Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, Dec. 16, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE TRUTH ABOUT ANGELS

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Genesis 19:1-13

Text: Genesis 19:1

Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Introduction: Our text gives the first occurrence of the word, “angels,” in the Bible, the word, “angel,” having occurred previously in the sixteenth chapter.

In recent years there has been a revived interest in the religious public on the subject of angels. At this time of the year, Christmas, there is also always an increase in the attention they get, because they announced the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tonight we are going to consider some things that the BIBLE says about angels. The Bible has a great deal to say about the subject. The word, “angels,” appears in 91 verses of scripture. The word, “angel,” is found in 192 verses of scripture.

There are many unscriptural ideas about angels. For instance, some people believe that angels all have a glow about their head or a halo over them. Many people think that angels have large wings.

How many angels can fit on the head of a pin? Answer: Only one at a time! The Bible does not say that angels are miniscule! However, the Bible DOES say that:

I. ANGELS ARE MANY

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

A. They are created beings by God

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

B. They are compared to stars for multitude

Revelation 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Psalms 148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

C. They are counted and named by the Lord

Psalms 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

II. ANGELS ARE MEN

Genesis 19:10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

Judges 13:9-11 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day. 11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.

Not all men in the Bible are angels, but all angels in the Bible are men!

A. They are not sexless

B. They are not showy

They can blend in with the population.
Our text is an illustration of the truth of Hebrews 13:2
Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

III. ANGELS ARE MIGHTY

2 Kings 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

A. They are mighty to help

They help the Savior (see my next point)
They help the saints

B. They are mighty to harm

There are fallen angels, who sinned against God.
The Bible speaks of the devil’s angels in Matt. 25:41

IV. ANGELS ARE MINISTERS

Psalms 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

A. They are ministers of protection

B. They are ministers of power

Matthew 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

V. ANGELS ARE MESSENGERS

Genesis 16:11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.

The first time the word, “angel,” appears in scripture is in Gen. 16:7, and the context was the giving of a message to Hagar about her son, Ishmael.

Angels were one of the ways God spake to man before His word was completed:

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

The Truth About Angels