Angels: Ministering Spirits

[Aquila]

So... it seems we agree that we might have at least one or more guardian angels.

What about their "ministry"? We've elaborated on "protection". Here's an interesting picture of an angel "ministering" to Jesus after the temptation in the wilderness:



Do they pray for us?
Encourage us?
Reveal, instruct, or teach things to us? (Like the angel that spoke to Cornelius, Acts 10:4-6)

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Aquila

True. But sometimes I get the impression that my angel says, "Awww man... do I have to?

I'd have to stop right there. They wouldn't be in heaven if they went against the commands of God. HE sends ministering spirits.

"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Hebrews 1:14

We know, therefore, that they are sent and sent to those that are heirs of salvation.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I'd have to stop right there. They wouldn't be in heaven if they went against the commands of God. HE sends ministering spirits.

"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Hebrews 1:14

We know, therefore, that they are sent and sent to those that are heirs of salvation.

I was just kidding.

Here's an interesting question I've asked before about angels...

Are there female angels???

Zechariah 5:9
9 Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.

Commentary:

The question as to whether there are female angels is not specifically addressed in scripture. However, in Zech.5:9, two winged women take the woman "wickedness" away to Babylonia in a basket. While it is true that "wickedness" is a personification rather than a true person in that context, the two creatures who transport her seem to be angels, functioning in a typically angelic way, and they are clearly described as female. Jesus assures us that in the resurrection, we will not marry (Lk.20:36), but this does not mean that we shall no longer possess gender. Finally, angels cannot produce angelic progeny, but this does not mean that they do not possess gender; they are commonly described as "the sons of God" (e.g., Job 38:7), referring no doubt to the military assembly described below, in the same way that "sons of Israel" does not imply that there are no Jewish women.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Now you have my curiousity peaked. Please share Sis. Esther! I won't judge. Pleeeaaaase???

I know you wouldn't.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

It's just me. When my roommate stole my crucifix necklace at 20 years old, my first thought was, "I don't have to go back there!" I realized later how much these idols have a hold of people. Hence, I have no angel figurines or crosses in my house.

Don't get me started on the prayer cloths.

There is nothing wrong with prayer cloths, IMO. However, I totally understand where you are coming from in putting faith in the cloth instead of God.

As to where did anointing the cloth with oil come form, I would think perhaps from Moses taking oil to anoint all the Holy Vessels in the Tabernacle and with the scripture saying call on the elders and they would anoint with oil and pray the prayer of faith.

As to angel figurines, I have them in my home, I have animal and female and male figurines, I have never worship any of them nor even considered it. I think your background from being Catholic causes you to feel the way you do about images of angels.

[Dordrecht]

I have a photo of an angel.
I should post it here when the time is right.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

I have a photo of an angel.
I should post it here when the time is right.

How did you get the picture?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Esther

There is nothing wrong with prayer cloths, IMO. However, I totally understand where you are coming from in putting faith in the cloth instead of God.

As to where did anointing the cloth with oil come form, I would think perhaps from Moses taking oil to anoint all the Holy Vessels in the Tabernacle and with the scripture saying call on the elders and they would anoint with oil and pray the prayer of faith.

As to angel figurines, I have them in my home, I have animal and female and male figurines, I have never worship any of them nor even considered it. I think your background from being Catholic causes you to feel the way you do about images of angels.

You know, sometimes, you can make a statement and a situation will arise making you rethink your former stance.

However, at this point, and borrowing from someone I was speaking to about this subject of the "prayer cloth", I agree when they said, "Jesus rarely healed the same way twice, but he always healed. The apostles rarely did the same thing twice, but they always followed the leading of the Spirit."

I would never anoint a prayer cloth and hand it to someone. It was not done that way in the Bible. That wasn't the story at all.

It was something they felt and carried home with them - self directed, not leadership directed. God honored the honesty and faith of it. We shouldn't change the whole beauty of that pattern by throwing some olive oil around. That is how strong I feel about it.

Being used in the gifts, you get a pretty good view of the power of God. Laying on of hands and speaking the Word whether in prophecy or tongues and interpretation. I can see how the power of God fell on Cornelius and his household. That, my friend, is the power of God and feels really good. We can change the world with that. Of course, I mean through the direction of the Holy Spirit.

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by Esther

How did you get the picture?

With my camera.

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

You know, sometimes, you can make a statement and a situation will arise making you rethink your former stance.

However, at this point, and borrowing from someone I was speaking to about this subject of the "prayer cloth", I agree when they said, "Jesus rarely healed the same way twice, but he always healed. The apostles rarely did the same thing twice, but they always followed the leading of the Spirit."

I would never anoint a prayer cloth and hand it to someone. It was not done that way in the Bible. That wasn't the story at all.

It was something they felt and carried home with them - self directed, not leadership directed. God honored the honesty and faith of it. We shouldn't change the whole beauty of that pattern by throwing some olive oil around. That is how strong I feel about it.

Being used in the gifts, you get a pretty good view of the power of God. Laying on of hands and speaking the Word whether in prophecy or tongues and interpretation. I can see how the power of God fell on Cornelius and his household. That, my friend, is the power of God and feels really good. We can change the world with that. Of course, I mean through the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Do you pack mud in the eyes of a blind guy for healing???