"MINISTERING SPIRITS"
The Ministry Of Angels To Christ
INTRODUCTION
- We've seen that angels and other spiritual beings rendered service to
God...
- Angels as messengers and executors of God's will
- Cherubim as guardians and bearers of His throne
- Seraphim as proclaimers of His holiness
- Angels also provided significant service to Jesus Christ...
- Their ministry to Christ emphasizes His deity - He 1:4-14
- A ministry that is part of the "mystery of godliness" - 1Ti 3:16
[What service did angels render to Christ? What service will they yet
render on His behalf...?]
- THEIR PAST MINISTRY TO CHRIST
- FORETOLD HIS BIRTH...
- Gabriel appeared to Mary - Lk 1:26-38
- An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream - Mt 1:18-21
- ANNOUNCED HIS BIRTH...
- First, a single angel to the shepherds in the field - Lk 2:8-12
- Then, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God - Lk 2:13-15
- PROTECTED HIM IN INFANCY...
- By warning Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt - Mt 2:13
- By telling Joseph in a dream to return to Israel - Mt 2:19-20
- MINISTERED TO HIM AFTER THE TEMPTATION...
- After the devil had left Him - Mt 4:11; Mk 1:13
- May have included encouragement, perhaps even food - e.g.,
1Ki 19:5-7
- STRENGTHENED HIM AT GETHSEMANE...
- As He struggled in prayer and agony - Lk 22:41-44
- Perhaps similar to the way in which Daniel was strengthened
- cf. Dan 10:18-19
- ROLLED AWAY THE STONE AT THE TOMB...
- Sitting on the stone after doing so - Mt 28:2
- Terrifying the guards at the tomb by his appearance - Mt 28:3-4
- APPEARED FOLLOWING HIS RESURRECTION...
- To the women sans Mary Magdalene (who had gone to tell Peter
and John upon seeing the stone removed from the tomb) - Mt 28:5-7; Mk 16:5-7; Lk 24:4-7,22,23; Jn 20:1-2
- To Mary Magdalene who went into the tomb after Peter and John
left - Jn 20:11-13
- ATTENDED HIS ASCENSION...
- As two men in white apparel - Ac 1:9-10
- Announcing the promise of His return - Ac 1:11
[With angels so prominent in the first coming of Christ, we should not
be surprised with their role in His second coming...]
II. THEIR PRESENT AND FUTURE MINISTRY TO CHRIST
- THEY WORSHIP AND SERVE HIM...
- They worship Him around the throne - Rev 5:11-14
- They revealed things to take place - Re 1:1; 22:16 (note also
the many references to angels throughout Revelation)
- THEY WILL ACCOMPANY HIS SECOND COMING...
- When He comes in His glory - Mt 16:27; 25:31; Mk 8:38
- When He comes to raise the dead - 1Th 4:16
- When He comes to bring judgment and condemnation upon the
wicked - 2Th 1:7-10
- THEY WILL SEPARATE THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED...
- Gathering out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those
who practice lawlessness, casting them into the furnace of fire
- Mt 13:40-42
- Separating the wicked from the just - Mt 13:49-50
CONCLUSION
- As previously mentioned, the ministry of angels emphasize the deity
of Christ...
- As we see them serving Him
- As we see them praising Him
- Hopefully, our study of angels will encourage us in the same
direction...
- To serve Christ, who was, is and will be served by angels
- To praise Christ, who certainly deserves our praise both now and
forever
Will we join with the angels by adding our service and praise to Jesus
who has "obtained a more excellent name than they (angels)...", both now
and in the world to come? - He 1:4