1 Biblical Guide to Angels

2 Biblical Guide to Angels

Table of Contents

Are Guardian Angels Real?3

17 Facts About Angels From The Bible10

8 Powerful Prayers For Protection16

3 Biblical Guide to Angels

Are Guardian Angels Real?

It’s not wise to think about the reality of guardian angels without

considering who angels are biblically. Images and descriptions of

angels in the media, art and literature often give us a distorted

view of these magnificent creatures.

Angels are sometimes portrayed as cute, plump, non-threatening

cherubs. In many paintings, they look like feminine creatures in

white robes. Increasingly in art, however, angels are portrayed

as strong, masculine warriors.

Many people are angel-crazy. Some even pray to angels for help

or for blessing—almost like wishing on a star. Collectors in Angel

Clubs amass “everything angel.” Some connected with New Age

teachings conduct angel seminars to help people communicate

with angels for “divine guidance” or to experience “angel therapy.”

Unfortunately, angels can serve as an otherworldly focus to

appear “spiritual” but not deal directly with the Lord.

Even in some churches, believers misunderstand angels’

purpose and their activity. Are there guardian angels? Yes--but

we have to ask some questions. What are angels like? Who are

they guarding and why? Is guarding all they do?

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Who Are These Glorious Creatures?In Angels, the Host of Heaven, Dr. David Jeremiah writes, “Angels

are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in

the New Testament.” I find it odd celestial beings are mentioned

so many times and yet are so poorly understood.

Angels are God’s “messengers,” His special creations—called

“flames of fire” and sometimes described as fiery stars in the

heavens. They were made right before the foundation of Earth.

They were created to do God’s bidding, to obey His will. Angels

are spirit beings, not bound by gravity or other natural forces.

They do not marry or have children. There are various kinds of

angels: cherubim, seraphim, and archangels.

How Does the Bible Describe Angels?Angels are  invisible  unless God chooses to make them

visible. Specific angels appeared throughout mankind’s history,

because they are immortal—not having physical, aging bodies.

The angelic host is too numerous to count; and while they are

not all-powerful like God, angels do excel in strength.

They can exercise their own will, and in times past, some angels

did choose to pridefully rebel against God and pursue their own

agenda—later becoming mankind’s greatest  enemy, however;

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an innumerable number of angels stayed faithful and obedient

to God, worshiping Him and ministering to the saints.

Although angels can be present with us and hear us, they are

not God. They have some limitations. They must never be

worshipped or prayed to because they are  subject to Christ.

Randy Alcorn wrote in  Heaven, “There is no biblical basis for

trying to make contact with angels now.” Although angels are

apparently intelligent and wise, Alcorn says, “We’re to ask God,

not angels, for wisdom ( James 1:5).”

Still, given that angels have been with believers throughout their

lives, they have observed and know us. They have witnessed

many of the blessed and crisis events in our lives. Won’t it be

wonderful to someday hear their stories about what was going

on behind the scenes?

Who Do Guardian Angels Guard?Contrary to popular thinking, the Bible never says angels guard

everyone. In  Psalm 91:11, the Psalmist, referring to the Most

High God, says, “For he will command his angels  concerning

you to guard you in all your ways.” It’s important to know who

the “you” is in this scripture.

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The answer is suggested in verses 14 and 16: “Because he loves

me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he

acknowledges my name … I will satisfy him and show him my

salvation.” The angels are “ministering spirits” sent out from

God to serve “for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.”

Angels are commissioned to watch over and protect believers at

the Lord’s command. They don’t work independently from Him

and they don’t understand everything. They are not omniscient.

Angels are curious about the salvation God offers humans and

how He chooses to work through His people. Paul described the

apostles as a “spectacle” not only for people, but also for the

angels.

Does Every Believer Have a Specific Guardian Angel?Now let’s get to the heart of this issue. Among other things,

angels guard believers, but does every Christ-follower have an

assigned angel?

Throughout history, considerable controversy arose about

individual Christians having specific guardian angels. Some

church fathers, like Thomas Aquinas, believed in assigned angels

from birth. Others, like John Calvin, rejected this idea.

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Matthew 18:10  seems to suggest “little ones”—new believers

or disciples with childlike trust—are cared for by “their angels.”

John Piper explains the verse this way: “The word “their” certainly

implies that these angels have a special personal role to play in

relation to Jesus’s disciples. But the plural “angels” may simply

mean that all believers have numerous angels assigned to serve

them, not just one.”This suggests any number of angels, who

“see the face” of the Father, might report for duty when God sees

His children need special intervention. Angels are continually at

God’s command as overseers and guardians.

We see this in scripture when angels  surrounded  Elisha and

his servant, when Lazarus was carried by  angels  after death,

and even when Jesus noted He could have called 12 legions of

angels—around 72,000—to help him at His arrest.

I remember the first time this imagery captured my thinking.

Rather than looking to one “guardian angel” to help me as I’d

been taught from childhood, I realized God could rally thousands

of angels to assist me, if that were His will! And more than that,

I felt encouraged to remember I’m always in God’s own care. He

is infinitely more powerful than the angels.

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How Are Angels Active in Believers’ Lives?The truth is, if we’re thinking in terms of “guardian” angels,

we’re selling the ministry of angels short. We’re limited in our

understanding of what they do for God’s children and in service

to the Lord.

Christians are most familiar with the idea of angels  guarding

and protecting  us. But that’s not all they do! Angels also

can deliver, guide, enlighten or reveal  information, provide for

believers, serve as instruments of God’s judgments, carry out  some

of God’s answers to our prayers, encourage, strengthen, serve,

and help God’s children at their time of death,  carrying  them

to  heaven. That last one intrigues me. Because Satan is the

ruler of the power of the air, theologically I can picture angels

being enlisted to protect us as we pass from this world into our

heavenly home.

When I first studied how angels interact with believers, all I could

say was, “Wow! Thank you, Father, for these powerful gifts to

help Your people!” Angels definitely are influential in believers’

lives—in my life!

We do not become angels—angels do not experience the

wondrous  redemption  Christ provides for His children—but

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perhaps these special agents of God will be our teachers about

heavenly things. After we leave this world, the immortal angels

will likely still be our heavenly companions. These magnificent

beings who express emotions like  joy  and  curiosity  have

intersected our lives in so many ways, and as they carry us to

heaven, they will perhaps be the first ones to see our amazed

and joyous expressions as we pass through heaven’s gates.

Angels are remarkable, marvelous, but it’s important to keep

a proper perspective about them. Dr. David Jeremiah wrote:

“Angels are sent, but the messenger is never more important

than the sender.” Our focus must be on Christ who created and

purposed these wondrous creatures.

Though misunderstood and underestimated, guardian angels are

real. If we will learn from their example, angels can help us guard

our hearts. Perhaps their greatest role in our lives is to model

absolute, holy  submission  to God, unquestioning  obedience,

and faithful worship.

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17 Things the Bible Tells Us about Angels

1. God created the angels before He created anything else in the universe. The angels watched God work and shouted for joy at the results

of the creation ( Job 38:4-7).

2. All of the angels were created simultaneously.They are unable to procreate. (Matthew 22:30). The number of

angels has always been constant.

3. The number of angels is incomprehensible. Revelation 5:11 records the number of Angels: “Ten thousand

times ten thousand and thousands and thousands.”

4. Some angels rebelled against God. Lucifer, who was in charge of guarding the throne of God and

with bringing God praise and worship, and who was apparently

co-equal with the angel Michael, chose to rebel (Isaiah 14). A

huge number of angels rebelled with him. Fallen angels (demons)

live in one of two places today: (1) On earth, attacking and

discouraging humans; and (2) In Tartarus, a prison cell in the

lowest hell, waiting to be released during the Great Tribulation.

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5. Angels are powerful.Only one angel was needed to wipe out 185,000 Assyrians in a

single night (2 Kings 19).

6. Angels were created to praise and worship God around His throne.Revelation 5:11-12 “In a loud voice they sang, “Worthy is the

Lamb, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!”

7. Angels are charged with the responsibility of guiding the affairs of nations.We learn from Daniel 10 that angels are intricately involved in

guiding our heads of state. Every nation also has a demon charged

with the responsibility of bringing that nation to destruction

(Ezekiel).

8. Angels fight Satan and his demons until the victory is won at the end of time.Revelation 12:7-9 “And there was war in heaven. Michael and

his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his

angels fought back...”

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9. Every church is assigned an angel to watch over it and to help protect it.Revelation 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars… the seven stars

are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands

are the seven churches.”

10. Angels will separate the wheat from the weeds at the final judgment (the saved from the lost).Matthew 13:38-42 “The field is the world, and the good seed

stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of

the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The

harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.”

11. Angels minister to those who believe in Christ.Jacob’s dream of a ladder, by which angels ascended and

descended between heaven and earth, is a beautiful picture of

their incessant activity for us (Genesis 28:12).

12. Angels provide for physical needs of believers as in the case of Elijah under his juniper tree (1 Kings 19:5-7).

After a Wednesday night service several years ago, a lady told

me of an angelic protection. Driving on a lonely desert road

in her VW with her children the car’s engine caught fire. She

stopped and tried to open the hood. She couldn’t; it was too hot.

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Suddenly, another car pulled up behind her. She thought that

this was strange because she’d seen no other cars on the road.

He pulled out this big pair of asbestos gloves, opened the hood

and used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze. She turned

to thank the man and he was gone. Both he and the car had

disappeared.

13. Angels protect believers from danger

Angels watched over the three Hebrews in the furnace (Daniel

chapter 3), and also watched over Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel

chapter 6).

Once when Brianna, our oldest daughter, was just learning crawl,

Julie heard me yell from the back bathroom. “Julie, come quickly!”

At the same time I heard Julie call from the back bathroom,

“Roger, come quickly.” We both ran quickly to discover Brianna

about to tumble headlong onto the tile of our three-foot-deep

sunken tub. We grabbed her just in time. Julie said, “I’m sure

glad you called me to get back here quickly.” “I didn’t call you,”

I said. “You called me.” “I didn’t call you,” she said. We had an

angelic visitation from Brie’s guardian angel!

Experiences like these make Psalm 34:7 come alive: “Angels of

the Lord encamp around those who fear God and deliver them.”

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14. Angels sometimes reveal the Lord’s plansFor example to Daniel (Daniel 9:21-23), to Cornelius (Acts 10:3-

6), or to Mary at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2).

15. Angels Minister To Us At Out Time Of Death.Luke 17:22 “The time came when the beggar died and the

angels carried him to Abraham’s side.” A cold chill runs up many

of our backs to think that sometime in the future, and perhaps

in the very near future for some of us, the Death Angel will be

dispatched from Heaven to Earth. If we are Christians, we need

not be afraid of the Death Angel. They may be our rod and staff

which brings us through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

16. Not all angels are good.Galatians 1:8-11 “But even if we or an angel from heaven should

preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him

be eternally condemned… I want you to know, brothers, that the

gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not

receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it

by revelation from Jesus Christ.”

17. Have you ever wondered about guardian angels? Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not look down on one of these

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little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see

the face of my Father in heaven.”

I pray often for my guarding angel. I pray for him/her (it?) to be

“strong” on my behalf in the spiritual battles that I fight. When I

am praying for someone about to undergo surgery, I never fail to

pray for their guardian angel, assigned to them at birth, to help

guide the hand of the surgeon for a successful surgery. I want

him/her (it?) and me to be good friends. I am looking forward to

seeing him/her (it?) in heaven.

I hope that this short primer on angelology is helpful to you on

understanding the work and ministry of angels.

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8 Powerful Prayers for Protection

Protection is on our minds daily. In a world filled with hatred,

danger, and violence, how should we respond? Our children and

families are at risk, and we shoulder the responsibility for their

security. What can we do to shield them from harm? How can

we enlist God’s help for their safety?

God has ordained prayer as the vital force we can all use to

guard us and our loved ones from the evil around us. If that’s

your desire, here are several prayers that might help you voice

your thoughts to God:

1. A Daily Prayer for ProtectionLord God, I pray for Your protection as I begin this day. You are

my hiding place, and under Your wings I can always find refuge.

Protect me from trouble wherever I go, and keep evil far from

me. No matter where I am, I will look to You as my Protector, the

One Who fights for me every day. Your love and faithfulness,

along with Your goodness and mercy, surround me daily, so I

will not fear whatever might come against me. My trust is in You,

God, and I give thanks to You for Your love and protection. In

Jesus’ name, Amen.

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2. A Prayer for Your Husband’s ProtectionLord Jesus, I ask You to protect my husband and shield him from

danger. Make him strong, defined by Your character, so that he

can lean hard on You for wisdom in any situation. Guard him by

the power of Your name, and allow nothing formed against him

to prosper. Hold him close to Your heart, with his eyes focused

always on You. At home, work, or wherever he goes, keep his

heart and thoughts pure. Lead him away from temptation,

and help him to be continually aware of his enemy’s efforts to

distract, deceive, or discourage him. Cancel every attempt to

discredit my husband or his salvation.

May Your right hand strengthen him daily as You guard him

with your presence. Help him wear his spiritual armor well, as

he tries to lead his family with integrity and honor. Seal up the

exits that cry for escape when responsibilities grow heavy on his

shoulders. Thank You that You promise to carry his burdens and

lighten his load in the daily battles of life. Preserve his testimony

and keep his faith rooted deeply in You, Lord. You are His Sure

Defense, and You are the only One who can truly keep him safe.

Thank You, Jesus.

3. A Prayer for Your Children’s ProtectionFather, I entrust my children into Your loving care. You are the

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most powerful influence in their lives, so I ask You to surround

them with Your constant presence and safety. Because You love

children, You are even more concerned than I am as a parent.

You take their protection seriously. Place Your Holy Spirit around

them like a bubble that deflects any harm aimed their way.

Guard them from danger at school, whether from outside or

inside. Place Your angels in strategic places, ready to move on

their behalf. Let no evil come near them.

Give them a steadfast faith and trust in You that puts their fears

at rest, knowing they will live in safety with Your solid protection.

Guard them from temptation and those who would try to make

them compromise their convictions. When trouble comes,

let them cry out to You, their Deliverer and Refuge. May their

security rest not in this world, but in their relationship with You

and in their eternal future. Impress on them daily that this world

is not their final home, and that nothing and no one can ever

separate them from Your love. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

4. A Prayer for Protection Against EvilLord Jesus, evil is such a harsh word, and yet Your Word uses

it frequently to describe the opposite of good. While we are all

capable of sin, I ask Your protection against those who call good

evil, and evil good. Guard us from those who scheme against

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righteousness and from those who twist truth into lies to

accomplish their evil intents. May Your angels hover ever near to

eradicate fear and fight against dark, spiritual forces we cannot

see. Help us cast down every imagination and thought that our

enemy tries to use to exalt itself against You.

You dealt our spiritual enemy a fateful blow on Calvary when

you died on the cross for us and were resurrected on the third

day. While evil still roams, the power of Your name and Your

blood rises up to defeat and bring us victory against every evil

planned against us. While malicious actions may disturb us, we

use the armor of God You have given us to stand firm. You will

bring justice in due time for all the harm and needless violence

aimed at Your children. Until then, we remain in Your presence,

aligned with Your purposes, and we look to You as our Supreme

Commander and Protector. Help us to avoid temptation, and

deliver us from evil, Lord. You are the Mighty One, the One Who

will ultimately bring all evil to light. With You, Jesus, we are safe.

5. A Prayer for Protection from Earthly EnemiesPrecious Jesus, You know what it means to be pursued by earthly

enemies. And because of Your compassion and understanding,

You know the harm we and our families face every day. As

Christians and followers of Yours, we will be marked as enemies.

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Our children need protection from bullies, from misguided

avengers, and from false philosophies that attack their spiritual

heritage. Fiendish plots pursue our children’s hearts daily and

try to entice them into harmful practices. Hold our loved ones

tightly, Lord, and never let them go.

Command Your angels, Lord, to keep us in all our ways, so that

no harm or disaster will come near to our home or our lives. Our

trust is not in our ability but in Your stability as our El Shaddai.

Our weapons of warfare are spiritual, and we look to You for

victory. Show us when to speak up, when to listen, and when

to act, always aware that You are fighting our battles for us and

with us. Teach us to love our enemies, to pray for them, but

to resist evil in Your powerful name. We don’t fear those who

might try to hurt us physically. We are confident in our eternal

security. Our fear is a holy, righteous reverence based on Who

You are and Whose we have become in You. As Commander and

Chief, You will defend us from all earthly enemies. And as long

as You are with us, we fear no evil. In Your name, Amen.

6. A Prayer for Protection at WorkLord God, I pray for Your physical and spiritual protection in the

workplace, where our influence, our priorities, and our character

are tested daily. Help us to remember that every foolish action

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reaps consequences, and every careless word carries weight

among our coworkers. Others are watching, Lord, so set a watch

before our mouths and guard the door of our lips. Protect us

from those who try to sway our convictions or tempt us to

compromise our standards in the name of success. Place an

invisible banner over us that reminds us of Your protective love

and that we belong to You.

Our work is important to You, so turn us away from slothfulness

or misplaced priorities. When others aim criticism our way or

when misunderstanding arises, guard us from impatience or

anger. Protect us from our own sinful nature and help us to always

take the high road of love in dealing with dissatisfied customers

or disgruntled colleagues. Thank You for Your promise never

to leave us or abandon us, and that Your Spirit lives inside of

us to give wisdom, understanding, and security against those

who want to pull us away or harm us. You are Lord, and as our

Employer, we look to You to preserve all benefits involved in that

relationship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

6. A Prayer for Good Health and Protection from HarmWe bless You, Lord, for You are our Jehovah Rapha, the Healer of

all our diseases. Our body is the temple of Your Spirit, so we pray

for protection from that which could bring harm to us physically.

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Guard us from stresses that steal our emotional strength and

lower our immunity to fight infection. Heal us of past traumas

that may affect our present or future health. Teach us how to

discipline our bodies so we can grow stronger and increase our

physical stamina. When challenges arise, we need not fear, for

You have given us a spirit of power, of love, and a sound mind.

As the Great Physician, You know us so well. You ordained every

part of our body even before we were born. Help us to treat our

bodies with respect as Your beloved creations. We want to serve

You with excellence, so in our weakness, grant us strength and

good health so that nothing will prevent Your plan for our lives.

Protect us from contagions and disease that can riddle the body

and bring dangerous results. Safeguard us with wisdom to use

well the rest You provide as we wait on You and with You daily.

Our lives and our health are in Your hands, Lord, and our trust

and faith are in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

7. 5 Psalms that Remind You God is NearEven though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 32:7 NIV

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and

surround me with songs of deliverance.

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Psalm 34:17 NIV

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them

from all their troubles.

Psalm 91:14 NIV

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will

protect him, for he acknowledges my name.”

Psalm 145:18 NIV

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in

truth.

God doesn’t want fear to rule our lives. As our Great Protector,

He is more concerned with our safety than we are. When we

trust Him and His promises of protection and security, we can

live boldly and confidently, knowing He is in control and will bring

good out of every experience. Nothing escapes His attention,

and nothing can remove us from the Father’s hand. When we

pray and call on Him, He hears us, ready to meet every need.

What a joy and blessing to have that kind of personal relationship

with the One who knows us by name. What a sweet place of

protection to rest in the arms of our loving heavenly Father.

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8. A Prayer for Supernatural ProtectionAre you feeling exposed today? Seeking the kind of shelter

described in Psalm 91? Run to the Father’s fortress with these

words on your lips and in your heart, knowing that God will stand

guard over any area of your life you surrender to Him. Will you

pray with me now for his divine protection?

Lord Jesus,

The world is changing so fast. Every day the media relays tales

of those who disregard law, devise evil, and destroy both people

and property. And because of what’s happening, fear sometimes

rises up in my heart—for me, for those I love, and for people

everywhere. Yet I know you are in control.

I ask you today for your supernatural protection, Lord—both

personally and globally. Please station angels around my home

and family to guard them from danger. Lead us away from

temptation, and help us to run from the presence of questionable

activities or harmful influences. When we’re weak, help us to

look up to you and to hold on tight to the truth that you love us

and want the best for us.

I will run to you, Lord, whenever I feel afraid. I know your hand

will protect me and lead me into your shadow, Almighty God,

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where I can rest and be safe. I know that bad things can happen

to all of us, but you are always there to bring good out of it. And

you’ve promised me that no one can harm my spirit/soul—the

innermost part of me that you’ve destined for eternity. Because

I belong to you, you will give me safe passage—all the way to my

eternal home.

But while I’m still living in my temporary house on earth, I pray

you will not only guard my heart, but also my mind from foolish

thoughts and actions. Expose the lies that try to twist the truth.

Give me discernment, Lord, and wisdom for the good times, the

hard times, and all the in-between-times. Let me never leave

home without your protection and without the spiritual armor

you’ve given me.

I place my trust and dependence on you, today, Lord. Like the

commander of a great army, you are in control, and you will go

to any lengths to insure the safety of those under your wing

of protection. I believe you want good, not harm for my life.

And I am asking that you will replace fear with the confident

assurance that you are always here with me, protecting me from

harm. Others may try to hurt my body, Lord. But they can never

destroy my soul. I’m safe with you, Jesus.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen