Trinity Baptist Church

In his book, “The Battle is the Lord’s,” Tony Evans speaks of the ministry of angels.  He says that the overarching understanding of the ministry of angels is to understand that they are God’s messengers.  The then elaborates on five areas in which they serve as such:

Messengers of God’s word.  There is an evident interplay between the Holy Spirit and angels in this role.  In Acts 7:53, Stephen said that the Nation of Israel received the Law, as ordained by angels.  Somehow the angels had a role in guarding how the nation of Israel received the Law, so that it was just as God gave it.  We also see the angel, Gabriel, delivering messages concerning the coming birth of John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus.  When Jesus was born, the message was delivered to the shepherds by the angel.

Messengers of God’s protection.  In 2Kings 6:8-23, there is an example of a great host of angels camped all around Elisha and his servants.  One of the servants, in a state of panic, asked Elisha what they were going to do, and at Elisha’s request, God opened the servant’s eyes, so that he could see the host of angels.

Messengers of God’s provision.  In Psalm 78:25, we are told that during the wandering in the wilderness, God’s people at the bread of angels.  It was rained down from heaven, but directed by angels.

Messengers of God’s judgment.  In Revelation 15:1, it is an angel who has the seven deadly plagues of judgment.  In Luke 16, Lazarus was carried into Abraham’s bosom by angels, but angels will deliver some to hell, just as they will deliver some to heaven.

Messengers of God’s guidance. There are numerous biblical examples of angels appearing to someone and giving them direction.  Cornelius was praying, and an angel appeared and told him he needed to send for Peter.

I particularly love what the Bible says in Hebrews 1:14, concerning angels: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation?”

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The first, and most necessary thing, in breaking a bad habit, is to make up your mind to do so.  You cannot approach with an, “I’m going to try” attitude, and expect to succeed.  You have to take charge over it, declaring yourself to have quit.  This often reqires a strong motivation.  One man told me his motivation for quitting smoking was that he wanted to see his grandchildren grow up.  One thing you have going for you, is that there are usually more negatives to bad habits, than there are positives.  The best of Christian motivations is that we are to glorify God in our bodies, and bad habits do not allow us to do that.

It is also necessary to remove as much temptation as possible.  The person who desires to quit drinking doesn’t need to go look in the window of the liquor store.  There are two kinds of temptations with which we have to do:  temptations of the spirit and temptations of the flesh.  For temptations of the spirit, we are told to put on the whole armor of God and take our fighting stand.  On the other hand, when it is a temptation of the flesh, we are told to flee, to put distance between the temptation ourselves.

Finally, it is helpful to replace the bad habit with a more virtuous activity.  The pain of quitting a bad habit is not forever.  Most habits can be broken within 21 days.  That’s really not very long.

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Today is the day that many people will eat black-eyed peas and hog jowls, so they’ll have good luck all year.  In addition to the fact that eating pig is not good for you, and that God told His people to leave it alone, when He gave them the dietary laws, doing anything in a superstitious way is an insult to God.  Now, even as I write that, I know I can’t convince my momma that it’s true.  But, it is true.

Circumstances, either good or bad, do not come to us by luck.  We have a Sovereign God, who in His providence, works all things according to His will.  If you want good to come your way in this new year, make sure that you love and obey God.  Nothing will put you in a better position to experience good.  Superstition is of the devil, repent of it and put your faith in God.

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In Psalm 1, God says the way to a prosperous life (which includes the new year) is to not allow yourself to get into agreement with those who do not seek to follow after God, but to delight yourself in the Bible, and to meditate in it day and night.

The Bible is far from just another book.  Down through history, many enemies of the Bible have attempted destroy it, but most of them are long gone, and the Bible remains.  Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall never pass away.”  The Bible is not just a history book, but when it speak historically, it speaks correctly.  It is not a science book, but when it speaks to matters of science, it speaks correctly.  The Bible is living and powerful and always accomplishes what God sends it to do.  The Bible is the believer’s roadmap to find prosperity in every area of life.  The Bible points us to Jesus, and Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

The greatest prosperity any person will ever find will be found in a closer walk with God.  A closer walk begins with a willing heart.

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Change has been a big word in our society, in these last few months.  It seems like something always needs changing, and it seems like things always are changing, but the problem is, usually what changes is not what we would prefer to change.

Simply knowing something will not bring about change.  There has to be a motivation that leads to action.  God is powerful to change us, but most often He does not simply “zap” us in order to make the change.  Most often, He works through our will.

The Bible tells us that as we think in our heart, that’s the way we are; however, there is a process that takes place between our thoughts and actions.   Our thoughts form our beliefs, our beliefs manifest themselves in our words, and our words will soon become actions, then from our actions, we reap results.  So, that being true, the surest way to bring about needed change in our life is to find ways to change our thinking.  What we see and hear is a major stimulus to what we think; therefore, we need to purposefully see and hear those things that will send us off in the right direction.

In Job 31:1, Job said, “I made a covenant with my eyes…”  That’s exactly what we need to do.

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