The Real Scoop on Teaching Angels and Heavenly Host University

We are talking about angels today, specifically teaching angels. Here’s a story on angels from the turn of the 20th century. Charles Herbert Lightoller was tall, sun-bronzed, and handsome, possessing a deep, pleasant speaking voice. His mother died during his infancy, his father abandoned him, and he ran off to sea at thirteen. By 1912, he was a respected seaman for the White Star Line and was assigned to the maiden voyage of the grandest ocean liner ever built, the Titanic. He was just drifting off to sleep on April 14th when he felt a bump in the ship’s forward motion. Hopping from his bunk, he soon learned that the Titanic had struck an iceberg.

As the horrors of that night unfolded, Lightoller finally found himself standing on the roof of the officer’s quarters, the water lapping at his feet, as he helped any around him into lifeboats. Finally, there was nothing left for Lightoller to do but jump from the roof into the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. The shock of the 28-degree water against his sweating body stunned him. As he struggled to regain his bearing and swim away from the ship, he was suddenly sucked back and pinned against a ventilation grate at the base of a funnel that went all the way down to Boiler Room 6. He was stuck, drowning, and going down with the ship. Suddenly Psalm 91:11 came clearly to his mind: For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. At that very moment, a blast of hot air exploded from the belly of the ship, shooting Lightoller like a missile to the surface of the ocean. At length, he managed to grab a piece of rope attached to the side of an overturned lifeboat and float along with it until he pulled himself on top of the upside-down boat. He turned and watched the last moments of the Titanic. Her stern swung up in the air until the ship was in “a perpendicular position.” Then she slowly sank into the water, with only a tiny gulp as her stern disappeared beneath the waves. There were about thirty men atop the lifeboat, and together they recited the Lord’s Prayer, then Lightoller took command of the boat and guided them to safety. Pieced together from several books and internet articles about the Titanic. His story also appeared in the Congressional Record of the investigation of the sinking of the Titanic.¹ Angels – that’s what we are talking about in this podcast — the real deal on angels – The Real Scoop on Teaching Angels in Heavenly Host University, that’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
This week’s call is:

Today’s challenge is to understand that angels are part of your everyday life, whether you ever see one or not.

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Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
This week’s question is:

Question: How does knowing that you have entertained angels unawares change your perspective? Would you please share your thoughts in the comments section below?

Episode Resources:

If you need healing in your body, you can find additional information on the subject of Miracles in the resources listed below.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 40 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 35 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes

Teaching Angels: The Real Scoop

Ephesians 3:8–12 (ESV) — 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

OK, let’s break it down today.
We are looking at verse ten.
Listen to it again.

So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and principalities in the heavenly places.

Teaching Angels: Definitions and Words of Note

Now

There are a couple of keywords in this passage in this verse that you want to note; the first one is the word ‘now.’
‘Now’ is a time indicator.
The action that’s supposed to take place of which the church is instrumental is in the period called ‘now.’
This we see in verse is happening right now — in this teaching session— in this podcast.
Now is the time.
We could say it’s the period of the church.
Meaning that before the church came into existence by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, this being spoken of in this verse was not happening.
So that’s the word now.

Manifold

The second word that you want to note is the word ‘manifold’ – manifold wisdom of God.
What does the word manifold mean?
I’m glad you asked, and with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
The word manifold means variegated.
Let me explain variegated.
I know about variegated because I work at Blue Bell, an ice cream manufacturer, and at Blue Bell, we have varigators for our sauces.
We inject into our ice cream sauces, and some of them have like 4 points, and they spin, and the four points give you four streams of swirl pattern in the ice cream.
We don’t just dump everything into the cup; we make it look pretty in the cup.
And so, variegated means a wide variety of varied features, forms, streams, or colors.
So, God’s wisdom is variegated — it has multiple streams.
So, that’s the word manifold.
Let’s look at the next word – manifold what? — manifold wisdom.
Let’s look at the word wisdom.

Wisdom

Wisdom is the Greek word sophia.
It is the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight.
Wisdom is the capacity to understand and, as a result, to act wisely²
Look at these three verses that reference both Jesus and wisdom.

Luke 2:52 (ESV) — 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Jesus increased in His capacity to understand and, to act wisely.
Increased means that He had more than He started with.
That should be your goal.
You should always by an upward incline where wisdom is concerned.
Desire to increase in wisdom.
Now where Jesus is concerned, here’s what I want you to see.
His increase is your increase.
Jesus’ gain in wisdom is your gain in wisdom.
You are going to see that what He has, you have, in these next couple of verses.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (ESV) — 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

You are in Him.
What does that mean ‘in Him?’
Well, maybe this illustration may help.
I’m not sure that it’s an entirely precise illustration, but it’s close, and it will help us with the point I’m trying to get across to you.
You have access to His wisdom because you are in Jesus.
It’s kind of like a pool of water.
Jesus is a pool of water, and you’re jumping in the pool.
You cannot insulate yourself from the wetness of the pool.
Whatever is in the pool gets on you.
It’s a little more than that; maybe it’s a lot more than that.
But, I want you to see that Jesus’ increase is your increase, and His gain in wisdom is your gain.
Whatever is in the pool is on you.
And, wisdom is in the pool.
Can we say it this way you are wet with the wisdom of heaven?
Here’s the last verse.

Ephesians 1:17 (ESV) — 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Here’s a prayer that you pray where you ask the Lord to help you function in the wisdom available in Jesus.
Why do you need to pray if you are in union with Him?
Didn’t you just say that we are wet with His wisdom?
Yes, but remember, it’s variegated wisdom – multiple streams.
Do you have all wisdom in all areas?
Are you operating with understanding, and can you act wisely in everything you do?
Do you have a complete understanding of God’s plan for your life?
What about your everyday life – are filled to the brim with understanding?
Are you understanding and, as a result, acting wisely in your personal affairs?
The reality is that the fullness of the pool of wisdom is available to you, but are you accessing that pool in every single area of your life?
What about the Spirit realm?
Do you possess a complete understanding and, as a result, are acting wisely in all Spirit-related areas?
You know what the answer is here because you’ve read Ephesians 1:16–23.
You have read that Paul prayed for wisdom for the Ephesians.
That’s the reason you need to pray Ephesians 1:16–23 for one another and yourself.
So then stretch on out there and lean upon the Lord and ask Him, ‘Lord give me wisdom in my inward parts, help me to act wisely.’
Function this way in whatever area you feel that you’re lacking or need help in.
Remember, His gain is your gain.

Known

We need to look at the Greek word ‘known.’
The word means to cause information to become known: make known, reveal³
So if something is to become known, that’s future tense, meaning it is not known now.
We will talk about some things that these rulers and authorities know, but these beings do not know nor understand in this area of the church.
Their education is lacking; what they need to learn was not imparted to them by God.

Rulers and Authorities

Now, let’s talk about these rulers and authorities.
By the church, the manifold wisdom of God is being made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Some translations have ‘principalities and powers’ instead of rulers and authorities.
Who are these fellas? — who are these ‘principalities and powers in heavenly places?’
They are the holy angels of God — the emphasis is on the word holy.
These are the good guys, the good angels.
There are good versions of principalities and powers, and there are bad versions.
There are good, godly, righteous principalities and powers, and there are their evil counterparts.
Here is a reference to the negative version.

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV 1900) — 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Teaching Angels: The Church as a University

So now that we know who is who and what’s what, what is Paul by the Spirit of God is saying.
He is communicating that the Church, the body of Christ, the Jesus’ followers are making known to the angels of God the multiple streams of God’s wisdom.
So then, the Church became a university for angels.
The Church is now ‘Heavenly Host University.
The Professors and Teachers in this university — who are they?
That’s every one of you.
Every child of God, everyone born again member of the body of Christ, is a teaching professor in Heavenly Host University.
You are teaching angels the varied and multiple streams of God’s wisdom.
So that brings us to an exciting point about heaven.

Teaching Angels: Heaven Is a Learning Place

Heaven is a learning place.
It is not a place of instantaneous all knowledge.
You know everybody wants instant.
Instant doesn’t work in heaven.
Think about the four thousand years it took to bring Jesus into the earth.
Instant is not the way of heaven.
When your time on planet earth is over, you will not step over into the other realm, you will not get off the elevator that takes you to heaven, and when that elevator door opens and you see the Gates to the City for the first time, you will not have all knowledge.
Think about that for a moment – if it was confirmed that you would gain all knowledge — that you would have all the answers — that would imply that death, the enemy of God, is the ultimate teacher.
Death is not a teacher — it does not infuse you with all understanding.
The only thing you should learn about death is that it stinks to high heaven.
Death is an enemy sitting on death row.
Its execution date is known only to the Father.
So just get this: you will still be learning and growing when you get to heaven.
Heaven is a learning place.
Now, you know you may say, ‘I don’t like school — I didn’t do well in school,’ — sorry, that dog won’t hunt.
Everyone is a learner — God made you that way.
He crafted you to learn — that’s what disciple means.
Now, it may be that the educational institutions that you came into contact with here on planet earth were either ignorant or unable to home in on the way God designed you to learn [everyone is not the same in this area] and so you had a negative school experience.
But, that does not an excuse to not learn — it does mean you are not a learner.

Matthew 11:29 (ESV) — 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

John 6:45 (ESV) — 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—

Philippians 4:9 (ESV) — 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Learn, learn, learn, — if you don’t learn it here, you will learn it there.
The angels don’t know everything, and neither will you.
So get a clue about life on earth as it relates to heaven.
While I’m over here in this area, let me grab this.
Some people say, ‘I don’t like to read.’
Sorry that dog won’t hunt either.
God believes in books.
He had the Bible written for you to read.
He didn’t say, ‘Oh you poor thing, you don’t like to read, you don’t have to read the Bible.
No, God believes in books.
He believes in you reading them.
The Lord inspired people to write books.
He spoke to them in the night seasons and in their secret prayer times.
That should not be a ‘wow’ statement to you since He is the author of the most extraordinary book ever written, the Bible.
It is the number one seller on planet earth!
He wants you to read His book often, even daily.
The Bible is your contact with Him – it is God speaking to you.
Your gateway to freedom lies in reading it, getting your mind renewed to it, and putting it into operation in your everyday life.
The Bible details the way to God, the way to heaven, and how to succeed in all your affairs.
Many books have been written about the Bible.
Most of them are Holy Spirit-inspired works that are aids to help you understand His most exceptional book.
These books are not replacements or substitutes for the Bible.
But the Lord did have them written for your benefit.
I am going to repeat it — learn.
I am appalled sometimes at how much people want everything spoon-fed to them.
Are you serious? The most critical being in the universe, God, and you don’t want to take time to learn about Him?
You want the ‘Cliff Notes’ version of God — are you kidding me?
I will repeat it, if you don’t learn it here, whatever it is, you will have to learn it in heaven.
If you don’t learn to walk by faith here, you will have to learn it there.
All of heaven operates by faith — faith is the language in heaven.
The just shall live by faith – that’s not just for the earth realm.
About that sense of unworthiness that people carry around with them?
What are you going to do with that when you get to heaven – there is no unworthiness in heaven; if you don’t understand righteousness here, you will have to learn it there.
All of heaven flows in a consciousness of right-standing.

Teaching Angels: No Angelic Graduates

That’s one lesson we can learn from this passage in Ephesians three.
There are no graduates of Heavenly Host University.
None of them have gained enough credits to graduate and walk across the stage.
The angels are still learning, and they’ve been at it; class has been in session for 2000 years.
I say 2000 years because that’s how long the church has been in existence.
The church came into being when Jesus breathed on the disciples in John 20.

John 20:19–22 (ESV) — 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

That’s when the church began — it didn’t start on the day of Pentecost.
The Day of Pentecost was when they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and you have to be already saved to receive.
So class began for the angels in John 20.
That’s when the church began, and that’s when class started for the angels.
Now they have 2000 more years of education than they had when they started, but there are still no ‘angel’ graduates.
God the Father set this university up so that the angels could learn about the grace of God.
Because before the church, no angelic being had a comprehension of what the Grace of God was.

1 Peter 1:10–12 (ESV) — 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Angels have a passionate desire to stoop down and look into your life.
The Greek word ‘look’ here in verse 12 means precisely that.
To examine, conceived of as exerting effort to see something (not in the line of sight) by bending or stooping down.
To get their degree, angels exert effort to stoop down and look into your life.

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

Angels sometimes appear not just to help you but to learn from you.
Angels are student spectators viewing the great plan of redemption from the side lines⁴

Now angels have had 2000 years of grace ‘study’ – observation under their belts since this has been written.
So, since Jesus has not come back yet, there are still grace learning opportunities.
School is still in session.
Teachers teach — Professors profess.
Let’s all grow together heaven and earth.
You guys have a great God Day in Jesus’ Name Amen and, we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

How You Can Minister Healing As Jesus Did

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References:

Robert J. Morgan, Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), 26. ↩
Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 383. ↩
William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 203. ↩
Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 85. ↩

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The Real Scoop on Teaching Angels and Heavenly Host University

Podcast: Light on Life Season Nine Episode Ten

by Emery Horvath

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