Dear Family,
Today is Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Today is Day 18 and Day 4 of Week 3 in our Count to Pentecost.
We know that Jesus remained with His faithful disciples for 40 days after His resurrection, fellowshipping with them, teaching them, comforting them.
And, He had to return to His Father in heaven to set in motion the granting of the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told His disciples that they would receive power from on high. It was a promise of the Father.
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Having received all power in heaven and earth and returning to heaven, Jesus also received gifts for men. Notice this in Psalms.
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.
Paul also refers to these gifts for men in the Book of Ephesians. Paul adds to the idea that Jesus now gave (past tense) the gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore He saith; When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Today, let‛s look briefly at the statement that Jesus led captivity captive.
Until the completed work of Jesus Christ, captivity reigned. After the completed work of Jesus Christ, captivity was now captive. That is what the Bible indicates!
What was the captivity? Through the years of keeping the annual festivals we learned the physical captivity of ancient Israel in the land of Egypt is a type of a spiritual captivity. Through the Days of Unleavened Bread we learn that God delivered His people, ancient Israel, from Egypt.
Now, the work of Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb, made that possible in the spiritual realm!
Christ‛s leading captivity captive involved going to the very root of the problem. It required that Jesus, Himself, never be made a captive. It required that Jesus never give in to the power of the enemy of God, Satan the devil! And, that is exactly the way it was. Jesus never failed! In fact, He never even flinched. Even in the face of the power of darkness, He did not wimp out. Jesus knew the power of darkness must have its day!
Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the Temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
The power that the devil has held over mankind is a power of darkness. It is a power of evil, and deceit, and fear!
Hebrews 2:14-16 (14) 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; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (16) For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.
Notice that the root of the power the devil has held over mankind is the root of fear. Humans fear death (15). They fear loss of self-esteem, personhood, independence, and so on. They fear many things.
God‛s victory over the power of darkness was completed when Christ Jesus rose from the grave! Praise God!
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God