I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard
behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the
first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the
seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto
Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I
saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one
like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt
about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like
wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like
unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of
many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth
went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his
strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right
hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he
that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have
the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:10-18 KJV
It
began in heaven before the dawn of time. Before the earth was ever designed as
Adam's planet! It happened in heaven in the very throne room of God, when
Lucifer decided that he was the next big thing and better than God! Of course,
not being omniscient he did not, and could not know what God knew and knows! He
was therefore instantly and unceremoniously tossed out on his haughty nose from
his previous privileged position, to become for all time the adversary and
enemy of God and man!
And
course he did not fall alone. He took company with him! And sure thing, he laid
the blame for failure on the arena of his downfall and the overwhelming
presence of the Almighty!
"But
on earth, I have rule!" he said, "Your puny creation man blew it! It
is now mine! Different arena, different conditions, sinful man and savage
world! You ever get down here and I will make you regret you ever tossed
me!"
Jesus looked at
him and smiled, then said "No rush! I'm coming down there!"
So
in the fullness of time, before which the adversary seized the opportunity to
recruit and reinforce his strongholds, Jesus came, literally emptying Himself
of His Godly fullness! Who, being in the form of God, thought it
not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Philippians 2:6-7 KJV
He
became a man, subjected to temptations just like man, just like you and I. For
we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 KJV
He
identified Himself with us! Forasmuch then as the children are partakers
of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Hebrews 2:14 KJV
He then told the
adversary "I'm here!"
Giving
him credit the adversary tried! He tried his best, even planting a betrayer in
Jesus' camp! He tempted Jesus in every conceivable way! ...but (Jesus) was in all points
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 KJV In it all
Jesus triumphed!
The
Word came to the forefront of every battle and got the victory! Everywhere He
went Jesus destroyed the works of the devil! For this purpose the Son of God
was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 KJV
The
devil tried several times to kill Jesus but failed!
Herod
tried when Jesus was a baby!
The
devil tried to get Jesus to throw Himself off the temple pinnacle!
In
Nazareth they tried to push Him over a cliff!
Several
times they sought to slay Him!
Twice
it's recorded that they tried to stone Him in Jerusalem...in the TEMPLE!!!
The
devil tried to drown Him but Jesus simply told the storm to take a vacation!
Hey!
You couldn't take the Man down until He decided it was time to go down! For
concerning His Life He said No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down
of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father. John 10:18 KJV
Jesus
healed the sick, comforted the weary, forgave the sinner and even ripped souls
back from death and the grave! All efforts of the adversary were thwarted by
the incomparable Son of God! During Jesus' earthly ministry it was 3 years of
frenzied frustration for the devil! The enemy raged and ranted and gashed his
teeth but to no avail! Finally he said in bitter vexation, "OK Jesus
you've made your point with these weak inferior humans but...Death and hell are
my domain. I have the keys and full authority. Should you ever attempt to
disrupt there you can sing your swan song! Third time you're out of luck!"
And Jesus looked
at him, smiled and said "Luck has nothing to do with it! You really don't
have a clue what this is all about! Really! And devil...I'm coming down
there!"
So
He emptied Himself, stripped off flesh on the cross, then descended into hell!
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:8 KJV
Right
there in Hades, in the place of the dead, darkness ruled supreme. As the
adversary celebrated there appeared a tiny flickering light. Startled the devil
looked up and stared as the light got brighter, and brighter! What was that
light doing in the place of darkness?
Before
the devil's scattered thoughts could refocus Jesus was among them like a cat
among the pigeons! Like a bull in a china shop! Like a blazing fire in a house
of wax! They just didn't know it yet! He
looked at the adversary, smiled and said, "Hey you! I'm here!"
The
bluff master sneered,
"And here
you'll stay, no longer in my way
...forever...
For death is
mine...and hell is mine!
I have the keys
to do as I please!
I have the might
to prevent your flight!
For it's here I
rule and I'll take you to school!
Your time is
done! Now I'm taking you down!"
Jesus
replied,
"Here's how
it's really going down devil!
You've had your
say but I'm the Way!
You're not too
bright for I'm the Light!
And you're the
fool that I'm taking to school!
And you know
you're wrong for you're going down!
'Cause I am here
to do as I please
And when I'm
through I'm taking your keys!"
Desperately
the forces of darkness plunged forward to overwhelm The Light by sheer numbers!
Hell rocked and raged vainly, in frantic fury to bring down the Master!
And
vain indeed it was, for the Resurrection and the Life was in the place of the
dead! And death could not hold Him!
The Light was in
the place of darkness and the darkness could not overpower Him!
He
spoiled principalities and powers making an open display of them as heaven
looked on with delighted approval!
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he
made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15 KJV
Jesus
walked up to a battered enemy, looked him in the eye and...snatching the keys
of death and hell from the devil, shouted,
"Hey Devil!
You LOSE!
I'm outta here
with whoever I choose!
I'm the Lord of
the Living and the Lord of the dead
And I'm here to
do what My Father said!
For the sins of
mankind My Blood was shed!
To make a new
man of whom I'm the Head!
And now I'm
walking right outta here
For I have the
keys and man don't have to fear
neither you and
your evil nor death or the grave
Because I live,
evermore to save!"
And
Jesus threw the gates open, leading captivity as a captive! As He exited the
debacle he looked at the adversary and said, "By the way... I'm coming again!"
And He is declared to be the Son of God with power,
according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead! Romans
1:4 KJV
He has given to us that same Spirit...the Spirit
that raised Him from the dead! And you do not have to fear! For God hath not given
us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2
Timothy 1:7 KJV
And
the enemy may try you, and test you, and tempt you to sin and to fear But
if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that
raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his
Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11 KJV
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of
God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the
love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in
God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no
fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He
that feareth is not made perfect in love.1 John 4:15-18 KJV
Every
time you're faced with an issue, a problem, a need and you call on Him He's
there. He stands and declares "I'm coming down there!"
So
Offer
unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in
the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Psalms
50:14-15 KJV
As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall
save me. Psalms 55:16 KJV
In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for
thou wilt answer me. Psalms 86:7 KJV
Foe He said: Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will
I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall
call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will
deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my
salvation. Psalms 91:14-16 KJV
When we gather
in His name He will rise and say "I'm coming down there!"
For where two or three are gathered together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20
When we are in
the storms, fires, and floods He will rise and say "I'm coming down
there!"
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O
Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I
have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the
waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow
thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall
the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:1-2 KJV
If we love Him and keep His Word He will rise
and say "I'm coming down there!"
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me,
he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him,
and make our abode with him. John 14:23
KJV
His promise is that He will never leave us or
forsake us!
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and
be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I
will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV
Therefore...
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what
part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple
of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a
Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord
Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV
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