Ministering Spirits II

 

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? 

Hebrews 1:14 NKJV

Angels belong to the “heavenly host” (Luke 2:13) and in reference to their nature, they are “spirits” (Hebrews 1:14). Apparently, they were present at the creation of the world, and were so filled with wonder and gladness that they “shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). They are an order of heavenly beings whose business it is to act as God's messengers to men, and as agents who carry out His will. Angels are superior to human beings in terms of intelligence and ability, but God has ordained that they should be ministering spirits for those among men who had inherited salvation.

 From the beginning, God has been using angels in human form, with human voices, in order to communicate with man. In this capacity, they are ‘’sent forth’’ by God to render aid to Christians as they do their part to advance and enhance the Kingdom of God on earth. In New Testament the word is frequently accompanied by some phrase which makes the meaning clear, e.g. “the angels of heaven” (Mathew  24:36). The creation of angels is referred to in Psalms 148:2, 5.

 As to their outward appearance, it is evident that they bore the human form, and have been occasionally mistaken for men (Ezekiel 9:2; Genesis 18:2,16). Angels in the scriptures were always male. The conception of angels as winged beings, so familiar in Christian art, finds no support in Scripture.

 The teaching of angels in the New Testament is totally consistent with those of the Old Testament on the subject. Mention of angels appears frequently in connection with the birth of Jesus. An angel appears three times in dreams to Joseph (Mathew  1:20, 2:13, 2:19). The angel Gabriel appears to Zacharias, and then to Mary in the annunciation. An angel announces to the shepherds the birth of Jesus. When Jesus is tempted in the desert and again during the agony at Gethsemane, angels appear to Him to strengthen His soul. Further, an angel descends to roll away the stone from the tomb of Jesus (Mathew 28:2); angels are seen there by certain women (Luke 24:23) and by Mary Magdalene. An angel releases the apostles from prison, directs Philip, appears to Peter in a dream, frees him from prison, smites Herod with sickness and appears to Paul in a dream.

 Our Lord accepted the main teachings of Old Testament about angels, as well as the later Jewish belief in good and bad angels. He speaks of the “angels in heaven” (Mathew 22:30), and of “the devil and his angels” (Mathew 25:41). At His arrest, He admonishes Peter when the later tried to defend Him and proclaimed “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?” (Mathew 26:53). He taught that angels would accompany Him at the Second Coming (Mathew 25:31) and separate the righteous from the wicked; that they keenly observe what was going on earth, and rejoice  in the repentance of sinners (Luke 15:10); and they will hear the Son of Man confessing or denying those who have confessed or denied Him before men (Luke 12:8).

 Scriptures teach that angels do many different things for the people of God. Here are just a few of them:

They  deliver messages to us from God. It was an angel who told Mary in Luke 1:30-31 about her future role: "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS." Luke 2:10-12 tells us that angels informed some shepherds about the birth of Jesus: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Acts 1:11 tells us that while the disciples were gazing up during Jesus' ascension to heaven, two angels said: "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

They defend, protect, and deliver us. Psalm 34:7 says that "The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And He delivers them." II Kings 19:35 says that an angel destroyed Sennacherib's army: "And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand." Acts 5:19 says that an angel delivered the apostles from prison: "But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out." An angel rescued St. Peter from the high-security prison where he was kept by Herod planning to have him killed “in order to please the Jews” (Acts 12).

 They strengthen us when we are tempted. I Peter 5:8 says that "your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." The holy angels do the exact opposite. Luke 22:43 says that when Jesus agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane "an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him."

Angels apparently escort us to heaven when we die. Luke 16:22 says that Lazarus the beggar "was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom." And although angels are not specifically mentioned, Luke 24:51 says that Jesus was "carried up into heaven" at His ascension.

The words ‘angel’ and ‘angels’ are found 110 in verses in the Old Testament and in 175 in the New Testament. It is the bewildering variety of functions they had performed in history that had made it necessary for the writers of the Bible to make such frequent mention of them. That modern Christians don’t give them the importance they deserve is a matter of concern and is certainly a sign of this age. To consider them a superstition or imaginary reveals an immaturity of mind and poverty of scriptural knowledge.

 Angels are God’s messengers, spiritual beings created by God, and under His direct authority (Colossians 1:16). Their functions include serving believers (Hebrews 1:14), protecting the helpless (Matthew 18:10), proclaiming God’s messages (Revelations 14:6-12) and executing God’s judgment (Acts 12:1-23; Revelations 20:1-3). Jesus spoke of them frequently and consistently. Besides, many of the Old Testament and New Testament writers speak about their exploits. We must also take into account the prophecies about them. They play a role in the Lord’s parables also.

 Today the visible activity of angels might have come to an end, because their mediating work is done; Christ has founded the kingdom of the Spirit, and God's Spirit speaks directly to the spirit of man. This new and living way has been opened up to us by Jesus Christ. Angels still watch the lot of man, and rejoice in his salvation; still, they join in the praise and adoration of God, the Lord of hosts, still can they be regarded as “ministering spirits sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation.”

 Given what the Bible says about angels, don't rule them out from your life and experience. Don't rule out the possibility that one may show up and help you just when you need it most.

 

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