Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire (Psalm 104:4). 

 

There’s a difference between how angels related to people in the Old Testament and how they relate with us in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, they had authority over people to the point they could even punish some who did something wrong.

 

A simple example is the story of Zechariah, which, though in the New Testament section of the Bible, happened in the Old Testament period. An angel brought a message to Zechariah that he and his wife would have a child in their old age, John the Baptist.

 

Zechariah however failed to believe the words of the angel, and the angel punished Zechariah for his unbelief; he became dumb until John the Baptist was born (read Luke 1:19-20). But in the New Testament, the angels are our servants; they actually serve us. 

 

The Bible says angels are “… all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14). We’re the heirs of salvation. The angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for us, that is, on our behalf. In the Old Testament, angels ministered to them; in the New Testament, they minister for us.

 

This is wonderful! It shows how real and powerful our Lord Jesus is, because we function in His Name. In His Name, we give instructions and even angels obey. The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:22: “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” Hallelujah!