ANGELS WATCHING

ANGELS WATCHING

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Daniel [MKJV] 4:13 I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from Heaven.

Acts [MKJV] 12:6-12 And when Herod was about to bring him out, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Also guards were keeping the prison before the door. 7 And behold! An angel of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the building. And striking Peter's side, he raised him up, saying, Rise up quickly! And his chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, Gird yourself and put on your sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Throw your robe around you and follow me. 9 And he went out and followed him. And he did not know that this happening through the angel was true, but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord. And they went out and passed on through one street. And immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And having come to himself, Peter said, Now I know surely that the Lord has sent His angel and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. 12 And thinking about it, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose last name was Mark; where many had gathered together to pray.

  Is Angels Watching Over Me just a song and art based in sentiment without foundation? Song and art in child and adult versions designed to make us feel good emotionally?

  In reviewing Daniel 4 I found that as with some things in Scripture we see something significant included in the main topic. In researching verse 13 I found that English “watcher” is not sufficient in meaning and implication. Reading scholarly commentary I found that though singular in English, Hebrew “watcher” carries with it the sense of one of a class of watchers.

  Then there’s the words of the Psalmist as recorded in 91:11. “…He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep [guard/attend to] You in all Your ways [the paths we travel].”

  Looking to the New Testament record we read in Hebrews 1:14 a question answering itself. “Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister [attend to/aid] for those who shall be heirs of salvation?” (For those puzzled, think of question with answer “Is the pope not Catholic?”)

  After review I again conclude, yes we have guardian angels.  EBB4

BIBLICAL APPEARANCES OF ANGELS

ENCOUNTERS WITH ANGELS

Friday, November 8, 2013

  God’s Word records the reality of angels at work. Examples:

·         With Hagar. Gen.16:7-13; 21:17-21

·         With Lot. Gen.19:1, 15

·          With Abraham. Gen.22:11-18; 24:7

·         Abraham’s servant confessing reality of. Gen.24:40

·         With Jacob. Gen.28:12; 31:11; 32:1; 48:15-16; Hos.12:1-4

·          With Moses. Ex.3:2; Act.7:30-38

·         With Israelites. Ex.14:19; 23:20-23; 32:34; 33:2; Num.20:16

·         Against Balaam the prophet. Num.22:22-35

·         In remonstrance of Israel. Judg.2:1-5

·         Cursing Meroz.  Judg.5:23

·         With Gideon.  Judg.6:11-22

·         With Samson’s mother, then father.  Judg.13:1-25

·         In retribution.  2Sam.24:16-17; Isa.63:9-10 (Take note of this result of sinful leadership.)

·         With Elijah. 1Kin.19:5-7; 2Kin.1:3, 15

·         Massacring 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. 2Kin.19:35; 2Chr.32:21; Isa.37:36

·         Against Israel. 1Chr.21:1-30

·         With Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Dan.3:28

·         With Daniel. Dan.6:22.

·         With Zechariah. Chapters 1 thru 6.

·         With Joseph and Mary. Mt.1:20-24; 2:13-1; Lk.1:26-38; 2:21

·         With Jesus in the wilderness. Mt.4:11; Mk.1:13

·         With women at Jesus’ tomb. Mt.28:2-5; Jn.20:12

·         With Zacharias.  Lk.1:11-18

·         Announcing to shepherds. Lk.2:9-20

·         With Jesus in Gethsemane.  Lk.22:43

·         At Bethesda pool. Jn.5:4

·         Freeing apostles. Act.5:19-21

·         With Phillip. Act.8:26

·         With centurion Cornelius. Act.10:3-22; 11:13

·         Freeing Peter from prison. Act.12:4-11 (Note “his angel” in verse 15.)

·         Fatally afflicting Herod.  Act.12:23

·         Messenger to Apostle Paul.  Act.27:23

·         Satan appearing as angel of light.  2Cor.11:14

·         Number of unrecorded unrecognized appearances.  Heb.13:2

·         Communicating to Apostle John the things that must happen. Rev.1:1

·         Seven individual angels to local Asian churches. Rev.1:20; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14.  

·         And numerous other recorded appearances in Revelation -- 5:2; 7:1-2, 11; 8:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13; 9:1, 11, 13, 14-15; 10:1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10; 11:1, 15; 14:6, 8, 9, 15, 17, 18, 19; 15:1, 6, 7-8; 16:1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17; 17:1, 7; 18:1, 21; 19:17; 20:1, 17; 21:9, 12; 22:6, 8, 16

  I pray you benefit greatly from my morning spent searching out, reading, and reviewing in context the above Scripture. I certainly have been blessed by the investment.  EBB4

ANGELS ARE REAL

ANGELS ARE REAL

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Hebrews [NLT] 2:1-5 … we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose. 5 And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about.

  Though Grandmother McGee sometimes called me her little angel . . . I was not then nor yet am or ever will be one.

  Though both created by God, angels and humans are two distinct sets of beings that contrary to myth old or new never ever crossover. (Ever the romantic, I too liked hokey CITY OF ANGELS with Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan.) Angels, though at times indistinguishable from humans (Heb.13:2), were not, are not result of Eden creation or later copulation. For one thing, though we know not when, God created angels prior to Adam and Eve.

  Nor do humans become angels after dying.

  So, indeed angels are quite real . . . but not actually people; angels serve God and people at His direction (Heb.1:14); whereas John 1:12 faithful humans have (Mk.13:34) and will increase in authority (Lk.19:17).

  Now, as my little angel Michael says, “Got it?!”  EBB4

RECOGNIZING ANGELS

RECOGNIZING ANGELS

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Hebrews [NLT] 1:1-14 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

  The Son Is Greater Than the Angels 5 For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus: “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.[Ps.2:7]”

  God also said, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”[2Sam.7:14] 6 And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him.” [Duet.32:43] 7 Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.”[Ps.104:4]

  8 But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. 9 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”[Ps.45:6-7]

  10 He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. 12 You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever.”[Ps.102:25-27]

  13 And God never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”[Ps.110:1] 14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

  “The reason Adam and Eve and all the Old Testament Jews did what they did is because they were bi-polar.” . . . from someone that keeps reminding us they’re bi-polar.

  Would you, would I, recognize an angel(s)?

  It has been done. Other times not.

  I can most assuredly tell you that the polar blame shifter is not an angel on God’s staff. The person is evidentially quite human.

  Angels do however appear as humans, but are not necessarily recognizable. Note Hebrews 13:2 “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”

  Other times it’s quite obvious who they are as they declare their identity.

  I’ve never had an encounter with an angel. Or have I? Have you? 

  Exactly what is required in order to recognize an angel(s)? 

  As clarified in Hebrews 13:2b, they don’t always look angelic. Could the answer be clarity of vision and hearing able to recognize their character and God’s  unambiguous message?  EBB4

ANGELOLOGY

ANGELOLOGY

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

  I’ve been asked if we have guardian angels? I will get around to answering the question, but not just yet. Why not now? Because our culture, both redeemed (Jn.1:12; 3:3; Rom.3:23-24) and not (Jn.3:18), has many unfounded beliefs about angels that are based in supposition and as result of imaginative wishful thinking. Just the other day a Christian friend showed me 2 hardback books about angels they are going to read. Scanning the Table of Contents I noted many ideas. There are many other books on the topic, too many of them like those two, with many of the authors’ words non-angelic.

  Searching Scripture I’ll be doing a DT series on angels. As always, if you disagree with or have comment, please do contribute.

  Beginning with a few Bible reference facts:

·         “angel” is mentioned 203 times in 194 verses throughout OT and NT.

·         First mention is Genesis 16:7 “…the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.”

·         Last mention is Revelation 22:16 “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

·         “angels” is mentioned 94 times in OT and NT.

·         First mention is Genesis 19:1 “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;”

·         Last mention is Revelation 21:12 “And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:”

·         “messenger/messengers” is used referring to angel/angels.

·         “heavenly host” in Luke 2:13 refers to a army of angels.

  And so we have begun another serious series study.  EBB4  

SECURITY IN LOVE

SECURITY IN LOVE

Monday, November 4, 2013

  Yesterday at lunch a dear Christian friend said “There is security in love.” Including awakening at 1:34am with on mind, I‘ve been pondering her statement.

  The first piece of matter was immediately obvious. This is an absolute truth; one big reason being that there is no absolute material security. Another old realization is man’s relentless tremendous physical investment in striving for material security with the results having more holes than a sieve.

  I well remember the company I worked for installing UNIVAC computer that would handle all financial transactions . . . and being told of its sacrosanct security. Not too long afterward the robber chief technician (We later wondered if actually he was the Chief Robber Technician?) was quietly let go so as to avoid public embarrassment.

  It is observable that highest levels of material security can be violated by person(s) determined to do so.

  This is not so with God’s love. His love doesn’t require an army of security specialists to be forever plugging holes. Let us consider God’ penman John as he wrote on the topic:

  “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

  This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

  God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (NLT 1Jn.4:7-18 Underlining mine. Suggest also reading Romans chapter 4.)

  To think through topics I often reverse to help comprehend: If we live in alarm and fright we are not realizing and resting in the security of love; His love, His family’s love, our Christ-like love for others.

  I pray my shared thoughts are helpful to some in this life.  EBB4

 

WHAT IS THE NEW AGE MOVEMENT?

 

 

www.GotQuestions.org

Question: "What is the New Age movement?"

Answer: The expression “New Age” came into existence in the 1970s and 1980s. It was promoted by the circulation of the New Age Journal and a book by Mark Satin called New Age Politics. Marilyn Ferguson’s best-selling Aquarian Conspiracy was a presentation of the social agenda and philosophical vision of the New Age. Ferguson’s writing attained status as the unofficial scripture of the movement. As Russell Chandler, a writer for the Los Angeles Times, wrote in Understanding the New Age, “If Ferguson wrote the New Age ‘Bible,‘ Shirley MacLaine is its high priestess.”

Shirley MacLaine’s book, Out on a Limb, chronicles her reluctant conversion to New Age belief. This book describes her travels and studies, which include science fiction-like dimensions, out-of-body travel, contact with extraterrestrial beings, “trance channeling” (séances), and a “guided tour” of the unseen world. MacLaine’s second book, Dancing in the Light, tells about her reach into the world of yoga, reincarnation, crystal power, Hindu mantras, and past-life recall experiences mediated through acupuncture. Her spirit guides informed her that each individual is God, and she passed along the “wisdom” that the person is unlimited. One only has to realize it. (Chandler, page 6-2).

New Age thinking has its roots, then, in Eastern mysticism, which attempts to bypass the mind. There is a new organ of perception—the third eye—which gives spiritual light. One needs to get to the “psychic self” by training one’s self to ignore messages from the mind or to see that the mind is actually achieving “cosmic consciousness.” The mind can create reality.

Neil Anderson in his book, Walking Through the Darkness, writes this: “The New Age movement is not seen as a religion but a new way to think and understand reality. It’s very attractive to the natural man who has become disillusioned with organized religion and Western rationalism. He desires spiritual reality but doesn’t want to give up materialism, deal with his moral problems, or come under authority” (page 22). Anderson goes on to summarize New Age thinking (pages 22–24) as follows:

(1) It is monism. The belief that all is one and one is all. History is not the story of humanity’s fall into sin and its restoration by God’s saving grace. Rather, it is humanity’s fall into ignorance and the gradual ascent into enlightenment.

(2) All is God. If all is one, including God, then one must conclude that all is God. It is pantheism—trees, snails, books, and people are all of one divine essence. A personal God who has revealed Himself in the Bible and in Jesus Christ is completely rejected. Since God is impersonal, the New Ager doesn’t have to serve Him. God is an “it,” not a “He.”

(3) There is a change in consciousness. If we are God, we need to know we are God. We must become cosmically conscious, enlightened, or attuned to the cosmic consciousness. Some who reach this enlightened status will claim to be “born again”—a counterfeit of biblical conversion. The essential is not whether we believe or meditate, but whom we believe in and what we meditate upon. Christ is the true, personal, objective reality, as He said that He is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

(4) A cosmic evolutionary optimism is taught. There is a New Age coming. There will be a new world order, a new world government. New Age thinkers believe that there will eventually be a progressive unification of world consciousness. This, according to the Bible, is a counterfeit kingdom led by Satan himself. Christ has the true kingdom, and He will one day rule on earth with peace for all who accept Him as Savior and King (Revelation 5:13).

(5) New Agers create their own reality. They believe they can create reality by what they believe, and, by changing what they believe, they can change reality. All moral boundaries have been erased. There are no absolutes because there is no distinction between good and evil. Nothing has reality until one says that it is reality or says that it is truth. If finite man can create truth, we are in desperate trouble in our society. Unless there are eternal absolutes from the eternal God, man will eventually be his own destruction.

(6) New Agers make contact with the kingdom of darkness. Calling a medium a “channeler” and a demon a “spirit guide” has not changed the reality of what they are. This is the kingdom of darkness of which Satan is the head. Those involved in this kind of activity are in contact with a world that is totally opposed to the biblical God revealed to us in Jesus Christ, who defeated Satan (Matthew 4:1–11; Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14–18).

The New Age movement is a counterfeit philosophy that appeals to the feelings of individuals, leading them to think that that they are God and can enhance their lives through their own person. The reality is that we are born, grow up, live a while on planet Earth, and die. Humans are finite. We can never be God. We need someone greater than we who can provide us forgiveness and life eternal. Praise the Lord for the God-man, Jesus Christ. Through His death and bodily resurrection, He has won for us what we desperately need: forgiveness from God, a life of purpose and meaning in this life, and eternal life beyond the grave. Don’t miss out on who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for you. Read John chapter 3. Ask Christ to be your Savior. Your life will be transformed, and you will know who you are, why you are here, and where you are going.

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