SOMETHING ABOUT ;ANGELS

SOMETHING ABOUT ANGELS

Jesus confronted the attacks of Satan in the wilderness. Afterward: “Angels came and ministered unto him” (Matt. 4:11). Luke 22:43 describes the same incident: “There appeared an angel, strengthening him.” If Jesus needed the ministering of angels and the strengthening they could offer, don’t you think we do? Of course we do.

Jesus asked Peter: “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53). That’s 72,000 angels!. Colossians 1:27 tells us it’s “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” God is willing and able to do the same for the Christ in us as He did for Jesus Christ in the flesh. Jesus said He could pray for angels, and so can we.

Jesus gave this instruction: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also” (John 14:12). Praying for angelic help is one of the works. Two verses later He adds: “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” Asking for angels is an “anything.”

Jesus reiterates this truth, saying: “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23). Angelic help is a “whatsoever.” Jesus could pray for angels, and He expects us to do the same.

Philippians 4:13 tells us we “can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us.” It doesn’t say all things except asking for angelic help. It says “all things,” and the understanding is they are all good things because Philippians 2:13 tells us: “It is God which worketh [is working] in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Sometimes we need angels to help us do those good things God’s called us to do.

There’s nothing in God’s Word that says we have to get angelic help. But when we get born again, we make Jesus our Lord. We become willing to follow His example, right?

What’s our excuse? If we say we’re unworthy of angels, Jesus says we are worthy. If we say we don’t need them, Jesus did, so why wouldn’t we? Are we more equipped than Him? Of course not.

In this crazy world, do we really think we can get along by ourselves just fine, without their help? Or maybe we think it’s up to God to send them when He wants to. But He gave us the power to look at a situation or circumstance and discern whether or not we need additional help. It’s really not that complicated. Jesus said all we need to do is ask for help, believe and receive: “Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).

Do we refrain from utilizing angels’ help because we don’t understand them? God’s Word is for the simplest of us. Sometimes we get too intellectual and think we have to understand everything first, but that’s not God’s way. Jesus teaches us to believe first, then act; the understanding comes later.

I am not in any way trying to belittle the magnificent power of using the name and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor am I denying the wonderful effectiveness of prayer or any of the other ways the Lord helps us. I am pointing out the additional value of angels to a believer.

God is way more variegated and majestic than we have yet to discover. He has provided us with many tools and weapons for living victoriously in this world. Why not employ more of what the Lord Jesus Christ showed us and made available to us?  

Psalm 103:20 tells us angels are strong: “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength.” Angels can strengthen us, and sometimes we just need that. We can believe and ask the Lord for their help.

Love, Carolyn

(painting by Titian 1522 the banner says “full of grace”)

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. Have you ever experienced the presence of an angel or angels?

2. Name three characteristics of angels and cite scripture references to back this up.

3. Have you tried praying for angels to help you or someone you love? What are some scriptures showing us that we can pray for angels’ help?

4. Do you ever feel that you need help in carrying out something the Lord’s inspired you to do? Did you ask for angels’ help? What happened?