NOVEMBER, 2000
Spiritual Warfare
The Five Order of Angels

By Pastor Pete Norris


 

Colossians 1:16-17 – “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him; And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

There is a fine line between seen and unseen, natural and spiritual, and earthly and heavenly. Invisible does not mean substance. It means distance. The invisible can only become visible to us by revelation. Angels are not invisible to us because of substance but because of distance.

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Our faith makes things tangible to us. The difference between visible and invisible is distance. We base everything on what we see. This is where the church is missing it. Everything we see is temporary. The things we do not see are permanent. The spiritual realm is opposite of the natural realm. When we see into the invisible, we take the faith God has given us and pull things into the natural.

People who are really walking by faith are walking in the invisible. God created the invisible and we have created the natural by carnality. God gave us a spirit to be God-conscious, a soul to be sense-conscious, and a body to be self-conscious. When we are led by the spirit, we take the invisible and pull it into the visible, and we don’t have to see something to know it is there.

Job 38:4-7 – “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

Before the creation of everything, there were angels. ”Sons of God" in verse 7 means ”angels." God has a plan and we do not have as much to do with it as we think we do.

Ephesians 6:12 – “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the following:

(1) Principalities

(2) Powers

(3) Rulers of darkness of this world

(4) Spiritual wickedness in high places

God has a power against every area that Satan has established. We do not have to battle everything we are battling.

Five Kinds of Angels

Seraphims

Isaiah 6:1-4 – “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims; each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.”

Seraphims have the understanding and nature of God. The seraphims continuously say ”holy, holy, holy" before the throne because there is a continuous outflow of revelation regarding God’s holiness and purity. Seraphims are worshipping angels.

Cherubims

Ezekial 1:5 – “Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.”

Cherubims are worshipping angels. Cherubims are the only angelic being that understands Holy Spirit. Lucifer is a cherubim. He has tried to stop the church from operating in the Spirit.

Verse 10 is symbolic of Jesus. Lion is Matthew (king). Ox is Mark (servant). Man is Luke (man). Eagle is John (deity).

As the cherubims walked forward they were symbolic of the coming of Holy Spirit. Cherubims were angels that guarded the Garden of Eden to keep Adam and Eve out.

Ezekial 10:14 – “And every one had four faces; the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.”

The face of the ox (servant) is not listed in this scripture. When Jesus left, He sent Holy Spirit (the Comforter) back to earth. Cherub is listed in this scripture because it is symbolic of Holy Spirit (the Comforter).

Living Creatures

Revelation 4:1-8 – “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven; and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within; and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

Living creatures are worshipping angels. They protect the throne of God. The living creatures were full of eyes because that is symbolic of revelation. The living creatures do not need rest. Demons have to have a place to rest.

Spiritual things are opposite of natural things because we are pulling the invisible into the visible. We bring our world into existence through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Archangels

Daniel 10:13 – “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.”

There are three archangels listed in the Bible -- Michael (the warring angel), Gabriel (the messenger angel) and Lucifer. Lucifer was a cherubim and an archangel.

Daniel had been praying for 21 days for revelation. God heard him the first day but He could not get through so He sent Michael to push the answer through.

Archangels walk in power and authority and are chief rulers. Satan understands what we are trying to operate through to get to God. This is why Satan fights us getting into the Word so much. If he can keep us from the Word, he can keep us from operating in the Spirit. If there is no Word, then there is no power.

Revelation 12:7 – “And there was a war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,”

During tribulation, a war will go on in the heavenlies between Michael and his angels and Lucifer and the rest of the fallen angels who were not bound until judgement. Lucifer knows he is going to lose. He just wants to take as many people to hell with him as he can.

Faith gives us power to believe in the things of God. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Without revelation, we will not stand but we will be defeated.

Daniel 8:16-18 – “And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face; but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for at the time of the end shall be the vision. Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.”

Gabriel came to give Daniel the desires of the vision he had. An angel came to Mary with the message of Jesus’ birth. Before God appeared to someone, He called them pure in His sight. God will only instill His revelation in purity. God gives revelation for it to be poured out. To get revelation, we have to die to self, stop being carnal, and pull the invisible into the visible. As long as we stay consumed by our circumstances, we will never see the invisible because we can never see past us. We must see past ourselves to see through the eyes of God. We are in a spiritual warfare but 90% of the battle is ourselves.

Isaiah 14:12 – “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”

Lucifer fell from heaven. He was an archangel, cherubim, prophet, priest and king. We are kings, priests and the prophets of our lives.

Amos 3:7 – “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

Isaiah 43:18-19 – “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I shall do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?...”

God can do nothing for us except He tells us first. We have to find it in the Word and then accept it by faith. We build our faith by walking in the Word.

Common Angels

II Samuel 14:20 – “To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing; and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.”

We have angels to minister to us and carry out what we are speaking. Common angels are wise and know all things on the earth. We are on the earth.

Luke 15:10 – “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Angels are joyful.

Revelation 18:1 – “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.”

Angels are powerful.

Psalm 103:20 – “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”

Angels are obedient and hearken to the Word of God.

Mark 8:38 – “...when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Angels are holy. Jesus will bring the holy angels with Him when He returns.

Mark 13:32 – “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”

Angels are limited in knowledge in heavenly things. They do not know when Jesus is coming back.

Isaiah 14:13-14 – “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

Angels have a will.

Revelation 4:8 – “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within; and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

Angels do not need rest.

Hebrews 13:2 – “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Angels do appear sometimes in human form.

I Corinthians 13:1 – “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

Angels can speak.

Genesis 18:8 – “...and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.”

Angels eat.

Hebrews 1:14 – “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

Angels minister for us and not to us.

Luke 2:13-14 – “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Angels can sing and worship.

Luke 22:43 – “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

Angels strengthen us.

Matthew 1:20 & 24 – “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife;”

Angels appear in dreams.

Acts 27:23 – “For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve.”

Angels will direct preachers.

Revelation 20:1-2 – “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.”

One angel can bind the devil.

Psalm 34:7 – “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

Angels protect and deliver the saints.

Luke 16:22 – “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom...”

When saints die, angels receive them.

Acts 12:7-9 – “And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison; and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up 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 wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.”

Angels opened the door for Peter and told him what to speak.

I Corinthians 4:9 – “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.”

Angels observe and watch over us.

Angels are led by the Spirit but will only do what we speak.

Psalm 103:20 – “Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.”

Angels will only honor the Word of God. When we speak doubt and unbelief, we tie the angels’ hands but not the demons’ hands.

There are two spiritual forces on earth -- Spirit of the Lord and Lucifer. Our human spirit will follow whatever we feed it the most.

Psalm 148:2-5 – “Praise ye him, all his angels; praise ye him, all his hosts.Praise ye him, sun and moon; praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord; for he commanded, and they were created.”

Angels were created by God and helped to create the earth.

Job 38:4-7 – “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

Colossians 1:16 – “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things were created by him, and for him;”

God spoke and the Holy Spirit manifested what God spoke. God speaks, Jesus does it, and the Holy Spirit performs it. God is the operation, Jesus is the administration and the Holy Spirit is the manifestation. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all one but have different functions.

God said ”let" light be. ”Let" means ”permission." God gave the Holy Spirit permission to manifest the light.

We are in spiritual warfare and we will be defeated if we do not know who we are fighting against. We are set far above the powers of the devil. Archangels battle principalities. Living creatures battle powers. Cherubims battle rulers of darkness. Seraphims battle spiritual wickedness in high places. We are battling demons.

The problem of the body of Christ is that people do not know the Word. We get shaken by circumstances. We have to trust God. Our weapons are not carnal. If demons cannot get us to doubt, they cannot do anything to us. Satan came at Jesus with the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. He will come at us with the same things.

Genesis 2:16-17 – “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Genesis 3:3 – But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”

Eve missed it because she did not know the Word. She told Satan that God had said not to eat or touch the fruit. God had only told them to not eat the fruit.

People should not depend on others for revelation, but get to know the Word for themselves.

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