© 11 Colin Melbourne
Angelic Visitations
Q: I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, and now feel at peace for the first time in my life. However, I hear a lot of people talking about ‘guardian angels’, and I’m unsure whether these ‘angels’ are really good spirits sent by God, or demons trying to mislead us. I know the Holy Bible tells us that the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, mother of Jesus, but do they really talk to people like you and me? Jessica
A: Welcome Home! Father’s been waiting for you all your life.
Isn’t it wonderful to have real peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ?
The Holy Bible says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. 5:8.
What a price to pay for you and me.
God thinks we are worth it.
I believe Him, don’t you?
You have peace with God right now, whether you feel it or not.
Learn to depend on His word, not feelings.
Believers have peace, not because we feel peace, but because God says so! Rom. 5:1 KJV.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Genuine and Counterfeit Angels
Yes, God’s angels are real, they are righteous spirits sent by God to minister to, and protect the saints. That’s you and me. Here’s Ps. 91:11, Heb. 1:14 KJV.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
They are invisible, but can, and do, manifest physically in various ways, even to the point of appearing as mundane as humans. Heb. 13:2 tells us;
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Angels are very active throughout the Bible, and in the world today. As persecution of Christians increases in the End Times, God’s angels will be kept very busy protecting us.
I have not yet personally, knowingly, seen an angel of God, but I’ve met trustworthy people who have. There are numerous genuine stories of God’s angels appearing, and helping believers, usually those who are busy proclaiming Christ.
Read Brother Yun’s Testimony: This is especially so in Communist China where the Gospel is flourishing despite wicked persecution. Brother Yun, for example, was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, and was escorted out of jail by an angel in 1997, just like Peter in the Bible, Acts 12. Get his testimony books if you want revival in your life and fellowship. There are more true angel accounts I’ve heard from missionary friends.
Not All That Glitters is Gold
However, I think you are wise to be cautious on the subject of angels, because we know that evil spirits, also called demons, are fallen angels. (See. Is. 14:12-15, Lk. 10:18, Jude 6, Rev. 12:3-9, Ez. 28:15-17.)
God warns us that Satan and his demons masquerade as “angels of light” trying to deceive the gullible. 2 Co. 11:14.
Some Christians over-react and flee from all supernatural manifestations, preferring dead formalism to anything in the spirit realm. So they also exclude the Holy Spirit, thereby throwing out The Baby with the bath-water.
They are just as much in error as the extremists who embrace dubious spiritual experiences.
We must allow the Holy Spirit room to do what He wants, by receiving, and using, all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. 1 Co. Chs. 12-14. The Gifts are exercised by faith, not by compulsion.
I came to Christ in 1988 when the Charismatic revival was in full-swing around the world from New Zealand to the UK. It was normal to have all the Spiritual Gifts working in fellowships, and most of it was truly of the Lord.
Some was a touch “off”, but the wonderful thing was, even as a baby Christian, I knew on the inside of me when something was not of God. By that I mean in my spirit, not in my mind. I was busy renewing my mind in accordance with God’s word.
God gives you a new heart instantly you are saved, but each believer is responsible for renewing the way they think, to ensure their thoughts line up with God’s word. Rom. 12:2.
You may be interested to read what happened the first time I proclaimed Christ on the mission field; a demon manifested, and Jesus quickly taught me how to deal with Satan’s horde.
Several times over the years I’ve received an unmistakable “check” in my spirit, over some supernatural manifestations. I’ve always paid attention to it, and thereby stayed safe. Others appear to have ignored God’s internal warning buzzer.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Since the ’80’s, there seems to have been an increase in the prevalence of counterfeit gifts and manifestations in Charismatic fellowships, but those who stick close to Jesus will have the inner witness warning them when something is demonic.
The Holy Spirit in a believer’s heart is a reliable guide into all truth. Jn. 14:26, 16:13-14, Rom. 8:26-27, 1 Jn. 2:27. Stay in fellowship with God, and follow that witness always. See Heb. Chs. 3 and 4.
To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Notice; we sense God’s leading through our hearts, our spirits, so we must keep them tender, clean, and sensitive to Him; not hard, calloused, polluted, and closed, like in many dead denominations.
You can learn how to follow the Holy Spirit, it’s fun, and not difficult.
Fool’s Gold
The current fad of focussing believer’s attention onto angels, such as “angel Emma” is definitely off the rails, and should be dealt with firmly. We know it’s an errant trend because angels of God want you to focus on Christ, not themselves. Col. 2:18, Rev. 22:8-9.
Demons, masquerading as angels, endeavour to get your attention on anything except the LORD Jesus Christ.
Hence, the current idolatrous demonic fascination with; gold-dust, gold-teeth, gemstones, and “angel feathers” supposedly dropping from Heaven.
Continued in part II: How to test spirits to distinguish if they are from God or the Devil.
© 11 Colin Melbourne