WEBVTT STYLE ::cue { color: #ffffff; } 00:00:01.290 --> 00:00:03.038 In the name of the Father and of 00:00:03.044 --> 00:00:05.630 the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 00:00:06.050 --> 00:00:06.910 Amen. 00:00:09.410 --> 00:00:11.774 Some of you will know that I was 00:00:11.812 --> 00:00:13.342 Dean of Chapel when this 00:00:13.396 --> 00:00:15.230 space was dedicated. 00:00:16.450 --> 00:00:18.270 That I was part of 00:00:18.340 --> 00:00:20.800 the acquiring of 00:00:21.810 --> 00:00:22.830 sculptures, 00:00:24.290 --> 00:00:26.786 that I was part of the committee 00:00:26.818 --> 00:00:28.470 that prepared the windows. 00:00:29.130 --> 00:00:30.774 I'm very blessed to have 00:00:30.812 --> 00:00:32.741 had that happen to me. 00:00:32.876 --> 00:00:35.110 And today I'm honored to present 00:00:35.180 --> 00:00:37.170 a message on the praise 00:00:37.250 --> 00:00:38.570 of angels. 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:43.960 If you want to learn how to 00:00:44.030 --> 00:00:47.544 pitch a baseball or to 00:00:47.582 --> 00:00:49.400 paint a portrait, 00:00:51.040 --> 00:00:53.756 you can learn a lot from someone 00:00:53.858 --> 00:00:56.190 who has been doing it for years, 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:58.220 for decades. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:01.820 And in the case of angels, 00:01:02.400 --> 00:01:05.200 centuries and millennia. 00:01:06.900 --> 00:01:09.248 Revelation five gives us a 00:01:09.254 --> 00:01:11.440 picture of heavenly praise. 00:01:13.620 --> 00:01:15.280 So do these windows. 00:01:17.960 --> 00:01:19.840 They depict angels 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:21.008 with instruments, 00:01:21.104 --> 00:01:23.168 as though they were accompanying 00:01:23.264 --> 00:01:24.100 singers. 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:29.640 Some might say too many angels, 00:01:30.060 --> 00:01:32.164 and their wings are extending 00:01:32.292 --> 00:01:33.400 everywhere. 00:01:34.860 --> 00:01:37.336 But an artist had to figure out 00:01:37.438 --> 00:01:40.068 how to give a picture 00:01:40.164 --> 00:01:42.300 of spiritual beings, 00:01:43.360 --> 00:01:45.790 agents and messengers of God. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:50.764 So he uses clear glass for the 00:01:50.802 --> 00:01:54.508 spirit beings and colored glass 00:01:54.684 --> 00:01:56.560 for the human forms, 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:58.930 the flesh and blood world. 00:02:00.580 --> 00:02:02.828 And the angels with instruments 00:02:02.924 --> 00:02:06.276 are there to draw us into the 00:02:06.298 --> 00:02:08.020 heavenly celebration. 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:10.783 Who are these heavenly 00:02:10.832 --> 00:02:11.840 musicians? 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:13.360 What are their instruments 00:02:13.440 --> 00:02:14.660 symbolize? 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:17.636 And what is their special 00:02:17.738 --> 00:02:20.650 vocabulary for praising God? 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:24.200 The Bible doesn't tell us 00:02:24.270 --> 00:02:26.148 much about the angels. 00:02:26.244 --> 00:02:27.480 We do know that God 00:02:27.550 --> 00:02:28.650 gives them power. 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:34.812 No lion harmed Daniel when the 00:02:34.866 --> 00:02:37.500 angel held the lion's mouth shut. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:41.180 After Pentecost 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:43.976 when the apostles were preaching 00:02:44.008 --> 00:02:45.020 in the temple 00:02:46.480 --> 00:02:48.620 and were thrown into prison, 00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:51.996 god sent an angel during the 00:02:52.018 --> 00:02:54.360 night to open the prison doors 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:56.468 so they could return and can 00:02:56.554 --> 00:02:58.100 speak words of life 00:02:58.250 --> 00:02:58.960 in the temple. 00:03:01.690 --> 00:03:03.274 We also know that God sends 00:03:03.322 --> 00:03:05.230 angels with messages 00:03:07.010 --> 00:03:10.222 to Abraham when he did not 00:03:10.356 --> 00:03:13.070 sacrifice his own son Isaac. 00:03:14.050 --> 00:03:15.786 God sent Gabriel, 00:03:15.898 --> 00:03:17.662 who announced that God would 00:03:17.716 --> 00:03:20.458 bless and multiply 00:03:20.554 --> 00:03:22.350 Abrams offspring, 00:03:23.250 --> 00:03:25.526 as many as the stars and as 00:03:25.548 --> 00:03:27.510 the sand on the seashore. 00:03:29.050 --> 00:03:30.630 In Caesaria, 00:03:31.530 --> 00:03:34.470 an angel said to Cornelius, 00:03:35.610 --> 00:03:37.190 go fetch Peter 00:03:38.270 --> 00:03:39.690 from Japa, 00:03:40.030 --> 00:03:42.026 and he will explain that the 00:03:42.048 --> 00:03:43.994 gift of the Holy Spirit is now 00:03:44.031 --> 00:03:46.490 poured even on the Gentiles. 00:03:48.750 --> 00:03:51.194 We also know that angels 00:03:51.242 --> 00:03:53.550 continually praise the Lord. 00:03:55.490 --> 00:03:56.800 Some do not. 00:03:58.050 --> 00:04:00.442 Satan and his group rebelled. 00:04:00.506 --> 00:04:02.438 They lost their place in heaven 00:04:02.554 --> 00:04:04.814 and are destined for eternal 00:04:04.862 --> 00:04:07.293 fire that God has prepared 00:04:07.341 --> 00:04:08.100 for them. 00:04:09.430 --> 00:04:11.426 They have no interest 00:04:11.608 --> 00:04:13.220 in praising God. 00:04:14.550 --> 00:04:16.438 Now they come among us, 00:04:16.603 --> 00:04:19.640 disguised as angels of light, 00:04:20.409 --> 00:04:23.270 prowl around and entice us into 00:04:23.340 --> 00:04:26.278 disobedience and away 00:04:26.364 --> 00:04:27.320 from Christ. 00:04:27.870 --> 00:04:29.740 We need to resist him 00:04:30.750 --> 00:04:33.340 and to repent when we fall 00:04:35.230 --> 00:04:37.770 for repentance leads to joy. 00:04:39.390 --> 00:04:41.754 When Jesus told about the woman 00:04:41.802 --> 00:04:44.734 who lost the coin and 00:04:44.772 --> 00:04:46.159 then found it, 00:04:46.850 --> 00:04:48.320 he also said 00:04:49.570 --> 00:04:52.678 there is joy before the angels 00:04:52.714 --> 00:04:55.342 of God over one sinner 00:04:55.486 --> 00:04:56.690 who repents. 00:04:58.870 --> 00:05:00.834 Because Jesus has rescued us 00:05:00.872 --> 00:05:02.354 from the power of sin and paid 00:05:02.392 --> 00:05:04.610 the price for our forgiveness, 00:05:05.450 --> 00:05:08.054 we want to join the angels and 00:05:08.092 --> 00:05:09.909 celebrate this victory. 00:05:10.730 --> 00:05:12.933 These windows remind us, 00:05:13.132 --> 00:05:14.919 even urge us, 00:05:15.450 --> 00:05:18.700 to express joyful praise to God. 00:05:21.789 --> 00:05:22.202 Now, 00:05:22.256 --> 00:05:24.570 notice that some of the angels 00:05:25.070 --> 00:05:27.450 play stringed instruments, 00:05:28.430 --> 00:05:31.530 harps, other plucked strings, 00:05:31.970 --> 00:05:33.710 even violins. 00:05:34.930 --> 00:05:37.230 And like David's harp 00:05:37.890 --> 00:05:40.234 which could cause an evil spirit 00:05:40.282 --> 00:05:42.202 to depart from a troubled 00:05:42.265 --> 00:05:43.470 King Saul, 00:05:44.130 --> 00:05:46.734 the angelic instruments provide 00:05:46.852 --> 00:05:48.334 rhythm and pitch to 00:05:48.372 --> 00:05:49.789 accompany singing. 00:05:53.090 --> 00:05:55.546 God instructed King David 00:05:55.738 --> 00:05:56.998 to organize 00:05:57.084 --> 00:05:58.754 Levitical musicians 00:05:58.882 --> 00:05:59.730 to play liars 00:06:00.330 --> 00:06:02.954 and harps and also symbols. 00:06:03.082 --> 00:06:04.206 There is one in one 00:06:04.228 --> 00:06:05.390 of those windows. 00:06:07.890 --> 00:06:10.602 So that they could lead the song 00:06:10.666 --> 00:06:12.206 of Israelites in the 00:06:12.228 --> 00:06:13.470 temple ritual. 00:06:14.370 --> 00:06:14.990 In fact, 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:18.410 Psalm 150 calls for trumpets, 00:06:18.490 --> 00:06:20.266 harps, stringed, instruments, 00:06:20.378 --> 00:06:21.898 pipes, symbols, 00:06:21.994 --> 00:06:24.190 and everything that has breath 00:06:24.610 --> 00:06:26.550 to praise the Lord. 00:06:27.210 --> 00:06:29.254 Revelation five has 00:06:29.292 --> 00:06:30.790 a similar vision. 00:06:32.490 --> 00:06:33.634 Before the Lamb, 00:06:33.682 --> 00:06:35.430 the four living creatures, 00:06:36.890 --> 00:06:38.854 the 24 elders, 00:06:38.982 --> 00:06:40.474 each hold a harp and 00:06:40.512 --> 00:06:42.010 a bowl of incense. 00:06:42.990 --> 00:06:48.202 And many angels join myriads and 00:06:48.256 --> 00:06:50.814 myriads and thousands and 00:06:50.852 --> 00:06:52.510 thousands of angels. 00:06:53.650 --> 00:06:55.354 So as redeemed sinners, 00:06:55.402 --> 00:06:57.194 we too want to participate 00:06:57.242 --> 00:06:59.390 in these heavenly songs. 00:07:00.530 --> 00:07:02.110 So angels 00:07:03.170 --> 00:07:07.330 strum and felt lead our singing. 00:07:09.030 --> 00:07:12.290 Other angels play trumpets. 00:07:13.510 --> 00:07:15.606 Recall that when Israel made it 00:07:15.628 --> 00:07:17.654 to Mount Sinai and they were to 00:07:17.692 --> 00:07:19.746 receive the words of the Lord, 00:07:19.938 --> 00:07:22.230 they experienced thunder, 00:07:22.970 --> 00:07:25.074 saw lightning in the clouds, 00:07:25.202 --> 00:07:27.754 and heard the voice of an 00:07:27.792 --> 00:07:30.490 exceedingly loud trumpet. 00:07:33.070 --> 00:07:35.930 God instructed Moses that only 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:37.754 the priests could play the 00:07:37.792 --> 00:07:40.890 silver trumpet or the Ramshorn 00:07:41.810 --> 00:07:43.306 to warn Israel, 00:07:43.418 --> 00:07:46.270 or to gather Israel to sound 00:07:46.340 --> 00:07:47.950 forth at the feast 00:07:49.010 --> 00:07:51.242 at the offerings of peace, 00:07:51.306 --> 00:07:52.830 or burnt offerings, 00:07:53.510 --> 00:07:55.246 or when moving the ark 00:07:55.278 --> 00:07:56.450 of the Covenant. 00:07:57.830 --> 00:07:59.566 So it's not surprising 00:07:59.678 --> 00:08:01.010 that at Jericho, 00:08:01.510 --> 00:08:04.226 when the seven priests led the 00:08:04.248 --> 00:08:06.440 procession around the city, 00:08:06.970 --> 00:08:08.885 and on the 7th day, 00:08:09.068 --> 00:08:11.490 they blew seven Ramshorn's, 00:08:11.570 --> 00:08:13.270 and the people shouted, 00:08:13.610 --> 00:08:15.320 the walls came down. 00:08:18.039 --> 00:08:20.090 And when Jesus comes again, 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:22.650 the trumpets will sound 00:08:23.580 --> 00:08:24.890 for his return. 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:27.688 And we look forward to that day, 00:08:27.774 --> 00:08:30.330 and we say, O Lord, come soon. 00:08:30.960 --> 00:08:33.576 Let us hear those angelic 00:08:33.688 --> 00:08:34.620 trumpets. 00:08:35.680 --> 00:08:39.180 So the images of angels with 00:08:39.250 --> 00:08:41.256 instruments remind us of God's 00:08:41.288 --> 00:08:43.463 nearness and invite 00:08:43.511 --> 00:08:44.680 us to sing praise. 00:08:44.760 --> 00:08:46.924 They help us remember the 00:08:46.962 --> 00:08:48.380 words of the Lord. 00:08:49.280 --> 00:08:51.484 It's not surprising then that 00:08:51.521 --> 00:08:53.436 when Paul instructs his 00:08:53.538 --> 00:08:56.036 Colossian Christians, he says, 00:08:56.098 --> 00:08:59.396 let Christ words dwell in you 00:09:00.250 --> 00:09:04.266 richly teaching and admonishing 00:09:04.458 --> 00:09:05.440 each other 00:09:07.650 --> 00:09:10.874 and singing with thankfulness 00:09:11.002 --> 00:09:12.800 in your hearts to God. 00:09:16.550 --> 00:09:18.370 Angelic songs 00:09:19.350 --> 00:09:21.298 teach us something about the 00:09:21.384 --> 00:09:24.290 heavenly phrase vocabulary. 00:09:24.870 --> 00:09:26.546 In Isaiah six, 00:09:26.728 --> 00:09:28.666 the seraphim called to one 00:09:28.688 --> 00:09:31.414 another holy, holy, 00:09:31.542 --> 00:09:34.330 holy is the Lord of hosts. 00:09:35.070 --> 00:09:36.938 The whole earth is full 00:09:37.024 --> 00:09:38.250 of his glory. 00:09:39.970 --> 00:09:43.674 Holy refers to divine 00:09:43.802 --> 00:09:44.910 perfection, 00:09:45.570 --> 00:09:47.002 God's essence. 00:09:47.146 --> 00:09:49.680 He is unlike anything else, 00:09:50.530 --> 00:09:52.320 totally different. 00:09:53.830 --> 00:09:57.026 But holy also extends to what is 00:09:57.128 --> 00:10:00.610 consecrated to God and to those 00:10:00.680 --> 00:10:02.994 who trust in the Lord and are 00:10:03.032 --> 00:10:04.660 called out of the world 00:10:05.290 --> 00:10:06.390 the church. 00:10:07.530 --> 00:10:08.790 Ecclesia. 00:10:10.010 --> 00:10:12.610 Once a rebellious and unclean 00:10:12.690 --> 00:10:14.630 people, we now, 00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:17.026 because of Jesus perfect 00:10:17.148 --> 00:10:20.358 obedience and bloody sacrifice, 00:10:20.534 --> 00:10:23.514 stand purified in 00:10:23.552 --> 00:10:24.730 God's presence. 00:10:25.790 --> 00:10:27.366 By faith in Christ we're 00:10:27.398 --> 00:10:28.534 declared holy. 00:10:28.662 --> 00:10:30.522 In baptism we receive 00:10:30.586 --> 00:10:32.030 the Holy Spirit, 00:10:32.690 --> 00:10:35.486 and by Jesus word we are 00:10:35.508 --> 00:10:37.150 led by the Spirit. 00:10:38.610 --> 00:10:39.674 in the Te Deum 00:10:39.722 --> 00:10:41.706 then we incorporate the angel 00:10:41.738 --> 00:10:44.110 song Holy, Holy, Holy. 00:10:44.190 --> 00:10:46.014 Lord God of Sabbath, 00:10:46.142 --> 00:10:48.194 heaven and earth are full the 00:10:48.232 --> 00:10:50.130 majesty of your glory. 00:10:51.430 --> 00:10:53.165 Before we receive the Lord's 00:10:53.198 --> 00:10:54.226 body and blood in 00:10:54.248 --> 00:10:55.665 the Holy Supper, 00:10:55.858 --> 00:10:59.746 we sing angelic words holy, 00:10:59.938 --> 00:11:01.590 Holy, holy. 00:11:02.090 --> 00:11:04.200 Lord God of power and might, 00:11:04.569 --> 00:11:06.310 heaven and earth are 00:11:06.380 --> 00:11:08.250 full of your glory. 00:11:09.790 --> 00:11:11.530 There we have the second 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:13.050 word glory. 00:11:14.590 --> 00:11:17.100 The angels in Isaiah six 00:11:18.670 --> 00:11:20.346 and those who announced the 00:11:20.367 --> 00:11:22.310 birth of Jesus to the shepherds 00:11:22.390 --> 00:11:24.270 sang of God's glory. 00:11:25.490 --> 00:11:27.770 That is His splendor, 00:11:27.930 --> 00:11:30.266 His radiance, His reputation 00:11:30.377 --> 00:11:32.270 by His mighty acts. 00:11:36.310 --> 00:11:38.766 jesus death established 00:11:38.798 --> 00:11:39.810 his glory. 00:11:41.030 --> 00:11:42.814 He was raised by the glory 00:11:42.862 --> 00:11:43.678 of the Father. 00:11:43.774 --> 00:11:45.742 His body became glorified. 00:11:45.886 --> 00:11:47.726 He was taken up in glory, 00:11:47.838 --> 00:11:49.186 and He now sits at the 00:11:49.208 --> 00:11:50.610 right hand of glory. 00:11:51.990 --> 00:11:55.234 He is the Lord of glory and 00:11:55.271 --> 00:11:57.886 will come again in glory. 00:11:58.078 --> 00:11:59.800 And we who have new lives 00:12:00.170 --> 00:12:02.410 through Him we will appear 00:12:02.490 --> 00:12:04.270 with Him in glory. 00:12:07.030 --> 00:12:09.182 Third word is worthy, 00:12:09.326 --> 00:12:10.626 and it shows up in 00:12:10.648 --> 00:12:12.020 Revelation Five. 00:12:12.390 --> 00:12:14.450 It is the new song 00:12:15.670 --> 00:12:19.330 about the Lamb. He is worthy. 00:12:19.670 --> 00:12:22.386 Not the elders, not the 24, 00:12:22.488 --> 00:12:24.766 not the living creatures, 00:12:24.958 --> 00:12:26.342 not the angels, 00:12:26.446 --> 00:12:28.266 not any of us who've been 00:12:28.288 --> 00:12:29.980 made righteous by God. 00:12:30.510 --> 00:12:32.234 We deserve only shame and 00:12:32.272 --> 00:12:33.930 dishonor and punishment. 00:12:34.910 --> 00:12:36.454 Only Jesus, 00:12:36.582 --> 00:12:38.930 the lion of the tribe of Judah, 00:12:39.030 --> 00:12:40.938 the root of David. 00:12:41.114 --> 00:12:44.510 The lamb is worthy. 00:12:46.050 --> 00:12:48.762 By His dying, by His rising, 00:12:48.826 --> 00:12:50.874 He rescued us from everlasting 00:12:50.922 --> 00:12:51.990 damnation, 00:12:52.170 --> 00:12:53.938 and we become His people 00:12:54.024 --> 00:12:55.860 priests to our God. 00:12:56.790 --> 00:12:59.810 The new heavenly song is about 00:12:59.880 --> 00:13:01.970 the very worthy Lamb. 00:13:03.430 --> 00:13:06.322 So as a light from above streams 00:13:06.386 --> 00:13:08.214 through these clear glass and 00:13:08.252 --> 00:13:09.990 colored glass windows 00:13:11.050 --> 00:13:12.870 be filled with joy. 00:13:14.330 --> 00:13:16.982 Let the angelic musicians remind 00:13:17.046 --> 00:13:18.810 you that God reigns, 00:13:19.230 --> 00:13:22.330 and he is nearby with his mercy. 00:13:23.230 --> 00:13:25.606 And now, already here on earth, 00:13:25.718 --> 00:13:28.022 in concert with the angels, 00:13:28.165 --> 00:13:30.154 let your voice sound forth and 00:13:30.192 --> 00:13:32.617 praise for Christ 00:13:32.784 --> 00:13:33.782 with the Father 00:13:33.846 --> 00:13:36.246 and the Holy Spirit is worthy 00:13:36.358 --> 00:13:38.550 of all glory and honor, 00:13:38.630 --> 00:13:40.300 forever and ever. 00:13:40.830 --> 00:13:42.530 Amen. 00:13:43.830 --> 00:13:44.930 The peace of God, 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:47.262 which passes all understanding, 00:13:47.326 --> 00:13:49.102 keep your hearts and minds 00:13:49.246 --> 00:13:52.210 through Christ Jesus. Amen.