Angels

Angels can be defined as created spiritual beings with moral judgement and high intelligence without physical bodies.

What are angels? They are created spiritual beings. They haven't always been around, but have been created. We also know that they have a moral judgement in that they can fall from their positions. They don't have physical bodies, so we can't see them unless God makes us able. They guard and protect us, worship God, and sometimes they appear in body form to various people in the bible.

What are other names for angels? They can also be referred to as "sons of God" "holy ones" "spirits" "watchers" "thrones" "dominions" "principalities" and "authorities". 

What are the different types of angels? There's different types of heavenly beings described in the bible:
a) Cherubim  - they guarded the entrance to Eden and God placed them over the ark of the covenent, and here God promised to dwell among his people. 
b) Seraphim - mentioned in Isaiah where they continually worship the Lord
c) Living Creatures - they have an appearance of a lion, ox, man and eagle and are the mightiest representatives of various parts of God's entire creation and again, worship God continually

Is there a ranking of angels? There is a form of hierachy of angels, and a rank order. Michael is an archangel and he has a title of authority over angels. He is one of the chief princes, and a leader in the angelic army. 

Are there any specific angels? Michael and Gabriel are the two specially names angels in the bible. Gabriel is a messenger who comes from God to speak to Daniel and later on, to Mary

Are angels omnipresent? Angels are not omnipresent, they can only be in one place at a time. This supports the idea that angels are created beings. 

How many angels are there? We are never given a specific number of how many angels, but there may be a great number as there is a relation to ten thousands angels in Deuteronomy. 

Do people have guardian angels? God sends his angels for protection (Psalm 91:11-12) but whether people have specific guardian angels is not really mentioned.

Do angels have families? In Matthew 22:30 it says that the people that are in heaven neither marry but are like angels in heaven which suggests that they don't get married / have a family

What power to angels have? They are mighty ones who do God's work so they have a lot of power. They have greater powers than humans do (2 Peter 2:11) and while we're on earth, we have less power than angels (Hebrews 2:7) but when we're in heaven, we'll have greater power than angels. Though they have great power, it isn't infinite. 

Who is the angel of the Lord? When it mentions THE angel of the Lord, it suggests that it is God in angel form like in Genesis 16:13 and Genesis 22:12. But sometimes it says AN angel of the Lord, which suggests an angel sent by God like in Psalm 34:7

When were angels created? They were created during creation (Genesis 2:1). It's suggested that when God created the heavens on the first day, he created the angels as well. 

What are the purpose of angels?

1. They show us the greatness of God's love and plan for us
2. Angels remind us that the unseen world is real
3. Angels are examples for us
4. Angels carry out some of God's plan
5. Angels directly glorify God

What should our relationship towards angels be? We should be aware of angels in every day life, like whilst worshiping God, angels worship with us. Like God watches us, so do angels and they see when we sin. Angels can help us and deliver us from danger and distress. 

How should we be wary of angels? firstly, some things may claim to be angels, and give us information that isn't right, that contradicts the people. even Satan disguised himself, so we need to be careful. secondly, we shouldn't worship angels because they work for God, they are effectively a middle man, and we should be worshipping and seeking God who is the true God, not not putting angels to equal status as God. 

Do angels appear to people today? In the early church, angels were pretty active, and less now but angels can still appear to people nowadays!

Loneliness

So it's been a real challenge this week, being completely on my own with no one around that I know, and no one my own age (Nearest person i've found my own age was 30!!!) It's felt a bit like being thrown in the deep end, and although I am fully capable of meeting a stranger and talking to them, I have had sooo many awkward moments with people, today I was driven by two different people for an hour who I didn't know at all. This whole experience did a feel a bit overwhelming, but God's helped me very much to bring everything back into focus. But today, I wanted to talk a little bit about being alone and how God is with us and examples through the bible. Nothing too heavy, some gentle reminders for when people are in this situation!


Matthew  27 v 46: About three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" This means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"


First example - Jesus is being crucified and not only being on that cross would have been pretty lonely, everyone went against him, he had been dis-owned, everyone sentenced him to earth, there were very few people who were supporting him at this point. And even here, Jesus, son of God, is asking why God has abandoned him. He hasn't, we all know this but it's okay to feel lonely, Jesus did too. This really shows how human Jesus was, he still had feelings. It's easy to say from hindsight and in perspective, oh God is with us all the time, he never leaves us. But it's in real and focused situations where we need to remind ourselves that it's okay to feel lonely as Jesus did, but God never leaves us.


Psalm 68 v 6a: God gives the lonely a home


Second example - God is a friend out the outcasts, the people rejected by society, the homeless, the poor, the widow, the orphan. Those who have no one else, God is with them. All those who feel alone, who are alone, God has them in the palm of his hand. How reassuring this is, that God is with us, when we're alone. God, who made the universe, who is so amazing and powerful, is with people like outcasts. Okay, this isn't to say that if we're not outcasts, God isn't with us and supporting us, but using the example that God is with the lowest of the low (well considered lowest of the low) and to him, trivial things like caste or race or any other different ways to separate society doesn't matter to him. 


Job 19 v 13 - 19: "God has made my brothers my enemies, and my friends have become strangers. My relatives have gone away, and my friends have forgotten me. My guests and my female servants treat me like a stranger; they look at me as if I were a foreigner. I call for my servant, but he does not answer, even when I beg him with my own mouth. My wife can't stand my breath, and my own family dislikes me. Even the little boys hate me and talk about me when I leave. All my close friends hate me; even those I love have turned against me. 


Third example - Here, Job must have felt extremely lonely. His brothers, friends, relatives, guests, servants, wife, family, sons, and those he loves have all turned against him. I don't think that leaves many people left! At the time, this must have been such a low point in his life, and here he is despairing. But God never leaves him, he never leaves him to defend himself. At the end of Job, he is very blessed and live a long life with lots of children. This point is about, even though you may feel lonely, it won't stay that way forever, look at the bigger picture and it will get better. 


2 Timothy 4 v 16 - 18: The first time I defended myself, no one helped me; everyone left me. May they be forgiven. But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength so I could fully tell the Good News to all those who are not Jews. So I was saved from the lion's mouth. The Lord will save me when anyone tries to hurt me, and he will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory forever and ever be the Lord's. Amen.


Fourth example - I love this passage so much. Again it highlights Paul's loneliness, but firstly he forgives the people who leaves him. It's so easy to stay angry and hurtful at people who leave us, but at looking at the bigger picture, it's in God's plan and may end up benefiting you more! The second part of this, is that God stays with Paul and gives him strength. There may be several reasons why you feel lonely, may be because you are standing up for your belief and your faith. But remember God blesses those who are persecuted, and he saves and rescues those who try to hurt those doing God's will!


So:
It's okay to feel lonely, God is friends of the lonely, You won't be lonely forever, God will always stay with you!