Good morning, open up your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 1.
So a little heads up, if I slur my speech or I create some new words you've never heard of before,
! Just go with it. Example, I created a word called perspection the other day, I think which is the blend of perceptive and perspective.
So, just a heads up, that happens. But, we are in the book of Hebrews, going verse by verse.
I know there's a lot of excitement about this, especially in my own heart.
And related to that, I thought I would give a book plug, which is related to the sermon today.
But it's a book called Loving the Old Testament by Alec Mortier, and forward by Tim Keller, Don Carson. Good book.
But, he has this little section in here that I would really appreciate it, called,
What Would Jesus Say About the Old Testament? Kind of thing.
And it says,
He says,
If we walked up to Jesus and says to Him,
Why are you quoting so much of the Old Testament?
Please tell me,
Why are you quoting it so much?
He would say,
The old what?
I don't know what you mean.
What do you mean by the Old Testament?
And in our poor, flustered way,
because we didn't expect that answer from Him,
we would begin to explain to Him what we meant by the question,
Why do you keep quoting the Old Testament?
And in the long run,
the Lord Jesus would say to us kindly,
Oh, I see.
You mean the Holy Scriptures.
Why didn't you ever call them by such a weird name?
You mean the Scriptures.
And we find that in John 10, 15,
the Scriptures cannot be broken.
That is the wording we have used,
not the Old Testament,
but the Scripture.
And if we went on talking to the precious Savior,
He would again say,
Oh, I see what you mean.
You mean the Word of God.
Just as we hear His words in Mark 7, 13,
making the Word of God non-effect
because of your tradition.
And if we pursued the manner a little further,
He would say to us,
Why do you call it the Old Testament?
It is God's law.
So, as in Luke 10, 26,
What is the written law?
And what is your reading of it?
Jesus would have known what we meant,
not have known what we meant by the Old Testament.
He would say the Scriptures,
the Word of God, the law.
It's not attacking the name,
but really just the understanding
of how people just continue to think
it has no relevance
as we're our Lord,
you know, held it in very, very high esteem.
So, example in our text today,
there are many citations
from what we would call the Old Testament.
And the New Testament writers
always proved what they said
by pointing back to the Scriptures.
And that's a pretty arrogant thing
when we say that we don't have to prove
what we say by the Scriptures themselves.
But Nathan's already given you
a lot of really good context
just on the book of Hebrews.
But to kind of keep in mind
that it was obviously written
to a Jewish audience.
And there are probably, in my opinion,
like three different camps of Jews
in this group.
There are some who have converted
and actually become followers of Jesus,
believed Him to be the Messiah
and fulfillment of the Scriptures.
And then there are some
who are kind of on the fence
trying to decide,
like, do we throw ourselves
and become followers of Jesus
or do we remain in the Old?
And then there's the camp
trying to pull them back
into the Old.
There's the...
So, a lot of times
when you're reading Hebrews,
it's good to kind of think about
who He actually might be addressing.
And then our text today
is kind of a continuation
of what Nathan preached on last week
of how Christ is supreme
and Christ is better,
Christ is more prominent,
and He is the fulfillment
of what was in the Old.
So, as we read this,
we'll start in verse 1
because it's just sort of a continuation.
Hebrews 1.1
Long ago, at many times
and in many ways,
God spoke to our fathers
by the prophets.
But in these last days,
He has spoken to us
by His Son,
whom He appointed
the heir of all things,
through whom also
He created the world.
He is the radiance
of the glory of God
and the exact imprint
of His nature,
and He upholds the universe
by the word of His power.
And after making purifications
for sins,
He sat down
at the right hand
of the Majesty on high.
Having become
as much superior
to angels
as the name
He has inherited
is more excellent
than theirs.
For to which of God's angels
did God ever say,
You are my Son,
today I have begotten you?
Or again,
I will be to Him a Father
and He shall be to me a Son.
And again,
when He brings
the firstborn
into the world,
He says,
let all of God's angels
worship Him.
Of the angels,
He says,
He makes His angels
winds
and His ministers
a flame of fire.
But of the sun,
He says,
Your throne,
O God,
is forever and ever.
The scepter
of uprightness
is the scepter
of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness
and hated wickedness,
and therefore,
God,
Your God,
has anointed You
with the oil of gladness
beyond Your companions.
And You,
Lord,
laid the foundation
of the earth
and the beginning
of the heavens
are the work
of Your hands.
And they will perish,
but You will remain.
They will wear out
like a garment,
like a robe.
You will roll them up
like a garment.
They will be changed,
but You are the same.
And Your years
will have no end.
And to which
of the angels
He has ever said,
Sit in My right hand
until I make
Your enemies
a footstool
for Your feet?
Are they not
all ministering spirits
sent out
to serve those
for the sake of
those who inherit salvation?
So,
in our text today,
the writer of Hebrews,
whether it was Paul
or Apollos
or someone else,
is addressing
an issue
that was going on
at this time,
but a lot of
angelic confusion
both then and now
in a lot of ways.
So,
we're talking about
angels today.
But we're also
talking about
Christ's superiority
and His ability
to rule over angels.
angels,
and most of us
would probably
think about
angels as
protector,
guides.
Children may
think of them
as some
angelic,
imaginary friend
that they may have.
All sorts of things,
but in this time,
there was a
dangerous teaching
that was kind of
a mixture of
local Jewish
folklore
and paganism
central to the idea
that angels
could come to you
and help protect you
from evil spirits.
So,
they would wear
amulets and other
things just as
protection from
evil spirits.
And an old
ancient
amulet that was
worn around the
neck around this
time says
on the inscription,
Michael,
Gabriel,
Raphael,
protect the one
who wears this.
Flee,
O hated one,
Solomon pursues you.
So,
this
superstition,
I guess,
around angels
that they were
somehow protectors
against evil spirits
in a paganistic
kind of way.
And,
as we know
very well,
if you know
some of this stuff,
but a lot of
the world's
false religions
and cults
have been started
by someone
who said
they had an
angelic encounter
and they were
given certain
things to
follow.
So,
in Islam,
Muhammad claimed
an angel
appeared to him
showing him
the true
and new way.
In Mormonism,
Joseph Smith
claiming to receive
revelations from
the angel Moroni
and God the Father
and Jesus the Son.
So,
we need to be aware
that this kind
of stuff is real,
but are they
really from God
or are they
from the enemy?
There's a lot
of warnings
about having
misunderstandings
about angels.
examples.
For example,
2 Corinthians
chapter 2
verse 13,
for such men
are false
apostles,
deceitful workmen,
disguising themselves
as apostles of
Christ.
And no wonder,
for even Satan
disguises himself
as an angel
of light.
So it is no
surprise if his
servants also
disguise themselves
as servants
of righteousness.
righteousness.
We all know
the famous
Galatians chapter
1,
but even if we
or an angel
from heaven
should preach
to you
a gospel
contrary to
the one we
preach to you,
let him be
accursed.
So isn't that
crazy that some
of these world
religions and
cults were
started by this
very thing that
they had just
read and been
aware,
be warned.
but it goes
on even like
our modern
day perception
of angels
as these
sweet and
docile creatures
that kind of
come and
hang out with
us.
A lot of
that is kind
of depicted
in western
art and
statues and
other things.
But as we
know,
the famous
screw tape
letters were
as a fictional
work of one
demon instructing
another demon on
how he ought to
act around
humans.
And regardless
to angels,
he said that
the depiction
of these angels
was more of
a soft,
not powerful
kind of
creature.
And he says,
finally,
the soft,
slim,
girlish,
and angels
of the 19th
century art
shape so
feminine that
they avoid
being voluptuous
only by their
total insipidity.
Big word there.
The frigid
auras of
teton table
paradise.
They are
pernicious
symbol.
In the
scripture,
the visitation
of an angel
always is
alarming and
has to begin
by saying,
fear not.
But the
Victorian angels
look as if
they're going
to say,
they're there.
angels.
So,
we have all
kinds of
different ideas
of angels,
but I'm
really thankful
that I had
a chance
to study
this more
in depth
because it
was a good
reminder for
me.
It was such
a good
reminder.
One of my
close brothers
has more
of a
Pentecostal
background,
and he a
long time
ago said,
I feel like
the people
in the
reform camp
overthink
everything and
are too
academic,
and I had
the other
response of
like,
well,
I think
the R2,
you know,
not as
academic and
not so
right on,
but he is
a true
brother,
but he
always just
reminded me
like,
look,
we live
in a
spiritual
realm.
There are
spiritual
realities
that I
feel like
you just
can't put
in the
natural
world,
and you
have to
like,
so he
was always
challenging
me in
that area,
and I'm
really
thankful.
But a
few things
just to
kind of
look at
before we
start.
unpacking
the text
just about
angels and
generals and
things to
kind of hang
your hat on,
I guess,
is a
definition of
what is an
angel.
Created
spiritual
beings with
moral judgment,
high intelligence,
possessing great
power,
and yet without
physical bodies.
Sort of a
safe definition
without getting
into all the
other deals.
those are
also referred
to throughout
scripture as
the holy
ones,
spirits,
watchers,
thrones,
dominions,
principalities.
And we
know there
are several
types of
angelic
beings kind
of singled
out in
scripture.
A
cherubim
who were
given the
task of
guarding the
entrance of
the garden
of Eden
in Genesis
3.
They accompany and serve God as he goes about, Psalm 18.
Then we know the seraphim, some of my favorite ones to think about from the encounter of Isaiah 6,
the flaming ones who have six wings and whose voices shake the foundations that you're standing on, praising God.
We know that they have rank and order.
Michael was called the archangel in Jude 9.
He's also called the chief of princes in Daniel 10 and a warrior and leader of the angelic host.
In Revelation 12, verse 7, it says,
Now a war arose in heaven, and Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon,
and the dragon and his angels fought back.
But he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
So we don't really think about that kind of stuff.
We tend to just make our faith about right here.
But there is an eternal and unseen realm that the Scripture screams at us if we would just pay attention.
And so we at least know there are four functions of angels that we see in Scripture.
I'll give you the four.
There could be more, but I think this summarizes pretty well.
Angels continuously worship and praise the God they serve.
Angels continually worship and praise the God they serve.
Nehemiah chapter 9.
You are the Lord, you alone.
You made the heavens and the heaven of heavens with all their hosts,
the earth and all that is in it, the seas and all that is in them.
You preserve all of them, and the host of heaven worships you.
So, very majestic language, angels.
The second function, angels minister to believers.
They serve and help and minister to children of God, those who are in Christ.
Psalm 34, verse 7,
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them.
Angels, thirdly, communicate God's message to man.
We see this a lot.
Gabriel visiting Mary, a lot of other messenger angels.
And then, fourthly, angels will be given the task with carrying out God's final earthly judgments
and ushering in the second coming of Christ.
It says in 2 Thessalonians, Paul writes,
God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you
and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us.
When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God
and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
So, it's awesome what angels are.
I think most of us would just tend to dismiss the idea.
I've never really had much conversation with people about an angelic host.
But as powerful as they are,
the writer of Hebrews is trying to say that
Jesus is superior.
He is greater.
He's more powerful.
The angels serve and worship Him.
As we've been reading in the first few verses there,
He is superior.
And the word is kind of used of more advantageous, more excellent,
far surpassing is Jesus,
the Son of God than the angelic host.
So, a writer uses Scripture from the Old Testament to prove what he's saying.
He's pointing back and saying,
this is why Jesus is superior to angels.
So, I have four.
Nope, five of them.
I was going to combine two, but just for sake of clarity,
we have five.
Five reasons why Jesus is deemed far superior to angels.
First off, Christ's superior name.
Christ's superior name.
If you look at verse 4 in Hebrews,
having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
you are my son, today I have begotten you.
Or again, I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son.
So, in the ancient mind, obviously, names were a lot more important than they are now.
They represent a person's character, their ability, their mission,
especially when that name was given to them by God.
And Jesus Christ, you know, we know that means to save the Savior, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
But here, he says,
God never looked at any of his angels and said,
you are my son, today I have begotten you.
Capital S, if you would.
Jesus possessed the name of son from all eternity,
and he will always retain that name.
The perfect tense of the phrase,
name has inherited,
it indicates that he will always keep that name.
No angel was ever created by God and called a son.
And so, just so you know, another reference to angels,
they're referred to as the sons of God in Job 1.6,
but the high title and name given to the son is different.
He uses Psalm 2 here, which is a well-known messianic psalm,
a picture of the Messiah,
to which the Jews understood, at least in their minds,
to be one day fulfilled in a descendant of King David.
But the heart of the psalm is fulfilled in the reign of Jesus,
Yahweh's son, the Anointed King,
both in the present and the future, Zion.
So the phrase, though Jesus always existed as God's son,
it says, today I have begotten you.
It could be kind of expressed this way,
without butchering the language.
God has begotten the already living son.
If you would, today.
Indicates Jesus was born at a certain point in time in our world,
and he lived here among us in the incarnation.
But in Romans 1, 1 through 5,
this is further proof of this.
Paul is referring to this idea of Psalm 2.
And he says,
The gospel of God was promised beforehand through his prophets
in the Holy Scriptures concerning his son,
who was descended from David according to the flesh,
and was declared to be the son of God in power,
according to the spirit of holiness,
by his resurrection from the dead.
So he uses that.
Today I have begotten you.
You are my son.
And then he also uses, in the second part of, I mean, in verse 5,
he quotes from 2 Samuel chapter 7,
which is another strong messianic passage,
commonly known as the Davidic covenant,
where God makes a covenant with David and his descendants.
But the prophet Nathan told David after his death
that he would have a son,
a covenant heir that would build a house of God
and would establish a throne that would last forever.
But a lot of people would say,
Wasn't that Solomon?
But the problem was,
Solomon sinned greatly in the eyes of the Lord
and was not the fulfillment of that prophecy.
His throne was not established forever.
As we know.
So the promise can really only be fulfilled
by the one God designates as his son
that will be established forevermore.
So both Psalm 2 and 2 Samuel 7
are tied together in this idea.
So when the angelic host visited Mary in Luke 1,
Gabriel, right?
He said,
He will be great,
and he will be called the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
And of his kingdom there will be no end.
A direct fulfillment of Psalm 2.
This poetic expression of Jesus has a higher name,
a higher status,
a higher title than any angel could ever have.
And it was echoed, right, at his baptism.
This is my beloved son.
The transfiguration, the same thing.
So Jesus is superior in his name,
his title over angels.
Secondly,
he goes on to argue that Christ's superior honor,
Christ's superior honor,
which we kind of see in verse 6.
And again,
when he brings the firstborn into the world,
he says,
let all God's angels worship him.
So this next argument is saying,
Jesus is worshiped and adored and feared by angels.
Again, Nathan explained this last week,
but the phrase firstborn is not implying that Jesus was created,
but the word just really denotes prominence of position,
of title,
using the rights,
the privileges that were given to the firstborn,
particularly the son of the king.
So it's in relationship to his status and of high rank.
He is a image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation,
Paul said,
Colossians 1.
So where he cites,
let all God's angels worship him.
He's using the Greek translation of the Hebrew
from Psalm 97, verse 7,
or Deuteronomy 32.
It can be said that,
think about Jesus' life,
and when he walked on this earth,
when he came into the world,
he was worshiped, right,
by an angelic host that ushered in his coming to this world in Luke 2.
Think of some others.
During his temptation,
after he survived in the wilderness,
the temptation of the enemy,
it says that angels ministered to him after that.
And in the darkness of Gethsemane,
before his crucifixion,
it says that God sent an angel to stand and strengthen him,
to encourage him,
to help him remember, right?
So we know that Jesus is the exact imprint of God's nature,
which we read in verse 3.
So the chief employment of angels is to worship and praise God,
and so they're doing that with the Son,
who is that exact imprint.
Only God is worthy of worship, right?
We know examples in Scripture where an angel appears to someone,
and someone falls down,
and they say,
Get up!
I am not God.
Do not worship me.
So angels will worship,
fear, love, and revere the invincible Son of God.
A proof text, Revelation 5,
we all know that.
The living creatures and the angels,
myriads of myriads,
thousands of thousands,
saying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb,
who was slain,
to receive power, wealth, and wisdom,
and might, and honor,
and glory, and blessing.
So we know that.
That's Revelation 5, 11 through 13.
For sake of time,
just a proof text there.
But thirdly,
thirdly,
Christ's superior status
over angels.
See this in verse 7.
Writer says,
Of the angels,
he says,
He makes His angels winds,
His ministers a flame of fire.
But of the sun,
he says,
Your throne, O God,
is forever and ever.
The scepter of uprightness
is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness
and hated wickedness.
Therefore,
God,
your God,
has anointed you
with the oil of gladness
beyond your companions.
So His status,
He has a higher
status.
Here's the simple comparison.
Angels are servants.
Jesus is the sovereign.
The angels are servants.
Jesus is the sovereign.
And again,
he quotes from two passages.
Psalm 104,
which speaks about
God being the all-powerful creator
and sustainer of things,
which is also mentioned
earlier in Hebrews.
And it's even implying
that this is understood
that the splendor of angels
comes from God's creative hand.
The sun employs His angels
as heavenly ministers
to carry out His will.
And we see that,
right,
in Scripture.
Winds,
fire,
thunder,
lightning,
which He carries out
His decrees
and judgments
on the earth.
John Owen said
this is a picture
of their power
and powerful,
effective,
agile,
and swift
in carrying out
God's will.
Then he quotes
Psalm 45,
verses 6 and 7.
And this is a psalm
that is extolling
the Davidic king,
which only Jesus,
as the Davidic Messiah,
truly meets the description for.
And break this down
in three different ways here.
And then Psalm 45,
6 through 7,
that he's quoting.
But it describes
the king's throne,
his scepter,
and his anointing.
His throne implies
that his rule
will never come to an end
as he sits
at the right hand
of the Father.
His scepter,
a symbol of power
and authority
where he executes
righteousness.
And his anointing
with the oil of joy
or gladness,
the joy of
the heavenly king,
the joy
that was set
before him
that he knew
he would receive
at the Father's right hand.
So,
they are.
Angels are great.
They're splendid.
They're majestic.
They're powerful
beyond our wildest dreams.
But they are
not
greater
than the Son.
They are servants
of the Son.
and they tremble
before him.
Fourthly,
Christ's
superior
existence.
Christ's
superior existence.
Seen in verses
10-12.
And you,
Lord,
lay the foundation
of the earth
in the beginning
and the heavens
are the work
of your hands.
They will perish
but you remain.
They will all wear out
like a garment.
Like a robe,
you will roll them up.
Like a garment,
they will be changed.
But you are the same
and your years
will have no end.
Now,
it's saying that
angels were created
things.
Christ has
always existed.
He has always existed
and he will always
exist.
He will never
change
this idea
of being
immutable,
eternal.
Christ has a superior
existence
to angels.
He will,
saying here,
that all creation
will be
unmade
and remade
one day
but God
and his son
remain the same
and are unchanged.
We all know that
to be true
about this world.
Everything around us
is falling apart.
The creation
is groaning
but we know
that it will be
renewed one day.
Everything around us
is changed
but Jesus remains
the same
today,
yesterday
and forever.
Fifthly
and lastly
some other things
we'll look at
in a second
but
if we look at
our text
verse 13 and 14
we see Christ's
superior
vocation
or his
work.
What does he do?
And to which
of the angels
has ever said
sit at my right hand
until I make
your enemies
a footstool
for your feet.
And are they not
all ministering
spirits
sent out to serve
for the sake
of those
who inherit
salvation?
So
Christ rules
and angels
serve.
It's kind of a
connection to
their status.
It's like
what does the king
do?
He rules.
What do angels
do?
They serve.
So this is getting
into their function
and
there's a lot
to consider here
but one of my
favorite psalms
as of late
the last few
years
has become
Psalm 110.
Have any of you
ever really studied
Psalm 110?
How many books
have been written
about Psalm 110?
Not many.
One of those
forgotten ones
but
it's quoted
in the New Testament
14 times.
It shows
that it's one
of the most
significant
Old Testament
passages
in the mind
of New Testament
writers
when it comes
to talking
about the Messiah.
And from
Psalm 110
you see this
idea of God
making Christ's
enemies a
footstool for
him.
And a cool
beautiful picture
of this custom
for a defeated
king to throw
himself down
prostrate before
the conquering
king.
And the sign
of submission.
And then the
victorious king
would put his
feet on top
of the
conquered king
forcing his
neck down to
the ground
basically saying
you're my
footstool.
I have
conquered you.
So John
Calvin's
commentary
on the
psalm he
says from
this psalm
from that
statement of
this making
his enemies
a footstool.
From this
let us learn
that however
numerous those
enemies may be
who conspire
against the
son of God
and attempt
the subversion
of his kingdom
all will be
unavailing
for they shall
never prevail
against God's
immutable purpose
but on the
contrary
they shall
by that
greatness of
his power
be laid
prostrate at
Christ's feet.
Amazing to
think about.
So a passage
I'd like for you
to turn to
is 2 Kings
chapter 6.
I just
thought about
sharing one
of my
favorite
images of
angels
in scripture
but this is
a prophet
Elisha
not Elijah
but Elisha
2 Kings
chapter 6
and we can
look down
at verse 15
but just so
you know
the
Syrians
and others
are out to
destroy
the prophet
to take him
down
they're coming
against him
with
an army
and it says
that he's in
Dothan
that's not
Dothan
Alabama
but in
verse 15
we see this
so I want
you to just
think
which one
would you be
here
would you be
more like
his servant
or be more
like Elisha
in your
awareness of
a spiritual
realm
around you
verse 15
when the servant
of the man
of God
rose early
in the morning
he went
out
and behold
an army
with horses
and chariots
was all
around the
city
and the servant
said
alas
my master
what shall
we do
he said
do not
be afraid
for those
who are
with us
are more
than those
who are
with them
then
Elisha
prayed
and said
oh lord
please
open his
eyes
that he
may not
that he
may see
excuse me
that he
may see
so the
lord
opened the
eyes
of the
young
man
and he
saw
and behold
the mountain
was full
of horses
and chariots
of fire
all around
Elisha
and when
the syrians
came down
against him
Elisha
prayed to
the lord
and said
please
strike
this
people
with
blindness
so he
struck
them
with
blindness
in
accordance
with the
prayer
of
Elisha
what a
picture
so
you always
have to be
careful
when you
do this
but
are you
tempted
just to
think
that's
the
scripture
that's
the
scripture
well
I'm sure
many of us
are aware
of very
similar
stories
in the
history
of the
church
outside
of just
the
scripture
where the
same
thing
happened
I was
going to
read you
a couple
so all
of us
are aware
of
good old
John
Patton
the old
Scotsman
missionary
went to
the
cannibals
and they
said
you'll
be eaten
by
cannibals
you'll
be
consumed
if you
go and
try to
share
the
gospel
with
these
people
but
I'll
refrain
from
quoting
what he
said
back
but
you know
the giggles
tell me
I'll know
what he
said
but while
he was
in the
New
Hebrides
the
headhunters
the
cannibals
were
all
around
and they
were
very
intent
on
taking
his
life
and
that
of
his
wife
and
they
were
in a
hut
they
could
hear
the
cries
and
screams
of the
natives
all
around
them
coming
toward
them
and so
they shut
the door
and began
to pray
just for
God's
intervention
for
protection
and
here's
kind of what
happened
on that
dark night
a Scottish
missionary
and a couple
found themselves
surrounded by
cannibals
intent on
taking their
lives
the
terror
filled
the
night
they
fell
on
their
knees
and
prayed
that
God
would
protect
them
intermittent
with their
prayers
the
missionaries
heard the cries
of the
savages
and expected
them to come
to the door
at any
moment
but as the
sun began to
rise to their
astonishment
they found
that the natives
were retreating
into the forest
the couple's
heart soared
to God
and it was a
day of rejoicing
the missionaries
bravely continued
their work
but about a year
later a
chieftain from
that tribe
was converted
as the
missionary
spoke with
him
he remembered
the horror
of that
night
he asked
the
chieftain
why he
and his
men did
not kill
them
and the
chief
replied
who are
those men
who are
with you
the missionary
answered
why there
was there
were no
men
with me
there was
just me
and my
wife
and the
chieftain
began to
argue
with him
saying
no
there were
hundreds
of tall
men
shining
garments
with drawn
swords
circling
about your
house
so we
couldn't
attack
you
we ran
back into
the jungle
it's good
stuff
I'm going
to read
you one
more
there was
a
in east
africa
back in
the 1950s
there was
an uprising
of a
tribe
very hostile
tribe
and they
went to
a nearby
village
that had
around
300 men
women
and children
and they
killed all
of them
slaughtered
the entire
village
mainly
because they
were
Christians
or known
to be
but there
was an
academy
nearby
the
Rift Valley
Academy
was kind
of a
private
school
for missionary
children
to go
and stay
kind of
like
black
forest
would be
in
Germany
and they
knew
that this
tribe
was coming
that way
they could
hear them
shouting
battle
cries
had
all
kind
of
weapons
and
torches
and they
they came
around the
school
and this
is what
you read
in the
darkness
slighted
torches
were seen
coming
toward the
school
soon
there was
a complete
ring of
terrorists
around the
academy
cutting off
all avenue
of escape
shouts
and curses
could be
heard
coming from
the
mamas
which is
the
tribe
they
began
to
advance
on
the
school
tightening
the
circle
shouting
louder
and louder
coming
closer
and then
unexpectedly
when they
were close
enough
to throw
spears
they
stopped
they
began
yelling
and
retreating
running
back
into
the
jungle
the
army
eventually
was called
out
and
captured
this
band
of
raiders
later
at
their
trial
their
leader
was
called
to
witness
and the
judge
questioned
him
on
this
particular
night
did
you
kill
the
inhabitants
of
lorry
which
is
that
village
and
he
said
yes
we
did
we
killed
them
all
and
then
the
judge
said
well
why
did
you
not
go
on
to
complete
your
mission
like
why
didn't
you
attack
the
school
the
missionary
school
and
the
leader
of
the
mamas
answered
we
were
on
our
way
to
attack
and
destroy
them
as
well
the
between
us
and
the
school
there
were
huge
men
dressed
in
white
with
flaming
swords
we
became
afraid
and
we
ran
and
we
hid
going
on
there's
just be
aware
right
this
isn't
just
fairy
tale
this
isn't
just
the
hobbit
more
the
rings
this
is
even
better
right
reality
spiritual
realities
around
us
a
scripture
that
has
probably
been
abused
a
little
bit
Hebrews
13
verse
2
says
you
don't
neglect
to show
hospitality
to
strangers
for
thereby
some
have
entertained
angels
unawares
meaning
that
they
may
be
around
us
and
you
don't
know
a
story
precious
to
me
a
long
time
ago
my
mom
was
I
think
three
or
four
years
old
living
toward
Marble
Hill
direction
Nelson
Georgia
which
is a
lot
more
rural
than
now
but
my
grandmother
who's
one of
the most
God
fearing
women
I
know
they're
riding
in a
car
and it
was a
very
bad
storm
thunder
lightning
rain
and
had a
flat
tire
out
in
the
middle
of
nowhere
in
this
wide
open
area
with
just
the
storm
pounding
down
on
them
and
she
didn't
know
what
to
do
and
couldn't
call
didn't
have
a
text
message
service
back
then
and
began
just to
pray
like
Lord
please
get us
out of
this
situation
this is
dangerous
and
we need
to get
home
please
provide
and
she
looked up
and saw
a man
walking
towards
her
just
kind
of
out
of
the
blue
and
he
just
came
up
real
easy
real
nice
and
was
like
do you
need help
can I
help
you
said
yes
please
do
the
man
changed
her
tire
my
grandmother
was
looking
at
the
man
turned
around
to get
her
purse
to
just
say
thank
you
like
here's
some
money
within
three
seconds
just
gone
like
in
the
wide
open
like
this
not
even
standing
there
anymore
so
just
be
aware
there's
a
spiritual
realm
around
us
and
the
angels
are
a
sign
of
God's
love
and
care
for
us
but
even
as great
as they
are
be
aware
that
when
the
angels
rebelled
against
God
did
not
send
them
any
savior
so
how
much
more
value
are we
if you
think
about
it
that
God
sent
us
a
savior
those
created
in
his
image
to
redeem
us
!
in
closing
just
look at
Colossians
chapter
1
Colossians
chapter
1
verse
13
just
to
highlight
Christ's
greatness
and glory
verse
13
he has
delivered
us
from the
dominion
of
darkness
and
transferred
us
to the
kingdom
of his
beloved
son
in whom
we have
redemption
the forgiveness
of sins
he
being
Jesus
he is
the image
of the
invisible
God
the firstborn
of all
creation
for by him
all things
were created
in heaven
on earth
visible
and invisible
whether thrones
dominions
or rulers
or authorities
all things
were created
through him
and for him
and he is
before all
things
and in him
all things
hold
together
let's pray
together