MINISTERING ANGELS - The Messengers
MINISTERING ANGELS - The Messengers
Sunday Evening Service, April 27, 2014, the year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24: 51-52
The Lord has ascended. The eleven disciples are left alone in wondering amazement. The bright cloud which formed Jesus’ chariot had swept majestically upwards until the gates of heaven closed upon Jesus.
Two men stood by the eleven in shining vestures. Whenever the Lord removes one comfort, He is ready to supply another. The Angels came and ministered to the disciples. This is immediately followed by a mightier than an angelic comforter---the fulfilled promise of the Holy Spirit. “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.”
One blessing is taken away, but the ministering angels on Mount Olivet are left to minister to the disciples. No sooner does Jesus leave, than angels are revealed and stationed to minister to the eleven.
Is Hagar in the desert? There is a fountain at her side! Is Elijah trembling in the dark cave of Horeb? There is a “still small voice” amid tempest, earthquake and storm---“The Lord is there!” Be assured he will never leave nor forsake any that truly seek Him. God will minister comfort. He will have his angels ready to wipe weeping eyes and soothe sorrowful hearts.
The cognizant mind strives in vain to realize the truth of angelic beings surrounding our earthly path, joying with us in our joys---aiding us in our perplexities, and comforting us in sorrow. I believe there are hosts of these blessed messengers thronging around, profoundly interested in all that concerns us. Angelic beings are no mere symbolic way of stating the doctrine of Divine Providence, and the peculiar care which God takes of His people of His Church.
The Bible gives us too many recorded instances of angelic visitations to permit a figurative interpretation. These bright and holy beings are clearly represented as having witnessed and participated all along the gradual unfolding of the plan of salvation and redemption. They are still in participation with the church on earth as together we minister God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.
From the hour when, at creation’s birth, the morning stars sang together, and all the Sons of God shouted for joy---onwards to the eventful night when they met over the plains of Bethlehem and the angels sang “Glory to God in the Highest, Peace on earth, good will to men”. Now that Redemption is completed---they have gathered once more at Olivet to form a royal retinue to conduct their Lord to His crown---to summon the gates of Heaven to “lift up their heads” that “the King of Glory may enter in.”
When God, in bringing in His first-begotten Son into the world, said, “Let all the angels of God worship Him;” how much more, when His work is done, and the moral conqueror, laden with the spoils of victory, may we expect “the chariots of God” (twenty thousand, even thousands of angels”) are waiting to grace His triumph.
Angels were definitely employed on earth as Jesus’ servants and attendants during the period of His incarnation. A portion of this glorious bodyguard we find now, at the hour of Ascension, left behind to certify to the disciples and the Church in every age, that Angels continue their loving watchfulness and interest to minister to us who are heirs of salvation.
The scene now before us on Mount Olivet forms a miniature picture of what takes place every time we gather unto Jesus. As we lift up Jesus, His Word, and give honor to the Holy Spirit, there are glorious angels clustering around us---hovering in silence over our assembly---engaged, in unseen conflict with the emissaries of evil---assisting us in our prayers---joining with us in our praises---waiting to carry out prayers to the throne and perform the spoken Word of God as uttered by the saints.
In the hour of sickness they are there unseen to smooth our pillow. In the hour of danger they are at hand to “shut the lion’s mouth.” In the hour of bereavement they are employed bringing messages of comfort from our Intercessor and High Priest within the veil, and enabling us to “glorify God in the fires.” (Isa. 24:15). In the hour of death they are waiting to usher us into glory as they ushered Jesus. They rejoice in Heaven over every repentant sinner. If their songs of triumph resounds for the believer justified, how much more the joyous song of the believer glorified! They are to be engaged on the Great Day of the Harvest as Reapers at the ingathering of the sheaves, throwing open the golden portals that the ransomed millions may enter in.
However the angels cannot impart comfort. They are but servants and delegates of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Like all ministers and messengers, they point not to themselves, but to their glorified Lord. They are messengers and ministering spirits.
What is their message to the disciples? The eyes of the disciples are gazing upward and heavenward. Their message is so simple, but so powerful: “That same Jesus”---the same Jesus who laid His infant head on the manger of Bethlehem, spoke to the woman at the well of Sychar, and at the gate of Nain, had the power over death, wept over Jerusalem; “That Same Jesus” has been given all power in heaven and earth and will come again “in like manner” as you have seen him go into heaven. Jesus shall come again!
“The world passes away.” Oceans shores have changed their boundaries---kingdoms have risen and fallen---cities are built in desert waste lands---proud capitals have been leveled to the dust. Friends may change; our circumstances change. Our dreams and hopes vanish in the air. But there is One that changes not---a Rock which stands immutable amid all the ceaseless heavings and commotions of this world---that Rock is Christ, “That Same Jesus”!
He shall come in the same attitude to greet and bless His expectant Church, with the words, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
We can rejoice with Job not only that our Kinsman Redeemer “lives,” but our Kinsman Redeemer shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.
The time has come when the disciples must leave the crest of Olivet and turn once more toward Jerusalem, and return to the city and temple from which the true Glory had departed. When Jesus walked on the earth, the Glory of God was in Him. Now, we are the temple of God and carriers of the Glory through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
They are going as “lambs in the midst of wolves,” the disciples of a hated Master, “not knowing the things that might befall them there.
However,
Luke 24:52b: “…They returned to Jerusalem with Great Joy”.
Regarding ourselves, the journey of life is still before us, and the battle of life still to be fought. That same grace of “Great Joy” given to the apostles that we never see waning throughout their life, will also enable us to rise above all the challenges of our journey of life. Let us rise from our Olivet-ridge and be going; and though walking different paths to the same Home---a holy and happy company ---the true heavenly Jerusalem, we will make the journey with the great grace of GREAT JOY.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V.