Angels: Ministering Spirits

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esther

I didn't know you are still engaged?

I talked to her... we're just taking things real slow.

[Aquila]

As for the angels...

Has anyone here heard of "angelic virtue" or "angelic power"? It's believed to be a virtue that emanates from the very being of an angel. For example we read...

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

Mark 1:13
And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Luke 22:43
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

Hebrews 1:7
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Many have claimed that upon being visited by an angel, or having their Guardian Angel appear to them, they were strengthened physically, spiritually, or mentally through the angel's prayers or through the impartation of blessing.

[Aquila]

My Guardian Angel beat up your Spirit Guide.

[Aquila]

Why do angels "appear" to be "omnipresent" at times??? For example, I've read of instances wherein an angel allegedly aided two or more individuals at the same time, though they be many miles apart. One theory as to how this can happen is that angels move as fast as thought and can appear to be in more than one place at a time. That's what a pastor friend of mine taught me and for many years I took that as a logical and biblical explanation. However, after seeking answers in prayer and studying the 9 Spheres of the Angels of Heaven, I've come to realize what I believe to be the actual truth about how this happens...

The natural habitation of the angels is Heaven, the very abode of God. Heaven exists beyond both time and space. Therefore, when an angel leaves Heaven, it is possible for that angel to enter our world at any location and at any point in time. Thus an angel may be dispatched on several different assignments and a number of these assignments might "overlap" in our time and space, giving the appearance of the angel being in two places at once.

So, while angels might sometimes "appear" to be capable of being in multiple places at once, they are not "omnipresent".

[Aquila]

The only angels that the Bible has identified by name are:

Archangel Michael
Archangel Gabriel
Fallen Angel Satan (Lucifer)

Why are angels mentioned at least 273 times in the Bible... yet the Bible never reveals their actual names?

Answer: Angels are holy and are fully submitted to God. They will never seek to contradict Scripture or essential doctrine (on some occasions they do condescend to some of our human notions for the sake of simplicity). One way angels ensure that God receives the worship that is due His Holiness is to never reveal their actual names unless it is part of God's will. An angel might identify the sphere and/or order he is a part of. However, rarely will an angel reveal their name.

IF an angel does reveal it's name it reveals how much the angel trusts the human being to whom the name was revealed to worship God in spite of this knowledge. If an suspects any possibility that a human being might redirect worship to the angel that is due to God... the angel will typically never reveal it's name.

Thus an angel will typically identify itself as an "Angel of the Lord" or as an "Angel of Mercy" or as an "Angel of Healing" or as an "Angel of Peace" or as an "Angel of Strength" or whatever ministry said angel is sent to perform.

[Aquila]

How do angels communicate to us?

Angels are very subtle and humble beings. They typically prefer to be unnoticed. Angels often use the following methods of communication:

1.) Convenient Symbolism: Angels might draw your attention to the lyrics of a song wherein the word "angel" seems to leap out of the song. Angels might draw your attention to a company logo, cloud formation, shadow, lapel pin, picture, etc. that represents an angel. Many times these efforts to remind and comfort us go unnoticed due to our distracted spiritual dispositions.

2.) Angels might appear to us in dreams. Here they might appear as actual angels in a dream (however you might conceptualize them) or as some other representative form. For example, a man dreams that he's being chased by a hungry bear. Suddenly, in the dream, a flock of sparrows flies down and "begins to distract and drive the bear away. Here, the angel(s) are taking the form of "sparrows" seeing that they are the "fouls of heaven". The dream is a reminder to the man that he can rely on Heavenly protection against situations or attacks from the enemy. Angels might relay messages. Sometimes they will appear in some "angelic form" in a dream or another representative form. For example, a woman dreams that her mother appears out of no where and reminds her to pray because Heaven is looking out for her. The angel took the form of her mother in the dream to communicate a message in a manner that would surely catch her attention.

3.) Angels might appear to us in "visions". Visions are like dreams, accept they come to you in short or long bursts while fully awake. They are like "daydreams" accept they typically have a heavenly message. Again, in the vision an angel might appear in angelic form or a representative form.

4.) Through a spiritual "impression". Sometimes angels project thoughts of encouragement or thoughts that help us in a given circumstance. For example, a man has a big interview and it's God's desire that he get the job and be a witness to specific people he'd otherwise never meet. He doesn't hear his alarm and he overlseeps. Suddenly while sound asleep the angel projects the thought of the job into his head, "Don't forget your interview." With that reminder he suddenly bolts up out of his sleep and finds that he has just enough time to get read, get out the door, and get to the interview. A woman wakes her children and prepares them for school. For some unknown reason she "feels" an impression that they should stay home. So she calls into the school and tells the office that her children will not be attending that day. On the news she hears of a tragic accident involving the very school bus her children would have taken.

5.) Through an audible voice. I have a personal testimony wherein I was driving down a local road late one night. As I approached the intersection I had the green light and was about to just coast on through when I heard a voice from in the back seat speak in a loud, but stern tone, "Stop!" I know it was an audible voice because the sound of it filled the car. Startled I slammed on the breaks just before the intersection. No sooner had I come to a stop did I see a pick up truck run the red light of the intersection at a high rate of speed. I would have been T-boned. I sat in my car for what seemed like a few minutes afraid to look in the back seat. When I did... I was alone. However, the truth is, I wasn't alone. My Guardian Angel was present in spirit.

6.) Through a Prophet. Angels might speak to us through those who are gifted with spiritual sight and hearing (descernment of spirits). For example, a man might speak to a prophet or seer of God and ask about a job opportunity. The prophet might say, "I see an angel standing to your right. He warns that this job is a trap of Satan. The job will take you to a place that is under strong spiritual oppression and your family will face certain attack from the devil."

7.) An angel might materialize or reveal it's presence visually. The materialization might be a majestic angelic form (including humanoid form with wings or a brillian pillar of light or fire). They may also appear as a sudden flash of brilliant light (large or small) in one's peripheral vision. Very rarely to these flashes of light take place directly in one's direct field of vision, but it does happen. The flash of light is a reflection of God's glory upon their weapons or armor that penetrates the natural. For example the prophets of the OT often saw angels revealed in powerful angelic forms. Another example is a man prays in his office as to if he should sign a business contract that could multiply his business opportunities greatly or put his family's inheritance at risk. Being unsure, and in the valley of discision, he prays, "God if I should do this, please give me a sign." Suddenly a brilliant flash of light appears in His peripheral vision and disappears.

8.) Physical form of another human being. Besides all the examples in the Bible an angel might manifest as a man even today. For example, I was standing outside the airport and a man that looked rather poor walked up to me and asked if I could spare a few dollars so that he could get something to eat before his flight. I exchanged pleasantries and began to pull a $5 bill out of my wallet when he suddenly said, "Nevermind, I was just wanting to know if you were a Christian." I felt a little insulted. He walked back into the terminal. I felt the need to see what he was doing and followed him. He was nowhere to be found. Today I believe he was an angel sent to test my charity and compassion.

9.) The physical form of an animal. A woman gets off the subway train and begins her journey home late at night. She realizes that she's being followed by a couple suspecious men. They begin to pick up the pace and are closing in on her. One of them says, "hey lady, c'mere." Suddenly out of nowhere two doberman pinchers run up in between her and the would be attackers. The dogs are ferociously barking and growling at the men who mean her harm. She is able to take off running while the "dogs" (angels) hold the men at bay.

I'm sure angels appear and communicate in other ways. However, these are the most common that I'm aware of.

[Aquila]

Part of angelic ministry is to impart power to us when we are in a carnal state of mind or weak in faith and/or body due to circumstance, spiritual defeat, or trial. An angel can lay hands on a person and impart angelic virtue (power) in a given area be it physical, emotional, or spiritual so that we might endure the trial before us.

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

Mark 1:13
And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Luke 22:43
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

We've heard of unearthly feats performed by soldiers or parents when friends or children are in danger. For example a 40 year old mother finds herself lifting a car to free her trapped children. A man whose wife has left him sits with a broken spirit and shattered emotions. He lifts a gun to his head and suddenly a sense of "peace" and "assurance" comes over him though he had ceased to pray and gave up on God weeks ago. He puts the gun down and begins weeping, praying that God help him through what lays ahead. These individuals were blessed through the angelic ministry of impartation.

[Aquila]

Angels often reveal their presence to spiritual enemies. A young man forsakes his Christian faith and begins participating in the occult. He is following satanic rock bands to parties of drukenness and orgies. His mother and father begin gathering for prayer for their wayward son every night. Suddenly, just before entering a seance the spiritualist stops him and tells him that he's not welcome to participate. When he asks why the spiritualist states, "Because I can see angels surrounding you. I do not want them in my home."

[Aquila]

Angels do not like to be prayed to. In fact, they are likely to ignore you, correct you, or discpline you sternly should you pray to them. However, they rejoice and are readily available to assist if entreated as part of a prayer to God. For example,

"Heavenly Father, I pray that you lead and guide my children in your ways. Call to their hearts, Oh God and keep them near to you always. LORD, surround them with your angels of protection and guidance. May they be protected by the plots of Hell. May they be protected in accordance to your will in all that they do. I pray that angels of strength and resolve bless them and keep them grounded in the faith for all the days of their lives. In Jesus name I pray. Amen."

...or...

"Heavenly Father, I pray that you send angels to minister to the family that we witnessed to two nights ago. They committed to come to church this week and I felt your Spirit drawing them as we spoke. LORD, I pray that you send forth angels of mercy and guidance to remind that they committed to taking this step towards you. Have the angels orchestrate events so that they be available and that my telephone call be answered when I call to remind them that my wife and I are coming to pick them up. In Jesus name. Amen."

Angels might also be entreated through the authority of Jesus Christ. For example,

"I call upon the angels of protection to surround that child through the authority of the name of Jesus. Amen."

Holy angels become highly uncomfortable if one calls upon them in any manner that doesn't recognize the authority of God and/or the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Angels also respond to prayers wherein the speaker is speaking in tongues through the Spirit of God (the tongue of angels).

[bbyrd009]

I have a story--2, actually--similar to your #8; a guy walks up to me in an empty grocery store parking lot that had a gas station in the corner of it, at night, asking for a dollar for gas (30 years ago)...he says he just needs enough to get home. I gave him $2--still only good for about a gallon, then--and looked down to return the rest of my $, $5, to my pocket, then decided to give him the $5, looked up, and he was gone. We're talking 5 seconds later, max. Deserted parking lot.