Tag: rescued me

34.e. “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

 

Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

 2 Kings 6:16-17    He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

 Psalms 34:7  The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

 Psalms 91:11   For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

  Luke 16:22   The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.

 Acts 12:11    When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

 Acts 12:23  Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

 Hebrews 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

 1 Kings 22:19    And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left.

Whatever difficulties we may connect to the whole range of questions connected with the ministry of angels, they lie outside, for the most part, our full understanding. There is no question that Jesus knew and had more than just an understanding in the reality of angels and their presence before God and in the midst of man for the direct work of God. A father takes care of all his children, but is particularly tender of the little ones. Should we refuse to give attention to those whom the Son of God came to seek and to save?  God’s mind and eye is always on His little ones, we do well to treat them with love and respect. God protects the humble.

It is sometimes easy to look down upon or limit our respect, time, or attention to those who we consider “little children” in things of God. Jesus is saying that we should not shun, mock, or regard them as unworthy of our time and attention. When God gives understanding and wisdom in grace, mercy, love, truth, holiness, eternity….. He does so that we will mirror the light of this understanding to both the greatest and smallest of people. Pride, in a person’s heart originating from what has been freely given as a gift from God, has no benefit. It is only out of humility and humbleness that we consider ourselves a servant of Jesus Christ to all He allows our paths to cross. The disciples asked Jesus, “who is the greatest among us?” Jesus made it clear on more than one occasion “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” 

We do well to live so that in all we think, say, and do, it honors and glorifies Jesus Christ. A pure heart in this desire will be guided through life without regard for status (theirs or others) but rather a beacon of hope and a light of eternal heaven.

29.z. “An Angel of the Lord”

 

Matthew 2:13  Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

 Matthew 1:20   But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit

 Matthew 2:19    But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

 Acts 5:19    But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said,

 Acts 10:7    When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,

 Acts 10:22  And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

 Acts 12:11    When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Joseph responded immediately to what the angel said.  I don’t know how God uses His angels but uses them He does.  He is able to send them to convey a message, open locked doors, or allows them to be seen in some physical form.  We know they were created by God and are used by God. The message they convey or the acts they perform are directly from God and for His purpose and will. I certainly do not know how this all works other than to say they are real. We are given examples of acts carried out by angels and the corresponding acts of those who were witnesses to these acts. Joseph took Mary to be his wife, fled to Egypt, and returned from Egypt. apostles were led out of prison, Paul, Peter, Cornelius, Martha, and Mary are examples of angels being used by God for their good. We do well to understand that in all things God is more than able to exceed our needs.  He is not limited in any way. Note that these people were followers and believers who trusted in and relied upon Jesus Christ.  They were not lukewarm in their belief, trusting, following, or reliance. Their hearts, minds, and souls were fixed on Jesus Christ and to honor and glorify Him continually.

You were not willing

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

“So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

Psalms 46:1   God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,  though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Psalms 62:7  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalms 91:1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.  You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,  nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.  Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—

Psalms 142:5   I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Proverbs 14:26    In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

Proverbs 18:10   The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Hebrews 6:18    so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Deuteronomy 4:7   For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?

2 Samuel 22:17  “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.  He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.  They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.  He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

It is easy to say that God is my strength, refuge, rock, and ever present in time of trouble but do we believe it with all of our heart, soul and mind?  In the heat of the terror, trial, issue, burden do we confidently say “God is my rock, my fortress, my strength, ever present, faithful, unchangeable, Almighty strong confidence?”  In Luke Jesus tells of gathering people into a place of comfort under the wings of God and those to whom this was intended it was rejected for they were not willing to accept it.  In Psalms it is just the opposite where David says “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.  Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge”.  There is a difference in the lives of those who humbly server, honor, follow, and obey God.  They are willing because they have stayed in His word, they choose to keep their focus on Him, they trust in, cling to, and rely on Him and His promises.  They seek to be lead by God.  Their ears are open to hear the quiet voice of His leading.  They fill their mind with His word.  Spend time in His word, think about it, and ask God to give you wisdom and understanding.  He wants your whole heart, mind, and soul everyday, every minute.  Choose to give it to Him.