Translate

Friday, November 09, 2018

The Ministry of Angels

Yesterday we considered the question of “Guardian Angels.” The Bible tells us that angels are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). What is the ministry to which angels are sent forth in relation to believers on earth?[i]

Bring nourishment
1 Kings 19:5-6 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

Deliver announcements
Judges 13:3 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
Luke 1:28ff And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women…

Escort believers
2 Kings 2:11 ...behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom…

Offer encouragement
Genesis 21:17-18 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
Acts 27:23-24 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

Offer guidance or counsel
Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

Provide protection
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
2 Kings 6:17 …behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me…

Serve as God’s instrument fulfilling prayer
Acts 12:5-10 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him…And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

Work providentially in healing
John 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

The above texts provide examples or samples of the ministry of angels recorded in the Bible. In addition, their ministry may be “unawares” – unnoticed by the very ones who benefit from it. Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.


[i] At Bible.Org J. Hampton Keathley provides an extensive and interesting study, Angelology: The Doctrine of Angels.

No comments: