September 7, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
MORE ABOUT THE ANGELS AS ‘MINISTERING SPIRIT’. See Hebrews 1: 13, 14.
“Angels were held in high esteem by the Jews, so much so that apostle Paul at one time WARNED against angel worship. (Col. 2:18). This tendency to reverence angels doubtless made Paul’s argument in Hebrews very effective. If the Jews, or some of them, thought angels worthy of worship, God’s command to the angels to worship Christ must have made a deep impression upon the Jews. If Christ were so much higher than the angels that they were required to worship Him, then He must indeed be none less than God Himself.”
“That angels—though they are but ministers, servants—are accorded a high place and entrusted with great responsibilities, is clearly taught in the Old Testament.
“Angels were present at CREATION as well as at the GIVING OF THE LAW (Job 38:7; Acts 7: 53.). Cherubim guarded the way to the tree of life in Eden, and angels in the form of men visited and gave instruction to Abraham (Gen. 3:24; 18:2, 16).
“Angels were sent with messages to all the Patriarchs and prophets. (Gen. 32:1; Num. 20:16: 1 Kings 19:5; Isa. 63:9; Dan. 9: 21,22; Zech. 1:9; Acts 27:23, etc).
“Angels accompany Christ when He comes (Matt. 25:31; angels gather together the ‘tares’ at the end of the world, and also the elect (Matt. 13:41; Mark 13:27); an angel shall at last bind Satan and cast him into the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1).
“The Angels have immediate access to God (Matt. 18:10), and continually carry messages to and from heaven (John 1:51). They have charge of the elements (Rev. 14:18; 16:5) as Lucifer once had charge of the air (Eph. 2:2); and they will finally pour out the seven [last] plagues (Rev. 16:1).
“The Bible is filled with examples of the work and power of the angels, so much so that we can readily understand why Israel held them in such high honor.” Ibid, page 71.
“Each person has an accompanying angel (Matt. 18:10), who has the individual in charge and who WITHIN certain limitations, decides what shall be done in specific cases.” Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, p. 76.
Don’t carelessly, worse, presumptuously do anything that will “grieve away” your guardian angel and offer yourself up as a “sitting duck” for Satan’s arrows and darts! Anything that grieves the Godhead grieves the angels! Please take heed! NMF