- [Narrator] The foes of Christ who constantly attack us
would often be defeated
if we could understand God's assurance
that His powerful angels are always close by
and ready to assist us.
Unfortunately, most Christians
have failed to accept this fact,
which is so often expressed in the Bible.
Angels are divine protectors.
The angels of God often protect His servants
from possible enemies.
Consider 2 Kings 6:14-17.
"Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there.
They went by night and surrounded the city.
When the servant of the man of God got up
and went out early the next morning,
an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city.
'Oh no, my Lord, what shall we do?'
The servant asked.
'Don't be afraid,' The prophet answered.
'Those who are with us are more
than those who are with them.'
And Elisha prayed, 'Open his eyes, Lord,
so that he may see.'
Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes
and he looked and saw the hills full of horses
and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
The King of Syria had sent his army to Dothan
learning that Elisha, the prophet, was there.
After dressing in the morning,
the prophets helper yelled excitedly to Elisha
that the surrounding countryside bristled with armies
and instruments of war.
Elisha comforted him, "Don't be afraid.
Our army is bigger than theirs," Verse 16.
The angels minister to the servants of God
in times of difficulty and peril.
We find another outstanding illustration of this
in the following sections.
On his way to Rome, Paul was confronted
with a shipwreck with more than 200 others on board.
Speaking to the terrified crew, he said,
Acts 27:23-25, "For last night, an angel of the God
to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me.
And he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul,
for you will surely stand trial before Caesar.
What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety
to everyone selling with you.'
So take courage for I believe God.
It will be just as He said.
"Some believe strongly that every Christian
may have a guardian angel assigned to watch over him or her.
This guardianship may begin in their infancy
for Jesus told us, 'See that you do not despise
one of these little ones for I tell you that their angels
in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.'"
Matthew 18:10, angels at work for us.
The most remarkable feature of angels
is not that they have the power
to exercise control over our lives
but that they work on our behalf.
And inexhaustible love moves them for God and jealous to see
that the will of God and Jesus Christ is fulfilled in us.
David speaks of angels, "For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands.
So you won't even hurt your foot on a stone,"
Psalm 91:11-12.
Divine surveillance, "For I think God has exhibited us
the apostles last of all, as men condemned to death
because we have become a spectacle to the world,
both to angels and to mankind," 1 Corinthians 4:9.
God assigns the angelic powers to watch over us.
Hagar, Sarah's maid had fled from the tents of Abraham.
It is ironic that Abraham,
after reaching such glorious heights of faith
should have capitulated to the conniving
and slander of his wife and to the custom of that day
to father a child by Hagar.
And it is ironic that Sarah, his wife,
should have been so jealous
that when their own son, Isaac was born years later,
she wanted to get rid of both Hagar
and the earlier child, Ishmael.
Abraham's self-indulgence led to grief
and he thrust Hagar out of his home.
Nevertheless, God he sent his angel to minister to Hagar.
"The angel of the Lord found Hagar
near a spring in the desert.
It was the spring that is beside the road to Shur,"
Genesis 16:7.
The angel spoke as an Oracle of God
and turned her thoughts away from the injury of the past
with an assurance of what she might expect
if she put her faith in God.
The exact name of her son, Ishmael,
which means God hears, was a sustaining one.
God promised that the seed of Ishmael would multiply
and that his destiny would be great on earth
as he now took the restless pilgrimage
that was to characterize his descendants.
The angel of the revealed himself as the protector
of Hagar and Ishmael.
Hagar, in awe, exclaimed, "Thou God seest," Genesis 16:13.
She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her.
You are the God who sees me.
For she said, "I have now seen the one who sees me.
Psalm 34:7 underscores the teaching that angels protect
and deliver us.
Psalm 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him and he delivers them."
Miraculous deliveries.
The great majority of Christians can recall some incidence
in which their lives have been miraculously preserved
in times of critical danger.
Although they may not have seen angels,
their presence could explain why tragedy was prevented.
We should always be grateful for the goodness of God
who uses these wonderful friends
called angels to protect us.
Evidence from scripture confirms
that individual guardian angels attend at least
some of our ways and hover protectively over our lives.
The scriptures are full of dramatic evidence
of the protective care of angels
and their earthly service to the people of God.