The Passion: He Ascended On High and Gave Gifts

Study The Word

Ephesians 4:8–10
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into 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.)

The psalmist declared it in Psalm 68:18: “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.” And the Apostle Paul now takes this psalm and reveals its fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. Glory to God! This is the triumph of the ascension! This is what happened when Jesus went up. He did not just ascend — He ascended and distributed. It was more than Him going up into the heavens but also in His going up He could send the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit would distribute offices, graces and abilities.  This is what He was referring to when He said it is more expedient if He departs so that the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit would come. His ascension is what would make this happen.

αἰχμαλωτεύω  aichmaloteuo  led captive  –  to take captive, to lead away as prisoners of war, to make captive, to subdue

Now Paul makes an incredible observation. He says, “Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” Do you get that? So before He went up, He went down! Jesus Christ descended first into the lower parts of the earth. He went into hell. He went into Sheol. He went into the domain of the enemy. And what did He do there? He spoiled principalities and powers! He made a public spectacle of Satan! He defeated death in death’s own domain! He paralyzed him that had the power of death, that is the devil! And then He took captivity captive — He took the very ones that Satan had held prisoner and He led them out as His own trophies of victory!

And then it says, “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.” The same one who went all the way down is the same one who went all the way up! He descended into the lowest place and then He ascended far above all heavens. Not just into heaven — far above all heavens! Why? That He might fill all things. He fills everything. From the lowest depths to the highest heights, Jesus Christ fills all things. There is no place that is beyond His reach. There is no realm that is outside His dominion. Hallelujah!

עָלָה  ʼalah  ascended  –  to go up, to ascend, to climb, to rise, to be exalted, to be taken up on high

And when He ascended, He gave gifts unto men! He did not just go up for Himself — He went up and poured out gifts upon His church. The grace of God was distributed according to the measure of the gift of Christ. He gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. He gave the Holy Spirit. He gave power. He gave authority.

He gave the gifts of the Spirit. He gave graces. Everything that the church has today was given from the ascended Christ! He led captivity captive, and He gave gifts unto men. Even for the rebellious also, “that the Lord God might dwell among them”. How incredible is that? He says even for the rebellious ones — those who were far from God — He made provision for them through all kinds of gifts that He gave when He ascended, “that the Lord God might dwell among them.”

Now through the distribution and manifestation of these gifts God Almighty dwells amongst us Glory to God! That is the triumph and glory of His ascension, that is the fulfillment of God’s eternal dream, to legally dwell in midst of His people. To live and dwell with them, to abide and dwell among them. The ascension brought it to pass. Now just before His ascension in Acts 1:8 Jesus says “you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you…”  Now God by His Spirit lives in you, He lives in me. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, diverse kinds of office gifts and manifestations of God work in and through us His church. Now the Lord God dwells among us. He abides in us forever, Hallelujaaaah.

This is the significance of the ascension. God coming to live among us. That has always been His delight, He says in Proverbs 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

So the ascension was not just a departure. It was a coronation. A notable part in the fulfillment God’s eternal plan for mankind. It was a distribution. It was the moment that marked when the victorious Christ sat down on the throne and began to build His church and pour out the fullness of His blessings upon His church and also to now eternally dwell among His people. He went down to defeat the enemy, and He came up to equip and have the right to live in midst of His people. That is my Jesus. He descended for me so that I would never have to descend and go to hell, and He ascended so that He could come and live in me by His Spirit; Christ in me the hope of glory, Hallelujah!

Pray The Word
Heavenly Father, I thank You that Jesus Christ descended into the lower parts of the earth, defeated the enemy, led captivity captive, and ascended far above all heavens. I thank You for the gifts that He poured out upon the church when He ascended — gifts of grace, of ministry, of power, and of the Holy Spirit. I receive every gift that flows from His glorious ascension, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Speak The Word
My Lord descended and defeated the enemy in his own domain! He led captivity captive and ascended far above all heavens, that He might fill all things. I am a recipient of the gifts He gave when He ascended on high. Grace has been given to me according to the measure of the gift of Christ. He fills all things, and He fills my life with His power and His presence, in the name of Jesus Christ!