By Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel

Heb 1;14 “But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

Understanding the ministry of angels is crucial for believers. Some may mistakenly perceive angels as spiritually superior, leading to inadvertent worship or prayers directed towards them. There are instances where believers may even seek help from fallen, unclean demonic angels associated with Satan.

The role of Jesus Christ in completing the work of salvation cannot be over-emphasized. The scriptures say that after entering heaven on behalf of humanity, Jesus assumed the position of the Great High Priest. He presented his blood sacrifice at the altar of God, not made with hands, and then took his place at the right hand of God (Hebrews 9:12, 24). This position is exclusive to Christ; no angel can occupy the same seat. Believers are in Christ, in union with Him according to Scripture.

I Corinthians 6:17 “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” This verse highlights the unity of believers with the Lord.”

In line with this unity, Ephesians 2:6  emphasizes that we are not only raised up together with Christ but also made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. This signifies a shared spiritual position and connection with Christ.

CO-HEIRS WITH CHRIST

We are co-heirs with Christ, meaning that we equally share in all that belongs to Him. This includes sharing in His privileged place of honor, where He is seated alongside the Father. As members of His body, we sit where our head, Christ, sits. It’s like asking if you would sit at a different place from your head; the idea is that we share in the same spiritual position as Christ.

Moreover, we are created to be like God, having the life of Christ within us. He came so that we may not only have His life but also experience it in abundance.

Ephesians 4:24 : “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

OUR PRIVILEGED POSITION DEFINED

Ephesians 1:20-21 “Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.”

As Christians, our spiritual standing is elevated higher than that of any angel or other spirit beings, with the exception of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We surpass all demon spirits, named or unnamed, and they are all under our authority. This includes witches, witch doctors, and any other spiritual entities—all of them. Their names are subject to the name of Jesus, and we are positioned above all of them, with them under our feet. Whether they dwell in the forest or anywhere else, their defeat is sealed by the Lord Jesus, who has placed them under our feet forever. Their gatherings are gatherings of a defeated, disgraced, and publicly humiliated bunch. They are disarmed and rendered toothless bulldogs in the face of our victory in Christ.

Col 2:15 “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Christ is the One who holds all power in heaven and on our earth right now. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus declares, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” It is in this powerful reality that we, as believers, reign on earth in Christ Jesus. This privileged position is a fundamental aspect of our identity in Christ, regardless of whether we are aware of it.

Revelation 5:10 affirms this truth, stating, “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Understanding our privileged place of authority in Christ allows us to better comprehend the ministry of God’s angels. These celestial beings are specifically sent by God to minister on behalf of those who are heirs of salvation.

Delving into the meaning of “minister for,” various translations provide clarity:

• NLT describes angels as servant-spirits sent to care for those who will inherit salvation.
• TPT explains that angels are spirit messengers sent by God to serve those who are going to be saved.
• AMPC emphasizes that angels are ministering spirits, servants sent out in the service of God for the assistance of those who are to inherit salvation.

Angels, as messengers of God, are sent to minister to believers. This means they serve, attend to our needs, and take care of us. As heirs of salvation and God’s children, angels are consistently on standby to minister to us. Unfortunately, when believers lack an understanding of this revelation, there’s a risk of wrongly worshiping angels or seeking help from unclean fallen angel spirits of Satan. This is dangerous because their mission is to steal, kill, and destroy, and it represents an error in one’s spiritual journey.

Understanding the role of angels is crucial. Psalm 91:8-11 describes their protective function for those who make the Lord their refuge. When you dwell in faith and stand on God’s word, angels are activated for your all-round protection. Their charge is to keep you in all your ways, preventing harm or injury. This protection is contingent on certain conditions, such as making the Almighty your refuge, demonstrating faith, and aligning with God’s word.

Psalm 103:20 reinforces the concept that angels excel in strength and do God’s commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word. In essence, they operate based on the principles and commands laid out in God’s word, emphasizing the importance of aligning with His truth for their effective ministry. Consider the example of Daniel in Daniel 6:22. When faced with the threat of lions, God sent His angel to protect Daniel, shutting the lions’ mouths because Daniel was found innocent before God. This illustrates the role of angels in providing protection to those who are faithful and innocent in the sight of God. Angels also serve as messengers from God to His children. Throughout the Bible, we see instances of angelic visitations, such as the angel visiting Zachariah (Luke 1:11-35), Mary (Luke 1.26-38), and Paul (Acts 27:23-24).

To experience the constant ministering of angels, certain conditions must be met. Firstly, cultivating a life of faith that honors and pleases God creates an environment for angels to manifest. Conversely, anything that quenches the Holy Spirit will also hinder the manifestation of angels. The testimony of Daniel underscores the importance of innocence and righteousness. He proclaimed to the king, “I have done no wrong before you.” This aligns with the first condition of being in faith and living a life that pleases God.

The second condition involves making God your dwelling place, not just a visiting place. It’s about consistently abiding in Christ and not turning to God only in times of need. James 4:4 emphasizes the incompatibility of dwelling in the world while claiming to abide in God, warning that friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Many individuals merely give mental ascent to faith in Christ without truly believing with their hearts and surrendering their lives to Him as their Lord. Such individuals tend to be religious but struggle to comprehend the Scriptures because they lack the Holy Spirit within them. Consequently, they remain entrenched in the flesh, find comfort there, and exhibit no fruits of salvation.

In Matthew 7:16-21, Jesus spoke about the importance of fruits as evidence of salvation. A good tree produces good fruit, while a corrupt tree yields evil fruit. This analogy underscores the connection between one’s actions and the authenticity of their faith. Mere verbal acknowledgment, without a life reflecting the will of the Father, falls short of genuine salvation.

Peter, in 2 Peter 1:9-11, warns believers to ensure the authenticity of their salvation. Those who fail to grow spiritually are described as shortsighted or blind, forgetting their cleansing from old sins. Peter urges believers to actively demonstrate their calling and election, emphasizing that genuine effort in these areas ensures a secure entrance into the eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

In essence,  genuine faith accompanied by a transformed life will yield fruits and lead to spiritual growth. True salvation is not just a mental acknowledgment but a heartfelt surrender to Christ as Lord, producing fruits that reflect a changed and committed life.

Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel is the Senior Pastor of Fountain of the Living Word Church, New Jersey