Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV)
I started with these scriptures to remind us how that although we are born again, we are not immune to evil manners as long as we are found in a circle of evil friends. But "Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalms 1:1-2 KJV)
What an angel does, who he is, is not going to be deeply delved into in this article, (some other day hopefully, watch out!)
However, certain names ring about in the church circle commonly acclaimed to be names of some of the angels of God. Some three most common ones are: angel Michael, angel Gabriel, and angel Uriel. There have been several ridiculous and non-ridiculous teachings around about these angels also, but what does the bible teaches about these beings?
One serious thing I would like to call the believer's attention to as he gives his mind to listen to teachings on angels or foggily follow the custom of one model prophet somewhere who loves to invoke supernatural happenings by the call of an angels' name, is a word from Jesus at temptation point. And if this answer of Jesus really turned the devil off…
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and HIM ONLY shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:10 KJV)
And also here…
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and HIM ONLY shalt thou serve. (Luke 4:8 KJV)
Angels must never be worshipped
Webster's Dictionary (1828) defines "worship" this way
1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.
2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence.
3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; as a lover.
Worship
1. To perform acts of adoration.
2. To perform religious service.
Beware lest your attention shifts from Christ the subject of the matter, and you go into the worship of angels.
Run the following test on yourself to know if you are already into the worshipping of angels.
In accordance with the dictionary definition of worship
- Do you adore angels? Do you pay honours to angels? Do you revere angels?
- Do you give reverent submission to angels?
- Do you perform religious service to angels?
If you have failed any of the above three tests, then certainly you have been worshipping angels. Do not say, "but I worship God too". It must be HIM ONLY to be served by you.
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and HIM ONLY shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:10 KJV)
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:22 KJV)
I mean, don't put your trust in angels! Hey! Saint, what's your deal with angels? Did an angel save you? Did an angel die for you? Did you get the Holy Spirit from an angel? In whose name are we saved? Michael, Uriel, Gabriel or the Lord Jesus?
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 KJV)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13 KJV)
I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8 KJV)
Watch it, for a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Gradually, angels that you honour by calling their names to get things done for you will soon totally flush out every remembrance of God in your life if you don't arrest the situation immediately. This is how idolatry usually begins. Some people make a statue or image, give it a name, and begin to call upon it to do certain things for them, and gradually, they become a full-time devoted worshipper of that image. Beware!
Someone will say, "I am allowed to do anything." Yes; but not everything is good for you. I could say that I am allowed to do anything, but I AM NOT GOING TO LET ANYTHING MAKE ME ITS SLAVE. (1 Corinthians 6:12 GNB)
Beware! Beware! Beware!
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and HIM ONLY shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:10 KJV)
What should we do then?
In the name of Jesus,
Shall all Christian assembly be formed
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 5:4 KJV)
For unto the Lord shall the gathering of His people be.
Any gathering that is in the name of another is not a Christian gathering.
Shall all supplications be made
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you. John 16:23
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it]. (John 14:13-14 KJV)
Receive the Holy Spirit and EVERY of His ministration
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send IN MY NAME, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
He is here for the name of Christ, and thus, all spiritual gifts, and ministry gifts, and fruit and whatsoever proceeds from the Spirit must be ministered and received in the name of Jesus.
All miracles must come by the name of Jesus
Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle IN MY NAME, that can lightly speak evil of me.
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Reject therefore any that come in the name of a supposedly powerful angel.
Everything we do must be in the name of just One: Christ Jesus.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17
In conclusion, God wants everything unto us to come by the honour and worship of just one - Jesus Christ. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 KJV)
Final warning from Paul, don't be beguiled of your reward!
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (Colossians 2:18 KJV)
In fact,
In fact, only an accursed angel will respond to answer against the gospel
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8 KJV)
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: WORSHIP GOD: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10 KJV)
And I John saw these things, and heard [them]. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: WORSHIP GOD.(Revelation 22:8-9 KJV)
