Title June 2020

ANSWER:

God communicates with people in various ways. He can speak directly to individuals, send angels to deliver His messages, or use human beings as messengers. In rare instances, He may even use animals (Numbers 22:30) or elements of nature (Job 12:7-9) as a means of communication.

Theological Insight:
From a theological perspective, God speaks in diverse ways, but His messages are always consistent and true. When God speaks directly, He does so to communicate His will, to guide, and to reveal Himself to His creation. The use of angels and humans as intermediaries reflects God’s sovereign will to use created beings to carry His message. This understanding is important because it shows that God’s mode of communication may vary, but His intent and message remain unchanged.

Humans and animals are physical beings, and God does not use their spirits to communicate with us. For example, God does not use my spirit or someone else’s spirit to speak to another person’s spirit. Instead, when God wants to speak to someone, He communicates to a servant in the spirit, and that servant then delivers the message. It is only the Holy Spirit and holy angels who have the spiritual nature to speak to us in this way because they are spiritual beings. The Bible affirms this spiritual distinction in Hebrews 1:14 (NKJV): “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Angels, as spiritual beings, are sent to serve God’s purposes, including speaking to His people.

Angels and the Holy Spirit:
Angels, while powerful and important servants of God, always act in obedience to His will and speak His messages, never their own. They can appear in human form, give a message directly, or communicate through a person’s spirit. However, when angels speak, it is essentially the voice of God speaking through them, as the angels are merely His messengers.

Genesis 22:10-16 (NKJV):
In this passage, when Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, the Angel of the Lord speaks to him directly. The message the angel delivers is clearly divine, and the tone suggests that it’s not just any angel but a representative of God Himself. The angel’s voice in this passage reflects God’s will, and this is why the angel’s words carry such authority, even though it’s technically an angel speaking.

“But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’… and He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’” (Genesis 22:11-12 NKJV)

This passage makes it clear that the message delivered by the angel is as authoritative as God’s direct command. The angel is simply conveying God’s message, highlighting that the distinction between the angel’s voice and God’s voice is not always easy to discern.

Exodus 3:1-6 (NKJV):
Moses’ encounter with the Angel of the Lord in the burning bush is another key passage that helps us understand the role of angels in delivering God’s messages. In this passage, although God Himself is speaking through the angel, the narrative presents the angel’s words as if they are directly from God.

“The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush… when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses! Moses!’” (Exodus 3:2-4 NKJV)

Here, the angel is delivering God’s message to Moses, and the angel’s words are clearly God’s. The distinction between the angel and God becomes blurred because the message is the same. This shows that angels, though separate beings, carry God’s voice and speak His words without modification.

Judges 2:1 (NKJV):
In this passage, the Angel of the Lord speaks to the Israelites, declaring that God is the one who led them out of Egypt and fulfilled His promises. Although the angel uses the first-person pronoun “I,” it’s important to understand that it is God who made the covenant, not the angel.

“Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: ‘I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, I will never break My covenant with you.’” (Judges 2:1 NKJV)

The angel here is acting as a spokesperson, delivering a message that God Himself had given. This passage reinforces the idea that angels do not speak their own words but relay God’s instructions and promises to His people.

Theological Implications:
Angels are, in essence, servants who relay God’s will. They do not speak independently of God. When they speak, they are essentially God’s voice in the world. This understanding helps us comprehend why it is difficult to differentiate between the voice of the Holy Spirit and the voice of an angel. Both deliver God’s message, though one is a direct spiritual presence (the Holy Spirit) and the other is a messenger (the angel).

Differentiating the Voice of God and His Messengers:
It is difficult to distinguish the voice of the Holy Spirit from the voice of an angel, especially when both speak with the authority of God. For instance, an angel may say, “I the Lord have said…” and you might assume it’s God speaking directly, when in fact, it’s His angel delivering the message.

The Key Lesson:
Rather than trying to differentiate between the voices of the Holy Spirit and angels, the focus should be on obedience. The important thing is not which voice we hear, but that we listen and obey, knowing that God is speaking to us through His messengers, whether directly or through an angel. In John 14:26 (NKJV), Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will guide us in all truth:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

The message, whether delivered by the Holy Spirit directly or by an angel, remains the same: we must listen and obey. The key takeaway is that obedience to God’s will is what matters most, regardless of whether the message comes directly from God or through His angels.

Conclusion:
Theologically speaking, the distinction between the voice of the Holy Spirit and the voice of angels is blurred because both are speaking the same divine message. What is most important is not to differentiate between these voices but to obey what we hear, knowing it comes from God. Let us be attentive and obedient to His messages, whether they come through His Holy Spirit or His angels.

May God bless us as we heed His Word and share it with others.

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“In speaking of the angels he says, ‘

He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.’” – Hebrews 1:7 (NIV)

Question:
Does this verse mean that God turns His angels into demons or spirits of some sort?

Answer:
No, this verse does not mean that God turns angels into demons. It is a symbolic description of the nature and role of angels, not a statement about their fall or transformation into evil beings.

While the Bible does teach that some angels rebelled against God and became demons (see Revelation 12:7–9, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6), Hebrews 1:7 is not referring to those fallen angels. Instead, it quotes Psalm 104:4, where God’s faithful angels are described in poetic, metaphorical terms:

“He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.” – Psalm 104:4 (NIV)

This poetic language is rich with theological meaning. Angels are compared to wind and fire—natural forces that are powerful, swift, and awe-inspiring. The comparison highlights several truths:

1. Angels as Swift and Invisible Servants

Wind is invisible yet active, often sudden and forceful—qualities that resemble the operation of angels. In the Bible, angels often appear suddenly, act quickly, and then disappear (e.g., Luke 1:26–38, Acts 12:7–10). Their swiftness reflects their readiness to serve God.

2. Angels as Agents of God’s Power and Purity

Fire in Scripture is often associated with God’s holiness, judgment, and presence (Exodus 3:2, Hebrews 12:29). Calling angels “flames of fire” emphasizes their role in executing God’s will, sometimes with great power and judgment (Genesis 19:1,13, 2 Kings 19:35).

3. Symbolism, Not Literal Transformation

God is not saying angels are wind or fire, but that they function like wind and fire. This is similar to how Psalm 104 uses metaphorical language to describe God’s majesty:

“The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent…” – Psalm 104:2 (NIV)

Just as light isn’t literally clothing, the angels aren’t literally wind or fire. This is a way to communicate their spiritual nature and divine mission.

Jesus Christ: Superior to Angels

The context of Hebrews 1 is crucial. The writer is contrasting angels with Jesus to show His absolute superiority. While angels are servants—swift and powerful—Jesus is the Son, seated on the throne:

“But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.’” – Hebrews 1:8 (NIV)

Christ is not merely another spiritual messenger—He is the exact representation of God’s being and heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2–3). Angels worship Him (Hebrews 1:6), and His position is far above theirs.

The Role of Angels in Relation to Believers

The chapter concludes with this important statement:

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” – Hebrews 1:14 (NIV)

Angels are ministering spirits, meaning they are sent by God to help and protect believers. Their mission is to support God’s redemptive plan, especially for those in Christ.

Conclusion

So when God says He makes His angels “winds” and His servants “flames of fire,” He is using figurative language to express their divine purpose and power. They are mighty and active in fulfilling God’s commands—but still only servants. In contrast, Jesus is the Son, enthroned and eternal. And those who believe in Him will also share in His glory (Romans 8:17), served by angels according to God’s purpose.

Praise God for His Son and His heavenly hosts that serve His will.

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Introduction

In John 21:15–23, we encounter one of the most personal and instructive conversations between Jesus and the Apostle Peter. After His resurrection, Jesus restores Peter and gives him a glimpse of his future. But what follows is a revealing moment that exposes a common human weakness: comparison. When Peter asks about another disciple’s destiny, Jesus replies with a simple yet powerful truth: “What is that to you? You follow me.”

This passage invites us to reflect on our individual callings, the danger of comparison, and the necessity of faithfully following Christ—regardless of others’ paths.

1. Peter’s Restoration and Commission (John 21:15–17)

After Peter had denied Jesus three times (John 18:15–27), Jesus graciously restores him with a threefold question:

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:15–17)

Peter affirms his love each time, and Jesus responds with:

• “Feed my lambs”
• “Tend my sheep”
• “Feed my sheep”

This is not only personal restoration—it is Peter’s apostolic recommissioning. Jesus affirms Peter’s leadership role in the early church (cf. 1 Peter 5:1–3). It shows that failure does not disqualify a believer from future service when there is repentance and love for Christ.

2. Jesus Foretells Peter’s Martyrdom (John 21:18–19)

Jesus follows the restoration with a sobering prophecy:

“When you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands…” (John 21:18)

This expression, “stretch out your hands,” was a common idiom for crucifixion. John explains in verse 19:

“(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.)”

Peter would glorify God not just in life but also in death. According to early church tradition (e.g. Origen, Eusebius), Peter was crucified in Rome, upside down, by his own request—deeming himself unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

This reminds us that discipleship involves sacrifice, and that true love for Christ includes a willingness to suffer for His name (cf. Philippians 1:29, Luke 9:23).

3. Peter’s Question About John (John 21:20–21)

As soon as Peter hears about his own destiny, he turns and sees John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” and asks:

“Lord, what about this man?” (v. 21)

Peter is essentially saying, “If I must suffer and die, what will happen to him?” This is a deeply human moment—comparing our journey to another’s is a temptation we all face.

4. Jesus’ Theological Response: “You Follow Me” (John 21:22)

Jesus replies:

“If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:22)

In other words: “Even if I choose a completely different path for John, that is not your concern. Your responsibility is to follow me.”

Theologically, this response affirms two important truths:

• Divine Sovereignty in calling: God assigns different paths, ministries, and ends to each believer (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:11).
• Personal responsibility in discipleship: We are accountable for how we follow Christ individually, not for how others do (Galatians 6:4–5).

Jesus’ sharp response also corrects the false assumption that God’s favor is measured by ease or suffering. John might live a long life (as he did), while Peter would face martyrdom—but both lives glorify God in their own ways.

5. The Danger of Comparison in Ministry

Comparison can lead to jealousy, insecurity, and even spiritual burnout. Many believers today struggle with thoughts like:

• “Why is their ministry growing faster than mine?”
• “Why do they have more influence or visibility?”
• “Shouldn’t I do what they’re doing?”

But Scripture warns us not to compare:

“Let each one test his own work… For each will have to bear his own load.” (Galatians 6:4–5)
“Not all are apostles, not all are prophets…” (1 Corinthians 12:29–30)

Instead of imitation, we are called to faithfulness. As in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30), God rewards not based on how much we were given but how faithfully we used what we had.

6. John’s Unique Role and the Spread of a Misunderstanding (John 21:23)

John, the author of this Gospel, clarifies:

“So the saying spread among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die…” (v. 23)

Misinterpretation of Jesus’ words led to rumors about John’s immortality. John himself corrects this. This highlights the importance of careful theological interpretation—taking Jesus’ words at face value without reading in assumptions.

John lived a long life, exiled on Patmos, where he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9). His path was different, but not less significant than Peter’s.

7. Final Application: Stay in Your Lane

The message is clear: God’s calling is personal. Whether you lead a large congregation or minister quietly in a village, God values your obedience more than your comparison.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23)

“It is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)

Conclusion

Peter’s question—“Lord, what about this man?”—is the same question we often ask. But Jesus’ answer is timeless:

“What is that to you? You follow me.” (John 21:22)

You are not called to walk another’s path. You are called to follow Jesus where He leads you. Do not measure your value by someone else’s journey. The measure of a life is not comparison, but faithful obedience.

May the Lord give you grace to walk confidently in your calling, faithfully in your assignment, and joyfully in your purpose

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