SM180701/Angels in the Life of the Believer

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners receive free email daily devotions were to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. Let's grab our Bibles and turn to Daniel chapter 6 and the title of my messages Angels and the life of the believer. Yes, America still needs a spiritual awakening, and that begins with you and me and I'll tell you why there is a supernatural battle going on right now for the sole of our nation. This is way bigger than a political battle. This is way bigger than an ideological battle. This is bigger than anything we've ever space before and it's really as I said over the soul of our country. I think that sometimes we forget were in a spiritual war were not wrestling against flesh and blood against principalities and powers in spiritual powers and high places that the real world. The invisible world of God and Satan and the world of angels and demons and that world is just as real as the world wherein right now you know the Bible tells a story of Elisha the prophet and his servant get he thought they were surrounded by enemy forces and and the servant realized that he woke up from sleeping and began to panic and he woke the sleeping prophet instead were surrounded by our enemies. What should we do and Elisha wiping the sleep from his eyes. Said don't be afraid because those that are with us are more than those of you with them and then Elisha prayed Lord open his eyes that he may see in the Lord, open the eyes of Jay Hayes. I the servant of the prophet and he saw the supernatural forces of God all around them and that's all we need to pray as we start this message and God would open our eyes to see the very real spiritual world all around us now, so let's pray together Lord as we open your word. We pray that you will open our eyes, this is not a game. This is not a dress rehearsal. This is the real thing.

And Lord every day in this spiritual battle were either advancing or retreating were either gaining ground or losing ground, not only as a church but also as individuals. So help us Lord to think about how this works in our life. Open our eyes to see the work of your spirit in our life and the work you want to do in our life and we ask is now in Jesus name, amen. Well as I said were back in the book of Daniel. Again we been out of this book for a while with all that we been involved with including harvest America were coming to the end of the first six chapters.

Daniel is divided into two sections. The first six chapters 6 chapters deal with history and this is while the great Bible stories of Daniel are, of course, Shadrach me shack in the bed to go in the fiery furnace Daniel in the lion's den and all of that and a lot of people, all they know of Daniel of the first six chapters. Then there's the next six chapters of those are prophetic, they talk about the future and in many ways the final six chapters of Daniel parallel with the book of Revelation. So we learn history in advance from the prophet Daniel very important information. The last time we saw our hero Daniel had been arrested for praying.

As I best report. If you are root were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you by evidence. I don't mean how many harvest Crusade stickers you have in your car may be how many Bibles you have at home, but rather real evidence were we could talk to your neighbors or members of your family are your coworkers and safe is this person a real Christian will Daniel was a real believer in the end, an amazing habit where he would pray three times a day and so he was very open about it so anyway, the Babylonians had been defeated Gose as their final king is now dead and Cyrus in the Medo Persian Empire has taken control of the nation, and Darius's new King straightaway. Darius recognizes that Daniel is the man. Even though Darius was a pagan king, he saw that Daniel was a man of integrity. He was a man of honesty. He was a man that would get the job done and he immediately favored him all of all of the other advisors he sort of inherited from the previous regime, and so she decided to put Daniel in charge of everything and the others were very angry about this. They were jealous of Daniel and the one to bring them down.

There was one problem. Daniel didn't have any skeletons in his closet.

Daniel didn't have any scandals or any things to expose and they said the only way we can bring Daniel down is if we find something concerning him and his God. So they came up with the bright idea.

Let's get the king to sign the decree that no one can pray to any God, but the king for 30 days so the Russians of the king's presence and said King Darius. We came up with an idea and were all in on this, including Daniel.

We think you should sign the decree that no one can pray to anyone but you. For 30 days.

King very flattered by this said that's a great idea so recited in the law. And here's the interesting thing about the law of the Medes and the Persians. Once the king signed it into law. Even he could not overturn it because he was regarded as a deity, so he did not realize it but unwittingly he had condemned his top advisor, Daniel, to a certain death, so no new laws been passed, you can no longer pray for 30 day one of the law like that was passed in America tomorrow or the state of California almost seems believable that is meant you could no longer pray in a restaurant you can no longer say grace when your meal arrives in a public place at the new law you can no longer pray in church. You can even pray in your home would you obey the law which you I would because there are times when the laws of God supersede the laws of man and this is one of those times. So Daniel that well you know that's an interesting loving prospect. I pray every day and I'm not going to change that and you know there's a lot of ways Denny could've wiggled out of this 30 day because then you're among overdue for a vacation.

I'm leaving town for 30 days and when you get back. The law will be over with Orrick. It is that you're pretty prayed by pray three times a day I think I could I could just kind of not pray for 30 days a minute that I can be subtle about my prayer you know I don't have to close my eyes are get on my knees are well go home and I'll pray, but I won't open up the windows like I normally do all kind of do an undercover no Daniel thought, I'm looking to change a single thing so we went home and he prayed as he always did get it done and now you're taking notes there is point number one. Daniel was a man of prayer. Daniel was a man of prayer. This is a take away truth for us because we too should be people of prayer. Daniel six tenses when Daniel learned a lot been signed. Went home, he knelt down as usual, you might underline that just as he had always done any pray three times a day, giving thanks to his God.

I love this phrase just as he always had done no more first introduced to Daniel Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo in the beginning of the book of Daniel.

Their kids their teenagers now. Daniel is an old dude. He's probably eating may be as old as 90 and he still has this habit of prayer, which is a great thing a cement you always pray you know it's been said so I thought, reap an axon act reaper habit, so I haven't read the destiny and that's good or bad depending on what kind of a habit.

It is you think about bad things and develop bad habits that haunt you for a lifetime. But on the other hand, if you think about godly things develop good habits like Bible study church attendance giving to the Lord and praying that will be a great habit that will become your legacy and that was Daniel. Just as he always had done, and no doubt it was on his knees. He received the earnest courage that he had then enabled him to stand boldly before kings like Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and now Darius.

He understood that when anxiety came he needed to pray he could've freaked out. But no, he prayed as he always had done point number two, Daniel had a attitude of gratitude.

Daniel had an attitude of gratitude. Look at verse 10 he pray three times a day, just as he always did. Done giving thanks underline those two words, giving things to his God giving things to his God. Now listen here was the problem with Daniel. He had never read the book of Daniel. Just like Job would never read the book of Job know we know how the story ends what he did.

He knew that his certain fate was being fed to a den of lions. By the way, just in case you think these were docile liens understand that Daniel survived this. I hope that's not something you were aware of a spoiler alert.

He survived, but of the ones who accuse them of this or throne of the lion's den and they were eaten quickly back and forth even hit the ground. The Lions attacked and ate them. Never underestimate a hungry lion.

I was in the Africa years ago. Actually Ethiopia is speaking at a pastors conference with Franklin Graham and Dennis I get Jeannie and Anna so we little time off. One afternoon we went to the Ethiopian zoo and there was really, hardly anyone there working and we walked right up. I'm not making this up. I know it sounds insane.

This is the truth.

We walked right up to a lion's cage, and if I wanted to get a stick my arm to this cage and there in the corner of this cage was the most malnourished lion I've ever seen in my life. This lion looked like he was on the verge of death, and so I'm looking at this lien and I said no and I don't even think he moves anymore Dennis I get Jeannie and the other would be a great idea to shake the cage bars so he started screaming that line came to life came lunging out us and roared about as loud as any lion would roar and after my blood went cold and I I was scared because that's a powerful lien so these liens were hungry so understand this was God's intervention. He gave things without any certainty of how things would turn out. The Bible tells us that it everything we should give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. It also tells us to rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice see it's one thing we get things from things are going well. By the way, you should if everything is going well for you today. Remember to give thanks because the problem is, sometimes we give thanks when one sees a limit restated sometimes we only pray when we have crisis moment things are going well were effectively saying things God CNX crisis know we should say, Lord. Thank you that all my bills are paid. Thank you that my health is good. Thank you that I have food on the table thank you that I have the status or view.

Thank you for what you've done, but that when things are not going well.

I still think God listen, not for the adversity, but for the fact that God is still on the throne. He still there and control the Lord I have this problem and I don't know how them and to get through this problem, but I know you're in control and I know you're all powerful. And I know you love me and I know you have a plan for my life. So I'm committing even this deal and that's how Denny was praying they'll probably be fed the Lions but I'm given thanks anyway because that is what I always do nullity. What happened, so he prayed he was arrested. Daniel six verse 16 so the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions and the king said to him.

May your God, whom you serve so faithfully rescue you, is for the king to say he wasn't going to allow him to stand in the story continues. A stone was brought in place over the mouth of the den and the King sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and could not sleep that night very early the next morning the king got up and hurried to the lion's den.

When he got there he called out in English.

Daniel, servant of the living God was your God, whom you serve so faithfully able to rescue you from the lion. Verse 21, Daniel answered. Long live the King by God sent his angel and shut the lion's mouth so they would not hurt me bribe and found innocent in his side and I am not wrong you, your Majesty.

There point number three Daniel chose to trust God no matter the circumstance.

Daniel chose to trust God no matter the circumstance it appeared that all was lost in this would be his last night on earth God was at work and he dispatched one of his secret Angels and angel of the Lord sent to deliver him. Notice that the king spent a sleepless night, despite the comforts of the palace.

Meanwhile, Daniel slept like a baby in the peril of a bunch of hungry lions bring me to this point.

Better to be in a lion's den with God than anywhere else without right so many are no hard time right now. The lion's den. If you will, was God with you with your Christian is so you're good to go. I'd rather be there with God than anywhere else with out And Denny was trusting the Lord and look at what he said in verse 22 Mike God sent his angel notes interesting to me that the animals had reverence for an angel of the Lord. The animals apparently saw the angel of the Lord and back up running under know what happened in the lines in the Bible doesn't tell us, but I imagine when he was dropped in the Lancet OT he time for food. And as they begin to approach the prophet suddenly they backed off when they saw these powerful messengers sent from heaven. You know it's interesting to me that sometimes animals have more sense than people that you read this article in the paper was last week about cocoa the gorilla that died cocoa the gorilla understood sign language and as it turns out this amazing animal was able to sign more than one thousand words and cocoa.

The gorilla understood more than 2000 words read a few articles about the gorilla and one story that amused me as cocoa had pet cats. Who knows why but she that she loves cats and she be very gentle with these little cats and and so she had this one little cat that she was very fond of and I and one day cocoa got angry and ripped the ceiling out of the wall that happens when guerrillas get angry sometimes men to but they're just that usually is successful, but the cocoa ripped the sink out of the wall utterly destroyed it and sort trainer came to call going and said your cocoa.

Why did you do that and cocoa sign back. Cat did it to two-story cat did it so Google is smart enough to blame someone else but her Monday of the story of the limitless donkey.

Remember that story the prophet Bailey was told by God to do a certain thing and he disobeyed and was going in the wrong direction. Writing this donkey and one of the ways in the donkey just stopped and Bailey became very angry and began did you know hit nudge the donkey on the donkey stopped again when up against the wall and hit his leg and sewed in and takes out a stick and starts beating the donkey the donkey goes a little further and utterly collapses.

This type will be limited. Beating the donkey over and over again in Numbers 22 tells us the Lord because the donkey this spring speak and the donkey turned to be limited. Why have you beaten me three times. No meds amazing that a donkey spoke with more amazing was that are missing a beat, Bingham says because you won't do what I want to do and then the donkey says, haven't I been a good donkey. Haven't I always done what you are permitted to be� To your benefit, don't you have to admit this but you will go what I want to know. While the angel of the Lord is standing there with a sword dropped again.

Who's the bigger jackass. Tell your Ivy what is going on with this guy in front of the angel of the Lord makes himself visible with the sword drawn and he said Bingham is a good thing that donkey spoke, his eyes getting uptight with you beating him like you were in a donkey had more sense and you had so sometimes animals have more insight than people have, but angels are involved in the life of every Christian. We don't understand Stan how many times angels have stopped us from doing something we should not of done or gotten us out of tight situations or protected us from harm. There might even be times that angels have spoken to us. The Bible tells us in Psalm 34 seven the angel of the Lord guards all who fear him any rescues that is happened for Simon Peter. He was arrested and he was going to certainly be put to death, because James had already been executed by King Erin and there he was in jail and asked 12 tells us the church began to pray constant prayer was offered to God for him, and an angel was dispatched from heaven and the angel walk right into that prison cell, and Peter was apparently a deep sleeper because the Bible says the angel had a loving James had to smite him. We come up like wake up Peter wake up he just Stornoway went what your free man. The doors opened up for the prison cell. Just like in the supermarket to know and out Peter walk with the point was the Lord sent an angel to do that and then we find angels in the Old Testament work is in the working as well is in the story before us. In fact, there are mentions in the Bible, either directly or indirectly, nearly 300 times.

There are millions and millions even billions of angels. It appears that they are eternal and that they never die. Jesus in Luke 2036 said they neither die anymore and so it would appear that they just go on and on and they have this special work that God is called them to do. Hebrews 114 says their ministering spirit sent to serve those who are heirs of salvation. Sometimes angels speak to us and we may not even know of the Lord had an angel tell Philip go to the desert and Philip went to the desert. There he met a man who would come from Ethiopia searching for God or whatever. It was an angel that told him to do it. There are times that angels will intervene in our lives. In other ways in its even possible. You have met an angel civil why would you say that because Hebrews 13 to says don't forget to entertain strangers for in doing so. Some people of entertaining angels without knowing so look around right now. Look next to could be an angel, how what I know with her be like feathers on the ground or will clumps of angel food cake or something like that.

No, probably not. By the way, I hate to break this to you whenever angels take on human form, they never appear as women, but always as men that's science and the Bible. Girls can I say I bring this up because we often use the word angel and in a feminine way like she's as pretty as an angel but in reality every time an angel appears in Scripture. The appear as a man. There are no chick angels only do that angels maybe teen angels that are noble say, but they're all around us and here's the thing with angels are sort of like God's secret agent there sort of like the special forces like the Green Beret or Delta force of the Navy SEALs there often engaged in missions. We never hear about.

They going to do the work that they're called to do their deployed to take care of something in the accomplish that task. In return, we don't even know who did what we just know the job is getting done that's angels are not there to draw attention to themselves, that there to do the work of God effective in the angel of the Lord appeared on the stage right now we would be tempted to worship it because are so beautiful and majestic fact in the book of Revelation.

An angel appeared to John and revealed the Futurity cam and John called on the worship at the feet of the angel and the angel stopped them and said don't worship me, I'm your fellow servant. Worship God. Sometimes a question is asked, do we have Guardian Angels I'm I don't know the answer but I think it may be yes. I think it may be that children have Guardian Angels let her know about adults and I say that because in Matthew 1810 Jesus said don't look down on one of these little ones. Speaking of children, prior tell you there angels in heaven always see the face of my father in heaven. So maybe children have Guardian Angels conducted that story and asked 12 member Peter was freed from the prison so he shows up at a house with the Christians were praying. No doubt for him, no doubt, for his deliverance other than a primitive know Lord delivered Peter Paul Lord Kip Kreider out of jail: there's a knock on the door will supplement.

So Rhoda, a girl goes and answers the door and there Stan Simon Peter goes plum and sex respect because freefall Lord delivered Peter guys don't bother us Lord to Peter out of prison. Guys don't bother us peters out the front door and I love one of them said they said it is angel.

First of all, that would imply that Peter had his own angel and number two if there was an angel on my front door.

I love them and when you and the fit of funny thing because the Bible says they all went over to see what was going on so only one went alone. They want to collude to people you know they pulled the door back ministry like hey can you let me know sometimes we pray for something that God answers our prayer were shocked to find that he answered it so quickly. But it's interesting. They said it's just his angel so maybe we have Guardian Angels, but even if we don't have specific angels assigned to us. We know that we have Angels all around us and Jesus made a very important usually Psalm 91 makes a very important statement about this. It says God will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways they will lift you up in their hands so you will not strike your foot against a stone.

So God will do his part and you need to do yours.

That's in Psalm 91, and I've always thought whenever there's an emergency dial 911 right 911 Psalm 91 verse one he that dwells in the secret place of the most high will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my fortress, my God in him will I trust.

Have you ever tried to walk in someone shadow. You have to be very close, don't you so fine in the shadow of the most high. That means that I'm sitting very close to the Lord, bringing me to my next point. Point number four, Daniel stayed close to God and never stops serving again. Daniel stayed close to God and never stops serving him. Look at verse 19 the king comes to the den of lions and says was your God, whom you serve so faithfully able to rescue you from the Lord or from the Lions your God, whom you serve so faithfully another translation, your God, whom you serve continually. So even Terry is a pagan king recognize that Daniel served the Lord constantly and he had this angelic protection around them as a result. So the objective in our life is to stay close to the Lord and trust the Lord and never test the Lord member Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, and among other things, the devil took him to the hype place of the temple that said jump off a pier and then the devil quotes the Bible." Psalm 91 and says to Jesus, for it is written that he will send his angels to protect you. So go ahead and jump and then Jesus says it is also written, you shall not test the Lord your God see the devil left something out.

The original passages God will keep us in all of our ways. The devil left that out.

The point is, no more walking than the will of God.

We can be confident, we evangelical protection, but will be gone outside of the will of God.

We test the Lord we take unnecessary chances and rest.

That's another thing altogether. But here's the take away point for me. The Christian is indestructible until God is done with them here indestructible. Worrying about everything you know. We worry about our diet. We worry about how old we are. We worried about this and we worry about that worry doesn't help anything, it makes things worse, but just understand that your days are numbered by God, and you will live to the end of those days that God is set up for you and nothing will stop you from that.

So rest in that truth. It's a great thing to know and you know what the bottom line is we all face are lions in life. Maybe you're in a lion's den of sorts. Right now, maybe it's a threat on your life like Daniel was facing. Maybe your marriage is unraveling.

Maybe you're having troubles with your kids. Maybe there's a group of people who are slandering you work attacking you because of your faith might be a massive trial that you're going through right now with no apparent end in sight. You know it's interesting to note that the Bible compares the devil to align over first Peter five needed to stay alert. Watch out for your great enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. So the devil is active and he wants to destroy us. But the good news is, is God will not give us more than we can handle going back to the statement of Elisha to a servant. Those that are with us are more than those that are with them. If you're a child of God.

You don't have to be afraid of what the devil can do the double contempt you, the devil can harass you, the devil can oppress you, but he certainly can take control of you and I bring that up because if you're not a Christian you are a target that you cannot have a bull's-eye painted on your chest and there's nothing you can do to keep the devil away. If you don't have Christ living inside of you. The only power Satan respects is the name and the power of Jesus Christ. So you say will keep the devil away with the crucifix you think the doubles afraid of a crucifix all his holy water.

There's no such thing as holy water purified water. Yes, holy water, no wall were garlic around my neck will let me keep your friends away, but I will keep the devil away.

The only power he respects is the power of Christ.

Listen, here's the good news. Demon powers are out that there's a lot of demons is a will is a demon, a demon is a fallen angel. The Bible tells us that there was a rebellion in heaven and one third of the angels rebelled against God, and these fallen Angels, also known as demons are under the control of Satan also wants a high ranking angel known as Lucifer. That's one third of the angels. That's the bad news. The good news is two thirds of the Angels are on our side. So were on the winning side, but only the believer has is hope now what about when a Christian dives is a great you talk about angelic protection how the Lord watches over us and but what about when Christians get cancer.

What about when Christians die an automobile accident. What about when Christians faced tragedy. What were the Angels and the like I said, your days are numbered. God knows how many days you will have that's decided by him, not by you, but when that work of the Angels is completed that is protecting you. They have another mission and that is to escort you to heaven. The Bible tells a story of Lazarus, not the one who Jesus raised from the dead, but another Lazarus. It was a poor beggar who believed in God and he died.

The Bible says the Angels escorted him to heaven. So when a believer dies they are escorted immediately by angels in the presence of God, you find that reassuring as I do. Just knowing that so you wonder what happens when a Christian.the moment you take your last breath and earth. You take your first breath in heaven to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord you go immediately into God's presence in your escorted by angels and harvest America back in Texas we were offered a police escort, which is very nice so we had cops in front of us, with their sirens blaring and the lights going we would run all the traffic was very cool and I asked if I can have that all the time. They said no just this one time but it was like a police escort we can cruise and right into the stadium wives something better for you than a police escort and angelic escort into the presence of God guaranteed every follower of Jesus, so don't be afraid there's another thing the Angels do and I'll close with this they rejoice every time a nonbeliever comes to Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus said if we will confess them before people he will confess us before his father and Wells the angels in heaven, but then he's visibly denying them before people will deny us before the father in the Angels so heaven is very aware of what is happening under the Angels are very aware that went back and forth between heaven and earth doing the work of God. But here's what we need to focus on. Let's just follow the example of Daniel and be men and women of prayer be people that have an attitude of gratitude be people that walk with and serve the Lord faithfully and continuously and then we have the hope that when that day comes for us to leave this world. We know that will be welcomed in the next one by Jesus himself escorted by angels.

Let me see. In closing, this is only the hope for the Christian.

Maybe you've come here today and you don't have this hope is a well I'll maybe I'll go to heaven. I'm not sure I try to live a good life. Trust me, you'll never live a good enough life, you're a sinner just like the rest of us in one sin is enough to keep you out of heaven.

But the good news is, is God sent his son Jesus Christ 2000 years ago to die on the cross for our sin and then he rose again from the dead, and these here with this right now standing at the door of our lives and is knocking and using a full cure his voice and open the door he will come in. I want to close by extending an invitation for you to believe in Jesus because there might be someone here someone watching right now doesn't have this hope of an angelic escort to heaven they don't have the confidence that their sin is forgiven, but they wanted.

You can have it today because this relationship of God is right here for you. It's a gift.

And if I were to offer you a gift today and you wanted to receive that gift. All you have to do is reach out and accepted. The same is true as of the gift of eternal life. Need to reach out and acceptance from God and he offers it to you now if you would like to be forgiven of your sin and we would like to know that you go to heaven when you die if you would like this relationship with God respond now as we pray together.

Let's all bow our heads. Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for how powerful it is. How true it is and how full of hope. It is in no way pray for any person here or anyone watching whatever they are.

If they don't have this relationship with you. Hope them to come to you and believe in you today. We ask this in your name.

L&I has about her eyes are closed or praying together. If you would like Jesus Christ to come into your life and you would like him to forgive you of your sin.

Would you just pray this prayer right. We are sending you can even print out loud if you like. This is a prayer when you're asking Christ to come into your life again as I pray just pray this prayer out loud after me. Pray these words Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. Now come in to my life Lord. I choose to follow you from this moment forward is Savior and Lord his God and friend. Thank you for calling me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen �