Angels Unaware to Us

“For tonight an angel of God stood beside me, whose I am and whom I serve,” (Acts 27:23)

Angels do exist and do appear. Of all my experiences as a Christian, I never saw an angel as portrayed in illustrations with wings and clothed in a white gown, but I believe that I have had experiences with angels, although not confirmed. Those I thought were angels never told me they were angels. The first time was in the 1980’s sometime. I was running an errand for the church and stopped at the publisher for the bulletins that were needed for Sunday service. I entered and spoke with the lady at the counter when the bell on the door signaled that someone had come in. I turned around and an older gentleman asked for the driver of a vehicle he described. It was my car. He said I needed to let my husband know that the car needed a certain kind of service and that it was very important for me to have it serviced. When I turned back to the lady at the counter, she’d motioned to another lady, and their mouths were agape and their eyes bulging.  Evidently, I’d been speaking to someone they couldn’t see. Well, my husband was not the alarming kind of person. He never examined the car. When it wouldn’t start, he just couldn’t believe the car had been running because the spark plugs were not good and evidently for a long time. Then shortly, when I did start it up it caught fire from underneath.

Another time, I was in Mexico at a grocery store. My husband had a habit of dividing the grocery list then we’d pay what we each bought. But it didn’t work out like that in Mexico because he carried all the pesos and I just didn’t deal with the pesos. So, when I was ready to check out, I couldn’t find him. A tall thin man who looked like a Mexican rancher with a hat, without saying a word, signaled with his hand where Mike was already checking out. How did that man know I was panicking not seeing Mike. He knew who I was looking for. I had noticed the man before because he looked peculiar. He didn’t look like he was shopping but was happily looking at all the items around him and reading the labels as if he was interested in it but not choosing anything. And when I thanked the man, people in line looked strangely at me. I think he was an angel no one else could see.

When my washing machine broke and I had to go to the laundromat, I was in a tizzy about where to go and what to do. I must have looked lost cause a lady came up to me and told me what to do step by step. I almost asked her if she was an angel. The strange thing about her was that she disappeared, no laundry, no lady. And if you’ve been to a laundromat, you know everyone stays to themselves unless you specifically ask for help.

The last time something like that happened was at a Sprouts store. I was looking for a specific protein mix. There was a young man who looked to be a college student with a backpack who said he could help me. He led me through the rows of items to the back of the store where He suggested various one. And I was conversing with him on exactly what I was looking for. There was couple down the aisle who stopped and were looking at us, I thought. I found what I was looking for and thanked the young man. As he was leaving, I asked if he worked there. He responded that no he didn’t but helped people there. Meanwhile the couple stared at me mouths agape. Then I knew, they had seen me talking to no one they could see.

“But to which of the angels, did He say at any time, "Sit on My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool?" Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14) Angels are not equal to Jesus. They are ministers to us. At a time, we need help, they are there to assist. They look like you and me but are spiritual. When they help, no one but maybe you can see them. When Mike was in a wheelchair, I had to load and unload that heavy wheelchair into the back of the car. There was always someone at that precise moment to help me. It happened so often I just knew someone would be there to help me. I called them angels. I don’t know who they were. But they were there when I needed them. Some might have been some kind people who were helpful, but I’m sure there were angels in the mix also.

Angels appeared to Paul a few times. He doesn’t describe them, so I don’t know if they had wings or if they appeared to him as an ordinary person with a message from God. In our Scripture of study, Paul is on a ship sailing for Rome. A storm came up, but the angel comforted Paul by telling him that the ship would be lost but that everyone would live. So, Paul told the men manning the ship that an angel from God has appeared reassuring him that no lives will be lost. Angels are messengers. John writes that Jesus used the word angel for pastors of the churches. Pastors are gifts from God to deliver God’s message to the people. In other words, they are messengers of God. (Revelation 2:1; 2:8; 2:12; 2:18; 3:1; 3:7; 3:14)

There are other appearances of angels in the New Testament. An angel appears to Mary. “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.” (Luke 1:26-27) We’ve all seen the illustrations of the angel with wings. Scripture doesn’t describe Gabriel, so I wonder now if he appeared with wings or like an ordinary person. An angel appeared to Philip and directed him to go a certain way. (Acts 8:26) An angel came with a message to the Roman Centurion named Cornelius to send for Peter. “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” (Act 10:1-6) And when Peter is thrown into jail an angel freed him. (Acts 12:6-12) There is the appearing of an angel to John had which he describes in the book of Revelation. “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” (Revelation 22:8-9) Notice that the angel says that he is John’s fellow servant just like all the brethren, the prophets and everyone who reads the book of Revelation. He serves God just like we serve God. John in the book of Revelation reveals the many workings the angels will do in the end times.

There are recorded testimonies of the persecuted where the enemy was stopped by angels surrounding a person, a group or a village. Their appearance being in the natural so overpowering for the enemy that they retreat knowing they will be defeated. These testimonies further state that the protected brethren couldn’t understand why the enemy retreated. And later when some of the enemies came to the Lord they would tell of the big men guarding a person, group, or village. Or when the persecuted were captured and asked their captors about an incident, they would tell of how the person, group or village had been guarded by big soldiers or warriors. These had been angels that only the enemy could see protecting them.

Concluding, we can be assured that angels do minister to us, but we may be totally unaware of them because they may appear to be ordinary people. They are to help us when there is no help around. When help arrives out of nowhere, it just might be an angel.

Let us pray:

Father God, Your wisdom and care for me are amazing. You have thought of every detail for my safety, my peace in my hardships and desperations. You care for every need I have. And when there is no help from anyone, You have provided angels to help. I am thankful for the help I have received from angels and for those people who were so kind to help me when I needed help. Thank You Lord because it was You Who sent that help either by angels from Your spiritual realm or human angels who helped. I thank You Lord for the angels You have set round about me to protect me as I drive here and there and who protect me from danger when I am not even aware that there is danger nearby. Thank You Lord for protecting me by sending angels when I foolishly or unknowingly place myself in danger. Thank You Lord that when I am frustrated or desperately need help, You send an angel to help me. Thank You Lord for caring so much for me. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.