Savage Street Church of Christ

01_13_2019_AngelsBehindTheScenes_DonRuhl

Angels Behind the Scenes

Do you know what heaven is doing on our behalf?

Hebrews 1.13–14

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • January 13, In the year of our Lord Christ, 2019

Prelude:

1. Something, in your favor, is going on behind the scenes.
   1. Be encouraged to continue on with the battles in your life.
   2. You cannot see it happening, but
      1. you may see the results and
      2. Scripture says it is happening.

Persuasion:

1. Genesis 24.40
   
   40 But he said to me, “The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house” (Gen 24.40).
   
   1. This angel was not visible to Abraham’s servant,
   2. which is why Abraham gave this explanation.
      1. This is how God carries out His providence.
      2. There were no miracles along the way.
         1. Miracles suspend nature, but
         2. providence works within nature.
2. Exodus 32.34
   
   34 Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin (Exo 32.34).
   
   1. There is no record in the Old Testament
      1. that a visible angel was in front of Israel
      2. showing them the way, or making things easier.
   2. Yet, the angel was responsible for the survival of the Israelites.
3. Second Samuel 5.24
   
   24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines (2Sa 5.24).
   
   1. David wanted to know by what way he should attack the Philistines.
   2. He would still fight, but
      1. somehow the Lord, perhaps through His angels,
      2. would insure that the fighting would go in David’s favor.
   3. Miracles were not involved.
      1. If miracles had been involved,
         1. David would not have fought, but
         2. unusual activity that defied the laws of nature would have happened.
      2. The marchers up in the trees insured
         1. that the Philistines did not gain the advantage or
         2. that David gained the advantage, or both.
   4. All that we can say is
      1. that angels were working behind the scenes,
      2. starting up in the mulberry trees.
4. Second Samuel 24.15–16
   1. This passage is different than the other ones because
      1. it shows an angel behind the scenes punishing.
   2. David had made the great mistake
      1. of thinking that his military strength
      2. was behind the numbers of soldiers.
         1. God rebuked the king for his error and
         2. gave him a choice of three punishments.
            1. David opted for the one
            2. in which God meted out the punishment.
               1. In three days the Lord lowered
               2. the numbers of the army of Israel by 70,000.
   3. Then we get a glimpse that it is an angel doing these things.
      
      15 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died. 16 And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (2Sa 24.15–16).
      
5. First Kings 22.22–23
   1. This one is also different, but
      1. it shows a spirit, possibly an angel,
      2. working against someone who was wicked.
   2. The prophets told King Ahab just what he wanted to hear.
      1. However, this text reveals that it was actually a lying spirit,
      2. in the mouth of all his prophets.
         1. These prophets thought they were saying what they wanted to say.
         2. It was not apparent that the Lord was working against King Ahab
            1. by means of these false prophets,
            2. the prophet Micaiah revealed it.
               
               22 The LORD said to him, “In what way?” So he said, “I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” And the LORD said, “You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.” 23 [Then the prophet said to King Ahab,] Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you (1Ki 22.22–23).
               
6. Second Kings 6.17
   1. The Syrian army was pursuing the Israelites, but
      1. just when the Syrians thought they would make a sneak attack
      2. the Israelites got away.
   2. The King of Syria thought that one of his advisers must be a spy,
      1. telling the king of Israel when to flee.
   3. One adviser was wise and he told the Syrian King
      1. that there was a prophet in Israel
      2. who knew everything that the king of Syria was doing.
         1. This prophet even knew the words that the Syrian King spoke
         2. in the privacy of his bedroom.
            1. So the King found where this prophet was.
            2. The prophet was Elisha.
   4. The Syrian army surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant stayed.
      1. When they arose in the morning,
      2. Elisha’s servant saw this vast army of the enemy.
         1. Elisha told the servant that he did not need to fear, because
         2. those who were with Elisha and the servant outnumbered the Syrians.
   5. To prove this, watch what Elihsa did:
      
      17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2Ki 6.17).
      
7. Psalm 34.7
   1. This is a fit commentary on what we read about Elisha, or
      1. perhaps it is the other way around.
   2. What is reassuring about this passage is
      1. it says that the experience of Elisha is not restricted to him.
   3. Horses and chariots of fire also surround us
      1. as we fight the Lord’s battles.
         
         7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
         And delivers them
         (Psa 34.7).
         
8. VIII.Daniel 10.13, 20–11.1
   
   13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.”

   20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince. 1 Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.)” (Dan. 10.13, 20–11.1).
   

9. Matthew 18.10
   1. Some people have tried to use this text
      1. to teach the concept of guardian angels,
      2. believing that everyone, especially children,
         1. has an angel watching out for him, and
         2. that your guardian angel protects you from harm.
            1. If each child does have a personal guardian angel,
            2. he is not doing his job, because children are harmed everyday.
   2. What does the text say?
      
      10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt 18.10).
      
      1. Do not despise a little child, because
      2. in heaven their angels always see the face of God.
         1. The angels are in heaven.
         2. The angels are watching the face of God.
      3. The implication is
         1. that the angels will testify to God what you do to children.
         2. Therefore, watch how you treat them.
            1. Do you want an angel to tell God
            2. that you despised a child, or harmed it, or misled it?
10. Luke 15.10
    
    10 “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15.10).
    
    1. Angels are aware of what is going on here, and
       1. when they see a sinner repent, the angels rejoice.
    2. Heaven noticed your repentance.
11. First Corinthians 11.10
    
    10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels (1Co 11.10).
    
    1. Paul was explaining why women should wear a veil
       1. during the worship of the first century church.
       2. As he explains, there is this curious reference to the angels.
    2. Paul is discussing the worship service
       1. so he must have assumed that the Corinthians knew angels are either:
          1. present during our worship services, or
          2. they are observing from heaven.
    3. The point is improper attire during the worship service offends the angels.
12. First Timothy 5.21
    
    21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality (1Ti 5.21).
    
    1. Angels are aware of what Christians do.
       1. We, specifically preachers, are charged in the presence of angels
       2. to do things without prejudice.
    2. Perhaps they are watching to make sure
       1. that we are impartial,
       2. that we are following the teachings of Christ to treat everyone the same.
13. XIII.Hebrews 1.13–14
    
    13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:

    “Sit at My right hand,
    Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? 

    14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? (Heb 1.13–14).
    

    1. The writer made a comparison between Christ and the angels,
       1. that He is superior to them.
    2. One of the arguments is
       1. that angels are ministering spirits,
       2. who obey Christ on our behalf.
          1. What do they do on our behalf?
          2. That question is not answered by this text,
             1. just the fact that they do minister on our behalf.
14. Hebrews 12.22
    
    22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels (Heb 12.22).
    
    1. The book of Hebrews demonstrates
       1. the greatness of Christ and everything associated with Him.
    2. Rather than appearing before Mt. Sinai,
       1. we appear before Mt. Zion…Spiritual Mount Zion.
    3. Included in this is
       1. that we are before innumerable angels.
15. The Book of Revelation
    1. Each church had an angel.
       1. Revelation 2.1 is typical of the letters written to the other six churches,
          
          1 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, “These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” (Rev 2.1).
          
    2. The purpose of the Book of Revelation
       1. is to show us what is going on behind the scenes, and
       2. angels are part of that activity.
          1. Much of what God wants done in the Book of Revelation,
          2. He uses angels to accomplish it.
             1. Yet, this cannot be seen,
             2. which is why this book is called Revelation.
    3. The Book of Revelation mentions angels more than any other Bible Book.
       1. They are mentioned 72 times in the last book of the Bible.
       2. Luke has 24 references.

Exhortation:

1. Angels Are Working Behind The Scenes For Our Benefit.
2. Thus God Is Working Behind The Scenes For Our Benefit.
3. God Cares About You.