Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare

Transcription

1 Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare Many of us sincerely desire to grow as followers of Jesus Christ. We strive to be the people that God has called us to be. We listen to sermons, read our bibles, pray, go to conferences, attend small groups, and more, yet we seem to make very little progress. What is missing? Could it be that we have lost sight of the warfare that is taking place in our lives? Could it be that we do not pay close enough and accurate enough attention to the spiritual war that rages around us and within us? This study will produce no easy answers. Warfare is never easy. It cannot be reduced to a number of steps or to simple plans. There are foundational truths in spiritual warfare, but it will never be easy, and it will often be confusing. But there is reason for great hope, for our God is greater than our enemy and our own flesh. There is victory to be had for those of us who intentionally engage the enemies of Satan and flesh with the power of God. There is progress, real progress, to be made in our lives as we follow Jesus. The aim of this course is not to simply impart information, but to arm believers for two purposes: First, that you will fight your own spiritual battles and grow in righteousness. Second, that you would assist others to fight their spiritual battles. May the grace of God stir in us the hearts of warriors! 1

2 ANGELS, DEMONS, AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE Who We Are... A central question... * As the church, are we a troop carrier? * Or are we a l l? Critical differences... * Our d will be different. * Our use of r will be different. * Our p will be different. A crucial decision * Will we i ourselves in the peaceful comforts of this world? * Or will we e ourselves in battle for peoples around the world? 2

3 Where We're Going... Foundational Truths A great deal of fiction, superstition, fantasy, nonsense, nuttiness, and downright heresy flourishes in the church under the guise of 'spiritual warfare' in our time. (David Powlison) Angels * Who are they? * How are they organized? * What do they do? * How do they relate to us? Demons * What are demons? * Who is Satan? * How do Satan and demons relate to God? * How do Satan and demons relate to us? Spiritual Warfare * The Old Testament and spiritual warfare * Christ and spiritual warfare * The Church and spiritual warfare * Christians and demonization Concluding Challenges 3

4 8 FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS Foundational Truth #1 - There is a s world. II Kings 6:8-21 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, At such and such a place shall be my camp. But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there. And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice. And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel? And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom. And he said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him. It was told him, Behold, he is in Dothan. So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, Alas, my master! What shall we do? He said, Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. Then Elisha prayed and said, O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see. So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, Please strike this people with blindness. So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. And he led them to Samaria. As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down? 4

5 Three objections to consider... * Spiritual explanations are p. * Spiritual realities are not p. * Spiritual powers are not p in Scripture. Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden? Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Revelation 20:7-8 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison Two Errors to Avoid... There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or magician with the same delight. (C. S. Lewis) * Empty r. * Excessive f. 5

6 Foundational Truth #2 - We are involved in a spiritual w. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. I am more convinced now than ever that when we enter into the Christian life, we enter a battleground, not a playground. Just because everything appears peaceful does not mean that everything is peaceful. I repeat, the war we fight is an invisible battle. We cannot witness the presence of the evil forces in the world, but Scripture assures us that they are there. Don't be naive; the devil and his legions are actively and continually resisting the things of God. That includes you. They are your enemies. (Charles Swindoll) Conflicting k... II Corinthians 4:4-6 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. * The kingdom of God. * The kingdom of Satan. John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world. Ephesians 2:1-2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. 6

7 A continual struggle * A war against s. Hebrews 12:4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. * A war within our s. I Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. * A struggle for our f. Jude 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. * We struggle for the g. Philippians 1:27-30 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have * We fight the good f. I Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. II Timothy 4:7 faith. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the 7

8 * We are s. II Timothy 2:3-4 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. * We have w. II Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. II Corinthians 6:4-10 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. * War is r in the heavenlies. Daniel 10:12-15 Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come. * We are in w time, not p time. Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 8

9 Foundational Truth #3 - The basis for our understanding of this spiritual war is b. What will be our authority? * Fiction...or f? * Experience...or exegesis? * Intuition...or i? Where will we find answers? * Remember...the Bible doesn't answer every question we may ask. * Relax...the Bible does answer every question we n answered to live to the glory of God. How will we approach the text? * Observation We e the text. - L to the text... Listen thoughtfully. Listen repeatedly. Listen patiently. Listen imaginatively. Listen purposefully. - L at the text... Look for what the Word emphasized. Look for what the Word repeats. Look for what the Word connects. Look for what the Word communicates. 9

10 Interpretation We e the context. * Consider the l context * Consider the historical-cultural context. * Consider the t context. * Principles to remember... - We are examining the author's original intent. - A biblical text can never mean what it never m. - Context shapes meaning. - The rule of context: C R! Application We i the text. * Identify the timeless truths. * R the timeless truths to today. * Practice the timeless truths. 10

11 Foundational Truth #4 - The enemy in this spiritual war is f. Why even think about the enemy? II Corinthians 2:10-11 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. * We need to open our e. * We need to get on our k. * We must know w he is. * We must know h he works. Satan's two primary objectives... * To d God's people. * To d God's glory. Psalm 96:1-4 Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations,his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 11

12 Foundational Truth #5 - The scope of this spiritual war is u. Every l. Every people. Every nation. Every tribe. Every l. Foundational Truth #6 - Involvement in this spiritual war is i. The battle is continual. The battle is fierce. Spiritual retreat only leads to spiritual d. Foundational Truth #7 - The stakes in this spiritual war are e. The God over this world wants people to be s. II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. The god of this world wants people to b in h. Revelation 20:14-15 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. 12

13 Foundational Truth #8 - The outcome of this spiritual war is i. Satan has been d. Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Colossians 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Satan will be d. Revelation 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Therefore, we do not fight this war f victory; we fight f victory. I John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world John 5:4-5 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 13

14 ANGELS What are angels? Angels are s beings without p bodies. Angels are mentioned many times... * times in the Old Testament. * times in the New Testament. Angels have many n. Psalm 104:4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. Psalm 89:5-7 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Daniel 4:13 I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. Daniel 4:17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men. Daniel 4:23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him, 14

15 Angels are s beings. Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Angels are c spiritual beings. Psalm 148:1-5 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens;praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created Angels are p spiritual beings. * They have m capacities. II Peter 2:4 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; * They have i capacities. I Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. * They have e capacities. Job 38:6-7 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. 15

16 Angels are p spiritual beings. Psalm 103:20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Angels are l spiritual beings. * They are limited in s. Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. * They are limited in k. Mark 13:32 But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Angels are s (unmarried) spiritual beings. Matthew 22:29-32 But Jesus answered them, You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. Angels are i spiritual beings. Luke 20:34-36 And Jesus said to them, The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 16

17 Angels are v spiritual beings. * They can appear in a p way. Luke 1:11-13 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. * They can appear in d and v. Matthew 1:20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. * They can appear in other forms. Daniel 10:5-6 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 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. Matthew 28:2-4 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. Revelation 4:6-8 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! 17

18 When were angels created? Definitely before the s day of creation. Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Probably on the f day of creation. Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Job 38:6-7 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 18

19 How many angels are there? M... Luke 2:13-15 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 among those with whom he is pleased! Legions... Matthew 26:53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? Myriads... Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, A lot... Daniel 7:10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment,and the books were opened. As numerous as the stars? Revelation 12:3-4 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. G angels for every on of us? Matthew 18:10-11 See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. Psalm 91:11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 19

20 How are angels organized? Cherubim... * The h order or rank of angels. * Protecting and proclaiming the glory of God. Genesis 3:24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Exodus 25:21-22 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel. Psalm 18:10 He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. Seraphim... * Literally a with adoration for God. * Continually w the Lord. Isaiah 6:2-4 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. Living Creatures * Mighty r of God's creation. Revelation 4:6-8 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,for you created all things,and by your will they existed and were created. 20

21 The Archangel M Daniel 10:13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, Jude 1:9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke you. Revelation 12:7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. G, God's messenger... Daniel 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, Gabriel, make this man understand the vision. Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. H angels... Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. I Timothy 5:21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 21

22 E angels... Luke 8:1-2 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, What about the angel of the L Genesis 16:9-14 The angel of the LORD said to her, Return to your mistress and submit to her. The angel of the LORD also said to her, I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said to her, Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael,because the LORD has listened to your affliction. He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen. So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You are a God of seeing, for she said, Truly here I have seen him who looks after me. Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. * Sometimes i as the Lord. Genesis 31:10-13 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, Jacob, and I said, Here I am! And he said, Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred. * Sometimes d from the Lord. II Samuel 24:15-16 So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, It is enough; now stay your hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 22

23 What do angels do? Angels g God. Psalm 148:2 Praise him, all his angels;praise him, all his hosts! * They glorify God for His greatness. Isaiah 6:2-3 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! * They glorify God for his goodness. Luke 2:13-14 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 among those with whom he is pleased! Luke 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Angels o God's will. Psalm 103:19-22 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you his angels,you mighty ones who do his word,obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts,his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works,in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Angels carry out God's plans. * They administer God's judgment. II Samuel 24:15-16 So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, It is enough; now stay your hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. II Kings 19:35 And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 23

24 * They s as God's representatives. Zechariah 1:9-11 Then I said, What are these, my lord? The angel who talked with me said to me, I will show you what they are. So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth. And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest. * They a God's work. Matthew 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. * They i God's creation. Revelation 7:2-3 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. * They will a Christ's return. I Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 24

25 How do angels relate to us? They are d from us. * We r God's image. Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. * We can r. Genesis 5:3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. * We can be r. Hebrews 2:14-16 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. II Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day * We will one day r. I Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? 25

26 They are all around us. * They j us in worship. Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. * They o our obedience. I Timothy 5:21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. I Corinthians 4:9-10 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. * They a God's protection. Daniel 6:21-23 Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm. Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Psalm 91:11-12 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. * They d God's plans. Acts 10:3-6 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, Cornelius. And he stared at him in terror and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. Acts 27:23-26 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you. So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island. 26

27 * They g God's provision. I Kings 19:5-8 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you. And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. * They s God's people. Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. * They b God's deliverance. Acts 5:17-20 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life. Acts 12:6-11 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, Get up quickly. And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, Dress yourself and put on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Wrap your cloak around you and follow me. And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting. * They s God's guidance. Genesis 31:10-13 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, Jacob, and I said, Here I am! And he said, Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred. 27

28 They will g t God's people. Matthew 24:30-31 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. They are an e for us. * They remind us of the wonder of w. Revelation 19:1-8 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants. Once more they cried out, Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever. And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, Amen. Hallelujah! And from the throne came a voice saying, Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great. Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. * They remind us of the importance of o. Matthew 6:9-10 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven. 28

29 Three cautions with angels... We must avoid being tempted to w angels. Colossians 2:18-19 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. Revelation 19:10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. We must avoid being tempted to p to angels. I Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, We must avoid being d by angels. II Corinthians 11:14-15 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 29

30 DEMONS What are demons? Demons are e angels who sinned against God and who now continually work out evil in the world. They were c good by Genesis 1:31. Genesis 1:31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. They had b evil by Genesis 3:1. Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden? II Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; Jude 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day. 30

31 Who is Satan? Beloved, Satan being fallen from light to darkness, from felicity to misery, from heaven to hell, from an angel to a devil, is so full of malice and envy that he will leave no means unattempted, whereby he may make all other eternally miserable with himself, he being shut out of heaven, and shut up 'under the chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day' (Jude 6), make use of all his power and skill to bring all the sons of men into the same condition and condemnation with himself. Satan has cast such sinful seed into our souls, that now he can no sooner tempt, but we are ready to assent; he can no sooner have a plot upon us, but he makes a conquest of us. If he does but show men a little of the beauty and finery of the world, how ready are they to fall down and worship him! Whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, that the devil will help forward. (Thomas Brooks) An a created by God who served as a cherub until be r against God and now opposes God in every way. * An a... Matthew 25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. * C by God... Colossians 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him. 31

32 * Who s as a cherub... Ezekiel 28:14-16 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. * Until he r against God... Isaiah 14:12-15 How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. - the occasion of his sin was p - the nature of his sin was p Five I will statements I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. 32

33 * And now o God in every way. Zechariah 3:1-2 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire? His names reveal his tactics. * He is Satan the a Job 1:6-7 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, From where have you come? Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. I Thessalonians 2:18 because we wanted to come to you I, Paul, again and again but Satan hindered us. * He is the devil the s I Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 33

34 * He is Lucifer son of the m. Isaiah 14:12 How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! * He is Belial a f god. II Corinthians 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? * He is the e one. I John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. * He is the t. I Thessalonians 3:5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. * He is the p of this world. John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 34

35 * He is the a. Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers1 has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. * He is represented as... - A s. Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, Did God actually say, You1 shall not eat of any tree in the garden? - A d. Revelation 12:7-9 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. - An angel of l. II Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 35

36 How do Satan and the demons relate to God? God is the Creator; Satan is the d. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Revelation 9:10-11 They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon. God is almighty; Satan is l by God. Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am God Almighty;1 walk before me, and be blameless Job 1:12 And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Satan as God's i to a Christians to accomplish His p 36

37 the perseverance of Job Job 1:7-12 The Lord said to Satan, From where have you come? Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Paul's thorn II Corinthians 12:7-9 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. the sifting of Peter Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,1 that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. 37