Lesson for January 22, 2025
The Doctrine of Angelology
Lesson 4
Elect Angels Ministry to Believers
Hebrews 13:2, “Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
The angels who chose God over Satan in eternity past not only serve God, but they also serve believers. Their roles have varied throughout history, depending on the dispensation. Angels’ ministries to believers occur in several dispensations.
Physical provision –
I Kings 19:5, “Then he lay down and fell asleep under a broom tree; but behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, ‘Arise, eat!’”
Matthew 4:11, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go away, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him.”
Deliverance –
Numbers 20:16, “But when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent an angel, and brought us out from Egypt; now behold, we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.”
Acts 5:18-20, “They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and leading them out, he said, ‘Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple area the whole message of this Life.”
Acts 12:6-9, “On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near Peter, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And his chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, ‘Put on your belt and strap on your sandals.’ And he did so. And he said to him, ‘Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.’ And he went out and continued to follow, and yet he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.”
Instruction –
Daniel 9:21-22, “While I was still speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. And he instructed me and talked with me and said, ‘Daniel, I have come now to give you insight with understanding.’”
Acts 10:3-5, “About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, ‘Cornelius!’And he looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, ‘What is it, lord?’ Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter.”
Protection –
Genesis 19:15, “When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, ‘Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.’”
Psalm 91:11, For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
Guidance –
Genesis 24:40, “And he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s house.’”
Acts 8:26, “But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Get ready and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.’” (This is a desert road.)”
Warning –
Matthew 2:13, “Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.’”
Escort –
Luke 16:22, “Now it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried.”
Comfort –
Matthew 1:20-21, “Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’”
Luke 1:12-13, “Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.’”
Encouragement –
Acts 27:23, “For this very night an angel of the God to Whom I belong, Whom I also serve, came to me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has graciously granted you all those who are sailing with you.’”
Service –
Hebrews 1:14, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”
As we see, the elect angels have always participated in the lives of believers, and they continue to do so. Their roles during the Church Age are certainly different from their previous roles but are nevertheless very beneficial to believers. Exactly how this is accomplished is not always revealed in Scripture. However, from protection to comfort to encouragement, elect angels are very much part of a believer’s life.