Four Purposes Of Angels
Four Purposes Of Angels
Four purposes of god’s angels let us examine the practical reasons for god’s creation of angels the bible distinguishes between cherubim and seraphim and different roles are assigned to gabriel and michael different angels serve different functions however when we look at all revealed angelic activity through a broad lens we can identify four broad roles that they play angels function as messengers ministers warriors and worshipers rule number one angels are messengers in the old testament our english word is translated as malak and in the new testament as angelos both of these words have the same basic meaning messengers that is the essence of what angels are they are the ambassadors and agents of someone else they only ever represent him and never themselves they are only conduits for his information they speak and act in accordance with his commands and they bear his authority angels communicate god’s law to mankind as messengers galatians chapter 3 verse 19 why then the law it was added because of transgressions until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary acts chapter 7 verse 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it they are holy beings who have always obeyed god perfectly in fact they probably understand god’s law for mankind better than any biblical scholar
has ever done the angel of the lord spoke to moses through a burning bush in exodus chapter 3 verse 2 and an angel of the lord announced the coming of the promised messiah in the new testament angels have been involved in communicating god’s most important message to his people throughout history rule number two angels are ministering spirits angel’s role as ministering spirits is perhaps the most reassuring aspect of their nature hebrews chapter 1 verse 14 explains their ministry this way are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation other passages of scripture provide vivid examples of angelic ministry in 1st kings chapter 19 verse 5 an angel appeared to elijah as he was fleeing jezebel in despair the angel gave him life-giving food and water which he ate and drank for forty days and nights first kings chapter nineteen verses five through eight then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep all at once an angel touched him and said get up and eat he looked around and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals and a jar of water he ate and drank and then lay down again the angel of the lord came back a second time and touched him and said get up and eat for the journey is too much for you so he got up and ate and drank strengthened by that food he traveled 40 days and 40 nights until he reached horeb the mountain of god after jesus christ was tempted by the devil in matthew 4 scripture states that angels came and ministered to him the greek word translated ministered implies that they fed him matthew chapter 4 verses 10 and 11 jesus said to him away from me satan for it is written worship the lord your god and serve him only then
the devil left him and angels came and attended him in luke chapter 16 jesus tells a parable in which angels minister to mankind by transporting god’s children to heaven other passages are less descriptive but use phrases like carried up into heaven received up into heaven and taken up to emphasize this truth rule number three angels are warriors while the idea of angels ministering toward needs is deeply reassuring the idea of angels as supernatural warriors may be downright concerning unless you investigate it thoroughly our modern military defends the country from invasion and is made up of specialists who collaborate to outwit aggressors strategically it’s the same with angels angels fight the enemies of god’s people both seen and unseen as soldiers fighting for eternity throughout scripture we find story after story of god’s people triumphing over insurmountable odds in physical and spiritual battles angelic visitors escorted lot out of sodom before it was destroyed genesis 19 angelic guards went ahead of the israelites to protect them as they left egypt and entered canaan exodus 14-32 in second kings 19 it was the angel of the lord who slayed 185 000 assyrian soldiers and when our risen lord rides into armageddon he will be accompanied by armies of angels revelation chapter 19 verses 11 through 14. after that i saw heaven opened and behold a white horse appeared the one who was writing it is called faithful trustworthy loyal incorruptible steady and true and he passes judgment and wages war in righteousness holiness justice and uprightness ezekiel chapter 21 verse 1 his eyes blaze like a flame of fire and on his head are many kingly crowns diadems and he has a title a name inscribed which he alone knows or can understand daniel chapter 10 verse 6 he is dressed in a robe died by dipping in blood and the title by which he is called is the word of god and the troops of heaven clothed in fine linen dazzling and clean followed him on white horses psalm chapter 37 verse 7 summarizes it this way
the angel of the lord encamps all around those who fear him and delivers them i don’t know about you but i’m glad these warriors are on our side angels guide god’s people as tactical experts in genesis chapter 31 we find jacob in the midst of a colorful situation laban had changed jacob’s wages 10 times in an attempt to defraud him when laban told jacob that his wages were based on speckled livestock god caused all new flocks to be speckled when lavan changed jacob’s wages to streaked livestock all of the flocks had streaks scripture tells us that the angel of god appeared to him in his dreams and confirmed god’s role genesis chapter 31 verses 10-13 god’s people do not need to be concerned about outcomes they only need to be concerned about obeying god’s plans as provisioners angels equip god’s people for victory there are numerous other examples of angelic guidance in the bible another example is the story of balaam in numbers 22 after the talking donkey episode scripture indicates in verse 35 that the angel of the lord gave balaam very specific instructions go with the men but only the word that i speak to you that shall you speak in the new testament an angel gave specific instruction to jesus’s earthly father joseph to protect the young jesus and his mother arise take the young child and his mother flee to egypt and stay there until i bring you word for herod will seek the young child to destroy him matthew chapter 2 verse 13. in acts chapter 10 an angel delivered a message to roman centauri and cornelius that altered the course of simon peter’s earthly ministry cornelius was instructed by the angel to send for peter which he did meanwhile god appeared to peter in a vision to prepare his heart for witnessing to gentiles when the two met peter announced the good news and the holy spirit fell upon all those who heard the word acts chapter 10 verse 44 god does not always send angels to guide his people but when he does we should pay attention angels as provisioners prepare god’s people for victory sometimes god protects his people by sending one of his angels to meet our physical needs one such story is the story of hagar in genesis 21. after being cast out of abraham’s household on account of sarah and isaac we find hagar and her son ishmael wandering in the wilderness without adequate water in verse 16 hagar loses heart and resolves to watch her son die but the angel of god calls to her from heaven and asks what ails you hagar fear not for god has heard the voice of the land where he is arise lift up the lad and hold him with your hand for i will make him a great nation verses 17 and 18.
then according to scripture god opened her eyes to a well of water the angelic messenger in this case prepared hagar to receive god’s provision the role of the angels in equipping is inextricably linked to their role as ministering spirits in the case of elijah fleeing from jezebel in 1st kings 19 the angel of the lord ministered to him by providing him with the rest and nourishment he required to finish his ministry an angel appeared to jesus from heaven and strengthened him in the garden of gethsemane just after christ’s famous prayer father if it is your will take this cup away from me nevertheless not my will but yours be done luke chapter 22 verse 42 luke tells us that an angel appeared to jesus from heaven and strengthened him god provides for all of our needs so that we can be courageous and victorious and he sometimes sends his angels to do the equipping rule number four angels are worshipers when angels are not ministering to humans they live in god’s presence shouting and singing praises to him the book of revelation contains some of the most beautiful scenes of heavenly worship available to us with angels demonstrating their adoration for god revelation chapter 4 verse 8 describes living creatures who do not rest day or night rather they proclaim holy holy holy lord god almighty who was and is and is to come this fervent adulation prompts elders to fall down before the lord cast their crowns before his throne and say you are worthy o lord to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they exist and were created revelation chapter 4 verses 10 and 11 we would do well to follow the example of the angels in worship god’s angels despite their beauty do not take credit for themselves this was made clear by the angel john encountered in revelation 19 overcome by the presence of the angel john fell at his feet to worship him but the angel rebuked him saying i am your fellow servant and of your brethren who have the testimony of jesus worship god for the testimony of jesus is the spirit of prophecy the bible tells us about the angel gabriel to watch the video click here you
