Certainly if God chooses to do so, HE can use HIS angels in behalf of the church today.
When we read the following, don't we realize the mighty power of God that comes to the church in the use of just one of HIS angels?
Acts 12:1-4 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
(Peter was in the same position as James had been and Peter was basically awaiting execution by Herod.)
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5-11 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
And
when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers
before the door kept the prison.
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did.
And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent HIS angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
Notice
God does according to HIS own will. God allowed James to be killed by
Herod while God saved Peter from Herod by the angel of the Lord. This
was all according to the will of God. We remember that God allowed both
John the Baptist and Jesus to be killed.
In the case of Peter, the angel caused the chains to fall off Peter. The angel gave instructions to Peter. The angel caused the gate to the prison to open.
When God speaks by the Holy Spirit it comes from within, for the Holy Spirit dwells within. The angel is from without.
I have also found the Holy Spirit to usually be a gentle voice and appearing as a thought.
I can't recall any example in Bible where Holy Spirit caused prison gate to open or chains to fall from hands or earthquakes, as angels are shown to do in Bible.
But whether God sends information by an angel or by The Holy Spirit, the important thing for us is to recognize it is God speaking to us.
In the case of Peter, the angel caused the chains to fall off Peter. The angel gave instructions to Peter. The angel caused the gate to the prison to open.
When God speaks by the Holy Spirit it comes from within, for the Holy Spirit dwells within. The angel is from without.
I have also found the Holy Spirit to usually be a gentle voice and appearing as a thought.
I can't recall any example in Bible where Holy Spirit caused prison gate to open or chains to fall from hands or earthquakes, as angels are shown to do in Bible.
But whether God sends information by an angel or by The Holy Spirit, the important thing for us is to recognize it is God speaking to us.
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December 6, 2018 ... I fell at my house in Texas.
As the ambulance workers were rolling me on a gurney past the front
door of that house, I heard the following word which I knew to be from
God by HIS Spirit ... "You'll never see this house again."
Even
while in hospital, I put that house up for-sale ... because I believed
that word I'd heard to be from God by His Spirit and by that I knew the season at that
house had ended.
2 1/2 months later, I went directly from rehabilitation hospital in Texas to my new home in Colorado which was 450-miles away.
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God uses the Holy Spirit to reveal HIS will to HIS people.
God could use HIS angel to do such, but the Holy Spirit constantly does this.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.
God could give us a dream or a vision to show us what to do or what will come.
God's power toward us today is infinite and very real!
A Bible example of the angel of God bringing information to Paul in a vision.
Acts 27:9-11 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
(At first, when they set sail, the weather looked good for sailing, but then a fierce storm arose and the men feared for their lives.)
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.
God could give us a dream or a vision to show us what to do or what will come.
God's power toward us today is infinite and very real!
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A Bible example of the angel of God bringing information to Paul in a vision.
Acts 27:9-11 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
(At first, when they set sail, the weather looked good for sailing, but then a fierce storm arose and the men feared for their lives.)
vv. 21-25 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
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In the NT church today, sometimes we have to get to ourselves and sit still and hear from God, as HE wills.
I've seen miracles come to pass from God as I just stayed before HIM apart from all others.
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Jesus knew HIS fate and the will of God toward HIM, and Jesus knew wicked men would hang HIM on a cross and HE would die for the sins of all, and Jesus knew God would raise Him from the dead in three days, and Jesus told this to HIS disciples at that time.
Peter began to argue otherwise with Jesus.
Matthew 16:21-23 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto HIS disciples, how that HE must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee.
But HE turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
And he (Elisha) answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
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Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee.
But HE turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
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Even when we have the Holy Spirit in us, our flesh can rise up and speak the will of man or the thoughts of devils.
And when doing this, we suffer shame.
But when we speak by the will of God or write that which God has shown us, we will not be ashamed, and even years can pass and those words we spoke or wrote will be as good and as true as they were that day we first wrote them because those words were from God by HIS Spirit.
This is what we strive for as we live on this earth ... to report that which God speaks to us by HIS Spirit.
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God shows the servant of Elisha the angels and the chariots of God.
II Kings 6:11-12 the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
So the king of Syria sent men and chariots out to catch Elisha with intent to do him harm.
vv. 14-17 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
vv. 14-17 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
And he (Elisha) answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
(The servant saw as man sees, but Elisha saw by the Spirit of God, by the Holy Spirit. That same Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, lives in each of us who belong to God today.)
v. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
There is enormous power of God available as God wills for us at all times. It is helpful to us if we recognize this from these examples given in Bible.
There is enormous power of God available as God wills for us at all times. It is helpful to us if we recognize this from these examples given in Bible.
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When we deal with the people of this world, they often see through the eyes of man while we see through the eyes of God.
Luke 8:41-42 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought Him that HE would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying.
... 49-53 While HE yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
And when HE came into the house, HE suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
And all wept, and bewailed her: but HE said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
But when Jesus heard it, HE answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
And when HE came into the house, HE suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
And all wept, and bewailed her: but HE said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
And they laughed HIM to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
Jesus would not allow the doubters, the faithless, to go into the room of the child with Him.
54-56 And HE (Jesus) put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and HE commanded to give her meat.
And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and HE commanded to give her meat.
And her parents were astonished: but HE charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
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With men this is impossible, but not with God. For with God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
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