The Angels We Appreciate Part 2

One reason is always looking to Jesus phone number for Bible times, angels or messengers to God's people in charge of watching over believers in this life will never know how often they've protected us from harm from the Moody Church in Chicago. This is running to serve as clear teaching helps us make it looser angels around us. Should we try to make contact with them. Dave let me give a very clear answer to your question absolutely not. Do not attempt to connect with angels. There are those who are in contact with demonic spirits and they think that they're in contact with angels. We have a connection with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And that is the biblical path into the spirit world. Rebecca and I've had the privilege of being married for 50 years and we were interviewed as we celebrated God's faithfulness throughout the many years that he has allowed us to be together. I think you'd be encouraged. Here's what you can do. Go to RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 now I must tell you that that interview comes either as a CD or a DVD and it is all about God's faithfulness. How we make decisions. Some of the challenges we've experienced. I believe that you will be blessed and this is the second to last day that we are making this offer asked for the story of our marriage. 50 years of God's faithfulness. Now we go to the pulpit of Moody church where we learn more about the Angels that we appreciate Michael and his angels are warring against the Dragon and his angels, and they are cast down in their very very angry. These defeated angels because they know that their time is short and is angels were going to talk about and another time. They are the ones will be confined forever in a place called hell. The Bible says that there is torment. There day and night.

That's where they are headed. Angels are very interested in us. The Bible says in first Corinthians, Paul says women should make sure that they are in subjection to men. That's the way in which we can temporize the context he says and and do it because of the Angels you read that you say will know why would angels be interested in the way in which we worship well they have seen insubordination they have seen rebellion and so they're very concerned that a church service be done decently and in order. I have absolutely no doubt that angels are here today, observing us worship God that we've had people who were demonized. People who have evil spirits who find it difficult to come into the church.

I had somebody say I could get as far as the steps of the church, but couldn't come in now. Why would that be, unless perhaps God in his grace were to give us angels here that make this an entirely different place.

It's not a substitute for the presence of God. Don't get me wrong, but angels observe our worship today were going to be questioning a young man Steve Mason were going to be questioning him about his doctrine and that with a view to ordaining him and so this morning I was reading first Timothy chapter 5 verse 21 verbal speaking to Timothy, a younger man said Timothy. Be sure to keep these rules and I'm charging you to do that before God and the elect angels so angels will be there to watch what happens angels. They ministered they execute judgment now there to things that should absolutely fascinate us there two things that two truths that should be transforming to us and that's what I want you to lay hold of today. The first is this the first is our exaltation as sinners. I want you to just grab hold of this today and don't let it go because the Bible says that we as human beings are for a little time lower than the angels, but were going to be exalted above them that we will not have their bodies will not be able to fly the way in which they do, we will have our bodies that are new bodies given to us. The Bible says that we shall see Christ as he is and we will be like him, because we see them as is. But we are going to be exalted far above them in authority you say. Why is that why would we be above the angels will think about this angels despite all of their advantages. We've often thought to ourselves. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were in Angel. Actually, if you're a believer in Jesus today don't trade places because, listen carefully, angels are created independently of one word that could be used as discreetly. That is to say God created a whole host of them hundreds of millions is very clear from the Scriptures and so God created them, but they have no family connections. They do not procreate. For example, is Jesus explained. Angels have no uncles and cousins.

Mothers and fathers so they do not share any family relationship with Jesus Christ. For example, no angel could ever call Jesus Christ a brother and the reason that we inherit what Jesus inherent is because we are Jesus Christ brothers. The Bible says and the Scripture says that we shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, so that when the title deed of the universe is red, and Jesus receives his inheritance. We participate in that inheritance. Now I still haven't run your bell. At this point. Keep listening and then the Bible says that we shall rule with Jesus Christ. We shall rule with him in the kingdom. And then we shall reign with him ever, ever, and we will have an exaltation that is above the Angels.

We are only for a little while lower than the angels, the apostle Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 6, he says, can't you as elders settle disputes within the church. You have to go outside of the church to settle those disputes. He said do you not know that you shall judge angels now. I think that the word judge.

There does not mean adjudicate as much as it does we will rule over angels. Angels will eventually be a part of God's creation, over which we have control that amazing statement that Jesus makes in the book of Revelation. I wouldn't give it to you unless he said it he says he overcomes he who overcomes, to him I shall grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I overcame and sat with my father on his throne. If there is anything that should grip our souls today and be transforming. It is the fact that we as sinners who don't deserve anything are graciously going to be exalted above the Angels and God says you're going to be on display throughout all of eternity so that angels and anyone else that's watching in the angels will be there to watch the elect angels will be.

He says that they may behold my grace and my wisdom forever because you're going to be on display. How could somebody who sinks so low in the end be exalted so high it's one thing that should grip us, but there's something else that should stir us with equal passion and depth, and that is that the angels themselves are so interested in salvation. Earlier I quoted first Peter chapter 1 verse 12 where it talks about the fact that the prophets were trying to understand who the Messiah would be and when he was going to come and they were puzzled and you can tell from the Old Testament, they made these prophecies, but they couldn't fit them in and they didn't know the time when Jesus was coming just like we don't know the time when he's coming again and were trying to figure it out just like the prophets tried to figured out the first time and then Peter says, and these things, the angel desire to look into. It's interesting that angels were on hand when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. In fact, when the man was driven out from the garden of Eden. God protected the garden so that now they wouldn't eat of the tree of life as unredeemed as sinners and live forever. God says I'm going to use Jeff as a means to get them to my presence. And so the Bible says that God sent Chery of them was are angels to guard the door of the garden. The gate so that mankind could not go in.

Chery of them and the flaming sword were set there because God says you're not going back to you can't re-create paradise. It's all lost.

From now on I'm going to become a redeeming God and some people are going to benefit from that redemption, but but that's the end of that particular era.

So angels were there. They sought they were there when God chose Abraham.

In fact, some of them as I mentioned showed up for lunch and Abraham fed they were there a little later on when Jacob needed some comfort because he was going to meet Esau. The next day and the Bible says that the angels of God met him. They were there angels were on hand when the book of Daniel was written. In fact, Gabriel was sent specifically specifically to help Daniel write his book and to bring him the messages from God about the coming of Jesus Christ that would happen eventually.

So they were on hand. Now Jesus is born in Bethlehem and they not only tell the shepherds you know on to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, all right. They've said all that okay and then what fence.

Suddenly there is with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill among men. I'm saying to myself, why are they so excited by redemption that they themselves do not participate in these are the elect angels who don't need redemption and there they are absolutely praising God and was thrilled that Jesus came to save sinners who eventually are going to be exalted above them. Where's all this excitement coming about, and then after Jesus is born. Jesus dies on the cross and then he goes up to heaven, from the Mount of olives, and who is there who was there first of all, that the resurrection will angels and by the way, it says regarding one of the Angels at the scene of the resurrection. A young man in shiny garments. I have to smile these angels were created, probably hundreds of thousands of years ago and they can still look young does not make you long for heaven right there there at the resurrection. Then Jesus ascends to heaven, then their two angels who are saying, why are you looking steadfastly into heaven. This same Jesus who went from you into heaven will likewise come again as you have seen him go into and then when Jesus returns there the Angels to gather the elect. The Bible says from the four corners of the earth and to judge those who do not obey and believe the gospel, and why all this happiness over a center that converts remember were talking about beings who derive no personal benefit at all from the plan of redemption, and yet there they are, they are singing and they are giving praise to God because of God's redeeming of sinners.

Why first of all, obviously they are beings totally free of envy, not a single entity as they rejoice over our exaltation as if it were their exaltation. That's why there's a cosmic celebration in heaven.

Every time the sinner repents the angels rejoice. Why, it's because the Angels understand in ways that we do not. This staggering cost of our redemption. They are amazed at the humiliation of God at the incarnation they are no doubt grieved at the pride of man and when they see how far Jesus came from his glory in ways that they understand that we don't and then they see him lying there in a manger and then they are there at the crucifixion and all of the ways in which Jesus Christ was misused and abused and treated in just like they see all that God win through to redeem sinners. They rejoice in they say, how could you show that much grace. What a beautiful God we have that we serve.

Now want you to visualize that the curtain that divides us from heaven has been opened.

It's been split into eternity is beginning.

You and I have died. We have redeem bodies.

We understand better now than we ever have what redemption is all about. We open that curtain and what do we see this is what God's word says and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, then the beasts and the elders and the number of them was 10,000×10,000 and follows in some of thousands saying with a loud voice, were they is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and glory and honor and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them her dicing blessing glory and honor and power beyond to him that sits upon the throne and onto the Lamb forever and ever. There's no singing praise to God over ourselves and there grieved over how casually we take what cost God so much. Now there's no doubt that were going to join the Angels. People say do angels sing. I believe definitely they do and if they only chance than they chant the song course music is the universal language. Yes angels sing and were going to join them in song, but maybe there's going to be a time where the angel say hey, let us be quiet for a while and let us listen to the redeemed to know Jesus as their Savior who know the benefits of what God did for them who actually have applied to them. Let's listen to the redeemed saying and so like the words of the hymn writer put it, I'm sure it'll be true that at that point they will just fold their wings because they do not know, at least not by experience. They know the joy that our salvation brings. Would you join me in prayer our father, we thank you today for angels. We thank you that you created them for us but also for your glory. Of course, thank you that you use them according to your good pleasure. Thank you for all the times we have been preserved from harm because of angels that we don't know about that someday will be explained to us. Thank you father that they are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. We ask father that in your grace and your love. You might make us even as they are giving praise to you because of the cost of our redemption and thank you that someday we will sing with them, but someday we may also sing alone is redeem sinners and at that point they will have to be silent though they rejoice with us as if our exaltation where there's teachers from them.

We ask in Jesus name. This is Pastor Luther. Do you understand now why I never tire preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and its implications when you stop to think of what awaits us in heaven. It is mine boggling. Meanwhile, here on earth.

We have many challenges and recently Rebecca and I gave an interview regarding our fifth years of marriage, I think that you'd be greatly encouraged. Even if you aren't married or you're struggling in your marriage, or even if you are divorced. What you will discover is God's faithfulness and how he leads us even when we are unaware of it for a gift of any amount.

This interview can be yours, either as a DVD or a CD. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 we allowed a window into our experience in into our home to give glory to God. How did we make decisions, how have we manage the children then the grandchildren. What are some of the most basic principles of a happy marriage. All of this is on this CD or DVD.

Remember for a gift of any amount. It can be yours. Go to RTW offer.com RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 Rebecca and I stand at a very pivotal time in our marriage. Thanking God for the past still anticipating blessings for the future would like to share them with you. It's time again for you to ask Pastor Luther a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Today's question deals with what should happen after a Christian dies listener name Steve emailed the following as Christians can our dead bodies be cremated.

Are there any biblical passages about this.

Stevie amassed a very interesting and important question and it's a question that I approach with an awful lot of caution, because I do know Christians who have been cremated and that sometimes that has surprised me, but there are those you know who ask for cremation and of course in our society a greater number of people are being cremated, and there may be times when cremation is good. Certainly this was true during the time of the plagues when disease was spread and then you have also times when people have no choice. We think of those who died at 911 and those who were cremated alive, so to speak, but if you have a choice. May I say to you, Steve. I believe that as a Christian you should choose burial. Let me give you a couple of reasons. First of all, because the early Christians followed the example of Jesus and the apostles. They were all buried. Jesus was buried. Of course, and the apostles were to and in those early centuries graves were important and I still think that they are important but also the Christians believed that burial was a better way to express the sanctity of the body. Because you see our bodies are created by God when we bury them. We are like the apostle Paul says in first Corinthians 15 we are putting them as a seed into the ground and just as an acorn eventually becomes an oak in the very same way that the seed we plant eventually is going to produce the body because God is going to raise the body is going to change its molecular structure. Of course, and create something brand-new, but with pre-existing materials. You think for example of Jesus who still had the scars in his hand and in his side.

The bottom line is this.

I don't think that cremation is a sin because the Bible does not specifically warn against it, but it is interesting that other cultures, particularly in the East. They believe in cremation because in their mind. This means that we go back to the original one of the body is to be dispersed in nature. Christians have always said that because of the importance of the body. And because of the resurrection burial is to be preferred. Some wise counsel from Dr. Erwin looks her thank you Pastor Luther if you'd like to hear your question answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor Luther or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 can write to us have run into when 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 if the devil wore a red suit with horns and a pitchfork. We'd love Satan wants you to think doesn't exist. The Bible says, though he walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour the real devil is an angel of light. Even Christians can be deceived and find themselves giving into temptation from the enemy of our souls. Next time I'm running to win another chapter in the basic doctrines of the Christian faith 1 to 2 and then as we expose devil real poor running to win is all about helping you understand God's roadmap for your race of life. This is Dave running to win is sponsored by the teacher