Men Who Teach Angels

Introduction: There are two distinct classifications of existence – temporal and eternal. Tem­po­ral beings die, eternal beings cannot die. Men and Women are temporal, God and the Angels are eternal. How then could those of us who were born temporal teach those who were created eternal?

Ephesians 3:1-13(NKJV) –  ¹For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— ²if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, ³how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ⁵which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: ⁶that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ⁷of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

⁸To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; ¹⁰to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹according to the eternal purpose which He accom­plished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. ¹³Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

ILL: Description of Paul in prison.

       I.      Why me?

Ephesians 3:1-7(NKJV) –  ¹For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
²if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, ³how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ⁵which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: ⁶that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ⁷of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

A.     Angels preach the Gospel

• ·         At His birth –

Luke 2:8-14(NKJV) –  ⁸Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

• ·         At the end of time –

Revelation 14:6-7(NKJV) –  ⁶Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— ⁷saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

B.     Christians to witness

Mark 16:14-18(NKJV) –  ¹⁴Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. ¹⁵And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

C.     Preach and Teach

Romans 10:14-15(NKJV) –  ¹⁴How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things"

ILL: Two of the great English preachers were Joseph Parker and Charles Haddon Spurgeon. A man asked Parker, "Why did God choose Judas?" Parker answered, "I do not know, but the question is why did the lord choose me?"  Spurgeon asked, "In the wonder of the elected love and grace of God, my heart cries out, "Why me, Lord, why me?"

ILL:  If you were saved by grace, "Why?"  If you were Baptized in the Holy Spirit, "Why?"  If you have be taught His Word, "Why?"

   II.      The "fellowship": He is my friend!

John 15:11-17(NKJV) –  ¹¹“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹²This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷These things I command you, that you love one another.

• ·         The Wind knew the voice of my Friend and was still
• ·         The Sea heard the voice of my Friend and was calm
• ·         The angels ministered to my Friend
• ·         Demons knew my Friend and fled in fear
• ·         Disease turns to healing at the name of my Friend
• ·         The dead are raised at the name of my Friend

The golden sun, the silvery moon,

And, all the stars that shine,

Were made by His omnipotent hand,

And He's a friend of mine.

When He shall come with trumpet sound

To head the conquering line.

The world will bow before His feet,

And He's a friend of mine!

A.     The Riches of His Atoning power

B.     The Riches of His Ascension

1 Corinthians 2:9(NKJV) –  ⁹But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

C.     The Riches of His Return

Acts 1:9-11(NKJV) –  ⁹Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, ¹¹who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

III.      When Angels come to Church

Ephesians 3:10-13(NKJV) –  ¹⁰to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. ¹³Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

A.     Angels are watching the invitation

Luke 15:8-10(NKJV) –  ⁸“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ ¹⁰Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

B.     Angels are servants to the Church

Hebrews 1:13-14(NKJV) –  ¹³But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? ¹⁴Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?  

Matthew 18:2-11(NKJV) –  ²Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. ⁶“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

⁷Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! ⁸“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. ⁹And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire. ¹⁰“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. ¹¹For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

ILL: Where in the Word does it say when we get old the angels stop looking after us?

C.     The Church will be used to judge Satan and his demons

1 Corinthians 6:2-3(NKJV) –  ²Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

Conclusion: Paul, in prison, believed regardless of the hardships, God was working out His eternal purpose. We need to see beyond time!

Ephesians 3:10-13(NKJV) –  ¹⁰to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confi­dence through faith in Him. ¹³Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul did not know that in the year 2011, I would be preaching from the letter he wrote in prison – and that your lives would be changed - but He knew it was for our glory!