Who or what are Angels?

 

Angels have been portrayed as beautiful humans with wings and glowing light complete with halos, harps and flowing white gowns.  They have inspired all sorts of imaginative stories.  But what and who are they really?  So I researched angels and this is what I’ve learned.

The Hebrew word for angles is translated ‘hosts’ in the phrase ‘Lord of hosts’ actually means “armies”.  God is “Lord of armies”.  He organized them much the way armies are organized.  God created angels with different degrees of ability and established them in ranks based on these abilities. 

Angels were created by God (Genesis 2:1) and live for eternity (Luke 20:26).  They were present when God created the earth (Job 38:1).  Angels don’t marry (Matthew 22:30).  They are wise and intelligent and can discern between good and evil (2 Samuel 14:17).  They give insight and understanding (Daniel 9:22; Luke 15:10).  They take an interest in human affairs (Daniel 10:14; Revelation 14:6).

Angels are spiritual beings and are not meant to be worshiped (Psalm 104:4; Revelation 19:10).  Angels are messengers, ministers, warriors and worshipers of God.  They are servants of Jesus (1 Peter 3:22) and most remain faithful to God except for some who rebelled (Revelation 5:11-12). 

There are holy angels which are powerful armies that obey God’s commands (Psalm 103:20-21), serve as His chariots (Psalm 68:17), and are divided into legions (Matthew 26:53).  Some are even under the command of other angels.

Michael is the only archangel in the Bible.  Archangel means “chief or ruling messenger” (1 Th. 4:16; Jude 9).  He and the angels under him wage war against Satan and his evil angels (Rev. 12:7).

Some angels are called cherubin and some are called seraphim.  Ezekiel 1:1-28 gives a brilliant description of angels as four-winged creatures.  In Ezekiel 10-20 they’re called cherubim.  Cherubim appear to have the highest rank since they seem to have the closest relationship with God and are referred to more than any other rank of angels (Ezekiel. 1:5-24; 10:1-22).

Seraphim cover the unique presence of God and His throne and continually assert that He is holy (unique), Commander-in-Chief of the angelic armies of heaven, and glorified Sovereign of the earth.  Isaiah 6:1-8 gives a description of seraphim.

The “four living creatures” in the midst of and around God’s throne in heaven continually exalt God by declaring His holiness, omnipotence, and eternality (Rev. 4:6-9).  These are an exalted order of angels whose purpose is to worship God.

Princes are powerful angels assigned by God or Satan to positions of authority over nations to influence their decisions and actions (Dan. 10:13, 20-21; 12:1).  The apostle Paul told believers, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).  Yet, if the “Lord of armies” is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31).

Most angels in the Bible have the appearance of a man and many have wings, but not all.  Some are larger than life.  Some have multiple faces and appear like a man, a lion, an ox or an eagle.  Some are invisible, yet their presence is felt and their voices can be heard.  Some have six wings (Seraphim) and some have two wings (Cherubim).

More fact about angels:

34 of the 66 books of the Bible refer to angels and are mentioned over 300 times.  They are also referred to by other terms.  There are many, many angels, but only 3 angels are mentioned by name in the Bible – Gabriel, Michael, and the fallen angel Lucifer (Satan).

Angels are angels and always have been. No one becomes an angel when they die.

Jesus spoke of angels (Matt. 18:10), stating that He could have had more than 12 legions of angels to protect Him (Matt. 26:53).  He stated that angels will attend and serve Him at His Second coming (Matt. 13:41; 16:27; 24:30-31; 25:31).

John saw hundreds of millions around God’s throne in heaven (Rev 5:11).

Daniel saw a similar sight (Dan. 7:9-10).

All angels are ministering spirits who serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14).

Angels don’t have physical bodies (Luke 24:39, Eph. 6:12).

Angels can have temp bodies (Gen. 18-19 – 3 men appeared to Abraham).  2 who went to Sodom were angels (Gen. 19:1).

God created angels (Ps. 148:2-5, Col. 1:16).

Angels existed before the earth was created and witnessed the creation (Job 38:4-7).

Angels live forever and cannot die (Luke 20:36).

What about guardian angels? 

One of the most common beliefs about angels is that each of us has a guardian angel looking after us in times of need. The Bible doesn’t say that each of person has a guardian angel, but we do know that God’s angels care about us and can intervene on our behalf when called by God to serve those who are to inherit salvation.  There isn’t just one angle helping us, there are thousands.

Principle: Angels are messengers, ministers, warriors and worshipers of God.

Join me here next time -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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What Does God Say About Abortion?

 

Our current culture is divided on the abortion issue, but what does the Bible say.  It never specifically uses the term abortion, but still it is clear what God’s view of abortion is.  Abortion is murder.  It is the killing of a human being who is created in the image of God.  There are many Scriptures on this.  Here are a few.

Humans have value because God created man in His image.

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” 

Psalm 119:73a – “Your hands made me and formed me”

God formed every human being.

Psalm 139:13-16 – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  You can’t get much plainer that that!

Job 10:11-12 – “You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.  You have a granted me life and steadfast love.”  (Sinews means a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament.)

Matthew 1:20 – “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”

Isaiah 44:24 – “This is what the Lord says the Lord - your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: ‘I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by me’”.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Isaiah 49:1b – “Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.”

Children are a gift from God.

Psalm 127:3-5a – “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are sons born in of one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them!”

God values life.

Genesis 9:6 – “Whoever shed the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made man.”

Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.”

Exodus 23:7b – “… Do not put an innocent or honest person to death, or I will not acquit the guilty.”

Deuteronomy 30:19 – “… Now choose life, so that you and your children may live...”

We are to speak up for the preborn.

Proverbs 24:11 – “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”

Proverbs 31:8 – “Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.”

A women who support abortion say it’s my body and I should be able to do with it what I want.  Well, it’s really not her body.  God created it and it belongs to Him.  Your body is twice owned by God.  He made it and He redeemed it when He died for you on the cross. “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body – 1 Cor. 6:19b-20.

There are over 98% of abortions performed to women who simply don’t want to have a baby.  Less than 2% of abortions are from rape, incest, or the mother’s life being at risk.  A child can survive outside the womb at just 21 weeks gestation.  Abortion is one of the biggest money-making industries in our nation.  Since Roe v. Wade decision in effect 1973, there have been 63 million abortions in this country alone. 

Jesus affirmed his position on the value of life when he came into the world through a young unwed teenage girl named Mary.  Those who are for abortion say it’s not a baby until it’s born, but in Luke 1:39-45 Mary’s preborn child is recognized as a baby – “…And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb”.  Notice “the baby” leaped, not a fetus or glob of tissue.

Our humanity is given to us, not earned.  For those who say a woman gets to decide when life is a life is playing God.  Only God has that authority.

If you have had an abortion, Jesus forgives just like He forgives any other sin you have committed.  Jesus already paid for your sin on the cross.  Don’t live in guilt and pain.  God can use your story to help another woman and perhaps save her child.

Principle: Only God has the authority to give and take life.

To read more about life vs choice see https://devotionsbylv.blogspot.com/search?q=abortion

Join me here next time.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Recourses:

The Holy Bible – NIV

https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/63459781-abortions-since-roe-v-wade-we-pray-2022-is-its-last-anniversary.html

 

God is Bigger Than …..

 

God is bigger than any problem you face.  So why is it so hard to believe that? Maybe it’s because we see our problem, but we can’t see God.  We get stuck in the problem and it makes it difficult to see and hear God.  Our problem looks so big and powerful that we can’t seem to forget just how big and powerful God really is. 

 

Your problem may be big and confusing, but your God is bigger and He is wiser.  He sees you and knows every detail of your trouble.  Your problem may be agonizing, but your God is tender.  You can put all your fears before Him and He understands.  He is so much bigger and stronger than you think. 

 

The Bible can be a comfort when you are struggling with a problem and feeling alone.  Prayer can comfort you.  When Elisha prayed in 2 Kings 6, his prayer changed everything.  God opened his eyes and it changed his fear and showed him that God was much bigger than the problem.

 

Are you in the midst of a difficult situation?

Where do you turn?

 

We struggle to believe God is bigger because the enemy is doing his best to keep us in the battle.  He wants us distracted and discouraged.  We need a bigger view of God.  We need to trust God and His plan for our life.  We need to talk to God then wait patiently for His answer.  We need to read our Bible, join a Bible study, get involved in a community with real believers.  Then don’t worry, because God is greater than your problem and your worries.  Simply put, you need to trust God.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6.

 

God doesn’t keep us from trials and testing.  Our lives will not be problem-free.  That’s just not the way life works.  Through trials and testing, we learn to be still and trust Him more and more.  If we didn’t go through these difficult times, we wouldn’t grow.  We would be immature and spoiled.  We grow best in the midst of troubles.  Just like children, we have to experience all kind of things to become mature adults.

 

God is bigger than any problem, bigger than any worry, bigger than any fear, bigger than any enemy, bigger than our guilt, bigger than any circumstance, and bigger than any high or low you may feel.

 

God is our holy, awesome and the perfect Creator.  He is greater than anything we can imagine.  No situation is your life is greater than Him.  He can handle it all!  Nothing is greater than God and nothing is impossible for Him.

 

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” - Romans 8:31

“For nothing is impossible with God.” – Luke 1:37

 

Principle:  God is bigger and greater than anyone and anything.

Join me here next time -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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