When Jesus ascended into heaven, people stood around and gawked. If we'd been there, we would have behaved the same way!
--And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)
We suppose those two men in white apparel were angels who explained to the audience of onlookers what was going on.
Jesus moved back to heaven to sit by His Father’s throne in the hub of the universe. He is like a King on a hill, where He surveys the combat on the earth beneath Him and in the air invisible to us. He can send hosts of angels, or He can conscript hosts of men and women to help with His causes. When He ascended into heaven, where He has all power, he left the disciples...and the rest of us…here to get busy with the work he left to be done. He will come back the same way he left. In the meantime, He told us, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me.” (Acts 1:8)
To read more thoughts about this subject, go to June 29, "Standing and Gazing" in DO YOU KNOW HOW GOD LOVES YOU?
Whether our loved ones can see us or even bother to look at us from heaven is a debated issue. What we do know is that Jesus is watching us! He went to heaven and sat down by the heavenly Father, but when Stephen was stoned Jesus stood in honor of this most noteworthy martyr! (Acts 7:56)
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Showing posts with label Angels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Angels. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
June 28, Whom He May Devour
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8)
The devil knows us well. We are transparent to him just as we are to the heavenly angels.
He was one of them until he spoke his famous five statements of egomania:
1. I will ascend into heaven.
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
3. I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
5. I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14: 13-14)
Then he became the ugly old devil. Most Christians believe there is a devil. He is running around looking for our weak spots – our Achilles’ heels – so he can attack us. Even though he may cause us some temporary pain by trying to pull us away from the Father’s love, he cannot succeed if we have given our hearts to God. It is amazing that he continues to try. He tried to tempt Jesus the same way!
What do you believe about him? Do you believe he is a fallen angel? Do you realize that he really was the most beautiful of all the angels and that he chose to rebel against God?
One more question as an aside: do you really believe that good angels exist and that they do God’s bidding? Angels are like the frosting on a cake. Some of us don’t really believe our cake should be anything but plain. Somehow we don’t think we deserve helpers that make our lives easier. We seem to want to have everything as difficult as possible so we can be as self-sufficient as possible. We don’t want to give God the credit for making our lives work. This mindset is one more way of failing to give God the glory. It is one more way the devil lies to us by denying God’s grace...God’s love.
And yet another question: do you believe that Jesus came to the earth, died on the cross to pay for our sins, became our sin, arose, and went to heaven where He sits on the right hand of His Father? I have to ask: do you realize that the Holy Spirit came to live in your heart when you accepted Jesus as your Savior? You know that you can ask your heavenly Father in the name of Jesus for whatever you need, and He’ll give it to you if you ask within His will, don’t you? He really will send His angels to protect you and keep you from falling. Trusting God is honoring God – giving Him the Glory.
The battle between the good and the evil angels is being fought over you because you are the apple of God’s eye and Satan, the fallen angel, hates you.
--And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26)
In summary, the ultimate question: Do you know how God loves you? He gave His only Son so you would not perish. Why can we not accept the simplicity of God’s love?
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The devil knows us well. We are transparent to him just as we are to the heavenly angels.
He was one of them until he spoke his famous five statements of egomania:
1. I will ascend into heaven.
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
3. I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.
5. I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14: 13-14)
Then he became the ugly old devil. Most Christians believe there is a devil. He is running around looking for our weak spots – our Achilles’ heels – so he can attack us. Even though he may cause us some temporary pain by trying to pull us away from the Father’s love, he cannot succeed if we have given our hearts to God. It is amazing that he continues to try. He tried to tempt Jesus the same way!
What do you believe about him? Do you believe he is a fallen angel? Do you realize that he really was the most beautiful of all the angels and that he chose to rebel against God?
One more question as an aside: do you really believe that good angels exist and that they do God’s bidding? Angels are like the frosting on a cake. Some of us don’t really believe our cake should be anything but plain. Somehow we don’t think we deserve helpers that make our lives easier. We seem to want to have everything as difficult as possible so we can be as self-sufficient as possible. We don’t want to give God the credit for making our lives work. This mindset is one more way of failing to give God the glory. It is one more way the devil lies to us by denying God’s grace...God’s love.
And yet another question: do you believe that Jesus came to the earth, died on the cross to pay for our sins, became our sin, arose, and went to heaven where He sits on the right hand of His Father? I have to ask: do you realize that the Holy Spirit came to live in your heart when you accepted Jesus as your Savior? You know that you can ask your heavenly Father in the name of Jesus for whatever you need, and He’ll give it to you if you ask within His will, don’t you? He really will send His angels to protect you and keep you from falling. Trusting God is honoring God – giving Him the Glory.
The battle between the good and the evil angels is being fought over you because you are the apple of God’s eye and Satan, the fallen angel, hates you.
--And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26)
In summary, the ultimate question: Do you know how God loves you? He gave His only Son so you would not perish. Why can we not accept the simplicity of God’s love?
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Saturday, June 26, 2010
June 26, Heavenly Spectators
Here is evidence that the angels receive constant communication about us through God. Jesus told a story:
--What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, “Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.”
There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:8-10)
The angels of heaven are watching all of us, they know our spiritual conditions, they love us with pure unselfish love, and they want us to receive salvation. When a lost person accepts Christ, they celebrate.
Angels are watching over us in other areas also. When we struggle through our problems, the angels are watching on the sidelines. They step in to help us when God directs them to. As patient creatures, they realize something we need to keep in mind: whatever God send us in our lives is done on His time schedule.
--And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Roman 8:28)
For more evidence about the way the angels watch over us, read the June 26 devotional in DO YOU KNOW HOW GOD LOVES YOU? Also go to Luke 14:4-7.
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--What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, “Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.”
There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:8-10)
The angels of heaven are watching all of us, they know our spiritual conditions, they love us with pure unselfish love, and they want us to receive salvation. When a lost person accepts Christ, they celebrate.
Angels are watching over us in other areas also. When we struggle through our problems, the angels are watching on the sidelines. They step in to help us when God directs them to. As patient creatures, they realize something we need to keep in mind: whatever God send us in our lives is done on His time schedule.
--And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Roman 8:28)
For more evidence about the way the angels watch over us, read the June 26 devotional in DO YOU KNOW HOW GOD LOVES YOU? Also go to Luke 14:4-7.
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Thursday, June 24, 2010
June 23, “Open the Door, Rhoda!”
“Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.” (Acts 12:18)
King Herod decided he needed to vex the members of the early church. (Acts 12) For the sport of tormenting Christ’s followers, he killed John’s brother James with a sword. During Passover week there were many Jews in town. Herod was enjoying more and more popularity. Therefore he arrested Peter and assigned four quarternions, (four-men squads) of soldiers to guard him until Passover was finished. Then he planned to kill Peter. Surely sixteen soldiers would keep anyone from stealing this prize prisoner.
God had work for Peter to do. Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep. (John 21), but at this point, the man was merely beginning his ministry.
Moreover, the church, seeking the permissive will of God, prayed without ceasing for him. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, had invested His time and efforts teaching this immature man Peter, and now the impetuous fisherman had grown up. He was an Apostle,especially gifted by the Holy Spirit, mature in his knowledge, and bold with his message. at a preacher he had become! Then, came the night before his scheduled execution. Sleeping soundly in jail, he lay chained between two soldiers. Sentries stood at the door.
Peter awakened to a bright light in his face with an angel gently hitting him on his side and telling him to get up quickly. The chains fell off his hands. The angel told him to throw his outer garment on, tighten his belt, and fasten his sandals. As the angel led him through the gates and down a street, Peter thought he was dreaming. Then the angel left him.
He came to himself and said,"Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod." (11)
Getting his bearings, he went to the house of Mary, John Mark’s mother, where a large number of people were meeting there to pray. When he arrived, he knocked on the gate-door, and a girl named Rhoda answered. He spoke to her, and she recognized his voice.Instead of letting him in, she became excited and happy, slammed the door in his face,and ran to tell the others. They didn’t believe her.
“You’re crazy,” they said, but she insisted. “It’s his angel,” they argued. Eventually they let him inside. As a result of Peter’s escape,
--The word of God grew and multiplied. (24)
Have you noticed some of the times in your life when God’s angels provided you and your loved ones supernatural protection? What purpose does God have? Ask Him.
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King Herod decided he needed to vex the members of the early church. (Acts 12) For the sport of tormenting Christ’s followers, he killed John’s brother James with a sword. During Passover week there were many Jews in town. Herod was enjoying more and more popularity. Therefore he arrested Peter and assigned four quarternions, (four-men squads) of soldiers to guard him until Passover was finished. Then he planned to kill Peter. Surely sixteen soldiers would keep anyone from stealing this prize prisoner.
God had work for Peter to do. Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep. (John 21), but at this point, the man was merely beginning his ministry.
Moreover, the church, seeking the permissive will of God, prayed without ceasing for him. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, had invested His time and efforts teaching this immature man Peter, and now the impetuous fisherman had grown up. He was an Apostle,especially gifted by the Holy Spirit, mature in his knowledge, and bold with his message. at a preacher he had become! Then, came the night before his scheduled execution. Sleeping soundly in jail, he lay chained between two soldiers. Sentries stood at the door.
Peter awakened to a bright light in his face with an angel gently hitting him on his side and telling him to get up quickly. The chains fell off his hands. The angel told him to throw his outer garment on, tighten his belt, and fasten his sandals. As the angel led him through the gates and down a street, Peter thought he was dreaming. Then the angel left him.
He came to himself and said,"Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod." (11)
Getting his bearings, he went to the house of Mary, John Mark’s mother, where a large number of people were meeting there to pray. When he arrived, he knocked on the gate-door, and a girl named Rhoda answered. He spoke to her, and she recognized his voice.Instead of letting him in, she became excited and happy, slammed the door in his face,and ran to tell the others. They didn’t believe her.
“You’re crazy,” they said, but she insisted. “It’s his angel,” they argued. Eventually they let him inside. As a result of Peter’s escape,
--The word of God grew and multiplied. (24)
Have you noticed some of the times in your life when God’s angels provided you and your loved ones supernatural protection? What purpose does God have? Ask Him.
Visit Do You Know How God Loves You?
Sunday, June 20, 2010
June 20, Cherubim
Cherub -- a cute little chubby angel like the ones in fine old oil paintings and scarf collars? Wrong! Are cherubim reincarnate human babies? No! What are they then? They are fiercely powerful beings that guard the glory of God and protect us from danger. When we study the Bible, we must redo our idea of what cherubs look like.
When God turned Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eve, he placed cherubim to guard the gate. (Genesis 3:24) These protectors were not the popular wide-eyed rosy-cheeked soft creatures of mythology.
In the scripture we encounter our Lord, who has infinite supernatural power surrounded by warrior cherubs guarding His glory.
See the devotional on June 20 in Do You Know How God Love You?
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When God turned Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eve, he placed cherubim to guard the gate. (Genesis 3:24) These protectors were not the popular wide-eyed rosy-cheeked soft creatures of mythology.
In the scripture we encounter our Lord, who has infinite supernatural power surrounded by warrior cherubs guarding His glory.
See the devotional on June 20 in Do You Know How God Love You?
Visit Do You Know How God Loves You?
Thursday, June 17, 2010
June 17, Sweet Incense
Like candles? And incense? We don't know all the details about God. We'll have to wait until we go live with Him to discover more. One thing we do know is that He loves incense.
When Isaiah encountered the Lord God Jehovah in the temple, the seraphim (high ranking angels) were busy burning incense. the entire temple was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6)
There's a magnificent scene in heaven that John the Apostle share in Revelation 8:3-4. John went on a tour through heaven. He discovered that the angels were mixing incense with the prayers of the people who believe in Him. Imagine that!
Picture our heavenly Father loving us – lavishing affection on us! He has angels mixing our prayers with the incense! He treasures our prayers. I think that Jesus and the Holy Spirit must be sorting through our prayers to sweeten them by changing them from our raw selfish requests to something noble and perfect for the Father. The angels mixing them with incense are stirring the pot like kitchen helpers.
The Lord of the universe sits on His throne and waits to hear from us! In this age of easy access to God’s throne room, how sinfully prideful are we when we offer Him irreverent, slovenly prayers?
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When Isaiah encountered the Lord God Jehovah in the temple, the seraphim (high ranking angels) were busy burning incense. the entire temple was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6)
There's a magnificent scene in heaven that John the Apostle share in Revelation 8:3-4. John went on a tour through heaven. He discovered that the angels were mixing incense with the prayers of the people who believe in Him. Imagine that!
Picture our heavenly Father loving us – lavishing affection on us! He has angels mixing our prayers with the incense! He treasures our prayers. I think that Jesus and the Holy Spirit must be sorting through our prayers to sweeten them by changing them from our raw selfish requests to something noble and perfect for the Father. The angels mixing them with incense are stirring the pot like kitchen helpers.
The Lord of the universe sits on His throne and waits to hear from us! In this age of easy access to God’s throne room, how sinfully prideful are we when we offer Him irreverent, slovenly prayers?
Visit Do You Know How God Loves You?
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
June 15, Purification by Fire
Feeling sad because King Uzziah had died, Isaiah, who had been trying to be a righteous man in his own way, went into the temple (not the Holy of Holies) and was astonished to see the Lord on a high throne. The six-winged seraphim were above the throne. (Isaiah 6)
In the eyes of his contemporaries, Isaiah had lived a righteous life. It appears that he had followed the codes of behavior outlined for him as a man in Israel. Having followed the appropriate customs, practiced the established rituals, and walked in the path of his own righteousness, shouldn’t he have found himself worthy? But in the presence of the glory of God, he suddenly knew otherwise.
Realizing his own unworthiness before the Lord, Isaiah said, “Woe is me!” He cried out that he was a man of unclean lips living in a people of unclean lips and that his eyes had seen the King Jehovah. He was in agony under the bright light of God’s glory. When he saw God as completely powerful and completely holy, he saw himself as he truly was . . . a sinner. The habits of his speech represented the vileness of his heart. Even though he knew he had not been a bad man in human terms, he realized how flawed he was when he compared himself to his perfect God.
--Then said I, "Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
--Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth and said, “Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:5-6)
A reference to baptism by fire is made in a comment by John the Baptist, who said that he baptized with water but that Jesus baptized with fire and with the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16) The closer we move to the Lord, the more we see His perfection, and the more we realize that the only righteousness we can claim is the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
With Isaiah, we find ourselves expanding our sense of reality. The triune God is real, heaven is real, and the cleansing power of salvation is real. God the Father is so holy that He cannot tolerate the sight of our sins. When He looks at us, He sees His perfect Son. Like the seraphim, we need to cry out, “Holy, holy, holy!”
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In the eyes of his contemporaries, Isaiah had lived a righteous life. It appears that he had followed the codes of behavior outlined for him as a man in Israel. Having followed the appropriate customs, practiced the established rituals, and walked in the path of his own righteousness, shouldn’t he have found himself worthy? But in the presence of the glory of God, he suddenly knew otherwise.
Realizing his own unworthiness before the Lord, Isaiah said, “Woe is me!” He cried out that he was a man of unclean lips living in a people of unclean lips and that his eyes had seen the King Jehovah. He was in agony under the bright light of God’s glory. When he saw God as completely powerful and completely holy, he saw himself as he truly was . . . a sinner. The habits of his speech represented the vileness of his heart. Even though he knew he had not been a bad man in human terms, he realized how flawed he was when he compared himself to his perfect God.
--Then said I, "Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
--Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth and said, “Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:5-6)
A reference to baptism by fire is made in a comment by John the Baptist, who said that he baptized with water but that Jesus baptized with fire and with the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11, Luke 3:16) The closer we move to the Lord, the more we see His perfection, and the more we realize that the only righteousness we can claim is the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
With Isaiah, we find ourselves expanding our sense of reality. The triune God is real, heaven is real, and the cleansing power of salvation is real. God the Father is so holy that He cannot tolerate the sight of our sins. When He looks at us, He sees His perfect Son. Like the seraphim, we need to cry out, “Holy, holy, holy!”
Visit Do You Know How God Loves You?
Monday, June 14, 2010
June 14, Seraphim, Isaiah, and You!
What about you? How much does God love you? What special mission does He have for you?
A man who recognized he was a mere sinner stood in the presence of the Lord God Almighty in the temple. The glory of God filled the place. There were angels called seraphim there. He described them in detail. Read about it in Isaiah 6. The man Isaiah had no reason to lie. Read his story and believe it. Isaiah discovered how much God loved him and how much God would ask him to do.
Studying angels, we find them amazing! Although they are impressive, they never point to themselves. They point us to the Lord. When we catch a glimpse of God, we realize that we are inadequate in our natural state to approach Him. But we must! He has revealed Himself to us, and He will some day bring us into the presence of His glory. Ironically while we feel so deficient because of our vile, sinful nature, we have an urgency to ask Him to change us and use us. We cannot escape our potential for service.
He tells us that we are created in His image for His purpose. Only through the aacrifice of the Son can we find the peace of God’s presence.
To learn more about what happened to Isaiah, go to the June 13 devotional in Do You Know How God Loves You?
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A man who recognized he was a mere sinner stood in the presence of the Lord God Almighty in the temple. The glory of God filled the place. There were angels called seraphim there. He described them in detail. Read about it in Isaiah 6. The man Isaiah had no reason to lie. Read his story and believe it. Isaiah discovered how much God loved him and how much God would ask him to do.
Studying angels, we find them amazing! Although they are impressive, they never point to themselves. They point us to the Lord. When we catch a glimpse of God, we realize that we are inadequate in our natural state to approach Him. But we must! He has revealed Himself to us, and He will some day bring us into the presence of His glory. Ironically while we feel so deficient because of our vile, sinful nature, we have an urgency to ask Him to change us and use us. We cannot escape our potential for service.
He tells us that we are created in His image for His purpose. Only through the aacrifice of the Son can we find the peace of God’s presence.
To learn more about what happened to Isaiah, go to the June 13 devotional in Do You Know How God Loves You?
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Sunday, June 13, 2010
June 13, God’s Hero
“And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, ‘I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.’ ” (Luke 1:18-19)
Zacharias, a priest, was married to Elisabeth, a woman faithful to him and to God. They had no children. When Zacharias stepped inside the Holy of Holies to perform his priestly duties, an angel appeared before him and told him he would have a son, whose name would be John. This was the John who was to become known as the Baptist. The son was to be a special man with the task of making the final preparations for the Messiah.
Gabriel was that angel. He is not an archangel like Michael. His name Gabriel means “God’s hero” or “God is great,” and as God’s special messenger, he lived up to his name. He always delivered powerful news from God. In the Old Testament, he appeared to Daniel and explained about the end times. In the New Testament, not long after he appeared to Zacharias, he appeared to Mary.
If he appeared other times, he did not identify himself. Like Michael, Gabriel is in a category all by himself. We do not know that he plays the trumpet. Scripture does not substantiate the stories about Gabriel and his trumpet. As much as I would love to say that Gabriel is a trumpet player, I cannot find any evidence to support the idea. Neither can the theologians whose works I have read. All we know is that Gabriel is a unique angel with his own unique missions.
You are also unique! You are significant in God’s plan. Seek His guidance to know what it is He has designed you to do better than anyone else can do it. God loves you that much!The thought is a sweet nectar to the soul. The process of God’s creation and the way it continues to play out through the ages leads us to contemplate His glory. In His majesty,He has made us.
"Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture." (Psalm 100:3)
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Zacharias, a priest, was married to Elisabeth, a woman faithful to him and to God. They had no children. When Zacharias stepped inside the Holy of Holies to perform his priestly duties, an angel appeared before him and told him he would have a son, whose name would be John. This was the John who was to become known as the Baptist. The son was to be a special man with the task of making the final preparations for the Messiah.
Gabriel was that angel. He is not an archangel like Michael. His name Gabriel means “God’s hero” or “God is great,” and as God’s special messenger, he lived up to his name. He always delivered powerful news from God. In the Old Testament, he appeared to Daniel and explained about the end times. In the New Testament, not long after he appeared to Zacharias, he appeared to Mary.
If he appeared other times, he did not identify himself. Like Michael, Gabriel is in a category all by himself. We do not know that he plays the trumpet. Scripture does not substantiate the stories about Gabriel and his trumpet. As much as I would love to say that Gabriel is a trumpet player, I cannot find any evidence to support the idea. Neither can the theologians whose works I have read. All we know is that Gabriel is a unique angel with his own unique missions.
You are also unique! You are significant in God’s plan. Seek His guidance to know what it is He has designed you to do better than anyone else can do it. God loves you that much!The thought is a sweet nectar to the soul. The process of God’s creation and the way it continues to play out through the ages leads us to contemplate His glory. In His majesty,He has made us.
"Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture." (Psalm 100:3)
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Friday, June 11, 2010
June 11, Don’t Worship Angels!
“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” (Colossians 2:18-19)
Don’t let anyone defraud you by acting as an umpire. In other words, don’t put up with people who expect you to bow and scrape to them and their false teachings. Don’t let people put you down. Don’t worship angels. Don’t pay attention to people who go around telling wild tales that they have made up. They get all puffed up in their vanity.
Christ is the head of the body, the church, and He is the One who puts us together in one piece. We can grow strong only with the nourishment that God provides. The great British preacher Charles Spurgeon explains:
In Paul’s day there were some who took off the attention of the Christian from the worship of God to the worship of angels. “Angels,” said they, “these are holy beings; they keep watch over you; you should speak of them with great respect”; and then when they grew bolder, they said, “You should ask their protection”; and then after a little while they said, “You should worship them; you should make them intermediate intercessors”; and so, step by step, they went on and established an old heresy which lasted for many years in the Christian church, and which is not dead even now, and thus the worship of angels crept in.
The stories I share with you about angels are intended simply to help make us aware of the spiritual warfare and protection that surrounds us. Through the ages, many Christians have allowed these verses and the heretical practices of other Christians to frighten them away from learning about angels. There is nothing wrong with exploring what the Bible has to say about the subject.
Our passion and our joy revolve around Jesus Christ, who was crucified to pay for our sins. (I Corinthians 2:2) We are not to contact angels unless they contact us. We are not to pray to them. While we can rejoice over the protection they give, we are never permitted to worship them. We are God’s children. They are His servants, nothing more. They are created beings who serve God’s purpose. When the Apostle John was receiving his vision in Revelation, he made a mistake and bowed to the brilliant and radiant angel, who quickly corrected him.And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, “See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)
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Don’t let anyone defraud you by acting as an umpire. In other words, don’t put up with people who expect you to bow and scrape to them and their false teachings. Don’t let people put you down. Don’t worship angels. Don’t pay attention to people who go around telling wild tales that they have made up. They get all puffed up in their vanity.
Christ is the head of the body, the church, and He is the One who puts us together in one piece. We can grow strong only with the nourishment that God provides. The great British preacher Charles Spurgeon explains:
In Paul’s day there were some who took off the attention of the Christian from the worship of God to the worship of angels. “Angels,” said they, “these are holy beings; they keep watch over you; you should speak of them with great respect”; and then when they grew bolder, they said, “You should ask their protection”; and then after a little while they said, “You should worship them; you should make them intermediate intercessors”; and so, step by step, they went on and established an old heresy which lasted for many years in the Christian church, and which is not dead even now, and thus the worship of angels crept in.
The stories I share with you about angels are intended simply to help make us aware of the spiritual warfare and protection that surrounds us. Through the ages, many Christians have allowed these verses and the heretical practices of other Christians to frighten them away from learning about angels. There is nothing wrong with exploring what the Bible has to say about the subject.
Our passion and our joy revolve around Jesus Christ, who was crucified to pay for our sins. (I Corinthians 2:2) We are not to contact angels unless they contact us. We are not to pray to them. While we can rejoice over the protection they give, we are never permitted to worship them. We are God’s children. They are His servants, nothing more. They are created beings who serve God’s purpose. When the Apostle John was receiving his vision in Revelation, he made a mistake and bowed to the brilliant and radiant angel, who quickly corrected him.And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, “See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)
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Thursday, June 10, 2010
June 10, Who's watching you?
The Good and Evil Watchers
Do you ever have the feeling that you are being watched? You are. The eyes of the universe are upon you. Jacob’s ladder is a vivid picture of the multitude of angels all around. Daniel had a dream in which he saw “watchers and holy ones.” (Daniel 4: 13-18)
“And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” (Genesis 28:10-12)
The vilest of the evil ones, Satan, is preoccupied with our thoughts. He sifts through our behavior to find our weaknesses. The Apostle Peter warned us: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (I Peter 5:8)
The angels of heaven rejoice when we repent. They are more ready than a 9-1-1 operator for God’s call to assist us.
There is a constant battle on our behalf between them and the evil demons of the air. The good ultimately will win. What a joy it is to know that we are guarded! What a sobering thought to think that we are observed in our meanest actions!How we suddenly find ourselves struggling to break our swearing habits! How dull the lewd entertainments become! We don’t want to offend the heavenly watchers and the holy ones. We don’t want to give the evil watchers a toehold on our beings.
As amazing as this realization may be, it pales by comparison to the recognition that the God of all the Universe is seeing us. We need to pray that God, the Spirit dwelling in us, will make our emotions, our actions, and our thoughts things of value to honor Him.
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Do you ever have the feeling that you are being watched? You are. The eyes of the universe are upon you. Jacob’s ladder is a vivid picture of the multitude of angels all around. Daniel had a dream in which he saw “watchers and holy ones.” (Daniel 4: 13-18)
“And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” (Genesis 28:10-12)
The vilest of the evil ones, Satan, is preoccupied with our thoughts. He sifts through our behavior to find our weaknesses. The Apostle Peter warned us: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (I Peter 5:8)
The angels of heaven rejoice when we repent. They are more ready than a 9-1-1 operator for God’s call to assist us.
There is a constant battle on our behalf between them and the evil demons of the air. The good ultimately will win. What a joy it is to know that we are guarded! What a sobering thought to think that we are observed in our meanest actions!How we suddenly find ourselves struggling to break our swearing habits! How dull the lewd entertainments become! We don’t want to offend the heavenly watchers and the holy ones. We don’t want to give the evil watchers a toehold on our beings.
As amazing as this realization may be, it pales by comparison to the recognition that the God of all the Universe is seeing us. We need to pray that God, the Spirit dwelling in us, will make our emotions, our actions, and our thoughts things of value to honor Him.
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010
June 9, Long Distance
Here's another incredible story about angelic activity. The point is that our Father God cares about all the details of the lives of His children.
“Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.” (Psalm 102:20)
Paul Elliott shared some stories about angels. Here is one of them:
My grandfather, grandmother, and Great Aunt Hennie were going to a place in Alabama. They were due at 6:00 for supper. There was a terrible thunderstorm. There was a bridge where they had to cross the river, but the bridge was washed out. So they had to make a detour, and the result was that they arrived at 10:00 that night. “Oh, we’re glad to have you. We’ve got the supper warm, and we’ve been waiting for you.”
“Well, weren’t you concerned about us?”
“No, we got your phone call telling us that the bridge was washed out and you’d be in
around 10:00.”
“What phone call?” My grandmother said.
They said, “The one you made about 6:00.”
And my grandfather said, “We didn’t make a phone call.”
“Oh, yes you did. We heard your voice. You said the bridge had been washed out. We’ll
have to go up the river to another place to cross it. We’ll be in about 10:00.’ ” This was intensely puzzling because they had not been at any place where they could make a phone call.
They were thankful the people had waited supper, and it was nice and warm. The next day they were all very interested. It was so intriguing that they called the phone company to inquire about long distance phone calls coming in. The phone company told the people there had been no long distance phone calls received on that date. The conclusion was that an angel had intervened to reassure the family that everything was all right.
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“Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.” (Psalm 102:20)
Paul Elliott shared some stories about angels. Here is one of them:
My grandfather, grandmother, and Great Aunt Hennie were going to a place in Alabama. They were due at 6:00 for supper. There was a terrible thunderstorm. There was a bridge where they had to cross the river, but the bridge was washed out. So they had to make a detour, and the result was that they arrived at 10:00 that night. “Oh, we’re glad to have you. We’ve got the supper warm, and we’ve been waiting for you.”
“Well, weren’t you concerned about us?”
“No, we got your phone call telling us that the bridge was washed out and you’d be in
around 10:00.”
“What phone call?” My grandmother said.
They said, “The one you made about 6:00.”
And my grandfather said, “We didn’t make a phone call.”
“Oh, yes you did. We heard your voice. You said the bridge had been washed out. We’ll
have to go up the river to another place to cross it. We’ll be in about 10:00.’ ” This was intensely puzzling because they had not been at any place where they could make a phone call.
They were thankful the people had waited supper, and it was nice and warm. The next day they were all very interested. It was so intriguing that they called the phone company to inquire about long distance phone calls coming in. The phone company told the people there had been no long distance phone calls received on that date. The conclusion was that an angel had intervened to reassure the family that everything was all right.
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Tuesday, June 8, 2010
June 8, Angels Unawares
Have you had experiences that you could not explain in human terms? Could there have been angels present?
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)
Paul Elliott told me about his grandfather, Rev. Dr. William Marion Elliott, Sr., who on at least two occasions in Colorado City, Texas, awakened in the middle of the night and said to his grandmother, “I have the feeling someone downtown needs me.” He went to the intersection to which he felt called and witnessed to the drunks he found in the gutters there.
Paul said:
My dad was westbound in Eastland, Texas, which is west of Fort Worth. There was only one traffic signal light in town. He pulled up and stopped. The signal light was red and he stopped. When his engine died, he jumped out to push it through the intersection. Since there was angle parking, he started to push. All at once it was easy to push. There was another man pushing and smiling at him. He hopped into the driver’s side to angle it into the parking place.
Then he hopped out to thank the man. There was not another soul on the street. The man had not had time to go into one of the buildings on the other side of the street. There were no other cars anywhere around. It was his opinion that the man was an angel. From the time he had hopped into his seat, parked, and gotten out to thank the man, there was no way the mysterious person could have entered any building across the street or walked in any direction to have disappeared.
(This is one of the stories in the June 8 devotional of DO YOU KNOW HOW GOD LOVES YOU?)
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“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)
Paul Elliott told me about his grandfather, Rev. Dr. William Marion Elliott, Sr., who on at least two occasions in Colorado City, Texas, awakened in the middle of the night and said to his grandmother, “I have the feeling someone downtown needs me.” He went to the intersection to which he felt called and witnessed to the drunks he found in the gutters there.
Paul said:
My dad was westbound in Eastland, Texas, which is west of Fort Worth. There was only one traffic signal light in town. He pulled up and stopped. The signal light was red and he stopped. When his engine died, he jumped out to push it through the intersection. Since there was angle parking, he started to push. All at once it was easy to push. There was another man pushing and smiling at him. He hopped into the driver’s side to angle it into the parking place.
Then he hopped out to thank the man. There was not another soul on the street. The man had not had time to go into one of the buildings on the other side of the street. There were no other cars anywhere around. It was his opinion that the man was an angel. From the time he had hopped into his seat, parked, and gotten out to thank the man, there was no way the mysterious person could have entered any building across the street or walked in any direction to have disappeared.
(This is one of the stories in the June 8 devotional of DO YOU KNOW HOW GOD LOVES YOU?)
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Monday, June 7, 2010
June 7, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.” (Luke 16:22)
Have you ever been present when someone died?
I am a nurse. Many times I have cared for people who were near death. I have witnessed death. Through the years I became comfortable being at the bedside of a dying person. We struggle to do all we can to make people live as long as possible. If there are do-not-resuscitate directives on the chart, we do all within our power to provide comfort and also to provide treatment for the person with the hopes of helping heal whatever illness the person has. When the person leaves his body behind, the body is suddenly empty. No one is there. It is a great irony though that I have felt as though the room of a dead person was inhabited with people I could not see!
What I know from personal experience is that an angel carries the spirit leaving the body. What I know from the Highest Authority is that an angel (or some angels) come to carry the person away. (Luke 16:22) I've heard a description of an angel from a dying man's lips. My friend Paul Elliott, a retired physician, had a similar experience. These stories are included on this day in DO YOU KNOW HOW GOD LOVES YOU?
The following story about the presence of an angel is one I've shared before:
My husband, Robert Cheatham, (Bobby) spent five years unable to move his body from his chest down. He suffered from a variant of a strange and rare neurological disease, called Guillain Barré Syndrome. With the passage of time, he became fatigued from years of pain in his legs and discouraged from failing to regain his ability to move. In 2001, he experienced a respiratory arrest, and on the morning of September 11, he received a filter to trap blood clots that were collecting in his lungs. From that time on, he wanted to go home to be with his father, who had died the previous year. As the days passed, he became detached. At night during his sleep, he talked about going home to heaven.
I’ll not forget the night Bobby died. He was lying in the hospital, and he was not to be resuscitated. It was about 4:00 a.m. Knowing that his time was short, I had tried to stay awake that night, but I did not succeed. Shortly after 4:00, I was awakened as I realized a wind was whirling in the room near the window, but the window was closed and locked that January night. I felt and heard the wind, which had brought me out of deep sleep. There was a rustling noise. I believe I heard the sound of wings!
For the first time in years, I realized that Bobby was not in pain. His handsome face was at peace. There was no labored breathing because...he was not breathing. I kissed his cheek, which was not yet cold, and I realized he was no longer there. I did not, however, feel alone in the room. There was a sense of serenity and comfort.
There is no way I could ever doubt that God sends His angels to watch over us.
Visit Do You Know How God Loves You?
Have you ever been present when someone died?
I am a nurse. Many times I have cared for people who were near death. I have witnessed death. Through the years I became comfortable being at the bedside of a dying person. We struggle to do all we can to make people live as long as possible. If there are do-not-resuscitate directives on the chart, we do all within our power to provide comfort and also to provide treatment for the person with the hopes of helping heal whatever illness the person has. When the person leaves his body behind, the body is suddenly empty. No one is there. It is a great irony though that I have felt as though the room of a dead person was inhabited with people I could not see!
What I know from personal experience is that an angel carries the spirit leaving the body. What I know from the Highest Authority is that an angel (or some angels) come to carry the person away. (Luke 16:22) I've heard a description of an angel from a dying man's lips. My friend Paul Elliott, a retired physician, had a similar experience. These stories are included on this day in DO YOU KNOW HOW GOD LOVES YOU?
The following story about the presence of an angel is one I've shared before:
My husband, Robert Cheatham, (Bobby) spent five years unable to move his body from his chest down. He suffered from a variant of a strange and rare neurological disease, called Guillain Barré Syndrome. With the passage of time, he became fatigued from years of pain in his legs and discouraged from failing to regain his ability to move. In 2001, he experienced a respiratory arrest, and on the morning of September 11, he received a filter to trap blood clots that were collecting in his lungs. From that time on, he wanted to go home to be with his father, who had died the previous year. As the days passed, he became detached. At night during his sleep, he talked about going home to heaven.
I’ll not forget the night Bobby died. He was lying in the hospital, and he was not to be resuscitated. It was about 4:00 a.m. Knowing that his time was short, I had tried to stay awake that night, but I did not succeed. Shortly after 4:00, I was awakened as I realized a wind was whirling in the room near the window, but the window was closed and locked that January night. I felt and heard the wind, which had brought me out of deep sleep. There was a rustling noise. I believe I heard the sound of wings!
For the first time in years, I realized that Bobby was not in pain. His handsome face was at peace. There was no labored breathing because...he was not breathing. I kissed his cheek, which was not yet cold, and I realized he was no longer there. I did not, however, feel alone in the room. There was a sense of serenity and comfort.
There is no way I could ever doubt that God sends His angels to watch over us.
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Thursday, June 3, 2010
June 3, Chariots of Fire
"Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." (II Kings 6:16)
What happened at Dotham to the young man, who was a servant of Elisha, reveals the power and love of God in a dynamic way. This incident serves as a potent reminder of the might of the God we serve.
In 893 B.C. Samaria, the northern nation of the kingdom that had been Israel, was at war with Syria. Since things were not going well for Syria, the Syrian King Ben-hadad thought that there was an Israelite spy in his camp. The truth he discovered was that Elisha, who was obviously blessed by God with information, was directing the war from Israel’s side. Elisha was a prophet, who was given the power of the Holy Spirit in order to woo back Israel from the evil they had fallen into. Through the supernatural events allowed in his ministry, Elisha was giving the king of Israel a last chance before the captivity. God sent Elisha to do the work, and He supplied the mighty prophet with a host of angels. When the king of Syria realized that Elisha had special knowledge that made Samaritan spies in his camp unnecessary, he sent Syrian spies to look for the man of God. "See where he is,that I may send and seize him," Ben-hadad said.
The spies did their job. They found Elisha in Dotham. So Ben-hadad sent horses, chariots,and a very big army. They arrived at Dotham under the cover of the night, and they encompassed the city.
The next morning Elisha’s servant awakened early and went outside. He saw a huge army with horses and chariots surrounding Dotham. "Alas, my master! How shall we do?" the servant said. Just imagine the servant standing there ringing his hands in despair.
Notice what Elisha said. This is a powerful verse! Memorize it. Elisha answered, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." (II Kings 6:16)
In our time believers are a minority. We need to think like Elisha. One man with God is a majority against any number of evildoers!
Elisha prayed for his servant: "'LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.' And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."(II Kings 6:17)
I pray that God will open our eyes the way He opened those of Elisha’s servant so we can see the supernatural protection that we, as His chosen children, have. Whatever struggles He allows to touch us are trials to make us stronger. When He is ready for us, He will send,the angels to take us to the eternally safe place by His throne.
What happened at Dotham to the young man, who was a servant of Elisha, reveals the power and love of God in a dynamic way. This incident serves as a potent reminder of the might of the God we serve.
In 893 B.C. Samaria, the northern nation of the kingdom that had been Israel, was at war with Syria. Since things were not going well for Syria, the Syrian King Ben-hadad thought that there was an Israelite spy in his camp. The truth he discovered was that Elisha, who was obviously blessed by God with information, was directing the war from Israel’s side. Elisha was a prophet, who was given the power of the Holy Spirit in order to woo back Israel from the evil they had fallen into. Through the supernatural events allowed in his ministry, Elisha was giving the king of Israel a last chance before the captivity. God sent Elisha to do the work, and He supplied the mighty prophet with a host of angels. When the king of Syria realized that Elisha had special knowledge that made Samaritan spies in his camp unnecessary, he sent Syrian spies to look for the man of God. "See where he is,that I may send and seize him," Ben-hadad said.
The spies did their job. They found Elisha in Dotham. So Ben-hadad sent horses, chariots,and a very big army. They arrived at Dotham under the cover of the night, and they encompassed the city.
The next morning Elisha’s servant awakened early and went outside. He saw a huge army with horses and chariots surrounding Dotham. "Alas, my master! How shall we do?" the servant said. Just imagine the servant standing there ringing his hands in despair.
Notice what Elisha said. This is a powerful verse! Memorize it. Elisha answered, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." (II Kings 6:16)
In our time believers are a minority. We need to think like Elisha. One man with God is a majority against any number of evildoers!
Elisha prayed for his servant: "'LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.' And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."(II Kings 6:17)
I pray that God will open our eyes the way He opened those of Elisha’s servant so we can see the supernatural protection that we, as His chosen children, have. Whatever struggles He allows to touch us are trials to make us stronger. When He is ready for us, He will send,the angels to take us to the eternally safe place by His throne.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
June 2, The Existence of Angels
“And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, ‘See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets,and of them which keep the sayings of this book:worship God.’” (Revelation 22:8-9)
Since angels are impressive creatures that we rarely see, they evoke strong feelings in human beings. We know their appearance can cause fear, because throughout the Bible angels tell people, “Fear not.” Because they are beautiful and powerful, people make the mistake of worshiping them. John records such a mistake in Revelation. The angel responded by explaining that he was a fellow servant and reminded him to worship God only instead of himself.
In the era of New Age thinking, people are looking for something awesome to worship other than the true God. One aspect of New Age philosophy is the religion of pantheism – the idea that god is in everything. Our role is to worship the Creator, not the created. Angels are created beings, just as we are. Because of man’s frailty, it is good that we do not see angels more often than we do.
Angels are:
--Created beings
--Spirit beings
--Personal beings
--Innumerable beings
--Glorious beings
--Servant beings
Angels are not:
--God
--Children of God
We human beings are children instead of servants. In heaven we will judge the fallen angels and direct the angels in their work. They are beings of light, and they remind us of divine reality. For everything visible, there is something invisible corresponding to it. We have angels watching over us at all times.
Angels are functional beings with jobs to do. They worship God in spirit and in truth. There are angels who praise God all the time. (Revelation 4) When we worship, we join the angels. They execute God’s will as they minister to the saints (meaning the believers in Christ). Having power over nature, they protect us.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)
Thoughts Based on a Sermon by Dr. Wilton Wall
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Since angels are impressive creatures that we rarely see, they evoke strong feelings in human beings. We know their appearance can cause fear, because throughout the Bible angels tell people, “Fear not.” Because they are beautiful and powerful, people make the mistake of worshiping them. John records such a mistake in Revelation. The angel responded by explaining that he was a fellow servant and reminded him to worship God only instead of himself.
In the era of New Age thinking, people are looking for something awesome to worship other than the true God. One aspect of New Age philosophy is the religion of pantheism – the idea that god is in everything. Our role is to worship the Creator, not the created. Angels are created beings, just as we are. Because of man’s frailty, it is good that we do not see angels more often than we do.
Angels are:
--Created beings
--Spirit beings
--Personal beings
--Innumerable beings
--Glorious beings
--Servant beings
Angels are not:
--God
--Children of God
We human beings are children instead of servants. In heaven we will judge the fallen angels and direct the angels in their work. They are beings of light, and they remind us of divine reality. For everything visible, there is something invisible corresponding to it. We have angels watching over us at all times.
Angels are functional beings with jobs to do. They worship God in spirit and in truth. There are angels who praise God all the time. (Revelation 4) When we worship, we join the angels. They execute God’s will as they minister to the saints (meaning the believers in Christ). Having power over nature, they protect us.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)
Thoughts Based on a Sermon by Dr. Wilton Wall
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Tuesday, June 1, 2010
June 1, Angels in the Bus Station
“For it is written, ‘He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.’ ” (Luke 4:10-11)
Although I’ve flown several times alone,I was an unseasoned traveler until I was a very mature woman. When I was 59 years old, I had never flown in a commercial plane, and it became necessary for me to travel across the country alone. No matter how I planned my trip, I realized that I would have to change planes or buses in Atlanta, Georgia. Having experience riding buses, I decided to take a bus and change in Atlanta at 1:30 a.m. Surely the bus station would not be crowded that time of the night.
Wrong!
The station was as chaotic as a can of earthworms going fishing at a farm pond. Everybody was wiggling to get ahead in line. Little boys, who should have been at home in bed, were offering to carry luggage. Unsavory characters were moving too close. I finally found my line to catch the bus to Louisiana. I stood there with my suitcase, which must have weighed (with the tools I was carrying after selling my car) at least sixty pounds – I didn’t appreciate suitcase wheels and light packing until that night. I dared not set my suitcase down, even on the floor beside me. An official cut the line in front of me. “The rest of you will have to wait another hour. Your bus was too full.”
A loud young white man, smelling like sour beer, staggered toward me. Cursing, laughing,and moving too close, he said, “I’m catching the bus back to Louisiana.” He intimidated me.
I was praying, “Lord, I’m scared and tired. Please help me. In Jesus’ name.” Seeing the line lengthen behind me as other people were clamoring to catch the bus toward
Louisiana and Dallas, I dared not go sit in the waiting area.
Suddenly a tiny black woman stood in front of me and rebuked the evil in him. A tall
well-built young black man appeared on my left side, and a giant-sized young black man appeared at my right. As they flanked me, they were conversing about playing football with details that comforted me. The man on my right had played at my alma mater in Mississippi and at a community college near my hometown. The one on my left had played football at a Louisiana university not far from where I live. This coincidental information passing over me in their conversation made me relax. One of them told the boisterous,drunken aggressor, “Stand straight, be quiet, and hold this lady’s suitcase for her.”
“Yes sir,” was the answer.
I believe that God told the angel in charge of me to find those three courageous and
concerned people to keep me safe that night.
Have you ever gone through struggles that seemed physically or emotionally impossible
and then wondered how you did it? Wonder no more. Your success was not the result of
your unaided efforts. You are not alone. You had help from the One Who loves you. Your Father in heaven is watching over every move you make and sending His host of helpers one at a time to take care of whatever you need.
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Although I’ve flown several times alone,I was an unseasoned traveler until I was a very mature woman. When I was 59 years old, I had never flown in a commercial plane, and it became necessary for me to travel across the country alone. No matter how I planned my trip, I realized that I would have to change planes or buses in Atlanta, Georgia. Having experience riding buses, I decided to take a bus and change in Atlanta at 1:30 a.m. Surely the bus station would not be crowded that time of the night.
Wrong!
The station was as chaotic as a can of earthworms going fishing at a farm pond. Everybody was wiggling to get ahead in line. Little boys, who should have been at home in bed, were offering to carry luggage. Unsavory characters were moving too close. I finally found my line to catch the bus to Louisiana. I stood there with my suitcase, which must have weighed (with the tools I was carrying after selling my car) at least sixty pounds – I didn’t appreciate suitcase wheels and light packing until that night. I dared not set my suitcase down, even on the floor beside me. An official cut the line in front of me. “The rest of you will have to wait another hour. Your bus was too full.”
A loud young white man, smelling like sour beer, staggered toward me. Cursing, laughing,and moving too close, he said, “I’m catching the bus back to Louisiana.” He intimidated me.
I was praying, “Lord, I’m scared and tired. Please help me. In Jesus’ name.” Seeing the line lengthen behind me as other people were clamoring to catch the bus toward
Louisiana and Dallas, I dared not go sit in the waiting area.
Suddenly a tiny black woman stood in front of me and rebuked the evil in him. A tall
well-built young black man appeared on my left side, and a giant-sized young black man appeared at my right. As they flanked me, they were conversing about playing football with details that comforted me. The man on my right had played at my alma mater in Mississippi and at a community college near my hometown. The one on my left had played football at a Louisiana university not far from where I live. This coincidental information passing over me in their conversation made me relax. One of them told the boisterous,drunken aggressor, “Stand straight, be quiet, and hold this lady’s suitcase for her.”
“Yes sir,” was the answer.
I believe that God told the angel in charge of me to find those three courageous and
concerned people to keep me safe that night.
Have you ever gone through struggles that seemed physically or emotionally impossible
and then wondered how you did it? Wonder no more. Your success was not the result of
your unaided efforts. You are not alone. You had help from the One Who loves you. Your Father in heaven is watching over every move you make and sending His host of helpers one at a time to take care of whatever you need.
Visit Do You Know How God Loves You?
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Angels Watching Over Us
“For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:11-12)
Do you know that God created you in His image? Once you are adopted into His family,you will always be His child. He is working out every situation for His glory and your blessing. Nothing can keep you from His love. Are you aware that the devil tries to destroy you any way he can? The God of grace has sent His powerful angels to
watch every step you take.
Angels are created beings, who have specific jobs. Although they cannot preach the message of God’s salvation, they can assist the believers. Although they are incredibly beautiful, they never want attention called to them. When we carefully study angels,we are forced to look away from them as we see God more clearly than ever before; also, we get a painfully focused look at ourselves in the brilliant light.
Angels are servants who glorify God and do His bidding. With God’s permission and direction, they watch over human beings and deliver messages. Instead of being soft, fat,and doll-like, they are fierce warriors. They are already engaged in an intense war with Satan, who is assisted by fallen angels.Much of what we see, read, and think about angels is erroneous. In countless ways, we trivialize them.
Visit Do You Know How God Loves You?
Do you know that God created you in His image? Once you are adopted into His family,you will always be His child. He is working out every situation for His glory and your blessing. Nothing can keep you from His love. Are you aware that the devil tries to destroy you any way he can? The God of grace has sent His powerful angels to
watch every step you take.
Angels are created beings, who have specific jobs. Although they cannot preach the message of God’s salvation, they can assist the believers. Although they are incredibly beautiful, they never want attention called to them. When we carefully study angels,we are forced to look away from them as we see God more clearly than ever before; also, we get a painfully focused look at ourselves in the brilliant light.
Angels are servants who glorify God and do His bidding. With God’s permission and direction, they watch over human beings and deliver messages. Instead of being soft, fat,and doll-like, they are fierce warriors. They are already engaged in an intense war with Satan, who is assisted by fallen angels.Much of what we see, read, and think about angels is erroneous. In countless ways, we trivialize them.
Visit Do You Know How God Loves You?
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