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ANGELS UNAWARES
#1 · April 14, 2002, 4:23 pm
Posted by: bbrowning <bbrowning@...>
Hi All, Here is the next in the series on Abraham. I hope you find it a blessing!
IN Christ,
Bro. Bryan L. Browning, Pastor
Meadowside Baptist Church
Pittsburg, Kansas
"LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM-ANGELS UNAWARE"
GENESIS 18:1-16; HEBREWS 13:2
INTRO: Our society's fascination with angels has become an epidemic. It seems almost
everywhere you go you see their likenesses displayed. Books have been written about
them and the visitations they have made to certain individuals. Television programs
have helped to fuel this epidemic. But I am afraid that our society today is doing exactly
what the Apostle Paul describes for us in Romans 1:25, "Who changed the truth of God
into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is
blessed for ever. Amen." "In Hollywood, the seat of Western civilization, God may be a
non-event, but angels are a different story. Touched by an Angel
[may] represent
nothing less than the birth of a new media religionredemption that costs nothing,
stories that warm the heart but do not convict the soul."--Hollywood producer Coleman
Luck, in Internet for Christians Newsletter (3/1/99)
The study of angels is both fascinating and rewarding. But we must keep in mind that
they are created beings. They are not to be worshipped. There is only One who is
worthy of worship, glory and praise and that is God. The question most asked about
angels is: "What are they?" The Bible definition is: an ambassador, messenger, deputy,
and minister." As to what they are: They are created spiritual beings. Hebrews 1:7 tells
us, "And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a
flame of fire." They were created before the world and man. In Job 38:4-7 God asks
Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast
understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath
stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid
the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and the all the sons of God
shouted for joy?" The angels called the sons of God, because they had their whole being
from him, and because they were made partakers of his Divine and glorious image.
(John Wesley's Explanatory Notes). The Scripture there tells us they were before the
foundations of the earth were laid.
The message today is by no means meant to be an in-depth study of angels. But I hope
it might stimulate your thinking so you would study more about them. What can we
learn about angels from their visit with Abraham?
(1) WE KNOW THEY ARE REAL
HEBREWS 1:4-14
ILLUS: In the passage before us we see the reality of angels. angels actually exist. They are a
magnificent and glorious order of beings who have been created by God to be His
messengers and servants. They are spiritual beings who live in another dimension, the
spiritual dimension. They have the glorious privilege of living in Gods presence and of
serving Him day and night. Because of their high and exalted position, some people
have tended to look to angels instead of Christ. They tend to take the thought and
attention that is due Christ and give it to angels. They tend to consider angels as their
go-between between them and God. This is what this passage is attacking. It is not
denying angels, for they do exist. It is not denying the glory and magnificence of angels,
for they are glorious and magnificent beings. It is not denying the ministry and service
of angels to God, for they are His ministering spirits. What this passage is attacking is
this: the emphasis of some people who exalt angels by seeking experiences with them
and by focusing thoughts, attention, and prayers upon them. Angels are not Gods
intermediaries and mediators between Himself and us. The only intermediary and
Mediator between God and us is Gods Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the only
Person who can approach God for us. He is the only Person who can hear and answer
our prayers and look after and care for us. This does not mean that He may not use an
angel to help us. He does use angels in our lives to guide, protect, and encourage. But
the angel serves Christ; the angel is not to be the focus of our attention and thoughts
nor praise and honor. The angel is the servant, not the Lord of Jesus nor the Lord of our
lives. Christ alone is the Lordboth of the angels and us. Therefore, He and He alone is
to be the focus of our attention and thoughts, honor and worship. (Preacher's Outline
and Sermon Bible, New Testament 11, Hebrews- James Commentary).
A. THE BIBLICAL EVIDENCE. Their existence is mentioned in at least 34 books of the Bible.
Jesus taught that there are angels. In Matthew 18:10, Jesus said, "Take heed that ye
despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always
behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.," in Mark 13:32, "But of that day and that
hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the
Father," and in Matthew 26:53, "Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father, and he shall
presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" Paul and the other Apostles said there
were angels. In 2 Thess. 1:7-8 we read, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
and in Cols. 2:18 we read, "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility
and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed
up by his flesh mind."
B. THE BELIEVABLE EVIDENCE. If there were only one scripture i n the Bible that said there
were angels that one scripture would be sufficient proof of the existence of angels, but there
are countless references to them. If the Bible says it is true, it is true! If you can't believe
what God says in Gen. 1 when he speaks about the earth, how can you believe what God says
in Rev. 22 when he speaks about heaven? If you can't believe what God says in the first
eleven chapters of the Genesis then how can you be confident in John 3:16? - Barry
Landrum If one thing could be proven untrue in this Book then the whole record could be
called into question. If God's Word speaks of the existence of angels as reality, then we can
rest assured they are reality!
WE KNOW THEY ARE REAL, we have: BIBLICAL EVIDENCE which is BELIEVABLE EVIDENCE, but also...
(2) WE KNOW THEY HAVE BODIES
GENESIS 18:2--"And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground."
*Notice two things about this heavenly visitation:
A. THE CHRIST HE ENCOUNTERED. The identification of Christ is verified in verse 1 where we
are told that the "LORD" appeared to Abraham. "LORD" (all caps) refers to Jehovah. As most
Bible students know, the Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament.
We can learn this by comparing such verses as Isaiah 43:11 with Luke 2:11. The Isaiah text
says, "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior." The Luke text says, "For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." We have only
one Savior, and in the New Testament He is called Jesus Christ. (1). Warren Wiersbe said,
"Verses 17-22 make it clear that the Lord Jesus Christ was one of these heavenly visitors;
note also Abraham's words in v3. (2). We certainly know that the Lord Jesus Christ has a
body. We don't know who the other two were, but they, too, had bodies. While Abraham was
thus sitting, he saw three men coming. These were three heavenly beings in human bodies.
(Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary).
B. THE CHARACTERISTICS HE EVIDENCED. These three men were three spiritual heavenly
beings, now assuming human shapes, that they might be visible to Abraham, and
conversable with him. (John Wesley's Explanatory Notes). They all had the characteristics of
human bodies:
1. They were visible. Verse 2 says, "...And when he saw them.."
2. They talked in understandable language. Verse 9 says, "and they said unto him, Where is
Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent." If Abraham had not been able to
understand them he would not have been able to answer their question.
3. They walked. Verse 16 tells us, "And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom:
and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way."
4. They ate and drank. Verse 8 says, "And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had
dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat."
5. They appeared as men. Verse 2a says, "And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men
stood by him..." Though angels are spirits ; (Psalms 104:4; Hebrews 1:14) power is given them
to become visible in the semblance of human form. (Genesis 19:1 cf ; Genesis 19:5; Exodus
3:2; Numbers 22:22-31; Judges 2:1; 6:11,22; 13:3,6; 1 Chronicles 21:16,20; Matthew 1:20;
Luke 1:26; John 20:12; Acts 7:30; 12:7, 8, etc.). The word is always used in the masculine
gender, though sex, in the human sense, is never ascribed to angels (Scofield Reference
Notes, 1917 Edition).
6. They all do not have wings as is so prevalently taught. Only certain classes of angels possess
wings. We know the Seraphims do according to Isaiah 6:2. They are described as having each
of them three pairs of wings, with one of which they covered their faces (a token of humility);
with the second they covered their feet (a token of respect); while with the third they flew.
They seem to have borne a general resemblance to the human figure. ver. 6. Their occupation
was two fold to celebrate the praises of Jehovahs holiness and power, ver. 3 and to act as the
medium of communication between heaven and earth. ver. 6. (Smith's Bible Dictionary). The
conception of angels as winged beings, so familiar in Christian art, finds no support in
Scripture. The cherubim and seraphim are represented as winged (Ex 25:20; Isa 6:2); winged
also are the symbolic living creatures of Ezek (Ezek 1:6; compare Rev 4:8). (International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia).
ANGELS ARE REAL and THEY HAVE BODIES also...
(3) THEY HAVE GREAT STRENGTH
2 PETER 2:9-11--"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise
government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak
evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord."
Psalm 103:20--"Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his
commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."
A. THE POWER THEY EXERCISE. The Bible is full of examples of the great strength and
power of angels. In Isaiah 37:36 we read of one angel defeating the entire regiment of the
Assyrian army, "Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the
Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the
morning, behold, they were all dead corpses." Two angels are commissioned to destroy Sodom
(Gen 19:13); when David numbers the people, an angel destroys them by pestilence (2 Sam
24:16); it is by an angel that the Assyrian army is destroyed (2 Ki 19:35); and Ezekiel hears
six angels receiving the command to destroy those who were sinful in Jerusalem (Ezek
9:1,5,7). (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia).
ILLUS: Corrie Ten Boom tells about an experience she had as she was smuggling Bibles into
Communist Eastern Europe. The border guard was checking everyone's luggage, and
she knew her load of Bibles would surely be discovered. She knew nothing to do but to
pray, "Lord, you have promised to watch over your Word. Now please watch over this
Word that I am smuggling." Her turn came, and the guard, who had so vigilantly opened
and inspected every piece of everyone's luggage, glanced at her bags, shrugged, and
waved her through without so much as asking her what was in her bags.
Angels have the power to deliver and to destroy, to protect and to preserve, and to minister to the heirs of salvation.
B. THE PERSON THEY EXALT. Even though they possess great power they do not exalt
themselves but God. Nehemiah 9:6 tells us, "Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast
made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are
therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven
worshippeth thee." Hebrews 1:6 says, "And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the
world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Oliver B. Greene, in his
commentary on Hebrews, commenting on this verse said, "The angels are Christ's created
beings (Cols. 1:16-17). We do not know when they were created, but we DO know that
throughout all eternity since their creation, Christ has been the object of their worship.
Personally, I believe the angels have worshipped Him since the first angel was created.
--They worshipped Him in heaven, and when He came into this earthly sphere and took on a
mortal body.
--They worshipped Him when His birth was announced to the shepherds on that long-ago night
in Judaea.
--They worshipped Him in the wilderness of temptation, and ministered to Him immediately
after He had commanded Satan to depart from Him.
--They worshipped Him in Gethesemane, and strengthened Him when He fell prostrate in
agonizing prayer, His perspiration stained with His divine blood.
--They worshipped Him on many other occasions, and there is no doubt in my mind that they
worshipped Him as He ascended back to heaven and a cloud received Him--the Man Christ
Jesus, passing through the heavens until He reached that place of exalted majesty where He
now sits, at the right of God the Father. Yes, the Son is superior to angels (3).
ANGELS ARE REAL, THEY HAVE BODIES, THEY HAVE GREAT STRENGTH and also...
(4) THEY ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE SAINTS
PSALM 34:7--"The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."
PSALM 91:11-12--"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in thy
ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a
stone."
A. THEY WATCH OVER US. They had guarded and guided Abraham and Sarah through near
one hundred years, and they would not forsake them now.
ILLUS: The story is told of a little boy who asked his mother if he could take his baby sister out
to play. She had just begun to walk alone and could not step over anything that lay in
the way. His mother said "Yes, if you'll be careful not to let her fall." The man who tells
the story says, "I found them at play, very happy, in the field. I said, 'You seem to be very
happy, George. Is this your sister?' 'Yes sir,' he replied. 'Can she walk alone?' 'Yes sir,
on smooth ground.' 'Then how did she walk over those big stones between here and the
house?' 'Well, Mother told me to be careful she didn't fall, so I put my hands under her
arms and lifted her up when she came to a stone so she wouldn't hit her foot against it.'"
"He shall give his angels charge over thee.... They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest
thou dash thy foot against a stone." God charges His angels to lead and lift His people
over difficulties in the same way.
ILLUS: John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives
surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them.
Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them.
When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the
chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton
asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The
chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew no men
were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds
of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
A modern-day account of angels protecting believers? We can't say for sure, but the
Bible teaches that angels minister to believers today just as they did with Jesus and
saints of the past.
Angels watch over us, but also...
B. THEY WILL CARRY US TO GLORY. When death came, first to Sarah, then later to
Abraham, the angels carried them into the next world, just as they did Lazarus. It tells us in
Luke 16:22, "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into
Abraham's bosom.."
ILLUS: The only child of a poor woman one day fell into the fire by accident and was so badly
burned that he died after a few hours' suffering. The clergyman, as soon as he knew,
went to see the mother, who was known to be dotingly fond of the child. To his great
surprise, he found her calm, patient, and resigned. After a little conversation she told
him how she had been weeping bitterly as she knelt beside her child's cot, when
suddenly he exclaimed, "Mother, don't you see beautiful man who is standing there and
waiting for me?" Again and again the child persisted in saying that the beautiful man
was waiting for him, and seemed ready, and even anxious, to go to him. And, as a
natural consequence, the mother's heart was strangely cheered.
(5) THEY CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF GOD
Psa 103:21--"Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his
pleasure."
A. THEY EXECUTE GOD'S PLANS. God purposed for Abraham and Sarah to have a child; and
the angels carried out that purpose. As Psalm 103:21 tells us, the angels "...do his pleasure."
The angels as v20 of Psalm 103 tells us, "..do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice
of his word." It is God's angels who guard the way to tree of life, by whom the law was given,
who were the medium of God's revelation to the prophets, who announced the birth of
Samson, John the Baptist, and Jesus, who warned Joseph to flee Egypt, ministered to Jesus
after His temptation and during His passion, who were present at the tomb and the
ascension, and who will be with Christ at His Second Coming and the judgments to follow.
But there is one thing that the angels cannot do: Angels cannot preach the gospel, only
beings such as Paul and you and I can preach the gospel. -- Oswald Chambers, devotional
writer. Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 1.
B. THEY EXECUTE GOD'S JUDGMENTS. After David's sin of numbering the people it was an
angel that executed God's judgment upon Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 24:16--"And when the angel
stretched his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to
the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the
LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite." When Herod was filled with pride,
the angel of the Lord smote him. Acts 12:21-23--"And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in
royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a
shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord
smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten with worms, and gave up the
ghost." In the Book of Revelation, it is the angels of the Lord which execute God's justice on
a Christ denying world.
CLOSING: ANGELS ARE REAL, THEY HAVE BODIES, THEY ARE OF GREAT STRENGTH, THEY
ARE GUARDIANS OF THE SAINTS, AND THEY CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF GOD.
In light of God's Word, how should we view angels? Charles Spurgeon said, "It is
superstitious to worship angels; it is proper to love them. How free from envy the
angels were! Christ did not come from heaven to save their peers when they fell.
When Satan, the mighty angel, dragged with him a third part of the stars of heaven,
Christ did not stoop from his throne to die for them. He left them to be reserved in
chains and darkness until the last great day. Yet angels did not envy men. How free,
too, they were from pride! They were not ashamed to come and tell the news of
Christ's birth to humble shepherds. Mark how well they told the story, and you will
love them.' (4).
Hebrews 13:2 reminds us, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby
some have entertained angels unawares." If an angel from heaven suddenly became
visible to you as you were sitting alone, what would your reaction be? An ancient
saint admonished Christians in these words: "In every area ... in every corner, pay
respect to your angel. Dare not do before him what you dare not do before others.
Consider with how great respect, awe, and modesty we ought to behave in the sight
of the angels lest we offend their holy eyes and render ourselves unfit for their
company. Woe to us if they who could chase away our enemy would be offended by
our negligence and deprive us of their visit."
NOTES: 1. John G. Butler. Abraham: The Father of the Jews. p. 172.
2. Warren W. Wiersbe. Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament. p. 48.
3. Oliver B. Greene. The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews. p. 40.
4. Charles H. Spurgeon. 2200 Quotations from the Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon. p.
12.