Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

  - Revelation 14.6

On one occasion the monks said to Mochuda, “Our fields are ripe,” said they, “but we have no reapers.” “God is able [to give] you reapers,” said Mochuda. So a band of angels descended on the field and reaped it.

  - Anonymous, Life of Mochuda, Irish, 16th century from an earlier ms.

This passage in Revelation has always fascinated me. Angels proclaiming the Gospel?

It reminds me of the angel who appeared to Philip and sent him on his mission to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8.26). What form might than angel have taken?

Or the angel who delivered Peter from prison and set him back on his course of proclaiming the Good News (Acts 12).

I wonder how the angels are involved with us, particularly as it relates to the proclamation of the Gospel. The writer of Hebrews says that angels can appear among us and we won’t even be aware that’s what they are (Heb. 13.1, 2). Hmm…

Angels help the cause of the Gospel, and I’m encouraged to know this, because from what I’ve observed of late, if the angels aren’t proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, it’s not getting much distribution.

We’ve become a non-evangelistic evangelical Church in this country. Maybe we should begin praying that angels would show up in our Personal Mission Fields and give us a hand at this most basic task.

It’s kind of weird and thrilling to think they actually might, no?

Seriously, the question remains in my mind: Scripture frequently talks about the role of angels in helping us along in the life of faith. If Scripture says it, I believe it, and more than that, I want it.

Celtic Christians talked and wrote about the help of angels matter-of-factly, like they really experienced it. What we see in the hagiographical accounts – such as the Life of Mochuda – may be a little too free, but who are we to say? If God could send angels to minister to His Son, can He not send them to minister to us as well?

I prefer to think that He can, and does, but I’m not prepared to get too specific about the theology of angelic ministrations. It’s enough for me to believe that, as I press on in the work to which God has called me, He can send His angels to help in whatever way I need it, at just the time I need it.

As you go out into your Personal Mission Field today, do you expect the help of angels?

And if not, why not?

Psalm 92.1-3, 11-13 (Lauda Anima: “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven”)
All who dwell within God’s shelter in His shadow will reside.
He our Tow’r, our Fortress ever, in Him we our trust confide.
From the trapper’s snares He saves us, safe from harm shall we abide.

He will give His angels charge to bear us up, lest we should fall;
They will guard and carry all who on the Savior’s mercy call.
Cobra, might lion, serpent: We shall tread upon them all!

I believe in angels, Lord, I really do, but I’m not sure how much to rely on them. I’ll trust in You to do what’s best for me at all times, and if You choose to use angels, I will certainly praise You for that as well.

A Field Guide to Mission
OK, so let’s get out their and mix with the angels! Let’s get busy in our Personal Mission Fields doing the work of living for Christ as His ambassadors and witnesses. A Field Guide for Witness can help – a worksheet and three brief booklets to guide your daily work among the wheat field of the Lord. It’s free for your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe. Use the donate button here or at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. We’ll send A Field Guide for Witness to help you get started or advance your work as a witness for Christ. The angels are waiting for you out there.

By the way, for more on the work of angels – and all kinds of things in the unseen realm – order a copy of the workbook, The Landscape of Unseen Things, from our online bookstore. Here are 24 lessons to lead you on a guided tour of the larger world in which we live.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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