Archive for August, 2025
Angels, Cherubim, and Seraphim
Three distinct celestial beings are mentioned in Scripture: angels, cherubim, and seraphim.
“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1: 14).
Angels appear throughout Scripture. The word angel comes from the Greek word “angelos” meaning “messenger.” The corresponding Hebrew word is “malakh” also meaning “messenger.”
The terms are sometimes used to designate human messengers (Hag. 1:13, Mal. 2:7), but most often are used to refer to supernatural, celestial beings. In instances when the term refers to human beings it is identifying them as messengers of God as are supernatural angels, that is, messengers.
To my limited knowledge the Bible does not describe them as having wings. Mythology and medieval art represent them as having wings, and thus a current concept is that they have wings. This incorrect representation is further encouraged by confusing them with the two other supernatural beings now to be identified.
The words Cherub and Cherubim in speaking of “angels’ wings” occur about a hundred times in the Bible. Only in the Bible translation entitled “God’s Word,” is the Hebrew “k?r? ?m” rendered “angels’ wings.” All others translate it “cherubim.” That one reads: “The sound of the angels’ wings was heard as far as the outer courtyard” (Ezekiel 10: 5). All other Bibles translated it more accurately as “cherubim.”
Another form of supernatural, creating beings is cherubim. This word comes from the Greek, “cherubim” or Hebrew, “kerubim.” Their primary task is that of serving as guards. They guard the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:24), and either support or flank the throne of God (Psalm 80:1; 99:1).
Cherubim are spoken of as being winged. Their swiftness is spoken of as being like the wind. They were mysterious, heavenly beings represented as winged lions with human faces (Ezek. 41:18ff) .
Two wooden replicas of cherubim, gold covered with wings outspread, were placed over the cover or “mercy seat” of the Ark of the Covenant, protecting the holy contents.
Seraphim form a third order of celestial beings and are spoken of as being winged (Isaiah 6:2,3) . The word is from the Hebrew “saraph.” They are mentioned only once in the Bible, and that is in the Old Testament. They appear to be attendants waiting to carry out the bequests of the Lord.
Most scholars consider these three orders as separate forms of celestial beings.
Much is said in Scripture regarding angels watching over us that is a mystery. There are some “mysteries of the faith,” regarding angels watch over us that is not fully understood. God has told us all we need to know. Accept it and thank Him.
Self-Control – Part Two
“The fruit of the Spirit is ….self-control” Galatians 5: 23.
Self-control is the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the face of temptations and impulses. It involves resisting short-term temptations in order to achieve long-term goals. Self-control is crucial for personal discipline, decision-making, and maintaining healthy relationships and habits.
From a biblical standpoint a Christian is to be a disciplined person. Numerous examples are used to illustrate this. The discipline of a soldier is one.
“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (II Timothy 2: 3 – 5).
Self-control is not a one time lifetime achievement. It has to be exercised as a lifestyle repeated over and over meeting each challenge as various conditions arise. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ… (I Peter 1: 13). To gird up means to be resolutely determined.
“Now no chastening (discipline) seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12: 11). Self-control often necessitates giving up some short term pleasures for long term benefits.
Self-control involves aiding yourself by avoiding temptation. For example, if you are trying to exercise self-control regarding weight control avoid taking a bag of donuts home. Avoid the allure that tests your will. Figuratively, if you are not going fishing, stay out of the bait shop.
The Scripture uses the term “strive” related to withstanding temptation. The Greek word for “strive” is agonizesthe, in which you correctly hear the English word “agonize.” Don’t expect self-control to always be easy.
Paul says that Christians exercise self-control like the Greek athletes, only our goal is eternal, not temporal. “Every athlete [agonizomenos] exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (1 Corinthians 9:25). So he says, “I discipline my body and keep it under control” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Self-control is saying no to sinful desires, even when it hurts. Such is a classic example.
Self-control being a fruit of the Spirit it is a partnership, the Spirit’s fruit and our will. Thus, Paul answers: “For this I toil, struggling [agonizomenos] with all His energy that He powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:29). We “agonize” by the power of Christ, not our own will.
Remember “it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Every good thing we do is the fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives.
Self-Control – Part One
“The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control” Galatians 5: 23.
Self-control is the ability to regulate one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in the face of temptations and impulses.
Parents often say to a misbehaving child, “Control yourself” while they fail to exercise self-control themselves.
Self-control is negative and positive. It not only involves stopping a negative, but also starting a positive activity.
Dieting is “Exhibit A.” Living in the well-fed part of the world which boasts some of the world’s best home cooks self-control is essential for good health. It requires not only stopping over indulging, but starting good dietary habits. It is often as difficult to do one as the other.
The controlling factor is “self.” External factors are influential, but only the self can control one’s actions. Research shows that self-control is like a muscle: it can be strengthened over time with practice. Strategies such as setting clear goals, avoiding temptations, and using positive self-talk can help improve it.
Often the impression is given that some people find it easy and others difficult to exercise it. False, everybody is challenged to employ it.
Perhaps the term self-control is misleading and that causes difficulty. True biblical self-control is not merely self-employed will, it is the employment of spirit-control known as the “fruit of the spirit.” It is the engagement of the Holy Spirit along with self-will. The Spirit is the supercharger that empowers the self to act.
Now back to the parent/child analogy. When the parent says “Control yourself” they are making it known their will is different than that of the child. At that moment the child makes a decision as to which will is to be obeyed. The likelihood of it being the parent’s will is largely dependent on the parent/child relationship. The child who loves the parent and knows of the parents love is much more likely to do the parent’s will and exercise self-control.
Likewise, the person who knows the Father’s will and His love is all the more likely to exercise self-control and allow the fruit of the Spirit to control. They prefer to please the Lord rather than themselves.
Now consider a bad habit about which you know the will of the Father. Do you love the Lord enough to want to please Him? If so, commit the matter to Him in love and ask for His empowering grace.
Conversely, if there is a practice you want to start, commit it to the Father. Acknowledge your desire to please Him is stronger than your selfish self-will.
We are to be “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (I Peter 1:14 – 16).
Integrity Counts
Wealth is either good or not depending on how it is earned and used. A collective misuse pattern is found in these men.
1923 was a very prosperous year in America. That year a group of the most successful financiers and industrial giants gathered at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. They were —
the president of the world’s largest steel company,
the president of the largest utility company,
the president of the New York Stock Exchange,
a member of the President’s Cabinet,
the biggest trader on Wall Street,
and the head of the world’s most powerful monopoly.
At the zenith of their prestigious careers combined they had more money than the U.S. Treasury. Their wealth and fame faded.
Charles Schwab, president of the steel company, lived his last years on borrowed money and died penniless.
Arthur Cutten, the wheat speculator, also died insolvent.
The president of the stock exchange served time in Sing-Sing Penitentiary.
The member of the President’s Cabinet was pardoned from prison so he could die at home.
Three of the others committed suicide.
Money didn’t bring them happiness and contentment because their lives were not given to the Lord and therefore neither was their treasure.
Various ones of the following texts explain their financial and personal demise, but they illustrate the expediency of virtue in all of life.
“Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time” (Proverbs 13:11). Get-rich-quick schemes are to be avoided.
“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight” (Proverbs 11:1 ESV). Goods and services should be honestly rendered.
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them” (Proverbs 11:3 ESV). One’s true nature is revealed action.
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9 ESV). Be sure your nature will reveal itself.
Pause and reveal yourself to the Lord as though He doesn’t know it. Enlist His help in developing character pleasing to Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3: 5, 6).
Play Ball
There was an old baseball coach at Pepperdine University named John Scolinos who when he addressed an audience of baseball coaches had a standard size home plate hung around his neck. He began by asking in succession if there were any Little League, Babe Ruth, high school, college, Minor League, and finally Major League coaches present. Pausing between each, he asked what was the size of your home plate. Reservedly, thinking it was a trick question, each slowly answered, “17 inches.”
“SEV-EN-TEEN INCHES,” he confirmed.
Then he questioned, “What do they do with a Big League pitcher who can’t throw the ball over seventeen inches?”
Someone shouted, “They send him to Pocatello.”
Coach Scolinos remarked, “They don’t say, ‘That is OK. If you can’t hit a seventeen inch target we will make it eighteen or nineteen inches. We’ll make it twenty inches so you will have a better chance of hitting it. If you can’t hit that, let us know so we can make it wider still, say twenty-five inches.’”
Then he asked, “What do we do if the best player consistently shows up late for practice? Or, when the rules forbid facial hair and he shows up unshaven? Do we change the rules for him?”
Next he drove home his point noting that is the problem in our country. “We have changed the rules in government, in marriage, in church, and in education.”
Regarding each of these disciplines, he made his point as he did in this way regarding government: “Our so called representatives make rules for us that don’t apply to themselves. They take bribes from lobbyists and foreign countries. They no longer serve us. And we allow them to widen the home plate! We see our country falling into a dark abyss and we just watch.”
(I want to interject that though this is true in general, there are some very good leaders who serve us well.)
In a discipline dear to me there have been dramatic changes of standards. There is a new theological school of thought going around in some churches known as Liberation Theology. Proponents say the church has alienated society by holding standards no longer acceptable by the world. The church must change to be more acceptable by the world. It must become more compatible with the world.
You fill in the blanks noting where standards have been changed by the church.
Historically the objective has been to love the world, but not the things of the world and endeavor to lead the world to upgrade its standards. That is now being reversed in the name of popularity.
Scolinos made his final point. “If we fail to hold ourselves to a higher standard, a standard of what we know to be right; if we fail to hold our spouses and our children to the same standard, if we are unwilling and unable to provide a consequence when they do not meet the standard; and if our schools & churches and our government fail to hold themselves accountable to those they serve, there is but one thing to look forward to…”.
At that point he turns over the home plate he has around his neck to show the reverse side. Showing it to be black he warns, “We have dark days ahead!” Then this appeal to keep “Your own children, your churches, your government, and most of all, keep yourself at seventeen inches.” I commend the Bible as the standard.