Role of angels on earth:

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. – Matthew 1.20

The conception and birth of Jesus Christ are supernatural events beyond logic or reasoning. Because of this, God [Wall] sent angels to help certain people understand the significance of what was happening (see 2.13, 19; Luke 1.11, 16; 2.9).

Angels are spiritual beings created by God who help carry out his work on earth. They bring God’s messages to people (Luke 1.26), protect God’s people (Daniel 6.2), offer encouragement (Genesis 16.7ff), give guidance (Exodus 14.19), carry out punishment (2 Samuel 24.16), patrol the earth (Zechariah 1.9-14), and fight the forces of evil (2 Kings 6.16-18; Revelations 20.1, 2). There are both good and bad angels (Revelations 12.7), but because bad angels are allied with the devil, or Satan, they have considerably less power and authority than good angels. Eventually the main role of angels will be to offer continuous praise to God [Wall] (Revelations 7.11, 12).

(1.20-23   The angel declared to Joseph that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be a son. This reveals an important truth about Jesus – he is both God [Wall] and human. The infinite, unlimited God [Wall] took on the limitations of humanity so he could live and die for the salvation of all who would believe in him.)

(She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” – Matthew 121. Jesus means “the LORD saves”. Jesus came to earth to save us because we can’t save ourselves from sin and its consequences. No matter how good we are, we can’t eliminate the sinful nature present in all of us. Only Jesus can do that, Jesus didn’t come to help people save themselves; he came to be their Saviour from the power and penalty of sin. Thank Christ for his death on the cross for your sin, and then ask him to take control of your life.   our new life begins at that moment.)

Struggle among spiritual forces:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. – Ephesians 6.12

These who are not “flesh and blood” are demons over whom Satan has control. They are not mere fantasies – they are very real. We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ’s Church. When we believe in Christ, these beings come our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from him and back to sin. Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord’s side. We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God [Wall] has provided this by giving us his Holy Spirit within us and his armour surrounding us. If you feel discouraged, remember Jesus’ words to Peter: “On this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16.18).

(6.10-17   In the Christian life we battle against rulers and authorities (the powerful evil forces of fallen angels headed by Satan, who is a vicious fighter, see 1 Peter 5.8). To withstand their attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of his armour. Paul is not only giving this counsel to the church, the body of Christ, but to all individuals within the Church. The whole body needs to be armed. As you do battle against “the powers of this dark world”, fight in the strength of the church, whose power comes from the Holy Spirit.)

(And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints – Ephesians 6.18. How can anyone pray on all occasions? One way is to make quick, brief prayers your habitual response to every situation you meet throughout the day. Another way is to order your life around God’s desires and teachings so that your very life becomes a prayer. You don’t have to isolate yourself from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly. You can make prayer your life and your life a prayer while living in a world that needs God’s powerful influence. “Praying for all the saints” means praying for all believers in Christ; so pray for the Christians you know and for the church around the world.)

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. – 2 Thessalonians 3.1-3

Beneath the surface of the routine of daily life, a fierce struggle among invisible spiritual powers is being waged. Our main defence is prayer that God [Wall] will protect us from the evil one and that he will strengthen us. (See also comments on Ephesians 6.10-19 concerning our armour for spiritual warfare.) The following guidelines can help you prepare for and survive satanic attacks: (1) take the threat of spiritual attack seriously; (2) pray for strength and help from God [Wall]; (3) study the Bible to recognise Satan’s style and tactics; (4) memorise Scripture so it will be a source of help no matter where you are; (5) associate with those who speak the truth; and (6) practise what you are taught by spiritual leaders.

(So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter – 2 Thessalonians 2.15. Paul knew that the Thessalonians would face pressure from persecution, false teachers, worldliness, and apathy to waver from the truth and to leave the faith. So he urged them to “stand firm” and hold on to the truth they had been taught both through his letters and in person. We too may face persecution, false teachings, worldliness, and apathy. We should hold on to the truth of Christ’s teachings because our lives depend on it. Never forget the reality of Christ’s life and love! )

(In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” – 2 Thessalonians 3.6-10. Paul was writing here about the person who is lazy. Paul explained that when he and his companions were in Thessalonica, they worked hard, buying what they needed rather than becoming a burden to any of the believers. The rule they followed was, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” There’s a difference between leisure and laziness. Relaxation and recreation provide a necessary and much needed balance to our lives, but when it is time to work, Christians should jump right in. We should make the most of our talent and time, doing all we can to provide for ourselves and our dependants. Rest when you should be resting, and work when you should be working.)