Angels and Christmas by Bill Dupley

I love the Christmas season. This month, we have done Christmas sing-alongs for two events, and on Christmas Eve, we will be conducting a sing-along on our front porch for our neighbors. I love Christmas songs and carols. I live about 500 meters from my local United Church, and I am reminded that since 1826, people have been singing these same Christmas carols on Christmas Eve every year since then. There is an intimacy with God, I feel, knowing that so many people who came before me worshiped at the same time in the same place, singing the same songs.

One of the things that I notice about Christmas songs is that many mention angels. For example:

• Angels We Have Heard on High
• Angels from the Realm of Glory
• While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Night
• It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 
• Oh, Come All Ye Faithful

All these songs remind us that angels were very evident at the birth of Christ. Here are a few examples:

• The angel Gabriel spoke to Mary and told her she would bear a son, Jesus (Luke 1:26-38)
• Joseph was encouraged by an angel in a dream to take Mary as his wife. He also was instructed by an angel to move to Egypt and to return to Egypt and to avoid Judea (Matthew chapters 1 & 2)
• Angels announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-10)

Angels were very involved in the lives of Mary and Joseph. However, they also were involved with the lives of Jesus and the disciples, for example.

• Angels ministered to Jesus (Matthew 4:11)
• Angels freed Peter from prison (Acts 12:7-11)
• Angels stood with Paul when he was shipwrecked (Acts 27:27 – 28:5)

Angels are involved in our lives today.

God doesn't change. We can expect angels to be an integral part of our lives as well. However, very few people talk about it. I asked my small group if anyone had experienced interactions with angels. One lady mentioned that she had seen angels when she was in the hospital. She said she saw the angels with her physical eyes and was able to describe them. This happened to her twice.

The first time I saw an angel was also in the hospital. I had been suffering from angina and was waiting for an angiogram. As I sat in my room, I saw an angel in the corner of the room in full armor. When I say I saw an angel, I think it's important you understand what I mean and how this works for me and many others. The Bible says in Ephesians 1:17-19 that we have eyes of our heart. In my case, I saw the angel with the eyes of my heart, and that image was overlaid on the image that I saw with my physical eyes. I saw the angel in detail, but I did not see them with my physical eyes. 
 

I have since seen angels many times, and the process is always the same. I see the angel with the eyes of my heart, and my mind combines it with the image that I see with my physical eyes.

Once, Sue and I were leading worship in the church, and as I looked over the congregation, I saw six angels in the room. There was one angel on the left-hand side who had a bowl and was pouring liquid from that bowl onto a woman who was in the congregation. However, it looked like she had an invisible umbrella that was preventing the liquid from getting to her. I was not sure what to do with this, but I said I see an angel, and he's pouring out something on a person in the congregation, but you are not letting it reach you. I encourage you to let down your umbrella and receive what the Lord is pouring out. Immediately, I saw the substance that the angel was pouring begin to pour all over the woman. I had no idea what was going on. It was a word of knowledge. It was something the Lord was doing. I believe that we are called to work as a team with the Lord and the angelic realm to accomplish what the Lord is doing.

Jesus said in John 5:19, "I only do what I see the Father doing." In this case, the Father was doing something for this woman through an angel, but He wanted me to be involved in facilitating the process.

What do angels do for us?

God created angels long before man was created. We are not given a lot of details about it, but clearly, the host of heaven has been around for a long time. We don't know why they were created, but we do know what one of their roles is today. Hebrews 1:14 states, "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who inherit salvation." Angels are to be involved in our lives. Psalm 91:11 gives a good example of how angels serve us. It talks about the concept of a guardian angel. "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

I recently listened to a video by Charity Kayembe, who taught about the 15 ways angels minister to us. I encourage you to watch it. Charity has also written a book on the topic called "Everyday Angels." 

Here is a summary of the 15 Ways Angels Minister to Us

1. Guard us. Psalm 91:11 – 12
2. Deliver prophetic promises to us. Luke 1:13
3. Enlighten us. Zachariah 1:9
4. Provide us with heavenly resources. 1 Kings 19:5 – 8
5. Partner with us in evangelism. Acts 8:26 – 40
6. Communicate revelation to us. Revelation 1:1
7. Rescue Us. Acts 12:7 – 11
8. Bring us healing from God. John 5:4
9. Warn us. Matthew 2:13
10. Strengthen us. Luke 22:43
11. Instruct us. Daniel 9:21 – 23
12. Assist us in our relationships. Genesis 24:7
13. Surround us with protection. Psalm 34:7, Daniel 6:22
14. Explain God's ways to us. Luke 1:34 – 38
15. Encourage and comfort us. Daniel 10:18 – 19 and Acts 27:22 – 25

Close

This Christmas, as you gather to worship and remember the birth of Christ, remember also that your Heavenly Father has given his angels charge concerning you. They are around you and remember, those who are for you are much more than those who are against you.
 

Merry Christmas - Bill Dupley

Contact: the.secret.place@cogeco.ca

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