Angelic Oversight Psalm 34

Transcription

1 Angelic Oversight Psalm 34 Introduction 1. Story of God s protection. 2. David is recalling his experience of 1 Sam and how God got him out of that mess. This Psalm is his expression of gratefulness for being rescued saved from life s hardships and challenges and how it is possible for all. 3. This Psalm highlights God s deliverance and protection of us, his followers. The means God uses to deliver us are through angels and His expectations are that we live faithful and obedient lives. 4. Strong Parallel to Ps.91. Some of you are struggling with fear and uncertainty b/c of turmoil in your life. God wants you to walk in confidence and peace that He has your back. Big Idea: God has angels assigned to deliver and direct me and my responsibility is to live a faithful life. Angels delivering people from harm: (find paintings of as many of these as possible) Angels delivered Lot from Sodom An angel delivered them out of Egyptian bondage and through the wilderness An angel delivered Daniel from death by closing the mouths of lions so they did not harm him An angel delivered Jesus and his parents from certain death by telling them to leave Bethleham and move to Egypt. An angel delivering Peter from jail and then striking down King Herod. An Angel gave Paul a message that saved his life and those on board the ship with him. God, Angels and Us They are God s servants. Rev , They are incredible, supernatural beings, but they are servants just like us. God could

2 choose to His work w/o us or angels, but He has chosen to us them and us to accomplish His purposes. We are not to idolize or worship angels or pursue angels. They are only servants. They are mighty, strong, stern, and intense in their service to God, but they, like us, are servants. Each church is assigned an angel Rev.2 & 3. Pastors & elders come and go but the angel assigned the church stays. 1. The angel(s) that are assigned to Willow aren t here solely to minister to Willow giving direction, providing protection but to minister along with Willow as we seek to expand God s work. 2. Hundreds, if not thousands, have gathered here today to do the same thing you do worship and serve God. They minister to us Heb.1.14: Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Ps.34.7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Chelsea Banton 15 year old with severe pneumonia; on ventilator 2 months; caught on a hall security camera; bright light; immediately began to improve. Video: g Much of preaching about angels concerns what angels do for us, BUT WHAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS WHAT ACTIVATES ANGELIC OVERSIGHT! Activating Angelic Oversight 1. They seem to be limited in their activation with us based our faith & obedience level. Their activation in our life may be proportional to our faith & obedience. We think that angels just randomly show up by God s grace. The reality is they appear more frequently when we are faithful to God.

3 a. Psalm 34 i Those who fear him. That is revere, highly esteem; awe which is expressed in praise, obedience and loyalty. Verse 9 is a promise ii ff The lifestyle God desires. David was living this type of lifestyle when God delivered him. iii The type of person God protects. I know we are all righteous according to the blood of Jesus and I also know that God is good and He will protect us out of His grace. I also know that there is a lifestyle that God desires out of each of us and when we live accordingly we experience His protective care and blessings more personally. b. Exodus 23 The angel would protect, guide and scatter, but when they rebelled he wouldn t act. When we choose to stay within His will, we experience God s blessings and angelic protection. When we choose to do the opposite of His will, we experience His discipline and open ourselves to demonic harassement. This is exactly what happened to Israel. When they were obedient, there was incredible advancement; when they rebelled, they succumbed to demonic influence and control. c. Consider these examples where people limited God s deliverance and direction because of unbelief. i. Genesis 19 - Lot s sons in laws. They weren t saved b/c of unbelief. ii. Luke Zechariah in conversation with Gabriel. iii. The angels still did their work, but w/o the full participation God desired! If Lot s sons in laws had lived, we might not have some of the problems we do today between Arabs & Jews. If Zechariah had believed, more people would have been prepared to receive the miracle of John & Jesus birth. He could ve validated Mary s story.

4 d. Acts 27 - Angels provide protection and deliverance but it is activated by our faith and obedience Acts 27.23f and it even extends into Acts 28. Three times they could have stepped outside of God s best the soldiers trying to escape on the life boat, people not eating, and soldiers thinking about killing the prisoners. e. I therefore deduce the principle that the power of the angelic intervention is based in some measure on our faith & obedience level. f. I believe this is true for Willow as a whole. As we have stepped out in faith to follow God s will to complete the second floor, the more angelic activity direction and deliverance we should see. We should see God s favor, protection and even more of the miraculous since angels are often involved in such activity. g. Angelic activity increases with obedience. Clear ex is between Hezekiah (2 Ch 32) & Zedekiah (2 Ch 36). h. As we pray for the persecuted Christian, we also need to consider angels involvement with those who are about to die Lk Jesus & the Garden of Gethsamane; Acts 6.15 Stephen before his death; Lazarus in Luke 16. They are present giving grace, peace and strength. Conclusion: Live in this confidence: God has angels assigned to deliver and direct you and your responsibility is to live a faithful life. Their involvement is proportional to your faith and obedience. Ps.91 reality Summarize There is an angelic/human partnership God is calling us into today. Our part is to say yes/count me in to this partnership and be faithful and obedient servants. God s part is to release His angels.

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