THE INVISIBLE REALM #1: ANGELS AND DEMONS
INTRO – BARNA GROUP SURVEY:
A new nationwide survey of adults’ spiritual beliefs suggests that Americans who consider themselves to be Christian have a diverse set of beliefs – but many of those beliefs are contradictory or, at least, inconsistent. 59% of Christians said they believed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” Ironically, a majority of Christians also said that they believe that a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces, such as demons or evil spirits. 64% of Christians agreed that such influence is real. (www.barna.org).
QUESTION: Do angels and demons exist? If we take the Bible as our source, then YES!
THE BIG IDEA: In addition to the physical realm that we see, there exists an invisible spirit realm that the Bible refers to as the Heavenlies. This invisible realm is inhabited by good spirit beings called angels and evil spirit beings called demons, and affects our world every day.
OPENING TEXT:
“We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18).
• Throughout the history of the church, spiritual warfare has been over and under emphasized. When I got saved, there was a big spiritual warfare fad in the church.
• The devil wants you to either believe he doesn’t exist, or to be afraid of him.
THE VISIBLE INVISIBLE REALM: Dust Mites
Tiny creatures. There are about 100,000 mites in a square yard of carpet. In your bed with you last night, you had up to 10,000,000 sleeping with you. They love warm, moist skin. They feed on your dead skin. These creatures have eight hairy legs, no eyes; they are basically one big stomach and a mouth. If you have had a pillow longer than two years, 10% of the weight is dust mite waste. This is the visible invisible world, but there is an invisible world even beyond that.
BIBLE STORIES:
1. Elisha
God was revealing the plans of the enemy King of Syria to Elisha, who passed that intel on to the King of Israel. When the King of Syria found out about this, he sent his horses, chariots and a great army to Dothan to kill Elisha. It was just an ordinary Saturday – Elisha sent his servant out to the local Tim Horton’s to get a coffee and a donut, and he saw that the city was surrounded. He woke up the prophet and said, “Alas, my master, what shall we do?” So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (v.16). And the servant said, “What’s that then? No more pizza for you before bed!” “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.” (v.17). This was a vision of the Lord’s heavenly army! (2 Kings 6:8-17).
• This is the story of two guys who were seeing into totally different realms.
• This story also shows us what a difference it can make for us to see into the heavenlies.
2. Daniel
Daniel was praying and fasting for three weeks, and he had a great vision of a powerful warrior angel. “And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 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.” (Daniel 10:11-13).
• Notice the word of the Lord to Daniel: “Greatly beloved… do not fear.”
• The angel that visited Daniel gives us a glimpse into the reality of spiritual warfare.
• There are angels (good spirit beings) and demons (evil spirit beings) at war.
3. Job
The book of Job gives us a glimpse into the invisible realm and we see how Satan was responsible for Job’s troubles – the loss of his children, possessions, and health. (Job 1-2).
• Here we see that both God and Satan have plans for us! Jesus said, “The thief (Satan) comes to steal, kill and destroy. I have come to bring you abundant life.” (John 10:10).
• Jesus loves you & wants to bless your life. Satan hates you & wants to destroy your life!
• The caricatures of an angel and demon on your shoulder is not totally a bad one!
WHAT IS AN ANGEL?
• NT Greek name “angelos” = messenger
• Angels are not cute little naked babies with wings, they are mighty warriors.
• CS Lewis wrote, “Fra Angelico’s angels carry in their face and gesture the peace and authority of heaven. Later come the chubby infantile nudes of Raphael; finally the soft, slim, girlish, and consolatory angels of nineteenth century art… In Scripture the visitation of an angel is always alarming; it has to begin by saying, “Fear not.” The Victorian angel looks as if it were going to say, “There, there.” (The Screwtape Letters).
• Angels are spirits created by God; people don’t turn into angels when they die (Ps. 148).
PROFILE OF AN ANGEL:
• Some angels have wings - but not all do.
• Some angels appear dressed in white garments (Acts 1:9-11).
• Some angels have the appearance of men. “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels unaware.” (Hebrews 13:2).
• Angels may be present and unperceived at any time (see 2 Kings 6:15-17).
DIFFERENT KINDS OF ANGELS:
• ARCHANGELS: CHIEF angels. Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer (who fell and became Satan). (see 1 Thess. 4:16 & Rev. 12:7).
• CHERUBIM & SERAPHIM: First mention of cherubim in Gen. 3:24 was the angel with the flaming sword that guarded the tree of life. The seraphim in Isaiah 6 have six wings.
THE THREE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF ANGELS:
• Service to God. “Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts.” (Ps. 148:2). Angels are created beings, and God is the Creator. Their first function is toward God.
• Service to Christians. Angels are “God’s ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14).
• Performance of God’s Word. “Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.” (Psalm 103:20).
10 SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF ANGELIC MINISTRY:
1. Angels bring GOD’S WORD (message). (Matt. 1:20; 2:13,19; Luke 1:19,26-27).
2. Angels release REVELATION, dreams, and understanding. (Dan. 8:15-19; Rev. 1:1).
3. Angels give GUIDANCE and DIRECTION. (Acts 8:26; Gen. 24:7).
4. Angels bring DELIVERANCE. (See Is. 37:36; 2 Kings 19:35).
5. Angels provide PROTECTION. They guard little children, have charge over and protect believers, ‘camp’ around those who fear God. (Matt. 18:10; Ps. 34:7; 91:11-12).
6. Angels impart STRENGTH. (Matt. 4:11; Luke 22:42; Dan. 10:16).
7. Angels release God’s HEALING. (John chapter 5).
8. Angels minister to God through PRAISE AND WORSHIP. (Luke 2:14; Rev. 5:11-12).
9. Angels conduct WAR. (Gen. 32:1-2; Dan. 10:13; Rev. 12:7).
10. Angels release God’s JUDGMENTS. (Gen. 19:11; Ex. 12:21-23; Rev. 16:17).
WHO IS SATAN AND WHAT ARE DEMONS?
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:9). [v.4 tells us that Satan took 1/3 of the angels with him]
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).
• Satan and the demons are fallen angels. They are deceivers and tempters.
• God has given us the power to stand against the devil’s attacks.
• Our greatest weapon against them – righteousness. (Flies are attracted to garbage).
PART TWO NEXT WEEK = SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
