And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17.
How few contemplate the unseen agencies. Men are acting their part either for God or for Satan, the Prince of light, or the prince of darkness. All heaven is intensely interested in human beings who seem to be so full of activity, and yet have no thought for the unseen. Their thoughts are not on the Word of God and its instruction. If they would appropriate the Word of God, they would be astonished that there are agencies, good and evil, observing every word and deed. They are in every assembly for business transactions, in councils, and in meetings for the worship of God. There are more listeners in these public assemblies than can be seen with the natural sight, and every man has his work to do. Those unseen agencies are co-laborers with God or with Satan, and they work more mightily and more constantly than do men. Sometimes the heavenly intelligences draw aside the curtain that hides the unseen world, that we may have our minds withdrawn from the hurry and rush, and consider that there are witnesses to all we do and say when we [are] engaged in business, or when we think ourselves alone.
The Lord would have our perceptions keen to understand that these mighty ones who visit our world have borne an active part in all the work which we have called our own. These heavenly beings are ministering angels, and they frequently disguise themselves in the form of human beings. As strangers they converse with those who are engaged in the work of God. In lonely places they have been the companions of the traveler in peril. In tempest-tossed ships angels in human form have spoken words of encouragement to allay fear and inspire hope in the hour of danger, and the passengers have thought that it was one of their number to whom they had never before spoken.
Many, under different circumstances, have listened to the voices of the inhabitants of other worlds. They have come to act a part in this life. They have spoken in assemblies, and opened before assemblies human histories, and have done works which it was impossible for human agencies to do. Time and again have they been the generals of armies. They have been sent forth to cleanse away pestilence. They have eaten at the humble board of families. Often they have appeared as weary travelers in need of shelter for the night.
We need to understand better than we do the work of these angel visitants.—Manuscript 39, March 11, 1898, “The Day of Reckoning.”
The Upward Look p. 83
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Prayer Requests
—-Please Pray for Nick as he goes to rehab pray he finds Jesus‘s love for him and his heart. Pray 4 Strength for Sustaining recovery. Shannon
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Dear Friends,
One day, as I was crossing the street, I noticed a squirrel also crossing the road about 25 feet south of me. Instead of running quickly across the street, he was keeping pace with me. That seemed rather unusual, as I walk quite slowly. Why would a squirrel be walking instead of running? Suddenly, I realized that this smart little animal had figured out that if he crossed the street at the same time that people did, he could get across safely. He kept me between him and the traffic at all times. When we had gotten about 2/3 of the way across the street, Mr. squirrel panicked. He had noticed that I was watching him. Instead of running, he flattened himself on the pavement trying to look inconspicuous. Immediately I looked in the opposite direction. In the distance, cars were coming. I knew that I needed to do something quickly, or Mr. Squirrel would be flattened permanently. Quickly I slapped my leg and shouted, “You’d better run across this street or you’re going to get hit!” Instantly he took off running the rest of the way across the street, scampered up the nearest tree, and scolded me.
As I resumed walking to my car, I thought about this smart little squirrel who had figured out that he could safely cross the busy street by following my example. How important is all our attitudes, all that we do, all that we say. We do not know who may be watching and following our leading. The Great Light of the World bids us to be brightly shining lights in this world of darkness. He tells us, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:14-16
Paul’s advice to Timothy is equally important for us today, “be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” I Tim 4:12-16; 2Ti 2:22; Tit 2:7
Peter adds, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things,” that we might show “forth the praises of him who hath called [us]out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Amen Phil 4:8; 1 Peter 2:9
Rose
The Ministry of Angels