"LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM-ANGELS UNAWARE" from Bro. Browning
Posted by: balderman <balderman@...>
"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 religion
redemption 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 angel. 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
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.