The Great 'Guardian Angel' Debate - JENNIFER LECLAIRE CHARISMA NEWS

Most Americans believe in guardian angels. In fact, more than half of all adults—including 20 percent who say they are not religious—absolutely believe a guardian angel has protected them during their life. That's according to a Baylor University for Studies on Religion survey. (Ak~i/Flickr/CC)

The Great 'Guardian Angel' Debate

 4/6/2017 JENNIFER LECLAIRE  CHARISMA NEWS

Jennifer LeClaire is now sharing her reflections and revelations through Walking in the Spirit. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

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Most Americans believe in guardian angels. In fact, more than half of all adults—including 20 percent who say they are not religious—absolutely believe a guardian angel has protected them during their life. That's according to a Baylor University for Studies on Religion survey.

"A lot of times when people hear about angels, they think about these cartoon figures with wings, halos and harps," John Ortberg, senior pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in California, told ABC News. "I don't think that's the idea. I think the idea is that we live in a spiritual reality and these are spiritual beings that God's created, and we call them angels."

Psalm 91 points to the reality of guardian angels. The passage assures us God will command His angels to guard us in all our ways. Psalm 34 tells us angels encamp around those who fear Him. And Matthew 18:10 also suggests we have guardian angels. But there is still some debate over this in Christian circles.

Some believe we have one angel. Others believe we have two. Still others believe we have many angels—even angels on assignment for specific reasons or angels who help us complete God-given assignments. Matthew 18:10 would suggest we have at least two:

"See that you do not despise or think less of one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven [are in the presence of and] continually look upon the face of My Father who is in heaven" (AMP).

The Message translation reads: "Watch that you don't treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don't you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?"

Personal angels. Guardian angels. Whatever you want to call them, we have at least two.

John Calvin, from where we get modern-day Calvinism, disagrees that angels are assigned to us:

The interpretation given to this passage by some commentators, as if God assigned to each believer his own angel, does not rest on solid grounds. For the words of Christ do not mean that a single angel is continually occupied with this or the other person; and such an idea is inconsistent with the whole doctrine of Scripture, which declares that the angels encamp around (Ps. 34:7) the godly, and that not one angel only, but many, have been commissioned to guard every one of the faithful. Away, then, with the fanciful notion of a good and evil angel, and let us rest satisfied with holding that the care of the whole Church is committed to angels, to assist each member as his necessities shall require (Source: Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, on Matthew 18:10).

But Tim Sheets, author of Angel Armies, tells the story of an angel of the Lord who accompanies the apostolic assignment on his life. Once at a conference while he was praying, he heard "Mahanaim" called out from behind him. When he looked behind him, there was nobody there. But he knew the angel was there. William Branham claimed he had an angel of healing assigned to work with him in the ministry. Many others have expressed an angel that has come alongside them to help them on specific ministry exploits.

So what's the answer? We may never know fully while we walk this earth. The broader point, though, is not to get caught up in angel controversies, to worship God and trust that if you need angelic assistance, He will send it whether it's your guardian angels or angels for a specific assignment. 

To learn more about the angels of abundant harvest, check out angelsprophecy.com.

Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.

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Prophecy: Don't Ignore the Angels of Transition - JENNIFER LECLAIRE CHARISMA MAGAZINE

We can ask the Lord to dispatch His warring angels, but if we stop there, we are limiting God. (Flickr )

Prophecy: Don't Ignore the Angels of Transition

8/30/2016 JENNIFER LECLAIRE  CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Before 2016 even began, the Lord told me 2016 would be a year of shifting seasons and suddenlies. That means transitions. Many are reporting shifting seasons, suddenlies and transitions—or feel one coming on. Others are frustrated because they bear witness to the prophetic word but feel stuck. Consider what the Lord told me:

"Many neglect the angels of transition, and they bypass the help I have sent to transition them into the next stage of their journey. Many ignore the angels of transition and, therefore, fail to enter into the new place I have set aside for them at the appointed time. Many are working in their own strength, struggling in the flesh and failing to embrace the work of My angels on assignment to help them transition into the new thing. Look for the angels in times of transition."

Only God can transition you from glory to glory, but there are angels to help you. Despite the acknowledged extreme teachings in the realm of angels, I was surprised at how much angelic activity we find in both the Old and New Testaments. Angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament—and the New Testament is much shorter!

I believe we're neglecting this powerful resource. We certainly do not worship angels, but it's absolutely foolish to ignore their ministry. Let me show you some ways angels can help in times of transition.

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You Have an Angel

In Matthew 18:10, Jesus said: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven." We see angelic activity in the New Testament was common. When Peter was released from prison (by an angel) he came knocking on the door where intercessors were praying for his release—but they didn't believe when he actually showed up. They said, "It is his angel" (Acts 12:15). The Bible says angels are ministering spirits to those who inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14).

We focus so much on demons, but remember only one-third of the angels fell. Two-thirds are still on our side. We need to understand the ministry of angels.

Angels can offer information in times of transition.

"Angels" really means messenger, so this is one of primary functions of an angel.

• Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25).
• Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38).
• God used angels to interpret visions He gave to Daniel, Zechariah and John in the book of Revelation.
• Angels shared with the shepherds the location of Christ's birthplace in the manger (Luke 2:8-20).
• An angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill the child Jesus (Matt. 2:13).
• An angel announced Christ's resurrection to the women who found His empty tomb (John 20).

WARNING: We should seek the Lord for information, not angels. But we should understand when we ask Him, He may send angels.

Angels can offer direction in times of transition. An angel directed Abraham's servant in Genesis 24:1-7 to find a wife for his son. Abraham told him, "He shall send His angel before you and you shall take a wife for my son from there. The angel directed the servant straight to Rebekah."

An angel directed Philip in Acts 8:26: "Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Rise up and go toward the south on the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.'"

An angel directed Cornelius to call for Peter in Acts 1:3-5: "About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, 'Cornelius.' When he looked at him he was afraid, and said, 'What is it, Lord?' He said to him, 'Your prayers and your alms have come up as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and bring back Simon whose surname is Peter."

WARNING: We should not ask the Lord to send angels to direct us. We should ask Him to direct us. But He may choose to send angels to direct you. Be mindful that angels can direct you.

Angels can protect you in times of transition. An angel protected Daniel in the lion's den in Daniel 6:19-22. Daniel told the king, "My God has sent His angel and has shut the lions' mouths so that they have not hurt me, because innocence was found in me before Him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm."

An angel protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace in Daniel 3:26-29. The Bible says God "sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They have defied the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God."

An angel spoke to Moses sternly about angelic protection in Exodus 23:20-22: "Indeed, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Be on guard before him and obey his voice. Do not provoke him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for My name is in him. But if you diligently obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries."

WARNING: God is our stronghold, our fortress and our protector. We should not seek angels to protect us. We should cry out to God to protect us and know that He may choose to send angels. Psalm 91 promises angelic protection to those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High.

Angels can bring provision in times of transition. An angel provided water for Hagar after Abraham expelled her in Genesis 21:15-19. An angel bought Elijah food after his battle with the false prophets and his run from Jezebel in 1 Kings 19:5-6: As he lay and slept under the juniper tree, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." He looked, and there was a cake baked on coals and a jar of water at his head. And he ate and drank and then lay down again.

WARNING: We should not pray that angels will bring us provision. God is our provider. We pray to Jehovah Jireh, and if He needs to choose to send an angel to bring provision, we should be alert enough in the spirit to recognize this.

Angels can war on your behalf in times of transition. God sent an angel to fight for Israel in 2 Kings 19:35: "On that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When others woke up early in the morning, these were all dead bodies." And God showed Elisha's servant the angel armies that stood with them in 2 Kings 6:15-7.

WARNING: We can ask the Lord to dispatch His warring angels, but if we stop there we are limiting God. We should ask God to intervene on our behalf, which gives Him the freedom and flexibility to send angels or help us in whatever way He chooses.

Angels Obey the Word of God

Psalm 103:20 says, "Bless the Lord you His angels, who are mighty, and do His commands, and obey the voice of His word." The Message Bible says, "So bless God, you angels, ready and able to fly at his bidding, quick to hear and do what he says. Bless God, all you armies of angels, alert to respond to whatever he wills." 

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