Ed Rocha - Angels-Gods Supernatural Agents: Biblical Insights and True Stories of Angelic Encounters

Any book on the subject of angels stimulates curiosity and, in some cases, warnings. There are good reasons for both responses, which depend largely on a persons background and experience. But angels are real. Very real. Author Ed Rocha does a great job bringing us up to date on the purpose and function of these servants of God.

Not that what is happening in the stories in this book is new. It is not. Stories like these have been happening throughout Church history. It is just that oftentimes supernatural stories get swept under the carpet for fear of confusing people or distracting them from God Himself.

Yet I know of no encounter with the angelic realm that did not result in the increased worship of God. This truth is clearly illustrated by Mary, who bore the Christ child. She responded to her angelic encounter with a profound song of worship. And the shepherds whom the angels visited to announce the birth of Jesus also worshiped.

But some of the old books of revival have had these kinds of reports and experiences edited out of the reprinted versions. Thankfully Ed does not water down reports of angelic encounters and experiences. In fact, the stories alone are reason enough to buy the book. The insights are brilliant. The biblical basis is enlightening. And the stories wow !

To worship angels is foolish. Equally foolish is to ignore them. God sends them for a purpose, which is to assist us as we inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). The role of this book is to show us it is legaland should I say necessary for us to hunger for Gods interventions through angels. An unhealthy lack of appetite makes us think we can do life quite well without the assistance of Gods assistants. This great paragraph from the book helps us see the need for us to hunger for more:

There is one factor, however, that does distinguish those who have an encounter with God versus those who do not: hunger . God said that those who seek shall find. I believe the opposite is also true. If you are not seeking Gods supernatural signs, they will not manifest in your life and ministry. Further, you probably will not recognize signs as coming from God when you see them happening in other peoples lives and ministries.

I am convinced that hunger for more of God is the sorting factor between those who experience supernatural encounters and manifestations and those who do not.

Ed also comments that our Western rationalism can keep us out of the realm of the supernatural because we often discount what we cannot see or explain. Our logic and the way we reason, he notes, change once we experience the supernatural.