Friday, 13 March 2009

Angels and the Christian

'When we come before God in worship, we are joining not only with the great company of believers who have died and come into God's presence in heaven, "the spirits of just men made perfect," but also with a great throng of angels, "innumerable angels in festal gathering" (Heb.12:22-23). Though we do not ordinarily see or hear evidence of this heavenly worship, it certainly enriches our sense of reverence and joy in God's presence if we appreciate the fact that angels join us in the worship of God' (Grudem).
'Moreover, we should be aware that angels are watching our obedience or disobedience to God through the day. Even if we think our sins are done in secret and bring grief to no one else, we should be sobered by the thought that perhaps even hundreds of angels witness our disobedience and are grieved. On the other hand, when we are discouraged and think that our faithful obedience to God is witnessed by no one and is an encouragement to no one, we can be comforted by the realisation that perhaps hundreds of angels witness our lonely struggle, daily "longing to look" [cf. 1 Peter 1:12} at the way Christ's great salvation finds its expression in our lives' (Grudem).
The author of Hebrews says teaches that angels can sometimes take human form, apparently making inspection visits on Christians. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 12:2). 'When a car suddenly swerves from hitting us, when we suddenly find footing to keep from being swept along in a raging river, when we walk unscathed in a dangerous neighbourhood, should we not suspect that God has sent his angels to protect us?' (Grudem).
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone (Psalms 91:11-12).

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