Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Few events which occurred
in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ as he sojourned in this
earth were any more startling to his disciples than his ascension
back into the heavens from whence he came. They had traveled and
conversed with him for approximately three years. In that time they
had seen him turn water into wine, heal cripples and lepers,
give sight to the blind, and cause the deaf to hear. They
had stood outside of a tomb in which Lazarus' putrefying body
lay, and seen him come forth from that sepulcher at the command
of the Lord, still wrapped in grave clothes, but completely
and wonderfully alive. They had seen him command the
winds and the waves to cease their roaring, and had heard
him completely confound the wisest and most holy men of their day,
who sought to confound him. They were amazed when he appeared
in their midst in the upper room after his crucifixion. Thus,
once again, he was with his disciples from time to time over a forty-day
period after his resurrection. Imagine with me their utter bewilderment
as he immediately removed himself from their midst and ascended
into heaven. They could do nothing but stand
with mouths agape, gazing into the heavens. They were startled
back to reality when the angel spoke, Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken
up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye
have seen him go into heaven. In essence, he told them to quit
daydreaming and be about the business which he commissioned
them to do. We read that in his ascension, he led captivity captive. There are several ways in which
we might look at the import of this statement, not the least
of which is the obvious description of his utter and complete triumph
over all of his enemies. His enemies are his people's
enemies, and he would never leave nor forsake those whom he has
loved with an everlasting love. It is for his people that he
came into the world to accomplish redemption. In order to do so,
he entered into battle with the condemnation of the law, as well
as the powers of darkness, which had completely enveloped those
who were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Yet
he would not give them over to a reprobate mind, but would enter
into a great conflict of blood and death in their behalf. When
we read his answer to the question posed in Isaiah's prophecy, wherefore
art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that
treadeth in the wine-fed? We see that he was stained with
his own blood for the remission of his people's sins, for without
the shedding of blood there is no remission. But we see that
he was stained also with the blood of his enemies as well.
I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the people there
was none with me, for I will tread them in mine anger. He
has led captivity captive, as he has set his people free from
the curse of the law, which brings out slaughter to all who are
under it. For the wages of sin is death. Paul declares the freedom
of God's people from this law of sin and death, which had them
bound in chains of captivity, when he says, there is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the
spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law
of sin and death. None can be justified nor sanctified
by the law. The law is not of faith. The
captives are captivated by the captivator. He has led captivity
captive, as he does call his people from darkness to light.
This is the message that Peter boldly proclaimed on the day
of Pentecost. For the promise is unto you and
to your children and to all that are far off, even as many as
the Lord our God shall call. In every generation He has raised
up His people to declare His mighty works as the Savior of
sinners. In every land He has a witness
unto the glory of His redemption. They all share in the common
faith which is begun as they are called from darkness to light
by the work of His Spirit in them. For God, who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. He has ascended on high, wherever
he lives, to make intercession for his people. It is from this
high and lofty throne that he bestows his favor upon his elect
bride, giving her gifts that edify her and bring glory to
his name. And He gave some apostles, and
some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the perfecting of the saints, for or unto the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in
the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ. Have you tasted of the grace
of the Captivator? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net