Ministering Angels

[Albert Finch]

Throughout the Bible, angels brought messages, delivered instructions, prophesied, rebuked a prophet or two, stirred the healing waters, opened prison doors, etc. Here are some examples of the role of angels in the believer's walk:

Angels Bring Comfort

When Sarah sent her maid Hagar away, an angel was sent to find her, to comfort her and give her a promise concerning her son, and also to give her direction to return to Sarah (Genesis 16). The second time that Hagar was cast out, the angel again went and spoke to her, comforted her and provided water (Genesis 21).
There are many times when distress comes our way and we wake up with the words of a song or hymn going around and around in our minds. "Where did that come from?" you wonder. Sometimes the angels sing you those words or speak Scriptures into your ears. Many times this happens as we are waking up, because our minds are less "busy."

Angels are sent to comfort and strengthen us as they did for Jesus after He was tempted in the wilderness by satan (Matthew 4:11).

The Angel of the Lord was sent to stay Abraham's hand when he was going to sacrifice his son in Genesis 22. Angels carry out the commands of God. As we are in tune with God's plans, the angels are also helping in the accomplishment of that plan.

Sometimes the Angel Brings Judgment

In I Chronicles 21, the Lord sent His angel to bring judgment to Israel - to destroy it. The Lord stayed the angel's hand (verse 15). When David saw the angel standing with a sword between Heaven and earth, he and the elders repented. Then the angel told David to set up an altar to the Lord. The angel helped David also in his repentance.

The Angels Can Help You Find a Spouse
When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, God's Angel was sent to go with him (Genesis 24:7). When God sends you out, His angels go with you to help you accomplish the purposes of God. If God instructs you to move to another town or city, the angels will help you sell your house, find another, and even help you find a job. They are eager to carry out God's purpose for your life.
We can often hinder the activity of angels by our negative speaking. If God sends His angels to help us receive a healing, we can talk ourselves out of it by our negative words.

Breaking Through

Jacob wrestled with the Angel of God in Genesis 32:24-30 until he got what he wanted in the way of a blessing. He refused to let go until he received something from God. Jesus once said, "The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12).

There is a time to press through the crowd like the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment. There are many things that would try and keep you away from that place where you reach out and TOUCH Him.
Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He will make sure there is a good crowd in your life. A crowd is not necessarily evil things; you can have a good crowd, but it is still a crowd that can separate you from the Lord Jesus. Your busy life, TV, sports, hobbies, even good works can prevent you from really being in touch with God.

It takes time to sit in His presence and listen to His voice and tell Him how wonderful He is. There are times when Jesus wants your undivided attention, and the crowd in your life will take all of your time. You find you are diverted and distracted from your real destiny and purpose. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your crowd to you, then you can push past it all and touch His presence in a wonderful way.

Angels to Lead You
An angel was sent to the Children of Israel to lead them out of Egypt in Numbers 20:16. As you follow the directions of the Lord, He gives His angels charge over us and they will even help organize your move from and to your new location, be it a church or a town.

Angels Can Prevent You

The Angel of the Lord was sent to stand in the way of Balaam three times when he went with the princes of Moab (Numbers 22). When Balaam did not see the angel, the donkey did! Sometimes when we pray for our wayward loved ones, the Lord sends an angel to protect them from themselves as He did with Balaam.

Angels Encourage You
When the Midianites oppressed the children of Israel and made them impoverished, the Angel of the Lord was sent to Gideon while he was trying to hide wheat from the oppressors (Judges 6).

The Angel of the Lord who came to strengthen Gideon addressed him, "The Lord is with thee thou mighty man of valor" (verse 12). Now Gideon in the natural was certainly no "mighty man of valor" but because the Lord was with him, the whiny, grumbling, complaining man became a mighty man.

God's angels come to remind us of who we are in Christ and they come to strengthen us. In Him we can be strong and do mighty exploits.

The Angel Can Find You

When Elijah ran away from Jezebel's threats, the Bible says he ran a day's journey into the desert and fell asleep under a Juniper tree (1 Kings 19:4-5). Feeling sorry for yourself as Elijah did will make you want to curl up and go to sleep. Sleep is good and necessary for our health, but it can also be a form of escape. The angel came and found him even though he ran so far out of the way.

"Arise and eat." The angel brought him food and water. Guess what? He rose up and ate the cake and drank the water and then he went right back to sleep! (verse 6). Once again the angel touched him and said "Arise and eat..." God is so good to us; He had a work for Elijah to accomplish.

The Angel Can Bring Instruction

An angel of the Lord directed Gad to tell David to go to the threshing floor of Ornan and set up an altar to the Lord (1 Chronicles 21:22). Ornan also saw the angel and allowed David to buy the threshing floor according to the instruction of the angel.

The Angel Can Destroy the Enemy

The Angel of the Lord went and smote the camp of the Assyrians (Isaiah 37:36), but the Angel of the Lord encamps or lives round about those who fear Him (Psalm 34:7). In Psalm 35, David speaks of the Angel of the Lord chasing those who are his enemies. The Angel of the Lord also ministered to Isaiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

Interesting Angelic Interaction

God sent an angel to interpret Zechariah's vision in chapter one of the horses. Then Zechariah witnessed a conversation between the angel and the Lord, and then further on in Zechariah 2, the angel talked with another angel. The second angel gave a prophetic word to the first angel to give to Zechariah. Zechariah had an unusual experience with the activity of angels.
An Angel Brings Direction to Mary and Joseph

An angel directed Joseph to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24), and later on to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt (Matthew 2:19).
We must learn to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit when He gives instruction - it can save our lives.

Angels Help with Healing
The water at the pool of Bethesda was stirred ever so often by an angel and healing came to those who stepped into it (John 5:2-4). Many times I have seen the angels helping to minister in healing meetings.

Angels Bring Instruction and Roll Away Stones
An angel came and rolled back the stone from the tomb for the two Marys and told them of Jesus' resurrection, then instructed them to go and tell the disciples (Matthew 28:2, 7).

The Angels Prophesy

Another angel prophesied the birth of John to Zechariah (Luke 1:13). Then Gabriel was sent to Mary to prophesy the birth of the Savior (Luke 1:26-33), and in the next chapter, the angels went to the shepherds in the field to announce the birth.

Angels Can Open Doors

An angel was sent to open the prison doors for the apostles (Acts 5:19), and an angel directed Philip to go to Gaza (Acts 8:26). Another angel told Cornelius to send for Peter (Acts 10:3-6), and Peter was released from prison in Acts 12.

Angels Bring Protection

An angel gave Paul a message of hope for the people in the ship when he was being taken to Italy, and the ship was in danger (Acts 27:23-24). Angels are sent to protect us.