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I recently had an experience with an angel that was assigned to me by the Lord. It was an experience in which I received answers to questions regarding angels, their nature and their function. I desire to share some of the things I learned with you and to bring you to an awareness and faith in not just your angel but of all the unseen ministers that surround us everyday. It wasn’t given to me in a schoolroom setting or some kind of structured arena ‘of divine appointment’. But it was shared with me by the Lord and the angel casually as we fellowshipped together. I am at the same time not trying to imply that I have a monopoly on all angelic revelation. I just know what was shown to me.
As my consciousness veered toward questions regarding the angel that stood beside me, the Lord seemed to take that opportunity to answer some of my questions. And though it may pain me to acknowledge it, every answer I received of them seemed to reveal my carnality and simple mindedness more and more, though I am sure they were not trying to make me feel uncomfortable.
As I was communing with the Lord, I felt a strong presence rush into the room through the door. So strong was the presence, that it distracted me. The presence stood next to me and slightly behind my left shoulder. I have felt that presence many times before standing in the same place in respect to me, and my mind immediately said "My guardian angel!" And then I betook to thinking "Is 'guardian angel' an appropriate term?" I’m aware that the term ‘guardian angel’ is often associated with the occult, but I am not afraid of so-called occult-associated terminologies. My Father owns all things, even those terms. Well, at that point, the angel said to me that he was a minister, a servant, and he pointed to the young man that was with me lying upon the bed that had been serving and assisting me (a friend of mine by the name of Kofi Bamfo). The angel said, “I’m like him, I’m a servant.”
So I knew from this that ‘guardian angel’ shouldn’t be a complete description. A more full and perfect descriptive term for him is either servant or minister. The Lord directed me to the book of Hebrews chapter one, verse fourteen “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” So then, I began to realize that I wasn’t ‘consciously’ or fully aware of how the angel was supposed to minister or would minister to me. As far as I was concerned (in that moment, of course) it seemed like he had just rushed in when he became aware I was praying and stood by me. I knew he wasn’t sent to just stand there. Because the angel just stood there, it gave me the impression of a guardian. You know how a security guard stands around just waiting for trouble to pop off. It seemed like he was an extraterrestrial bodyguard. You know, like some kind of celestial bouncer keeping demons out of the party. Anyway, I just wanted to know how to take full advantage of my angelic relationship. And I knew that viewing him simply as a guardian angel (even though he is there for that purpose too) wasn’t helping me accomplish that goal.
So I wanted to know how was I to relate to him; comparing him to Kofi in my mind so that I could accurately gauge the differences. And the Lord was so gracious and kind to patiently endure my ignorance. So I asked, hypothetically, what if I asked him to open the window for me or go get Janue (a ministry partner of mine) from the other room. Is that the kind of thing I should ask or direct him to do? Would he do it? Well, the angel said, ordinarily no. He explained that, unless the Lord granted me a special demonstration and directed him to do it for a particular purpose, he wouldn’t do it. Then he began to explain some dynamics that I wasn’t taking into consideration when I asked my hypothetical question.
He explained that he had a job description, and running those kinds of errands and doing those kinds of chores wasn’t in it. I understood that our general concepts of servants and service weren’t always the most accurate. He pointed out that I was a minister and a servant to the house and that title is a title of honor. I wasn’t appointed to my office to change everyone’s tires and mow everybody’s lawns. I was commissioned to preach the Gospel, teach, and minister to the spiritual needs of the congregation. There are different levels of service, and all servants don’t serve in every capacity simply because they are a servant. The presidency is an office of service, but it has its purposes. The president wouldn’t be sent out to get doughnuts and coffee! There are other more important services he should be qualified for and should be focused on. Servants have different levels of authority and diverse levels of abilities and every Job is a service to something or someone.
The Angel said that there are others that can accomplish less important, natural tasks. He is spirit and he is there to serve me spiritually, and the lord has given physical people to me to take care of natural needs. Essentially, I could have Kofi open the window or go fetch Janue if I needed it. The angel should reserve his resources to do spiritual things pertaining to the will of God and God’s purpose. He’s here to do things Kofi can’t do. He said that if I want to see his service, I would need to find someone that needs help and minister to him or her and then he would help me do it. After this, he showed me the past and how he’s assisted me through the years as I’ve ministered to many. He’s given me help with spiritual guidance and information about people and situations. He’s helped me in the delivery of prophetic utterance. He’s helped with ministering to those that are oppressed with evil spirits. He’s helped me receive and understand revelation from the Lord. He’s directed me to certain books and worshipful songs that blessed and changed my life. He’s warned me when I was going the wrong way. He’s cheered me up when I was discouraged by helping me focus on the Lord. He said to me, “I serve in things pertaining to the kingdom.” Like in the book of Acts when the angel unlocked the apostle Peter’s shackles and opened the gates of the prison and set him free. Or like the apostle Paul receiving direction from an angel that stood by his side on the boat while they all faced shipwreck. Or like the angels that fed Jesus in the wilderness where there was no food. Or like Gabriel who delivered many messages - from showing Daniel the future kingdoms to declaring to the Virgin Mary her immaculate conception.
Angels operate like we do: ‘in the name or Identity of Jesus.’ They don’t really want attention drawn to themselves because they are there to help you focus on Him. Many manifestations where it seems like we are experiencing the presence of Jesus, we are truly experiencing an angelic manifestation. It isn’t the one and only Jesus in person, but the spirit of Christ manifesting through an angel. The bible says the spirit of truth would come in His name. It’s ok. An angel is an ambassador and a messenger; embodying the message and representing the message giver. They are apostles that are not physical. So, in perceiving them, you will not always be able to tell the difference. And I think that is the point. They are our shepherds and caretakers, helping along with natural ministers, pastors, and shepherds tending to our newborn nature. An angel can be kind of like a nanny.
Angels are our personal priests. They tutor us into our maturity in Christ. And they are not only priests, but also family. They are the heavenly family of God and we are their younger brothers and sisters in the earth whom they love and would take care of. Angels rejoice when we are brought out of darkness back into our right place in the family of God through faith in the Good news of Jesus Christ. When the shepherds, during the time of Jesus’ birth, saw the myriad of heavenly hosts descending from heaven, those angels weren’t angry. No! They were rejoicing and singing and praising God! They sang Glory to God in the highest! Peace on earth! Good will towards men. Heaven is smiling down on you!
We don’t understand that when mankind turned from God and sinned, we didn’t just break relationship with one but we broke the hearts of many. Elohim is the Hebrew word translated God in the Old Testament scripture. Elohim is always a plural word meaning: Gods. Elohim is a family name, like we would view a last name. There may be one name, but many members. Yahweh (translated Jehovah in English bibles) is the most high Elohim (Most high God or Most high of the Gods) or as we call him ‘Father.’ And when it says God (Elohim) in the Old Testament, it is speaking of more than the Father alone, but the whole company of heaven itself. You can’t be the most high God, unless there are other Gods to be higher than. The term ‘God’ is more than a person. ‘God’ is an order. God is a great company. The scriptures say we are all gods. We aren’t the most high God, but we were created in the God family. That is why we have the relationship we have with every other creature on this earth. We were created to rule over the creation of the earth as God. Man’s rebellion wounded our relationship with many. A civil war transpired between the heavenlies and the earthlies. That’s why Jesus had to become the end of the war; reconciling all those in heaven with those in earth. That’s why the angels sang!
Correctly translated, Genesis says, “Adam walked with angels in the spirit of the day”. Adam had fellowship with angels. When it says in Genesis “Let us make man after OUR own image, after OUR own likeness”...Our? Who’s ‘Our’? No! It isn’t a typo or a ‘trinity’, but it is company of angels. We were made in the image of angels. That’s why in the bible angels are said to look like men. That is why Jesus said, “At the resurrection you will be the same as angels.” An angel is a house (mansion) made out of the word of God. Their body is a temple as we are temples. The Father lives in them as the Father lives in us. They are the kingdom and it resides in them as it resides in us. God dwells in living tabernacles in heaven as he does in the earth. They are sons of God the Father as we are. They aren’t ‘begotten’ which means birthed, as Jesus was, but they are true and authentic sons. And they are your brothers. The only difference between men and angels is that angels are fully matured and glorified. They are filled with and manifesting fully the light and life of God without the obstructions of unbelief and fear which is the result of sin. It’s really simple. The devil doesn’t want you to know what you really are and what the Father intends for you. Do the math and let those wrong religious doctrines go! If the son of a man grows up to become a man, then what does the son of God grow up to become?
Like unto the angels we will be changed someday. We will be glorified someday! We believe it now by faith, but soon it will be manifested fully in this corporeal dust bag that we call a body. This corruption must put on incorruption. This mortal must put on immortality. This dying death suit must be replaced with the white garments of eternal life. When we grow up into Him in all things, we shall be changed. Until then, a cloud of living witnesses surrounds us. Some are glorified men from the earth and some are angels, never having been born in the earth. But day and night, whether we are aware or not, angels are encamped around about us (think of it like the angels are on a camping trip). Angels are there to help. They are also there to continually observe all of our ways in Christ and record all our deeds.
When the apostle Peter was supernaturally released from prison and came to the house where the disciples prayed for his release, the little girl, Rhoda, answered the door and ran to tell the saints that Peter was there. They didn’t believe her, but then the scripture says something that has befuddled my mind for a long time. They said maybe it is just Peter’s angel at the door! What kind of doctrine is this? Why would they assume it was an angel of all things?
Well, our minds have a hard time connecting traditional terms with a plurality of meaning. The term ‘Angel’ is usually seen in only one light. But to them it simply meant messenger. That’s all they meant, and it was common for those in prison to send messengers back and forth to their loved ones. Not deep at all. Even the messengers sent by John, the beloved apostle, written about in the book of Revelations (with messages to the churches that were in Asia) were not glorified persons, but regular saints. God sees us all his ministers - as messengers - and the term ‘angels’ can often be used to describe older (more mature) believers. Even entertaining angels unaware, isn’t speaking of only heavenly angels, but prophets and men of God. But in this writing, for reasons of simplification, my use of the term angels is in the traditional since of celestial entities.
Finally, my holy God family, never presume to command or order about your heavenly angel. They are much higher than you at this point (even Jesus himself while on earth was made a little lower then the angels), and they know almost infinitely more than we do. They also know what they are supposed to be doing better then we do. They are holy, sinless ambassadors and dignitaries of heaven. They are the principalities and magistrates and scribes of heaven itself. They are extremely powerful and devoted to the Father and to us. We should give them respect when we are aware or perceive their presence. If they fully manifest to you, I’m sure you won't have that problem (of disrespect) because, as many in the scripture came to find out, you’ll most likely faint. I want you to be aware of who you are and who they are. Have faith that Father has His sons, His unseen ministers, on duty. They are there with us (your physical ministers and shepherds) to assist with us in ministering to your spiritual needs. Be encouraged, have expectant faith, and open your hearts to receive all the gifts of God by the hand of all his ministers.
Your Servant,
Dr. Nathaniel Duffey III
