Sin’s Captives – Christ’s Warriors! Psalm 68:18-23

Text: “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.  Blessed be the Lord, Who daily leadeth us with benefits, even the God of our Salvation.”  

Psalm 68:18-19.

Good morning, captivated Christian!  Once you and I were fallen captives of Adam’s sin; plus, our own litany of sins; and bound in them by Satan, and by self.  We were LOST.

“…For there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:22-23)

However, there came a glorious day in our lives when Christ Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Living Father God, caused us to be quickened by God the Spirit’s quickening power, and we were made ‘…willing…’ to partake of God’s forgiveness of all sins; and Eternal life in Christ our Redeemer King.  Wow!  Now, this is something to shout about, Reader!  Hallelujah!

“Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth.”  (Psalm 110:3)

Sin is a strong man.  Satan is a strong man.  Selfishness and fallen self are a strong man.  The world and all its allurements are a strong man that can hold the soul of mankind in a deathly and fatal grip.  By all these, you and I were helpless captives indeed.  We were LOST.

Wait for it, believer!  This is not the end of our story, is it?  For our Great and Holy Shepherd came to us, seeking His sheep.  Do our hearts not almost sob out in Eternal relief at this point?  Mine does.  What does God’s Word say on this subject?

“And Jesus said unto him (the unsaved Zacchaeus), This day is Salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was LOST.”  (Luke 19:9-10)

“For the Son of man is come to SAVE that which was LOST.”                     (Matthew 18:11)

And Can it Be?

1. And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain]

5 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]

Amen.

According to the editor of The Oxford Edition of the Works of John Wesley, “And Can It Be” was written immediately following Charles Wesley’s conversion to Christianity on May 21, 1738. Wesley had known his Bible well before this time but had not yet experienced affirmation of new birth or the wholeness of grace in his life.”

Verse 18. “Thou hast led captivity captive.  The ancient prophecy of David is fulfilled here on the foot of Mount Olivet.  To take “captivity captive” signifies that Christ conquered the allied principalities and powers, the Devil, sin, death, and Hell; that He deprived them of the instruments wherewith they enslaved men.  He not only silenced the cannon on the Spiritual Gibraltar, but He took rock fortification, and all.  He not only silenced the horrible and destructive battlements of the powerful and compactly united ghostly enemies, but He threw down the towers, razed the castles, and took away the keys of the dungeons.

“He had no sooner left the grave, than He began to distribute His gifts, and did so all along the road on His way to His Father’s House; and, especially after He entered the Heaven of Heavens, did He shower down gifts unto men, as a mighty conqueror loaded with treasures with which to enrich and adorn His followers and people.”  (Christmas Evans 1766-1838)

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.  Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on High, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”  (Ephesians 4:7-8)

By God’s Sovereign grace and power, in Christ Jesus – we, who were once sin’s captives, are now made willing to receive God’s free gift of Salvation, and empowered to become Spiritual warriors for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thus, we are called to stand up on our feet, and become “…An exceeding great army.” 

“So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them (the valley of dried bones), and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceeding great army.” (Ezekiel 37:1-10)

Thought: Sin’s captives become Christ’s Spiritual warriors, when we are born again of Him.  This way to the Battle, redeemed warrior of Christ.  Victory is already ours in Him.