The Ministry of Angels

Written By Bishop G.T. Haywood

Published by The Christian Outlook - June 1956

Destruction, sorrows, crimes, and death are filling the earth with tear-stained faces. The most horrifying accidents are prominently recorded on the front pages of the daily papers. These are surely "the beginning of sorrows."

In the midst of these things many of the saints of God are being made to suffer the same afflictions that are in the world. The wicked one is no respector of persons. He will destroy whosoever he wills. It appears at times that he takes delight in destroying the children of God while going "through the land seeking whom he may devour." But for the people of God there is a way of escape. Luke 21:36; 1 corinthians 10:13.

We are told by the prophet Daniel that in the time of the end there would be a time of trouble, such as there never was since there was a nation, "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince (archangel, Jude 9), which standeth for the children of thy people." It is very evident that the "time of trouble" is upon us, and the people of God need to know their source of protection.

Ti him that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, God has promised to "give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." Psalms 91. There is our place of refuge. The secret place of the Most High. There it is that he "will give his angels charge over" us. The angels shall be our guardians, our watchers, and our keepers. For the "angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalms 34:7. O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him. We must commit our ways unto the Lord and He will redeem our lives from death.

It is for this cause that we who have come unto Mount Zion have also "come unto an innumerable company of angels." Hebrews 12:22. They fight the battles of the people of God. Michael, the captain of the Lord's host, leads a great company of angels to wage war against our adversary. Revelation 12:7-9. In the days of Joshua when he crossed the Jordan into Canaan he met the 'captain of the Lord's host" standing over against him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua 5:13. He had to come to the rescue of the people of God. They did not have to fight the people of Jericho, but the invisible host of angels, at the command of the "captain of the host of the Lord" ecidently lent their force against the bulwarks of the city and the "walls of Jericho fell down." For a proof that angels have power to remove stones we only need to turn to the record of the resurrection morning, "for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." Matthew 28:2.  

When Jesus cae into the world He came to show us our privilege as sons of God. In His conflict with Satan in the wilderness, after His baptism in Jordan, "behold, angels came and ministered unto him." Matthew 4:11. And again, at the close of his ministry, on that memorial night beneath the olive trees of Gethsemane, the night of sorrow, and agonixing prayer, "there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him." At the moment of His most severe trial He rebuked Peter's attempt to protect Him with a sword, saying, "Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" matthew 26:53. What a privilege we have if we only knew it! If Jesus could pray to the Father and immediately have seventy-two thousand angels at His command, why cannot we? He said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." Brother, call unto God for angels and He will send them. We need them in these days. Be not afraid; it is your God-given privilege.

In His letter to the Hebrews the apostle Paul declares that angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them that shall be heirs of salvation." Are you an heir of God? Have you received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father? If so, then you are an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ, and have a perfect right to the protection and ministry of angels.

Neither should this thing be thought impossible in our day. It was an angel that delivered Peter from the hands of Herod. It was an angel of the Lord that delivered the apostles in the first persecution. It was an angel that spoke to Philip in Samaria and sent him into the desert. Acts 8:26. And it was an angel that talked with the aged seer of Patmos. And He who sent His angels in those days is just the same today. His love is never failing. He will keep that which is committed into His hands against that day.

Wherever we go we have the right to ask God to let angels accompany us on our journey to protect us from danger. Even in heaven doth our angels always behold our Father's face, standing in readiness to come to our rescue at his command, Matthew 18:10.They will watch you while you sleep. They will stand guard at the doors of your home when dangers are threatening. They will follow you on your journey whether by rail or by motor. They will warn you of approaching danger so that no evil will befall thee. Whay need have we to fear when God has made such a wonderful provision for his children? Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful  works unto the children of men. There is no God like Him. His works are truly wonderful. Whereever I go I always ask my heavenly Father to send His angels with me. And over the many, many thousands of miles that I have been permitted to travel by steam, electricity, or gasoline, He has seen to it that I arrived safely ay my many destinations, and brought me safely home again.

We need not be afraidto ask for them, for the host of angels are without number. God will send as many as you will need.The multitude that John saw on the isle of Patmos were tenthousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Ten thousand times ten thousand are equal to one hundred million! And desides that there are "thousands of thousands." Ministers, evangelists, missionaries, ask god for angels to help you in the battle against Satan and the powers of darkness. They will come and help you to break the powers of heaviness in your meetings. When you pray, BELIEVE that they are there and the victory is won. If you will preach the gospel and tell the story of the sufferings of Christ the angels will be there. It is these things that "the angels desired to look into." I Peter 1:10-12. And every sinner that repenteth and turns to God causes there to be great joy in the presence of the angels of God. For every new-born soul will talk about the wonderful things wrought in his life through the death and suffering of Jesus Christ our Lord, which things angels desired to look into.

The angels that appeared unto Abraham on the plains of Mamre; and delivered Lot from Sodom; that spake to Moses on the back side of the desert; that appeared to joshua at Jericho; that brought the message to Gideon; that spake to the wife of Manoah; that endeavored to save Balaam from error; that brought the answer to Daniel and locked the lions' mouths; that spake to Elizabeth and mary; that delivered the apostles from prison; that smote Herod for his wickedness; and comforted John on the lonely Isle of Patmos, they are just the same today. They will come to us for the asking. for he that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things

G.T. Haywood