Little Lord Jesus (Week 3)

Introduction
Angels play an important role in the Christmas story… God doesn’t send one but a multitude of angels to proclaim the birth of the Savior of the world.  Their proclamation that the Savior of the world had come was something the angels had anticipated since the beginning of time.  As humble of a setting that the birth of Jesus was, God sent his angels to come and proclaim that the Lord had indeed come. 
 
There are hundreds of passages in the Bible that mention angels.  In fact, 34 out of 66 books reference them, and yet we still don’t know much about them.  The word Angel translated n both Hebrew and Greek means “messenger”.  Angels are created beings who are sent to minister to God’s people in various ways, but they are specifically sent to serve God’s people for his purposes.
 
What Do Angels Do?
If Angels had a job description, what would it look like?? 

1. Since they are messengers then they Announce
   1. Announce the birth of Christ (Luke 2:9 – 14)
   2. Announce Jesus’ resurrection (Matt. 28 5 – 7)
   3. Announce he will return (Acts 1:10- 11)
   4. Announce God’s judgment (Rev. 14:7)
   5. Announce or proclaim the Gospel (Rev. 14:6)
2.  They carryout God’s judgment (Matt 13:39 – 41)
   1. The past (Sodom and Gomorrah)
   2. The Future (Revelation)
3.  Praise and Worship God
   1. In Heaven (Revelation 4:8, Rev. 5:11)
   2. On Earth (Luke 2:13)
4. They Protect & Guard
   1. They protect and watch over God’s People (Psalm 91:11, 12)
   2. They are engaged in spiritual battle (Daniel 10:10 – 19)
5.  They Provide
   1. They take care of physical needs of those in need. (Genesis 21:17 – 20 & 1 Kings 19:5 - 6 & Matthew 4:11)

 
Angels in the Bible
We do not know the number of angels in heaven and on eart, we only know there are a lot.  In fact, Jesus mentions in the Gospels to having access to thousands of Angels to rescue him at his call.
 

1. Cherubim (Cherub) – First mention of angels in Bible.  They were Angels who were in the Garden of Eden with flaming swordss to guard the tree of life. 
2. Gabriel – This is the Angel in the Advent story who brings news to Mary about her son who is the coming Messiah (Luke 1:26 – 38).  He comforts her and assures her that she has found favor with God.  He also tells Joseph not to “put Mary away” because the son she is carrying is indeed the savior of the world (Matt 1:20).
3. Angel of the Lord – This angel is spoken about in the O.T & the one who appeared to the shepherds announcing birth of Christ.  This is the heavenly being sent by God to deal with men as his personal agent and spokesman.
4. Michael – Archangel or the chief angel who fought with Satan over the body of Moses (Jude 1:9)
5. Lucifer – An angel who was once good but sinned against God and was cast out of heaven (Ezekiel 28 & Isaiah 14)
6. Abaddon/Apollyon – The word Abaddon is often translated “The Destroyer” he is the angel of bottomless pit who reigns over the realm of the dead.  (Revelation 9:11).

 
What Do Angels Look Like?
Some seem to have human qualities about them but distinct in their appearance.  Many times, people would be talking to angels and would not realizie they were talking to an angel.   Oher angels have a unique appearance and were frightening.  Some portray themselves as angels of light.  Some are described as grotesquely glorious creatures.
 
Examples
Matthew 28:3:­­ Appearance of lightning and raiment of white
Isaiah 6: Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
 
Ezekiel 10: And their whole body, their rims, and their spokes, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around—the wheels that the four of them had.  And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
 
Daniel 10:5, 6 - a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

Conclusion
What Do the Angels Teach Us About Christmas?

1. The Gospel – The Angels were the first to share the Gospel and the Shepherds were the first to receive the Gospel.   This proclamation of the coming Savior of the world was something even the angels had been anticipating since Creation.  We established earlier that Shepherds were not highly regarded in society and for unknown reasons Shepherds were not allowed to testify in court, yet God chose them to be witnesses of the birth of the Savior of the World.  This is significant because in this we see Jesus is for everyone – He is not a King who primarily works for and defends the rich, mighty and powerful.  Jesus is a King for everyone, including the average and ordinary person like you and me.  He is a King who defends and loves the lowly and unlovable.  His beginnings were humble, and his death was as well.
2. Praise & Worship – When the angel visited the shepherds, we are told that the glory of the Lord shone around them.  After proclaiming the news and the sign that would follow a multitude of angels appeared and praised God. 

 
When the shepherds encountered the infant Jesus, they left changed men.  They met the little Lord Jesus and departed praising God for what they heard and saw.  We see this throughout the life of Jesus.  Whenever anyone had an encounter with Jesus they left changed in some way.  This should be true for us today.  If you have encountered Jesus how are you changed?  When you came to saving faith in Christ did you receive a new heart and become a new creation in Jesus?  If Jesus hasn’t impacted your life in some way, then maybe he hasn’t impacted your life at all.  

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