THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS
(week 27/01)
Olubi Johnson
In our last article, we saw what the manifest presence of God was and how to experience it. This week we will be studying about the ministry of angels and the vital role they play in bringing into physical manifestation in our lives the reality of the promises of the Word of God.
Who and What are Angels
Angels are spirit beings that God created to serve him:
Psalms 104:4 (KJV): Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
Angels are created in a class lower than men: man was created in God’s class with a free will.
Hebrews 1:4-7 (KJV): Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Here Paul reveals to us that Jesus Christ was the first born from the dead: the first man to be born again. Further more, being the first begotten from the dead, he was made better than angels. This proves to us that men, particularly born again men, are, like Jesus, God-men who are better or created in a higher class than angels.
Angels, in one sense, are really spiritual robots created by God to perform specific tasks to minister or serve us men: the heirs of salvation.
Hebrews 1:13-14 (KJV): But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
There are different types of angels: some have wings like cherubims and serphims:
Isaiah 6:2 (KJV): Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Some angels are very big and powerful in comparison with men:
Revelation 10:1 (KJV): And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
Revelation 10:2 (KJV): And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
Others are the same size as men and could in fact be mistaken for men:
Hebrews 13:2 (KJV): Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Some angels, like Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer (who later became the devil or Satan) were created just a little lower than God and men. They could exercise free will and emotions to some extent. Those like Lucifer who used it in rebellion against God became fallen angels that now form the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and wicked spirits in the heavenly places.
Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV): How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Revelation 12:4 (KJV): And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Revelation 12:9 (KJV): And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Those who remained faithful to God form the vast angelic hosts that do the will of God rejoicing in the presence of God over every sinner that repents:
Luke 15:10 (KJV): Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Why do we need Angels?
We need angels because they act as intermediaries between the physical and spiritual worlds; though they are spiritual beings they can interact with and affect physical things:
Genesis 19:1-3 (KJV): And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
Genesis 19:10 (KJV): But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
Genesis 19:15-16 (KJV): And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
Since angels can interact with physical things they can protect us physically:
Psalms 91:11-12 (KJV): 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.
How Angels minister to us
Angels use the power of the Holy Spirit we release in the place of prayer to bring into physical manifestation the answers to our prayers:
Psalms 103:20 (KJV): Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Daniel 9:21 (KJV): Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Daniel 10:2-3 (KJV): In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Daniel 10:10-13 (NIV): A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
Here we see that angels respond to and excel in strength to the Word of God that men speak in the earth. Daniel’s prayers caused the angel to overcome the prince of Persia: a satanic prince that was hindering the angel from bringing the answer to Daniel’s prayers. So we can see that the more effectual and fervent our prayers are from a heart of righteousness (James 5:16), the more effective the ministry of our angels to us will be.
