Angels In The Rain

It’s raining again. I wrote before about an outpouring of the Spirit, a healing rain. I do believe what He says about pouring out His Spirit upon  all flesh. Acts 2:17. It has been hot here this summer, sizzling. You can see the steam rise. Just about every afternoon, a thunderstorm will fire up, if not in my neighborhood, close by.

I was watching lightning, a couple of nights ago. It was amazing to be indoors and the room just light up, so late in the night. I used to tell children that God was taking pictures, or angels, so they would not be afraid. We talked about storms and even how to take cover. I did have to put children under a table once a long time ago.

But there was no fear with me, because I know there is healing and peace in His rain. And guess what? I believe there are angels in the rain. And I even found this picture to illustrate it. But they won’t be sitting around getting soaked or drenched but will accompany the Holy Spirit. And we want Him to be poured out, as He is always a type of water or rain, now that is a good soak, pure and refreshing.

What will angels be doing in the latter rain? Well, we know what they are doing in Revelation, but before they come to separate wheat from tares as Matthew 13 says, they will still be ministering for and to believers. They can bring strength, deliverance and of course, revelation from the Spirit because after all they are messengers.

As alway, I urge people to be cautious about who teaches you. Some people are not going to be truthful. That is why we need the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us., He will never lie, deceive or allow you to be if you learn how to use the gift of discernment.

The spiritual gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12, and just before the love Chapter 13, which is all about Jesus, so relax and rest in His rain, He will pour it on and there a beautiful scent after a summer rain. And I know it is a peaceful, prayerful rain, a healing and restful rain, and the fragrance of Christ  is sprinkled  over the atmosphere, like His blood upon the mercy seat.

As the world sizzles, believers can find joy in His rain, and know He is coming soon. And it’s raining again, and there are angels in the rain. He will come to us like the rain. Hosea 6:3

And as a side note, we are into the Jewish time of Teshuvah, the 40 days of repentance, fasting if you are led to, it is just at turning to God  or returning to God, seeking righteousness, it leads up to the Jewish New Year 5780, September 30.

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Angels and Shame

Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs. Isaiah 61:7

I was upset over the weekend. I used to see those dog shaming pictures. You know, like ” I chewed up the Bible, I’m sorry Jesus. And they were cute, some of them. The father imitating his tattooed and made up daughter to embarrass her, should have embarrassed them both. Some might be funny, others are just cruel, that i what’s bothering me about people.

How does a sense of humor, and being able to laugh at yourself turn into self deprecation and even cruelty?  Let me tell you what shame is, Isaiah 53. And He did that for us.

When will people ever learn? Probably not until the Prince of Peace returns. He took our shame as believers, are we going to shame Him with our words and actions? Or be a light in a dark world?

The above promise is for believers, those who don’t know Him will face torment and everlasting shame. That is why we need to not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, the good news of what He suffered to set us free. It wasn’t fun for Him, but He counted it joy for us to become believers. And angels are there for our benefit. Psalm 103.

So let’s learn the difference between fun and coarse jesting as the Bible puts it, love and condemnation, only His perfect love will rid us of fear. Let’s stop the blame games and shame games, we’ve all done and said wrong things, have all been sinners, and all have access to grace, but do we receive it or trample it and insult the very Spirit of grace, Himself?

And yet God laughs in heaven at how we think sometimes, I’m sure of it.

https://biblehub.com/kjv/isaiah/53.htm

painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds

Delivering Angels

Daniel is a perfect story of deliverance, well, there are a lot, actually. It is a perfect illustration though of God’s protective hand at work. He is not just protecting you from the little things but the big ones, not just from minor incidents but major catastrophes.

He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. Job 5:19 So sometimes, even if things do happen, don’t start thinking God was not protecting you, because He was. As a believer, you have the promise of angelic protection and divine intervention.

Psalm 91 gets in our heads, lest we dash our foot against a stone, and we start thinking where were our angels. Believe me, I hate the I’ve fallen and can’t get up commercials, and I’m not even that old, but I have fallen and not been able to get up for a minute or two. I got up and was sore, but thankful. I could have broken something.

Once, I fell and had really bruised and perhaps broken toe, it literally had zebra stripes, black at first and they all colors of the rainbow, but it was nothing worse. Some of these things are spiritual attacks, the devil will run you into the proverbial headlights, but his was because there was water in the floor. Still, I was not hurt bad, the angels did bear me up in their hands.

To further illustrate this a long time ago I fell in the sun room. I wasn’t hurt. But a couple of nights later I dreamed  I had a broken neck, and remember grazin the back of my head on a glass table ever so slightly, and I was thankful. I believe this is a case of deliverance, not only six ways but seven. No evil is touching me.

And that is sort of Romans 8:28 as well, and we try to figure how something bad works for good, a fall makes you thankful, even humble that His angels are hard at work. The enemy does not want you to believe that God is working of to keep His words in your heart.

Have you ever said anything like, ” Well, I guess it’s not His will. ”

” It wasn’t meant to be. ”  ” Nothing works for me. ”

” God only blesses certain people. ” or  ” I must doing something wrong. ”

Stop thinking that way, and stop saying it. Angels respond to God’s words so speak that. And remember Daniel in the lion’s den, the fiery furnace, Peter from prison. And so many more.

Angels In The Bible

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We just can’t to go back and recap angels in the Bible. They are throughout the Old and New Testaments, were created before mankind and even the Garden of Eden, which is a copy of heaven’s Garden of God. The devil, a fallen angel called Lucifer, described as a cherub in Ezekiel, deceived Eve, Adam willfully sinned. People had a free will and made bad choices like today. And they suffer for it.

An angel guarded the garden to keep them out from eating more fruit and living forever in sin, one cherubim with a flaming sword  would very well be a pre-incarnate Jesus. Jesus,as the angel of the Lord visited, Sarah and Abraham, even Hagar, later wrestled with Jacob, who had seen them coming and going a ladder or stairs.

Manoah and his wife hear about their son, Samson, from the angel of the Lord. Daniel prayed and sees and angel who told him his prayers were heard the first day. That angel needed help to get through and it took three weeks, it is a great illustration of spiritual warfare.

Angels do more than make announcements or in and praise God, though they do that too. Much more, as when have studied already they are prominent in the story of Jesus’ birth, give a warning message, also with John the Baptist’s birth, it would appear that angels are very close to babies and we should be praying over them, also expectant mothers and even before, God has good plans.

Angels ministered to Jesus, after temptation and in Gethsemane. They are ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation. Hebrews has a lot to say about angels. As do many verses. And angel sets Peter free from prison, and have so many tasks to perform in the end end of the age, and are all through the book of Revelation.

And of course, there was the fearful Gideon, whose offering was consumed, Elijah was fed by an angel and still to come the talking donkey story, another post. We are just reviewing a little today.  So what is your favorite angel story? Mary? Jacob? Jesus?

I have to like the one about Sarah laughing, one of the three angels is the Angel of the Lord, even after twenty five years and lie and family turmoil, if Jesus say, you’ll have a son, well, don’t laugh.

 

Angels and Hearts

Can I be blunt? You can be a Christian and do and say dumb things. I try to stay away from all the hoopla on the web over doctrine and politics. But I can’t help expressing my heart over some things today.

First of all, you can’t shame someone into anything. I have said it myself, ” You should be ashamed. ” , to a lying child and then of course, explain why, or the fighting ones, even to people in ministry, seriously, who should not be hurting their spouses. But shame will not make you love Jesus or  make your heart sensitive enough to let Him love you and forgive you, and change you. Only He can change hearts and minds, and save souls. And save them from their own selves and foolishness at times. Salvation is an ongoing process, and we should be growing up.

One thing we need to get through our heads is that as a believer we are under grace, because Jesus fulfilled the law. There is no condemnation in Christ. Romans 8:1 He is not condemning you, so why go around condemning others, shaming them? You cannot save someone, only Jesus can, and you cannot shame them into Christianity.

And Christians should be ashamed, fighting over silly things, saying the dumbest things, like children on a playground only playing it out in the public aren of media, or ministry and it extends to leadership, church and politics. Intelligent people say dumb things and express dumb ideas, even wrapped in the veil of pretending to care.

Let me be  perfectly clear. Jesus did not mince words. And He never will. He will decide and He will judge hearts. He looks at hearts and not appearances. And only He is worthy to judge and He will one day soon, believe me.

Until we understand what it is like to be whipped, beaten, the flesh ripped from your bones, spat upon, beard plucked, carry a cross through the streets, and be crucified, go to hell and get the keys, you don’t know. I pray He covers those pure in heart with His angels.

And if you truly love, you will know Jesus. People are at all levels of faith and they will be held accountable for their words. And that is speaking the truth in love. Every knee will bow, and whether or not you go to heaven is up to whether or not you believe He died and rose again. And if you do, He forgives you and He covers sins, but don’t keep repeating them.

I am hurt that people talk about cheap grace, the forgiving of sin and letting it go for grace, and sadly, that is what some people think. Again, speaking the truth in love. Grace is not and never was cheap. Jesus paid a high price for you soul, and your anointing from the holy one is costly. It costs you friends, opportunities, and even some their lives to believe in Jesus. Don’t abuse your grace or insult the Spirit of grace.

But the love from the sacred heart of Jesus, is the most precious part of your life and don’t let the enemy deceive you in any way. Stop hurting people and start loving and listening to them, and the bad people, the unbelieving and evil ones who are clothed in shame and not the righteousness of God will be judged.

Let the Lord be magnified and glorified, and not ” horrified ” at people’s appalling behavior, He is the one who heals the broken hearted,  let’s stop breaking His, He will put an end to this and defeat His enemies. The devil doesn’t stand a chance against His hearts, and our hearts and angels.

Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces shall never be ashamed. Psalm 34:5

Rebecca Jones

Saints and Angels

 

While it takes a lot from the official church or Vatican to be declare a saint, the Bible calls or refers to believers as saints in several places. We’ll look at a few verses, but first, there is a chorus in my head as usual, and now it will be in yours…..

Saints and angels give Him glory, saints and angels give him glory, now and forevermore, w worship you, Almighty Lord, now and forevermore. Romans 1:7

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours. 1 Corinthians 1:2

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints…..Colossians 1:3,4

And finally, Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. Psalm 116:15

Let that one comfort you if you have had a loved one pass, a miscarriage, or someone in a crash or some other incident, He was there and is merciful.

For country music lovers there is Sara Evans song Saints and Angels

And then there are articles online that talk about the roles of angels in the lives of saints, there is quite a list, but we are saints too, only by His righteousness and for His glory, so let’s praise Him saints and angels.

And unbelievers,…..They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony. 2 Thessalonians 1:10.

Rebecca Jones

Beatrice Offor – Angel and Saint (1886–1917)

Angels and Seals

If you read about seals being broken in the book of Revelation, the angels then have a task, everything from bowls to incense and prayers, and judgement poured out in the Great Tribulation.

So I began to think about how we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, I started to wonder for myself if God just answers prayers at the right time. Maybe, He has plans sealed up, you know the ones for good and not harm as Jeremiah says.

I know people don’t always get the answers they expect. God knows best. It may be the loss of a dream or loved one, there are things we don’t know but what we do know is that He is just. And He loves us and gave His Son for us.

Let’s look at seals, and we might even want to pray and ask Him to open anything He has sealed up for us when the time is right, just like opening a present, it has to be a good and perfect from the Father.

In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13, 14

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

God has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:22

Covenants and ketubahs or marriage contracts were signed and sealed, a signet ring  was impressed into wax. Just think how the Lord has sealed us by His love and Spirit, and His promises are guaranteed.

Remember also that Daniel was told to seal up his writing until the time of the end. It’s closer. And Jesus was sealed in that tomb with guards posted, and the Holy Spirit brought Him out, and angels were there. What do you need to be brought out of?

They are always with the Spirit of Promise, and God’s Word is good. So what does He have sealed up for us, even before Revelation comes? He knows when to open it and the windows of heaven also.

Rebecca Jones

 

Jacob’s Ladder

How could you ever sleep with your head on a rock? Well, I have had a few sleepless nights that felt like that. But this is Jacob as he sleeps and dreams of angels on a ladder, ascending and descending from heaven.

The ladder is noticeably absent and that’s alright because it is more of a stairway in my opinion, but it could be either or both, all golden and shining. The main thing was that Jacob knew how God was working for him and so should we.

Whether or not we dream of angels or just believe they are there, we can sleep in heavenly peace, because of our Rock, Jesus, resting assured that they are there. Of  course, Jacob built an altar at Bethel, or Bet El, which means the house of God.

He was the patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel, married to Rachel and Leah, and handmaidens, father of twelve sons and Dinah. His favorite sons Joseph and Benjamin. He finally reconciled somewhat with Esau, who sold him his birthright. He even wrestled an angel.

Jacob was blessed and forgiven, He had deceived Isaac and was in return deceived by Laban, then again he would be betrayed by his sons in the killing of Shechem and the men of his city, and that they sold Joseph into slavery.

Eventually, God made His plans known and promoted Joseph in order to save many from famine, including his family. So angels moved in and out of His life, in spite of the disobedience, he always returned to Bethel.

Jacob has a lot of history in his story, and we can learn a lot from a deeper study. But I do love the imagery and vision of  angels coming and going along a grand staircase or golden ladder, as long as they ar working for me, And I am thankful for them.

Angelic Visit

We have a talked about angelic visits, so I wanted to include some from the Bible. Gideon was visited  by an angel, probably a pre-incarnate Jesus, which makes this painting inaccurate. Still a great piece of art by Rembrandt.

In Judges 6, Gideon is visited by the Angel of the Lord, and told him to bring an offering, when he does the angel touches it with a staff and it is consumed with fire. Gideon considered himself the least of his people and his people the least among others but the angel calls him a mighty man of valor.

He was sent to destroy Midianite altars, and would put out a fleece twice to see if God wanted him to defeat the Midianites. At the river he was told to send troops home. With only 300 men, he would do just that. Though concerned about the battle, he was told to go amon the camp. and he heard one of them telling another that he had a dream that a large boulder rolled down a hill and crushed the Midianites.

Many times, the Angel of the Lord refers to Christ, Himself. Visiting the earth, as God’s messenger before coming to redeem mankind on the cross. This is likely one of those instances, like Abraham. Gideon was an unlikely hero, but called just the same. haven’t we all felt that way at times?

Even if it is not fathering a country, winning a war or having a miracle baby, we can feel like to put a fleece out and tend to question Him. But we are living in the New Testament and have the Holy Spirit to teach us. I have found that He does usually confirm things, like in the mouth of two or three witnesses.

I was impressed to write about angels, that is the Holy Spirit. Hearing something over and over from ministry or friends, Bible study, a certain word or phrase, can be a inspiration or even a word of knowledge but I urge people to be  cautious because not everyone who claims to know Christ really does. Not everyone understand prophetic ministry and is not necessarily giving you a true word and also many who don’t receive, will not because of fear or even unbelief.

Do we really want to be so full of doubt as to the Lord as to require Him to come down and wet a fleece or consume and offering? I think not, but let’s use wisdom and study and trust Him to love us enough to take care of the rest.

 

The Angel of Death

No, this isn’t what the angel of death looks like. And neither is John Dye’s character Andrew. I have to admit not being a fan of Touched by an Angel, at first. I thought it was interesting, but left out a lot of the concept that it takes coming to Jesus to become a believer. I felt it was a little open ended, like that all people went to heaven, and that is not the case. Jesus is the only way, to the Father.

He was and is and always be the only one worthy to open the book of life, the only one whose blood atoned for sin, and whose body brought healing, whose crown of thorns brought us peace. He told Nicodemus, who was a ruler of the Jews, that you had to be born again. And you do.

He gave His life for all people, all nations, colors, ethnicities. But they have to receive Him as Lord. And when you do He will never leave or forsake you and His Spirit will guide you into truth and never deceive you. He will teach you. That said, I must say there is some of the truth mixed in a lot of religions, still it takes Jesus. He is the truth and He gives discernment.

Touched by an Angel always talks about the Father, and that is something I do regret not paying more attention to. Because as the angels always show up and say, God loves you. And He does, He had to turn His back on His only Son. He had to look away from the shame and torture, to allow us to inherit salvation, that had to be a more difficult thing to do than we can imagine.

I am still seeing way to many reports of suicide, missing children, domestic abuse. Yet God is in control, He is not causing the turmoil, He is the peace amid the chaos. He if the life giver and not the life taker. But he is merciful. And He is just, if you do not know Jesus, and not just of Him, do not have loving relationship with Him, trust in HIm, if you choose the wrong path, it leads to hell. Wickedness, disobedience, lawlessness and sin, the wages of it are still death but God gives eternal life. John 3:16

The angel of death is not a good looking guy who comes to get you not matter what, though loves and forgives, He is corporeal, He does things in order and in order to get to heaven, you have to go through Jesus. There may be many roads leading to heaven in the sense that there a lot of twists and turns in life and lot a struggles, but there still is only one way, Jesus. He can keep you on the straight and narrow.

Angels may not pop up before you and say, ” God loves you. ” in every dire situations, but He does. How are you feeling today? Do you need to touched by an angel? Do you feel like the real angel of death, a more sinister and devious spirit is at work? Is a ghastly, grim reaper who would destroy you body and soul if he could, is lingering? Don’t despair, God loves you, Jesus loves you, He paid a high price for you to have eternal life if you believe. And His Spirit and angels are right there, so wherever you are, if you don’t know Jesus, please take a moment today to hear His love call you by His grace. I have been give the grace and love to speak His truth to you, please hear Him, He loves you.

And if you are believer, that is true of you too. While the deaths of His saints are precious to Him, He is still the healer, the angel of death may part your soul and spirit from your body, and the Lord receive you, but we are also in time we could be alive and remaining when He comes, so never doubt He defeated death, and by His wounds we are healed.

There is nothing good about death, the fact you go to heaven is wonderful as a believer though. It is a grievous and tormenting and lingering process through illness and disease, and mental oppression that drives people to kill themselves or others, and that brings more grief and sorrow. The only good thing about it was that Jesus defeated it on the cross, His horror, is the only thing that could have brought us even close to heaven.

If that is you today, then I say that His words are Spirit and life, and you choose life or death with your choices and with what you believe and say. I speak His peace to you, it is a gift the world does not have. And  I pray for His ministering spirits to strengthen you, and that by His wounds you are healed. Can you believe that? God loves you.