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Key Scriptures: Hebrews 13 NLT
1 ¶ Continue to love each other with true Christian love.
2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
Have you ever wondered about Angels? Are they real? If so, then who or what are they what do they do?
For the next few minutes we are going to look at some scriptures in the Bible concerning angels. We will discover answers to many questions people have about these supernatural beings.
Before we go farther let me give you a couple of scriptures which will help to direct our thoughts as we study the scriptures together.
First, our Key Scriptures from Hebrews 13 tell us that angels may be among us, even now, and not be noticed as being special. Evidently angels do not always create a dramatic appearance.
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Next, Hebrews 1, verse 14, specifically states that angels are servant spirits, sent with purpose to administer God’s will for mankind. Basically we understand that these …
Agents of God’s Providence
… are ministers of the supernatural for man on God’s behalf.
Finally we understand that angels have … (include on one slide) …
Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Ephesians 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
… specific rank, authority and ability based most likely upon their order of creation, whether Cherubim, Seraphim, Principality, Power, Might, Dominion or other classification.
We are also given to understand that there are differing degrees of authority even within the order and rank. Among the Cherubim was found ‘The Anointed Cherub’, and among the Principalities we see Michael as a ‘Chief Prince’, also called the ‘Prince of Israel’, as well we find other Spiritual Princes ruling the heavenlies over nations and regions such as Persia and Greece in the book of Daniel.
Angels are basically divided between fallen and unfallen. Fallen angels are those who followed Lucifer, formerly known as the ‘Angel of Light’, ‘Son of the morning’, and the ‘Anointed Cherub’ who covered all things for God, in his rebellion against God. We are told that one third of the angelic population fell in this attempted take over by the Cherub Lucifer, now known as satan, the devil, the dragon, and that old serpent, (Revelation 20:2) … the same serpent of Genesis 3 who is still the accuser of mankind. (Revelation 12:10)
Those angels who remained faithful to God continue to serve Him and mankind in efforts to put down this sinful rebellion against their Sovereign once and for all. It is one of these faithful angels which we will now read about from the book of Acts.
So, to set the stage for this journey let’s turn to an angelic account in the book of:
Acts 12 NKJV
1 ¶ Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5 ¶ Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
Acts 12 NKJV
6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.
8 Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me."
9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."
Acts 12 NKJV
12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.
Acts 12 NKJV
15 But they said to her, "You are beside yourself!" Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, "It is his angel."
Acts 12 NKJV
16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
It is evident that the first church in Jerusalem believed in and accepted the fact that people were given angels on assignment to guide, guard and protect them … personal angels … guardian angels.
Angels were then and still are today very much a part of the every day will and plan of God for mankind. These ‘Agents of God’s Providence’ are continually on assignment as messengers of God sent forth to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation.
Angels intervene in the affairs of mankind, both the individual and the corporate affairs of families, churches, governments and nature. God has not left man without aid, comfort and assistance in times of need.
There are two basic questions I want to answer in this simple study.
1. What do angels do?
2. How can we get them to do it?
First: What do angels do?
In answer to this question, as I said earlier: Angels intervene in the affairs of mankind according to the will of God. They intervene:
* On the behalf of children
Matthew 18:10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. (again – guardian angels)
* On the behalf of sinners
Acts 10:3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
Luke 15:10 "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
* On the behalf of nations
Daniel 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Exodus 33:2 "And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
* On the behalf of believers
In Public Worship:
1 Corinthians 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
In Prayer:
Revelation 8
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
In Times of Trouble:
Acts 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said …
Acts 27
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
For Direction:
Acts 8:26 ¶ And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
For Deliverance:
Acts 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
In Death:
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And these are but a very few of the more than 280 times we find God’s faithful angels intervening in the affairs of mankind throughout the bible, not counting those evil encounters from the fallen demons of darkness which visit the souls of man in efforts to steal, kill, discomfort and destroy God’s creation.
God’s angels intervene in the affairs of mankind to affect God’s good will upon the earth. But, can we depend on the assistance of these beings today? And, if so, how do we access their help? How do we get them to do what they can do for us?
The bible gives clear instructions on how to get angels involved in the daily affairs of your life. If you will learn and follow the simple principles laid out in the Word of God, you can depend on angelic assistance on a continual basis.
To learn how you can partner with those angels God has commanded to minister for you, be here next week for the conclusion of, ‘Angels on Assignment’.
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