HE THAT DESCENDED IS ALSO THE ONE THAT ASCENDED

HE THAT DESCENDED IS THE SAME ALSO THAT ASCENDED

Eph 4:8-10 KJV 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

In the text, Paul was generally talking about the unity that is expected to be among believers irrespective of their origin. He made it known that there are many basis for unity since we have the same faith, hope, baptism, Holy Spirit, and so on and so forth Eph 4: 1-6.

Lastly he talked about the Lord Jesus who gave us different graces. He is the giver of the gifts given unto the church members to enable them function in various offices appointed according to riches of Christ grace. Ephe 4: 7. In verse 8, Paul quoted Ps 68:18 to buttress his point. Verse 9-10 is in parenthesis to explain ascension and descension.

The reason why Jesus was able to give these gifts was because He ascended. Christ ascended up and received gifts which He gave unto men. It is just like an army general returning from war with his captives and then distributing the bounties of war to his people. Jesus having led captivity captives gave gifts unto men.

In making that assertion, he said that the one that ascended up first descended into the lower parts of the earth. it is the same person that descended that has ascended. First there was descension and then ascension.

The word “ascend” is “anabaino” It means to go up. It is a compound word from “ana” which is “up” and “baino” which is “stepping”. Thus “anabaino” means to go up, to rise, mount, be borne up, spring up

The word “descend” is “katabaino”. It is also a compound word made up of “kata” which is “down” and “basis” which is “stepping or foot” Thus “katabaino” means: to go down, come down, descend the place from which one has come down from It means to go down, metaphorically to (go, i.e.) be cast down to the lowest state of wretchedness and shame

What Made Jesus to descend? 

It was our sins. He was clothed in His majesty as the Lord of heavens and earth (Col 1: 15-19) but humbled Himself as a man and became obedient even unto death.

Phi 2:6-8 KJV 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The reason for this was that man himself had descended. Man was the ruler in the garden  Gen 1: 28 .But because of sin, man lost his dominion and could not deliver himself. God has to become man in order to rescue man. Jesus had to be incarnated. That is descension. Much more he had to die, buried and went into lower parts of the earth.

Gal 4:4 KJV But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Jesus came, died and was buried. However, the good news is that He did not remain in the lower part of the earth but rose up by the resurrected power of the Holy Ghost. 

Rom 6:9 KJV Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Act 2:31 KJV He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

What was the aftermath of this?

Phi 2:9-11 KJV 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He received a name that is above every other name and every being is subjected to Him.

He is made to sit at the right hand of God.

Eph 1:20-23 KJV 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Eph 4:10 KJV He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

He fills all things with Himself. In order words, His dominion extends to all the earth and heavens. His influence is universal.

Effect on us

He gave us back the authority we lost in the garden.

Mat 28:18 KJV And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

The word used for power there is “exousia”. It is authority. Man has been restored.

However, sometimes man may still descend due to sin, unforgiveness, poverty, lack, economic challenges, business failures, marital issues, academic issues, 

To descend means you are not where you used to be or You go from a high place to a lower place. But there is hope for you. Jesus Christ descended but did not remain in the descension, He rose up, He was raised and He has put that same power that raised Him up inside of every believer. The reason He did that in case we find ourselves in a descension format, we can activate that power and rise up again.

Rom 8:11 KJV 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.

The Holy Spirit is the one that raised Him from the dead because He was dwelling in Him. Look at what Jesus said.

Joh 14:10 KJV Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

So He has done the same thing for us by putting the same Holy Spirit in us. That Roms 8: 11 is not talking about final resurrection from the death even though it will happen, but it is talking about dying body that is mortal body. This one of the very way a believer that be healed. God has put the healing power in us

Don’t sit in a descending position. You can rise up again. That same power residing in us can raise you up. Don’t sit in joyless position, don’t sit in sorrow, don’t sit in despair, don’t sit watching things deteriorating.

Isa 60:1 KJV Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Isa 52:2 KJV Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

I remember the story of the prodigal son. The Bible says when he cometh to himself that is when he regained his senses and evaluated his options, he made this statement.

Luk 15:18 KJV I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

He used to be the son of a rich man, he left home with his inheritance and wasted them. He was in poverty and suffered from lack, he even wanted to eat the food meant for the swines but it was not given to him, that was how much he had descended. One day he said there were many slaves in my father’s house eating fine, what am I doing here? It is better I am one of them than remaining here. He said I will arise.

I don’t know the pit into which you have fallen, pit of sin, immorality, indebtedness, but you can arise.

Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins. he was made sin for us so that we can be made the righteousness of God 2Cor 5: 21

The reason why some remain in a descending position is because they can fathom how they came into that situation. But it doesn’t matter.

Pro 24:16 KJV For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

The Bible says that a just man, you may be a believer, a prayerful person but one way or the other you have fallen, hello don’t sit there and be regretting, just rise up. Maybe they are mocking you now saying that look at him, he used to drive car before but now, he used to give money but now he is borrowing, don’t worry about them, hear what the Bible says:

Mic 7:8 KJV Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

There are things that make people descend from that exalted position like pride, sin, wastage of resources, lack of wisdom and discerning spirit(Vashtai).

Rom 6:13 KJV Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

I decree you will arise in Jesus’ name. Activate that ability placed on the inside. He that descended is also He that ascended that He may fill all things with himself.