| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

Angel

Angel

The Rev. John G. Paton a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands told a story involving the protective care of angels. Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror-filled night that god would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see the attackers unaccountably leave.

A year later the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ and Paton remembering what had happened asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise “Who were all those men you had there with you?” The missionary answered “There were no men there just my wife and I.” The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard—hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so the natives were afraid to attack. Only then did the Rev. Paton realize that God had sent his angels to protect them. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》

ANGELIC MINISTRY.

Ⅰ. Angels point out the way we should go (Ex.23:20; 32:34).

Ⅱ. Angels prepare us for coming conflict (Judges 6:11-12).

Ⅲ. Angels provide for our need in time of discouragement (1. Kings 19:5).

Ⅳ. Angels protect us in times of danger (2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 34:7).

Ⅴ. Angels prevent harm from coming to us (Dan.3:28;6:22).

Ⅵ. Angels pull us out of difficulties (Gen.19:16; Acts 12:7-11).

Ⅶ. Angels preserve us in all our journeyings (Gen.24:7 40; Isaiah 63:9).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》

MINISTRY OF ANGELS.

There are many things the Lord does through the ministry of angels. The following are a few out of the many—

Ⅰ. Angels guide in difficulty as seen in Eleazer’s mission. “ He shall send His angel before thee” ( Gen.24:7 40).

Ⅱ. Angels deliver from evil as Jacob testifies. “ The Angel which redeemed me from all evil” (Gen. 48:16).

Ⅲ. Angels commission in work as is evidenced in Gideon. “ There came an angel of the Lord” (Judges 6:11 22).

Ⅳ. Angels encourage in despondency as we gather from Elijah when under the juniper tree. “ As he lay and slept under a juniper tree behold then an angel touched him and said unto him Arise and eat” (1.Kings 19:5 7).

Ⅴ. Angels shield from harm by their presence as David assures us. “ The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7).

Ⅵ. Angels defeat our adversaries as we have illustrated in Hezekiah’s deliverance from Sennacherib. “ Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians ” ＆c.(Isaiah 37:36).

Ⅶ. Angels preserve in the midst of danger as we have demonstrated in the cases of the three Hebrew young men and Daniel. “ Who hath sent His angel and delivered His servants” (Daniel 3:28; 6:22).

── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》