Understanding the Heavenly Host by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

It’s Christmastime and many people are delivering messages based on Luke 2, the chapter of the Bible where the birth of Jesus is detailed. However this year, the LORD has highlighted something like never before in that passage, and that is the appearance of the heavenly host of angels after a single angel announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds.

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about”

(Luke 2:14-15, NIV).

I began to imagine how awesome the heavenly host must have appeared. Can you visualize an entire sky filled with angels? It is overwhelming to think about. Yet, this week God has placed the Heavenly Host before me in Scripture reading, messages, and even at Prestonwood Baptist’s annual Christmas musical, The Gift of Christmas.

I believe the LORD wants us to try to comprehend His greatness this Christmas. Not only can He come to Earth in the form of a baby, not only is He the creator of the world, but at his command, the skies can fill up with angels, the Heavenly Host. If we really understood this magnificence, we’d be laying prostrate before Him.

These angels are not only around to praise God, they are also mighty warriors. When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by an army of horses and chariots, he told his servant, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then God opened the servants eyes and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. It was the heavenly host!

Then at the end of time in a classic battle of good versus evil, archangel Michael and his angels fought against Satan and his demons and defeated this enemy of our souls—once and for all. The great and powerful heavenly host was victorious.

And who is God? He is Adonai Tzevaot. The Lord and Commander of the heavenly armies—armies he created.

Here’s the bottom line. God is Almighty. Take your understanding of Him to a greater depth this Christmas. He has unlimited power and he wants to use that strength to help you if you will let him. He has surrounded you with the Heavenly Host who can fight any and all of your battles. Give them over to Him, the Lord of the Heavenly Host.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still (Exodus 14:14, NIV).