The story of Reubel
To listen to the archived message log onto Online Church at www.cotr.com. You will hear the story of Reubel which details a modern day encounter with an angel sent from God.
The bible reveals very little specific information about angels however their encounters with mankind are numerous. It is through these encounters we catch glimpses of their person and role.
In our current bible study series we have looked at Who God Is, Who Jesus Is, Who the Holy Spirit Is and Who the Devil is, all in attempts to better understand the players in this game of life we are living. Ultimately the question will be: Who Are You? Before we get to that question there is one more group of players we want to look at.
Angels
Gtcotr/ss082805
Angels come in different categories:
Holy Angels & Fallen Angels
Angels of Darkness and Angels of Light
Today our main text will be coming from the book of Daniel
While you turn there let me read our key scripture and follow with some commentary.
Key Scripture: Hebrews 13:2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! (NLT)
The word Angel from the Old Testament Hebrew and the New Testament Greek and Aramaic simply means Messenger.
We know angels to be “created beings”, a distinct order of creation different from mankind, yet complimentary as each creation fits into the overall picture and plan of God in this universe He has established for His own purpose.
This means that angels are not merely the spirits of already passed on saints. In other words, when a child of God dies, they do not become one of God’s angels anymore than a lost person becomes one of the devil’s demons.
However, since the word angel is defined as Messenger: It could be stretched to say that both Moses and Elijah were messengers, angels of God, when they were sent to appear to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. However the concept of messenger here would describe a function and not a being.
As well, Paul’s thorn in the flesh mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:7, is referred to as “a messenger (angel) of satan”.
In one form or another angels are mentioned almost 400 times in the bible. It’s from these incidental accounts that we get our information.
There were angels, cherubim in creation, rank and order, who were sent by God to stand at the entrance of the Garden of Eden after mankind’s fall into sin. Having their flaming swords at the ready they were set there to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:24
From this we see angels as submissive to the commands of God.
Psalms 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
(KJV)
It was the Angel of The Lord who spoke to Abraham on the Mountain of Moriah, whereon is present day Jerusalem, the Temple Mount and Mount Calvary.
Genesis 22
11 ¶ But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."
12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." (NKJV)
Later he spoke again and delivered the covenant to Abraham:
Genesis 22
15 ¶ Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son —
17 "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." (NKJV)
It was an angel that helped the children of Israel conquer their enemies. Exodus 33:2
It was an angel who woke Peter up, loosed his chains, opened the gate and got him out of jail unnoticed by the guards. Acts 10:3
It was an angel that was sent to a Roman Centurion in the city of Caesarea to give him direction. Acts 12:7
Even after Jesus had been tempted by the devil for 40 days and nights and had defeated all temptation, God sent angels to minister to Him. Matthew 4:11
Psalms says that angels are flames of fire. Psalms 104:4
Angels are sent forth to minister to those who are heirs of salvation.
There are certain orders or ranks of angels and there is indication that saints will one day judge the angels. 1 Corinthians 6:3
Angels don’t die. Luke 20:36 Even the fallen ones who are held in chains, reserved unto the day of judgment. 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6
We know there are armies of angels that men cannot see except their eyes be opened into the spirit realm.
2 Kings 6
15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"
16 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
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. (NKJV)
We read of Cherubim and Seraphim, principalities and rulers, messengers and ministering spirits. Angels of light and angels of darkness, each with certain accessible powers and authority.
One of the more interesting accounts of angels occurs in the book of Daniel. It is where Daniel had been praying and fasting, seeking understanding from the Lord.
An angel is dispatched from heaven to carry God’s message to Daniel. Perhaps it was Gabriel once again who had earlier spoken with Daniel.
Daniel 10 (NIV)
12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."
20 So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;
21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No-one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.
This passage, along with Zechariah chapters 1-6, gives us an understanding that there is ongoing strategic warfare in the heavens waged by angels on behalf of God’s plan for mankind as it is written in the Book of Truth.
This is their duty in the heavens, while here on earth our job is to also carry on a spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness surrounding us.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
Ephesians 6 (NKJV)
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The Apostle John admonished us not to accept every voice or spiritual phenomenon as coming from God.
1 John 4 (NKJV)
1 ¶ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
We understand that in the last days there will come an increase of demonic, devilish, evil spirited influences and activities.
Spirits will be sent forth to deceive the nations and world leaders.
Our Key Scripture today tells us to be careful when entertaining strangers, who knows, we might be entertaining angels unaware.
This could be taken not only as an encouragement to treat strangers with kindness, but coupled with some other scriptures, could mean to literally be careful - it might also be a messenger from the dark side.
2 Corinthians 11
14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers. (NLT)
The great company of angels which accompany God’s presence and serve the Lord Jesus Christ are so powerful, so numerous, so wise and so willing.
I was once told by an elderly pastor who had devoted much of his time to the study of angels that drawing upon the number of angels spoken of in the bible, each born again believer on planet earth has more than a dozen angels just to himself providing the number were divided equally to each one.
I don’t know about that but one thing I do know is that:
Hebrews 1:14 Angels are ministering spirits sent forth to take care of those who will inherit salvation.
And also that …
Angels are on assignment to help you!
