It’s Biblical to receive messages from God through angels—and especially those of great importance.

• Daniel heard from the angel Gabriel, as did Zechariah and Mary
• Paul also received messages from God through angels
• Joseph received messages from angels in dreams
• Philip was directed by an angel [1]

Hearing from angels is Scriptural, and the angelic realm is a part of God’s Kingdom. But the Bible gives us this important mandate:

All angelic encounters and experiences need to be weighed up, before we can claim they’re genuinely from God.

Regardless of how supernatural the encounters are.
Regardless of the apparent glory of the messenger—and even if we are confronted with an angel seemingly from the very throne of God (Gal 1:8).

‘Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.’ (1 John 4:1, NKJV)

I believe this is a wakeup call for us right now. Because God has more, much more for us.

And we need a foundation of wisdom so that the fullness of what our Father has for us can be released and impact the world—and not be tainted or stolen from us.

Greater things are just ahead.

---

5 Reasons Why Testing Angelic Encounters is Powerful

1. When We Test Angelic Encounters, We’re Valuing What is Truly of God

Why should we test all kinds of revelation—including supernatural encounters and messages received through angelic visitations?

• To make sure the messages and insights are really from God
• And in the case of angels, we want to ensure the messengers themselves are truly from God

This isn’t about fear, or mistrusting what God is doing.

It reveals the high value God places upon hearing His voice, as we determine what is of Him.

This is why the Apostle Paul brings guidelines and protocols into the operation of prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14.

• Having just expounded on love in the previous chapter, Paul explains what love looks like in action

It’s not about imposing restrictions, but empowering and releasing what the Holy Spirit is saying and doing.

And to the Thessalonians, Paul writes, ‘Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.’ (1 Thess 5:19-22)

When we test a communication to see if it is truly of God, we’re seeking His glory. We demonstrate our desire that Jesus receive the honour that is due Him.

---

2. Testing Angelic Encounters is Biblical

The Bible is always our primary guide in understanding and testing supernatural encounters. (2 Tim 3:16)

When we’re in Biblical alignment, we are standing in a place of spiritual authority.

• And that is a position from which the power of God can be released

As with prophecy, it is Biblical to weigh up encounters with, and messages from, angels (1 John 4:1).

‘But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.’ (Gal 1:8, NKJV)

Apply a Biblical Weight of Balance

Having a Biblical approach to testing communication from God is more than using a single Bible verse or passage, to affirm an experience is from God.

It also means applying a Biblical weight of balance—in other words, checking the wider context of what the Bible says.

Take angels, for example: When we look at the overall picture, we see that people who received visits from angels in the Bible did not seek after the angels. [2]

God Himself, by sending His angels, initiated those encounters. The people were invariably taken by surprise.

So, we learn that while communication from angels is scriptural, seeking contact with them and initiating conversation with them is not.
This is one aspect of Biblical balance.

---

3. Testing Angelic Encounters Helps us to Grow

When the Apostle Paul visited Berea, he came with the Gospel received directly from Heaven. He’d personally encountered Jesus Christ.

And yet the Bereans were still commended for checking everything he said against the Scriptures (Acts 11:17).

A vital aspect of our spiritual growth (and our relationship with God) is that we hear from God for ourselves.

This is true even when a mature or anointed prophet or intercessor is delivering a message.
And even if it comes from an online blog, a book, or a TV show.
Even if it comes with power, and signs and wonders.

We always need to ask for ourselves—is it Biblical?

• Is the interpretation or teaching given alongside this encounter or message, Scriptural?
• Does it resonate with the Spirit of God in me?
• Is the person sharing the word, and the message itself, submitted to oversight? Is there integrity?
• If it’s for me personally, is it for now—in which case it should be a confirmation—or could it be for the future?
• What are my own leaders and oversight saying about this?

One reason that weighing up prophetic insights from others helps us grow is that by doing so, we are being instructed personally from Scripture, not just depending on a prophet or leader.

Your Father wants you to grow and to reach your full potential.

A Word for Those of Us Who are Prophetic Leaders

On the other side of this, those of us who are prophetic leaders must be extremely careful not to allow people to follow us blindly.

We must take extra care when we share a message we believe is from God, that we’ve received during a spiritual encounter.

Because young or immature Christians could mistakenly believe that our revelation is not open to question or being weighed up, because of the way it was received.

Remember, that you hold the keys, not only to your own growth but also to others around you.

So, encourage those you lead to grow in spiritual authority, Biblical insight, and their ability to hear God’s voice.

---

4. Testing Prophetic Revelation Protects Us from Extremes and Error

In the church body, we need discerners, and we also need teachers.

• Those who will step back and say, ‘What is this revelation, encounter, or testimony teaching others—and does it line up with what the Bible says?’

Let’s not forget that John warned about false prophets (1 John 4:1), and Paul warned against false apostles. He wrote, ‘Satan masquerades as an angel of light’ (2 Cor 11:14).

Paul warns us of blindly putting our trust in an experience—our own or others. And we know if Satan can’t hold us back, he will try and push us too far, into extremes.

Paul wrote to the Colossians,
‘Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.’ (Col 2:18, NIV).

John and Paul were talking about people who were preaching a ‘different Gospel’ and had a ‘different spirit’ and yet they were presenting themselves as being genuinely from God!

They were deceiving Christians.
And if it could happen in the days of the great Apostles—those who had walked on earth with Jesus—we are also vulnerable to this.

This makes testing and weighing up an angelic prophetic message one of the most vital and powerful things we can do today.

It’s for our protection and the safeguard of others. It’s for the protection of those who are yet to follow Christ.

And also, importantly, it guards and releases the true encounters. The true and authentic words.

Because the Kingdom of God is going to become increasingly visible as we pray and watch for God at work.
The world is waiting for us.
The unusual is going to become commonplace.
And in the midst of this, may we be a people of humility, accountability, and Biblical integrity.

---

5. Testing All Prophetic Revelation Empowers Community

There is no ‘hierarchy’ of the ways that God speaks.

In God’s Kingdom, a practical, but God-breathed, word of wisdom can be just as significant as an open vision.

The revelation (or insight from God) that one believer receives through the gentle nudge of the Spirit, can be just as powerful as that received through an open vision. (John 16:3)

Both are the Spirit. And both are from the Throne.
Both can result in miracles and breakthroughs.
And both are subject to being weighed up.

So, let’s be careful not to glorify one means of receiving revelation over another. Let’s always glorify Jesus, Lord of the Church and Giver of gifts.

Never be intimidated, or over-awed, by someone else’s prophetic gift or way of hearing from God.

• And don’t be impressed with someone’s spirituality, just because they have had an angelic encounter

Maybe your Father wants to use you in a different way to someone else. A way unique to you.

Oh, how He loves you! And He treasures that you hear and respond to His lightest touch and whispers.

(1 Kings 19:12-13)

---

Notes and Related posts:

This article is excerpted from a 2-part video series on my Prayer School. If you’re interested in more about this and similar topics, check out the Enliven School of Intimacy and Prayer here.

[1] Dan 8:16, Luke 1:19, 1:26, Matt 1:20, 2:13, Acts 27:23, Acts 8:26

[2] Wayne Grudem notes, ‘Though angels did appear to people at various times in scripture, the people apparently never sought those appearances. Our role is rather to talk to the Lord, who is himself the commander of all angelic forces.’ Grudem W. Systematic Theology 1994 IVP:Nottingham p407

Related Posts

3 Ways Leaders (Who May Not Have a Prophetic Gift) Hear God’s Voice

5 Ways Angels Help You in Spiritual Warfare

Angelic Encounters and Supernatural Experiences

---

© 2018 Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching
Enliven Ministries
In the David McCracken Ministries family