Off the Beaten Path

My Dearest Readers,      Last night I found myself rather restless; which was odd as I had spent my typical Monday cleaning yea old domicile, washing laundry and (once again) organizing the closets. Monday is generally my "pleasantly tired and ready for bed" day. So; here it was, late at night and I really did not feel like reading or playing on the computer (I am trying to wean myself off of farmville) and thus I began to flip through the channels on the old telly.     Late night on the television can be a hairy experience to navigate through. Don't get me wrong I am not the least bit prudish in my TV viewing. I enjoy the "shoot em' up, bang em' up" action adventure and the "oooh vampires and werewolves" on cable as much as the next person. In fact; if I am going to watch a movie then those are the ones I prefer. But cable after midnight seems to lend themselves to straight up porno; of which I am not at all interested in. ~Blah~ Dinky Does Dallas (or some equally nonsense title), Taxi Cab Confessions (who really spills their "intimate" guts out to a total stranger in a nasty ass cab?) is just not my cup of tea. But; to each his own I suppose. Must be some kind of audience for these things or they wouldn't air.                     Anywho; as I am navigating my way through channel after channel of junk and re-runs I finally lit on a movie that looked like it had some possibility. The male title character I knew from a Lycan/Vampire movie (Michael Sheen) and I supposed that anything he was in could not be a bad movie. I was not disappointed. The movie was called "Beautiful Boy" and if you haven't seen it then it is worth your while to do so. I won't give away the specifics of the movie (I also hate spoilers) just know that it's about a boy that sets sail for college, goes crazy and kills a bunch of his classmates and teachers.      Sound a little familiar to you?      It seems today that one is hard pressed to pick up a newspaper and not find some article of someone going over the edge and killing people at random. It's a sad testimony of the age we now live in. People simply can not seem to control themselves and teenagers/young adults are running ahead of the pack. But that isn't really what I want to talk about today. I believe that greater minds than mine are stumped as to the "why's" these things are so prevalent in our society today and so I will leave them to continue to explore this and move on to an area that I believe has not really been given a good deal of thought to. Which is how the parents of the murderer feel when their child has committed the unthinkable; unimaginable.     It's so easy (and convenient)  for us to blame the parents when a child does something heinous. Surely they must have done something wrong in their child rearing for their child to have done this. Perhaps we look at the parents themselves and wonder if they (in the wide expanse of their gene pool) didn't somehow pass along some genetic anomaly that gave the child the perchance for acts of violence. We wrongly suppose that it must be that they come from an environment where filth and neglect and want abounds; where abuse and cruelty is tolerated. We suppose all sorts of things to somehow blame the parents for the acts of their children in spite of the fact that statistics do not support our beliefs. But blame them we do.     Even today the court system is over flowing with cases of "wrongful injury/ wrongful death". Parents are held liable for any damage that their child does to another person or their property. People want to be financially compensated when someone elses child runs amuck. I believe this is completely ludicrous and frankly I am ashamed of a Government that fosters these types of suits.  But that too is another subject for another time.   We raise our children to the very best of our ability. We make sure that they are fed and clothed and have a decent roof over their head. We make sure they do their homework and keep good grades. We feed them breakfast and send them off to school thinking all is well in the world and 15 minutes later via "breaking news" we hear that they have stolen the gun from our locked box and killed several of their class mates. How is this; how are these parents at fault? It isn't. They did nothing wrong.     Yet; still we blame them when something occurs.      We don't give any thought whatsoever to what they must be going through. What horror haunts their every waking moment and their sleep as they replay this child's whole life in their mind looking for clues of what went wrong. Did they love them enough? Did they love them too much? Did they give them too much or too little? Were they too strict or not strict enough? Was there some "something" that they missed that would have given them a warning that their child was in trouble and needed help? I am sure that the questions that pass through their minds would count in the millions.     And we forget that they also have lost their child. Rather the child commits suicide after this act of violence or is arrested these parents have also lost their child. We don't think about that. We don't think about how their lives are never going to be the same again either. We don't think about how their lives have also been turned upside down by this. We don't think about their loss, their pain, their grief and their horror in the wake of what has taken place. But we should.   And after reading this I hope that that is going to change and we will.   We should be thinking and then telling these parents and ourselves that it was not their fault. That they didn't do anything wrong as a parent. Remind them often that it was the child's fault. He/she alone is to blame. They are the one who needs to be held accountable in our minds and our hearts for what they did. Not the parents.     You realize of course that if you are a parent and reading this that your child could very well do the same thing; right? As you are telling yourself "not my kid, my kid is fine" remember that these parents once told themselves the same thing. As you tell yourself "My kid is happy, well adjusted, etc. etc." remember that these parents once thought the same thing.  Yeah; sadly this could be your child. All it takes is just "one" thing and then the chips will start flying in all directions. Remember that when you start pointing fingers and placing blame.     The bottom line is that we don't really know what goes on in the mind of someone that snaps and goes on a killing rampage- rather that person is a teen, a young adult or an adult. We don't really know for certain- even after all of the investigations have taken place- what was that one thing that sent them spiraling over the edge and resulted in them causing injury to another. All we really know is that something awful took place and a whole bunch of people's lives were forever changed by it.      So; today I would really like for you to examine yourselves as I have done and correct your thinking on tragedies such as the one I am discussing. Purpose your heart that when something awful happens; and something awful happens to all of us at one point or another in our lives, that we don't begin to look to innocent people to blame. People to bear the blunt of our sorrows. Understand that the perpetrator of a violent crime is the only one that should be held accountable and responsible- even if that person is no longer around to punish for the crime.     If you are the parent of a child that was a victim, God forbid! that was murdered then know that only God alone can bring you peace. All of the blame that you can throw at the criminals' parents, all of the wrongful death lawsuits in the world, all of the financial compensation stacked sky high is not going to bring you any measure of peace. Only God can do that and on Him you should and can rely. He never fails us. But we have to open ourselves up to Him to be helped. Don't wear your pain as a shield. In doing so only hurts those that are left behind.     If you are the parents of a child/young adult/adult that committed a horrible crime against their fellow man to you I say It Is Not Your Fault. You did the best you could as a parent but somewhere along the way they just got turned around and did something that to even them was probably unexpected, a surprise if you will. You can mull it over and over in your mind for the rest of your natural life why they did what they did but you'll never really know. You just have to pick up the pieces of your life and move forward. Don't accept blame from others. Don't accept the guilt that will be heaped on you. It isn't yours to bear. It's your child's. And if they aren't around to bear it then know that it is something that they just have to work out with God. You can't help them.     Thank You Dear Readers for taking a moment to examine your thoughts on this. Thank You for tweaking those thoughts to line up with the Bible that tells us to not hold grudges, to bear no one ill will and to love others as Christ loved us. I know for myself; being a parent and a grandparent that I had to do some long soul searching to readjust my thinking on these things. With God's help I will get there but at least I have started the journey.     God Bless You All,  Dr. Angel Koerner   ~Lazzy~

The Spirit of God

~ The Holy Spirit of God ~


Today we are going to look at the Holy Spirit as a living, breathing part of God. Not a mist, not a vapor, not a ghost but a very real, very distinct individual.




The Holy Spirit is a Person:


The Holy Spirit is included in the Trinity, which is made up of 3 distinct persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The following verses give a beautiful picture of the Trinity in the Bible:

Matthew 3:16-17 NIV
"As soon as Jesus (the Son) was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven (the Father) said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 28:19 NIV
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit",

John 14:16-17 NIV
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you".

2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all".

Acts 2:32-33 NIV
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear".




The Holy Spirit has a Name:


Parakletos
The original New Testament Greek word Parakletos (pronounced in Greek as par-ak-lay-tos), which literally means "called to one's side", was used to describe someone who pleaded another's cause, or who helped others by defending or comforting them. In English-language versions of The Bible, parakletos is usually translated as Counselor, Comforter or Helper when referring to the Holy Spirit.

Depending upon the translation, parakletos is translated variously as Counselor (RSV, NIV), Comforter (KJV, ASV) or Helper (NASB, NKJV) in regard to the Holy Spirit of God. When the Holy Spirit is referred to as "he" in translating from the original Greek, it's the result of the use of linguistic masculine "genders" in Greek nouns.

John 14:12-17 RSV
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My Name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in My Name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Counselor [parakletos], to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you."

John 15:26-27 RSV
"But when the Counselor [parakletos] comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses"

John 16:7-8 RSV
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor [parakletos] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment"





The Holy Spirit has a Mind:


Romans 8:27 NIV
"And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will".




The Holy Spirit has a Will:


1 Corinthians 12:11 NASB
"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills".




The Holy Spirit has Emotions:


Ephesians 4:30 NIV
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption".

Isaiah 63:10 NIV
"Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them".




The Holy Spirit gives joy:


Luke 10:21 NIV
"At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.”

1 Thessalonians 1:6 NIV
"You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit".




He Teaches:


John 14:26 NIV
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you".




He Testifies of Christ:


John 15:26 NIV
"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me".




He Convicts:


John 16:8 NIV
"When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt [Or will expose the guilt of the world] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment"




He Leads:


Romans 8:14 NIV
"Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God".




He Reveals Truth:


John 16:13 NIV
"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come".




He Strengthens and Encourages:


Acts 9:31 NIV
"Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord".




He Comforts:


John 14:16 KJV
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever"




He Helps Us in our Weakness:


Romans 8:26 NIV
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express".




He Intercedes:


Romans 8:26 NIV
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express".




He Searches the Deep Things of God:


1 Corinthians 2:11 NIV
"The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God".




He Sanctifies:


Romans 15:16 NIV
"To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit".




He Bears Witness or Testifies:


Romans 8:16 KJV
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God"

Romans 8:16 NIV
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children".




He Forbids:


Acts 16:6-7 NIV
"Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to".




He Can be Lied to:


Acts 5:3 NIV
"Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land"?




He Can be Resisted:


Acts 7:51 NIV
“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”




He Can be Blasphemed:


Blasphamy
1. impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things.
2. an act of reviling God.
3. the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God.
4. irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred, priceless.
5. profanity, cursing, swearing; sacrilege, impiety against God.


Matthew 12:31-32 NIV
"And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come".






He Can be Quenched (squelched):


1 Thessalonians 5:19 NKJV
"Quench not the Spirit".






He can be jealous & envious:

James 4:5 KJV
"Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy"?


James 4:5 AMP
"Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit to be welcome with a jealous love"? 

Moving On ....



I know you want to please the Spirit of God with your life, so today I want to tell you about something that is guaranteed Not to please Him.  By knowing this, you can avoid grieving Him and can concentrate your attention on doing those things that are sure to bring Him pleasure.



I want to draw your attention to the word "envy" in James 4:5. But first I want to back up and speak to you about the "lust" that the Holy Spirit feels for you and me. The word "lust" is the Greek word "epipotheo", a word that portrays an intense desire; a craving; a hunger; an ache; a yearning for something; a longing or pining for something. Usually this word is used to indicate an intense yearning for something that is morally wrong and sinful.



But in James 4:5, this Greek word describes the intense yearning that the Holy Spirit possesses to have us entirely for Himself. Because the word "epipotheo" is used to depict the Spirit's longing to have us, it expresses the deep love and affection that the Spirit of God has for every believer.



However, James goes on to tell us that in addition into this intense yearning for us, the Holy Spirit also experiences "envy" regarding you and me.  The word "envy" in James 4:5 is the Greek word "phthnos", a word that describes a person who is jealous about something; a person who feels rivalry or envy; or a person who hold a grudge because of someone else's behavior. It also carries the idea of ill will and malice.



This word "phthnos" is the very word that would have been used to illustrate the emotions of young man experiences when he discovers his spouse is being romantically pursued by someone else. Because James uses this word to depict the Holy Spirit, we need to stop and think about what it means for a few moments.



Anger, resentment, rage, envy, jealousy; these are the emotions a "man" feels in such a situation.  He takes this threat to his marital relationship very personally and holds a grudge against the pursuer. Every time the husband thinks about what that romantic bandit is trying to do, feelings of malice and ill will toward the violator rise up in his soul.



Even more significantly, a "man" who really loves his wife is not going to sit by and watch his wife be stolen! The envy and jealousy he feels will move him to action; to do everything in his power to win back his wife and permanently eliminate his competitor. Because the husband is envious, he does all he can to see his relationship with his wife restored.
 


All of these ideas are conveyed by the Greek word "phthnos" used in James 4:5 when the Bibles tells us about the "envy" of the Holy Spirit.



The Greek word "phthnos" could be understood this way: The Spirit takes it very personally when we share our lives with the world. He wants us so entirely for Himself that if the world tries to take us away, it infuriates Him. You need to know that in these cases, the Holy Spirit will not idly sit by and watch it happen. He'll do something to change the situation! Not only does it infuriate the Holy Spirit when believers turn their devotion to the world but it drive Him to intense jealousy. At this point, He will release His full rage against that unholy relationship, moving on the scene like a Divine Lover who has come to defend and rescue the relationship He holds so dear!



This is something you can be sure of: If you commit more of your heart, soul, and attention to worldly things than you give to the Spirit of God, He will not take it lightly.



Never forget that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Lover. He is preoccupied with you. He wants to possess you totally, and He desires that your affection be set wholly on Him. That's why the Holy Spirit feels like a
lover who has been robbed if you walk and talk like an unbeliever or give your life to the things of this world.
He jealously desires His relationship with you to be restored. He has divine malice toward the worldliness that has usurped His role in your life.



The Holy Spirit is not a passive Partner.  He aggressively and actively pursues you. He fiercely wants more of you. When you give part of yourself to something or someone else's control, the Holy Spirit wants to seize that part of your life and bring it back under His divine control. He even has malice toward your preoccupation with things in this natural realm.



So make your relationship with the Holy Spirit your top priority. Don't give Him a reason to feel betrayed by or envious of other things in your life that have taken His place. Get to know the Holy Spirit's voice in your spirit so He can help you set your life in order. Make sure every area of your life is under His loving control!

A Study In Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:10-31 NIV

The Wife of Noble Character

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

 

Proverbs 31:10 

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

This "virtuous woman" is a woman of high morals standards who is upright in all her ways.  This is just saying that her worth cannot be measured in earthly things, such as rare stones (rubies) or dollars or even gold. There is no standard of measurement known to man that can define the price of a good woman.

 

Proverbs 31:11

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil."

This woman is totally faithful to her husband.  He can have confidence in her, because she will not let him down.  He will not need anything of value (spoils) from another, because his wife will always be faithful to him in every situation and supply him with all that he needs.  She will not even give the appearance of evilness in her heart. No gossiping, no nagging, no whining. She is a confident woman that knows what her man needs and she makes sure he has it.

 

Proverbs 31:12

"She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."

She is on his side.  She is beside him helping in everything that he sets his hand to do.  She loves to please him. To see him smile, to make him happy.  She respects him and builds him up when he is down.  She does not tear him down further by pointing out his shortcomings, but instills confidence in him. I believe that it is important that all women understand that self-confidence is sadly lacking in all men. I also believe it could quite possibly go all the way back in time to when Eve duped Adam with the apple. Rather that belief is true or not remains to be seen but what is glaringly apparent is the obvious lack of self confidence in men. A lifetime of being told- in words or actions- that they are "not good enough" or their "ideas are stupid" or "they will never amount to anything" has produced a race of men that have no self-confidence whatsoever. A race of men that second guess everything they do or say or even think. Yes; there will be times when they will come up with an off the wall idea, or they will do something completely stupid- certainly not very well thought out- but it is not your place as his wife to make him feel even worse than he already does. How many times have you come up with an idea that fell completely flat or you abandoned because it just wasn't working out the way you planned? How much worse is it when someone points that out? You already feel awful and now someone comes along and compounds that feeling by making you feel like a complete failure. Almost makes you never want to try anything ever again; doesn't it? Silly ideas, crazy brain schemes are going to come and go; failures are a certainty in this life but it is how you react to those times that makes all the difference in the world in how someone feels.

 

Proverbs 31:13

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands."

She is industrious and helps him provide for the family- for her household.  Quite naturally today as modern women we do not go out and sheer the sheep and spin the wool with our hands and then make a fine sports jacket for our husband. But our hands do work. We have to buy his clothes, wash his clothes and in some cases even iron his clothes. Sometimes I think sheering the sheep and spinning the wool might have been easier. But; in a nutshell what this is saying is that She is not lazy.  She works willingly. I like the that this verse states that she does so "willingly". She works to make a nice home because she wants to and not see it as a chore or something that has to be done every day of the year. She does so willingly because she wants to make a nice home for her husband, she wants her husband to look nice when he goes out the door.

 

Proverbs 31:14

"She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar."

This passage is pretty self explanatory. She needs food for her household and she goes forth wherever the food is and brings it home. Maybe it's the market, maybe it's the bakery, maybe it's the local produce stand- she knows what she needs and she goes out and gets it. But; let's not overlook a small detail here. In order to know what her household needs in terms of food means she needs to stay sharp on the goods in the pantry. She makes a list of provisions that are running low and then restocks. Never underestimate the power of list keeping!

 

Proverbs 31:15

"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens."

She is not a sleepy-head.  She gets up early and sees that her family and her maidens are fed.  Today you do not see very many households that have servants but what you do see today is it not uncommon for family members to blend and share a household. Perhaps an ailing Mother or Father can no longer live alone and comes to live in the daughters' (or daughter in laws') house. No matter who dwells under the roof her first concern is the welfare of her family. If I might also add that it's important to note that she is up before the sun preparing the morning meal. Certainly most children today prefer a bowl of cereal to ham and eggs and most men prefer a danish and a cup of coffee on the way to work. But that is no excuse for not getting up and preparing whatever it is they are to eat. Laying in bed and telling yourself "surely they can fix their own cereal" so you can get an extra hour of sleep is Out. Get up and get busy. You have a household to manage.

 

Proverbs 31:16

"She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."

I believe this is an indication that she is a business minded woman.  She
takes on responsibility in buying the land according to this passage. To put this in perspective I believe that she doesn't wait for her husband to make every single minute decision in their lives. She takes the initiative. For example: let's say that you live in a two bedroom condo for $400.00. Comfortable yes; but not what you would want to live in forever. You know that in order to purchase a three bedroom country house with plenty of land for the children to roam for $750.00 a month that it is going to take good credit, old debts are going to have to be paid off, wasteful spending to be curbed- in short careful planning of the finances. She makes the plan and sets the plan in motion and when the time is right she says "Now! Let's go and find our new house"  She doesn't say to the husband that making the money for the family is his job and she wants such and such.  She works with him to see this come to be.

 

Proverbs 31:17

"She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms."

We see, here, that hard work makes her very strong. Not only just in body but in heart and spirit. She is not afraid to tackle even the most difficult of projects. Ever try and put a trycycle together without any help?

 

Proverbs 31:18

"She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night."

She protects what is her own. Her belongings were not given to her but worked hard for and thus she is not going to carelessly see them destroyed.  She appreciates her husband's efforts to provide her and her family with nice things and works to keep them in good shape so that they will last. I believe that this is something that most women are guilty of falling down on the job on. We let the children romp on the furniture and eat in the living room and wear their good clothes out to play. This isn't being a good steward of the things that your husband worked hard for you to have. I am guilty of allowing the dogs on the furniture and as I type this out I feel the conviction. Pets do not belong on the sofa or in his favorite chair when he isn't at home. Note To Self: Keep the dogs off of the furniture!

 

Proverbs 31:19

"She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff."

We see here, again, that she looks for useful work to do.  She is not lazy. It has been said that if you could sell a woman's thoughts that a man could be rich overnight. I believe it! I don't know a woman in the world that has a moment that her mind is completely blank. Even sitting idly watching TV her mind is thinking about the ring around the bathtub or the dogs could use a bath or is it time to transfer the laundry from the washer to the dryer. There is no off switch on the brain. A Proverbs woman knows that there is always something that needs to be done. (a distaff is part of the spinning wheel used to loom wool)

 

Proverbs 31:20

"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy."

She is not selfish, but shares with the less fortunate.  She is generous in helping the poor and needy.  She has a big, giving heart.

 

Proverbs 31:21

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet."

She has seen to it that her whole family have warm, comfortable garments, even for snowy weather. In fact she is prepared in advance for all seasons. She doesn't wait until the snow is three foot high to discover her child doesn't have a winter coat or 100 degree day to discover all her children have are long pants. She is prepared!

 

Proverbs 31:22

"She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple."

She looks nice for her family.  She takes care of herself, and dresses nice so her husband will be proud to tell people that she is his wife.

 

Proverbs 31:23

"Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land."

She builds her husband up, and he has respect in the town.  She never does things to make him ashamed. When men gossip as they do her name will not be smeared. Men will envy her husband to have caught such a fine woman.

 

Proverbs 31:24

"She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant."

"Fine linen", actually means "spiritual righteousness" in most ancient Hebrew text but here in this particular passage it means that she spins the loom and sells the garments to make money to help her husband. Even by modern standards this doesn't mean that women should go out and get a paying job and help bring home the bacon. You can help your husbands' financial stability greatly by not spending frivolously and by getting the most bang for your buck. Looking for sales at the market, clipping coupons, seeking out "buy one get one free" items. Cooking up a few burgers on the BBQ instead of McDonald's. Perhaps you do actually have a marketable talent. Perhaps you crochet or paint, or grow a nice garden each summer. In that case then you could sell your items and add the money to the pot but remember this: Your First Obligation is to running and management of your household not out trying to make a dollar. The rule of thumb is that if it takes two incomes to run one household then financial adjustments are highly called for.

 

Proverbs 31:25

"Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come."

This woman is upright in all of her ways, and the Lord will reward her.  She will be among those who will hear Him say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant".  She is well covered in the spiritual things of righteousness. She is Content with her lot in life.

 

Proverbs 31:26

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."

Her speech conveys her wisdom and kindness.  Her words build up and don't tear down.  She is not a gossip or a slanderer.  When she speaks, it is to help.  Her wisdom instructs her children. She is not a shrew nor a harpy. Her voice doesn't carry across the neighborhood. She speaks with a soft tone even when her words are meant to discipline. She does not give her husband just cause to pitch his tent on the roof to get away from her mouth.

 

Proverbs 31:27

"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."

As said before, she is industrious; and her first thought is for the well being of the members of her own house.

 

Proverbs 31:28

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."

Her husband and her children (who know her best) see her unselfishness, love, and care that she has for all of them.  They are proud of her.  She is a good mother and wife, and they let her know it.

 

Proverbs 31:29

"Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."

This is saying that many women are faithful to their husbands, but fall short in some of these other areas; but she has done the best of all toward her family and God.

 

Proverbs 31:30

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."

Here, we see that "favours" meaning looking your very best can be a good thing.  To have a wife who is attractive to look at is nice, but the very best you can do is to have a wife who adores God and keeps His commandments; and she will have all of these other things as an extra.  She is to be praised, because she has chosen the best: salvation through the Lord.

 

Proverbs 31:31

"Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

Her works speak for themselves.  She has earned her praise.  We see in this, the Lord is pleased with her, because she has done His will in her life. In doing the will of the Lord all that you set your hand to will prosper.

 

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the price of a "virtuous woman"? Can it be measured?

2. Her husband has no need of spoil.  Why?

3. She will do him ____________ and not _____________ .

4. How does she work?

5. What is meant by "bringing food from afar"?

6. When does she get up out of bed?

7. Who does she feed?

8. What Scripture indicates she is a business minded woman?

9. What is intended by her perceiving her merchandise is good?

10. How does she feel about the poor and needy?

11. What is her household clothed in?

12. What does she do to help her appearance?

13. What does she make and sell to the merchant?

14. What two things are her clothing?

15. In her tongue is the law of ______________ .

16. She is _____________ not idle.

17. What do her husband and children call her?

18. Beauty is _______________ .

19. Who shall be praised?

20. What kind of works does she have?

God's Servant's - Angels and Cherubs

God's Servant's

Angels and Cherubs

ANGELS:

How much do you really know about God's Servants?

Colossians 1:16

We are informed that God created all things through Jesus Christ. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him and for him"

Angels and demons, including Satan, are real personalities, not imaginary, mythical symbols of evil. They think, speak, and act.

1 Corinthians 13:1 mentions the languages "of men and of angels."

They are spirit beings. Sometimes they are depicted as having wings. Of course, spirit beings do not need wings. They do not need to overcome gravity in order to move through the air. Wings are depicted only to indicate their unrestricted mobility.

Spirit beings can take human form and at times they do. Hebrews 13:2 says, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares"

Although spirit beings are supernatural, they are limited in their powers and abilities.

Originally, all spirit beings were obedient to God and therefore were holy. Then, sometime before the present physical creation, one of the angels (Satan) led a rebellion against God (see Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:11-15). Many of the angels joined the rebellion. They are now the "fallen angels"--the demons. Let's focus our attention on the good angels--God's angels.

The word "angel" basically means "one who is sent." In that basic definition it is sometimes applied to human beings. When applied to human beings it merely means "messenger." Here we are considering the word in its specific sense, as referring to a spirit being.

The Nature Of Angels:

Angels are innumerable. Hebrews 12:22 speaks of "an innumerable company of angels". Innumerable does not mean "without number." It means humanly impossible To Count!

Angels are created beings, and all created beings are finite. Only God is infinite.

Angels are male. They are popularly thought of as feminine, but the Greek word for angel (angelos) is actually masculine (but without a sexual connotation). Jesus said that in the resurrection, believers "neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven"(Matthew 22:30) Our Lord's words are recorded also in Mark 12:25 and Luke 20:35).

Angels are strong and mighty. Psalm 103:20 says, "Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength...". Nevertheless, angels do not fight Satan and evil spirits in their own strength. 2 Peter 2:11 says, "Yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord" . Echoing this thought, Jude 9 says that when Michael the archangel contended with the devil, he did not overcome him in his own power but rather said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Angels are inferior to God

Hebrews 2 NIV

1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,
3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor
8 and put everything under his feet?In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.”
13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.”And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil–
15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Even though angels are supernatural, they are not to be worshiped. True worship belongs only to God.

Paul wrote, "Let no one defraud you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind" (Colossians 2:18).

Overawed by the dramatic revelation that he was witnessing, the apostle John fell down to worship the angel who appeared to him. Immediately, the angel stopped him. "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10).

It happened again later, with the same remonstrance. "And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, 'See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God'" (Revelation 22:8,9).

The Orders Of Angels:

God does things in an orderly, organized way. His angelic kingdom is highly organized, with different orders and ranks.

First, there are the archangel. When Christ returns, it will be "with the voice of the archangel" (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Michael is a warrior angel. (The only one mentioned in the Bible as an "ArchAngel) We meet him in the book of Daniel. He led the hosts that fought for Israel. One of the angels said to the prophet, "'Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. But I tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince'" (Daniel 10:20, 21).

Michael was his "superior officer," who alone fought on his side against the leading demonic spirits assigned by Satan over Persia and Greece. Evidently, this angel and Michael together were enough to take care of their adversaries.

Michael is named again in Daniel 12:1 as leading a great future spiritual battle in the spirit world: "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book".

We just read about Michael in Jude 9. Also, in Revelation 12:7-9 we read again the account of Michael leading the armies of Heaven in a decisive battle where Satan and his forces were expelled from Heaven and cast down to the earth. "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him".

Gabriel is another angel called by name. He is the messenger angel. We first meet him in Daniel 8:16 "And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision" (KJV). Later, he appeared to the prophet again: "while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, 'O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand'" (Daniel 9:21,22).

Gabriel was very busy announcing the events surrounding the first advent of Jesus Christ, as we read in the first two chapters of The Gospel According to Luke.

The Seraphim ("burning ones") are spoken of in Isaiah 6:1,2 as the angels who attend the very throne of God.

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew".

The Bible also introduces us to the Cherubim ("one who is grasped, held fast"). And No, they are not chubby little baby boys with wings and bow and arrows!

According to Ezekiel 28:14, Satan himself was once a cherub: "You were the anointed cherub who covers" .

Cherubim serve as guardians. "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life" (Genesis 3:24).

The Old Testamen, Cherubim are pictured in their guardian role. Psalm 18:10 represents them symbolically as "bearing" God's throne: "and he rode upon a cherub, and did fly" .

For interesting appearances of cherubim, read Ezekiel, chapters one and ten. Also, in Ezekiel 11:22 we read, "Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above".

On the Ark of the Covenant, God's presence dwelled between the cherubim (see 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; Psalm 99:1; Isaiah 37:16).

The Character Of Angels:

The good angels are "elect," that is, they are eternally chosen in the purpose and foreknowledge of God. Paul writes to Timothy, "I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do  nothing out of favoritism" (1 Timothy 5:21 NIV).

Likewise, the doom of the fallen angels is forever sealed.

The good angels are holy. Jesus promised, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory" (Matthew 25:1 KJV).

The holy angels are obedient to God and accountable to Him (see Job 1:6 and 2:1). Also, Psalm 103:20, "Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word!".

When Jesus was facing the ordeal of the cross, He said to impulsive Peter, "Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53 NKJV).

Had Jesus chosen to avoid crucifixion, all He had to do was call, and 72,000 angels (12 legions) would have responded.

We are eternally grateful that our Lord chose instead to suffer and die to save us.

Jesus Christ is now in His glory in Heaven, "angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him" (1 Peter 3:22 KJV). He "is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:10 KJV. See also Ephesians 1:21 and Colossians 1:16).

The Ministry of Angels:

The Old Testament.

Angels are "all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14 KJV). They are assigned to assist believers.

Angels minister to God in praise and worship. At the creation, "all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7 KJV). Psalm 148:2 commands, "Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts!" (NKJV).

In his glorious vision the prophet Isaiah heard the seraphim crying to one another antiphonally, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3 KJV).

At the birth of Jesus Christ, the angel of the Lord (Gabriel) appeared to some shepherds who were "keeping watch over their flock by night." He told them not to fear because he came with good news. He told them where to find the Christ child. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest..." (Luke 2:13,14 KJV).

The apostle John was given a vision of the entire host of Heaven engaged in mass worship to Jesus Christ. "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:13,14 KJV).

Also, in Revelation 7:11,12 we see another awe-inspiring sight. "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen".

Throughout God's workings with the human race, angels have been very much involved.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar and directed her to return to Sarah, her mistress (Genesis 16:7-12). Later, the angel of the Lord rescued her and her son, Ishmael (Genesis 21:17-19).

Angels were present when the coming birth of Isaac was announced to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18).

Angels were involved in God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah and the forcible rescue of Lot and his family (Genesis 19:1-16).

The angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac on the altar (Genesis 2:11-19).

Abraham promised his servant Eliezer that God would send an angel before him to guide him in finding a bride for Isaac (Genesis 24:7 and 40).

Angels were busy communicating with Jacob and helping him get out of trouble.

On his way east, Jacob had a dream. He saw a ladder that reached from Heaven to earth, and the angels of God were going up and down on it (Genesis 28:12). Jesus explained to us that He is the "ladder" that spans the impassable divide between God and man, and that the ministry of angels is mediated through Him (see John 1:51).

About twenty years after this dream, the angel of God spoke to Jacob in a dream, directing him to return home to the land of Canaan (Genesis 31:11-13). On his return journey, angels met him and his family and flock, and protected him when he met Esau, his estranged twin brother (Genesis 32). In his desperation he wrestled with an angel all night until daybreak as a demonstration of his determination to receive the blessing he so urgently needed (32:24-32). It was Jacob who needed to exercise his undaunted faith. The prophet Hosea referred to this event: "he wrestled with the angel and prevailed" (Hosea 12:4 NASB).

And then there was Moses. As he tended the flock of his father-in-law, "the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of a bush" (Exodus 3:2 KJV).

Angels were directly involved in the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. In Psalm 68:17 we read "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place" (KJV). Galatians 3:19 says that the law was set in place by angels.

Stephen also referred to this event in his defense (Acts 7:38), and he concluded his indictment of the unbelieving council members with the penetrating charge that they had received the law by the arrangement of angels and had not kept it (verse 53)! In the same vein the Epistle to the Hebrews warns, "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation...? (Hebrews 2:2,3 KJV).

The angel of God protected ancient Israel and escorted them in their journeys.

"And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them" (Exodus 14:19 KJV).

"Behold, My angel shall go before you" (Exodus 32:34 NASB).

"But when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent an angel and bought us out from Egypt"  (Numbers 20:16 NASB).

"The angel of His presence saved them" (Isaiah 63:9 KJV).

Read also Exodus 23:20-23 and Exodus 33:2.

After Israel completed their forty-year wandering in the wilderness, they were ready to go in and possess the promised land. As they moved north, along the east side of the Jordan river, they camped near Moab. There they encountered the Midianites. In desperation Balak, the Moabite king, attempted to hire Balaam to curse Israel.

Balaam was a strange character. He was not known as a righteous man, only as a professional "blesser and curser," a sort of religious "hired gun."

At first Balaam refused the deal, but soon he gave in to his desire for the money. As Balaam went to meet Balak, an angel stood in his way to oppose him. Balaam should have given up the whole idea right then and there. Yes, he offered to turn back, but it did not come from his heart. Because there was no real repentance, God let him go on his own way. We read the fascinating details in Numbers, chapters 22 through 24.

Eventually the Israelites crossed the river Jordan and stood poised before the city of Jericho. The situation was tense. At the height of the drama, an angel in human form stood opposite Joshua, a sword drawn in his hand.

"And Joshua went to him and said to him, 'Are you for us or for our adversaries?' And he said, 'No, rather I indeed come as captain of the host of the Lord'." (Joshua 5:13,14).

On one occasion during the lifetime of Joshua, the angel of the Lord rebuked the nation of Israel for failing to complete the explicitly assigned task of executing divine justice on the wicked inhabitants of Palestine (see Judges 2:1-5).

On one occasion when God delivered Israel from oppressing Canaanites during the time of the Judges, God gave a song of victory to the prophetess Deborah. Her song included this scathing denunciation against the inhabitants of a town that had refused to commit themselves to the struggle against the enemy: "'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the Lord. 'Utterly curse its inhabitants; because they did not come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the warriors'." (Judges 5:23).

Because of king David's sin in numbering the people, God sent an angel with authority to destroy Jerusalem. Early in the action, at the point when appropriate had been accomplished, God called a halt and commanded the angel to suspend the operation. This sad event is recorded in both 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21.

King David knew the power of the angels. In Psalm 35:5&6 he called for the angel of the Lord to chase his enemies.

Angels fed the prophet Elijah during a time of drought (1 Kings 19:5,7). How is that for excellent dining service!

The angel of the Lord directed Elijah to intercept the messengers of the ailing king Ahaziah of northern Israel and give them a message to deliver to the king from God (see 2 Kings 1:2-4). That triggered a series of dramatic events, including a directive from the angel to Elijah to allow the soldiers to escort him to the king (verse 15).

For more high adventure involving Elijah and angels, read 2 Kings 6:8-23.

Now let's move on to the time of Hezekiah, king of Judah. When the cruel Assyrians threatened Jerusalem during Hezekiah's reign, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian invaders in one night! That's that force of a nuclear bomb without harm to the environment! This demonstrates the power of even one of God's warrior angels. This event is recorded three times in sacred history: 2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chronicles 32:21; Isaiah 37:36.

The prophet Daniel records that one night the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that included angels. The pagan king called them "watchers" (Daniel 4), though he had earlier used the word, "angel," in his interpretation of the deliverance of the three Hebrews from the fiery furnace (see Daniel 3:28).

When Daniel himself had been delivered out of the lions' den, he reported to Darius, the new Medo-Persian ruler, "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths..." (Daniel 6:22).

Angels were very actively involved in communicating God's revelation to Daniel concerning future events (see Daniel 7:16; 8:15-17; 9:21, 9:23; 10:5, 10:11, 10:21; 12:6,7).

As we saw earlier, angels appeared to the prophet Ezekiel in very dramatic ways.

Angels communicated God's word to the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 1:8-19; 2:3; 3:1-10; 4:1-14; 5:1-11; 6:4).

The Ministry Of Angels:

The New Testament.

From the Biblical data, we have a vivid picture of angelic activity throughout the history of God's dealings with the human race before the first advent of Christ. We move now into the New Testament and explore the ministry of angels in this Christian era.

It is important to remind ourselves that in this New Testament dispensation angels are messengers, not mediators. There is now only one Mediator, Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). Even the ministry of angels is now mediated through Christ. We noted this fact in our reference to Jacob's dream of a ladder (Genesis 28) and our Lord's explanation (John 1:51).

Angels were directly involved in the events surrounding the first advent of Christ. They announced the conception of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus (Luke 1:11,13,19,36).

Angels announced the conception of Jesus Christ in the womb of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:25-30).

It was the angel Gabriel who brought the wonderful news to Joseph (Matthew 1:20,21).

Angels announced the birth of the Savior to the shepherds (Luke 2:9-12,15).

Angels ordered Joseph and Mary to take the baby Jesus to Egypt for safety, and also to return when the danger was past (Matthew 2:13,19-21).

Angels appeared to Jesus and assisted Him after His temptation by Satan (Matthew 4:11).

Angels strengthened our Lord in His agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43).

Over 72,000 angels were poised to rescue Jesus at the moment of His arrest had He asked the Father for them (Matthew 26:53).

At the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the angel of the Lord rolled away the stone from the entry of the tomb and sat on it (Matthew 28:2).

Angels witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to 1 Timothy 3:16 He "appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory" (NIV). Read also Matthew 28:2-7; Luke 24:23; John 20:12.

Angels also appeared to the cloud-gazing disciples and announced the ascension of our Lord and also the fact and manner of His future return.

"Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11 NKJV).

Other angelic activities are described in the Bible. Luke 16:22 records that when Lazarus died, angels carried him to "Abraham's bosom," that is, to Paradise.

John 5:4 relates that an angel came down at a certain season to the pool of Bethesda and troubled the waters.

We now enter The Acts Of The Apostles and follow the ministry of angels in the early Church.

The angel of the Lord supernaturally opened the doors of the prison where the apostles were being held and instructed them to "go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life" (Acts 5:18,19).

The angel of the Lord ordered Philip the evangelist to go south and follow the road from Jerusalem to Gaza to the desert area (Acts 8:26). That put him in a position to meet up with the Ethiopian eunuch and share the gospel with him.

Cornelius was a Roman centurion who was devoutly seeking the true God, the God of Israel. God honored his honest and sincere search by sending an angel to instruct him to send for the apostle Peter to come and bring the gospel to him and his household. We read the dramatic account in Acts, chapter ten.

When Peter was in prison awaiting his expected execution the next day, "Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, 'Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, 'Gird yourself and tie on your sandals'; and so he did. And he said to him, 'Put on your garment and follow me.' So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said 'Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me..." (Acts 12:6-11 NKJV).

Not long afterward, king Herod Agrippa (the one who had imprisoned Peter) gave a flowery speech at Tyre. As he basked in the shallow adulation of the audience "the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory; and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost" (Acts 12:23).

As the ship carrying the apostle Paul lurched through the stormy waters of the Mediterranean, the angel of God stood by him, saying, "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you" (Acts 27:23 NKJV).

Angels were actively involved in carrying the special revelation of the Apocalypse to the apostle John on the island of Patmos.

Angelic involvement is mentioned at least twenty times in the Book of Revelation.

The Present And Future Role Of Angels.

Angels witness our worship (1 Corinthians 11:10). Angels come into our church services from the holy and awesome presence of Almighty God. May they find the same awesome presence of God among us. Amen?

Angels know and delight in the gospel (see Ephesians 3:9-10). This passage tells us that the angels now see in the Church "the manifold wisdom of God." When Satan and the angels who followed him rebelled against God, the angels who remained faithful saw a display of the justice of God in the ultimate judgment He pronounced on them. A breach had been made in God's perfect kingdom.

The angels watched as God created the human race, then as Adam and Eve and their descendants became progressively corrupt, then as God intervened with a universal flood. They watched as humanity started over again with Noah and his family. As time went by things did not look very promising. Sin became epidemic again.

Ah, Abraham. God had a man, then a family, then a nation. Plagues in Egypt. Miracles. The Red Sea. Moses. Sinai. The divine law. To the angels it all seemed to be coming together. Then came the set backs. Rebellion. Forty years in the wilderness.

Joshua. The crossing of the Jordan. Jericho. Divine justice on an entire Palestinian culture that become so morally corrupt that it had forfeited its privilege to exist.

Then came hundreds of years of Israelite failings, interspersed with periodic renewal under the leadership of strong judges. The overall trend was downward.

A kingdom. A tentative start with Saul. Then came David. A covenant. A strong nation. Solomon.

Oh, no! It's happening again. The nation splits in two. Wicked kings drag the people of God lower and lower. Surrounding nations despise them.

The northern kingdom collapses. Judah struggles on. Hopeful times come under Hezekiah, and later, Josiah.

But Manasseh! His long, wicked reign put the people so far down into idolatry and its cruel, violent practices that they were beyond restoration.

The Babylonians invade. Jerusalem is destroyed. The very temple of the living God is demolished. The people are carried away into captivity.

After seventy years from the start of the captivity, a remnant of about fifty thousand return and begin rebuilding. It certainly did not look promising. And he next few hundred years did nothing to raise angelic optimism as they watched the Jews struggle under one oppressor after another.

Yes, the angels watched all of this.

Still, through it all the quality of God's character that has been most prominent is His justice. Ever since the fall of Satan and his angels, the holy angels have had a fully developed view of the justice of God as they watched His judgments on the wicked.

In His Second Person, God is taking upon Himself full humanity. The Third Person, The Holy Spirit, is overshadowing a Jewish virgin. The greatest miracle of the ages has taken place--God has become united with humanity in Mary's womb!

The angels are astir. Heavenly messengers are dispatched with astonishing news--to Mary, to Zachariah, to Joseph.

Then it happened!

In a lowly stable in Bethlehem the Son of God was born. Gabriel the angel had announced His name--JESUS! He is Immanuel--God with us.

Excitement rolls through the universe.

The heavenly hosts burst out in thunderous praise: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).

Angels watch over Him. They direct Joseph and Mary to take Him into Egypt, then tell them when it is safe to return.

Angels strengthen Him after His temptation. They observe His ministry. Then comes the agony of Gethsemane; an angel rushes to strengthen Him. And then the arrest. As was mentioned previously, over 72,000 angels are ready to rescue Him should He ask the Father for them. But He does not. He goes to the cross, suffers, dies, and is buried in a tomb.

Never had the angels witnessed the full display of the mercy of God. Now they see the complete revelation of God's character, and it is beautiful beyond description!

But that is not the end.

On the third day, an angel is sent on a special assignment--"roll that stone away and sit on it!" Jesus rises from the dead and walks out of the tomb. Two more angels were posted inside the now empty tomb to announce His resurrection to the astonished women.

Yes, it is clear that God does have a plan and it is succeeding--gloriously.

Thousands of Jews are believing in their Messiah. Salvation has come to Israel!

That is still not all.

The drama continues to unfold before the heavenly hosts. The good news is spreading beyond Jerusalem, beyond Judea, beyond Samaria--to the whole world! The apostles are forging ahead, becoming a spectacle to the angels (1 Corinthians 4:9). Gentiles are coming in.

The Church Universal has emerged, and it is growing awesomely.

Toward the end of the first century AD, an angel is sent to the apostle John with an inspired "video" into the future. And what does John see? "A great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands" (Revelation 7:9)

Hallelujah!

Yes, "now to the principalities and powers in heavenly places" is "known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God" (Ephesians 3:10).

Yes, these are "things the angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:12).

The angels will remain on duty until the end of this present age.

Jesus Christ is our Mediator. God's grace and blessings to us come through Him, including the ministry of angels.

Jesus said, "You shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man" (John 1:51 NKJV).

He was referring to Jacob's vision of a ladder that extended from heaven to earth (Genesis 28:12). In other words, Jesus Himself is the "angels' ladder."

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them (Psalm 3:7 NASB). "He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways" (Psalm 91:11 NASB).

Jesus warned, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:10 NIV).

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2 NIV).

Angels are also God's agents to execute divine judgment.

Revelation 16:1-9 introduces us to the seven angels who hold the seven bowls full of God's wrath, awaiting His command to pour them out upon those who practice evil.

Jesus told us that the angels do not know when He will return (Matthew 24:26; Mark 13:32). But when He does return, the angels will accompany Him. He said, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory" (Matthew 25:31 KJV. See also Matthew 16:27; 24:31; Mark 8:38; 13:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7).

Jesus also said that the angels will be the "reapers." (Matthew13:39-42,49,50).

The angels will witness the judgment.

Jesus said that whoever confesses Him before men He will confess before the angels of God, and whoever denies Him before men He will deny before them (Luke 12:8,9).

In Revelation 20:1 the Bible tells us that an angel is given the privilege to throw Satan into the pit for a thousand years.

After all the evil that Satan has done in the sight of the holy angels, any one of them would have been most happy to have that privilege!

In fact, Revelation 14:9 and 10 says that Satan shall be tormented forever in the presence of the angels. They will have an ever-present reminder of the final and permanent consequences of rebellion against a holy and just God--

In Revelation 21:17 it is recorded that angels guard the New Jerusalem.

And, finally, Jesus tells us that there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7,10). They know what will happen to people who disobey God. Each person who repents and is saved is like a person being rescued from a burning building.

If you are not right with God, you can be the next one to send a wave of joy through Heaven by turning to God from sin and being reconciled to Him by faith in His son, Jesus Christ.

Angels ... exciting to think about! One day it will be our supreme pleasure to get to know them. How cool is that?!