Three Groups of Worshipers - Part 1: The Angels

We are in Luke chapter two. If you want to find Luke chapter two in your Bibles this morning, again, we're going to look at three groups of worshipers. The first this morning from Luke chapter two. The heavenly host. The heavenly host and we're not talking about the stars in the sky, okay?

We're talking about the angels in heaven. Three groups of worshipers, the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men. And the first one, we meet here in Luke two are the angels, the heavenly host, the servants of the Lord. Luke two and verse eight. Luke two verse eight and they were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night 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 and the angel said unto them, fear not.

For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger and suddenly, there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. Let's pray once again. Lord, we thank you today for the privilege of worshiping you.

Lord, to sing praises to your name, to be reminded in song and in testimony. And by your word. Of the incarnation, Jesus Christ. And the purpose for which he came. To be the savior.

Of the world. Lord, we thank you and we praise you for sending our savior to us. That we might be saved from our sins, that we might gain a home in heaven. We could not come to you, Lord. You came to us.

We thank you for that and Lord, we pray that we would glorify our father in heaven and our savior Jesus Christ today and throughout this Christmas season that we would not miss opportunities to share with others. Lord, that the praises of our savior would be continually in our hearts, in minds, and on our tongue. And Lord, may you be exalted and honored and all that said and done. Here particularly this day, Lord, may you bless this time of preaching. May the holy spirit take the word of God and draw us ever closer to you.

In Jesus name, we do pray. Amen. Amen. The angels, the heavenly hosts. They actually are not just one group.

There are several mentioned in scripture of the heavenly host. There are Seraphims. There are Cherubims. There are the beasts that were before the throne mentioned in Revelation. They had various purposes and functions for which God created them.

They worship God in heaven first of all. In Isaiah six, we see them flying around the throne of God crying, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God. They also fight battles. In Daniel chapter 10, we we read about a battle that was taking place among the angels, among the the the angels and with the demonic host of Satan over the kingdoms of men and how Michael the archangel was involved in that battle. So, they fight battles for us.

The battles that we are completely oblivious to but battles that nonetheless are important. They carry out judgments in the book of Revelation as God as Jesus opens the seals. Many of these judgments are given to the angels to to carry out and so we see them in the Book of Revelation. Not on not only worshiping the Lord but also carrying out various judgments during the tribulation time. They are among other things, the messengers of heaven.

They are messengers. Matter of fact, this task is so closely related to angels that the very term we use to describe them, the Old Testament word of Hebrew and the New Testament word in Greek both mean messenger. For angels are the messengers of heaven and throughout scripture, they bring messengers from God to Earth. God uses several methods in order in in relaying revelation of himself to mankind but one of the ways he does it is through the medium of angels. We read in scripture particularly of one angel.

His name is Gabriel. You might think that we first meet him in the New Testament but actually, we meet him first in the Old Testament even by name. Here in Daniel twenty one and twenty two, Gabriel brings a message to Daniel. It says here, yea, whilst I was speaking in prayer, that's Daniel. Even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation, that means sacrifice and he informed me and talked with me and said, oh Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding and the remainder of the chapter, a good portion of it is the message that Daniel that Gabriel is bringing to Daniel by name but again, as you are probably aware of, that's not the only time.

We read about Gabriel bringing a message to man. Look, if you would, you're already in Luke. In Luke chapter one and verse 11. Luke one eleven. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord.

That is unto Zechariahs. Standing at the right side of the altar of incense for Zechariahs was serving in the temple and when Zechariah saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him and the angel said unto him, fear not, Zechariahs, for thy prayer is heard and thy wife, Elizabeth, shall shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John, and thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He shall be filled with the holy ghost even from his mother's womb and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord of their God and he shall go before him in spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord and Zechariah said unto the angel, whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years and the angel answered and said unto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God and I am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings.

So, here Gabriel is sent from the Lord from heaven with a message to Zechariah and it seems like some of these momentous messages in scripture were brought by this particular angel named Gabriel. The announcement of John the Baptist's conception and birth who would be the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Look, if you would in Luke one and verse 26, not only did Gabriel deliver a message from God to Zechariahs but he did also to Mary and in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God on the city of Galilee named Nazareth. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the virgin's name was Mary and the angel came in unto her and said, hail thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, cast in her mind, what manner of salutation this should be? And the angel said unto her, fear not Mary, for thou hast found favor with God and behold thou shalt conceive in thine womb and bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus.

He shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest and the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father, David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom, there shall be no end and we'll stop there for the moment. So, you see in both of these cases and in Daniel, a particular angel was sent. He is a messenger. God revealed things to man, sent messages particularly of an important nature and often at the hand of angels. He gave messages to Joseph.

Mary's espoused husband, twice in dreams. In Matthew 28, an angel also is the one who announced the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The angel answered and said unto the women, fear not. You know what's that fear not? I've noticed that.

Just just reading it now. Fear not. Several times here. When God sending these angels, these are not judging angels. These are glad tidings angels, okay?

And so, he's saying, fear not. For I know that you seek Jesus which was crucified, he is not here for he is risen as he said. Come see the place where the Lord lay. In Acts chapter one verses ten and eleven, God sent angels to give the apostles a little push after his ascension and while they look steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, that is Jesus. Behold, two men stood by them in white apparel which also said, you men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven?

The same Jesus which is taken from you up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven. These men appeared in form as men but it would seem that these were most likely also angels. These are messengers from heaven and angels often performed this important function. It is vital that we receive the messages that God has for us. We live in a world today that has closed their eyes and closed their ears to God's message and just as important as the messages that came by angels to these prophets and to these apostles and others is the message that God has brought to us.

Found in his word. This is how he speaks to us today. Some of this word itself came by the medium of angels to the man who wrote these words but all of them are inspired by who? By almighty God and they are his word and just as these messages were perfect and authoritative and would not fail, so is the word of God that he has given to us, that we must receive. Going on, continue this morning they're not only messengers but they are also ministers, ministers.

Hebrews one fourteen. Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. Okay, who are they that shall be heirs of salvation? Those are the redeemed in Jesus Christ. That's us.

Those who are saved and those who will be saved, God knows. Are ministered to by the heavenly host. Not only are they the messengers of heaven but they are also the ministers of heaven to the redeemed in Christ Jesus and throughout scripture, you can see how they were a part and participant in protecting the children of God in the redeemed and the believers. In Daniel chapter six, who was it that came to the lion's den and closed the lion's mouths? Was angels, angels.

Yet, Daniel said, that kept the mouths of those lions closed. So, he had a nice, comfortable bed to sleep on that night while the king paced back and forth wondering if Daniel was going to make it or not. It was it were was angels that drug Lot and his family. Out of the city of Sodom. Before it was destroyed.

Angels assisted the apostles and Peter in their deliverance from prison on at least two occasions in the book of Acts. It says in Acts five nineteen and twenty, 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 in Acts chapter 12, angels were involved in the deliverance of Peter from prison. Always love that story because I always remember Peter standing outside the door of the house where they're praying that God will deliver him knocking on the door and the girl answers the door. Rhoda, is that right? I think it's Rhoda's her name.

She answers the door and she sees Peter and she can't believe what she's seeing and she closes the door in his face and runs back in and says, hi, there there's somebody out here says they're Peter and they just can't believe it. Well, when you pray, believe. God is able and God, in this case, used an angel as part of the deliverance of Peter from prison. There are many that believe we have guardian angels and I think there's some support in scripture for that. There are angels that most definitely watch over us.

In ways that we will never know until we get to heaven if if then. God cares for us and he has an innumerable host. That he sends out to watch over his children. It is humbling to think that the job of many of the angels in heaven is to watch over and to take care of us on earth. David was humbled when he thought about the greatness of God and the smallness and sinfulness of man and yet God in heaven cares more for us and does more for us than we will ever know.

They are messengers. They are ministers. They are also heralds or proclaimers of the mighty works of God. In Job thirty eight seven, the Bible tells us this, are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to, wait a second, that's not the right verse. That's the verse I just read.

Alright. Let's see. Oh, there it is. Look at after the question mark. I goofed when I did this.

You see, when the morning stars, that's Job thirty eight seven, okay? The other verse is the one I just read. When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Now, if you look in the context in Job 38, you will see that that is talking about the day God created the world. In the day God created the world, just ignore the first part of that because that's the verse I read a moment ago.

On the day God created the world, the morning stars sang together and all the what? All the sons of God. Now, on the day that God created the world, we, mankind, were not around on the first day. We weren't around till the what? Till the till the sixth day, okay?

Who here is being referred to as the sons of God? The angels and they're referred to several places in the Old Testament as the sons of God and this is just one of them. So, on the day God created the world, who sang his praises? The angels in heaven. The angels in heaven.

And then also, they sang as we see here on the day of Jesus birth. Luke chapter two again and verse 13 and suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. They sang on the day of creation. That was an important event if there ever was one. But the next time we see the angels sing, it's on the day when Christ is born because you see, this is the second most, if not, the first most important day In all of history.

The day that our savior is born. They sang again and heralding the proclamation that Jesus is born. The mighty work of God, the incarnation. God come to Earth to redeem fallen man. The angels will sing again in Revelation chapter five.

Let me read you from there. I I didn't write this out on the screen. It's it's a little too much to fit on a slide. It says, and I beheld and heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beast and the elders and the number of them was 10,000 times, 10,000 and thousands of thousands saying, with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such are in the sea and all that are in them. Heard I saying, blessing and honor and glory and power.

Be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb forever and ever. This is the day in which the scroll was brought out in heaven and one, the lion of Judah, the lamb of God, was found worthy to open the seals of the scroll and begin the time of the tribulation we call which will lead to the return of Jesus Christ and the millennial reign of God on earth. The end of the kingdoms of men and the kingdom of Satan And the ultimate realization of the kingdom of heaven on earth. This is another day that the angels sing. And the Bible says that there is great rejoicing in heaven.

Every time someone comes to know Jesus Christ as savior because that too is a great and important event. In history. The day that you got saved. The day that your neighbor or your friend or your relative or your child or sister or brother or another who you've been praying for. Trust in Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, there is rejoicing in heaven over one lost soul. That comes to Jesus. The angels are messengers. The angels are ministers. The angels also are singers.

And the angels know how to rejoice. And they know what to rejoice over. The things that are really important and these things are important to God. Look back at Luke chapter two. I'm sad to say that to most of the world today, these things are not important to them.

Even as we approach the Christmas season, we see a few manger scenes here and there. To most people, Jesus is still just a baby in a manger. He's a decoration. They don't know. That he truly is the son of God.

The savior and the redeemer of mankind. That the most important things in this world, in this life are not things that you can see or touch. There are treasures that are laid up in heaven. That Jesus has procured for us through his death on Calvary's Cross. That brings us to the last point in the message this morning that is this, what did they proclaim?

What did they proclaim? Look if you would in Luke again chapter two and let's read. In verses 10. Starting in verse 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.

You know, God is not just the God of the Jews, not just the God of the Gentiles, not just the God of the rich or the poor or the Americans. He is the God of all and his message is for all and the birth of Christ was for all and his death on the cross is for who? For all. For he died for the sins of the world. For God so loved the world.

The opportunity to come to Christ and to be saved is open to all. Sad to say, we are often times prejudiced. We would like to think we're past that but sometimes, we're not. We are prejudiced in our judgments of groups of people and of individuals based upon things of which we really have no knowledge. Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the what?

Heart. God looks on the heart and he knows those who need him and indeed we all do. And he died for us all. The first part of the announcement is the identification of the person in Bethlehem that night. You see, the angels didn't show up for the birth of Herod.

The angels didn't show up for the birth of Julius Caesar. The angels didn't show up for the birth of Napoleon. The angels didn't show up for all of these great historical figures. They showed up for the birth of Jesus Christ because he is much more than a babe in a manger. It says here in verse 11, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Why did the angel show up? Because the savior of the world had come and they wanted these shepherds and others to know. At the most important person that's ever walked the face of this Earth was now here. God in human form. God come to redeem fallen man.

The savior of the world. The promised Messiah of Israel, the seed of David, born in the City Of David. The king of Israel. And the Lord of all. Calls him savior here.

They call him Christ which means Messiah and Lord. Which reminds us that Jesus is Lord. For as many as received him for for okay, get this verse started. Hold on just a second. Every now and then, my brain abandons me.

I'm sure none of you have that problem, right? That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the what? Lord. The Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Who is Jesus?

He is Lord. He is Lord. He is master. He is the creator and he is the redeemer and he is the judge. He is the Lord and the Lord was born.

The Lord of heaven and earth, born in a manger. The angels came to announce it to the shepherds. He is the savior. For I am the Lord God, Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel, thy what? Thy I, even I am the Lord and beside me, there is no savior.

Who is the savior? Jehovah, the Lord is the savior and Jesus is the Lord. Matthew one twenty one, and she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Why? What is so important about this name Jesus?

Well, it means what? It means Jehovah is salvation. It means savior. That's what Jesus means. It means savior.

Deliverer. For that's who he is. For he came to save his people from their sins. John four forty two and said unto the woman, now we believe this is the crowd talking to the Samaritan woman in Samaria who just talked to Jesus. She had just gone to them to say, I've seen the Messiah.

And they went to see Jesus for themselves and this is what they said. Now, we believe not because of thy saying, for we have heard him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, that is the Messiah, the promised one, the savior of the what? The savior of the world. Acts five thirty one, him hath God exalted, that is Jesus with his right hand to be a prince and a savior. For to give repentance to Israel.

And forgiveness. Of sins. First John four fourteen, John writes, and we have seen and do testify that the father sent the son to be the one, the savior. Of the world. Who is this one born a manger?

He's the savior. That's who he is. That's what he came to do. And if you know him today as savior, you know exactly what that means. For you didn't save yourself.

No pastor saved you. No parent saved you. No good work of your own could save you. Only Jesus Christ. What a wonderful day.

When our savior came. Turn if you would to Isaiah nine, six, and seven. Isaiah nine, six, and seven. This is The words of Isaiah in prophecy concerning the coming of this child whom the angels announced that day. Nine, six, and seven, for unto us a child is born.

Unto us, a son is given. The government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace, of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end. Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgement and just with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this. The angel told them, go find the baby.

For this baby is the Christ, the savior of the world. And then the host finished with the song. Glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace. Goodwill toward men.

Glory to God because this is not the work of man. It is the work of who? It is the work of God and God alone. The work of God that brings salvation to man, the work of God that will bring his kingdom to Earth. It says at the end of verse seven in Isaiah nine, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

You've tried Israel and you failed. But where you have failed, God will what? Succeed in his son, Jesus Christ and one day, Jesus will return. And he will take his place on the throne and he will rule with a rod of iron and he will bring what? He will bring peace to earth.

You see, he came the first time to bring peace between man and God who were separated by what? Sin. When he comes the second time, he'll bring peace to all of the earth. For he is the prince of peace. Ezekiel thirty seven twenty six.

Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them and I will place them and multiply them and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them forever. First Thessalonians five twenty three and the very God of peace, sanctify you holy and I will pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 120 and having made peace through his blood, through the blood of his cross, by him, that is by Jesus to reconcile all things unto himself. By him I say, whether they be things in heaven or things in earth.

Our peace with God comes only through faith and the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. For he didn't stay a baby in a manger. He grew up and he died on a cross. For the sins of all mankind. In Romans five one, therefore, being justified by faith, we have what?

Peace with God. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, the message, this is the savior, Christ the Lord and he has come by the act of almighty God to whom be glory, to bring what? To bring peace. To bring peace.

The Bible says, we are separated from God by our iniquities but Jesus took our iniquities upon himself on Calvary's Cross. If you're here today and you've never trusted Jesus as Lord, if you're unsure of your standing before God, you can be today. But you must recognize that you're a sinner for whom he came And you must repent and turn to Jesus Christ by faith. And trust in him alone. To save you from your sins.

To give you everlasting life. To make peace between you and God. For he is the only way. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name. Under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Will you trust him today? He will save you. He will save you. He will save you now. Let's pray.

Dear God, we thank you Lord. For your word. We thank you Lord for the reminder of why you came. For the announcement of the angels. Of the wonderful work they do.

Particularly in the lives of men. In behalf of their God whom they serve. And of this particular announcement, of the birth of the savior of all mankind. He is not just a prophet or a teacher or a king, He is the God of heaven and earth and the only savior Who gave his life. For us.

We pray dear Lord today if there's one here that's never trusted Christ. As we give this hymn of invitation, they would come. That they might have the opportunity, Lord, for us to present them the gospel that they might pray and trust Christ as their savior once and for all today. In Jesus name, we pray.