THE MINISTRY OF GOD'S ANGELS

 

So little is said about the angels of God within the Pentecostal circles, even though they are prominently featured in both the Old and the New Testaments. Scriptures show us that the angels of God continued to engage with the disciples and others as God's messengers even after the early church received the Holy Spirit, through which we also receive messages from God. Perhaps we are more engaged and conscious of the Holy Spirit than the angels of God because the Holy Spirit is resident in us rather than the occasional visits of angels. So much can be said about the workings and the transformation the Holy Spirit has brought to the body of Christ. But it is good to know the angels of God do serve us at God's will, and we can be comforted and encouraged by this Scriptural truth.

 

1. Angels serve people who will inherit salvation

Heb. 1:14 says that angels are ministering spirits who serve the people who will inherit salvation. The story of Cornelius is a good example of how angels serve those destined to inherit salvation. It is important to note in Cornelius's story that an angel was sent to serve him even before he became born again. 

Acts 10:1-4 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" And when he observed him, he was afraid and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

 

2. Angels give guidance

In the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch we could see angels of God functioning to direct Philip to the Ethiopian eunoch who was on the verge of becoming born again.

Acts 8:26-29 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. Sitting in his chariot, he read Isaiah, the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."

In Acts 27:23-24, while Paul and his team were in a great storm on their voyage to Rome, an angel stood before Paul and told him they would be spared, if everyone followed orders.

 

3. God sends angels to punish His enemies

Acts 12:7-10 reports that God sent his angel to wake Peter up, open the prison doors and lead him out to the right street in Jerusalem. After Peter was released from prison by the angels of God, King Herod, who ordered his arrest, continued to resist the gospel and exalt himself above God. Consequently, an angel of the Lord struck him to death, but the word of God grew and multiplied (Acts 12:24).

 

II Corinthians 10:4-6 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

 

The stories of Cornelius, the Ethiopian eunuch, Paul and Herod tell us that angels can facilitate the conversion of unbelievers and that we are not alone in carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth.

 

It is important to note at this junction that the angels of God are but messengers. Angels must not be worshipped or prayed to. Even though David in Psalms 8:4-5 says, 'What is the man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honour' we never saw angels worshipped or prayed to in the Scriptures.  We should focus on the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, and seek to be filled and empowered with the Holy Spirit, not "angel-power," whatever that is. God will discharge His angels to minister unto us as we set our hearts on Him.