Please open your Bibles to Mark 1:9-13 which we will read in a few minutes.
Last week we used this same passage as a springboard to take a look at who this Jesus really is and His relationship within the Trinity.
When we say God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit we tend to get a fragmented view of God the Trinity the Tri-Unity.
We looked at how God is named as Jehovah or Yahweh in the Old Testament and that perhaps it helps us to refer to the Holy Trinity as YHWH the Father, YHWH the Son and YHWH the Holy Spirit.
But, today let’s use this same passage as a springboard to look into something which seems to fascinate people but which we really have no control over and which may even divert our spiritual eyes from where they should be focused.
Something which, by themselves, cannot help us.
And, we all know where our spiritual eyes should be focused, right?
Directly on Jesus our Savior!
With that in mind let’s go ahead and read Mark 1:9-13
So, what is it that people are fascinated by but which we really have no control over and which may even divert our spiritual eyes from where they should be focused.
Something which, by themselves, cannot help us?
That thing is angels. And when I read verse 13 it just jumped out at me:
“and angels attended Him.”
What does that mean?
Did angels make sure Jesus had a comfortable bed to sleep on in the desert?
Did angels fill His water bottle for Him?
Did the angels look up Scriptures for Jesus so He could quote them to the devil?
Did the angels protect Jesus from the wild beasts in the wilderness?
In Mark 1:13 it seems as if the angels were attending to Jesus at more than just the conclusion of the 40 days of fasting and testing. But in Matthew 4:11 it says,
“Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.”
Anyway, why did this little statement about angels jump out at me?
Because many people are diverted from Jesus who can save them to angels who cannot!
Most of my friends on FB are believers in Jesus Christ and even then I will see posts every so often speaking fondly of angels and giving them credit for safety or healing or wisdom or some other such thing.
And so today, let’s just look at why we need to be focused on Jesus and how things, even good things, can lead us into dangerous spiritual territory.
We must be vigilant. We must look to Christ and Him alone!
Recently an event took place which could have ended in disaster, even loss of life, and the person who posted the event ended the post by thanking Jesus, the emergency responders and with #BelieveInAngels.
So, what is the big concern here?
Have you ever been the victim of a prank where someone has turned the street signs at an intersection? Of course, this was before the time when the voice coming from your GPS device would tell you where to turn and when. But if you did fall victim to this prank it probably caused problems with reaching your destination on time.
Why? Because you were intentionally misdirected!
And, so, the devil has grabbed hold of this concept and has attempted to “turn the spiritual signs” in a way to deceive many into paying attention to angels or false prophets or literally ANYTHING other than Jesus.
And many in this world easily place their faith and trust in angels instead of Jesus.
And why is that?
People outside of church and many within the church don’t know the Holy Scriptures and so they can easily be deceived.
In contemporary culture angels make no demands.
In contemporary culture angels are like the airbag in your car; you hope you never need it but it’s there just in case.
In the modern, secular view of angels they’re a benevolent spirit-friend.
Angels are the teddy bear of the spirit world today’s culture; they’re warm and cuddly and they make no demands.
On the other hand Jesus is much more demanding.
Jesus says, “Whoever believes in Me is not condemned but whoever does not believe in Me stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s One and Only Son!”
And, “If you love Me you will keep My commands!”
Ron Rhodes of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries wrote:
New Agers have more recently become almost fanatically excited about angels because they have bought into a plethora of wildly unbiblical ideas about angels that nevertheless have great appeal in today’s religious climate. One reason cited for angel popularity in New Age literature is that angels offer people a spirituality that does not involve commitment to God or His laws. Sophy Burnham, author of A Book of Angels, believes the current popularity of angels is “because we have created this concept of God as punitive, jealous and judgmental,” while “angels never are. Angels on the other hand are utterly compassionate.” Or, as Time magazine put it, “For those who choke too easily on God and His rules ... angels are the handy compromise, all fluff and meringue, kind and nonjudgmental. And they are available to everyone, like aspirin.”
But, we who are serious followers of Jesus Christ and who know God’s Holy Word know that to be a deception of the devil, right?
The Bible says that the devil comes only to (spiritually) steal, kill and destroy!
So where should our focus be? Right here!
In Christ alone my hope is found - He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone this solid ground - Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my all in all - Here in the love of Christ I stand
OK. Let’s take a step back and look at what the Lord God has revealed to us in His Holy Word, the Bible …
The Old Testament is about YHWH and His outstretched arms to Israel.
He will be their God and they will be His people.
He will bless their obedience in the covenatal relationship and the surrounding nations will notice and turn their hearts to the Lord.
Of course, the Israelites were largely unfaithful and because of their unfaithfulness the Lord brought did not bless them but allowed their crops to fail and for other nations to defeat them.
And, all this time the prophets are foretelling about a Messiah who would come.
And then in the New Testament Jesus is revealed and the entire revelation is about Jesus and His Lordship. It’s all about how Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Then after Jesus returns to heaven the Holy Spirit is sent and His desire is to point us to Jesus for salvation.
All during this time angels are popping in and out of the picture.
Angels are delivering messages.
Angels are sometimes protecting personally and sometimes protecting from vast armies.
Angels are sometimes rescuing and sometimes punishing but never calling attention to themselves.
And, this is critically important!
THE ANGELS ARE ALWAYS ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!!
All during this time we are never called to worship or adore them in any way.
All the angels do is point to the Lord or instruct us in ways that will lead to salvation.
Just look at this warning found in:
Colossians 2:18 NIV
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.”
“Disqualify you …”
Here’s a question … should we ever pray to angels?
Here is a prayer to all guardian angels:
O pure and happy spirits whom the Almighty selected to become the angels and guardians of men. I most humbly prostrate myself before thee to thank thee for the charity and zeal with which thou dost execute this commission.
There is no evidence of anyone ever praying to and angel or angels in the Bible and the Word of God never instructs to do so.
And then the Apostle John writes in:
Revelation 19:9-10 NIV
“Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’
“At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’”
Here’s another prayer to a guardian angel:
Angel of God, my guardian dear; to whom His love commits me here,
Ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen
All of these aspects belong to God alone!
The Lord is our spiritual guardian!
Jesus is the Light of the world!
Jesus is our King to rule His children! Jesus is our spiritual guide!
If an angel ever does guard or guide you it will be on behalf of the Lord God Almighty!
So, who should be our guide; Jesus or angels?
Savior like a Shepherd lead us - Much we need Thy tender care
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us - For our use Thy folds prepare
Blessed Jesus blessed Jesus - Thou hast bought us Thine we are
Blessed Jesus blessed Jesus - Thou hast bought us Thine we are
Our focus is eternally on Jesus!
And, it’s not just a perversion of the truth about angels that can draw our eyes away from Jesus; it can be preachers!
2 Timothy 4:1-4 NIV
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge:
“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
“They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
It can be anything that we allow to divert our attention and distract us from Jesus.
It can be our country or our government or the stock market or our home or our spouse or our children or it could be a shooting club.
People are broken and broken people need to place their faith and trust in something!
A song by Dallas Holms asks and then answers the question of the source of healing and hope for broken and hurting people:
“Where do the brokenhearted go - To find a comfort for their pain
So many hurting need to know - The hope there is in Jesus' name
“I tried to make it on my own - I kept on drifting far away
But now I finally have a home - In Jesus love I'll always stay
“I have joy in the time of sorrow - I have peace in the raging storm
I have faith that Jesus holds tomorrow - I have hope resting in His arms”
Dallas goes on to keeping his focus on Jesus when he writes:
“I’ll carry on 'til Jesus comes - Though trials and snares may come my way
And by His strength the race I’ll run - And by His grace these words I say
“I have joy in the time of sorrow - I have peace in the raging storm
I have faith that Jesus holds tomorrow - I have hope resting in His arms”
Dallas Holm © 1993 Dallas Holm Music - CCLI License # 1718450
Revelation 5:6-14 NIV
(The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders worship Jesus …)
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven-fold of God sent out into all the earth.
“He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.
“Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth.”
(Here at least 100,000,000 angels worship Jesus - all facing Him …)
‘Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
(And then all of the rest of creation joins in! …)
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
“The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.”
Focus on Jesus!
Final comments and closing prayer.
Jude 1:24-25 NIV
“To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
