When you think about the ministry of angels, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Most people see them as our guardians, saving us from potential danger and even death; however, angelic ministry does not need to be relegated to the occasional salvation from certain death. We can be proactive in using our faith to appropriate angelic ministry.
Since faith is based on knowledge, here are some basics regarding angelic ministry:
- Angels are spiritual beings who occupy and function in the spiritual unseen realm. They marvel at creation and, in particular, at mankind, the pinnacle of that creation and the only part made in the image of God. They marvel at the plan of redemption and intensely observe what goes on here on earth.
- Very often, angels are ministers of God’s mercy when we’re not in faith, don’t do things right, or don’t position ourselves for God’s moving.
- The word “angel” in the Hebrew and Greek means “messenger.” Angels don’t have their own message. They are messengers of God. When you obey their voice, you’re obeying the voice of God.
- Angels can manifest in this physical arena. As the Bible says, you may entertain angels unaware on this earth, as the disciples did on the road to Emmaus.
- Angels are normally discerned through the gifts of the Spirit operating, specifically the discerning of spirits. It’s as though God parts a veil, and you can see into the realm of the Spirit.
- Dark angels do exist. Lucifer, an archangel, led one-third of the angelic hosts in rebellion against God. At their defeat, God cast them back into the earth. It is good to be aware of these fallen angelic hosts, as you’ll see later in this letter.
Angels Will Deliver You
What does the Bible tell us about angelic ministry? Hebrews 1:13–2:3 says:
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (KJV)
What do we need to escape from? We need to escape from the strategies of the enemy; hard places; things that come against the will, purpose, and plan of God. What salvation is he talking about? It isn’t the salvation for which Jesus shed His blood. That salvation is secured by the blood of the Lamb. The context here is the ministry of angels and the salvation—which means protection, deliverance, and preservation—angels bring us through obstacles we face.
Guardian Angels
Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (KJV). If you have a covenant with God and fear (reverence) the Lord, an angel is watching over you and will provide deliverance as needed. Psalm 91 talks further about this supernatural ministry.
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 (vv. 11–12 KJV).
Somebody might say, “My angel’s been sleeping on the job because I’ve been dashing my feet on a few stones.” I don’t think it’s a problem with the angel. How’s your fellowship with the Lord doing? That’s the context established in verses 9–10.
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. (KJV)
Psalm 91 implies at least one angel has been given charge over you. The religious world refers to this as your guardian angel. I certainly believe that is scriptural, although I don’t believe you are limited to one guardian angel. Look at Matthew 26:53.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? (KJV)
A Roman legion during Jesus’ time on the earth was made up of six thousand men. That means He could call up over 72 thousand angels in an eye blink. We see in Isaiah chapter 37 that one angel killed 185,000 Syrians who were threatening Israel. That’s a pretty capable warrior—and Jesus can call up 72,000 of them. If you multiply 72,000 times 185,000, that’s a greater number than the number of people that presently occupy our planet!
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking, Jesus is the Son of God; that’s why He had all those angels available. Jesus did the work of redemption as a man; He said you’ll do the same works as He and greater. Because Jesus is an example of what’s true for us, this means you have an unlimited number of angels at your disposal.
Commission Your Angels
So how can we proactively use our angelic hosts? Let’s look at Psalm 103:20.
Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. (KJV)
God’s Word has no voice unless you give voice to it. Angels respond to the Word you put in your mouth to commission them to accomplish various assignments.
Most people aren’t as conscious of what their words are doing as they need to be, especially where angelic hosts are concerned. That’s why I have put together a list of five levels of speaking and the angelic response it will produce.
1. The Voice of God’s Word—This is the highest and the best. When you put God’s Word in your mouth, you enable angels to produce the blessing of God. What’s blessing? Blessing is an empowerment to prosper and increase. Angels will empower you to proceed down the path of God’s will for your life.
2. Silence—If you can’t make yourself say the right thing, don’t say anything at all. Keep acting on the Word as best as you can so the Lord can still work. Silence while acting on the Word allows angels to still bring you the victory.
A good example of the importance of silence is shown in Joshua chapter six. The angel of the Lord came and gave Joshua instructions about winning the battle of Jericho. The instructions weren’t that everybody had to confess the same thing. With two million people, that was hardly likely. The Lord instructed them to keep silent. They were to quietly march around Jericho seven times; then they were to shout. Their obedience brought a dramatic victory—and many commentaries say that victory (the walls of Jericho being knocked flat) was accomplished by angels.
3. Idle Words—Jesus talks about idle words, and they are non-working words. As Matthew 12:36–37 says:
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (KJV)
Certain kinds of communication have no impact anywhere in the plan or the kingdom of God. These non-working words will idle your angels.
4. Murmuring—Murmuring is unbelief. “I’ve been tithing for six months and nothing’s happened. It’s a hassle to go to church; why should I go?” Murmuring provokes your angels and produces a response you’d rather not have.
5. Words Contrary to God’s Word—The fifth level of our words is the worst: words against God’s Word have negative consequences because they commission dark angels. When people speak contrary to the Word of God, they put a supernatural force to work against their best interests.
If more people were aware of how their words affected their circumstances—and in particular, the spiritual realm—they’d be a lot less casual with what they say.
So I encourage you to give more earnest heed to angelic ministry in your life. Be aware of their ministry to you as an heir of salvation and how you commission them by speaking God’s Word. This is how you accelerate the blessing of God in your life and become more effective in the call of God while you’re on this earth.