Angels: Ministering Spirits

[Aquila]

On the emanation thought... what if they indeed are individual spiritual creatures created to be channels of God's power? Thus, they are creations through which God Himself emanates and is revealed to man. Thus, any angel through which God chooses to speak becomes, the Angel of the LORD. I say this because an angel COULDN'T be strictly an emanation from God. Why? Because Satan would have been an emanation. And since there is no sin or darkness in God's nature, Satan's fall would have been impossible. Now, if the Angels are creations through which God manifests at times, Satan very well could have rebelled and as a result ceased to be a willing channel of God's presence and power.

It's interesting.

[Aquila]

Is there anyone here that believes in angels and happens to allow that belief to be a strong aspect to their faith in Christ? I'm feeling drawn into the study of angels, spiritual warfare, and deliverance.

[TGBTG]

Angels are ministering spirits sent to minister to us, the heirs of salvation (Heb 1:14). But I don not belive we should get tied up into studying angels.

I believe Jesus shows us the order of operation when the soldiers came to arrest him.
Matt 27:53
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Our communication is with God. Then God decides as far as how he wants his angels to minister to his children.

We see a similar thought in the case of Cornelius.

We don't want to fall into the trap of "imaginations originating from our fleshly thoughts."

Phil 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

So, I personally would not get into studying angels or that sort of thing. Commune with God alone. If God wants to send an angel to his child for a specific purpose, he will.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

Angels are ministering spirits sent to minister to us, the heirs of salvation (Heb 1:14). But I don not belive we should get tied up into studying angels.

I believe Jesus shows us the order of operation when the soldiers came to arrest him.
Matt 27:53
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Our communication is with God. Then God decides as far as how he wants his angels to minister to his children.

We see a similar thought in the case of Cornelius.

We don't want to fall into the trap of "imaginations originating from our fleshly thoughts."

Phil 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

So, I personally would not get into studying angels or that sort of thing. Commune with God alone. If God wants to send an angel to his child for a specific purpose, he will.

If you had not studied about angels you would not have been able to share this information.

Studying does not equate to worship IMO

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I'd say that each angelic order and the angels therein are in authority over a different aspect of creation. Starting with the lowest first the First Heaven...

Angels: individual human beings
Archangels: ethnic groups or nations
Principalities: nation states

Now, just through prayerful speculation the remainder of the spheres could be something like this... the Second Heaven

Powers: planets
Dominions: Solar Systems
Authorities: Galaxies

The Third Heaven...

Seraphim: Heavenly worship
Cherubim: Heavenly Guardians/Worship Leading
Thrones: Heavenly Council (24 Elders of Heaven)

Satan, or Lucifer, was one of the Cherubim (Ezekiel 28:14).

How did you arrive at this conclusion?

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Aquila

So... the question was asked... outside of "protection"... in what other ways do angels minister to us?

With messages.

Mary is an example.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esther

How did you arrive at this conclusion?

Well, I began to view angels as being the spiritual beings that serve and assist in sustaining creation. So, I took the model of the 3 Heavens that I was taught. Then I considered the angels seen or referenced most around man and determined them to be functioning on earth, in our atmosphere... the first heaven. Then I considered the second heaven: planets, stars, galaxies, etc. and broken down the angelic beings that appear to be defined through expansive authoritive names. Then I considered the third heaven, where God dwells. The Bible speaks of Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones in the 3rd Heaven, so I broke them down according to function. Seraphim worship, Cherubim guard, and Thrones obviously govern.

Now the exact order I'm not so sure about. Now that I reflect upon it, the third Heaven's order might be:

Cherubim: Heavenly Guardians
Seraphim: Heavenly worship
Thrones: Heavenly Council (24 Elders of Heaven)

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esther

With messages.

Mary is an example.

Amen.

What I'm discovering in my prayers is that angels are often classified in accordance to their nature like other spirits. For example, in Satan's kingdom we have spirits of addiction, spirits of anger, spirits of lust, spirits of violence and rage, spirits of depression, spirits of pride, etc. Angels are much the same, after all, Satan's kingdom is composed of fallen angels. In the Kingdom of Heaven we have angels of freedom, angels of temperance, angels of love, angels of peace, angels of joy, angels of humility, etc. Each angel has a "message". Angels may appear and speak their message, they may take on a disguised form (looking like a normal human) and speak their message. An angel can also speak into the human soul and spirit with a message to encourage in accordance to their nature.

Here we see that angels even ministered to Jesus after His temptation...

Matthew 4:11
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

I believe they were speaking messages of encouragement, praise, and worship to strengthen Him after His encounter with Satan. It doesn't say if they were visible or not. We only know that they were indeed present.

Angels might speak into your soul statements like these:

"You are good enough."
"God does love you."
"You haven't gone too far to turn to God."
"You have the strength to make it."
"Relax, be filled with peace."
"Remember to forgive."
"It's never too late."
"You are a child of the Living God."

You may not even realize it with your conscious mind. But the "inner man" can hear the messages that angels bring.

[Aquila]

Angels also have some degree of control over nature and the elements:

Revelation 7:1
And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Thus, I propose that there be a subclass of angel. For example from this verse I conclude that there very well might be an:

Angel of the North
Angel of the South
Angel of the East
Angel of the West

Perhaps these four angels have a considerable amount of authority with regards to wind and weather.

[Aquila]

Angels can also be evangelistic...

Revelation 14:6
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

This specific angel described here may be one of untold hundreds of thousands of angels, or an angel of authority over others. These evangelistic angels often pave the way for the Gospel to be preached by speaking into the souls of men warning and conviction for sin. Then, when we arrive and preach in the power of the Holy Spirit, there is less resistence in the minds of men.

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would send out your evagelistic angels to warn of sin and testify of your goodness and grace to those that we love so dearly who still need a revelation of who you are and what you have done for them. I pray that through this, they accept this glorious gospel of truth. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.