“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7 KJV). The OT Angel of the LORD is the Lord Jesus Christ, for Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), and the Angel of the LORD ceased to appear in the NT. We are told, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). Guardian angels are not a difficulty for the LORD, since He has appointed them “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). However the LORD chooses to deliver us is not the point; but, that He is willing to do so, is the issue. “Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob” (Psalm 44:4). Are we trusting God for whatever we will face, since we are certainly in conflict with the Devil and his demonic horde? Father, give us the faith to trust You as the flames draw closer to swallow us. May we be unwilling to bow to Bel, even if You chose not to deliver. But, may You be magnified, as we ask for grace to help in our time of need. Lord Jesus, return quickly and deliver us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Saved By Angels
Punished for Our Great Grandparents’ Sin?
Great grandparents can live long enough to see the results of their sin upon their great grandchildren. “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them [idols], nor serve them [false elohim]: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” (Exodus 20:5 KJV). Though a just God punishes us for our own sins and not our parents’ sins — “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father” (Ezekiel 18:20) — the evil example of the parents most likely will continue to the children. Generational curses like generational blessings are not easily lifted, for they are enforced by an Unseen Realm of demons and angels. Understanding of the Almighty must be elevated for the Rahabs and Ruths to be raised to the congregation of the righteous. “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). LORD, be merciful to us in learning about You. Teach us Your ways, and let not any evil way be named among us. Return quickly and deliver us. In Jesus’ name, amen and amen.
Angels: Third Person Syndrome
“Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14 KJV). God’s unseen realm touches us for good so much more than the minions of the wicked one for evil, if we are numbered among those who are “saved by hope” (Romans 8:24). It is embarrassing that the world notices this help, when the godly more insistently cling to their failed narratives of unanswered prayer. I ran across this account. “[#9] I was taking a shortcut across a frozen reservoir on the way to a friend’s house. Suddenly, the ice cracked, and I started to fall through. I felt two hands slam into my back, and I skidded across the ice. I was soaking wet when I arrived at my friend’s house, cold and shivering. I told him the story as I changed into some of his clothes so we could throw mine into the dryer. My friend turned white, and his eyes were bugging out of his head. He guided me to the bathroom so I could look in the mirror, and I saw what disturbed him. There were two hand-shaped bruises forming on my back. 40+ years later, I still get chills thinking about it.”
How God Talks to Ordinary People
In 2006, Bruce Van Natta was saved by two angels (23:21) from being cut in half by a logging truck, which fell off its temporary supporting jack. Surviving surgery and the loss of the majority of his intestines — only to be restored by prayer — Bruce believes in miracles (Kindle book). More significantly, Bruce believes God talks to ordinary people like you and me, but we don’t realize it because we are not listening. His book particularly discusses how God talks to us — and, not just through Scripture. “God, who at sundry times and in divers [many] manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2 KJV).