1. Steve Petch 6 th December 2015

2. Have you ever had to tell someone an important message? Messengers of Good News

3. Luke 1v26-38: Messengers of Good News

5. The Bible on angels: Messengers of Good News Angels are real They are created beings (Col 1v6-17) There are a great number of them (Heb 12v22) They do not marry or have children (Matt 22:30) At least some of them have names (Luke 1v26) They never die (Luke 20:36)

6. The Bible on angels: Messengers of Good News They are spirits, sent by God to serve (Heb 1v14) They can appear as adult humans (Heb 13:2) (usually male, but not always - Zech 5:9) They can also appear as ‘glorious’ spirits (Matt 28:2-4) Some types of angel have wings (Isaiah 6:2) Some have swords (Num 22:23) They are usually terrifying

7. The Bible on angels: Messengers of Good News They can be present but invisible … (2 Kings 6:17) … but they are not omnipresent (Daniel 9:21-23) They are powerful, but not omnipotent (2 Peter 2:11) They have knowledge, but are not omniscient (Matt 24:36) Many Christians have claimed to have encountered angels!

8. The Bible on angels: Messengers of Good News Worship and praise (Isaiah 6:1-3) Delivering instructions (Acts 10:1-8) Providing food (1 King 19:6) Protecting people from harm (Daniel 3 & 6) Caring for believers at the moment of death (Luke 16:22) Delivering people from prison (Acts 5 & 12) Strengthening and encouraging (Matt 4:11) Bringing answers to prayer (Dan 9:20-24) Executing people (2 Kings 19:20-34)

9. The Bible on angels: Messengers of Good News Angels are absolutely not to be worshipped (Rev 19:10) Satan and his demons are fallen angels (Matt 25:41) Fallen angels can lie (John 8:44) Angels will be judged … (1 Cor 6:3 - by us!) … and fallen angels will be punished (Matt 25:41) Jesus did not die for angels (Heb 1&2)

10. The Bible on angels: Messengers of Good News The word ‘angel’ means ‘messenger’

11. Luke 1v26-38: Messengers of Good News Good news for a mother … You will have a son He will be great He will be called ‘the Son of the Most High’ He will sit on David’s throne He will reign forever … an unending kingdom He is the Son of God “Nothing is impossible with God”

12. Matt 1v18-25: Messengers of Good News Good news for a father … The child is from God You have a role to play He will save his people He is the fulfilment of prophecy “God with us - Immanuel”

13. Luke 2v8-18: Messengers of Good News Good news for all people … A saviour is born He is Christ the Lord God knows what it’s like to be human “Peace to those on whom his favour rests”

14. Messengers of Good News “Peace” “Nothing is impossible with God” “God with us”

15. Messengers of Good News We are God’s messengers of Good News They can be present but invisible … … but they are not omnipresent They are powerful, but not omnipotent They have knowledge, but are not omniscient Many Christians have claimed to have encountered angels!

16. Messengers of Good News We are God’s messengers of Good News Worship and praise Delivering instructions Providing food Protecting people from harm Caring at the moment of death Delivering people from prison Strengthening and encouraging Bringing answers to prayer

17. Messengers of Good News We are God’s messengers of Good News this Christmas and every day

18. Steve Petch 6 th December 2015