Spiritual Warfare: Angel Armies

January 15th, 2023/Casey Middle School

Intro: After one studies all there is to study of the biblical understanding of angels, I’m confident that you will be left with far more UNANSWERED questions about angels and supernatural beings than detailed knowledge. The goal is not merely knowledge, but to pursue understanding more of who God is and His redemptive plan for the world!

“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” - 2 Peter 1:3

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,” - 2 Timothy 3:16

We are going to examine a lot of Scripture pertaining to the supernatural realm and supernatural forces, but I want to make it clear at the outset that we believe all God wants us to know about the supernatural is found in Scripture. That the pursuit of knowledge beyond the Word and Spirit of God can lead to an unhealthy and unbiblical pursuit of knowledge beyond our calling to give God glory in the mystery.

“29 The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.” - Deuteronomy 29:29 CSB

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” - C. S. Lewis

Passage: Ephesians 6:12 CSB

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.”

Pray:

Question: Why does this even matter?

1. Your struggle is more supernatural than you realize and to battle requires a supernatural perspective.
2. A lack of awareness of the supernatural realm will result in a life of ignorance and apathy towards the greater cause of Christ.
3. We need to stop using natural weapons if we are to win a supernatural battle.
4. God has given us more than enough through the power of the Triune God and His mighty warrior angels to defeat the enemy.
5. As we study the supernatural we will discover that prayer is not preparation for battle, but the battle is won through the faithful and fervent prayers of the saints.

Title: Spiritual Forces

The more I study on the subject, the deeper I feel that we need more time. This morning I’m going to focus heavily on angels and their role in our lives as we fight in the supernatural. Next weekend I’m going to unpack the enemy and his tactics and the weapons of choice God has given us to claim victory in every circumstance.

Question: What do you think of when you think of angels?

Main Points:

1. FOUR MAJOR CATEGORIES OF ANGELS

   1. Angel
      1. The word means “messenger”
      2. Mentioned over 108 times in the OT, and 165 times in the NT.

      3. Question: Where did they come from? They are created beings, created by God.

         1. “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded, and they were created.” - Psalm 148:5 4. They are spirit beings delivering messages to God’s people.

         2. We see an angel deliver a special message to Mary (mother of Jesus), Joseph, and the shepherds in the fields for example. 5. They are innumerable

         3. Scripture refers to thousands on thousands, millions around the throne, and innumerable.

         4. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,” - Hebrews 12:22 ESV

         5. Millions around the throne worship the Holy God! 6. They have personality, intellect, emotion, and a will.

         6. They demonstrate joy, compassion, and an emotional awareness of circumstances and they have the ability to choose.

         7. They minister comfort in times of distress as they did with Elijah when he was about to give up.

         8. “Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”” - 1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬ 7. They were present and rejoicing at the time of creation.

         9. “Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” - ‭‭Job‬ ‭38‬:‭5‬, ‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬ 8. Angels are not all knowing, ONLY GOD. 9. Angels cannot see the future, ONLY GOD. 10. Angels are not all powerful, ONLY GOD. 11. Angels cannot be everywhere at once, ONLY GOD. 12. Angels do not dwell inside us, ONLY GOD! 13. Angels cannot forgive your sins, ONLY GOD CAN! 14. Angels are not people, and people cannot become angels. 15. We do not pray to angels or have authority over their activities and duties. 16. We have most likely entertained angels unaware. 17. “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

            2. Seraphim:
               1. Only mentioned once in Isaiah 6 – connected with worship and praise of God
               2. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth.” Isaiah 6:1-3
               3. The angels are worshippers of THE HOLY GOD!
               4. There’s so much adoration and excitement around the throne of heaven! They are singing holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty!
               5. If you think we are loud and turn up here at Pinewood, then you might have a hard time in heaven with millions around the throne of God. Angels and their activity should prompt us as the redeemed all the more.
               6. Story: My mom singing this song

         10. “"Holy is the Lord," the angels sing, before the throne of God continually, for me to join their song will be a natural thing, but they just won’t know the words to "Love Lifted Me."

         11. Chorus: And it’s a song Holy Angels cannot sing, "Amazing Grace how sweet the sound!" It's a song Holy Angels cannot sing, "I once was lost, but now I’m found!"” 7. We have experienced something angels haven’t even experienced and that’s the salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. The angels must be amazed at the lack of energy and lethargy, as we come to worship the Almighty God. Can you imagine? “Do they really know?!” “He’s so holy, He’s so worthy, He’s the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!” 8. When we come into church, we must not see worship as a warm up to the word! NO! It is the worship and the Word that ushers us into the presence of an Almighty God.

             3. Cherubim
                1. Mentioned 67 times in the Scriptures.
                2. They guarded East of Eden after the fall.
                3. “So the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.” - ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭CSB‬‬
                4. They guard the throne of God.
                5. “8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.” - Revelation 4:8
                6. Seraphim (Isaiah 6) and cherubim (Ezekiel 1 and 10) are described separately. The living creatures in Revelation 4 share features of both.
             4. Archangel
                1. “16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:16
                2. “9 Yet when Michael the archangel was disputing with the devil in an argument about Moses’s body, he did not dare utter a slanderous condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”” - Jude 1:9
                3. We only see Michael given the name archangel. We see other angels mentioned that could have specific hierarchical functions in the army of God, but it is not explicitly mentioned.
                4. Some assume Lucifer/Satan, to have been an archangel, the son of the morning.

         12. “Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens! You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground.” - Isaiah 14:12

         13. Scripture doesn’t tell us everything about the angels’ rebellion, but many read Revelation 12:4 to mean that a third of the angels fell with Satan. 5. Scholars believe there could be 7 archangels based on Revelation 8:2 “Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God; seven trumpets were given to them.” - ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬

         14. Gabriel is often thought to be an archangel because of how often he is mentioned by name in the Bible, but he is not explicitly referenced as an archangel.

         15. NAMES OF ANGELS
             1. Spirit - ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬
             2. Holy Ones - Job 15:15, Psalm 89:5
             3. Stars - Job 38:7
             4. gods - Psalm 82:1, Psalm 97:9
             5. Ministers - Psalm 103:21, Psalm 104:4
             6. Watcher - Daniel 4:13
             7. Hosts/Mighty Ones - Psalm 24:10, Psalm 103:20

2. FUNCTIONS OF ANGELS

   1. They are obedient to the will of God and have tremendous power.

      1. “angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord.” - 2 Peter 2:11

      2. In 2 Kings 19 we see 1 angel kill 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.

         2. They assist in governing the human world

      3. In Boulder we are in the middle of an UNSEEN battle. The forces of the devil and the forces of God and you have to make a choice, which side are you on? You have to make a choice!

      4. Story: Praying over my children.

         3. They deliver divine decrees

      5. “Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days.”” - ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬ ‭CSB‬

         4. They offer protection

      6. “For he will give his angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways. They will support you with their hands. 12 so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:11-12

      7. Story: The Prophet Elisha:
      8. Prophet Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the Syrian army and they were about to capture them. The servant was freaking out and asked Elisha “what are we going to do?” And Elisha prayed “God help him see that they who are with us are more than who is against us.”
      9. “15 When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” 16 Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” - 2 Kings 6:15-17

      10. The important thing is not that you have or have not seen an angel, but that you know that the angels see you.

          5. The angels lean in to your salvation story

      11. “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven  — angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.” - ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

          6. They execute divine judgment

      12. “Then the angels said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here: a son-in-law, your sons and daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of this place, for we are about to destroy this place because the outcry against its people is so great before the Lord, that the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”” - ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭19‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬

          7. They worship around the throne 24/7 and give all glory to God

Closing:

Keep Praying

Millions around the throne - Daniel 7:9-10

9 “As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

Daniel prays for 21 days - Daniel 10:

“Don’t be afraid, Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” - Daniel 10:12-13

I’ve heard the prayers of Daniel, GO NOW! C’MON!

Salvation Invitation

Angels stood ready at the cross to rescue, but it was LOVE that fastened Jesus to the cross

Angels rejoicing - “I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

When one soul repents of sins and turns to Christ, the mighty angels of God rejoice. They shout for joy when one person comes to Christ.

That’s why I always say “The angels are rejoicing” after we pray the prayer of salvation together.

Article - https://www.faithlafayette.org/resources/sermons/what_do_angels_do

Book - https://a.co/d/iJAh0Db

Sermon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIUWpH3_2kE

Sermon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK7v2Z_SqxI