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Are Angels Among Us?
January 25, 2015
We sometimes act as if God is disengaged from our lives. Yet, a study of the Old and New Testaments show that God has sent His angels all through time to check on the human race, and to intervene on behalf of the righteous. Why would we think that He has withdrawn the angels in our time? Are there presently angels among us? - Bernie Parsons
Are
Angels Among Us?
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 01-25-2015
Presented to Load church of Christ on 03-01-2015
We studied how that Jesus was a worker of miracles,
approved of God not only by the deeds that He did, but also because of
the voice from the sky and the cloud spoke approval of Him.
Has God removed Himself from our presence after
thousands of years of interaction? From Adam and Eve in the garden in
Eden to Jesus Christ and His apostles there was interaction.
What about the angels, the messengers of God? Angels
are mentioned several times in the Old Testament as helping the
righteous and fighting against the enemies of God.
They are mentioned numerous times in the New Testament,
as well. What about today? Are they still among us?
An angel appeared and spoke to Zacharias, father of
John the Baptizer, about his coming birth.
Luke 1:11 "And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on
the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is
heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call
his name John."
Luke 1:18 "And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this?
for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in
the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee
these glad tidings."
An angel appeared to Mary about the birth of Jesus.
Luke 1:26 "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God
unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly
favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her
mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found
favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
and shalt call his name JESUS."
Angels appeared at the birth of Jesus.
Luke 2:8 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the
Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:13 "And 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, good will toward
men."
Angels ministered to Jesus after the temptations by Satan.
Matthew 4:10 "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it
is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered
unto him."
The angel of the Lord appeared at the resurrection of Jesus.
Matthew 28:2 "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel
of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone
from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I
know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified."
The angel of the Lord delivered the apostles from prison in Jerusalem.
Acts 5:17 "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with
him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with
indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common
prison.
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and
brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this
life."
The angel of the Lord delivered Peter from prison.
Acts 12:7 "And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light
shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up,
saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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."
An angel warned and encouraged Paul prior to the shipwreck.
Acts 27:23 "For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I
am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo,
God hath given thee all them that sail with thee."
Do we have an angel assigned to watch over us?
Matthew 18:10 "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."
The writer or Hebrews told the early believers that they have approached
angels.
Hebrews 12:22 "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of
angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are
written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of
just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of
sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."
Is it possible that we still might entertain angels unawares?
Hebrews 13:2 "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some
have entertained angels unawares."
There is no mention in the Bible that God would discontinue sending His
angels to this earth to see that His will is done, His enemies are
defeated and His righteous are helped. Let us put our trust in the Lord,
and His plans for us, and our world. Perhaps His holy angels will watch
over us, as they have done to the righteous before us.
