Every Born-Again Christian has been commanded to focus totally on Jesus and not on any other created thing - including Angels. Good Angels are subject only to God. There is a growing interest in summoning Angels. Some people have placed them amongst the ranks of the saints of old as idols of worship, which is warned against in the Scriptures. (Galatians 1:8, 13; 1 John 4:1; 1 Timothy 4:1) This has brought about a "religion" of Angels (Colossians 2:18).
Every Angel, including those who fell, believes that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Creator of the universe and "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12 ESV). This is why they remain anonymous, and the Redeemed (us!) are forbidden to try and communicate with them (Judges 13:18).
A spirit being that proclaims any other Gospel is to be accursed (Galatians 1:8). God wants every Born-Again Christian to "test everything," including the spirit beings because they could be a deceitful and lying spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV).
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God…" Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…" (1 John 4:1 ESV)
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1 ESV)
The Holy Spirit was sent to be the only guide for the Christian - not Angels! (See John 14:20) He will direct a person to the words of Jesus. Even though He may occasionally choose to use Angels, He does not need Angels to do this.
God condemns the intentional seeking out of any paranormal information through Angels or any other entities (See Deuteronomy 18:9-12). He has given the gift of "distinguishing between spirits" because not all "spirits" are good (1 Corinthians 12:10 NIV). The Born-Again Christian must learn to test everything - including experiences - with the only reliable reference point - the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Intentional interaction with Angels is a dangerous game for both the young and mature Born-Again Believer. It can open them up to demonic encounters and manifestations of demons masquerading as Angels of light. Angels are simply messengers of God. It is best to seek after the message maker rather than the message giver.
God never instructed an Angel to have an ongoing discourse or get involved in a relationship with people. Nowhere in the Scriptures are Christians instructed to pursue experiences in the spirit realm and seek out and summon directly, command, talk to, or interact with Angels for guidance or to work alongside them in ministry.
God's Word must be the only foundational standard of truth - not experience or intuition. After the end of days, Christians will rule and reign over the Earth with Jesus (Revelation 5:10), but they will not rule over Angels. Christians will judge the fallen Angels and are implored not to take their eyes off Jesus - who alone is Lord, Savior, and Healer.
The Doorway for Visiting Angels
Before the turn of the 21st century, there began a dramatic increase in the number of those who say they are experiencing Angelic visitations due to heavenly "energy portals" (doorways) opening up in various locations where Angels ascend and descend. Indeed, God can sovereignly send an Angel through a "portal." Although they are not explicitly called "portals" in Scripture, the locations of these events are recorded in Scripture and should not be dismissed as imaginary or purely demonic.
John the Beloved, while exiled on the island of Patmos, had a vision when he was "in the spirit" and was able to see and experience the realm of the third Heaven when he entered via a "door standing open in heaven" that allowed him to see the sights and hear the sounds of that reality (Revelation 4:1-2 NIV). It was a "door" and not a spiritual entry point of light or a mystical portal, funnel, channel or tunnel between Heaven and the Earth below to receive power or journey as a heavenly tourist.
Jesus said, "where I go, you cannot come, and He promised the Disciples, "…I am going there to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 8:21, 14:2-3 NIV).
There is a danger when intentionally looking for these "energy portals" because it is primarily a pagan practice dating back thousands of years that the Occult has warmly embraced. Jesus warned that there is a "portal" many will enter that is wide, and the path to it is "broad." Yet, He said it "leads to destruction" (Matthew 7:13 NIV).
Jesus said there is a small "portal" and "narrow" path that "leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV). That "portal" is Jesus! He said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved" (John 10:9 NKJV). The only true "portal" to Heaven is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the King of Glory!
Jesus spoke a harsh word to Christians who walk in their own wisdom, wealth, strength, and pride. He says they are "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17 NIV). He stands knocking at the "portal" of their heart so that those who hear His voice and open that portal through sincere repentance, He will come in and take residence in their life (Revelation 3:20).
Dispelling Darkness
The enemy of God, in his arrogance, thinks he has his own authority. He is a master of lies and deceptions with untold centuries of experience. He will use every cunning trick to deceive. He will twist the Bible for his ends. He knows human weakness and what it takes to tempt people to sin - but he cannot deceive, tempt, or control Jesus. The enemy's influence is restricted to the parameters God has set for him (See Psalm 74:17).
And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." (Genesis 1:3 NIV)
Just as God created light to dispel darkness, so God today must create spiritual light to dispel man's moral blindness. (See also 2 Corinthians 4:6 3; John 1:4-5, 9:41; Ephesians 4:17-18) When a person's physical eyes are blinded, they cannot see the light from the Sun.
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (1 Corinthians 4:4 NIV)
When a person admits they are spiritually blind, they will have taken the first step to truth, and when they receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they walk in the light because He is the Light.
Driving Out The Devil
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (See 1 John 3:8). He gave His followers "authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness" (Matthew 10:1, 6-8, 12:27-28 NIV). It must be made very clear that the shed blood of Jesus totally and completely "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:15 NIV). Jesus has complete control over them! (See Psalm 72:9; Matthew 12:29; Isaiah 53:10) Jesus bound satan and plundered his house by exorcising demons (See Matthew 12:29).
Every person who receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior is delivered from the enemy and given victory! Demons are NOT more powerful than Jesus, who indwells every Christian (See John 8:36, Ephesians 3:7; 1 Colossians 1:13).
The Born-Again Christian is only tempted when they are: "...drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:14 NIV). The forces of darkness have always been severely restricted. Demons can enslave and oppress fallen people only to the degree that they willingly violate God's law.
Jesus gave the disciples power and "authority over evil spirits"…. "They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them." (Mark 6:6-13 NIV)
The most common way of dealing with demons is to drive or cast them out. The Greek word used is "ekballo," and it means to forcibly chase, expel, pull, or take out. However, it is God's responsibility to rebuke and punish the enemy. He will "fight those who fight you" (Isaiah 49:25 TLB). God did not mean that the Born-Again Christian can do battle in their own power and might.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. "2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ESV)
A group of men known as the Seven Sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons in their own strength by using the name of Jesus as an "incantation" without the direct authority and power that comes through the personal infilling of the Holy Spirit. When they tried the "incantation" on a demonized man, the demon replied;
"I know Jesus, and I know Paul. But who are you?' "And he leaped on them and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and badly injured." (Acts 19:13-16 NLT)
The authority and power found only in the name of Jesus must be called upon with a clean and humble heart that is fully yielded to God. Remember, God alone rebukes the enemy, not the Born-Again Christian! No one should ever attempt to war against the enemy in their strength (Zechariah 3;1-2; Jude 9).
No created being should ever dare to insult the enemy by fighting with their human authority. It is God who gave to the enemy the power he has in this world, and therefore, it is only God who can rebuke and cast him and his accusations away. God's word is "Like fire" that will consume and break the enemy "like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces." (Jeremiah 23:29 NIV)
The fate of the enemy of God and his minions has been predetermined, and they will ultimately be cast into the place of "eternal fire" (Matthew 25:41; Jude 1:6,7), also called the "lake of fire" at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:15) This is the place of eternal punishment that has been "prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41 NIV).
The evil one and his highest ranking demons can still oppose the work of God and hinder the Angels of God (Daniel 10:10-14) within the boundaries of the second Heaven. The evil one and his minions will be expelled forever from the second Heaven at a final battle (Revelation 12:7-12).
The war against the enemy of God was won at the Cross, and he and his minions know that they have already been defeated for all eternity (See Matthew 8:29, 25:41; Mark 1:24, 5:7; Luke 4:34, 8; 28; John 16:11, James 2:19). Still, there are battles yet to be fought. The enemy is too arrogant and proud ever to give up, and neither should the Christian!
