By Robert Stroup
The Psalmist declared that “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word:’ (Psalm 103:19-20) In heaven God’s will is always done. His \Xford is always obeyed. It is never questioned nor resisted. No one looks for ways to get around it. The angels always gladly obey every directive. The result of their constant obedience is that
He can mightily empower and use them to fulfill His purposes wherever and whenever He desires. Their total usefulness to God is linked their total surrender to Him. Their excelling in strength is connected to their excelling in obedience. And with us. The extent of our power with Him is linked to the extent of our obedience to Him, “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power..,” (Psalm 110:3)
We activate His great power within us by our obedience. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you. ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you:’ (John 15:7) God does much of what He does in response to what we do. ‘Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8) Our obedience lures Him and activates His power in our lives. “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee … Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field .. :’ (Deuteronomy 28:1-3) Later in the chapter He flipped the coin and told us that He not only takes note of our obedience but that He also reacts to our disobedience. “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all the curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field ..
(Deuteronomy 28:15-16) God often does that He does in response to our obedience or disobedience. He does what He does because we do what we do.
In last month’s article entitled “Angels Unawares” I made mention of angelic being good and evil, loyal and fallen, who closely watch us looking for any opportunity to wield their influence. Our obedience to God and His word assures us of the company, assistance and protection of His angelic host. After Christ withstood the tempter by maintaining His life of total surrender and obedience to His Father it is stated that “then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him:’ (Matthew 4:10) His obedience allied Him with God’s always obedient and thus powerful angelic host. The benefits of obedience have now been made available to us who follow in His footsteps.
In I Corinthians 11:10 Paul encouraged the women in Corinth to continue to live in loving obedience to His will and word in regards to their long uncut hair which was given to them as a covering. “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels:’ Our obedience to God’s plan empowers us and allies us with His likewise obedient angels. It allows them access to us that they might minister to us and protect us from harm. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14) Rebellion and disobedience also ally us with angelic beings – fallen ones who themselves are in their present state as a result of their own disobedience. “The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6) Just as God’s loyal and obedient angels assist the obedient in this life – the enemy’s disobedient fallen angels align themselves with the disobedient. Ephesians 2:2 speaks of “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience … ”
There are many good reasons to live a life of obedience to God’s Word. This is but one of them – because of the angels. Angels, both good and evil, are released to do their work in response to our obedience or lack of it. Under the threat of a den full of hungry lions Daniel continued to faithfully obey God’s plan and will. Three times a day he opened his window towards Jerusalem and prayed. The result? “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me:’ (Daniel 6:22) We can enjoy the same benefits. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; Whom resist stedfast in the faith .. :’ (I Peter 5:8-9) Your heartfelt obedience to God’s Word will still keep the lions at bay. “Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you:’ (James 4:7)
