The world of angels - by Tim Millen - Part 4

WHAT DO ANGELS DO?

Well the ministry of angels seems to fall into well-defined categories involving their work on behalf of various individuals or groups.
The angels have a ministry to Christ.
There was an extra measure of angelic activity during the Lord's lifetime.

For instance, an angel predicted His birth;
Lk 1:26-33 “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. … Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Angels also announced His birth;
Luke 2:13,14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
Angels protected Him as a baby;
Matthew 2:11 “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."

Angels strengthened the Lord Jesus after His temptation;
Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

They were prepared to defend Him from His enemies (although He didn’t call upon them;
Matthew 26:53 “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”

They strengthened Him in the garden of Gethsemane;
Luke 22.43 “Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.”

They rolled away the stone from the tomb and announced His resurrection;
Matthew 28:2,6 “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. … "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

And if the Lord gives us the privilege of being around when He comes back – we’re gonna see a spectacular event – all of the holy angels in one place at one time – attending the Lord at His glorious return.
Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.”
Angels have a ministry to us as Believers in Christ.

In general angels help believers;
Heb 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”
Specifically, this may include being in­volved in answering prayer such as happened in Acts 12 when the angel who woke-up and guided Peter to freedom from the prison in Jerusalem as the Church prayed for him.

They give encouragement in times of danger;
Acts 27:23-24 “"For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, "saying, `Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.”
They care for believers at death;
Luke 16:22 “"So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.”

Angles have a ministry of providing for Believers;
God has used angels to provide physical needs such as food for Elijah in 1 Kings 19:6 “Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat." Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.”

They have a ministry of Delivering Believers;
- Of getting God's people out of danger once they're in it.
Angels released the apostles from prison in Acts 5:19 “But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,”, and then repeated the process for Peter in Acts 12.

And Angels rejoice when people accept Christ;
Luke 15:10 “"Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Angels also have a ministry to UNbelievers.
Remember it was an angel who smote Herod which resulted in his death as a punishment for his ar­rogance;
Acts 12:23 “Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.”
And at the end of the age, angels will act as the reapers who separate the righteous from the wicked;
Matthew 13:39 “"The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.”