Angels in the Life of the Believer | God's Secret Agents

Everybody you're listening to a new beginning, which is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. This program is impacted you, I love to hear from you. So just send an email to Mia greg@harvest.org again it's greg@harvest.org you can learn more about becoming harvest partner by going to harvest.org Pastor Greg Loring, heavens angels often work on our behalf. We may never know anything about the Bible tells us in Psalm 34 seven the angel of the Lord are all there and he rescues them. They're all around us. And here's the thing with angels are sort of like God's secret agent there often engaged in missions. We never hear about. That is, angels are not there to draw attention to themselves, that there to do the work of God in about angels secret agent of a suave and debonair like James Bond.

Some of them a little awkward so for the attention focused probably exactly the beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points out an angel was involved in protecting Daniel in the lion.

It was a difficult season and Daniel proved his mettle in the midst of the Babylonians up in the ghost's other final king is now dead and Cyrus in the Medo Persian Empire has taken control of the nation. Darius's new King straightaway.

Darius recognizes that Daniel is the man. Even though Darius was a pagan king, he saw that Daniel was a man of integrity. He was a man of honesty. He was a man that would get the job done in the immediately favored him from the previous regime, and so he decided to put Daniel in charge of everything and the others were very angry about this. They were jealous of Daniel and the one to bring them down. There was one problem.

Daniel didn't have any skeletons in his closet. Daniel didn't have any scandals or anything still exposed and they said the only way we can bring Daniel down is that we find something concerning him and his God.

So they came up with the bright idea. Let's get the king to sign the decree that no one can pray any God, but the king for 30 days so the ruts in the king's presence and said King Darius. We came up with an idea. Our all in on this, including Daniel.

We think you should sign the decree that no one can pray to anyone but you. For 30 days. King very flattered by this said that's a great idea.

So he signed it in the law. And here's the interesting thing about the law of the Medes and the Persians. Once the king signed it into law.

Even he could not overturn it because he was regarded as a deity, so he did not realize it but unwittingly he had condemned his top advisor, Daniel, to a certain death, so no new laws been passed, you can no longer pray for 30 day and you know there's a lot of ways then you wiggled out of this 30 day because then you're among overdue for a vacation, leapt out for 30 days to get back the law will be over with Orrick it is you're pretty prayed by pray three times a day I think I could I could just kind of not pray for 30 days a minute that I can be subtle about my prayer you know I don't have to close my eyes are get on my knees are all go home and I'll pray, but I won't open up the windows like I normally do kind of doing undercover. No, Daniel thought, I'm not going to change a single thing so we went home and he prayed as he always did done and now you're taking notes there is point number one. Daniel was a man of prayer. Daniel was a man of prayer. This is a take away truth for us because we too should be people of prayer.

Daniel six tenses when Daniel learned a lot been signed. Went home, he knelt down as usual, you might underline that just as he had always done any prayed three times a day, giving thanks to his God. Point number two, Daniel had a attitude of gratitude. He gave things without any certainty of how things would turn out.

They'll probably be fed the lions when I'm given thanks anyway because that is what I always do.

Now let's see what happened. So he prayed he was arrested. Daniel six verse 16 so the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions and the king said to him, may your God, whom you serve so faithfully rescue you. Is it for the king to say he wasn't going to allow him to then and the story continues. A stone was brought in place over the mouth of the den and the king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so no one could rescue Daniel. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and could not sleep that night very early the next morning the king got up and hurried to the lion's den. When he got there he called out in anguish. Daniel, servant of the living God, which are God whom you serve so faithfully able to rescue you from the lion. Verse 21, Daniel answered.

Long live the King by God sent his angel and shut the lion's mouth so they would not hurt me bribe and found innocent in his side and I have not wronged you, your Majesty. There point number three Daniel chose to trust God no matter the circumstance. Daniel chose to trust God no matter the circumstance it appeared that all was lost in this would be his last night on earth God was at work and he dispatched one of his secret angels, an angel of the Lord sent to deliver him. Notice that the king spent a sleepless night, despite the comforts of the palace.

Meanwhile, Daniel slept like a baby in the peril of a bunch a hungry lion bring me to this point. Better to be in a lion's den with God than anywhere else without trying.

So maybe you're a hard time right now aligned that you will as God with you with your Christian is so you're good to go.

I'd rather be there with God than anywhere else with out But angels are involved in the life of every Christian there all around us. And here's the thing with angels are sort of like God's secret agent there sort of like the special forces like the Green Beret or Delta force of the Navy SEALs there often engaged in missions. We never hear about.

They going to do the work that they're called to do their deployed to take care of something in to accomplish that task. In return, we don't even know who did what we just know the job is getting done that's angels are not there to draw attention to themselves, that there to do the work of God effective in the angel of the Lord appeared on the stage right now we would be tempted to worship it because are so beautiful and majestic effect in the book of Revelation. An angel appeared to John and revealed the Futurity cam and John told him to worship at the feet of the angel and the angel stopped them and said don't worship me, I'm your fellow servant. Worship God. Sometimes a question is asked, do we have Guardian Angels I'm I don't know the answer but I think it may be yes.

I think it may be that children have Guardian Angels let her know about adults and I say that because in Matthew 1810 Jesus said don't look down on one of these little ones speaking their children pride tell you there angels in heaven always see the face of my father in heaven. So maybe children have Guardian Angels seven for Simon Peter. He was arrested and he was going to certainly be put to death, because James had already been executed by King Eric and there he was in jail and X12 tells us the church began to pray constant prayer was offered to God for him, and an angel was dispatched from heaven and the angel walk right into that prison cell and out Peter walk with the point was the Lord sent an angel to do that. So he shows up at a house for the Christians were praying. No doubt for him, no doubt, for his deliverance of the primitive, old Lord delivered Peter Paul Lord Kip Kreider out of jail polar there's a knock on the door will supplement. So Rhoda, a girl goes and answers the door and there stands Simon Peter goes plum when sex goes back to the guys. Paul Lord delivered Peter guys don't bother us, Lord, get Peter out of prison. Guys don't bother us peters out the front door and I Level One them said they said it's his angel will first of all, that would imply that Peter had his own angel and number two if there was an angel on my front door I lettermen when you and the it's a funny thing because the Bible says they all went over to see what was going on so only one went alone. They want to go little group you know they pulled the door back ministry like hey can you let me now. Sometimes we pray for something that God answers our prayer were shocked to find that he answered it so quickly.

But it's interesting. They said it's just his angel so maybe we have Guardian Angels Mr. Greg Moore of the second half of this message just a moment in such a blessing to hear from listeners who take time to express their appreciation and you are my favorite. After your video on the radio in Ohio. One day I heard you were talking about movement and was excited because I was actually making 55.

During that time the music artist most green one month before my husband and I were scheduled to help clean costs first killed in a plane crash. It was a real blow cannot perform in person music and thankful heaven one day you have to think continuing God. If your life is been impacted through the ministry of harvest which you let Pastor Greg know just drop him an email craig@harvest.org again. That's great@harvest.org and find out more about the Jesus music movie available through us here@harvest.org today we're considering the role of angels in believers lives.

Pastor Greg is helping us examine a specific instance in the book of Daniel must continue.

We know that we have Angels all around us. Psalm 91 makes a very important statement about this.

It says God will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways they will lift you up in their hands so you will not strike your foot against a stone. So God will do his part and you need to do yours. That's from Psalm 91, and I've always thought whenever there's an emergency dial 911 right 911 Psalm 91 verse one he that dwells in the secret place of the most high will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my fortress, my God in him will I trust. Have you ever tried to walk in someone shadow.

You have to be very close, don't you. So if I'm in the shadow of the most high. That means that I'm saying very close to the Lord, bringing me to my next point. Point number four, Daniel stayed close to God and never stops serving again. Daniel stayed close to God and never stops serving him. Look at verse 19 the king comes to the den of lions and says was your God, whom you serve so faithfully able to rescue you from the lions, your God, whom you serve so faithfully another translation, your God, whom you serve continually.

So even Terry is a pagan king recognize that Daniel serve the Lord constantly and he had this angelic protection around them as a result. So the objective in our life is to stay close to the Lord and trust the Lord and never test the Lord member Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, and among other things, the devil took him to the hype place of the temple that said jump off a pier and then the devil quotes the Bible." Psalm 91 and says to Jesus, for it is written that he will send his angels to protect you. So go ahead and jump and then Jesus says it is also written, you shall not test the Lord your God see the double of something out the original passages God will keep us in all of our ways. The devil left that out. The point is, no more walking than the will of God. We can be confident, we evangelical protection, but will we go outside of the will of God will retest the Lord we take unnecessary chances and risk. That's another thing altogether. But here's the take away point for me. The Christian is indestructible until God is done with your indestructible. Worrying about everything you know. We worry about our diet. We worry about how old we are.

We worry about this and we worry about that worry doesn't help anything and make things worse, but just understand that your days are numbered by God, and you will live to the end of those days that God is set up for you and nothing will stop you from that.

So rest and that truth. It's a great thing to know and you know what the bottom line is we all face are lions in life.

Maybe you're in a lion's den of sorts. Right now, maybe it's a threat on your life like Daniel was facing. Maybe your marriage is unraveling.

Maybe you're having troubles with your kids. Maybe there's a group of people who are slandering you work attacking you because of your faith might be a massive trial that you're going through right now with no apparent end in sight know it's interesting to note that the Bible compares the devil to align over first Peter five needed to stay alert. Watch out for your great enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. So the devil is active and he wants to destroy us. But the good news is, is God will not give us more than we can handle going back to the statement of Elisha to his servant. Those that are with us are more than those that are with them. If you're a child of God.

You don't have to be afraid of what the devil can do the double contempt you, the devil can harass you, the devil can oppress you, but he certainly can take control of you. I bring that up because if you're not a Christian you are a target that you cannot have a bull's-eye painted on your chest and there's nothing you can do to keep the devil away. If you don't have Christ living inside of you. The only power Satan respects is the name and the power of Jesus Christ.

So you say will the devil away with the crucifix you think the doubles afraid of a crucifix all use holy water.

There's no such thing as holy water purified water. Yes, holy water, no wall were garlic around my neck will let me keep your friends away, but I will keep the devil away. The only power he respects is the power of Christ.

Listen, here's the good news. Demon powers are out that there's a lot of demons is a will is a demon, a demon is a fallen angel. The Bible tells us that there was a rebellion in heaven and one third of the angels rebelled against God in these fallen Angels, also known as demons are under the control of Satan also wants a high ranking angel known as Lucifer. That's one third of the angels. That's the bad news.

The good news is two thirds of the Angels are on our side. So were on the winning side that only the believer has this hope no, what about one of Christian dies is a great you talk about angelic protection how the Lord watches over us and but what about when Christians get cancer. What about when Christians die an automobile accident.

What about when Christians faced tragedy. What were the Angels them will like I said, your days are numbered. God knows how many days you will have that's decided by Kim not by you, but when that work of the Angels is completed that is protecting you.

They have another mission and that is to escort you to heaven. The Bible tells a story of Lazarus, not the one who Jesus raised from the dead, but another Lazarus. It was a poor beggar who believed in God and he died. The Bible says the Angels escorted him to heaven. So when a believer dies they are escorted immediately by angels and of the presence of God, you find that reassuring as I do this, knowing that so you want to. What happens when a Christian.the moment you take your last breath on earth you take your first breath in heaven to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord you go immediately into God's presence in your escorted by angels and harvest America back in Texas we were offered a police escort, which is very nice so we had cops in front of us, with their sirens blaring of the lights going we would run all the traffic was very cool and I asked if I can have that all the time. They said no just this one time but it was like the police escort we can present right into the stadium wives something better for you than a police escort and angelic escort into the presence of God guaranteed to every follower of, so don't be a there's another thing the Angels do and I'll close with this they rejoice every time a nonbeliever comes to Christ.

The Bible tells us that Jesus said if we will confess them before people he will confess us before his father and Wells the angels in heaven, but then he's visibly denying him before people will deny us before the father in the Angels, though heaven is very aware of what is happening on earth.

The Angels are very aware that went back and forth between heaven and earth doing the work of God. But here's what we need to focus on. Let's just follow the example of Daniel and be men and women of prayer be people that have an attitude of gratitude be people that walk with and serve the Lord faithfully and continuously and then we have the hope that when that day comes for us to leave this world. We know that will be welcomed in the next one by Jesus himself escorted by angels.

Let me see. In closing, this is only the hope for the Christian. Maybe you've come here today and you don't have this hope is a well I'll maybe I'll go to heaven.

I'm not sure I try to live a good life. Trust me, you'll never live a good enough life, you're a sinner just like the rest of us in one sin is enough to keep you out of heaven. But the good news is, is God sent his son Jesus Christ 2000 years ago to die on the cross for our sin and then he rose again from the dead, and these here with this right now standing at the door of our lives and is knocking me seen a full hear his voice and open the door he will come in.

I want to close by extending an invitation for you to believe in Jesus because there might be someone hear someone watching right now doesn't have this hope of an angelic escort to heaven they don't have the confidence that their sin is forgiven, but they wanted. You can have it today because this relationship of God is right here for you. It's a gift. And if I were to offer you a gift today and you wanted to receive that gift.

All you have to do is reach out and accepted.

The same is true is that of the gift of eternal life. Need to reach out and accept it from God.

He offers it to you now if you would like to be forgiven of your sin and we would like to know that you go to heaven when you die if you would like this relationship with God respond now as we pray together. Let's all bow our heads. Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for how powerful it is. How true it is and how full of hope. It is in no way pray for any person here or anyone watching whatever they are, that they don't have this relationship with you. Help them to come to you and believe in you today.

We ask this in your name from Pastor Greg Laurie and if you like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord.

Pastor Greg wants to help you do that and will do so in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning wraps up, I'm Amy Grant and I have been playing music and telling stories since I was 18 I don't want to make this thing negative, but at the same time you want to be honest I can get emotional never shares how proud this thing is no longer all season and everything would just send out the story was so that's an excerpt from a brand-new film called the Jesus music produced by the Irwin brothers. You know the best for their films like I can only imagine.

I still believe in next year the releasing the feature film based on my life and on the spiritual awakening call the Jesus movement.

The title of the film will be Jesus revolution while out of this movement of God that happened in the early 70s, a whole new form of music came to be that we call contemporary Christian music today but in the initial stage it was just called Jesus music. It became an industry with all kinds of people involved and there's some drama in the story.

As you'll see, but what I love is that the story of redemption. How God is use flawed people to bring this music to us.

But listen, God always goes out of his way to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things to be surprised by blessed by encouraged by this movie that were going to send you for your gift of any size on DVD, Blu-ray, and also downloadable again.

It's called the Jesus music you may have seen in the theaters run streaming platforms that you can have your own copy Ellison whatever you send will be used to help us here at new beginning, and harvest ministries to teach God's word and proclaim the gospel so order your copyright now of the Jesus music you love this really is a terrific film. It's a fascinating story, along with plenty of surprises. We will file to send it your way were sending it to say thank you for your partnership when you partner with harvest ministries and a new beginning. Together, we can reach even more people you know more than 220,000 have made professions of faith. In the last two years and is the investments are friends like you that help make them possible to contact us today with your investment. Let us thank you with a copy of the Jesus music as Pastor Greg said will send it on DVD, Blu-ray, and also give you a way to download it to your tablet, your phone, your computer, so just give us a call at 1-800-821-3300.

We can take your call anytime again at 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg you spoke today about having a relationship with the Lord.

Someone can enter into that kind of relationship with God right now can't yet they really can. That's the amazing thing. I think people are surprised that it doesn't take years to become a Christian.

It doesn't take months.

It doesn't take weeks. It doesn't take days, it doesn't even take ours you can believe on the spot and I would like to lead you in a prayer where you can ask for his forgiveness. A prayer where you can receive Jesus Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord. So if you want Christ to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want a second chance in life. If you want to go to heaven when you die, stop what you're doing and pray after me these words Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I'm sorry for my sin and I turn from it now and I choose to follow you from this moment forward as Savior and Lord is God and friend.

Thank you for loving me and calling me ever giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen man listen. If you have just prayed those words were Pastor Greg and mentor them. Sincerely, the Bible assures us that your sins have been forgiven were told. The Lord is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and we want to send some resource materials that will help you in your new relationship with the Lord we call other new believers growth packet and will send it without charge. If you prayed for the first time today with Pastor Greg, just ask for it when you call 1-800-821-3300 were here around the clock to take your call 1-800-821-3300 or write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go to harvest.org and click on know God. The next time we cross over into the prophetic task contained in Daniel getting lightning glimpse of the future join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie beginning Greg Laurie podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for daily devotions and learn how to become a harvest partner harvest.org