“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
“When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'” (Luk 15:4-6)
Journal,
Did you know that there is a special class of angels assigned to oversee the children of God? Their Hebrew name is, ‘Malakim Panayim.’ [Malakim is plural for angels, that is, angel messengers or angelic envoys. Panaim means, presence or the face.]
These angels are called ‘angels of the face or presence’, because of their association with the throne of God. They carry with them the very presence of God. The presence of God speaks of holiness. This is why they are also called ‘holy angels’. They are directly associated with the holiness of God.
The angels Michael and Gabriel are of this group.
“The angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.'” (Luk 1:19)
There are many orders or groupings of God’s holy angels, and each group of angels has their own governmental structures, called ‘principalities and powers’. All of the angels are much aware of God’s children on earth.
However, it seems that the malakim panayim are given special assignments to oversee to the affairs of God’s children
. We see this when Jesus warned the world about causing one of God’s children to stumble. In giving the warning the Lord drew attention to the malakim panayim:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” (Mat 18:10)
There is much about angels that we don’t understand. That they are greatly involved in our lives is well documented throughout the testaments. The term angel or some variation is found well over 200 times in the Bible.
Here are some things about angels that are good to know.
Angelic Facts
- God’s angels carry in them the spirit of holiness. This is important to understand because Satan’s world is a dark, sin filled world. And while Satan and demons try to present themselves as angels of light, they can only carry in them darkness. They promote sinful living. Holiness belongs to God alone.
The term holiness also associates itself with the term power. The Holy Spirit provides God’s people with the power to live holy lives.
“Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.'” (Isa 6:2-3)
- Angels can draw near to believers in order give strength of holiness in times of great need. We see this in the Lord’s earthly walk. And since we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus, we can expect the same strengthening in our own lives.
“‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.’ Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.” (Luk 22:42-43)
Angels even prepare us for our journey home. They accompany us.
3. As messengers of God, angels can appear in various forms. Believers have often encountered angel visitations without realizing it. (More than we know.)
Angel visitations have a purpose with regard to a believer’s walk with the Lord. Not only for protection, but their message can be a message of hope, of encouragement, of direction, or anything else that would benefit the believer in times of stress.
“Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Heb 13:1-2)
There is so much more to be said about the work of angels. But let me draw attention to another issue for the sake of this study. Angelic activity is not merely about taking care of God’s ‘good’ children. It is about taking care of God’s children, whether or not we have missed the mark of goodness.
This brings me to ….
Angels and God’s Straying Children
Every child of God carries in their heart, ‘the seal of redemption.’ All of heaven recognizes the seal. The seal speaks of God’s ownership. It simply means, ‘This is a child of God.’
And while we are instructed to live our lives with a view to godliness, there will be times when we stray away from a proper walk with the Lord.
Take special note of these Scriptures —
“All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” (Isa 53:6)
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39)
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
“When he has found it, he lays it on hisshoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'” (Luk 15:4-6)
“‘They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, “Know the LORD,” for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.'” (Jer 31:34)
” … after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph 1:13-14)
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (Joh 10:27-28)
Let’s continue with this last area. It has to do with…
God’s Saving Place
The cross is our dying place and our living place. It is our forgiving place and our victory place. We are to learn to live our lives from both the victory of the cross, and from the power of the cross.
Angels are deeply involved in the outworking of the cross in every believer’s life. As servants of God, their work is to render aid to the heirs of salvation.
“But to which of the angels has He ever said, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?’
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb 1:13-14)
Angels are very much aware of the law of the cross. It is found in one statement.
Listen carefully …
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for ‘WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.‘” (Rom 10:12-13)
The Lord said that if when we confess Him before men, He will confess us before the Father and His holy angels. And the angels watch over all the confessors of Jesus Christ.
Yes indeed – Angels are very much involved in the working of salvation in our lives.
Now for your blessing, take time to listen to Candy Christmas as she sings, ‘Lord, Send Your Angels.’
In Christ always,
Buddy
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