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Luís Alberto Alves
The subject of angels is rarely mentioned in sermons, as if it were something linked to spiritualism or Catholicism. Or, as some preachers understand, this subject does not get much attention. This is not true. See what Hebrews 1/14 says: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Note what is written in Acts 12/8: “The angel said to him, ‘Put on your sandals and put on your clothes.’ Then the angel said, ‘Put on your cloak and follow me.’” This passage tells the story of Peter being arrested and condemned to death by Herod. Meanwhile, several brothers in Christ were praying for Peter’s life
That is when God heard the cry and sent an angel to free Peter. This angel, who appeared in the body of a man, was used to break the iron locks and bars in the place where Peter was being held. When Peter was ordered to get up, he thought he was dreaming. He only came to his senses when he reached the street and the angel disappeared.
Mary
But in this text you will come across several situations where the presence of an angel is mentioned acting in defense of the Lord's servants. In the case of Joseph, as described in Matthew 1/20, the angel is sent by God to remove Joseph's fear of taking Mary as his wife. This was the dialogue: But 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 as your wife.
In this case, the angel is sent by God to bring peace to Joseph, who imagined that he had been betrayed by Mary and, worse, because of the Law of Moses, she was at risk of being stoned to death. In other words, Joseph was envisioning a tragedy and was planning to leave this relationship.
When we are in difficulty, Satan puts in our minds that we are alone in the arena to be devoured by the lion of illness, financial crisis, a marriage about to end, cancer, unemployment, drug addiction, alcohol, gambling, madness, adultery. In short, we are in a dead end.
However, Psalms 91:11 says: “For He will give His angels orders concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” It is God who sends His angels to protect the Lord’s faithful servants. These angels will be at the side of those who believe that God is the creator of the Universe to deliver them from all kinds of evil, in obedience to the Lord.
Sodom
On the other hand, God’s angels are also sent to fulfill a mission to eradicate rebellion, when a city sinks into sin by ignoring God’s commandments, as happened with Sodom and Gomorrah, whose sin disgusted the Lord.
It is in this context, according to Genesis 19/1, where it is written: “Two angels came to Sodom and Gomorrah at dusk, and Lot was sitting at the gate of the city.” The spiritual filth was so great in these two cities that God sent two angels with the order to destroy them by raining fire from heaven. This is what happened after Lot’s family left, with death taking the lives of all its inhabitants.
But in God’s immense mercy, He also sends His angels disguised as men to give good news to someone, as narrated in Genesis 18/1: “The Lord appeared to Abraham near the oaks of Mamre. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing a short distance away.”
One of them, in a theophany (when Jesus visited some people as if he were a human being), was Jesus Himself to announce that Sarah, already old and barren, would become pregnant and give birth to a boy. According to medicine, it is impossible for a 90-year-old woman who is barren to get pregnant. But Sarah experienced the Lord's miracle.
Stone
But in Matthew 28:2, the Eternal's action shows how powerful the Lord is, when He sends an angel to roll away the stone from the door of the tomb. In this text it is written: “And behold, there was a great earthquake: for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came to the tomb, and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.” In this passage, God Himself shows the Roman Empire, which ruled much of the world, that He is and will always be the Almighty.
The angels are sent by the Lord to announce good news, as described in Luke 1:26: “In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph. In this case, the angel tells Mary that she will bear a baby, who will be named Jesus Christ.
However, in Revelation 15:1, the apostle John saw what the angels of God have in store for the future. It is written there: “I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels with the seven last plagues, for with them the wrath of God is completed.” In this text, the Lord reveals that his angels act in different situations, always in compliance with his orders.
Hands
In Revelation 14, another action of the angels is recorded, which many people immersed in spiritual ignorance imagine to be boys with white wings and a fragile appearance.In this chapter 14 it is written: “Then I saw another angel flying in the sky, holding in his hands the everlasting gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice: “Fear God and glorify him, for the hour of judgment has come.”
Isaiah 37-36/38, on the other hand, an angel of the Lord went to the Assyrian camp and single-handedly killed 185,000 soldiers, defeating the arrogant king Sennacherib. Imagine an angel killing this number of enemies of God’s people at once! In the book of Daniel, 10, 5/11, it is described what an angel of the Lord looks like. In this text, someone so faithful and fearful of the Eternal was terrified by what his eyes saw.
And Daniel described: “I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the reflection of polished bronze, and his voice was like the sound of a multitude.” Daniel describes that only he could visualize that image. He explains that as he continued to look at that supernatural man, he became weak, very pale and almost fainted.
Senses
Then this angelic being began to speak to Daniel. He fell prostrate on the ground and lost consciousness. Then this prophet of the Lord felt his hand touch him. Daniel trembled with fear. That is when the angel of the Lord said: “Daniel, you are greatly beloved. Pay close attention to what I am going to say to you; stand up, for I have been sent to you.” Daniel heard and stood up trembling with fear. The angels of the Lord are as described by Daniel, they are powerful to defeat demons. Because of the Lord’s mercy, they are allowed to appear as human beings.
In Hebrews 13:1 it is written: “Keep on brotherly love. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers; It was by practicing it that some people unknowingly welcomed angels.” We often receive visits from these angels, especially in times of pain and great need. They are spirits sent by God Himself, as narrated in Hebrews 1:14. They act in the heavenly realms, as described in Job 1:6: “One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.
Brother
This text from the book of Job is proof that angels present themselves before God, in the heavenly realms, where intense battles against Satan and his demons take place, because he also presented himself before God. If you, my brother and sister, had a distorted view of the angels of the Lord until today, change your mind. Since 1/3 of the rebellious angels were expelled from Heaven, 2/3 of the good angels remained. A whole is made up of three parts. Therefore, for a demon, there are two angels of the Lord at his side. Ignore Satan’s bluffs. Have faith and defeat him.
Perhaps you have already been saved from a terrible situation by an angel sent by God. Perhaps your life was in danger, close to death, and suddenly a police officer appeared out of nowhere to save you from a robbery or even rape, if you are a woman. Or even if you have been given up on by medicine, when in the early hours of the morning a doctor enters your room to administer a medicine and you are able to live again. It was an angel because on the staff, there has never been a professional with the characteristics described who performed that medical procedure.
No matter the moment of terror that someone is going through, the angels of the Lord, when they receive orders, they comply and answer God's call. There are no barriers. These angelic beings enter any place. They are unaware of the physical barriers that exist in this world. Be aware, at some point in your life you have been helped by an angel of God or you may go through this gratifying experience. Never underestimate the power of the Lord, our God has the authority to do the impossible, in any situation. Stay in the Peace of the Lord.
Luis Alberto Alves is a pastor.
