The Bible tells us that angels exist. Contrary to how culture depicts them as little chubby smiling boys wearing nothing but a piece of cloth or robe, the Bible's angels are powerful warriors who have wonderful appearances (see Matthew 28:3), and can be terrifying (see Matthew 28:4).
Because of their God-given power or capacity, many make the mistake of worshipping them. The Bible tells us that while fallen angels, led by Lucifer or Satan, enjoy receiving worship, God's angels do not. They merely serve God and worship Him as well (see Revelation 22:9).
That said, what other things can we learn about these wonderful beings? To help us know them better, let's look at their encounters with men just like us: the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. We will look at these using the lens provided by Hebrews 1:14:
"Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?"
They strengthen and comfort
Luke 22:39-43 gives us one account where an angel appeared to strengthen the Lord Jesus Christ prior to His suffering and death on the cross. While technically the angel did not speak to or interact with the disciples, verse 41 tells us that this happened within a "stone's throw" from the disciples.
During this time, the Lord was with His disciples in the Mount of Olives to pray. He withdrew from His disciples for just a short distance to pray to the Father, and an angel appeared to strengthen Him.
God sends His angels to bring us comfort and to strengthen us when we are facing a difficult time as we follow Him. He did it to His own Son, and He can do that to us.
They bring good news
The Bible records many instances where the angels brought God's messages to men. In Matthew 28:1-7, we see another instance where an angel opened Christ Jesus' tomb and told Mary Magdalene and the other Mary that Christ is risen.
Angels serve to bring God's message to people. The message they bring will always point to God's will; in this case, the news of Christ's resurrection. They are, after all, sent to minister to those who will inherit salvation, and this salvation can only be through Christ (see Acts 4:12).
They aid us as we follow Christ
We read several instances of angelic activity in the lives of Christ's followers, all of which reveal that angels help us in our work of following Christ.
Acts 5:17-20, for example, tells us that an angel freed the apostles from prison so they can "stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life" (v. 20).
Acts 10:1-8 tells us that an angel visited Cornelius, a Roman Centurion. While he is not a disciple yet at this time, an angel visited him to tell him to invite Peter to his house. We discover later on that God set this up so Cornelius and his family can be saved.
Acts 12:5-11 shows us another jailbreak through the help of an angel. Peter was imprisoned again, but an angel quickly set him free.
Acts 27:21-24 tells us that Paul, who met Christ personally after His resurrection, was encouraged by an angel as he and the people with him were in danger of death as the ship they rode on was caught in a tempest. The angel encouraged him and told him that he and the men along with him will not die because he must go where he is supposed to go: to Caesar.
BONUS: They point us to Christ
The whole book of Revelation, written by the apostle John, reveals to us a great number of angelic activity, with all of God's angels doing His will.
One notable thing that we must note, however, is that although they are beside God in the heavens and we are here on earth, they will never receive praise nor worship or any form of adoration. Angels know their role:
"See that you do not [worship me]. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God." (see Revelation 22:9, emphasis mine)
God's angels will always point us to Christ Jesus. Any angel who does not agree that Christ has come in the flesh is not from God (see 1 John 4:3).
