QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (101)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Questions can be asked about anything.

 

B.   Answers, on the other hand, are not available about everything.

1.    We ask:  “Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus by night?” (John 3:1-2).

2.    The answer to the question, however, is not revealed.  We only have the surmising of commentators as to the answer.

 

C.   So, you can ask a question on anything you so desire.  I, on the other hand, might answer:  “There are no absolute answers to that question.”

 

D.   Today is our Q&A sermon for August.  Let’s consider three questions in this lesson.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  Angels as Ministering Spirits

 

A.   Stated:  Can you please explain how angels are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Although we joked about some questions that cannot be answered absolutely in our introduction, this question falls into that category somewhat.

2.    The verse that is referenced is Hebrews 1:14.

 

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

 

3.    In the context, the inspired writer is contrasting Jesus Christ with angels (Heb. 1:4).

 

Being made so much better than the angels…

 

4.    He makes several contrasts between Jesus and the angels that proves the superiority of the Christ.

a.    The angels are ministers (Heb. 1:7).

b.    Jesus, however, is a King (Heb. 1:8).

 

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:  a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

 

5.    He makes this same contrast again in Hebrews 1:13-14.  However, in verse 14, he elaborates more regarding the work of the angels.

6.    Several facts are learned:

a.    Angels are spirit beings.

b.    Angels are ministers.

c.    Angels are “sent forth” by God to do His bidding.

d.    Angels “minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation.”

7.    The heirs of salvation are the children of God (Rom. 8:16-17).

 

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs of Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together.

 

8.    The question is:  “How do the angels of God minister unto us?”

a.    Commentators:

1)    Adam Clarke:  “All the angels, even those of the highest order, are employed by their Creator to serve those who believe in Christ Jesus. What these services are, and how performed, it would be impossible to state” (e-sword).

2)    Albert Barnes:  “In regard to the ways in which angels become ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation, the Scriptures have not fully informed us…” (e-sword).

3)    Martel Pace:  “What can angels do for the saints?  We wonder with awe at the great things they may do for us, yet we are unaware of the source of our help when it occurs” (The Truth for Today Commentary:  Hebrews, Eddie Cloer, General Editor, p. 53).

4)    Both Robert Milligan and James Burton Coffman list several activities that angels have performed in the past.  They indicate that these are things that the angels could being doing for God’s people today, but there are no passages that state precisely what the angelic hosts are doing on our behalf.

b.    NOTE: 

1)    We do know this.  Angels are not manifesting themselves to man.  Too, they are not revealing God’s will to man in any manner.  Both of these things would be miraculous in nature.  The age of miracles has ceased. 

2)    Thus, the efforts of the angels on our behalf in this life are providential in nature.  We must maintain our faith they are in some manner ministering on our behalf at all times. 

3)    When we close our eyes in death, if we have been faithful, we will get to meet the angels of God for the first time.  We will be carried by them into Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22).

 

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom…

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  Guardian Angels

 

A.   Stated:  Does Matthew 18:10 imply the existence of personal, “guardian” angels for each individual?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Matthew 18:10

 

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

 

2.    The context of this statement goes back to the very first verse of this chapter.

a.    The Curiosity (Matt. 18:1):  “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

b.    The Child (Matt. 18:2-5):  “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (v. 4)

c.    The Caution (Matt. 18:6-10):  “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea…Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones…” (vs. 6, 10).

3.    It is at this point Jesus says:  “… for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”

a.    We learned in our previous question that angels are ministering spirits.

b.    In some way, angels are caring for these little ones. 

c.    Think about that.  Children are important enough to God for Him to assign angels to minister on their behalf.

d.    If little children are that important to God, they should be just as important to us. 

e.    It is demonic to think that little ones are not safe in many ways in our society today.

1)    They are not safe in the womb.

2)    They are not safe in the streets.

3)    They are not safe in our schools.

4)    They are not safe in the hands of some medical professionals.

5)    They are not safe in extracurricular activities.

6)    They are not safe in some religious circles.

 

III.         QUESTION #3:  Latin American Missions

 

A.   Stated:  What mission work is OceanSide going to be supporting during the month of August with our contributions over budget?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Last month OceanSide supported the Chimala Mission in Tanzania, Africa.  We sent a check to their overseeing congregation in the amount of $6,305.00.

2.    The total amount we have given over budget for various works this year is:  $36,122.00.

3.    This month, we will be supporting the Latin American Missions which is under the oversight of the Forrest Park church of Christ in Valdosta, GA.

 

 

a.    Latin America

 

b.    They have been engaged in this work since 1958.

c.    They are serving in ten countries:  Argentina, Columbia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela. 

d.    Their efforts do four main things in Latin America and in South America.

1)    Native preacher training and support (Bible School of the Americas)

 

 

 

2)    Medical missions and evangelistic campaigns (6 to 12 campaigns each year)

 

   

 

3)    Benevolence (Children’s Home of the Americas)

4)    Translating and printing material into Spanish.

 

e.    Forrest Park oversees the work.  When a preacher in Latin America loses his support, the church picks up his support until other churches take on the work.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Our questions moved from the spiritual ministers of God known as angels to the physical ministers of God known as missionaries.

 

B.   God is taking care of His people.

 

C.   As His people, we are to care for others, both physically and spiritually.

 

D.   Are you part of the kingdom?

 

E.   Are you a faithful citizen of the kingdom?