Angels Among Us — special segement

Special seasonal segment: Angels Among Us: Exploring how God speaks and works through angels.

Start with 2 stories from Billy Graham’s book Angels God’s Secret Agents (1975 ed.)
1. Story of Chinese woman calling upon the name of Jesus — pgs. 1-2
2. Story of the Reverend John G. Patton, missionary in New Hebrides Islands — pg. 3

Read lists from Halley’s Bible Handbook (88th ed.) on the subject of angels: Pgs. 426-428

1. Sometimes angels appear and look and sound just like us — and we cannot at first discern they are not one of us. But there is just something peculiar about them, what the say, how they act, what they bring into our lives, that leads us to discern that they are from God.

Genesis 18:1-22; 19:1-3 Story of the “three men”— two were angels, one was God!

Q. How did the Lord appear to Abraham? [v2 He saw 3 men — from what we can tell, one of them was the Lord, and the other two were… 19:1 “The two angels”]
• From the context of the story, it seems Abraham discerns there is a leader of the group (vs3) and addresses Him as “Lord”= “Adonai” which is an emphatic way of saying “Master!” or emphatically expressing a title of reverence. It could be used of God or men.
• As the story unfolds it appears Abraham understands that this leader is The Lord God. He may have realized from the very beginning, which I believe to be true.
• Sarah’s uses the word “lord” too (v12), of her husband Abraham, but it’s Hebrew from is different than when Abraham uses it. It is in the non-emphatic sense = “Adown,” in the sense of “husband — the one who leads our household.”
• The other uses of the Lord in this chapter, by the author (Moses), and God Himself use only the Hebrew term “YHWH” (or Jehovah) — God’s proper name, meaning, “existing one.”
Q. Why do you think God chose to speak to Abraham? [We may not know all the reasons, but we do know God had a special covenant with Abraham for a world-changing plan]

Q. What possible reason might God have for angels being disguised as humans?

Hebrews 13:2
• It’s possible we could be in a discussion with an angel and not even know it!
• “Some”= not all, not many

Hebrews 1:14

Matthew 18:10

• Believer’s have angels who watch over and guard them
• Angels not only minister to God, but also to us.
• Angels have a special purpose and mission with us — they are actively ministering to all of us who are saved and who are being saved. They are actively working on our behalf in ways we do not often see or hear.
• Most times they are hidden but in our midst.
• Sometimes God deems it necessary or beneficial for them to be revealed.
• It seems when angels reveal themselves and speak it is for a strategic reason — and their words are to the point.
• Most of the times we hear sightings of angels, it is in VERY difficult circumstances, or when circumstances absolutely warrant their appearance — like to verify that God is doing something special.
• Because angels often appear looking as one of us, it is easy to dismiss the very real possibility that ANGELS HAVE BEEN AMONG US.

Jennifer’s story: Angel at 7-11? (click here)

Hebrews 2:2
• God uses angels to communicate God’s word and warnings (Ex. Gabriel speaking to Mary)

Psalm 91:11
• Angels are sent by God at times to protect.

Psalm 34:7

My friend Chris’s angel story: click here

CORE LESSON: God has spoken and still speaks and works through angels!