Angels, our ministering Spirits

South African Jan Schlebusch resigned from a mining company job in his early 1960s to work full-time showing the “Jesus Film” in the unreached villages of South Africa, Zambia and Botswana. Once Jan was about to show “Jesus Film” to a small group of hardened criminals in a maximum security prison in South Africa.  He was alone in a room with the “toughest of the tough” – robbers, rapists and murderers.  Several of them were “lifers.”  Jan knew that any one of the prisoners could easily slit his throat with a knife when he dimmed the lights. However, despite the pressure he felt, Jan was obedient.  As the movie unfolded many of the prisoners mocked and swore at the screen. Gradually, they quieted down and became more interested in the story. Then an astounding thing happened. During the crucifixion, several began to weep. By the time the prayer of invitation was completed, hardened criminals – EVERY ONE OF THEM – were on their knees, sobbing, asking God to forgive them, praying to invite Christ into their lives. Shocked and amazed, Jan wasn’t sure what has just happened.  He turned his head to the corner of the room…startled by the sight.  Standing before him was an awesome being, 10-feet tall, robed in brilliant white…an angel!  Jan said the angel’s face was obscured.  He could see nothing above the angel’s shoulders.  This messenger of God lifted up his hand and pointed a finger directly toward Jan:  “You see, Jan, all you must do is be available and do the work.” Instantly, the angel vanished –but not the sense of awe that was engulfing Jan.  He had witnessed the greatest miracle of all.  He had seen the vilest of sinners being born from above, becoming righteous in Jesus.

Angels are ministering spirits sent to serve us and protect us. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has sent His angels to protect us.

“Could the veil be lifted, we would see that angels of God are around us to preserve us from unseen dangers. Thousands of times has their care been especially manifested for us in our warfare with the agencies of Satan.” – Ellen G. White

God’s Word: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” – Psalm 91:11

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” – Hebrews 1:14

Angel tongues

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love …—1 Corinthians 13:1

Imagine a person able to speak every language on earth. Imagine what an effective engineer or salesperson or Doctor that person could be. The moment they landed at an airport, they could speak to anyone. They would be a huge asset at a United Nations meeting or an international trade conference.

The apostle Paul imagines such a person, and then ups the ante: this person could also speak the languages of angels. We might suppose that a person who could communicate with angels might also be a brilliant speaker, able to leave a crowd hanging on their every word. Paul imagines such a person but says that if they lacked love, they would be “only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”

Suppose on Christmas a relative you loved deeply gave your eight-year-old twins a gong and a pair of cymbals. You might survive Christmas day. Christmas cheer covers a multitude of bad gifts. But if your twins paraded into your bedroom the next morning banging the gong and crashing the cymbals, those gifts would strain your nervous system to the breaking point. All they would mean to you was a loud noise to be rid of.

That’s what the Bible says about remarkable gifts of language and eloquence and teaching—if separated from love, they are only noise.

Just a thought for today as you go out unto the world.

Who do you call your angel?

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God: “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”

God replied, “Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

“But tell me, here in Heaven, I don’t do anything else but sing and smile, that’s enough for me to be happy.”

“Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel’s love and be happy.”

“And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don’t know the language that men talk?”

“Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”

“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”

“Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”

“I’ve heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?”

“Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.”

“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”

“Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.”

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly:

“Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.”

“Your angel’s name is of no importance, you will call your angel: Mommy.”