On September 29th, we celebrate “St. Michael and All Angels.”  The existence of Angels inspires the imagination.  Part of the reason for our imaginative consideration of Angels comes from the reality that we do not see or sense the Angels on our own.  We cannot. God made the nature of the Angels different than the nature of humans (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1).  The distinctions make our direct pursuit of understanding Angels impossible.  God must reveal the angels to us (Numbers 22:31).  Only when he does this can we see them or hear them.  Have you ever seen or heard an angel?  Many people have told me of their experiences with Angels. I do not doubt that Angels interact with human beings, in known and unknown ways.  Most of these experiences, though, all fall under the category of subjective or unverifiable.  We do, though, have record of the Angels in the Bible.  From Scriptures we do receive knowledge and an objective record of the Angels, and we observe their purpose.   

               The word “Angel” means messenger.  The most basic role of Michael and all the angels lies in speaking messages from the God.  One of the most famous messages recorded in scriptures comes when Gabriel announces the birth of the Lord Jesus to Mary, his mother (Luke 1).  Gabriel proclaims the fulfillment of all the prophecies of a Messiah who would come to set God’s people free from sin.  Also, recorded in Luke 24, Angels announced the resurrection of the Lord.  An angel was the first to announce the imminent birth of the Lord Jesus, and Angels were the first to announce the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 

                The Lord also gives the Angels the job of protecting and ministering to the needs of people.  Christians often think of guardian angels.  We cannot prove from scripture that God gives a particular angel for the guardianship of a particular person, but we do know that Angels do guard God’s chosen people. 

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.  (Matthew 18:10)

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)

                Finally, we must understand that the Angels fight evil. When Lucifer, who God created as an Angel, rebelled against the Lord, it was the Archangel Michael and the other loyal angels who fought against Satan and all the former angels or demons.  When Michael defeated Satan and the demons, they are thrown to the earth, and it is on the earth where Jesus exercises his authority as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the World.  Jesus defeats the accuser, on the cross, and he makes Lucifer’s accusations against you null and void by the forgiveness of your sins (Revelation 12).  God uses the Angels to setup victory over sin, death, and the devil. 

Remember:  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2