Help for Today — Hope for Tomorrow
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It was a beautiful sunny day when my family and I went out on our bike ride. As we biked along, we came to a four-lane street that we had to cross. The light was green, so I led the way, but I didn't realize our little six-year-old was lagging behind.
Suddenly a car came roaring around the corner heading right toward her! Our hearts sank as we knew there was no stopping that car. We heard the screeching brakes, the smell of burning rubber, and waited for the crunch of metal and the screams. But there was silence.You've probably heard stories about angels of protection or perhaps you have your own story.Stay tuned to Beyond Today as we search for “Angels Among Us.”Did you know that over half of all American adults believe they've been protected and watched over by their own guardian angel? (USA Today, 10/18/2008)The notion of angels is one of the most captivating subjects around. Now what about you? Have you ever felt touched by an angel? Are there angels among us?Now no doubt, popular ideas can shape the way we think. There are so many ways the concept of angels is used, in movies, books, biker gangs, even advertising such as the Victoria Secret angels. We even have the city of angels in America - Los Angeles.But you have to be careful where you get your ideas about angels. If you don't go to the source to discover what angels are all about, you'll get off track. You'll be confused with so many false notions out there about them.Now some believe that people become angels when they die. Others even feel that deceased loved one has gone to heaven and is now a guardian angel. Now how could that be true? It can't be that comforting, can it? Because it's not the truth! So don't be fooled.But where should you look to find the truth? Well you've got to go to the only authority there is when it comes to spiritual truth - that's the Bible, the Word of God.Are there angels among us? Nearly seven in 10 Americans believe that angels are active in the world (survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life). Now if you're one of those, your Bible says: you're right! There are angels among us.Now, we have to be careful what we mean by that. If you want to know the truth about angels, you can't go to speculations of some people or, their experiences, or even what you may think sounds logical. You should only go to the source of Scripture.Now let me point out one reason why. It's important to go to the Bible for this very reason alone. The Pew Forum conducted a “U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey.” You know what they found? They found that atheists and agnostics—those are people that don't even believe in God—that they actually know more about religion than religious people! Now can you believe it? They scored better than religious Americans about religious knowledge. Now here's what they actually said: “Americans are not well informed about the tenets, practices, history and leading figures of major faith traditions—including their own.”It's pretty startling, and you know I believe that includes the subject of angels. Most people, they're not well informed. They don't have a true biblical understanding. In fact the average score on that survey was only 50 percent correct! Now what about you? When it comes to angels, what's your understanding? You need to know the facts and do you realize, it could very well impact your life.Now the Bible has a lot to say about angels. Did you know there are about 300 references to angels in the Bible? And time after time, Jesus Himself refers to them. The New Testament records dozens and dozens of encounters with angels.So this is an important topic. And as we begin, let's realize first, that angels are created. They're created beings.When we look over at Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:×, it explains: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on [the] earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him…”You see God through Christ created even the invisible things, the things we can't even see and that would include angels!And over in Nehemiah 9:6You, even you, are LORD alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you.×, it tells us: “You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host…”So you see, there is no doubt that angels are created beings. They're not eternal. They haven't lived forever. They're not like God in that way. They haven't lived forever.Now, even though they're created, they've been around for a very long time. You might ask, well how long have they been around?Well when God was talking to Job, He gave us an indication exactly how long they've been around. God asked Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7 4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding. 5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line on it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? ×).You see there in verse seven, it's talking about the angels. In the New Revised Standard Version it says, “When all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?” The NIV says, “When the morning stars sang together, and all the angels shouted for joy?”So angels have probably existed for billions of years. How do we know? Well science has speculated about the age of the universe and our solar system. Some scientists say it may be 20 billion years old. Now even though the universe is very old, man has only been around for about 6,000 years according to the genealogies of the Bible. That's just a fraction of time compared to the overall picture. But the angels? They were here before mankind. They witnessed the creation of the earth. They've been around for a very long time, since before the world was created.So you see it's important to realize that angels, they're not like us. They're not physical. They're spirit beings. Now here's a couple of amazing facts:Over in Hebrews, it describes angels as spirits. So, they don't have physical bodies like we do. Normally, you can't see them. They're invisible! Jesus Christ said they don't marry. They don't have babies (Mark 12:25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.×) and they don't die! (Luke 20:36Neither can they die any more: for they are equal to the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.×). See, they're not like us.No wonder we're told that right now, mankind is a little lower than the angels. That's over in Hebrews 2:7You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of your hands:×. We're told angels have greater wisdom, (Matthew 24:36But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.×). They have greater power than man. Remember the stories? How the angel rolled back the stone after the crucifixion? (Matthew 28:2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.×). Remember how the angel just appeared to Peter and the prison doors just flew open? (Acts 5:19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,×, 2 Peter 2:11Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.×). Amazing miracles! Amazing powerful beings!So it's important to realize angels were created. And you know they were created special. They were holy. They were without sin. So angels, for the moment, are the pinnacle of God's creation.So it helps us to ask the question: What are they doing? What is an angel's job description? Can they have an effect on your life? What is their purpose? What are they doing among us?There's so much information about angels and the spirit world. You want more understanding. Now if you want a deeper understanding, I hope you'll order our free copy of the booklet, Who is God? This booklet goes to the ultimate source to explain what the Bible really teaches about God Himself and the spirit world. It will make it easier for you to unlock a proper understanding of who God is and what God's plan for you is all about.You can request your free booklet. Call us toll free: 1-888-886-8632. Or you can go online to BeyondToday.tv. That's where you can download it, you can read it or order your free copy of: Who is God? As always, all of our publications are provided free as an educational service.In this booklet, you'll learn more how God relates to His creation and what He wants you to achieve spiritually with His help.Have you wondered what God is really like? Do you have a clear picture? Well this booklet delves into the spirit realm to show what the Bible reveals about your future destiny and the awesome glory of God.So be sure and order your booklet today. It will help you understand the incredible truth that's found in your Bible.Now if you have an e-reader, our booklets are also available to download to your iPad, your Kindle, or your Nook.Don't forget to go behind the scenes by joining our Beyond Today Facebook page or following us on Twitter. Online you can leave us a comment or ask us a question. We're looking forward to hearing from you!Now if you were to look into that word “angel,” you'll find that the word itself comes from a Greek word that means messenger. The matching Hebrew word mal'ak has the very same meaning.So throughout the Bible, we find angels living up to their name. They're used by God to be messengers as they reveal His Word. Numbers of times, over and over, they appear and announce important messages. Remember how they announced the birth of John the Baptist? (Luke 1:11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.×, 26; Matthew 1:20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take to you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.×). And they announced the birth of Jesus Christ as well.Now, trouble—it's just ahead of us, the Great Tribulation. God will once again use angels to announce key events. Over in the book of Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,×gives us insight into what's happening just down the line in the future. It says, “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”That angel will be delivering an extremely important message from God. Almost like a courier being sent by God to bring a special announcement from God.You see, angels are messengers, but not just messengers, they're also created as servants. They serve the needs of mankind and God's people in very special, physical ways. Notice Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?×. It asks the question, “Are they not all [angels] ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”You see it points to what angels are. That's a part of an angel's job description and maybe that's the one that's the most interesting. What's more talked about than the idea of a guardian angel? Over the years, I've been asked many times: Does everyone have a guardian angel? Well most might be surprised to realize that nowhere in the Bible does it specifically state that every person has a guardian angel.Now, what the Bible does show is that angels do guard and protect; it's one of their duties! Psalms 91:11For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.×, it tells us, “For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”You see angels are protectors. They watch over us. God gave them that as one of their duties. You may have remembered my story about our family bike trip. As we were going along and crossing that four-lane street, suddenly here comes this car roaring and my little girl was in danger! We were sure, there was no hope for, we were sure we were going to hear the crashing of metal and the screeching of the voices that would be resulting from a terrible accident. But somehow, almost beyond belief, our little one was protected. Somehow she made it across. The whole family safely on the other side. Was it an angel? Well, I think God can protect us.One of the jobs that God gave angels is to do just that, to look after us. Psalms 35:1Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.×. It tells us, “Plead my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me; fight against those who fight against me. Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord chase them.”God is an amazing God. He cares so much for us and over and over again through the Bible, He gives us examples of His protection. The story of Daniel is a good example of that. Remember Daniel in the lion's den? What kept the lions from killing Daniel? Well Daniel 6:22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: for as much as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt.×says, God sent His angel to shut the lions' mouth so that they didn't hurt Daniel.Now here's a problem: because the angels have guarded, because they protect His people, some miss the point.I mean it's amazing how much angel gimmickry is going on today. Is it just a nice hobby of collecting angel figurines? To some, they become icons. They allow them to replace their dependence on God and His Word.Some like the, have the idea that they have their own little baby cherub, a little cupid or maybe even a powerful angel that will somehow save them from any adversity. But there's a problem with that. People do this sometimes without ever calling on God for help. Some people look to angels almost as their own personal genies.But you know, time and chance still happen to all of us. We're not all guaranteed angelic protection in every situation in life. You know our faith in God is sometimes tested when He allows difficulties, when He allows trials, when He allows circumstances like that in our life. But it doesn't change the fact, God still loves every one of us, even when tragedies occur. So we must look to Him for strength. We must have faith in God.You may even know some people who have almost a near obsession or a near worship of angels. Certainly angels are real, but, they don't get the credit. They should never get the credit. The real credit for miracles, the real credit for answered prayer, must go to God! Otherwise, it becomes an idol. It stands opposed to the true worship of God.And you know when you look in the Bible, angel worship has been around for a long time. Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,×tells us, “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by [with] his fleshly mind.”You see that was a problem back then and it's a problem today. As Christians, we should adhere to the Commandments, and the first one. How important is it when it comes to this? It says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3You shall have no other gods before me.×).You see the apostle John had an experience that was recorded back in the book of Revelation that dealt with the worship of angels. Revelation 19:10And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.×. In this situation John fell at the angel's feet to worship him. And the angel said to him, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”You see that passage makes it so clear, we must never worship angels. They're fellow servants who serve God. So like John, we are told to worship God.Certainly angels are powerful. They're awesome in so many ways! But like us, they're only creatures and servants of the living God who alone, God alone deserves our worship. So this means we don't pray to angels. We don't trust in them, even though God may use them powerfully. Our trust, our love, our focus must be to God, not to angels.Now there is so much to learn about the spirit realm and why it's important to you. We want to help you with this, so you need to order your free subscription to The Good News magazine. The Good News will help you understand what the Bible teaches about, not only angels, but the most vital questions concerning your life: marriage, family, what true success is all about, and why it's important to you to have a relationship with your Creator.It will help you get a handle on what's going on in this crazy world around us and what God has planned for humanity and for you personally.That's why you need your free subscription to The Good News. It will help you with your life and answers. So call us toll free: 1-888-886-8632. That's 1-888-886-8632.Now you can visit us on the Web at BeyondToday.tv. You can view more Beyond Today programs and order your subscription.Hear the good news that examines world events in the light of the Bible and will help you with your everyday life. So be sure and get your free subscription today.Now I also want to mention that the United Church of God is holding free Bible seminars in cities across the United States and around the world. Now you won't want to miss these seminars. You'll learn more about the good news that Jesus brought about Kingdom of God. Now in order to attend we'd like you to go online to BeyondToday.tv and look for the “Kingdom of God Bible Seminar” link. Now at that link you can register to attend. You don't want to miss these seminars! These are going to be exciting events and they're absolutely free.Now it might surprise you to realize that the Kingdom of God is something that's mentioned in over 100 places in the New Testament! Do you know much about it? You need to see why Jesus Christ's message of the Kingdom is basically unrecognized by most Christianity today. Now space for the seminars may be limited, so be sure and sign up now! Go to BeyondToday.tv . Click on the “Kingdom of God Bible Seminar ” link.The topic of angels is certainly a big one, and we'd like to break it down a little bit further. So to discuss this with me today is fellow host of the program, Darris McNeely.Darris, how do we know that angels are among us?Darris: