IF I STRIKE MY FOOT AGAINST A STONE, I ASK GOD FOR THE ANGELS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO GUARD AGAINST THAT
ANGELS ARE NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE POWERFUL AND STRONG
GOD CARES FOR YOU SO MUCH THAT HE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOCK YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE
ANGELS EXCEL IN STRENGTH – THEY ARE VERY STRONG
IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD, YOU HAVE TREMENDOUS POWERS BECAUSE YOU HAVE ANGELS TO SERVE YOU.
GOD HAS ANGELS BY THE BILLIONS; IF YOU ARE ON THE SIDE OF GOD, YOU ARE SECURED
IF YOU ARE A TRUE CHILD OF GOD, satan IS UNDER YOUR FEET
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU LIVE BEFORE CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY ARE WATCHING YOU AND WILL WANT TO COPY YOU
IF CHILDREN MISS HEAVEN BY COPYING YOU, THEIR ANGELS WILL REPORT YOU TO GOD.
ANGELS ARE IN CATEGORIES; THERE IS ORDER IN HEAVEN
satan, A CHERUB ANOINTED SPECIALLY TO COVER THE THRONE OF GOD BUT PRIDE MADE HIM FALL
– Pastor E. A. Adeboye on “FOR WHOM THE HEAVENS OPEN (Part 14)” || RCCG Online Sunday Service || 14th May, 2023
Let someone shout halleluyah!
As we continue in our series, “FOR WHOM THE HEAVENS OPEN,” our text is Joshua 5:13-15 and we will really begin to look into this text from now on. Church Gist. We have learnt in the past that when the Heavens open, divine visitation can be expected. We have learnt that an Angel could come down to pay a visit bringing at times Good news. But we said at times God himself might come and that for God to come, because he is seated in the Heavens doing whatever pleases him, he has to stand up from his throne which will cause his enemies to be scattered. Then he will zoom down to the Earth and take the shape of a man and begin to move towards his desired destination. That as he is going round moving towards that desired destination, he will be distributing miracles along the way. We said when he finally arrives at the destination, there will be an earthquake which will lead to some miracles there too and that if he chooses not just to arrive but to step in to that house, then, failure will say bye bye to whoever is in that place; fruitless efforts will end. Church Gist. Then we said if he chooses not just to enter in but to abide, then, he could see to it that it doesn’t matter how many times the enemy may want to launch an attack against that family because he is residing there, he will see to it that the joy of that particular people will remain permanent.
Now here we see a very interesting situation: Joshua was by Jericho and as you know, Jericho was surrounded by very mighty walls. Joshua as the leader of the children of Israel on their way to the promised land were around the Jericho wall trying to think of a strategy to take the city of Jericho because they just have to take the City of Jericho if they are going to continue on their journey. Church Gist. The wall was extremely big. While he was there surveying the wall of Jericho, suddenly the heavens opened. Joshua saw a man and the man definitely wasn’t like an ordinary man. He was there with a sword in his hand and the sword was drawn. He was a man who looks as if he was ready for a fight. So Joshua went to him and said, “Sir, who are you and why are you here? Are you here to help us or are you here as an observer? Or are you here to fight us?” The man answered and said, “Well, I am not quite an observer, I am not really here to tell you whether I am here to fight for you or to fight against you. I am here to let you know I’ve come to take over the fight. I have come not as an ordinary angel but as a Commander in the Army of the Lord.” Church Gist. The Bible said Joshua fell on his face and said, ” Okay, if you are here to take over the fight, what are your instructions Sir?” The Angel said, “well, let’s settle the issue of who is in charge before we go any step further. Could you Sir, remove your shoes so that you will know who will be giving instructions from this moment onwards?”
Let’s begin by looking at the answer of this angel to Joshua:
1. “I am a Commander in the Army of the Lord.” That tells us one thing straight away: angels are in categories. We won’t want to go too deep into the theology of angels but it will be very instructive to know that angels are in categories if only for you to be able to appreciate that there is order in heaven. Church Gist. When you go through the Scriptures you will come across angels with different names, titles. The first one is found in Genesis 3:22-24. Cherubims are angels who are fighters; you don’t want to mess with them. Their sword could be of fire. Then as we go further in Scriptures, we come across the angels called Seraphims. Isaiah 6:1-7. They cover the throne of God. The Seraphims had to cover their faces, feet because they are very close to the glory of God and the glory of God if you get too close to it, it can wipe you out. But these Seraphims are in a very special position – they cover the throne of God. As we study the Scriptures more we discover that there was once upon a time a Cherub that was anointed specially to cover the throne of God – his name is satan. He was so beautiful, extremely magnificent and he was given the special assignment of covering the throne and there to conduct the mass choir of God. Church Gist. But pride came and he fell. Ezekiel 28:12-15. As we proceed further, you begin to come across other angels. Luke 1:19 – The Angel Gabriel. Gabriel stands in the presence of God which incidentally could imply that not all angels can come into the very presence of God himself.
Matthew 18:10. Be careful how you live before your children because they are watching you. Be careful that you don’t say, you’re a Christian and you are behaving contrary to what you are preaching because they want to copy you. Church Gist. If in the process of copying you they end up missing Heaven, their angels will report you to the Almighty God.
Then there is another angel that is called Michael. Daniel 10:13. I am just giving you an introduction into the theology of angels but you need to know that angels are very strong. Daniel 10:13. Church Gist. The Bible tells us that angels excel in strength – they are very strong. Psalm 103:20. 2 Kings 19:35 – one of these angels can kill a 185,000 soldiers in one night. That is power!
So when you consider that God has these angels by the billions, then you will understand why if you are on the side of God, you are secured. He has more than enough angels to take care of all your enemies. If all the people of the world were to gang up against you, the Almighty God decides to help you, he has enough angels to make sure that they sleep and never wake up. Church Gist. That’s God! That’s God because not only is he called the Almighty, he is also called the Lord of Hosts. That means he is the Commander in Chief of all these Angels and they all obey him. Those who rebelled against him have been chased out of heaven. By the special grace of God if you are a true child of God, even the leader of all those chased out of heaven is under your feet.
Now, it is very essential that you know that these angels as powerful, strong as they are, are not to be worshipped. Revelations 19:10. You don’t know who you are if you’re a child of God. You don’t know what you have. You have tremendous powers because you have angels at your disposal. Hebrews 1:13-14. Angels are to serve you if you are a child of God; if you are saved. They are nothing but ministering spirits – they are your servants waiting for your commands. Church Gist. The Almighty God loves you so much that he says he will give an order to his angels to carry you in their arms so that you will never dash your foot against a stone. God cares for you so much that he does not want you when you are walking to accidentally knock your foot against a stone.
I’ve said it before: if I’m going on a walk which I do regularly at night and all of a sudden I strike my foot against a stone, I stop and ask God, what do you want to tell me Lord? What am I doing wrong? Where are the angels who are supposed to see to it that I don’t knock my foot against a stone? Church Gist. I know it may sound childish but almost invariably, I get an answer. I have seen situations before when I stop like that and then I look and see a snake passing by. The Almighty God knows I will stop if I strike my foot against a stone. I have been busy praying, I wasn’t even looking on the ground, I am so far gone as some people will say, “in the Spirit.” Yea, you are in the Spirit but here is a snake crossing the road and occasionally it could be a very poisonous one. Church Gist. You need to stop and let that fellow pass before you continue your journey. My prayer is that you get so close to God, that his angels will be constantly by your side.
Joshua asked another question, “Why are you here?” Joshua 5:13-15. This simple question highlights the possible divine response to you when you’re involved in warfare. Church Gist. I won’t be able to discuss the details this week but we discuss the details next week by the grace of God.
There are 4 possibilities of God responding to you when you are fighting a battle.
– He could be against you. My prayer is that he will never be.
– He can be neutral – just watching to see how far you can do this thing on your own. – He could be with you. Church Gist. You have to fight but he will be supporting.
– He could fight for you.
In the question that Joshua asked the Angel, “Are you for us or are you against us?” we find a question you need to ask yourself today – this Sunday. You’ve been fighting a battle for quite a while now – are you winning or are you losing? You need to find out: God are you fighting for me or are you fighting against me? Church Gist. It’s my prayer that God will answer you because in the answer will show you whether you need to put certain things aright in your life. This is because if he is fighting against you, there must be a reason and if he is fighting against you, you are bound to lose.
I pray that before this day is out, one way or the other the Lord will be fighting for you!
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