Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Behold


Matthew 4:11 KJV
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

This is not a new verse to me. What I felt led to consider in my meditations this morning is the word "behold." It is an imperative and means "lo, look, see, pay attention to this." It is no small thing that the angels ministered unto Jesus. Though the Scriptures do not expound upon it, this is not a point to miss.

First, the devil left.
The Bible tells us to resist the devil and he will flee. The word "resist" implies to me some struggle. You don't just say "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus" and he runs. From the Lord's own experience I understand that the devil will attempt multiple attacks.
Still the promise is "resist the devil and he will flee." I choose to believe the Bible.
The method of resisting, if we believe Jesus' example to be effective in our own circumstances, is through the proper and consistent use of the Word of God. We cannot do as Eve did and twist the Bible.
We must be honest with it
We must let it speak for itself and
We must accept it

But it is the Bible that will finally give victory over the devil's temptations

Secondly, it was only after the devil left that the Bible says the angels ministered unto Him.
When we are going through those times of temptation and attack it will feel like we are all alone. It may not feel like you have the support and help and ministry of the Lord and His angels in the midst of the conflict. It is at that moment we must again trust the Bible when it gives us the Lord's promise "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."

Finally, the angels did minister unto Him.
The Word of God says
Heb 1:14
Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (KJV)

So they not only minister to Him, they minister to us.

Gill describes this ministry in the following words, "the ministry of angels to, and for them, lies in things temporal and spiritual, or what concern both their bodies and their souls; in things temporal, in which they have often been assisting, as in providing food for their bodies, in curing their diseases, in directing and preserving them in journeys, in saving and delivering them from outward calamities, in restraining things hurtful from hurting them, and in destroying their enemies; in things spiritual, as in making known the mind and will of God to them, in comforting them, and suggesting good things to them, and in helping and assisting them against Satan's temptations; and they are present with their departing souls at death, and carry them to heaven...."[1]

Lord, help me to look for this ministry today.


[1] E-Sword 7.7.7, John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, Dr. John Gill (1690-1771)

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