ANGELS

I taught a ladies Bible study series on angels in 2008. These are excerpts from my Bible study notes. The word “angel” comes from the Greek word aggelos, which means “messenger” The Hebrew word “mal’ak” means the same thing. The study of angels is a fascinating subject. In this humanistic age in which we live very few people understand the truth about angels. Most people believe in angles, but there are many misconceptions about them. Scripture warns us that "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.'' (2 Corinthians 11:14) KJV Don’t believe everything you hear, read or see in movies about angels. God has told us everything that He wants us to know about angels in His Holy Word.

What is Angelology? Angelology is the study of angels. A good Biblical understanding of Angelology will tell us what the Bible has to say about angels. It is a study of how the angels relate to humanity and serve God’s purpose.

What are angels? They are spirit beings created by God. While it is clear that angels minister to Christians in a variety of ways while we are still living, there is yet another service they perform when we die. “And it came to pass that the beggar died (Lazarus) and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died and was buried” (Luke 16:22) KJV In contrast the Bible lets us know that the rich man did not have an angel escort. It simple says that he died and was buried.

God is a God of diversity. Scientists tell us that there are no two-snow flakes that are identical. Every human is different. Angels are different from each other. It appears from Scripture that angels are not confined to any specific appearance. They assume various forms and appearances according to the nature of the work they are required to perform and to the will of God. The most important characteristic of angels is not that they have power to exercise over our lives, or that they are beautiful, but that they work on our behalf.

How many angels did God create? We do not know the exact number. Apostle Paul tells us in (Hebrews 12:22) KJV “There is an innumerable company of angels.” Innumerable simply means too many to be counted or numbered.  “The number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands.” (Revelation 5:11) KJV

The Scriptures are full of dramatic evidences of the protective care of angels in their earthly service to God.  One classic example of the protective care of angels is found in (Acts 12:5-11) KJV Peter was in prison awaiting his execution. James, the brother of John, had already been killed and there was little reason to doubt that Peter would escape the executioner either. Peter lay bound in chains sleeping between two soldiers that were guarding him. An angel appeared, not deterred by such things as doors or iron bars. The angel shook Peter awake and told him to prepare to escape. As a light shone in the prison, Peter’s chains fell off and Peter got dressed. As they approached the iron gate it supernaturally opened and Peter followed the angel to the outside. Then the angel disappeared. What a mighty deliverance God achieved through His angel.

INTEGRITY

Why does it seem that the very fabric of our society is becoming unraveled amid the revelations of lust, greed and immorality in high and low places? What is happening and where are we headed? Has there ever been a more critical time in history when we needed people of integrity? The need for integrity today is perhaps as great as it has ever been. Integrity is essential if we are going to become people who positively and powerfully impact others.

What is integrity?  The dictionary defines integrity as “the quality or state of being of sound moral principles, uprightness, honesty and sincerity.” What does being moral mean? Again, according to the dictionary moral means “capable of making the distinction between right and wrong in conduct.” That’s man’s definition, but what about God’s?

God’s integrity is doing the right thing even if it cost us. It means obeying God’s law, speaking only truth and putting the other person ahead of ourselves. It means displaying the character of God in our daily walk. There will be times that we will find we have to stand-alone when we take a stand for the truth. Take a stand anyway. 

Integrity is the foundation of character. The single most important quality we can ever develop that will enhance every part of our life is the value of integrity.  A person with integrity will be totally honest and truthful in every part of their life. It is our choice of values and resolution to live by those values that form our character and personality.  Only a person who is consistently living a life with the highest values and virtues is a person truly living a life of integrity. People with high integrity realize that everything they do is a statement about them.

Our integrity is manifested in adhering to the values that are most important to us. It is easy to make promises but often very hard to keep them. But every time we keep a promise that we’ve made, it is an act of integrity, which strengthens our character.

Walking in integrity. More than anything, walking in integrity means that our words and actions are in agreement. In times past in the United States, it was said, “a man’s word was his bond.” If a man said he would do something, that was it, you could take those words to the bank and be sure he would carry them out. Business deals worth many thousands of dollars were concluded on a word and a handshake.

God’s nature defines moral values. A righteous or upright moral character is a reflection of God’s character; a depraved or corrupt moral character is anything that goes against, or is contrary to God’s character.

Values influence conduct. What we believe will influence what we do. We may be able to hide our true values, character and motives for a while; but when we do so, we merely introduce another character trait in our lives and that is hypocrisy. We cannot hide it forever. In the end, the day will come in which our true character will be exposed and known to all.

COMING TO GRIPS WITH STRESS

What is stress? Stress is any demand, force, pressure or strain placed on the body and the body’s reaction to it. Everyone that is living experiences stress. This is a fact of life and cannot be avoided. No structure can withstand the winds of adversity without a solid foundation. Our lives are no different. You must build your life on a firm foundation if you expect to withstand innumerable pressures of daily living. Stress is a killer. Stress robs you of your joy and peace. It is a risk factor for heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, lower immune system and many other diseases. Stress has an effect on your thoughts and feelings. You can suffer from anger, anxiety, burnout, depression and fatigue. Stress can affect your behavior by eating too much, eating too little, sudden angry outbursts, social withdrawal, frequent crying and relationship problems. Therefore, you should do everything in your power to eliminate as much stress from your life as possible. Each day presents each of you with 1440 minutes to use at your discretion. Use them wisely.

Learn to say no.  For most people, saying “yes” when they really should say “no” raises their stress level by several degrees. “No” is a complete sentence, and it will help you lower your stress and stay sane when applied with wisdom. Recognize that you can’t do everything. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

Keep a sense of humor. Don’t allow life’s pressures and negative circumstance to blot out your sense of humor. Laughter reflects positive emotions and makes you a lot more fun to be around. Laughter can also take your mind off of what’s stressing you. Laugh often, “For the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) NIV Laughter releases tension and studies show that it lowers blood pressure.

Learn to slow down. Every time you get in a hurry mode you send a “state of emergency” signal to the body. It responds by releasing the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol that prepares you to deal with danger. The body cannot distinguish between physical danger, losing your job or any other form of pressure. It only knows that action has to be taken and it must energize the body to deal with it and any other form of pressure.

Learn to be flexible. Flexible people experience a lot less stress than rigid types who insist on things always being done exactly the way they have decided. Know what you can change and what you can’t. Ask God for wisdom to know the difference.

Identify difficult people. Sometimes it just isn’t possible to be at peace with certain people. You are not commanded to spend time or interact with people who disrupt your peace. The Bible is full of admonitions to avoid people who jeopardize your tranquility. King Solomon said,  “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man. Do not associate with one easily angered.” (Proverbs 22:24) NIV Apostle Paul warned, “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that is contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.” (Romans 16:17) NIV

FORGIVENESS

Cobalt is a mineral that is found in various ores. Its compounds are used in a variety of paints and ink, but its most beautiful application is the pigment of cobalt blue for coloring enamel, glass, tile and porcelain. Cobalt is also a necessary element for human life. A trace element of cobalt is found in B12, but too much in our system can be toxic to the lungs and heart. Holding on to unforgiveness is also toxic to the body and may even contaminate our spirit. Any poison in the heart can be just as fatal as allowing too much cobalt inside the body.

Being able to forgive others is a process that takes time. Does forgiving another person mean we are to ignore, hide or bury our pain? Absolutely not. While God does not ask us to stifle or bury our pain, He does ask that we change how we think about those who have harmed us. This is good news for anyone struggling to forgive. We must remind ourselves, for our good, and for the good of others, that forgiveness is not a feeling. Forgiveness is a purposeful decision, an act of the will not dependent on our emotions. No matter what has been done to us, or how badly it hurts, we must forgive because of this inescapable and profound truth: God has forgiven us all the more. When we forgive as we have been forgiven, we give the kind of mercy that can change the hearts of others.

Changing course is hard, and it takes deliberate efforts and repetition to make it happen. We must make a decision to follow the Lord’s example and His command to release our resentments towards those who have wronged us. To do that, we must change how we think. Thoughts have great power to shape our lives. We must never let our thoughts master us. Rather, we are to master our thoughts with the help of God. Ralph Waldo Emerson rightly observed, “A man is what he thinks about all day long.” Maybe he was echoing, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) NKJV Some thoughts are constructive and serve as a catalyst for change. Others are destructive and destroy our hope for healing. When someone has wounded us, we tend to replay the event in our minds over and over in slow motion and high definition. We dwell on every detail; we inspect every stone of strife; we scrutinize every act of cruelty. Sometimes we even imagine getting revenge against the other person. Revenge may satisfy our inner longing for justice temporarily but it leaves no room for healing permanently. No wonder we find it difficult to forgive when our wounds remain so fresh in our minds.

Forgiveness brings life, not death. It is the perfect prescription for wellness from the Great Physician Himself. It is an antidote for poisonous thoughts and emotions. Energy spent on anger is energy lost. Forgiveness reclaims our energy and redirects it. Forgiveness is good for our physical health because we refuse to keep a record of the wrongs people have committed against us. Jesus was always willing to forgive-----always. He was beaten, mocked, humiliated and crucified in the cruelest way possible. Yet, while He was dying on the cross He modeled how to forgive His offenders even though His tormentors never asked for forgiveness and never expressed any regret or remorse. He prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) KJV

SUFFERING…THERE WAS A TIME ON THIS EARTH WHEN SUFFERING and SORROW DID NOT EXIST. When God first created man upon the earth, everything was perfect. There was no sickness, no pain, and no sorrow of any kind. It was God’s plan for man to live in peace and harmony never having to experience sorrow. According to Genesis chapter three, it wasn’t until man chose the way of Satan, rather than the way of God that sorrow entered the world. Man sinned against God in Genesis 3:6-7, and God reveals to Adam and Eve the consequences of their sin in Genesis 3:16-19. God told Adam and Eve that they would now experience sorrow & death.

SOMETIMES GOD HAS TO ALLOW A TRAGEDY TO ENTER A LIFE IN ORDER TO GET SOMEONE TO LOOK TO HIM FOR SALVATION. Do you suppose the leper (Matthew 8:2) would have come to Jesus if he had been in perfect health? What about the blind man in Luke 18:35-43? Second Kings chapter five tells the story of Naaman, the Syrian captain who had leprosy. Had this man not had leprosy, he would have probably never turned to God. The Bible is filled with cases where God reaches people through suffering. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t fear God until God humbled him by making him spend seven years of his life on his hands and knees like an animal. (Daniel 4:31-37) 

GOD TEACHES US VALUABLE LESSONS THROUGH SUFFERING. One reason is humility. Apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh that tormented him. Yet God did not remove the thorn but gave Paul the GRACE to bear it in (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). God used this thorn in Paul’s life to help keep him humble, to keep him from being exalted above measure. Sometimes God uses suffering to teach us patience. We are told in Romans 5:3 that suffering produces perseverance. Remember Job? He lost everything in one day. (Job 1:14-22) Plus Satan smote him with boils all over his body. Yet in all this, Job did not sin with his lips.  (Job 2:10)

UNDERSTANDING WHY GOD ALLOWS EVIL AND SUFFERING REQUIRES A FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF ONE OF GOD’S GREATEST GIFT’S. The gift is free will or freedom of choice. God granted this freedom to our first parents, Adam and Eve at creation. Of all earth’s physical creatures that God has made, man alone can exercise free will. Our freedom to decide what we want to do can result in acts of good or evil. Even in the Ten Commandments God reminds us that the consequences of wrong actions can affect one’s descendants unto the third and fourth generations. (Exodus 20:15) We can trace many tragedies and much suffering to our own all too human actions and decisions.

A pain free life is impossible. There will be times when suffering comes to us through no fault or wrong doing on our part. And when pain and suffering comes knocking on our door we learn we cannot go around it, above it or below it. We have to go through it. I don’t understand why I survived cancer and yet my husband died from cancer. All I know is that no matter what happens to me during this life time God is still in control.

ENCOURAGEMENT

May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand.

May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism.

Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone.

May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace

May a kind word, a reassuring touch, and a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.

Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.