Paull was aboard ship. In a storm at that! It appeared that all was lost. Hopeless!
But then … it happened!
An “angel” came.
With a message. A word of encouragement.
The Apostle tells us the story better than anyone. He is speaking to the ship’s crew … “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night THE ANGEL OF GOD, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” Acts 27:22-25
Did you see that, read that? “There stood by me this night the angel of God.”
I am thinking about the ministry of angels right now. They do exist, created beings, servants (errand runners) for the Lord. In Hebrews 12:22 we learn that they are “innumerable!”
It also appears that they are active … even in our age. For Hebrews 13:3 implies that many of us may have encountered them “unawares.”
Hebrews 1:14 teaches that these angels “serve” the saints of God as well! “Are they (the angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister (the verb that gives us the word “deacon”) for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
While this class of beings can be overemphasized, I believe, they can also be underemphasized.
And that night long ago when Paul most needed a word of encouragement … he received a visit from on high. The “angel” of God stood by his side!
And while we may not have visibly seen one, or even been aware of his presence … angels likely have been on assignment around us too!
Perhaps when we all get to Heaven … we will know more specifically about those times when we ourselves received, experienced, were aided by “angels” from the Lord’s Presence.
When the Story is completely told, in the “by and by,” we shall know more. And probably, “stand amazed!”
There may have stood by you one night, many nights, the angel of God!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17, an army of (here invisible) angels … protecting Elisha and his helper!
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