CAPTIVITY
CHRISTIANITY OASIS HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH THIS STUDY OF CAPTIVITY. MANY HAVE HEARD OF THE TERM CAPTIVITY BUT MOST ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE CAPTIVITY IS AND HOW THIS CAPTIVITY CAN AFFECT YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK. LET US SEEK AND FIND THE TRUTH OF CAPTIVITY TOGETHER, SHALL WE?
 

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE EPHESIANS

CHAPTER 4
 

          Oh, there you are! I was hoping you’d be back soon for more Daily Bread. Welcome back! Now that Paul has introduced us to the spiritual blessings or gifts that have been bestowed upon us by God, now he encourages us to use those blessings and gifts and walk the spiritual walk of Faith. Remember, we learned that the “works” of Faith are effortless, because they’re a part of you, so they come to you naturally. Now let’s learn, as Paul teaches us how to live by Faith.

          I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you that you walk worthy of the vocation (divine calling) that you’re called to do, with all lowliness (humbleness, humility) and meekness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love; attempting to keep the unity of the Spirit in peace.

          There is one body (church), and One Spirit, just as you are called in one hope of your calling, there is One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

When He ascended up on high,

He led captivity captive,

and gave gifts unto men.

(Psalms 68:18)

          Let’s look closely at what Paul is saying here. Actually, he’s saying what he said earlier, only in different words. In times of old, there were the Jewish people, who were considered God’s chosen, and there were the Gentiles, which was everyone who wasn’t Jewish. If you’ve read the Old Testament, you know that God’s people provoked Him over and over, and though there were times of punishment then, ultimately, His Grace was in the end. For the Gentiles, there was no hope of Grace at that time. In later years of the Old Testament, in the days of the kings, there were many who did evil in the sight of the Lord, and over time, it grew worse and worse so that each successive king was doing more evil than any of the kings before him. This stirred up the wrath of God so that He allowed Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon to carry His people away into captivity and the children of Israel were scattered throughout the nations. However, if you read The Book of Isaiah, you’ll find that the Lord said that He would have mercy on His people and that He would also bring salvation to the Gentiles. Through the blood of Jesus, now there is one people, united. He led captivity captive, of both the Jewish people and the Gentiles. And every one of us is given Grace.

          Now what is the extent of that Grace? Well, it’s equal to the value of Christ, because He was the gift sacrificed to obtain that Grace. You can’t put a value on that, because that, my friends, is infinite.

          Next, because of the mystery of Christ (that we learned about in the last study), we receive all those gifts that Paul told us about in the first few chapters of this letter. And one of the most important gifts we are given is freedom through Faith. Freedom from what? Freedom from the Old Testament, freedom from the world we were imprisoned by, freedom from law, freedom from sin. Look at it this way. When you are imprisoned, you are separated from others. When you’re free, you’re united with others.

He led captivity captive,

          Jesus did away with our imprisonment, so we are no longer separated from God, but free and united in Christ, united by Christ. A moment ago, Paul said there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God. These are gifts of unity.

and gave gifts unto men.

          Paul is pointing out here that the spiritual gifts that we enjoy were according to scripture, written in the Psalms of David.

(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.)

          This I say then, and testify in the Lord, that from now on, don’t live as other Gentiles live, in pride, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who having no conscience, have given themselves over to unruliness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

          But you have not learned this from Christ, if you have truly heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the TRUTH is in Jesus, that you do away with the former life of your old selves, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be made new in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
 
          Therefore, don’t lie, but everyone speak truth with your neighbor, because we are members one of another. Don’t be angry, and sin not: don’t let the sun go down while you’re angry:

           People do that quite frequently don’t they? Whether they’re mad at someone in their own family or mad at someone or something else, they choose to keep their anger inside them. Paul says, don’t go to sleep mad. Here’s a good reason why. You cannot control your dreams. And who do you think knows that? Bingo, the adversary. When you’re angry, there’s a chink in your armor. What a grand opportunity for him to put deceitful ideas in your mind. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

          Neither give place (opportunity) to the devil.

          Let him that stole, steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have enough to give to him that needs.

          Let no evil words proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying (building up), that it may minister Grace to whoever hears you.

          And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed for the day of redemption.

          If you haven’t read The Holy Spirit yet, I encourage you to do so. It will help you to understand the Holy Spirit in a way that you may not have known up until now. I encourage you to introduce yourself to Him as well!

          Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, along with all malice.

          And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you.

          Do you love to get mail? Whenever your mailbox is empty, there’s always a letter from Paul, right there in your Bible. Come on back soon, and we’ll enjoy the next part of this letter from Paul, together, right here at Daily Bread.