Before this morning, how many times in the past seven days did you think about angels?
Do you mean to tell me that you don’t often think about those special servants of God,
For some reason or other, the moment CNN leaves a battlefield, we somehow think that the war is over.
Just because Fox News or CNN aren’t covering the battles between angelic armies, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t one.
What are some of the reasons that people don’t often think about the creatures of the spirit world?
For the same reason that they don’t generally meditate on the blessing of electricity in their homes.
As I began looking at Acts 27, I read it through a couple of times, jotting down potential themes for study and sermons.
It wasn’t until I was reading the chapter for the 4th or 5th time that I even thought about this message.
And despite the fact that we have read about angels half a dozen times already in the Book of Acts, this is our first message on that subject.
Even though this will be incomplete, let’s once again think about the ministry of angels.
The word “speculation” refers to contemplation on a subject about which we don’t know very much.
Some people speculate in the stock market, because they have no idea what they are doing.
But please note: there is a difference in speculating on them and studying what the Bible says about them.
Throughout much of history, angels were exaggerated into the realm of the ridiculous.
If preachers today handled Bible doctrine the way that many of them did in the Middle Ages, we’d still call these the Dark Ages.
How many angels can stand on the head of a pin?
But I couldn’t possibly be any less concerned.
Do they eat Heavenly manna?
What do angels look like when they aren’t residing in human form?
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
Most of these kinds of questions are not only better left unanswered, they are better left unconsidered.
Because history has proven that in contemplation of angels sinful people approach the worship of angels.
In days gone by some people have given them the admiration that was due only to the Lord.
And even in modern days of human enlightenment, millions of books in hundreds of titles encourage the adoration of angels.
“Angels” are a key ingredient in the New Age Movement, and even though that no longer gets the headlines that it once did, the New Age Movement is not dead.
I think that angels want to have, and should have, a low profile.
But at the same time, Christians need to know enough about them to recognize and respect them as important servants of God.
“There stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.”
And whether you have thought about it or recognized it, there have been angels of God standing by you.
Have you ever seen any flitting through the air?
Have you ever spoken to any and have any of them been forced to confess that they are angels?
How do we know that there are angels?
There is the argument of reason – as poor as it is.
God is a spirit – John 4:24.
And people are creatures with spiritual natures enwrapped in physical bodies.
I Thessalonians 5:23 is one of Paul’s prayers: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
These are possibilities, but I’m sure glad that this is not our only argument.
Then there is the argument of the masses: there is nearly universal acceptance of the existence of angels.
Almost all religious systems teach some sort of angelic creatures.
They are called Aeons by the Gnostics, demons, demigods, Genii, Lares, and so on, but they are all different types of angels.
Socrates claimed to have a spirit helper and so did Plato.
Just because nearly all religion teaches the existence of angels,
as we see with the Sadducees.
We know that there are angels because “the Bible tells me so.”
There are 273 references to angels in the Bible.
Who is your favorite New Testament writer?
There are about fifty references to angels in the Gospels.
Is Paul your favorite writer?
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
“God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.”
And in the Old Testament the list is at the very least doubled.
But it’s the Lord Jesus who leads the way in revealing the angels to us.
Not only did Christ teach us about the angels,
But it was nearly impossible for the angels and demons to keep quiet in His presence.
Christ made such statements as:
“So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.”
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
“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.”
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.”
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”
He was not just restating Jewish fables about spirit creatures, just to gain friends among the Jews.
Christ wasn’t accommodating Himself to the foolishness of man.
And Jesus didn’t speak without thinking, using words that He didn’t understand or really mean.
Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”
The ministry of angels permeates the Book of Acts.
In chapter 5 several of the apostles were arrested and jailed.
And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.”
In Acts 8, “the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”
In chapter 10 an angel of God visited Cornelius and told him how to find the gospel.
Then in Acts 12 Peter was arrested and jailed once again, but…
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”
In the Old Testament we see that they are constantly in the business of praising and worshipping the Lord.
Although we don’t see them as actively engaged in this in the New Testament, it is still there.
In the New Testament we sometimes have references to angels carrying out the judgment of God, as it was with Herod.
“And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”
But in contrast to a ministry of judgment, their primary service to God is through serving God’s people.
Paul was praising the Saviour in making this comparison.
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
Rather, those angels are all ministering spirits, sent forth to care for the needs of heirs of His salvation.
Paul, Luke, Aristarchus and the others on board that sinking vessel were in desperate need.
If the truth be known, it is likely that one of the demons of Satan was whispering into the hearts of some of the soldier that the prisoners should all be executed lest Paul escape to preach the gospel in Rome.
But one of the angels of the Lord was sent to off-set that attack and to encourage the saints of God.
One of these days, when the dust settles, and we, in glorified bodies are enjoying the blessings of Heaven,
One of these days, perhaps we will learn exactly how important the ministry of angels will have been in our personal lives.
Then you and I, along with those same ministering spirits,
but saving us out of countless storms.