KNOWING OTHERS ARE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU
Until now, we have been examining one specific biblical passage per chapter, which is the best way of first knowing and then applying Scripture to our own lives. Here, however, we will focus on how other people help us in our personal war against anxiety. I trust it will be a helpful reminder that the Christian life was never meant to be a solitary struggle.
The extensive support system of Christian fellowship is one of the greatest benefits of being a Christian. We are all part of a loving family that takes care of one another. We will soon explore how the Bible says we’re to do that, and how that relates to anxiety, but first consider what it says about a nameless group of individuals who help us more each day than we can possibly know. I am referring to angels, whom the writer of Hebrews 1:14 described as “ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.” Since we are the heirs of salvation, God sends His angels to minister to us.
Angels Watching over You
Perhaps the word minister seems a little stuffy to you, or perhaps it reminds you of a stuffy individual! It really is a practical term. C. S. Lewis illustrated that well in his children’s classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from The Chronicles of Narnia series. Three children, after an arduous journey through the winter-cursed regions ruled by the White Witch, finally reach the royal retinue of Aslan, the mighty Christ-like lion. Aslan takes aside the young boy to speak with him, but before he does, he shakes his mane, claps his immense yet velvety paws together, and orders, “Ladies, take these Daughters of Eve to the pavilion and minister to them.”1 The weary travelers received refreshment, and so do we at the hands of those who minister to us in our life’s journey.
A while ago my church and I embarked on a study of God, Satan, and angels. What strongly impressed me at the time are the steps God has taken to make His children physically secure through the ministry of angels. It is a lesson that has stayed with me. God details in His Word how angels aid us and therefore help many of the anxieties we tend to have about accidents, disease, or other kinds of danger. We see on display God’s tremendous sovereign control over the world and universe through His creative power, which includes angelic beings.
In his book Angels: God’s Secret Agents, Billy Graham’s attitude reflects a healthy perspective we should have when we study about angels:
I am convinced that these heavenly beings exist and that they provide unseen aid on our behalf. I do not believe in angels because someone has told me about a dramatic visitation from an angel, impressive as such rare testimonies may be. I do not believe in angels because UFO’s are astonishingly angel-like in some of their reported appearances. I do not believe in angels because ESP experts are making the realm of the spirit world seem more and more plausible. I do not believe in angels because of the sudden worldwide emphasis on the reality of Satan and demons. I do not believe in angels because I have ever seen one—because I haven’t. I believe in angels because the Bible says there are angels; and I believe the Bible to be the true Word of God.2
Some of the many things angels do on our behalf are guiding, providing, protecting, delivering, facilitating, and serving.
Guiding
The Holy Spirit guides the believer internally, while the angels guide the believer externally.
As the evangelist Philip preached to large crowds in Samaria, “an angel of the Lord spoke to [him] saying, ‘Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ … So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship” (Acts 8:26–27). Philip had a wonderful conversation with him and led him to Christ (vv. 29–39). The angel guided Philip out of one ministry into another. Angels do the same for us today.
Providing
When the prophet Elijah heard that the evil Queen Jezebel was out to get him because the pagan priests in her service were slain, he panicked and ran out of town (1 Kings 19:1–3).
[Elijah] went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life.…” He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.” Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights. (vv. 4–8)
An angel provided sustenance for the physically and emotionally exhausted prophet. That’s comforting to know when we’re feeling as bad as Elijah felt. It’s possible angels have ministered the same way to us without our knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 says that “some have entertained angels without knowing it,” and perhaps they have returned the favor.
Protecting
Angels also protect God’s people from physical danger. Two of the most dramatic examples are from the book of Daniel, in which an angel protected Daniel’s three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego from burning in a fiery furnace and Daniel from being attacked in a lions’ den (Dan. 3:28; 6:22).
There’s another fascinating example from the New Testament. As the apostle Paul sailed across the Mediterranean Sea to stand trial in Rome, his ship was caught in a storm so violent that the crew “began to jettison the cargo; and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing [them], from then on all hope of [their] being saved was gradually abandoned” (Acts 27:18–20).
It was a good time for angelic intervention. “When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, ‘Men, … I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you”’” (Acts 27:21–24). While that ship was being battered about on the Mediterranean, there might have been a legion of angels protecting everyone on board. In fact, the sea destroyed the ship, yet everyone made it safely to shore. It happened just as the angel said it would.
God’s angels protect His people, and sometimes these angels graciously spare others in their midst who don’t acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Angels take care of us when we drive on the highway, and they protect our children. Since I know God has His angels looking out for my children, I don’t worry about them because angels can do things for them that I couldn’t even if I were with them.
Delivering
This word doesn’t refer to preventing trouble, but to getting people out of trouble. In its infancy the church experienced tremendous growth because of the apostles’ preaching. Since the religious leaders of Israel felt threatened by the church’s popularity, they decided to imprison the apostles.
But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.…
When the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors; but when we had opened, we found no man within. (Acts 5:19–23 SCO)
How did they get out? The angel let them out. It’s exciting to know you can’t ever get yourself into a situation that God can’t remove you from if He so chooses. Let that truth help melt away any anxieties you have about a situation you currently dread.
The persecution of the early church intensified quickly. James was executed, and Peter was thrown into prison (Acts 12:2–4). On the night he was to be executed:
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, an angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shone in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 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 knew 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 guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out, and passed on through one street; and immediately 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. (Acts 12:6–11 SCO)
Think how active God and His angels must have been in the lives of all the people referred to in Hebrews 11. They delivered Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, “who, through faith, subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword” (Heb. 11:33–34 SCO). Throughout history, angels have served God’s people by protecting and delivering them. That includes contemporary history.
Facilitating
Angels do not answer prayer themselves but can be involved in facilitating God’s answers to prayer. The angel who took Peter out of prison did so in response to the fervent prayers of the church (Acts 12:5): God sent the angel to deliver Peter in answer to their prayers. In Daniel 9 and 10, there are other examples of God sending an angel in answer to prayer.
Serving
During the millennial kingdom, angels will serve us as we rule. Paul said, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? … Do you not know that we will judge [rule over] angels?” (1 Cor. 6:2–3). In the coming kingdom we will rule on earth with Christ as coregents and joint heirs (Matt. 19:28; Rom. 8:17; Rev. 20:4). The angels will be subject to us.
What then should be our attitude toward angels? We ought to respect them as holy servants of God. We ought to appreciate them, knowing how they help us through our difficulties. And we ought to follow their example of continual worship and service to God.
Fellow Believers at Your Service
One of the best ways we can be helped in our struggle with anxiety is when we serve one another with the same diligence as the angels serve us. Does that sound impossible? It’s not. The same God who equips the angels to serve us also equips us to serve one another. Paul said, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God who worketh all in all” (1 Cor. 12:4–6 SCO). God has given a variety of gifts to His church.
Using Our Gifts
Some of the gifts were of a temporary nature; others were and are permanent. The temporary ones were miracles, healings, and tongues.3 The permanent ones are these:
• Prophecy (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 14:3), the ability to preach or proclaim God’s truth to others for their growth, correction, and comfort.
• Teaching (Rom. 12:7), the ability to teach the truths of God’s Word.
• Faith (1 Cor. 12:9), the ability to trust God without doubt or disturbance, regardless of one’s circumstances. People who are especially prone to anxiety would do well to get to know individuals gifted in this way and follow their example.
• Wisdom (1 Cor. 12:8), the ability to apply spiritual truth to life. Believers gifted this way are also good models for the anxious.
• Knowledge (1 Cor. 12:8), the ability to understand facts. It is the academic side of comprehending biblical truth.
• Discernment (1 Cor. 12:10), the ability to distinguish truth from error—to discern what is of God and what is satanic deception.
• Mercy (Rom. 12:8), the ability to demonstrate Christ’s love in acts of kindness.
• Exhortation (Rom. 12:8), the ability to encourage, counsel, and comfort others with biblical truth and Christian love. Those prone to anxiety need to be humble enough to listen and value what these gifted individuals have to say.
• Giving (Rom. 12:8), the ability to provide for the Lord’s work and for others who have difficulty meeting their own material needs. It flows from a decision to commit all earthly possessions to the Lord.
• Administration (Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:28), the ability to organize and lead in spiritual endeavors. It is also known as the gift of ruling or government.
• Helps (Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28), the ability to serve faithfully behind the scenes, assisting the work of the ministry in practical ways.
All spiritual gifts are designed for the good of the church (1 Cor. 14:26 NIV). My gifts are not for my benefit, and your gifts are not for your benefit. We must build up and assist one another “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).
Fellowship is an interchange of mutual care and concern through the agency of our spiritual gifts. Some of the ways that interchange manifests itself are when we:
• Confess our faults to one another (James 5:16).
• Edify one another (1 Thess. 5:11; Rom. 14:19).
• Bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2).
• Pray for one another (James 5:16).
• Are kind to one another (Eph. 4:32).
• Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21).
• Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9).
• Serve one another (Gal. 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10).
• Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18).
• Restore one another (Gal. 6:1).
• Forgive one another (2 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).
• Admonish one another (Rom. 15:14; Col. 3:16).
• Teach one another (Col. 3:16).
• Exhort one another (Heb. 3:13; 10:25).
• Love one another (Rom. 13:8; 1 Thess. 3:12; 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11).
Love is the key to effective ministry. Where love exists there is true humility, which is an essential ingredient in mutual ministries and freedom from anxiety. Pride and anxiety focus on self, whereas humility focuses on others.
If pride is hindering your ministry, concentrate on knowing Christ more intimately through prayer and Bible study. The more you understand His power and glory, the more humble you will be. Then you will give yourself more readily to others as Christ gave Himself to you.
Sharing Our Love
As a human body has connected tissues, muscles, bones, ligaments, and organs, the body of Christ is composed of members who are responsible to one another. No member exists detached from the rest of the body any more than lungs can lie on the floor in the next room and keep a person breathing. The health of the body, its witness, and its testimony are dependent on all members faithfully ministering to one another.
The church was never intended to be only a building—a place where lonely people walk in, listen, and walk out still alone—but a place of fellowship. In his book Dare to Live Now! Bruce Larson said,
The neighborhood bar is possibly the best counterfeit there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give His Church. It’s an imitation, dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality. But it is a permissive, accepting, and inclusive fellowship. It is unshockable, it is democratic. You can tell people secrets and they usually don’t tell others, or want to. The bar flourishes not because most people are alcoholics, but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love, and be loved, and so many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers.4
This need for fellowship is not met simply by attending the Sunday services, whether they be small groups where everyone is known or large congregations where that is not the case. A desperate need for personal, intimate fellowship exists in the church today. And this fellowship, like the gifts, is intrinsic to exhibiting practical unity. Finding a good church fellowship is no small matter in our onslaught against anxiety.
In true fellowship Christians don’t judge one another; they don’t bite and devour each other; they don’t provoke, envy, lie to one another, speak evil, or grumble about one another. Since true fellowship builds up, the godly will receive one another and be kind and tenderhearted toward one another. They will bear with and forgive one another, serve one another, practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another, correct, instruct, submit to one another, and comfort one another. That is the true fellowship of Christ’s body—life touching life to bring blessing and spiritual growth.
Too often Christians place themselves inside little glass bubbles and try to look like supersaints, as if they hadn’t a problem or worry in the world. They aren’t willing to share openly and expose their sins to a fellow believer. They don’t know what it is to have another believer say, “That’s the same thing I’m going through. Let’s pray for each other.”
A brother in Christ confessed a sin to me and promised to tell me each time he committed it. Later he told me that promise prevented him from committing the sin again because he didn’t want to endure the shame of telling me about it. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote powerfully of this privilege of confessing our sins to one another:
Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community. The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation. Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light. In the darkness of the unexpressed it poisons the whole being of a person. This can happen even in the midst of a pious community. In confession the light of the Gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart. The sin must be brought into the light. The unexpressed must be openly spoken and acknowledged. All that is secret and hidden is made manifest. It is a hard struggle until the sin is openly admitted. But God breaks gates of brass and bars of iron.5
Confessing our sins to one another results in a purer fellowship of people who know and love one another—who understand one another’s needs, anxieties, and temptations. What strength resides in such a community!
Here is a key principle that all Christian communities should operate by: “If a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong” (Gal. 6:1 TLB). Pick him or her up and say, “Let me show you from the Word of God what is going on. Let’s pray together. Let’s walk on the right track together.” That is restorative care. We as Christians haven’t done our duty if we only rebuke. We need to come alongside and restore—in love.
That verse is perhaps the clearest example from Scripture of how we as believers are to look out for one another. In attacking anxiety, be encouraged to know that angels are looking out for you, but also make a point of knowing and being known by mature believers in a context of ministering to each other. The responsibility of finding such a fellowship is yours. Never underestimate the power of godly fellowship in bearing the burden of your anxieties.
Notes
1 C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (New York: Macmillan, 1970), 125.
2 Billy Graham, Angels: God’s Secret Agents (New York: Doubleday, 1975), 115.
3 For more on this, read John MacArthur Jr., Charismatic Chaos (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).
4 Bruce Larson, Dare to Live Now! (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1965), 110.
5 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York: Harper & Row, 1954), 112.