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Hey there everyone!
There was a great discussion under our personal thoughts section that is only available to forum members that I thought would be wonderful to share with the general public that come and visit. Here are a couple of the initial threads that began the study:
I would like to hear from people who believe they have been visited, watched over, assisted by, etc. angels. whether seen or unseen, whether in human form or other. though i don't want this to become a thread that strays from christianity.
got an angel story? we'd love to hear about it!
babalou
I would also sure like to hear what the esteemed cartoonbug thinks about angels in our midst today.
We have friends who believe they have been visited by angels on many occasions. I smile a lot when they relate their experiences, but I am not sure what to think of it. These folks belong to a Lutheran church which, so far as I know, is not related to their experiences with angels.
fotop
Then Cartoonbug gave a very good write up on Angels in our midst:
The Bible gives us a lot of information about angels and their missions here on earth. In fact, the writer of Hebrews warns us to be on our guard for them.
Hebrews 13:2 (New International Version)
2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
What are Angels?
God’s angels are supernatural, celestial beings of pure spirit, superior to humans in power, goodness, beauty, intelligence and abilities and they serve God as mostly unseen agents. They serve as both messengers and attendant spirits, carrying out God’s will which includes the care and protection of humans as God directs.Think of the angels as spiritual beings playing the role of intermediate between God and men.
The Bible uses the terms מלאך אלהים (melakh Elohim; messenger of God), מלאך יהוה (melakh Adonai; messenger of the Lord), בני אלוהים (b'nai Elohim; sons of God) and הקודשים (ha-qodeshim; the holy ones) to refer to beings traditionally interpreted as angels.
The New Testament Greek word: αγγέλος "aggelos." The pronunciation is "angelos" and means 'herald, or messenger from God.
How Do Angels Manifest Themsleves?
They can invade our world through visions and dreams.
Daniel 4:13 (New International Version)
13 "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
Matthew 1:20-21 (New International Version)
20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins."
They also can appear in bodily form when they have physical work to do such as when they had to remove Lot and his family physically from Sodom before it was destroyed or to conduct a jail break for Peter.
Genesis 19 (New International Version)
1 The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 "My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning."
"No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square."
3 But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. 4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
Acts 12:7-10 (New International Version)
7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
8Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Where Are Angels Today?
Many people would respond to these verses and say, “Well, that fine, but where are Angels today?” Based on scripture, I would answer Everywhere! We know that our Lord Jesus is in total control of everything in the universe both seen and unseen and we are told that God protects those that fear Him.
Colossians 1:16-17 (New International Version)
16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Psalm 34:7 (New International Version)
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
In fact, the Angels are amazed at the plan of God in our lives and how they are being used to bring it about.
1 Peter 1:12 (New International Version)
12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
They work tirelessly, everyday, every hour around the world ministering to followers of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:14 (New International Version)
14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
In fact, they are active participants every time a man, woman or child repents and is saved. How do we know this? Jesus tells us in the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin.
Luke 15:1-10 (New International Version)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Discerning the Spirits
How should we view someone’s story of a manifestation of angels? Are there ways to determine if it’s authentically from God, from man or at worst of the devil?
Discerning of spirits is the supernatural ability given by the Holy Spirit to perceive the source of a spiritual manifestation and determine whether it is of God. Here is an example of Peter doing just that:
Acts 10:30-35 (New International Version)
30Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."
34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
Here is an account of Paul discerning a spirit sent by the devil.
Acts 16:16-18 (New International Version)
16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
And finally an example of Peter discerning a man.
Acts 8:18-23 (New International Version)
18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
20Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
Spiritual Tests
God does not want his followers to be fooled by the spirits. He wants to equip us with the ability to know what is true. Discerning of spirits must be done by the power of the Holy Spirit; He bears witness with our spirit when something is or is not of God. The gift of discerning of spirits is the supernatural power to detect the realm of the spirits and their activities. It implies the power of spiritual insight - the supernatural revelation of plans and purposes of the enemy and his forces. It is a gift which protects and guards your Christian life.
You can discern or test whether or not a spirit is of God by the following three ways:
1) Observing what a person does. In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus explains that false prophets are known by their fruit - by their conduct and actions.
2) Observing whether or not a person exalts Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as Lord and Savior (I Corinthians 12:3).
3) By listening to what a person says (I John 4:1-3). Does their confession line up with the truth of God's Word?
Matthew 7:15-20 (New International Version)
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
1 Corinthians 12:3 (New International Version)
3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:1-3 (New International Version)
Test the Spirits
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
Angels in Our Midst
Yes I fully believe that Angels are actively working in our lives both spiritually and physically because the bible tells us so. We may never know on this side of heaven exactly how much they have been involved, but they are here none the less working the Will of God here on earth.
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