Jesus Arose & Ascended to Daily Load You with Benefits

Glorify Christ for what He accomplished by descending and ascending. Receive and use His daily gifts and benefits by faith. Introduction: He came so low and rose so high to meet our eternal need and finish God's work of salvation. He defied the law of gravity, while fulfilling His moral laws to free us from the curse of the law. What is the curse of the law? How does salvation defy it?

1. Jesus Descended and Ascended to Lead Captives Captive to Himself. Psalm 68:17-21 & Ephesians 4:7-12

   1. God arose and received gifts in Psalms, while Jesus descended and ascended to give gifts in Ephesians. From Psalm 68, how was God being asked to rise up by the Psalmist? Why do you think Paul emphasizes Jesus giving gifts instead of receiving gifts in the Ephesians context?

   2. "The lower parts of the earth" included the grave, hell and Paradise. Psalm 63:1-4, 9-10. God's enemies go there, and Isaiah 44:6, 22-23: those there are called to sing & shout to the LORD because He has redeemed His people.

   3. Christ proclaimed triumph over the spirits in prison

      1. Discuss I Peter 3:19 and what He may have proclaimed in His victory speech to the spirits in prison who thought He was a defeated foe.

   4. Christ disarmed them, make a public disgrace of them by triumph over them in the cross/crucifixion. Col. 2:15

2. Jesus Ascended to Fill all Things, not to Abandon You.

   1. Jesus fulfilled / completed God’s redemptive plan prophesied in the OT. Isaiah 53

   2. Jesus became omnipresent again when He ascended. Read Psalm 139:1-12 and discuss your excitement and

      reverence regarding God being with us and knowing all about us at all times and in all places (named in the

      Psalm).

   3. Jesus left in order to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Discuss John 14:25-27; Jn 16:5-14 and the ministry of the Holy

      Spirit on behalf of our risen Savior.

   4. He is filling the Church & is in the middle of it. Discuss Matthew 16:13-19; 18:20.

3. Jesus Ascended to Give Gifts to Believers & the Churches

   1. Apostles: eye-witnesses of the Resurrected Jesus, sent

   2. Prophets: proclaimed God’s words directly received

   3. Evangelists: missionaries gifted w/ the gospel to the lost

   4. Pastors & Teachers: local church leaders; 3 words in the Greek for the same gift & office. Acts 20:17, 28

      1. Pastors (1x) & shepherds (12 x) from “poimenos.”

      2. Bishops ( 8 x) & overseers (1x) from “episkopos."

      3. Elders (plural 16x) & (single 6x) from "presbyteros.” God adds elders in each church as the need grows for more shepherding, teaching, and overseeing. What men at Victory are showing the qualifications of a pastor/elder/bishop besides the paid pastors? I Tim 3.

   List other spiritual gifts that God has been giving to believers for edifying the churches of Jesus Christ. What one or two gifts are evident in your own life?