“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14
I will never forget the evening I experienced the power and presence of the Lord releasing His heavenly host- His angel armies to fight and bring comfort. While ministering at a women’s retreat, there was one sweet lady who went through trauma, rejection, abuse, and was being oppressed by the enemy. We prayed, and prayed some more for her, and after lots of pushback I felt defeated. “God, help me… I don’t know how to help her,” I replayed this prayer again and again in my mind. I knelt at the woman’s feet and began to speak life giving words over her, as I didn’t know what else to do. It was in that moment, the entire atmosphere changed from torment to peace and I heard the Lord say, “I’m releasing my angels over her.” It was as if I could see them in the spiritual coming to bring comfort and fight the forces of darkness for her. I whispered, “they are fighting for you, God released an entire army just for you!” In that moment that sweet woman looked at me and said, “I don’t see rejection in your eyes.” We could feel comfort and peace in the room like we had been wrapped in a warm blanket and were being held. This woman told me that she hadn’t felt peace like that in many, many years and it gave her hope, it gave her strength and her faith had been lifted in that moment.
“…And I know that there are angels all around,” is the phrase I’ve been singing over-and-over- again this week from an old, familiar worship song. While singing this phrase, I felt God remind me of the importance of angels, most importantly, that He has equipped us with everything that we need to walk victoriously and boldly in this life. With over 300 references about angels in the Bible, not including the scriptures of the Lord of hosts, which are the angel armies, angels are important to understand and to know why they are here.
Some people think of angels like sweet little babies with cute round bottoms and rosy cheeks, but according to scripture, angels are not the cute little cherubs floating on clouds. Angels are warriors and worshipful heavenly beings created to minister to us. In Matthew verse 4, Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert. Jesus commanded Satan to leave and afterwards, “angels came and attended him” (Matthew 4:2). I don’t know how, but God released them for whatever He needed in that moment that only God knew he needed. God is the commander over the angels, and He will command them to us.
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).
Angels fight battles against the principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12). The angel Michael is the commanding chief of this army (revelation 12:7). Angels are also messengers from God. In the Greek form angel is, angelos, which means, “messenger.” All throughout scripture, angels released messages from God to the people. Message of hope, message of warning, messages of peace and strategy. Who announced to the shepherd’s about the arrival of baby Jesus? Who told Mary she would birth the Savior of the World? Who told Abraham not to sacrifice His son? They were all angels sending a message from God.
As I’ve been studying about angels, I need more than one blog post to write about all the fascinating things that I’ve been learning, but here is what I do believe God wants us to remember in this very season- you and I are equipped! Not only do we have the angels, but we have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us that brings power and comfort. For all believers, we have an eternal home waiting for us in Heaven, we have the Bible and scriptures to guide and teach us. We have the armor of God and the instructions on how to use it. This is a season not to shrink back, but to spread His good word of His great name, to love people fiercely and wonderfully, and to walk in fearlessness and boldness in His name knowing that He has fully equipped us. Remember that there are “angels all around.”
Emily Rodewald 