Is it scriptural to instruct angels?

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Ken Jones

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I often hear preachers commanding angels to do this and that, but it just doesn't sit well with my spirit. They invariably quote Hebrews 1:14 "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?"

However, I don't see any other reference to instructing angels in the New Testament.

Surely, the angels are a mechanism that God uses to help, guide and sometimes delivery us, thank you Jesus. But isn't the way that God helps us up to him? I don't see that the scripture in Hebrews 1:14 is strong enough for us to start ordering angels around?

What's your opinion?
 
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Windmillcharge

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Yes angels are ministering spirits, but by whom are they sent to minister to?

It is very poot biblical skills to assume from that verse that we can give orders to angels.
I would start looking for a church with better biblical skills.
 

7angels

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there are many types of angels but there is one thing they all have in common. they move according to the Word. you cannot tell an angel to do something but you can say God Word says that His angels will watch over and protect us and keep us safe. the latter the angels will do because it is in accordance to what the Word say.

God bless
 
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Helen

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I often hear preachers commanding angels to do this and that, but it just doesn't sit well with my spirit. They invariably quote Hebrews 1:14 "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?"

However, I don't see any other reference to instructing angels in the New Testament.

Surely, the angels are a mechanism that God uses to help, guide and sometimes delivery us, thank you Jesus. But isn't the way that God helps us up to him? I don't see that the scripture in Hebrews 1:14 is strong enough for us to start ordering angels around?

What's your opinion?

Glad that you can get on the site again :)

Interesting Thread.
I am a great believer in angels because the bible speaks so much about them.
I love the verses in 2 Kings 6:17- Where Elisha asks God to- "open the young man's eyes so that he may see." And he saw the chariots and angels all around them protecting.
In the sixties we had lots of missionaries come to our Mission Hall to preach and share...so many of them had seen protecting angels , and on two cases the natives who wanted to kill them , told them that you couldn't because of the "huge soldiers" that were guarding their tent at night.
I myself have never heard of anyone commanding or speaking to angels. Although we read often in the bible of angels speaking to man.
I believe they are around us all the time...and if we believe that God's word in our mouth is powerful ( as He said) then Psalm 103 could be used as showing that angels wait to hear God's voice...which could well be 'in our mouth' ( scripture) and they go to do the bidding of God.
In my own prayer life I do often ask God to send His angels into a situation..or for protection to someone.
It could well be that when His angels here His Word in the mouth of His people , because they minister to the heirs of salvation ...they do indeed move on behalf of those of us who are in need.
Psalm 103:20 "Bless the Lord, ye His Angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure."

( I don't think that they sit around heaven on clouds singing and smiling all day...I believe they are busy... for the Kingdom :)
 
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Helen

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We know for sure that we should not pray to angels. Which is what those links were about. Agree.
No where does it say "do not talk to angels."
If an angel spoke to me, I for sure would answer him...
Mary answered Gabriel. Abraham spoke to the three angels that visited him.
Lot spoke with the angels. The parents of Samson spoke with the angel.
Speaking to, is a lot different than "commanding or instructing" angels, as in Q of the OP.

.....H
 

bbyrd009

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are you saying talking of angels and what they have done for us or can do for us is wrong?
the Bible personifies spirits to make analogies, Michael is "dressed in white" or however it is put, but see Michael does not really wear any clothes at all, see, next thing you know one will be able to imagine having tea and a convo with Michael at some point, when this surely cannot ever happen.

Spirits always come from the force that created them; Michael is not a person, but a manifestation from God. Spirits per se cannot do anything for you, that would be God doing something for you, wouldn't it? Wouldn't giving an "angel" credit for something God has done be idol worship? Can't you create--or at least manifest--a spirit that could easily be described by those in the room?

so imo it is as wrong as telling our kids that santa claus is coming to town, or the easter bunny is bringing them candy, or that the tooth fairy is bringing them money, yes. Same evil spirit, that might be described as "remove the eye from Christ," or however one might like to put it.
 

bbyrd009

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If an angel spoke to me, I for sure would answer him...
i suggest that these describe our internal convos with our"selves" quite succinctly tho, so while there are even examples provided,
Mary answered Gabriel. Abraham spoke to the three angels that visited him.
Lot spoke with the angels. The parents of Samson spoke with the angel.
these all are revealed to really be conversations with God, even stated as such in the text. Or satan, and also stated as such, in the text, i would venture "without exception" here, but we'll see. So i would say bam if a spirit ever "speaks" to you, reply in the same forum/format, but see what we are really talking about now is internal conversations.

the directive to treat strangers as "angels" is just really a restatement to "love your neighbor," even if a spirit might also physically manifest, not saying that one could not, bc i don't know, but the point is that they would manifest to us as people, we are not able to see spirits, in the manner that Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons suggest we might
 

bbyrd009

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Speaking to, is a lot different than "commanding or instructing" angels, as in Q of the OP.
i would be interested in any example you might come up with where speaking to an angel is not counter-indicated. If you aren't "commanding or instructing," then what else might you be doing?
 

Helen

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i would be interested in any example you might come up with where speaking to an angel is not counter-indicated. If you aren't "commanding or instructing," then what else might you be doing?

Obviously asking questions.
Mary asked questions. Samson father ask questions..
"Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.” 16 The angel of the Lord replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.”
17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name so that we may honour you when your word comes true?”

And Daniel had quite the conversation with Michael the archangel ..none in the bible commanded any of them....they all asked questions.
Hence - Angel means Messenger.
 

Helen

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i suggest that these describe our internal convos with our"selves" quite succinctly tho, so while there are even examples provided,
these all are revealed to really be conversations with God, even stated as such in the text. Or satan, and also stated as such, in the text, i would venture "without exception" here, but we'll see. So i would say bam if a spirit ever "speaks" to you, reply in the same forum/format, but see what we are really talking about now is internal conversations.

the directive to treat strangers as "angels" is just really a restatement to "love your neighbor," even if a spirit might also physically manifest, not saying that one could not, bc i don't know, but the point is that they would manifest to us as people, we are not able to see spirits, in the manner that Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons suggest we might

You are free to suggest anything.... lol, and I am free to disagree :D

You are always so sceptical...I expect if the Lord Himself appeared before you, you would like Thomas say ..."I don't believe it...show me proof." lol
 

bbyrd009

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Obviously asking questions.
Mary asked questions. Samson father ask questions..
"Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.” 16 The angel of the Lord replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.”
17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name so that we may honour you when your word comes true?”
see what is being said there, though, "i do not eat food. Whatever you mean to do for me, you should be doing for God."

Or include the answer that the "angel" gave when asked what his name was, and understand why that is not included--bc it is not being interpreted, see, the "cryptic" reply that the angel gave for that
 

Helen

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see what is being said there, though, "i do not eat food." Or include the answer that the "angel" gave when asked what his name was, and understand why that is not included--bc it is not being interpreted, see, the "cryptic" reply that the angel gave for that

Sorry, I am still not getting what point you are trying to make here.. :(
 

bbyrd009

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And Daniel had quite the conversation with Michael the archangel ..none in the bible commanded any of them....they all asked questions.
yes, and none of them got answers, lol, or at least none that are coming out here, right.
Bring me a question to an angel with an answer, and let's look--there is always going to be some "cryptic" stuff going on there, so that ppl may also see and not see
 

bbyrd009

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Sorry, I am still not getting what point you are trying to make here.. :(
i edited there, that might help, but really what is needed is to read from a different perspective, without the premises you hold now, and i don't know how to cause that, sorry. ask @amadeus or another trusted interpreter, maybe. Or, i might just be wrong, too, that is possible--but nonetheless the angel, who had already IDed as "friend," would nonetheless not eat with them--basically a sin for a person to do that, iow, that would be considered an offense--and told them to "do it for God, not me."
 

bbyrd009

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You are free to suggest anything.... lol, and I am free to disagree :D

You are always so sceptical...I expect if the Lord Himself appeared before you, you would like Thomas say ..."I don't believe it...show me proof." lol
oh, let me be clear, if an apparition manifested so that my two eyes could see it, i would consider that a possession by satan, yes; a violation of faith.

I am sceptical bc Nehushtan worshippers, whom i do not condemn, ok, i did that for forty years, but neither do i desire to suffer their interpretations any longer, either. I would not correct a little kid who told me that babies come from the stork, but neither would i be sitting at their feet waiting for pearls of wisdom either

otoh we would both surely describe say "the spirit of BreadofLife" or at least the spirit he manifests here, in much the same language, i bet.
BoL is a messenger of _______, fill in the blank

you and amadeus, or some other soul you are simpatico with, would surely describe me similarly, and we could describe you in the same manner, each of us subtly or quite differently, right
 
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lforrest

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oh, let me be clear, if an apparition manifested so that my two eyes could see it, i would consider that a possession by satan, yes; a violation of faith

It is unwise to consider anything about things we don't know or understand.
 

Helen

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yes, and none of them got answers, lol, or at least none that are coming out here, right.
Bring me a question to an angel with an answer, and let's look--there is always going to be some "cryptic" stuff going on there, so that ppl may also see and not see

Without even looking further Mary must obviously come to mind..she asked him "how shall these things be?" and Gabriel answered her.

As for not talking or answering or eating..."Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
...... 10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him...."

They had a two way conversation...Abraham was not 'thinking inside himself." And the three angels ate.
 
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