What role do angels play in our walk with God? Jesus makes the most interesting statement to Nathanael saying that he would see the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. What an amazing statement! Nathanael had just been awestruck when Jesus revealed that He had seen him under the fig tree supernaturally. (John 1:48-51) It was enough to convince Him that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. A door of faith was opened in Nathanael’s spirit, Jesus telling him that he would now be an eyewitness to the angelic activity of heaven. As it seems, Nathanael was now awakened to a new dimension in His walk with God.
It is significant to note that angelic activity was normal for Jesus. He knew it was needed. He expected it. There was no question about it. What level of glory Jesus must have walked in to have this heavenly activity in His life. Did Jesus have these transactions in His life simply because He was the Son of God or was it that He was God in the flesh living as a man dependent upon the resources of heaven? Jesus knew the power of sacrifice. (John 12:24) Jesus lived a life of sacrifice and devotion that opened the windows of heaven, releasing angels to minister with Him in the earth. What purpose would there be for angels to ascend and descend upon Jesus? They were needed to minister “alongside” with Jesus as He manifested heaven on earth…
Before Jesus began His earthly ministry we see Him being led by the Spirit to the wilderness in fasting and prayer for 40 days. (Matthew 4:1) At the end of His temptation in the wilderness the angels appeared to strengthen Him. (Matt. 4:11) After this He was launched in the power of the Spirit with a continual manifestation of heaven on earth. (Luke 4:14) The angels of God were bringing answers from heaven to earth because of His personal sacrifice. At one point His disciples tried to cast out a demon but could not. Jesus told them that this particular kind could only come out through fasting and prayer. (Mark 9:14-29) This statement implicitly indicates that Jesus had to also continue in this lifestyle of fasting and prayer to see people set free.
Just as the Holy Spirit is God inside of us and central to see God’s Kingdom advanced, the angels of God play the role of ministering along side of those who inherit salvation.
Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14
Are we conscious of the Spirit within us? Are we aware of the angels of God ministering along with us? How does fasting and prayer play a role? These two devotional elements in our lives are lethal to the enemy, explosive, being essential to the awakening of our spiritual senses and to the activating of angels. (Daniel 10:3,12-13) David tells us that prayer returned to his heart when he fasted. (Psalm 35:13) This tells us that it was more than words for David, but that the spirit of prayer was awakened within him. God’s Word is also awakened within us through this radical expression of devotion. As well, the angels of God are activated by the Word of God spoken in faith. (Psalm 103:20) Now more than ever we need to be awakened with bright eyes of faith not only to the Spirit within us but that the angels of God would find a place of activity in our midst.