“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)
Paul begins his letter to the Hebrews declaring the superiority of Jesus above all others, especially angels. This letter was written to the Christian Jews which accounts for the reason that many think Paul might not be the author since Paul ministered to the Gentiles. The Hebrews had suffered persecution and continued with even more persecution. Paul’s declaration that Jesus was superior in authority, power and status was to point out that Jesus was worthy of the persecution they were suffering.
He makes a point of stating that Jesus is higher than the angels. “Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Hebrews 1:4) Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, has a more excellent name than the angels, is Whom the Father calls Son, is Whom the Father has the angels worship and is Who inherits the kingdom of righteousness. (Hebrews 1: 3-6, 8) Then Paul details the work of the angels. They are ministers to those who belong to Jesus. (Hebrews 1:14) It is a comforting thing to know that angels minister to us. We may not even be aware of how they’re ministering to us. I am reminded of an old car I had that ran in spite of the fact that the spark plugs were no good. The mechanic told me there was no way that car would be running with no spark plugs. Yet it turned on every morning and took me to work.
Then there are countless of stories of angels escorting missionaries right in the midst of danger and witnesses saying they were escorted by muscular big guys. But they even minister in the tiny ways we’re not even aware of. I once went to a new store and was lost as to where things were. This young man starts to help me. He’s very cordial and knew where everything was. Then I noticed something weird. He wasn’t dressed like an employee of the store. So, I asked him if he worked there. And he said that he just helped there. By this time people all around me were staring at me strangely. He disappeared and was nowhere in the store. I just think he was a ministering angel helping me. I also think that to others in the store I appeared to be speaking to myself which is why they stared at me strangely. I have other examples in which I feel I’ve been helped by an angel. Each and every time I’d been in prayer silently expressing my concerns to the Lord as I went about. And the Lord answered through these angels.
Angel don’t act on their own nor do they follow our commands. They harken to the voice of the Lord. “Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.” (Psalms 103:20) An important point in this Scripture is that they listen for His Word. And carry out His Word. How important then is it to speak God’s Word. The angels are listening for God’s Word to carry it out. An evangelist visited our church one time who said he was in his motel room, pacing, praying and reading the Bible when he came face to face with an angel. He asked the angel what he wanted, and the angel replied, “Speak the Word” He spoke The Word and zoom the angel left.
Scripture tells us that they guard those who abide in the Lord. “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” (Psalms 91:9-11) One thing that is happening in my hometown is that there are shooters randomly shooting at homes and at people who are walking or driving on streets and the freeway. Even people who are standing outside their homes can be randomly shot for no apparent reason. No one can survive anything like this unless the Lord commands His angels to guard us and protect us. Every time I get in my car, I thank God for setting angels round about me to protect me.
Jesus ascended to heaven after the resurrection. Peter says, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.” (1Peter 3:22) Jesus our Lord and Savior is above all angels, all authorities and all powers. We can trust Him in all things. There is no power or authority that can come against us while He is Lord. And He is Lord and King for eternity.
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