“Therefore,
angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit
salvation” (Heb. 1:14 NLT).
Scripture
plainly teaches that God wants us to have an understanding of angels’ existence
and their activities. But what relationship do angels have in our daily lives?
There are several roles that angels fulfill in relation to mankind.
First,
they are spirits who are sent to care for the spiritual needs of believers
(Heb. 1:14). Some times this could include our daily bread (1 Kings 19:4-8).
Other times this could include calming our fears in times of distress (Acts
27:23-24). Still other times they can help to heal our emotional and spiritual
suffering (Matt. 4:11; Luke 22:43).
Sometimes
they meet our needs by allowing us to show hospitality to them (Heb. 13:2). One
writer said, “This should make us eager to minister to the needs of others whom
we do not know, all the while wondering if someday we will reach heaven and
meet the angel whom we helped when he appeared temporarily as a human being in
distress here on earth” (Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 406).
Second,
angels can grant guidance (Matt. 1:20-21; Acts 8:26), and reveal information to
believers (Acts 7:52-53). While this is the case, one should very carefully
consider any claims of this today! Scripture warns that even if an angel
preaches a message other than the true gospel: worshiping the Trinitarian God
alone (Matt. 4:10), salvation by faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9), and the 66 inspired
books of the Bible alone as our ruling authority (Rev. 22:18), they will be
eternally condemned (Gal. 1:8)!
Thus,
1 John 4:1 states that we must test things to see if they are from God or not.
However, this can be especially challenging since Satan himself masquerades as
an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Therefore, it is imperative that we allow the
truth of God’s Word to discern what is from God and what is from Satan.
Having
said these things, there is no compelling reason to rule out the possibility of
angels guiding or providing information to believers today. If they are from God, their words would not
add to, nor alter what the Bible already teaches. Rather, their words would be
to either encourage the downhearted or to warn those in danger.
Third,
angels are meant to protect people (2 Kings 6:13-17). Does this mean that every
person has their own guardian angel? The answer to this question comes from
Matthew 18:10 which talks about little ones who’s angels are in heaven. Yes,
little ones can refer to children. However, in context it better fits the idea
of believers, God’s children. Additionally, no where in the Bible do we see the
idea of non-believers having angels assigned to them. Yet for us, as believers,
we can find assurance knowing that God will use His angels to protect us when
necessary.
Wayne
Grudem explained this by saying, “When we are suddenly delivered from a danger
or distress, we suspect that angels have been sent by God to help us, and we
should be thankful. An angel shut the mouths of the lions so they would not
hurt Daniel (Dan. 6:22), delivered the apostles from prison (Acts 5:19-20),
later delivered Peter from prison (Acts 12:7-11), and ministered to Jesus in
the wilderness at a time of great weakness, immediately after His temptations
had ended (Matt. 4:11). “When a
car suddenly swerves from hitting us, when we suddenly find footing to keep
from being swept along in a raging river, when we walk unscathed in a dangerous
neighborhood, should we not suspect that God has sent His angels to protect
us?” (Systematic Theology, p. 406).
Remember
what Psalm 91:11-12 promises, “For He will command His angels concerning you to
guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you
will not strike your foot against a stone.”
More
importantly than understanding these details about angels is Who they point to
and what He thinks about us as believers. Matthew 18:10 suggests that the
angels are in heaven observing God, who, in turn, is observing His children.
Theologian John MacArthur said, “The fact that Almighty God is so concerned
about the care of His beloved children that He has hosts of angels in His
presence ready to be dispatched to their aid demonstrates clearly how valuable
believers are and how unthinkably wicked it is to look with disdain on someone
whom God so highly prizes” (The MacArthur NT Commentary: Matthew 16-23,
p. 119).
Therefore,
angels are in the infield, working in our lives not point to their greatness
but to the greatness of our loving God that we serve. He knows and cares about
every detail of our lives. He would not send His angels to minister to us as
believers if He did not.
Because
of God’s love,
Matt
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