HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE By Pastor Burgener Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now He that ascended, what is it but that He also descended first unto the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also That ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints... (Ephesians 4:7-12). Christ is clearly the Victor, but who are the captives? and who held them captive? The enemy is none other than Satan and his demonic-hosts, the wicked spirits in high (or heavenly) places (Ephesians 6:12). Among these are the principalities and powers whom He spoiled... and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in His cross (Colossians 2:15). Christ became the Victor, not the Victim! And we were the captives whose captivity has already been described wherein in time past we walked...according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2-3). And the power that wrought in Christ raising Him from the dead and seating Him at Gods right hand far above all principality and power is the same power that worked to set us free! God being rich in mercy and His great love energized us together, raised us up together and seated us together with Christ! From this exalted place Christ from His fulness gives unto the church, which is His body, such gifts as are needed to fill all of them with all gifts. Such is the giving of our glorified Lord! To accomplish all this He left His place of glory and descended first to our sphere, the lower parts of the earth. Notions of descending into the infernal regions for any purpose is without scriptural basis. Christ had no recorded ministry between His burial and resurrection. His humiliation was humbling Himself and being obedient unto death because of which God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name which shall command the respect of every tongue and bended knee. Neither is there any thought of release or a message to spirits in prison, whose plight was recalled here as a warning to those who did not take Peters message seriously. (I Peter 3:18-20.) We must guard against any distraction which might take our focus from our ascended glorified Lord! Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA, the Word of God is so needed in our troubled world. It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ. [email protected] This mailing is for members who have requested and /or subscribed to our mailing list, CLICK BELOW PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR E MAIL AND DEVOTIONS PLEASE REMOVE ME WEB SITE graceandthetruth
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 04:12:49 +0000
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