Gtcotr/ws060513
Key Scripture
Psalms 34:7 The angel of the
LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Angels
are a spiritual species of beings which God created with purpose.
Angels
were created by God as spiritual beings which all have:
·
Differing
Ranks
·
Differing
Orders
·
Differing
Duties
·
Differing
Abilities
·
Differing
Appearances
Ø Daniel 10 & 12
speak of Michael as a Chief Prince of Israel
Ø Near 100 times the
Bible mentions Cherubs/Cherubim as angels which hover over and cover with their
two wings (1Kings 8:7 & Ezekiel 10; Hebrews 9:5)
Ø From Ezekiel 28 it
seems Lucifer was created as an anointed Cherub who was given authority by God
to rule over much of creation.
Ø Isaiah 6 speaks of Seraphim
which have six wings and acted in Isaiah’s case as a messenger of God.
Ø Angels have names
and are sent on assignment by God. (Luke 1:26)
Ø There are angels who
appear to us as mere men and yet we are unaware they are sent from heaven (Hebrews
13:2)
Ø Angels bring
messages to people in dreams (Matthew 1:20)
Ø Revelation 12 speaks
of warring angels
Ø Daniel was informed
concerning a fallen demonic angel prince who had power in the air and exercised
authority over Persia and another one was over Greece. These were no doubt
rulers of darkness.
Ø Mark 1:13 shows
angels ministering to Jesus in the desert of Judah.
Ø Jesus said in
Matthew 26:53 that He could presently call more than 12 legions of angels to defend
and deliver Him. A legion numbers more than 6,000 each. (6,100 footmen + 726
horsemen ~ RWP)
Ø Elisha saw the same
willing warriors awaiting his command at Dothan in 2 Kings 6:17.
Ø The devil knows that
God gives angels assignments to watch over His children. (Like 4:10 … lest you
foot dash against a stone.)
Ø Angels care about
souls and express joy and rejoicing over a sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)
Ø Luke 16:22 Angels
escort the souls of saints from earth into heaven.
Ø According to Luke
20:36, angels never die.
Ø However, those
angels who followed satan in the rebellion against God will one day be cast
into the eternal lake of fire which God has prepared specifically for them.
(Matthew 25:41)
Ø Rebel angels attempt
to appear as angels of light, masquerading as those helping others to see the
“real truth”, but are rather angels of darkness and deceit. (2 Corinthians
11:14)
Ø 1 John 4:1ff
admonishes us to not believe every spirit but rather test each one with the Word
of God as our standard.
Ø Paul said if an
angel, or a man for that matter, appears to you with some message which does
not agree with the scriptures, let them be cursed. (Galatians 1:8)
Ø Angels are
everywhere, everyday used by God, listening for His Word to affect His will.
(Psalms 103:20) ~ Speak the Word!!!
Ø Angels are among
those listening to the words we speak and are motivated by the prayers we pray.
(Daniel 10:12 ~ I have come because of your words)
When
a person gets born again, they are born into the family of God and become a
Child of God. The Spiritual Children of God are a brand new species, neither
human nor angel nor spirit nor man. To be born again is to become a New
Creation in Christ Jesus, eternally alive and predestined to be transformed
into the image of God’s dear Son.
There
are many new realities and awesome benefits available to the Child of God. One
such benefit is the attendance and dependence of Angels on Assignment. Upon the
request of heaven or earth, angels are dispatched to assist the saint according
to the will of God.
It
is certain that angels have their work but so do we. If we were to read the
account of Cornelius and the angel in Acts 10 we would find an interesting
limit to angel’s assignment. According to the angel, heaven had been moved by
Cornelius’ devotion to prayer and giving to the poor. However, when heaven
responded with the dispatch of this angel, the angel did not tell Cornelius
what to do to get born again, rather the angel merely pointed Cornelius to a
saint, Peter in this case, who would tell him the story of Jesus.
In
an earlier case in Acts 9 with the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Neither the
angel nor the voice from heaven explained to Saul what he should do but rather
pointed him to wait until a Child of God could respond and lead him to
salvation in Christ. It took 3 days of heavenly voices and visions before
Ananias worked up the courage and went to lead this man to Christ.
Angels
were all created with the same purpose as man – to serve and glorify God.
Unlike humans however, we generally understand that angels do not reproduce and
therefore do not pass either death or life on to their offspring.
At
one point an anointed, high ranking Cherub named Lucifer felt he no longer
wanted to be known as God’s servant or second in command. Rather Lucifer wanted
to do his own thing and have his own glory. Lucifer began to talk his reasons
among the angelic population and infected some with his side of the story. When
Lucifer felt he had enough support to make it on his own, he rebelled against
God and many of the heavenly host followed him. His fall was like lightening.
Today
these rebel angels are often seen as angels of light but they are only working
for their own goals, attempting to build their own kingdom and their own
following, trying to make people dissatisfied with God, using every means to
discredit Him and win people over to their side.
It
started in a peaceful garden with a subtle and secret conversation this sneaky
snake had with a woman. Seeds of distrust, dissatisfaction and discontentedness
were sown. Satan successfully divided her and everyone she affected from the
good and loving God who had given so much, even given so much to the devil
himself, that is before he fell prey to his own pride and rebelled to begin his
own kingdom. (2 Corinthians 11:14)
Today
angels are at odds with one another divided between God and the devil. God
expects for those who followed Lucifer and were ultimately casted out of
heaven’s embrace, to be resisted by those who follow Him. God also knows that
these rebels will continue trying to influence others, humans and angels alike,
to follow pride and break free from God and His ordained leadership. While
there is hope for mankind through repentance and the salvation which was
provided by the blood of Christ, there is no future hope for fallen angels …
their future is sealed.
One
day we shall see them as they are and just how much misery and harm they have
caused the earth. So much of your trouble, seen and unseen, known and unknown,
discovered and yet to be discovered, is the result of rebellious, pride-filled,
greedy, arrogant, selfish and self-serving spirits who, without God’s
blessings, can only feed on the unsuspecting and uncovered souls of men. These
spirits can only influence and deceive, they cannot save and keep safe.
One
day … we shall see them as they are and according to 1 Corinthians 6:3 we shall
be their judge. Shall we not therefore also judge the things of this life?
Thank God for His angels on assignment who:
Psalms 103:20 … Who excel in
strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.
Important Points
1.
Hebrews 1:14 Angels are all
ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit
salvation.
2.
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.
3.
Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby
some have entertained angels unawares.
4.
Psalms 34:7 The angel of the
LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
