[Revelation 12:7-12] Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8but he was defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him…
God’s Ministering Spirits
From figurines, popular TV shows, sensational stories, to popular religious practices, there is maybe some good information – but also many misconceptions – about God’s ministering spirits, the angels. Today is “Saint Michael and All Angels”, a good day to review in Scripture what we do know about angels.
Men and women are body and soul. Angels are spirit only. God is the creator of “all things visible and invisible.” Angles are part of that invisible aspect of God’s creation. Angels serve before God in heaven and serve for man’s sake on earth, unseen – except sometimes.
We don’t become angels when we die. They are not human spirits. Angels are their own thing.
Angels were created good. God created all things good [Genesis 1]. Yet angels have a will and some angels rebelled against their Creator. These are now the devil and demons, unclean spirits.
God’s angels are guardians. This is a promise especially made regarding children – “in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father” – yet is true also for you.
You have not just a guardian angel but a whole guard of angels surrounding you day and night. Saint Michael and his angels are greater in strength and in number than the devil and his. (Elisha to his servant: “Do not be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them” – 2 Kings 6:16.)
God’s ministering spirits strengthen us to trust God’s will and bear our crosses, just as an angel appeared to and strengthened Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane [Luke 22:43].
And angels are, first and foremost, messengers. The word “angel” means “messenger”. God’s angels, His messengers, announced the conception and birth of John the Baptist, the conception and the birth of Jesus, His resurrection in the tomb, and, at His ascension, announced His coming return.
Angels are, most of all, messengers of the Gospel – they are “ministering spirits sent to serve for the sake of those inheriting salvation” [Hebrews 1:14]. Unseen and unnoticed, God’s angels are at work in the preaching of the Gospel.
And, as we saw in our Scripture readings [Revelation 12:7-12; Daniel 10:10-14; 12:1-3] this morning, God’s angels are engaged in battle against the devil and demons. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil” [Ephesians 6:12].
Behind the troubles and wrongs found in government, in the church, or in education is the devil’s rage and war against us – and the work of God’s angels in tempering those wrongs, limiting that war, and still accomplishing good for us in so many ways [Romans 8:28].
We are reminded on “St. Michael and All Angels” day that the devil loses and God’s angels prevail. Our role in that battle is prayer. Not prayer to angels, but prayer to our Heavenly Father who is the commander of angels. [Revelation 19:10; Matthew 26:53; Jude 1:9]
As much as this world is troubled, the greatest battle is a battle which has taken place in heaven’s courtroom. That great and evil dragon in our reading, cast out of heaven, is called the “devil”, “satan”, and the “accuser” – and each of these names have a common meaning.
“Accuser” is a legal term for one who brings charges against another in court. “Satan” is Hebrew for “adversary”, as in a courtroom accuser – the one who brings you to court with a complaint against you. And “devil” translates a Greek word for one who brings charges against another with hostile intent.
The devil’s weapon against you is your own sin – he attempts to accuse you before God night and day and torments your conscience with the remembrance of your sins.
That dragon has his names. St. Michael has a greater name – “Michael” means “Who Is Like God.” Yet this greatest battle is won, not by an angel, by the Man who is God, Jesus. Jesus, who is God, and whose name means “God saves.”
Jesus saved not by sword and shield but by a cross. “…And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb.”
Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” [John 1:29] – the Passover Lamb who gave His life in our place. Jesus, the Innocent One, silenced the devil’s accusations against your guilt by taking that guilt upon Himself and suffering the demands of justice in your place.
The devil is the cosmic tattletale, constantly telling on you to God, desiring your damnation. But God now points constantly to His Son, Jesus, and says, “The price of their sin is paid for. They are forgiven and washed clean.”
Jesus’ death for sin on the cross accomplished man’s acquittal in heaven. Because sin is forgiven and you are acquitted, the accuser has no power. His charges cannot stick. There’s no place for his finger-pointing in heaven’s court. God has willingly forgotten your sin because Jesus paid for it [Hebrews 10:17].
Now the accuser can only rant and rave against you on earth, against your bruised conscience. But God’s angels continually carry to you that better message of the Gospel – “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
God’s ministering spirits are in the business of delivering the testimony of God’s love for guilty-sinners forgiven in Christ – from the lips of God’s baptized people to ears in need.
So, brothers and sisters, I do want to ask you – I want you to ask yourselves – whom do your lips serve? The accuser of your brothers and sisters, or the one who forgives and forgets their sins?
As you continue to bring up their sins and faults, as you talk about them to others, who is pleased by that? The devil or angels? Your Savior or the enemy? Are you, a child of God, letting your lips be used by the accuser, the devil, against each other?
The Accuser has been cast out of heaven. Heaven is not a place for accusers. Instead, you must forgive your brother from your heart [Matthew 18:35].
Saint Michael and all God’s angels are messengers of the Gospel of the Lamb of God whose blood has taken away the sin of the world. Let’s be hearers and receivers constantly of that word of forgiveness for our sins, as the angels carry it to us.
And let’s let our lips be employed in the work of angels in regard to each other. Let your words and thoughts to and about each other, and others, be shaped by the forgiveness of the Lamb of God. Then you are doing the work of angels.
Better than sensational shows and stories – better than heartwarming images – the true angels of God have great power and are ministering spirits, true guardians of our body and soul.
Great in number and strength, their work of carrying out the victory of Jesus for your sake does always and will always prevail. Thanks be to God. Amen.
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