Chapter 2, Part 1
Dreams, Visions, Angels, and The Holy Spirit
Joan Boney
Certainly if God chooses to do so, HE can use HIS angels in behalf of the church today.
When we read the following, don't we realize the mighty power of God that comes to the church in the use of just one of HIS angels?
Acts 12:1-4 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
(Peter was in the same position as James had been and Peter was basically awaiting execution by Herod.)
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5-11 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did.
And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent HIS angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
Notice
God does according to HIS own will. God allowed James to be killed by
Herod while God saved Peter from Herod by the angel of the Lord. This
was all according to the will of God. We remember that God allowed both
John the Baptist and Jesus to be killed.
In the case of Peter, the angel caused the chains to fall off Peter. The angel gave instructions to Peter. The angel caused the gate to the prison to open.
When God speaks by the Holy Spirit it comes from within, for the Holy Spirit dwells within. The angel is from without.
I have also found the Holy Spirit to usually be a gentle voice and appearing as a thought.
I can't recall any example in Bible where Holy Spirit caused prison gate to open or chains to fall from hands or earthquakes, as angels are shown to do in Bible.
But whether God sends information by an angel or by The Holy Spirit, the important thing for us is to recognize it is God speaking to us.
In the case of Peter, the angel caused the chains to fall off Peter. The angel gave instructions to Peter. The angel caused the gate to the prison to open.
When God speaks by the Holy Spirit it comes from within, for the Holy Spirit dwells within. The angel is from without.
I have also found the Holy Spirit to usually be a gentle voice and appearing as a thought.
I can't recall any example in Bible where Holy Spirit caused prison gate to open or chains to fall from hands or earthquakes, as angels are shown to do in Bible.
But whether God sends information by an angel or by The Holy Spirit, the important thing for us is to recognize it is God speaking to us.
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December 6, 2018 ... I fell at my house in Texas.
As the ambulance workers were rolling me on a gurney past the front
door of that house, I heard the following word which I knew to be from
God by HIS Spirit ... "You'll never see this house again."
Even
while in hospital, I put that house up for-sale ... because I believed
that word I'd heard to be from God by His Spirit and by that I knew the season at that
house had ended.
2 1/2 months later, I went directly from rehabilitation hospital in Texas to my new home in Colorado which was 450-miles away.
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God uses the Holy Spirit to reveal HIS will to HIS people.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
God could give us a dream or a vision to show us what to do or what will come.
God's power toward us today is infinite and very real!
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