Angels as a Lens into God's Power

Thank you very much, Justin and Courtney, for that beautiful piece. We're becoming very spoiled with the quality of special music we have here. Thank you. Thank you so much. Your voice is blended so beautifully together.

Just to follow up to the local announcement regarding what time we have to leave the hall. We did make a slight change. We wanted to give a little bit more time for our crew to get set up. We're very thankful for all the work that they do. Thank you. I want to just publicly acknowledge you and getting everything set up, and the sound, and the webcast, and everything up here. We wanted to give them just a little bit more time to get ready. So, for the days that we don't have a Bible study, you know, on every first of the month, we have a Bible study, we shifted it a little bit so that we give them a half hour earlier and then we leave a half hour earlier. But on our regular Super Sabbath, we leave at 6.30, so just a little clarification, and also just wanted to say thanks to the sound crew for their set up. Well, I'd like to begin the sermon today by reading an excerpt from an article that appeared in the Guardian newspaper on March 5, 2015, entitled, The Strange World of Felt Presences.

And I'm going to quote now from the article, On May 20, 2016, sorry, I skipped a century there. Try that again. On May 20, 1916, Ernest Shackleton, Frank Worsley, and Tom Crean reached Stromness, a whaling station in the north coast of South Georgia.

Now, South Georgia is not a place in Georgia on the border with Florida. South Georgia is a set of islands off the coast of North America and South America and Antarctica, so this was part of this very famous expedition that he was on.

They had been walking for 36 hours in life-threatening conditions in an attempt to reach help for the rest of their party. Three of the crew were stuck on the south side of the island and the remainder stranded on Elephant Island. In reaching the whaling station, the three men had to cross the island's mountainous interior with just a rope and an axe in a journey that few had attempted before or since. By reaching Stromness, they managed to save all the men left from the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. This is a very famous expedition. It's been studied in management schools around the world. It's an amazing study in leadership and what it took to save all of these men. Continuing the quotation, they did not talk about it at the time, but weeks later all three men reported an uncanny experience during their trek. A feeling that, quote, often there were four, not three, men on their journey. The fourth that accompanied them had the silent presence of a real person, someone walking with them by their side, as far as the whaling station, but no further. Shackleton was apparently deeply affected by the experience, but would say little about it in subsequent years, considering it something, quote, which can never be spoken of.

The rest of the article describes, from a secular perspective, what we in the Church of God would call the angelic world. In the case of Shackleton, it was a protecting, guiding presence supporting them on their way. Angels and a parallel spiritual world operating alongside our own has been discussed for as long as humans have been alive. The concept of a guardian angel, or presence, that is present in times of distress, has a secular name now. It's called the Third Man Factor. And there's actually a book called the Third Man Factor. It was first used by T.S. Eliot as he was writing about Shackleton. Interestingly enough, he got confused with Three Men versus Four and so forth. It was first used by T.S. Eliot and later by John Greger, who is an explorer and author, who has been investigating this phenomena for years, this Third Man Factor. Mr. Greger claims that it is something in our brains that creates the experience, but the research is inconclusive on this matter. There is this universal phenomenon that is experienced by people across cultures, across languages, of being when they're in times of great distress, and they're going through a great difficulty, that there is this presence of support that they feel. Now, the Scriptures are filled with descriptions of angels and their roles as messengers, protectors, defenders, instruments of God in the affairs of men, humankind. And growing up, I heard stories about these types of incidences, where really you could only attribute it to an intervention by some kind of presence.

I don't have necessarily a dramatic story myself, although I do feel at many times that God was very merciful in sending an angel to protect me, as I've done things that I realized probably weren't very smart. Maybe you've had those experiences where you look back and go, wow, that was really dumb. There was probably an angel around me just keeping me safe as I was doing something like that.

But given, as I've thought about angels myself, I've often kind of realized that I probably don't give as much attention or time to thinking about how God uses angels in my life or the life of the church, or really in our lives today.

A lot of times, whether it's art or literature or movies or TV, I think maybe I've gotten an inappropriate impression of angels, almost like mythical beings. When you start thinking about beings with wings and stuff, it starts getting a little bit strange for our modern way of thinking about things.

Some atheists have argued that monotheism requires angels. There's all sorts of theories about this that atheists attribute this to. They'll say, well, monotheism requires angels because you have people on the earth and then you've got in heaven, and there's no pantheon of gods, and so therefore God has to have these winged beings that go between the earth and heaven to communicate and so forth.

There are all sorts of theories out there. Interestingly, I think when we actually look into the biblical record, we realize that most of the time angels are not shown as having wings. They're mostly considered to look like men, sometimes young men.

This characterization I came to realize about myself as I studied into this subject can lead me in really some wrong directions. I'd like to share and talk about angels today. It's interesting that if you study into this, the Catholic Church in 787 during the Second Council of Nicaea allowed images of angels to be made.

Since that time, I think all of us have been very confused by these images. We get images of little babies, and we get images of the winged creatures, and then more recently have these images of these very frail, feminine-like creatures with wings and so forth. Again, I think all of this creates unfortunate misconceptions and lack of attention and diversity of opinion in terms of what angels are and what they do.

Today, I'd like to raise our consciousness about angels by discussing what we can learn from God or about God and His plan through examining the role of angels. Specifically, I'd like to touch on three points of how angels help us understand God's love for us, how they help us understand the vastness of His spiritual creation, and how they help us understand our future in God's creation, our future in God's kingdom.

And when we're done, I hope that we can appreciate better the awesome nature of God's plan for us.

Because I think as we see and we go through this process, so much of the discussion of angels is about the support for us in our walk with God.

The title of today's message is, Angels as a Lens into God's Power. Angels as a Lens into God's Power.

So let's turn over to Hebrews 1 and verse 14. And let's start with our first point, which is that angels help us understand God's love for us.

They help us understand God's love for us. Let's look at Hebrews 1 and verse 14.

And let's read here what the Bible says are the purpose of angels. Why were angels created? What do they do?

Hebrews 1 verse 14 says, Are they not, speaking of angels, ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

This is what they are. They are ministering spirits, set forth to minister to us. To us as people.

Now the word minister, I think we know this, but let's just remind ourselves of this. The word minister means to serve. It means to serve.

And so angels were sent to serve. And this verse makes clear that they were sent to serve those who will inherit salvation, as it says.

So there's a clear connection to us as first fruits. But I don't think the scripture limits this discussion to just us as first fruits.

I think this discussion is about all mankind, because that is God's intention, that all mankind will inherit salvation.

And so when I hear stories like Shackleton's story or other stories, I don't see why that doesn't mean that there were not angelic presences there, because it was God's will to be saved or encouraged and so forth.

Angels keep us from harm. They keep us from accidents. God encourages and inspires us with his deployment of this angelic force.

It's just another way that he expresses his love for us, his care for us. He cares and makes sure that if there are situations that we are protected.

Let's look over, actually we don't have to turn there, but in Matthew 26 or 53 you can just make the note.

Jesus says to Peter to put down his sword, because Jesus could have prayed to the Father and the Father would send twelve legions of angels.

Now there's about 5,000 individuals in a legion at that time, so that would be 60,000 angels.

To put that in perspective, the New International Version Cultural Background Study Bible points out that the Roman Empire itself at the time had only three legions in the entire area of Syria, which is Judea, which is just a tiny part.

So basically what he's saying is that he could send four times the number of legions that Rome had even in the entire area to protect him.

And yet, obviously, that would be a spiritual force, which would be much more powerful than any physical force that Rome could deploy.

There was a vast number. When Jesus was hungry in Matthew 4, it says that after he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights and he had been confronted by Satan, that angels came and ministered to him. They brought him food. They encouraged him. They helped him.

Now let's see, though, here a dramatic story of intervention by an angel in Acts 12.

There's many, many, many stories, literally just hundreds of stories that we could read through the Scripture.

I tried to pick one which I think can be relevant and is quite dramatic in Acts 12.

And this is the case where God sent an angel to save Peter from death.

Let's pick up the context of the story in Acts 12, verse 1 and read verses 1-4 for context.

It says, now, after that time, Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church, and then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. And now it was during the days of unleavened bread. And so when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

So the context of the story is that God allowed the apostle James to be beheaded, to be killed.

Now, this was a huge blow to the church, to the morale, to how the church looked at itself. Up to this point, there had not been something so dramatic.

And if you could imagine, if one of our leaders in the church of God had been arrested, had been put through some, you know, trial, some sham trial, or maybe even lacked a trial, and then was executed, we would be devastated. We would wonder where was God? How could God allow this to happen? What's going to happen to the church?

And Herod realized this was a pretty good political move. He realized actually this won him some points.

And so he seized Peter, he put him in prison, and verse 4 tells us that pretty much he was going to do the same thing, again, to score political points.

So this, if you can imagine, this would be a crisis of faith. And so we understand the church was obviously struggling through this.

And so in verse 5 we read, Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

The whole church was praying for Peter's life. They were praying that he would be able to not be killed as James was killed. So let's continue then this severe trial and understand what actually happened.

In verse 6 it says, And now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him. So an angel just appeared to Peter, and a light shone in the prison, and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise quickly, and his chains fell off his hands.

This is the kind of awesome power that an angel has at his disposal, that he can shine a light, the guards are completely sleeping, chains can just fall from his body, he can rouse Peter, and the angel said to him, Gird yourself and tie in your sandals, and so he did. And he said to him, Put on your garments and follow me. So he was like, Get dressed! You must imagine, I'm getting dressed. I'm getting dressed. I'm going to be ready for this.

And so he went out and followed him, and he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but he thought he was seeing a vision. I mean, this whole thing must have been completely surreal. Could you imagine if this was happening to you? You're like, I'm in a dream. This is not happening. I'm dreaming. I'm getting out. This is a vision. He didn't even think it was real as it was happening, that he's just, these guards are asleep. He's just raised up and he's, you know, somehow doors are opening and they're moving through the jail and they're going past the guards and they're walking outside. This whole thing was just completely amazing for Peter.

And when they had passed the first and second guard post, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord. And they went out and went down one street and immediately the angel departed from him.

You know, the closest thing I can imagine to this story is kind of watching one of these Star Wars episodes, right? Where suddenly, you know, the force just opens the gates and everybody just goes, I mean, it's just absolutely amazing.

And that's the kind of power that God gives to the angels and deploys to the angels that they can come and support us with.

So, you know, if we think about the shock of what was happening here, I think, you know, it's just amazing to consider.

And so, if we continue the story, what's interesting about the story is it all becomes a little bit humorous because everybody's praying for Peter that he would get out of prison. And then it says in verse 11, when Peter had come to himself, he said, Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people. And so when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying, and he knocked at the door of the gate, and a girl named Rhoda came to answer. And she recognized Peter's voice because of her gladness.

She did not open the door of the gate, but ran in and announced that he was there. She was so excited she didn't even let him in. You know, it's just kind of a humorous story. You know, it's amazing to think that she just forgot he was at the door, and they said to her, Oh, you know, forget it. But notice what they say, verse 15. But they said to her, You are beside yourself, that is, you're hysterical. Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, It is his angel.

Isn't it interesting? Would you say that? I don't know if I have angels top of mind, if I have it in my consciousness in the same way, that I would go there. I would say, Well, you're kind of hysterical. You know, you're just maybe you're just... But they said it's... So there is this consciousness in the first century that there was some kind of protecting angel that Peter would have had, that maybe each of them would have had. It's an interesting... It's such an interesting thing. Whether it's true, whether each of us has a protecting angel. I mean, we don't have something in the Bible that says that, per se, and maybe in the Bible chat you'll point out some things that might indicate that.

But there was this perception that there was an angel that would have been his angel. And then in verse 16, now Peter knocked. He's still knocking. He's out of the door trying to get in. And when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

And I think we would be astonished, too. How did you get out of jail? How did you get out of prison? But motioning to them with his hand to keep silence. So Peter is still in his right mind.

He's like, you know, they could come get me anytime. Just don't say my name. He goes in and he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. Notice he said how the Lord had brought him out of prison. See, this is the thing. He didn't attribute this to the angel acting on his own. The angel was sent by God. This was God's work that let him out. And he said, go tell these things to James, to the brethren.

And he departed and went to another place. So he's like, I've got to get out of here. They're going to be looking for me. He kept it quiet. He gave him a message. And then he's like, I've got to get out of here because, you know, they could come after me.

They're going to probably come here and look for me. And then as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had happened and what had become of Peter. And when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they would be put to death.

Wow! I mean, these men were put to death for their failure. Talk about fairness issues, right? I mean, they had no chance. And I think this is, again, a scripture when we think about offering salvation to the entire world. These poor guards will have their chance. They lost their lives because God wanted to take Peter out of prison. And so we see in this verse this dramatic situation. And I think it's interesting that when Luke finishes the story, we won't take the time, he finishes the story by telling us about Herod's death. And when he tells us about Herod's death in verse 23, look what he says.

He says, immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give glory to God and he was eaten by worms and died. And so what begins at the beginning of Acts 12, which is this dramatic setback and trial for the church, ends with this amazing story of Peter's release and the death of Herod, both by the hand of an angel. This is the kind of thing that God works in our lives. I'd like to conclude this point with the question raised by why Peter was saved and not James.

Because this comes up over and over again. Why is it that God protects sometimes and not others? Why is it that James lived, but Peter, sorry, James died, but Peter lived? Sometimes we ask that maybe that question about ourselves. Why did God protect me but not the other person? I'd like to share a story at the feast this year. I was speaking with my nephew in France about an experience he had had a few years ago.

The event he described to me occurred just three days after a church member in France had been killed in an automobile accident. It was a very difficult time for him personally, he was very close to this man. It was a difficult time for the church in France as well, that this man who was in his 30s at the time and had a small child was killed in an automobile accident.

As my nephew was driving, and this was just three days afterwards, he was approaching a curve where the road turned and he could see oncoming cars coming around to come his way. There was a car that was coming around the curve approaching him and as it did, it hit the side of the road and it lost control. As it lost control, it went actually airborne and the car coming airborne with the momentum of speed was coming straight for him and his car. He realized at that moment that he was going to die, that this car was flying through the air straight at him, right at his windshield.

There was nothing he could do. These were the kinds of things that happened in a split second. Right at that moment, the car hit the ground in front of his car and bounced completely on top of his car, completely clearing it. It never even touched his car. As he described it, the momentum of how this car would have bounced, it would have bounced to the right, but instead it bounced to the left. So it hit the ground, bounced and went completely over his car, completely missing him. He never was touched. His car was never touched.

It bounced again and then bounced back the other direction into the ditch. All of this happens in a split second. So he pulls over his car and he goes to see the woman who is now in the ditch. Amazingly, she's fine, too. Just barely a scratch.

For him, that was just an absolute miracle that nothing could have happened unless an angel would have just set that car down and then lifted it up and never even touched his car. He asked himself, why did I live and not my friend who died three days before? Why did I deserve to live and that person died? These are difficult questions to answer. This is how we put ourselves into God's hands to say God has a purpose. God had a purpose in those things. Sometimes these things happen and these are difficult questions to answer. God loves us and he sends his angels to protect us and sometimes he doesn't.

This is part of learning to trust God. This is learning to be aligned 100% with God. We can look through the Scriptures at how angels act on behalf of God and you never see an angel contradicting God except in those cases where, as we understand, Lucifer became a demon. Angels are 100% aligned to God's purpose. They don't question God's purpose. They execute to what they're being told to do. That's where we're learning to be. That's what we're learning to do as well. We too must be 100% aligned and trust that God is working out his best purpose in our lives. It's a difficult question and I hope it's something that we can talk more about. There must be a reason for these things. What is that reason and how can we understand and trust God and what he's doing? We can be encouraged that God has angels at his disposal to communicate, to guide, and to protect us. We see it in this story with Peter. Perhaps you've seen it in your own life with an example that you can share. The second point I want to talk about is that angels help us understand the vastness of God's spiritual realm.

Just the enormity of God's spiritual realm. In scientific circles, there is a regular discussion of whether or not we are alone in the universe. You probably heard me talk about this in prior messages where I talk about the Fermi Paradox. Where are all the aliens? Where are all these other beings in the universe? We've had 50 years of the SETI program trying to connect with some sort of intelligent life in the universe. We're no closer on any of those fronts. In the Church, we've taught that it is highly unlikely that there are other physical beings outside of the earth because that would really raise a lot of questions about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his death for us and God's creation here.

But we should not confuse the lack of physical life in the universe outside this planet with the lack of spiritual life in the universe. The universe is filled with spirit life. Let's turn to Daniel 7, verse 9-10. Now let's get a glimpse of what the universe must be like in the spiritual realm that we cannot see.

Daniel 7, verse 9-10. I appreciated the special music because it talked about God's throne. We're going to look at two examples of God's vision of what it is like in the throne room of God in today's sermon. Daniel 7, verse 9-10. This is a vision that Daniel had. He says, I watched till thrones were put in place, and the ancient of days was seated.

His garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him. A thousand thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him, and the court was seated, and the books were opened. Ten thousand times ten thousand.

Daniel describes these angelic beings serving at the throne of God. He describes it in this way here with ten thousand times ten thousand, a hundred million angels before God's throne. But I don't think he started counting. I think what he saw was an innumerable number of angels. He tried to describe it as best he could with the words that he could. I shared this story in a sermon back in 2016, but in the late 1930s, a mathematician at Columbia University named Edward Kastner was asked to find a name for an extraordinarily large number. Because I think that's what Daniel was trying to do. He was trying to find a way to describe a very large number of angels. Dr. Kastner was thinking about what this name would be. He was trying to find a name for a number which is ten to the hundredth power. Ten to the hundredth power. That's a one with 100 zeros after it. It's a very, very, very large number. The story goes that he asked his nephew what he should name this number. His nephew very famously came up with a word which is now known by pretty much every human being on the planet. It's called Google. His nine-year-old nephew supposedly gave him this name, and now we obviously have this word Google. Now, Dr. Kastner decided from that concept of a Google, one with 100 zeros, he was going to create something called a Googleplex.

A Googleplex is a Google raised to a Google power. It's a Google to a Google. It's a very large number. Dr. Carl Sagan famously described that if you were to attempt to write a Google, I'm going to write the number one. You could put it in a small font, like maybe an 8-point font. I'm going to write the number one, and then I'm going to write zero, zero, zero.

And you're going to keep going until you finish the zeros in a Googleplex. Dr. Sagan said that there would not be enough space in the universe to contain that number. That's how big that number is. You could write one, zero, zero, and you could keep writing and writing, and pretty soon the entire universe would be filled with an 8-point font of zeros. That's how big that number is. I think that's the kind of vastness that Daniel was witnessing before him.

It was just so vast, it just overwhelmed him to even see it. And I think this is describing man attempting to understand the completeness of God, to understand that God is not constrained by time or space or the size of this universe. And so the concept of a Googleplex of angels is not outside the question of possibility. It's kind of like an ant trying to understand humans flying on an airplane.

There's no connection between those worlds. That's the kind of vastness and greatness of what God needs. And so even God's name, what is God's name? Well, God's name is the eternal. But the most common way that God is described is Yahweh, Lord of hosts. But what is hosts? Hosts is this heavenly host, this Googleplex of angels that I'm describing here.

And what are hosts? Well, hosts are armies. God is actually called the God of armies. We don't need to turn there, but you can write that down in Romans 9 verse 29 and James 5 verse 4. But let's turn to Revelation 4 verse 2 and let's see another description of the throne of God. And let's see again this heavenly host that is described. Revelation 4 verses 2 and 4, we start imagining just the vastness of the universe and how many angels God would have and whether there are other universes and what God means in time and space with this universe versus other times and spaces that he's in.

We go to Revelation 4 verse 2. It says, Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold a throne said in heaven. Revelation 4 verse 2, And one sat on the throne. And he who sat there was like a jasper and a stardust sown in appearance.

And there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald. And around the throne were twenty-four thrones. And on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes, and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And so what we understand is that there are these twenty-four angelic beings that surround God's throne.

But there are more beings there as well. So let's continue in verse 5. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. In addition to the twenty-four elders, there are seven angelic beings. And now notice verse 6, and see that there are additional beings here as well. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne there were four living creatures, full of eyes, in front and in back.

So there are these, in addition to the twenty-four elders and the seven angelic spirits, there are these four living creatures. And we see in verse 8 that these four living creatures each have six wings, which kind of makes a reference back to Isaiah 6, and whether these are seraphim that are described in Isaiah 6.

So we have the twenty-four elders, we have these seven spirits, we have these four living creatures, which appear to look like seraphim that Isaiah has a vision of. So if you ever feel alone, you shouldn't, because in actual fact there are this enormous angelic world all around us. And sometimes when we're alone I think it's important for us to realize that we're actually not alone, that there probably are angelic beings that are there overseeing and acting on God's behalf to support us in what we might be doing.

In 2 Kings 6 verse 17 we're told the story of how Elisha opened the eyes of his servant. And all his servant saw was that the king of Syria had sent this giant army to surround them and take him away. And Elisha said, don't worry about it. And he asked that God would open his servant's eyes, and suddenly his servant saw this enormous spiritual army that actually was all around them.

And I think if we can have that picture in our mind that God actually has this giant spirit army, he's called the Lord of Hosts, the Lord of Mighty Armies for a reason.

I pray even if our eyes can't physically see those angelic hosts are now, that we would know they're present. They're present to comfort. They're present to minister. They're present to do God's will and help us as we need help.

God has a vast spiritual realm of spiritual servants at his disposal to execute his will and to help us. And we just get a little glimpse of what this looks like here in Daniel 7 and in Revelation 4.

So let's go to our third point. Angels help us understand our future in God's creation. They help us understand our future. Let's turn back to the book of Hebrews, because the book of Hebrews, especially the first two chapters, very much address an issue which was an issue in the first century, I think can still be an issue today. I described in the introduction this long-standing realization of some type of presence in times of distress. And it crept across cultures and languages. And this experience is common around the world. And if you had heard the story of Acts 12, if you had been there, and your friend had said, you can't even believe this, we were in the house praying, and then there was Peter at the door, and they executed the guards because they couldn't figure out how he escaped, the change just came off of him, you might be inclined to be a little bit in awe of the powers of angels. And over time, there was a view among certain people that angels should be worshipped. And Paul talks about this in Colossians 2, again, for sake of time, we won't turn there, but in Colossians 2 and 18, he warns against worshipping angels.

And, you know, I think I would need that warning. If I had that kind of connection to such a powerful presence and being aware of what they could do and how they helped me or helped my friend or something, as I described the story with my nephew in France, there could be that temptation to worship them. And yet, what Paul says and what Hebrews describes is putting that power into perspective. Because such a power of that, could you imagine that you would be greater than that power? That you would have more power than that angel that walked those people, walked Peter past the guards. More power than what we see described in Scripture. But that's what the book of Hebrews gives us and tells us that we will have that kind of power. So let's look at Hebrews 2, verse 5. Hebrews 2, verse 5 says, For he has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjugation to angels. As powerful as these beings are, God reveals to us here, we are told that they will not be ruling in the world tomorrow. We will. We will be ruling in the world tomorrow. Let's continue. But one testified in a certain place, saying, What is man that you are mindful of him, or the Son of man that you take care of him? You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor. You set him over the works of your hands, and you have put all things in subjection under his feet.

Our place in God's plan will be to rule over these mighty beings. Imagine that. You ruling over that being that allowed Peter to escape from prison. Some have speculated that this plan, this very idea, may have actually contributed to Satan's rebellion.

Imagine this, you know, this unimaginably, this weak body of ours that is subject to decay. It's flesh. I mean, we can be so easily harmed. We're not metal. We can be so easily harmed. We have this very short lifespan. We can get sick at any time. And you compare us, which we are made a little lower than the angels.

Now imagine Lucifer, all powerful except for God. God is the only being more powerful. Brilliant, musical, intelligent, being told that these weak creatures are going to be his boss. Some people have speculated that might even have contributed to that.

Now, the other thing about angels that sometimes people can think about is, well, they're just sort of mindless messengers. You know, they just kind of do what God tells them to do. But, you know, if you look into Scripture, you see angels have free will. They have free will. That's why a third rebelled. So a third decided they were not going to follow God. So they've got free will. In Job 38, verse 7, it says, the angels sang for joy at the creation of the earth. So they have emotion. Angels have emotion because they sang for joy. They have free will. Ezekiel 28, verse 17 tells us about Lucifer and how he was corrupted by the wisdom that he possessed. That means angels have intellect. They have a mind. They can think. He had wisdom. So they have emotion. They have intellect. They have free will. So when it says here in verse 7 that we were made a little lower than the angels, you don't have to think that these angels are not mindless beings. These angels probably have their own personalities, their own styles, but they are 100% aligned with God.

100% aligned with him. Now we know that we were created in God's image, and that is why we are his children, and that's why we will rule with him. So we have this greater role. But I believe this angelic world that was created reflects the beauty, the creativity of God the Father and Jesus Christ. And these beings, I think, have unique qualities as individual beings. And we are going, even though we're created a little bit lower, we are going to ultimately have the responsibility to rule over the whole creation, including the angels. Let's continue here in verse 8. It says, For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, verse 9, who was made a little lower than the angels. Again, it just goes back to this fact that Jesus was a man just like us, a human being just like us. And he was made a little lower for the suffering of death, crowned with the glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. The creator of the angels was made lower than the angels. What an amazing thing. Do you think about his love and passion for us that he did that so that we might be saved? Verse 10, For it was fitting for him, as Jesus Christ, for whom all things and by whom all things, and bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. God and Jesus Christ did this. For both he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren. We are brethren. And our elder brother, Jesus Christ, we have a glorious future with God and with Jesus Christ. To finish the thought in verse 16, it says, For indeed he does not give aid to angels, but he does give aid to the seed of Abraham. And it says, then, in verse 17, Therefore in all things he had to be made like his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to aid those who are tempted. We can imagine that Jesus Christ, who was God before from the beginning, made himself a little lower than the angels, like us. That he might die for us. That we might have the opportunity to be called brethren with him. That we might rule with him over all the creation, including the angels. I think it should just give us chills to think about the power that we will exercise at that time. And that as we are going through this life right now, and as we are going through trials, and we're going through difficulties, and maybe when we're feeling alone that there is a great host in heaven, and on earth, that is there, that is at God's disposal to support and minister to us. They are servants to us. When we begin to understand that, I think it can be very, very encouraging, and I think it can be a lens into God's plan, into God's power for us.

I think it's important that we need to understand our place in the creation vis-à-vis the angels.

You know, later in the book of Hebrews, let's turn over there to chapter 13, verse 2, in conclusion. Hebrews 13, verse 2.

It says, Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some have unwittingly entertained angels.

How seriously do we take that, by the way? Are we very hospitable? Do we really invite people over? Maybe you're really inviting somebody who's an angel. You know, I think most of us are human in this room, I hope. That means we're inviting people not in this fellowship right here, right? That means we're inviting people who are outside of the church. I think there's an interesting implication of this. That's people you don't know, right?

You're inviting them. And of course, there has to be wisdom in that. You don't want to walk down the street and invite somebody in, you know, have to be safe. But I think it's an interesting verse here. I think that as we understand God, and as we look into angels, and there's just literally just so many, just hundreds, even thousands of verses that describe angels, I think it gives us a more complete picture of who God is, of what His plan is for us, of what His intention is for us as human beings. And I think we can be encouraged, especially as we think about the concept of, you know, Peter and his angel, right? And whether that really was the case, or whether that was just a view that the early church has. But it gives us a window into how they thought about things. And I hope that we can think more about God's angelic realm, and how it serves His purpose, and how it's there to encourage and support and minister to us. Let's be encouraged by God's direction of angels in our lives, and the lives of others.