Psalms 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."
The ministry of angels is something that many in the church world today know little, if anything about. But yet it deserves attention, for the Bible has much to say about angels. As a matter of fact, the word "angel" is mentioned in the Word Of God 298 times.
As far back as the Garden of Eden angels are mentioned. In Eden, they guarded "the way" of the tree of life. At Bethel, the angels of God met Jacob when he was feeling Esau. When Elijah was under the juniper tree, an angel provided him food for his long journey. In answer to Hezekiah's prayer, the angel of the Lord slew the great Assyrian army. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she was to be the mother of Jesus. In Acts, an angel opened the prison doors and released the apostles. An angel appeared to Cornelius and told him to send for Peter. An angel of the Lord came into the locked prison where Peter awaited execution and led him out to safety.
These are but a few of the many references to angels and their ministry to men all throughout the Bible. It would behoove you to carefully search out all the scripture references given below and study carefully what the Word has to say about angels, because one day, you just might need one to help you out yourself!
There are many millions of angels (Rev. 5:11)
They are immortal spirit beings created by God to represent and guard His interests (Psalms 148:5)
Angels were created sometime before the creation of human beings (Job 38:4-7)
Angels are able to manifest themselves in human form (Gen. 19)
Occasionally, an angel is revealed in his full heavenly glory (Daniel 10:5-6)
They are always spoken of in the masculine gender.
They do not marry (Matt. 22:30)
They are a company rather than a race (Heb. 12:22)There are different categories of angels and different levels of authority (Col. 1:16, Jude 9)
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- Seraphims - Described as having three pairs of wings. They are attendants of the Lord and have special duties in proclaiming the holiness of the Lord and in ministering at the altar. (Isaiah 6:1-7)
- Cherubims - Living creatures that have two pair of wings and have responsibilities in guarding the throne of God (Ezekiel 10:1-22)
- Archangels - These appear to be the highest order in the angelic realm. They are the only angels to be mentioned by name. The Bible speaks of three (1) Michael, (2) Gabriel and (3) Lucifer.
Angels worship before the throne of God (Psalms 148:2)
Angels escort the soul of a Christian at death (Luke 16:22)
Angels celebrate every time a sinner comes to God (Luke 15:10)
Angels record the good and bad deeds of our lives in a book which will be opened at the last judgment.
Angels are commissioned to execute divine judgment upon persons, cities and nations (Ezekiel 9:1-6)
Angels are used by God to bring messages to His people.
Encounters with angels are usually brief and formal, designed to enhance our relationship with Jesus rather than distract us from Him (Rev. 22:8-9)
The Bible warns us to not worship angels (Rev. 19:10)
The activity of angels is ceaseless, though we usually do not see them and usually do not even suspect their presence.
Angels are ministering spirits.
Angels are presently of a higher order than man, but one day the saints of God will be over angels and judge them (Psalms 8:4-5, I Cor. 6:3)
Angels have greater power and strength than man (2 Peter 2:11)
Some angels are assigned to a specific earthly territory. The Bible states that Israel and it's cities are under angelic guardianship. In Daniel 12:1, Michael is represented as the prince of Israel. In Ezekiel 9:1, the prophet Ezekiel records hearing God speak to angels with these words: "Let those who have charge over the city draw near."
Angels and Christians are allies in the conflict against satan and the demonic powers of darkness. Prevailing intercessory prayer from Christians brings more powerful angels to hinder satan's work and to aid the Christian in the fight (Daniel 10:10-21)
Angels deliver God's people into victories (Psalms 34:7). One of the most predominant examples in the Bible about angels helping to fight for God's people is found in the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6:15-17 (ESV): “When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ He said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” Verse 16 says it all, “Do not fear, for those who are with us, or more than those who are with them!”
The king of Syria had sent an army to surround where Elisha was staying and take him prisoner. The next morning when Elisha's servant woke up and saw that the Syrian army had surrounded the city, he freaked out! When he ran back to Elisha to tell him about it, Elisha was not only NOT alarmed or even surprised by this new-found revelation, he was cool as a cucumber. How? Because Elisha already had seen in the spirit-realm that Yahweh had dispatched countless warrior angels all around them! When you have that kind of knowledge, you can be confident.
Well, that's what I want to tell you about today! I want you to know that they that be for you are more than they that be for the enemy of your soul that is plotting destruction. God has warrior angels that we could not count even if we wanted to. He has a mighty army of warriors at His disposal that He will dispatch right away to you to fight with you in the battles that you are facing. They are ministering angels ablaze from being in the glory of God – and they are on your side!