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Angels in Your Midst
Did you know that there are angels constantly watching over you, while you are busy with your daily tasks, and even while you sleep? Awesome, supernatural beings, or angels, are assigned by God to keep you from harm, to comfort you in difficult situations, and to bless you with good things sent by the Father. Unless the Holy Spirit reveals their presence to you, very likely you will go on with your activities, as usual, unaware that God’s holy angels accompany you every day of your life.
The Bible has much to say about angels. There are over three hundred verses in the Word of God that mention these heavenly beings, giving us some insight into their interactions with people, from biblical times to the present.
Just a word of caution--the ministry of angels to us is very important, but they are never to be worshipped. God, alone, is worthy of worship! “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" Revelation 22:8-9 God’s holy angels will not receive worship. They love and serve the God of heaven and earth, as we, his children, do. Actually, there are countless heavenly beings worshipping God day and night. He is worthy!
The word, angel, comes from the Greek word, aggelos, which means messenger. Angels are created beings.
following the sixth day of creation, Genesis 2:1 tells us, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.”
The Bible refers to the holy angels as “the heavenly hosts,” and “the hosts of heaven.” “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’” Luke 2:13-14 Angels sang to the lowly shepherds, at the birth of Jesus, heralding our Savior's coming in the flesh as a baby, in the City of David, that holy night. The heavenly hosts glorified God and sang the peace that Jesus came to bring to every tribe, nation, and tongue on earth.
Another instance in which we see the innumerable heavenly hosts, appearing in one place at the same time, is in 2 Kings 6:15-17. “Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see " And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” The king of Syria had come to war against Israel, and the Lord sent his heavenly hosts, with horses and chariots of fire. Elisha smote the Syrian army with blindness and led them away. The Lord instructed Elisha to open their eyes and to give them something to eat. “ …So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.” verse 23 In this account, we see both the severity of God to the disobedient and the goodness of God to His chosen. Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, I chose you." John 15:16
The Lord takes care of His own. Guardian angels watch over us. Actually, each of us has our own private guardian angels. Dr. Billy Graham, observing the plural in Psalm 91, concerning angels, concluded that each believer must have at least two angels whose assigned duty it is to protect them. Psalm 91:4 speaks of God “covering us with His feathers” and mentions that we are under His “wings.” Since God has no feathers or wings, some have suggested that these feathers and wings speak of our guardian angels’ wings, which protectively cover us to keep us from falling, getting lost, or stumbling into unknown dangers in the unseen realm of the spirit. Spirit-filled Life Bible, Nelson Publishers.
Our Father’s care of us, through the ministry of the angels, keeps us in all our righteous ways, Psalm 91 says. In every person’s life, I am sure that the Lord has kept us from unknown dangers, when we were totally unaware of the guardian angels who surround us, unseen, unless the Lord opens our eyes to see them. They are sent forth by the Father “to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation!” Hebrews 1:14 That’s us! What a wonderful, loving Father we have!
Betty Seiley
Redeemer Church
www.bettyseiley.multiply.com
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