In the last several posts, we have talked about how we are to partner with angels. Yet, we also need to understand some of the cautions we need to consider which Scripture warns us about.

Just because we work with angels does not mean we revere them too highly. Scripture is clear on this: we are not to worship angels. When Satan encountered Jesus and tempted him in the wilderness just before Jesus began his ministry to Israel, Jesus said to him [Satan], “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only’” (Mt 4:10). The apostle Paul also held the same caution: “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you” (Cl 2:18a). The apostle John did likewise: “I [John] fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them [revelations of visions] to me. But he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!’” (Rv 22:8b, 9).

We should take note that the spiritual realm is very real, and we should learn to operate in it. We use prayer to fight in the spiritual realm. Prayer is not just a way to ask God for things we think we need but is a way to bring down our enemy’s spiritual strongholds using the authority of the Word of God. Both Christians and angels are followers of Christ and do his bidding. We need to be as steadfast in our devotion to Christ and his will as are his angels. Angels obey God’s written words as well as his commands. We should as well.

Thereby, Christians and angels operate together to accomplish God’s plan. By serving Christ, we empower and enable angels and they empower and encourage us. Just because we don’t see the spiritual should not mean we don’t trust and operate in it. Actually, it is the only way we can achieve victory in this life and in the life to come.

Another caution: Christ is greater than any angel. The book of Hebrews tells us four reasons for this fact: Christ is the creator of the world and the heir of all eternity (Hb 1:2). Christ reflects the glory of God and holds all things together by his power (Hb 1:3). Christ has made purification of sins and has sat down at the right hand of God (Hb 1:3). Christ has a name more superior than that of any angel (Hb 1:4). Therefore, only Christ, not angels, deserves our worship. Angels will never desire your worship. Only prayers that are according to his will does he answer, and he uses both us and angels to accomplish it. We are only effective if we operate within the will of God.

We become warriors on our knees. We can’t know his will unless we operate in the spiritual realm through prayer, reading and knowing his written word, which are the very words of God. All that comes through the power and understanding the Holy Spirit gives us. And we can’t receive the Holy Spirit unless we acknowledge our sin and understand that we need rescuing from our sin. That is what Jesus Christ did for us: the one without sin, took on our sin, so he could pay the sin debt for us that neither we, nor anyone else, could pay for us. That’s why we must come as we are because we cannot change or save ourselves. It is only after we trust in what Christ has done for us that he gives to us the Holy Spirit who imparts power and authority to operate in the spiritual realm through our prayers as we yield more and more of ourselves to him. The spiritual realm then becomes more real to us because that is where the true fight for our future resides. I invite you to do just that.

We can never understand all of God’s wisdom and ways. And that’s okay because if we accept what Jesus has done on our behalf so that our sins are blotted out of the sight of God the Father by Christ’s blood, we can be declared righteous and have an eternal inheritance with him. Let us learn how powerful our prayers can be if we direct them to Christ with full faith and understanding of the power and authority God’s Holy Spirit has given to us. We can then truly be powerful partners with God’s holy angels and help bring God’s will for the world into reality. Isn’t that an exciting challenge? Are you ready?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens