by Ricky Doc Sauceda
Psalm 68:18
When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious-- that you, LORD God, might dwell there.
As I was reading and listening to the daily readings of my church this morning, I was caught up in first reading by understanding how this teaching originated. The Apostle Paul states:
Ephesians 4:9-10
What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended
into the lower regions of the earth?
The one who descended is also the one who ascended
far above all the heavens,
that he might fill all things.
I understood what gave Paul the confidence to share this enlightenment. He was personally encountered by Lord Jesus while traveling to Damascus to arrest Christians.
Acts 26:14
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
He later reveals about a personal experience he had when this encounter with Christ took place. That is why he is a confirmed Apostle of Christ. He was selected to become one. Paul says:
2 Corinthians 12:2 -4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up into Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.
I am certain that it is Jesus that taught Paul the connection between His ascension and descension. He was personally taught many things by our Lord in that event on the road.
What seems like a matter of moments by those there was the beginning of a wonderful and dynamic "one on one" teaching session by the King of kings.
We must remember:
Jeremiah 32:27
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?