GUIDED BY GOD’S WORD
The Lord Jesus Christ said, the words I speak are Spirit, and they are life (John 6:63). And he said, the Holy Spirit uses what the Lord has said to “guide you into all truth” (John 14:6; John 16:13-14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
POSSIBLY MISGUIDED BY ANGELS
A Church sister prayed, “Let them see and experience the ministry of heavenly angels.” Should you rely on the Word of God or the ministry angels for the truth? Could you be misguided by angels of Satan “appearing as angels of light”? What does the Word of God say concerning the ministry of heavenly angels, and Satanic angels regarding their working among God’s people?
Regarding heavenly angels, the Bible says: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14)?” And “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7).
But looking at the Bible in full context, it shows that God only occasionally sends angelic spirits as visible ministers or messengers; and their assignments are always in line with his written Word (Revelation 22:19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible does not say or imply that God’s angels, who are spirits, should be seen and experienced by everyone.
On the other hand, in speaking of Satanic angels the Bible says, they may appear as angels of light from God, but their aim is to deceive and lead you away from God. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
One of my nieces was misled by a spiritual guide of the New Age/Spirituality movement to believe that Jesus was not the only way to God as the Bible says (John 14:6). I was praying that my Church sister who spoke of seeing ministering angels was not communicating with deceptive angels, who were trying to lead her away from the Lord.
RELYING ON GOD’S WORD
Satan himself appeared to Jesus, the Son of God, to try to get him to disobey God, as he deceived Adam and Eve. But Jesus said, man shall live “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:1-11).
The Word of God says our Lord God sent the Holy Spirit to be the Guide of everyone who repent and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord (John 14:16). The Spirit applies all of God’s Word in leading his people (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Word of God discerns spirits of darkness from the Spirit of Truth and Light (Hebrews 4:12; John 8:12).
The Word reveals that we are in spiritual warfare against “the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.” And in our fight with these powerful deceptive forces we need to use “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” and to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions” for ourselves and the Lord’s peoples. (Ephesians 6:12-18).
If anyone who truly belongs to the Lord should be misled or stray, when they hear the Word of God, they will recognize his voice. They will recognize that it is voice of their good shepherd who is calling. And they will come to their loving Savior and Lord who died and was resurrected that they might have eternal life. (John 10:27-28).
