God’s angels: What do they do?

Simone-Christelle NgoMakon
May 3
13 min read

Joeun achim (좋은 아침) precious one ! Kwai prince !

Do not repeat the mistakes of fathers. Do not disregard the pleas of mothers. “A king strengthens his country through justice, but one who imposes excessive taxes ruins it.” (Proverbs 29:4) “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the needy; rescue the weak and the poor; deliver them from the hands of the wicked!” (Psalms 82:2-4)

Different Ranks and Roles
Points to Clarify:
1. Praying to angels (idolatry)
2. Commanding angels (false doctrine)
3. Calling upon/activating angels (misuse of language or false doctrine)
4. Deploying, amplifying, or strengthening the ministry of angels (prayer) + Two personal experiences

❖ And of the angels He says : “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire. (Hebrews 1:7, NKJV)

❖ Are not all angels spirits in the service of God, sent to help those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:7, NKJV)

❖ Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psaumes 103:20-22, NKJV)

Different Ranks and Roles

The angels (of GOD) are spirits created by GOD to carry out His will. They have various ranks and functions. They serve GOD in heaven, on earth, and in every place where GOD sends them. Some constantly travel back and forth between heaven and earth (John 1:51). They act within the limits of their function, their position (rank), the word of the LORD, and the directives or authorizations received from GOD.

Examples

(Daniel 9:21–27, Daniel 10:12–14): The archangel Gabriel explains to Daniel the visions he received from the LORD. He tells Daniel that for 21 days, he was prevented from coming by the prince of the kingdom of Persia. He added that for 21 days he was with the kings of Persia and the archangel Michael came to his aid. The ruler of the kingdom of Persia commands the kings of Persia. The ruler of the kingdom of Persia’s objective was to prevent the message from reaching Daniel, to steal it if possible, and above all to prevent the fulfillment of Daniel’s prayers. Gabriel delivered the message. Michael fought.

(Daniel 10:15-21): A figure in human form appeared to Daniel while he was with the archangel Gabriel. This figure was JESUS before his coming to earth. He told Daniel that the archangel Michael was fighting alongside him against the ruler of the Kingdom of Persia and would fight alongside him against the ruler of the Kingdom of Greece. The rulers are accompanied by their forces. The ruler of the Kingdom of Persia was accompanied by the kings of Persia. The archangel Michael is accompanied by the angels of his brigade.
- Side note: Generally speaking, in the Old Testament, when it is written “the angel of the LORD” (definite article), it refers to JESUS. When it is written “an angel” (indefinite article), it refers to an angel in the ordinary sense. For example, JESUS is the angel of the LORD whom Moses saw in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-4). As we saw in the article, JESUS CHRIST: Eternal, Angel of the LORD, and GOD the LORD, He was already the SON before a physical body was formed for Him by the HOLY SPIRIT.
(Deuteronomy 34:5–6, Jude 1:9, Revelation 12:7–9):
- The first passage tells us that after Moses died, the LORD buried his body in a place unknown to men.
- The second text tells us that Satan tried to steal Moses’ body from the archangel Michael. It was therefore the archangel Michael who buried Moses’ body. The archangel did not insult the devil. He focused on his mission and said to him: “May the LORD rebuke you.”
- The third text informs us that Satan and his angels were defeated by Michael and his angels. The archangel Michael is capable of defeating Satan. But he fights only when GOD authorizes him to do so. His goal is not to demonstrate his strength, but to fulfill his mission.

Some angels are warriors, others are sentinels (guardians), protectors, messengers (including teachers), healers, and helpers to humans. All are worshippers of the LORD. All know JESUS CHRIST and acknowledge Him as LORD (1 John 4:1–3).

GOD desires the salvation of humanity, their restoration (healing), their consecration (turning away from sin, obeying GOD, and serving others), their restoration, and their multiplication. He desires the stewardship, good use, multiplication, and right distribution of resources. Angels serve GOD by helping us, so that His will may be done. They glorify GOD, convey and carry out His words. Occasionally, they appear to people and communicate with them.

Examples

To announce a prophecy, convey a message, offer encouragement, give instruction, or provide an explanation (Acts 8:26, Acts 27:23-24, Matthew 1:20).
To announce the birth of JESUS CHRIST, His coming, and His return (Luke 1:26-33, Luke 2:8-14, Acts 1:11, Matthew 13:49-50, Matthew 25:31, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Revelation 19:14).
Assisting JESUS CHRIST (Matthew 13:49-50, Matthew 25:31, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Revelation 19:14).
- Side note🙂 The archangel Michael is often with JESUS. He assists JESUS (in the sense of serving). He does not protect JESUS. JESUS is GOD. GOD is Omnipotent and All-Powerful. JESUS CHRIST has resurrected; He is no longer subject to human limitations and those of the physical world. The archangel Michael certainly served as a bodyguard (from the conception of the physical body in Mary’s womb to the crucifixion), but this is no longer the case today.

To carry out a command, to execute a judgment of GOD (1 Chronicles 21:15, 2 Chronicles 32:21, Acts 12:23, Revelation 8:5, Revelation 9:15, Revelation 16:1).
To gather the elect at the return of CHRIST (Matthew 24:31).
To warn, escort, accompany, and bring to safety (Genesis 19:1-22).
To preserve from danger, save, protect, and accompany (Acts 12:7, Acts 12:11, Psalm 91:11-12, Zechariah 1:8-11).
To provide for physical needs (1 Kings 19:5-7).
Heal (John 5:4)
Deliver from an unclean spirit. We know that demons can cause illnesses. We also know that angels can heal sick bodies. By extension, they can deliver bodies from unclean spirits. Angels cannot heal souls. Only GOD heals souls.

Points to Clarify:
1. Praying to angels (idolatry)

❖ Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” (Revelation 22:8-9, NKJV)

❖ And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17, NKJV)

❖ At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision. (Daniel 9:23, NKJV)

❖ (John 10:30, NKJV) : " I and My Father are one.”

❖ (John 14:8-9, NKJV) : Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

❖ (John 14:21, NKJ) : " He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

Praying to angels is idolatry. There is no valid excuse. The Bible is very clear on this subject. Either we read the Bible, or we don’t. Catholics, for example, claim that angels relay their prayers to GOD. This is completely false. Angels refuse to be worshiped by humans (Revelation 22:8-9). They are neither omniscient, nor omnipresent, nor omnipotent. They do not answer prayers; they carry out the answered prayers. They do not tell GOD what to do; they do what GOD tells them to do. They carry out GOD’s will. They convey GOD’s words. They do not inform GOD. GOD is Omniscient and Omnipresent. They do not bring people’s prayers to GOD. On the contrary, GOD asks them to convey His answers to our prayers to us.

Angels appear when GOD permits it (2 Kings 6:17). They do not decide to appear. They appear when they are permitted to do so. How can some people think that they decide whether to listen to, convey, or answer our prayers?

To direct prayers to angels is to worship them. They have never been appointed as intercessors for humanity. Only JESUS CHRIST and the HOLY SPIRIT can intercede for us and with us (Romans 8:26, Romans 8:34). Through His Word, GOD never ceases to tell us that He loves us, that He has plans for our peace! The FATHER gave His only Son for us. He gave what was most precious to Him! JESUS gave His life for our salvation. You don’t do that for something or someone who isn’t important. How can some people believe that after doing that, He is too busy to listen to us and intervene in our lives? How can one read the Bible and worship angels? How can one be a disciple of CHRIST and promote what He condemns? Being a Christian is not a privilege granted by GOD.

On the contrary, it is a privilege, an undeserved grace that GOD grants us. The one who inspires people to pray to angels is the devil. Either we read the Bible, or we don’t. Either we love JESUS, or we don’t. Either we choose repentance, or we choose idolatry and false doctrines.

b. Commanding angels (false doctrine)

❖ And of the angels He says : “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire. (Hebrews 1:7, NKJV)

❖ Are not all angels spirits in the service of God, sent to help those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:7, NKJV)

Angels are servants of GOD, sent here and there from time to time to offer help. They are His angels, His servants. They do only His will, not ours. They belong to GOD and to GOD alone. They do not take orders from human beings. Whether one has a deep, high-pitched, soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, countertenor, tenor, baritone, or bass voice makes no difference. Elisha did not ask the angels to appear to his servant. He prayed to GOD to open his servant’s eyes. GOD answered his prayer, and his servant saw. We see angels when GOD allows it, not when we want to.

Satan and one-third of the angels rebelled (Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 9:1, Revelation 12:3–9). By extension, two-thirds of the angels remained faithful to GOD. Satan failed to deceive them, intimidate them, or command them. It is arrogant to think that we command them. They are under the authority of CHRIST. I do not know on what basis those who claim to command angels base their claims. What I do know is that, biblically and doctrinally, this is false. We do not command the angels. There is no example, no verse, and no biblical principle indicating that angels are at our command. Yes, we have the name of JESUS, which is above every name. But the angels are already under the authority of CHRIST. We are not their leaders. Either we pretend to read the Bible, or we actually read the Bible. Either we choose repentance, or we choose idolatry and false doctrines.

c. Calling upon/activating angels (misuse of language or false doctrine)

❖ (John 14:21, NKJ) : " He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

❖ (Psaumes 103:20-22, Segond 21) : 20 Bless the Lord, you His angels,Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. 21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Personally, I don't like the phrases “calling on the angels” and “activating the angels.” I don't use them. I strongly advise against using them. I realize that meanings can vary from person to person. I prefer to avoid phrases that might cause confusion and unnecessary arguments.

For some, these are misuses of language, meaning to deploy or amplify the ministry of angels. Firstly, in English-speaking circles and progressively within Latin languages (French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.).

For others—unfortunately the majority—calling upon angels means praying to angels, inviting angels, or commanding angels. Catholics, for example, claim that angels relay their prayers to GOD. I discussed this in the earlier points. There is no excuse for idolatry. Either you read the Bible, or you don’t. Either you are a disciple of CHRIST, or you are not. Either you love JESUS, or you don’t. Either you choose repentance, or you choose idolatry and false doctrines.

I am bilingual in French and English. I speak other languages, but French and English are my primary languages. I grew up and live in a French-speaking environment. French is therefore my first language, excluding the language of my ethnic group (Bassa, Cameroon). When an English-speaking intercessor says “call angels,” French speakers remain silent and watch. For most French speakers, these expressions are associated with Catholicism, sectarianism, and idolatry. Perhaps because there are more Catholics in Latin-speaking countries than in English-speaking ones, and because animosity between the two communities has been intense in Latin-speaking countries. In France and Italy, it is common to see statues, engravings, and drawings on the roofs and walls of Catholic churches, and on the walls of buildings in certain streets. For some, these are angels; for others, they are art; for us Protestant Christians, they are very often demons and occult idols.

P.S.: Catholicism originated in Turkey before Italy was designated as its headquarters. Protestantism originated in Germany before spreading to England and the United States.

d. Deploying, amplifying, or strengthening the ministry of angels (prayer) + Two personal experiences

❖ “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:18-20, NKJV)

❖ " And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. " (John 14:13-14, NKJV)

❖ " So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." (Ezekiel 22: 30, NKJV)

To deploy, amplify, or strengthen the ministry of angels is to pray that they may fully exercise their ministry. Simply saying that angels are activated does not activate them. Before our birth, angels were already ministering. After our death, they will continue to do so.

Angels obey GOD, His commands, and His Word. They praise and glorify GOD. They help us fulfill our destiny. Consequently, they are deployed, and their ministry is amplified/strengthened when we pray in the right way, honor GOD and His Word, testify of CHRIST, manifest CHRIST, exercise the authority of CHRIST, when we repent, exercise our gifts, obey GOD, etc. In short, they are deployed, and their ministry is amplified/strengthened when we do what GOD expects of us. It is not only prayer that strengthens the ministry of angels. JESUS did not say that He leaves us the angels. He said: I baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT, I leave you my word, I leave you my name, I leave you my peace, and I send you to the ends of the earth. Let us do our part; GOD will ensure that the angels do theirs.

A single article would not be enough to recount all my personal experiences. Two examples seem sufficient for this article. I would like to remind you that the devil and his angels sometimes try to disguise themselves as angels of God (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). We must exercise discernment.

Experience 1 (April 2014)

I was praying in my room. I don't remember the subject of my prayer, but I do remember it was a prayer of authority. Suddenly, I had a vision. An angel was sitting on a chair, near a table on a balcony. He was relaxing. It looked as if he were on vacation. He was admiring the view and enjoying the fresh air. This vision aroused astonishment and annoyance in me. I whispered to the Holy Spirit, " I am praying in faith about an important matter. Why am I having a vision of an angel who is doing nothing? What good does it do me to see that an angel is taking a break or on vacation? " The Holy Spirit answered me, " Regarding this matter, you are not praying in the right way. Pray with the Scriptures." I changed my way of praying. I took Bible verses to heart. I argued with verses. I stopped asking God to do things. I declared the Word. I declared what I knew God wanted. I proclaimed Jesus' victory and his reign. While I prayed, I kept seeing this angel before me, as if my prayer was competing with his attitude. After a while, I saw this angel get up, go into a room, and come downstairs dressed in military uniform. I jumped for joy, thanking the Holy Spirit! This angel turned, looked at me with a smile, and disappeared.

Experience 2 (September 2020)

One evening, at home, after a time of intercession, I wanted to watch the news on TV. I wanted to know the latest news from a specific country and region. I was looking for the remote control when an angel appeared to me, walking toward me. He said to me, “We need help; ask the FATHER for reinforcements.” Then he turned around and disappeared. I began to pray in tongues. I don’t know how long it was, but at least an hour. After a while, this angel reappeared. This time, he didn’t speak. He looked at me and nodded twice in affirmation, to let me know that the reinforcements had arrived. Then he disappeared. I was about to give thanks to the LORD and stop praying. But a conviction arose in my heart to continue praying for another hour. This time, I was no longer praying in tongues, but with my mind. I prayed for another hour. Then I turned on the TV.

** Joeun achim (좋은 아침) = Good morning in Korean

** Kwai = Good morning in Abenaki (Canada, U.S. state of Maine)