through who this angel was and exactly what he looked like and exactly why they were 32 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:10,800 so afraid when they saw him. And by the way, what are angels anyway? And what does God 33 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:15,400 do with angels and are they still around? We're going to answer those questions this 34 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:19,520 morning. Father in Jesus name today we continue to ask that you illuminate the scripture, 35 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:24,680 just shine light on the truth that we might know and live by it. Father speak to us and 36 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:29,880 speak to us regarding our relationship with you. We ask this in Jesus name and everybody 37 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:38,640 said amen. Please be seated if you would. Angels. Well no matter what mental image you 38 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:44,600 may have in your mind, angels are real and powerful and supernatural beings that are 39 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:49,600 in the universe today. And as you read through the Bible, you'll notice over and over in 40 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:54,000 the Bible encounters with angel. They're more powerful than anything that you and I can 41 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,400 possibly imagine. This is one of those things that God has done that we don't know so much 42 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:04,200 about, but we do discover that they are exceedingly and abundantly above anything that we can ask 43 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:10,800 or think. More powerful than the Marvel or the DC comic kind of movies that are out there 44 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:16,680 of superheroes that have incredible amazing abilities and power beyond anything humans 45 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:21,600 have. These angels are above and beyond all those except they're real and everything else 46 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:28,760 is just fantasy that we make up in our minds. They existed before humans were created, before 47 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:33,920 the world was actually created and they're mentioned 300 times in the scripture. Did 48 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:40,680 you know that? 25 different people have encounters and have had conversations with angels that 49 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:47,600 are recorded in the Bible. And you read about them and learn about them. David, while he 50 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:52,440 was out in the fields, you read about this in Psalm chapter 68 verse 17 where he looked 51 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:58,560 up and he saw chariots of fire, chariots of light streaking across in the heavenlies and 52 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:05,000 he named them in the thousands and multiplied thousands. He saw these angels in these chariots. 53 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:11,800 Now I don't believe in UFOs, but I believe in angels and their chariots across the skies. 54 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:16,600 I don't believe in Superman and Batman and Spiderman or even Captain America, but I do 55 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:22,040 believe in Gabriel and Michael and all the other angels that are revealed in the Bible 56 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:28,160 as being real. And when you open the Gospel of Luke, you'll find that Luke's Gospel 57 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:33,880 explodes with the stories of angels. I mean, in the first two chapters of the Book of Luke, 58 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:39,840 you have three divine encounters detailing 14 different mentions of angels in just those 59 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:45,200 first two chapters. So I'm going to ask the question today, who are angels? What do they 60 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:51,880 look like? What do they do? Who interacts with them? How do they affect us? And you 61 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:56,000 have angels probably, how they look in your own minds and what you think they might be 62 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,720 like. We looked for some pictures for angels for you to be able to look at today just to 63 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:06,200 see what mankind has thought about angels based on what they know. And there are Renaissance 64 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:11,840 artists that draw about angels. There are computer generated, artificial information, 65 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:16,520 artificial intelligence that give us pictures as well. You see warrior angels, you see shepherd 66 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:21,640 kinds of angels, you see all kinds of angels out there that people have in their mind that 67 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:27,400 they think may be real. But the Bible is the only real source to help us know about angels 68 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:34,400 today. And I want you to see something about angels because angels are a big part of the 69 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:40,400 Christmas story. That's why Luke is so adamant about including them in the encounters that 70 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:46,720 you have in Luke chapter one, Mary and the angel Gabriel, Zacharias and Elizabeth and 71 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:51,560 the encounter with the angel. Now these shepherds who have this encounter with the angel, the 72 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,880 will of the Lord, why are we supposed to make of that? And so we need to know something 73 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,840 about angels today. If you're taking notes, I'm going to give you five things about angels 74 00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:04,220 that are unforgettable. Are you ready for them? Number one, angels are the creation 75 00:07:04,220 --> 00:07:10,680 of an infinite God. That is angels have not always been around. They are not gods, they 76 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:16,320 are not eternal in that sense of eternity path, but they are creations of an infinite 77 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:21,480 God. In verse nine, we are introduced to this angel that comes to the shepherd and it says, 78 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:32,160 and specifies an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them. Now we know from the scripture 79 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:39,800 that everything that exists was created by God, except God who is eternal in every way. 80 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,880 So angels are created beings. If you read the Bible in the book of Colossians, you'll 81 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:49,600 find the statement that is really comprehensive when it comes to God and his creative powers 82 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:56,440 and how we know whatever is here, God here. In Colossians chapter one, verse 16, you'll 83 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:03,600 read this. It says, for by him, all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, 84 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:10,440 visible and invisible, whether thrones or dimensions or rulers or authorities, all things 85 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:18,320 have been created through him and for him. That's in the book of Colossians. Actually, 86 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:23,800 we place the creation of angels by God at a time before Adam and Eve were created and 87 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:28,420 at a time before the heavens and the earth were actually defined in the way we see in 88 00:08:28,420 --> 00:08:33,080 Genesis chapter one and Genesis chapter two. If you read the book of Job, you're going 89 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:38,480 to find an incredible conversations between God and Job. Most of you know that Job is 90 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:43,400 the man that went through so much affliction. The first chapter of Job talks about why in 91 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:49,440 the last few chapters of Job, containing encounters between God and Job where God is revealing 92 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:54,200 himself and he gives us lots of information about angels. I want you to notice what it 93 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:59,520 says in Job chapter 38, verse four and then verse seven, where God says to Job, where 94 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:05,020 were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? When the morning stars sang together 95 00:09:05,020 --> 00:09:12,320 and all the sons of God, a reference to angels, shouted for joy. Now when you first look at 96 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:17,840 this idea of God creating the universe and then creating angels before he created the 97 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:23,880 heavens and the earth, before he created man and woman, you got this idea that before you 98 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:28,160 know that, that we are really the center of the universe. We think we are the center of 99 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:34,680 all of the universe, that everything exists for us. But in reality, God has a whole universe, 100 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:39,840 a whole existence, including angels, including the solar system and everything else before 101 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:47,000 he placed man and woman, after the creation of man and woman, placed them into his world. 102 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:52,800 We're not the big deal on this world. He is the big deal on this world. And when I read 103 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:57,880 about angels and I read about all of God's creation, it helps me remind myself that this 104 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:03,720 world does not revolve around me, it revolves around him. And it reminds me that I am privileged, 105 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,960 just like you are, to be placed into this amazing world that God created, filled with 106 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:13,840 angels and humans and everything else. We are privileged to be in this place. First 107 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:19,160 of all, angels are created by an infinite God. Secondly, you need to know that angels 108 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:27,160 are supernatural, powerful, spiritual beings. While they can take on the form of a man, 109 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:31,880 they are spiritual beings. We know this from a number of different passages, but just notice 110 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:39,080 what we see here in Luke chapter two, verse nine. It says, and an angel of the Lord suddenly 111 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:46,280 stood before them. Now, Luke is a very technical writer. The Gospel of Luke and the Book of 112 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:53,160 Acts written by this doctor, Luke, this medical physician, Luke, is written with incredible 113 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:58,440 detail. He pays lots of attention to sequences and timeframes and lots of attention to individual 114 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:03,560 words to help us know the most we can possibly know about what he's writing. And he lets 115 00:11:03,560 --> 00:11:08,240 us know that the angel wasn't there at one moment and then suddenly stood before them 116 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:16,200 the next. In other words, he simply appeared at that moment where he wasn't before. These 117 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:20,400 angels are doing things that no human can do. One moment the angel is not present, the 118 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:25,020 next he stood beside them. And he didn't walk in, he didn't come from a distance that they 119 00:11:25,020 --> 00:11:30,480 saw him, but he simply moved supernaturally to be right in the spot where the shepherds 120 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:35,120 were and they were stunned by what they saw. Now I want you to think of the others in this 121 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:41,520 picture, in this scene, the shepherds who stay awake watchfully protecting their flocks 122 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,400 at night. These guys have not been roused out of a deep sleep. No one has knocked on 123 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:50,120 the door to their tent. They don't just suddenly just look around and they haven't been looking 124 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:55,520 around. They are always vigilant, always watching, always aware of danger. And all of a sudden 125 00:11:55,520 --> 00:12:00,400 this angel supernaturally appears in front of them and they are stunned by what they 126 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:07,680 saw. One of the best books on angels was written by Billy Graham a long time ago. But in this 127 00:12:07,680 --> 00:12:11,700 book it details so many different aspects of angels. And one of the statements that 128 00:12:11,700 --> 00:12:17,880 Billy Graham writes is this one. He says, angels speak, they appear and reappear. They 129 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:23,400 are emotional creatures. In other words, they feel. They become visible by choice when they 130 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:30,600 want to reveal themselves to others. I began to ask the question of myself and of the scriptures, 131 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:35,160 what else can angels do? I mean if angels can appear suddenly, what else can they do? 132 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:39,400 If there are these supernatural, powerful, spiritual beings that God in His infinite 133 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:44,240 wisdom created, what can they do? And I want to tell you a few things that I learned. First 134 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:50,800 of all, they have knowledge that mankind doesn't have. They have knowledge that you and I don't 135 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,960 have. They have knowledge that the shepherds didn't have. They have knowledge that Zacharias 136 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:58,800 and Elizabeth didn't have. They have knowledge that Joseph didn't have, that Mary didn't 137 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:04,800 have. They know things that God has shown them and they often appear in order to give 138 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:11,040 guidance in order to shed light on whatever situation or whatever person's life needs 139 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:18,040 to be enlightened. Not only this, but they warn us and guide us about the things to come. 140 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:23,600 Part of the Christmas story is Matthew chapter 2 and verse 13. And I want you to look at 141 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:28,400 what the angel said to Joseph. The old the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in his 142 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:33,160 dream and said, get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt and remain there 143 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:38,640 until I tell you for Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him. So here is a 144 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:43,680 supernatural powerful spiritual being that God created coming and giving this message 145 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:49,760 of guidance to Joseph in order to protect Mary and to protect the baby from this murderous 146 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:56,600 intent of Herod. They have knowledge that we don't have. They also have power that mankind 147 00:13:56,600 --> 00:14:02,760 doesn't have. When Jesus returns for the battle of Armageddon, if you read the book of Revelation, 148 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,680 how many of you read the book of Revelation very often at all? If you read the book of 149 00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:09,840 Revelation, there's a great battle that's going to take place and it's called the battle 150 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:15,800 of Armageddon. Now at the battle of Armageddon, this vast valley in Israel is going to be 151 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:21,400 covered in blood. In fact, up to the bridle of horses, how deep the blood will be. But 152 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:28,820 the Bible says that Jesus, when he comes back, will be followed by armies of angels who bring 153 00:14:28,820 --> 00:14:34,860 about all the destruction that needs to happen in this last great battle. The Bible also 154 00:14:34,860 --> 00:14:40,760 shows us the picture of one angel who slew all the first born Egyptians that led to the 155 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:47,080 release of the Israelites in the book of Exodus. Maybe you remember that, the angel of death. 156 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:51,120 Angels protect Israel from the armies that did come out of Egypt, chasing them once they 157 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:57,920 were set free. And as a approach to sea before it parted, the angel of the Lord protected 158 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:04,320 all of the soldiers, protected the Israelites from all the soldiers coming their way. If 159 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:10,800 you look in the book of second Kings, one angel slew 185,000 Assyrian soldiers who were 160 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:16,960 intent on killing the Israelites. That's pretty powerful. There was an angel that struck with 161 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:23,400 blindness the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah when they wanted to give ill treatment and 162 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:32,400 violate the visitors in that city. It was an angel that struck and made Zacharias mute 163 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:38,720 when he did not believe the angels word. Angels are more powerful than military weapons and 164 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:45,720 missiles and bombs and all kinds of speed and all kinds of brilliance. They defy explanation 165 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,280 when you begin to look at all the things that angels have done. But angels not only have 166 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:56,520 knowledge and not only do they have power, they fight battles we can't fight. Read the 167 00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:01,600 book of Daniel. Where there is war in the heavenly places, Daniel is awaiting an answer 168 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:06,640 of a prayer that he has prayed to God that he needs the answer to. And Michael is doing 169 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:13,360 battle in the heavenly places against the demons that would keep that answer from coming. 170 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:17,800 Daniel was in the lion's den and the Bible says that even though those hungry lions would 171 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:22,760 normally have eaten him alive literally the next morning after being placed in the lion's 172 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:29,520 den, the king comes out and calls out and there's Daniel in the lion's den just fine. 173 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:35,040 Someone asked how did this happen? Daniel gave this answer, my God sent his angel and 174 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:42,040 shut the lion's mouths and they have not harmed me. Now that's sensational stuff. Amen? That's 175 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:48,800 sensational stuff. I mean I normally wouldn't want to sign up for the lion's den shift, 176 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:53,360 but I would do that if I knew the angel was in there. Daniel could have said a lot of 177 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,680 different things in answer to the king. The lions weren't hungry, they just didn't touch 178 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:04,600 me. I don't know why, but he said no, the angels shut the mouths of the lions. For people 179 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:10,040 that have encounters with angels, and people that write about them, there's no doubt in 180 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:15,160 their mind the existence of these angels that are there fighting battles we can't fight. 181 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:19,800 Imagine the battles that you cannot fight that angels actually fight on your behalf 182 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:24,600 and you may never know about them. But God said we're protecting you in some way just 183 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:33,360 like he did Daniel. Angels also show up when we're not aware. Have you ever heard of entertaining 184 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:39,880 angels unawares? Well since they can take on the appearance of a human they often surprise 185 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:46,400 us. They look like another person and in reality they're an angel in disguise. The book of 186 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:51,560 Hebrews tells us that they come without us realizing who they are sometimes. It says 187 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:57,920 in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 2, do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by this 188 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:04,920 some have entertained angels without knowing it. Billy Graham tells the story of a missionary 189 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:11,520 in the Hebride Islands near Great Britain and the United Kingdom. And at the time the 190 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:15,920 Hebrides were filled with the savages that were murderers. They didn't want anybody other 191 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:20,600 than themselves to be in this place they lived in, these jungles that they lived in, these 192 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:25,880 missionaries named Patton. John Patton and his wife were there. And he told them how 193 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:30,040 difficult the ministry, he talked about how difficult the ministry of sharing the gospel 194 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:35,220 was with those natives and how angry they were that they were even there. And one night 195 00:18:35,220 --> 00:18:40,440 John Patton and his wife were in their hut in their place that they built there to live 196 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:45,440 in and they were surrounded by the natives who clearly had intent to kill them. They 197 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:50,080 had their spears, they had their swords all at the ready and they were talking in a murderous 198 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:54,240 way. So John Patton and his wife simply kneeled down in prayer and said you know if our lives 199 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:59,160 are going to have to be spent bringing the gospel to these people we're going to spend 200 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:04,960 it right here but we're trusting God to protect us and so they prayed all night long. If your 201 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:10,600 life was threatened by a tribe of people with spears and swords you'd pray all night long 202 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:16,080 too. And when they woke up the next morning or looked out the next morning rather there 203 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:21,560 was no one there. And they rejoiced in the fact that God had somehow protected them. 204 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:27,440 Within a few months they had led the chief of that tribe, that village to Christ and 205 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:31,700 they began a relationship with him. They began to converse with him about all that was going 206 00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:37,700 on in his life and one day they ventured the question you know some time back your village, 207 00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:42,080 your people surrounded us with swords and spears and we knew our lives were being threatened. 208 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:48,080 What happened? Why did you never attack? And I quote this out of Billy Graham's book in 209 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:52,800 this description of what was said. The chief said who were all those men you had there 210 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:58,040 with you? We saw hundreds of big men in shining armor with swords drawn and we were afraid 211 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:06,160 to attack. Angels. Angels were there protecting John Patton and later the Hebrew gods became 212 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:14,720 known as a great place of revival as the gospel had great inroads there. Angels exist today. 213 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:19,760 Some of you may have had encounters with angels that you cannot explain. I realize when I 214 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:23,840 tell this story it's easy for someone else to write off the story but I can remember 215 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:28,880 an encounter with someone more than 20 years ago that left my wife and I wondering did 216 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:34,740 we just meet an angel? We were coming back on vacation with our six kids in the back 217 00:20:34,740 --> 00:20:38,960 of our suburban and all of a sudden I heard an explosion as I was going down the highway 218 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:44,540 and smoke was coming outside the hood and so we pulled over to an abandoned gas station 219 00:20:44,540 --> 00:20:49,000 and I opened the hood and all of a sudden the flames just began to blow up in a huge 220 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:55,120 way and all my thoughts were getting the kids out of the car so I began to call out to Kim 221 00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:59,080 get the kids out as fast as you can and we were working to get the kids out of the car 222 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:05,520 and all of a sudden a man drove up in an old white and I know this is true Ford pickup 223 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:13,920 truck and he got out he was a bearded man kind of heavy set never said a word reached 224 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:20,600 into the back of his pickup bed got two large one gallon jugs full of water came and poured 225 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:25,760 the jugs on the fire in the engine bay put them back in the back of his truck and I just 226 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,440 walked around the side of the car to tell Kim I think the fire is out and I came back 227 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:33,580 around and there was no one there at all. Now I have a Ford pickup truck I know they 228 00:21:33,580 --> 00:21:43,880 don't go that fast. Just enough of maybe to make me think I saw an angel and I was 229 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:52,240 unaware. God often visits His people in various ways clearly 300 different accounts in the 230 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:59,840 scripture of angels 25 conversations of people who are otherwise reputable in every way regarding 231 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:06,800 angels and they often show up when we're not aware. Well if you could see what angels 232 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:14,480 did what would you see? If you could see what you can't see what would it look like? Might 233 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:21,320 you be able to see angelic answers when you pray and God sends an answer by an angel might 234 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:26,080 you see extraordinary encouragement and strength like the angel gave Elijah strength and the 235 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:31,840 angel gave Jesus encouragement while he was in the wilderness during the 40 days of fasting 236 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:37,400 and prayer. You might see demonic attacks that stopped and they're tracked because of 237 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:42,240 the power of an angel that stands between you and yourself and the demonic world just 238 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:47,320 like he did in Daniel's life. You might see messages sent by God and delivered by angels 239 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:55,200 just like Gabriel delivered the message to Mary and to Zacharias and ultimately to Joseph. 240 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:59,480 You might see angels stopping you at times from doing things that you otherwise would 241 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:04,440 do that would complicate and mess up your life but for some unexplainable reason you 242 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:10,040 couldn't bring it about maybe angels have stepped in in that case as well. It's possible 243 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:14,960 that physical rescue operations that defy any explanation have happened in your life 244 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:22,320 because of angelic beings. Now that makes me think this I love the fact that God is 245 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:28,000 not limited as to how he can rescue us how he can help us how he can encourage us all 246 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:34,120 of creation is at his disposal including the creative supernatural powerful spiritual beings 247 00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:41,120 that we know as angels. I want you to notice the third thing about this text that tells 248 00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:47,760 us angels reflect the glory and the majesty of God. Look at what the words say as the 249 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:56,360 angel appeared it said and the glory of the Lord shone around them that's in verse nine. 250 00:23:56,360 --> 00:24:02,320 Now everything that an angel does ultimately will continuously bring glory and honor to 251 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:07,520 God they frequently travel according to the scripture from heaven's throne room to earth 252 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:12,800 the dirt of earth to do whatever work they need to to minister to those of us who are 253 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,880 the saints of God. They're able to mask their brilliance so that they can appear in human 254 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:23,800 form but in this case they were brilliantly glorious lit up with the glory of God. That's 255 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:29,480 what the text says the glory of the Lord not their glory but the glory of God himself was 256 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:35,880 all around them. This angel was reflecting God's brilliance God's brightness to this 257 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:40,280 very dark corner of the earth where these shepherds were there in the middle of the 258 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:45,800 night and that's what angels do. As a matter of fact the purpose of and the mission of 259 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:51,520 angels is always to serve and to worship God always to reflect God's character and God's 260 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:56,640 glory. If you read the book of Revelation some of the greatest scenes of worship in 261 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:02,800 the heaven are found in Revelation chapter four and chapter five and in chapter four 262 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:07,680 of Revelation verse eight the Bible talks about living creatures surrounding the throne. 263 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:12,760 If you've ever read that before you know that throne room worship is what we call it. Those 264 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:19,400 great moments where God is in every uninhibited way being worshiped by those that are there. 265 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,840 The scripture says in day and night they do not cease to say holy holy holy is the Lord 266 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:32,200 God the Almighty who was and who is and who is to come. Angels always reflect the glory 267 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:38,720 and the majesty of God. What a picture of that and here in the darkness of the hill 268 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:46,920 country of Israel in the middle of the night these shepherds are brought to the light of 269 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:53,240 the glory of God. These are tough men these shepherds. They could not be afraid of the 270 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:58,640 lions and the bears and the wolves and the thieves they'd seen it all. Read the stories 271 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:03,520 of David the young shepherd boy how he and his slingshot were always prepared against 272 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:08,160 lions and bears. You and I don't think about that often in the fields of Israel being lions 273 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:12,760 and bears but that's what David dealt with that's what shepherds dealt with. And that's 274 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:17,480 seen it all they were courageous men but here the Bible says they were so terribly frightened 275 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:23,840 that the angel had to say do not be afraid. Well that must be a pretty powerful sighting 276 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,400 if you're not afraid of a bear and you're not afraid of a lion you're not afraid of 277 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:33,360 a wolf the angel has to say calm down don't run off I know what you've seen. It's something 278 00:26:33,360 --> 00:26:38,720 bigger than you've ever seen before. I was digging into the original language of this 279 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:44,860 this line here in verse 9 here about them being terribly frightened and it's really 280 00:26:44,860 --> 00:26:50,720 interesting there are three words to describe terribly frightened. One is a verb it means 281 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:58,320 to be fearful the other is a noun which is the fear itself and the last word is an adjective 282 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:04,440 that describes them both that's the word mega in the Greek in other words phobos and mega 283 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:10,760 which means frightened with mega fear. It's not enough just to say they were afraid they 284 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:17,800 were frightened with mega fear they were paralyzed what they saw was so mesmerizing so overwhelming 285 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:23,480 that they did not know what to do these strong fearless men had to do everything they could 286 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:28,880 to keep from running and hiding so great was this visitation and the angel said do not 287 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:35,800 be afraid. Matter of fact that's what angels usually say when they reveal themselves to 288 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:46,400 mankind don't run away I'm here for you I've been sent by God for you. These shepherds 289 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:52,400 are looking at the glory and the majesty of God as we are and these shepherds knew at 290 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:58,400 some point they were going to see something amazing because God has sent his angels and 291 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:02,280 that brings us to point number four about angels. That's maybe one of the clearest 292 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:07,840 points of this whole text and that is that angels are messengers as well as ministers 293 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:14,100 to us. I've talked to you about how angels have ministered to God's people but angels 294 00:28:14,100 --> 00:28:20,080 are messengers look at what it says in verse 10 it says for behold I bring you good news 295 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:26,600 of great joy. Obviously the Christmas message is that Christ coming but the angel says I 296 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:31,200 bring you good news of great joy it's the angel of the Lord who brings the most important 297 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:39,160 news of Jesus to us the most important news of all. He's not even leaving that to prophets 298 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:44,240 he's leaving that to angels who are coming straight from heaven's throne room and saying 299 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:52,120 I'm bringing you good news of great joy which is for everyone. Max Lucado in his book called 300 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:58,240 an angel story creatively thinks through what those scenes must have looked like when God 301 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:03,880 commissioned the angels to go with this message and I love thinking about what that must have 302 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:10,600 looked like. Can you imagine those angels who were called by God to bring the message 303 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:22,680 of good news to a very quiet dark sinful broken confused hopeless world. Can you imagine how 304 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:26,880 excited those angels were to be able to say you're going to ask me to bring this message 305 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:37,800 to this dark cold world. Unlike mankind angels are ageless that is they see mankind they 306 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:43,120 see us committing the same sin over and over making the same mistakes over and over and 307 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:49,960 over unlike us they see the outcomes of our decisions the outcomes of our desires and 308 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:54,680 our governments and our theories and our lies and our temptation they've watched mankind 309 00:29:54,680 --> 00:30:00,720 for years and years and millennium after millennium they know how badly we need a savior how badly 310 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:06,040 we need someone to intervene on our behalf they know we desperately need a solution and 311 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:11,120 that's why I'm sure the angels were thrilled to come and bring God's answer. Emmanuel 312 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:17,060 is coming a savior is coming an anointed one I'm sending you to announce this good news 313 00:30:17,060 --> 00:30:27,880 to dark mankind. It's a big moment huge moment. So the angel comes and in verse 10 and 11 314 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:35,680 in your text do not be afraid for behold which is a word that means stop look behold I bring 315 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:41,360 you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people for today in the city of 316 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:48,200 David there has been born for you a savior who is Christ the Lord and those shepherds 317 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:54,520 did not wait according to the text immediately they went to Bethlehem the message that the 318 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:59,920 savior was so important that God sent these amazing created beings to make a clear impression 319 00:30:59,920 --> 00:31:05,240 on the shepherds only this kind of thing would make them leave their flocks at night out 320 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:12,760 in the field but they did because the angel said go. God is amazing and that he brings 321 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:18,000 the right messenger for the right moment at the right time. Gabriel spoke to Zechariah 322 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:23,040 about John the Baptist he spoke with Mary and even explained how she as a virgin would 323 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:27,160 conceive it was the angel that actually said these words some of the greatest words in 324 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:32,120 the Bible in Luke chapter 1 verse 35 when she said how can this be how can I have a 325 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:37,200 child because I have never known a man and the angel said to her the Holy Spirit will 326 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:41,400 come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you and for that reason the 327 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:48,880 holy child shall be called the son of God. Can you imagine this mighty angel coming to 328 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:53,120 earth with such an incredible message so there would be no doubt so no one would wonder if 329 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:58,620 this was an imposter that was coming there would be no mistake there is no other explanation 330 00:31:58,620 --> 00:32:06,420 this was announced by angels. In Hebrews chapter 2 verses 2 and 3 there is a verse of scripture 331 00:32:06,420 --> 00:32:15,480 that is very interesting it says for if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable 332 00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:20,460 and every transgression and disobedience received is just a penalty how will we escape if we 333 00:32:20,460 --> 00:32:30,040 neglect so great a salvation? How could we miss out on the Messiah? It was prophesied 334 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:36,800 then announced by angels in unmistakable ways how should we escape if we neglect such a great 335 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:41,480 salvation? These are the messages of the greatest news telling us of the greatest savior and 336 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:48,600 the greatest salvation you and I can possibly imagine how can we ignore this? I want you 337 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:56,920 to know finally angels rejoice in revealing their creator. You see what we don't fully 338 00:32:56,920 --> 00:33:06,680 know the angels fully know and that is this Messiah and our God is a creator and the one 339 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:12,200 that we all need to bow to. Notice what it says in verse 13 and 14 of the same text that 340 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:17,200 we were working with suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts 341 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:23,240 that would be many many angels praising God and saying glory to God in the highest. Their 342 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:29,280 greatest joy their greatest mission is to reveal their creator to the rest of the universe. 343 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:33,040 They have seen God in all his glory. They watched as he created the heavens and the 344 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:38,800 earth. They saw him create Adam and Eve. They saw the fall. They saw death come into the 345 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:44,700 world. They saw the futility of mankind. The futility of religion. They see the senselessness 346 00:33:44,700 --> 00:33:50,520 of death and cruelty in humanity one against the other. They see all the problems and all 347 00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:56,260 the pain and all the heartbreak. They were overjoyed to come and say we have the answer 348 00:33:56,260 --> 00:34:07,320 is Christ the Messiah. In that little book I mentioned a moment ago the book where Dr. 349 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:14,640 Cato describes from an angelic perspective what their role was. He writes this about 350 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:22,040 having seen the birth of Jesus and now making the news known to everyone. Glory to God in 351 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:26,440 the highest and I'm quoting this glory to God in the highest and gradually the chorus 352 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:32,640 grew louder and louder and faster and faster. Our praise as the angelic praise rose into 353 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:38,200 the realms of the universe and in the most distant galaxy the dust and the oldest star 354 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:42,880 danced with our praise. In the depths of the ocean the water rippled with adoration. The 355 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:49,440 tiniest microbe turned and the mightiest constellation spun around. All of nature joined with us 356 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:55,840 as we worshiped Emmanuel the God who had become flesh. I love that description because it 357 00:34:55,840 --> 00:35:03,040 says rightly so, biblically so, all of creation was aware that Christ came as the Messiah 358 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:15,760 and it stands in stark contrast to humans the most stubborn species in the universe 359 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:24,400 to say but did he really? But is he real? My dear friend nobody that saw the scenes 360 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:31,560 of that day doubted. Neither did you. All of creation acknowledges and worships God. 361 00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:36,760 The angels delight in revealing himself to us. When will we acknowledge and accept and 362 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:45,100 surrender to this Savior? He's a master and the Lord of the universe. Go watch your movies, 363 00:35:45,100 --> 00:35:51,340 be entertained by the fantastic depictions of power but just remember those are fantasies 364 00:35:51,340 --> 00:35:57,880 but our Lord and our God is not a fantasy. He's real. He demonstrates that day in and 365 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:06,240 day out. I wonder today if you've been more mesmerized by Hollywood's version of power 366 00:36:06,240 --> 00:36:14,040 and might and fantastic creatures and you haven't remembered and thought of just one 367 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:20,200 little species that God has created the angelic beings who is far mightier than anything that 368 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:24,880 ever can be depicted in a book or on a screen or any other way. I wonder if maybe you've 369 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:31,200 been a little bit too distracted by everything we come up with and I wonder if maybe you've 370 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:40,200 been a little bit too neglectful of what God has come up with for you. Don't neglect so 371 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:47,080 great of a salvation. In just a few moments we're going to close in prayer. We have decision 372 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:52,000 stations that I want to invite you to. You know the only way you can neglect so great 373 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:58,480 a salvation is to refuse it. To refuse it. To say not for me. To say I'm going to find 374 00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:04,080 some other way to heaven or I'm going to find some other way to God and yet God himself 375 00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:11,720 has said there's no way to the Father except through me. You can neglect salvation by simply 376 00:37:11,720 --> 00:37:18,120 turning it off. Tuning it out. Or you can say you know I see all the evidence for what 377 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:24,840 God has done in Jesus with the people that responded, the prophecies that came to pass, 378 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:29,480 with the angels that announced it, with the fact that there was no doubt in those that 379 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:34,960 responded and saw. I'm going to put my faith in that same one that they put their faith 380 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:39,440 in. Today we want to talk with you and help you with that decision. I invite you to our 381 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:43,360 decision station. Maybe you're here for the first time. I would love to invite you to 382 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:47,800 our guest reception room right outside the center exit doors and across the hallway. 383 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:51,640 It's a glassed in room. I'll be in that room in just a few moments. I'd love to tell you 384 00:37:51,640 --> 00:37:56,440 something about our church and things coming up. We're really glad you're here today. I 385 00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:59,840 also want to invite you to bring others with you next week as we continue the characters 386 00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:04,600 of Christmas and as we move towards Christmas Eve. Phenomenal time of celebration that we'll 387 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:11,360 have this year. Would you stand with me for a closing word of prayer? Father, I'm so grateful 388 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:18,160 today that you have revealed yourself in so many ways, including through the angels. Father, 389 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:25,560 I would ask that you help us not neglect so great a salvation that each of us would grapple 390 00:38:25,560 --> 00:38:34,440 with and ultimately decide to trust you, the divine creator and savior of all. We ask this 391 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:37,080 in Jesus name. Amen. God bless.