Angels are on our side. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14 NKJV).
And, who will inherit salvation? Anyone exercising faith and patience inherits the promises of eternal life.
“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:11-12).
Does that mean we need an active faith to inherit the promises? Yes, otherwise faith is no longer faith.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
But, can the benefits of inheriting salvation be experienced by someone who has no covenant relationship with God?
Yes, through the faith of someone interceding for that one outside of the saving covenant with God. Simply put, this is the intercessory prayer of faith for the salvation of another.
For instance, Paul received the Macedonian Call.
“6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:6-10).
Lydia (16:14), the Philippian jailer (16:27) and his family (16:31-33), as well as the founding members of the Church at Philippi (Philippians 1:1), were all represented in that Macedonian vision. Paul was drawn to intercede for their conversion, as well as to change the course of his missionary journey, long before he personally knew them. The “man of Macedonia” (16:9) represented the angel of that future ekklesia or church. Paul was not merely receiving direction for his missionary endeavor but receiving the leading for whom he should be interceding. If we would only be as sensitive yet unperturbed should others not sense what we sense, then we would be praying with greater faith because of the angels on our side inspiring our intercession.
We are cautioned not to worship angels (Revelation 22:8-9), yet we should not neglect to credit the Almighty’s use of them to accomplish so many things.
- God uses the angels to direct the worship of Himself (Revelation 4:6) because it is a fitting use of angels to declare His glory. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (4:11).
- God uses His angels to protect you, for what better use of our Heavenly Brethren but to look out for the Future Inheritors of Salvation! “For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).
- Angels look out for us as family, in indiscernible ways, long before we demonstrated faith toward God, e.g., His angels will fight for you. “The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them” (Psalm 34:7).
- Even the lowliest angel has greater ability to intervene for our safety than we imagined. You probably have heard someone recount an instance of inexplicable deliverance. “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you” (Daniel 6:22).
- Of course, good ideas come from God, but He manages a vast network of messengers to deliver messages. “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza” (Acts 8:26).
- Little children are especially the focus of angelic devotion. “But Jesus called them to Him and said, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:16).
- God’s Heavenly Host witnesses our sojourn and ordeal with great anticipation to see how they will be tasked to assist us. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
Angels are on our side, because, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). We are just not accustomed to think of God using supernatural means in our affairs, but angels demonstrate that we do not fully understand nor are we aware of all the Almighty is accomplishing in the Unseen Realm. We need to take the advice of the angel to John, after he witnessed all that the angels will accomplish in future judgments. “8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 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).
Father, we take great delight in considering all that You have accomplished, are accomplishing, and will accomplish through Your Angels. May we be like our Angelic Brethren in serving and worshiping You! Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your Name, we pray. Amen.
