[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Wednesday, September 25, 2013

[Paul]

Well, as this is being written it's a little after 4 p.m. my time here in eastern North America, whereas you in other parts of our continent or even world have different times, whether morning, afternoon or evening.  Whatever time of day it is or even day, I hope that it is going well, by God's matchless grace and His providential care.

We return today to the writings of the late Dr. Ralph Montanus (1919-1986) with an article that some may think controversial entitled "The Ministry of Angels," rendered as follows:

As I was studying my Bible, I was amazed to see how many passages there were in the Scriptures telling us about angels--God's messengers--their work and their activities.  We know from Hebrews 1:14 that they are spirits:  "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Yet, at times, power is given them to become visible in the semblance of human form as in the story of Lot (Genesis 19) or again in the book of Exodus, chapter 3, verse 2, where we read:  "The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush ..."

In my study, I found literally hundreds of references to angels all the way from Genesis to Revelation, but for my message this month, I will just cover four aspects of these angelic creatures, which the Word tells us are innumerable and whose chief attributes are strength and wisdom.  In Psalm 103, verse 20, we are told:  "Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, harkening unto the voice of His Word."

Because of its great importance and comforting thought, their first activity I would like to consider is the fact that they are created to deliver and protect God's people.  Psalm 91, verses 9-12, tells us:  "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

How wonderful it is to know that, even in this unpredictable atomic age, God's angels are still able to watch over His redeemed ones.  What a comfort is the following promise in the midst of all this present-day conflict and strife:  "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:6).

The second attribute we shall consider is the fact that angels are sent to communicate the will of God to His children.  A familiar instance of this is found in the story of the angel Gabriel's visit to Zacharias, in Luke 1:11:  "And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense."

Continuing, we read about the promise of a son to Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth.  When Zacharias doubted because he and his wife were old in years, Gabriel answered them, "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God:  and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings."

An even more familiar passage telling us of this type of angelic work is found in the story of Gabriel's visit to Mary (Luke 1:26-38).  Incidentally, only two angels are actually mentioned in the Bible--Gabriel and the archangel Michael.  We read about the archangel in Jude 9 and I Thessalonians 4:16.

In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke tells us the story of Cornelius:  "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:2).  Continuing, we read how an angel appeared to Cornelius, telling him where he could find one Simon Peter who would tell him what he should do to receive God as his Savior (Acts 10:2-8).

The story continues to tell us that an angel also appeared to Peter, showing him what his part was to be in the salvation of Cornelius and his family.  This is not only a perfect example of how God uses angels to communicate His will, but also shows us the great lengths He will go to in order to save the sincere soul who seeks Him.

Our third point is the fact that angels are used to execute the purposes of God.  In the story of Balaam, in Numbers 22, we read, "and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him" (verse 22).  The rest of this chapter tells how many times the angel had to appear to Balaam before he learned his lesson.  Also, in John 5, we read of the angel who troubled the water of the pool of Bethesda where a multitude of sick folks awaited this moving of the water in order that they might be healed.

Lastly, angels are to execute the judgment of God.  When our Lord returns, they will come with Him, as we read in Matthew 24:30-31:  "and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

We read in Revelation 5:11-13 that angels will be found standing round about the throne, exalting the Lamb and saying, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."

Dear friend, are you counted among those for whom the Lord created these angelic creatures? Have you accepted Him as your personal Savior? If not, I beg of you, do so today.  It is only by taking this stand for Christ that you are made eligible to receive these blessings from God.

And now we return to the present time, either September 25 or 26 2013.  I hope that Dr. Montanus' article written so long ago ministered to your spirits today.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul