God’s kids are blessed to be in the care of angels. “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7 NIV) Praise the Lord! The Lord sends angels to protect us today. Angels protect believers from harm, serving as the believers’ supernatural guard.
Angels guard and deliver us. Many Godly people find themselves in need of Divine assistance and the Word of God is filled with examples of angels providing watch-care and deliverance. Consider these five examples:
#1 Peter needed an angelic alarm, not coffee or a clock, to wake him for God’s prison break.
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.” (Acts 12:6-11 NIV84)
Peter’s miraculous release from jail was accomplished with angelic involvement. The Lord sent an angel to bring him out. Peter’s release was not the first time an early disciple lived through angelic liberation.
#2 Church leaders needed an angelic jailbreak.
The apostles as a group experienced deliverance via an angel. “During the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.” (Acts 5:19 NIV) Prison chains, jail locks and iron bars could not prevent the supernatural release of these men. The Lord brought them out of their imprisonment! The Lord can bring you into freedom, too! Years later, many of these men would die in prison, but the Lord’s supernatural protection would not allow them to die before God’s appointed time. The Lord will bring you out!
#3 Daniel needed an angelic shut-your-mouth shield.
Daniel needed a guardian angel to bring him out of the lion’s den. Surviving the night spent in the dark den, Daniel announced to King Darius, “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.”(Daniel 6:22 NIV) You may feel like you are in a pit filled with cat-fighting relatives, but the Lord isn’t overwhelmed.
#4 Three righteous dudes needed angelic fire-protection.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego witnessed Nebuchadnezzar’s praise to the Lord “who has sent his angel and rescued his servants!” (Daniel 3:28 NIV) Even if you are in a fiery trial, the Lord’s soon-coming release will likely inspire even your enemy to magnify the Lord. The Lord will bring you out!
#5 Paul needed an angel life-preserver.
In Acts 27: 23-24, Paul buoyed the courage of his fellow passengers, testifying that an angel stood with him on the storm-tossed ship. The Lord safely brought him through the storm and the island adventures once on shore.
Time after time, an angel of the Lord protects and delivers the saints of Scripture, and angels protect and deliver today. Numerous angels guard and deliver us today. The believers’ bodyguards are on assignment.
As I type this conclusion, I am singing Amy Grant’s hit “Angels Watching Over Me”.
“Take this man to prison” the man heard Herod say
And then four squads of soldiers came and carried him away
Chained up between two watchmen Peter tried to sleep
But beyond the walls an endless prayer was lifting for his keep
Then a light cut through the darkness of a lonely prison cell
And the chains that bound the man of God just opened up and fell
And running to his people before the break of day
There was only one thing on his mind, only one thing to say
Angels watching over me, every move I make; Angels watching over me
Angels watching over me, every step I take; Angels watching over me
God only knows the times my life was threatened just today
A reckless car ran out of gas before it ran my way
Near misses all around me; accidents unknown
Though I never see with human eyes the hands that lead me home
But I know they’re all around me all day and through the night
When the enemy is closing in I know sometimes they fight
To keep my feet from falling, I’ll never turn away
If you’re asking what’s protecting me then you’re gonna hear me say
Got His angels watching over me, every move I make; Angles watching over me
Angels watching over me, every step I take; Angels watching over me [Amy Grant, Brown Bannister, Gary Chapman, Michael W. Smith © 1984 Meadowgreen Music, Word Music, Bases Loaded Music]
