Sermon - Michaelmas 2024 - Psalm 91

Saint Michael the Archangel Vanquishing Satan, Rafal Hadziewicz, 1830

The Comfort of the Angels

1. The angels were created for the sake of Christians

2. Angels are always beholding the face of God and therefore always do His will

3. Angels guard the children of God

A blessed Michaelmas dear brothers and sisters in Christ! I know you’ve heard of Christmas, a church service celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus. But Michaelmas may sound a bit strange to your ears. In centuries past, however, Michaelmas was as well-known as any other holiday, marking the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Michaelmas is a church service celebrating St. Michael the Archangel, and in general all of the good angels. It’s unfortunate that this feast day has gone out of vogue, but it’s worth remembering yearly, because on this day God reveals His comfort for us through the holy angels.

I think it’s a safe guess to make that the majority of people believe in angels. Perhaps there are more people who believe in angels than believe in God, considering how popular angels are in our culture. People have all sorts of ideas and theories about angels, not all of which are biblical and Christian ideas. So before we go any further, let’s define what an angel is.

In Hebrews, St. Paul says that they are “all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.” Thus, angels are uniquely created beings, made by God during the six days of creation. This clears up a few misunderstandings about angels. Firstly, they’re not gods and they’re not as powerful as God, since they’re created beings. Moreover, this means that Jesus is not an angel, because He is uncreated, and He is very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things are made. It’s because of this important distinction that we recognize Jehovah’s Witnesses are not christians, since they believe Jesus is an angel, and not truly God.

Secondly, since angels have been created specifically as angels, this means that when a person dies they do not become an angel. When a person dies his or her soul goes to heaven, and the body rests on earth, until Jesus returns when soul and body shall be reunited in the resurrection from the dead. In the resurrection that person will be perfect, without sin, but that person will still be human. It’s a common thought especially that children become angels when they die, and that’s simply not true. We no more become angels when we die than become maple trees or butterflies or turtles. That’s a good thing, because angels are ministering spirits sent by God to serve Christians, so if we became angels when we died that would mean our eternity is to become a servant of Christians forever. Because that is the work of angels: to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.

Angels are unlike humans now in respect to the fact that angels are always beholding the face of God in heaven, and therefore always gladly do His will. Jesus explains that: “Angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” Unlike us, because good angels are without sin, they are able to look directly upon the face of God, and as such they freely and gladly always do His will. 

Throughout the scriptures we see the angels reverencing and promoting the Gospel, rejoicing at the repentance of sinners, ministering God’s word to man, being present at our public worship, announcing and assisting in the final judgment. If you pay close enough attention, even the evil angels must submit to God’s command, as God uses evil angels to perform His unpleasant and alien work of showing His wrath.

For all of these reasons it may become tempting to worship the angels, since they appear to be so powerful and beautiful. Yet, an angel says to St. John at the end of the book of Revelation: “You must not [worship me]! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” Indeed, we must not worship the angels, and in fact that is quite silly, since we worship God alongside the angels. As the pastor says in the proper preface: “With angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you…” Truly, when you gather here in the public Divine Service, you are worshiping alongside angels and archangels, since in this place heaven and earth meet for a brief time, and though you cannot see it, here in the Divine Service you have entered into a foreign land, a holy land. It’s like an embassy, and when you are here you’re not really in Minnesota or the United States anymore, but here you are in heaven on earth, standing and kneeling, praying and singing alongside the whole heavenly host of angels.

But it’s not only here in the Divine Service where you encounter angels. “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.” However dark your road, the angels shall guard the children of God.

I know this is hard to believe, but it’s true. Last week I mentioned that demonic activity is becoming more obvious to us, and we can more plainly see it than we used to be able. However, the work of the angels still seems to be mostly hidden, and it’s difficult to see even when you look very closely. Yet, in spite of the angels’ work being mostly invisible, do not doubt that God is still sending His angels to guard you and keep you.

One of my favorite stories of the Old Testament which illustrates this reality is found in 2 Kings 6. Israel was at war with Syria, and the Syrian army had surrounded the Israelites with horses and chariots; defeat appeared imminent. King Joram of Israel cried out to the prophet Elisha, saying: “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” Elisha calmly replied: “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then the Lord open Joram’s eyes to see the fuller reality: “and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” All had appeared to be lost, and yet the Lord had sent His angels to fight for His people, because the battle belongs to the Lord. There truly are more with us than with our adversaries, and we have no reason to fear.

Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or dismayed before all the horde of demons facing you! It’s easy to despair today, to see all of the bad news, to see how things keep going the wrong direction, and give up. But I’m here to tell you: do not be afraid! Your Lord Jesus Christ has ascended to heaven and is seated upon His throne at the right hand of God the Father almighty. Christ is King! He rules over His creation. He looks over the battlefield and He sends out His heavenly army of angels to go before you and fight on your behalf. With the devil is an arm of flesh, “but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

Don’t be deceived, God has sent out His fiercest angelic warriors to fight on your behalf. I know usually it’s the cute little girls who dress up like angels in the christmas pageant, but trust me, the angels aren’t cute little girls, but dreadful warriors armed to the teeth with the sword of the Spirit and the blood of the Lamb. God is fighting for you. Christ Jesus has bled and died on your behalf, and has rose victoriously from the grave. His angels fight with the strength of Jesus to preserve you amidst every vile thing in this life.

As you go about your work and life in your vocations this week, I want you to go forward with boldness and confidence, trusting in the Lord to preserve you through His holy angels. You may not be able to see God’s providence, in fact everything may appear to be continuing to get worse, nevertheless, I must remind you that God has sent an army of angels to fight on your behalf. So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or dismayed before all the horde against you, for there is more with you than with them. After this service do as Luther says in the catechism: “Go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn.”

Let us pray: 

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.