ASCENDING & DESCENDING
"Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: 'I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants." - Gen 28:12-13
The angels were ascending and descending as a form of communication with God, God stood above the ladder and angels were running errands, the Scriptures didn't specify what exactly they were doing while ascending and descending, but the line of communication they portrayed shows that a man can ascend into the very presence of God, if the access is given, then a man can hear from God.
There is a something that conveys a man unto the heavens, there is something that aids a man's assess to seek heaven's attention; when Moses climbed the mountain in solitude to meet with the Lord, the mountain seem like the aid but the reality of it all, was that it was the need to hear from God that made the mountain an instrument for climbing.
Jacob was on the ground and indeed the lowest point of his life when the Lord showed forth at the top of the ladder; he heard God clearly but couldn't he have used the ladder also? The mountain was a kind of ladder for Moses, he climbed to a to certain point to move closer to God, He stayed on the mountain for days with the Lord and descended to bring the law to men. If we heard God at the lowest point in our first encounter, we should move up the ladder subsequently in our walk with God.
At different points in our lives we may have to ascends to a height in order to have great things descend from us, while he saw angels ascending and descending God gave him a promise for that which would descend from him, how can one who have not ascended have something descend from him? He hadn't even taken the first step toward the ladder but God told him about what would descend. Many are they who have not risen above the earth but have descendants who are below the earth, the height which you descend from tells of your impact upon the earth.
WHO SHALL ASCEND UNTO HIS HOLY HILL
"Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully." - Psalm 24:3-4
For a man who intends to ascend beyond this realm, there is a pre-condition to be met, there is something that qualifies a man to move beyond the ground level and take a step towards ascension. Consecration is first of all a key factor for anyone who desires to meet with God, a man who has not made his way straight may hear a voice and still be at ground zero; but when a man intentionally consecrates himself and longs for a communion, he begins to take the step upward.
The people who were gathered on the earth at a certain time wanted to build a tower that reached heaven, they had an idea, their language was one, but it was against God's will, it wasn't approved by God and it ended up in frustration. If a man decides to ascend upward without meeting the condition; all his effort will end in frustration.
He who has clean hands and a pure heart is the condition; it doesn't necessarily mean that one had shed blood, but if the things that your hands do are that which pertains to iniquity, corruption or other vile things, then you haven't met the condition. Whose soul has not been lifted to an idol - have you sought an alternative to God? Or have you paid allegiance to the gods of this world - then you may not be qualified to ascend into his holy hill.
"For you have said in your heart; 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'" - Isaiah 14:13-14
Many people who pretend spirituality have the wrong motive for wanting to ascend, their mouth shows a thirst, but they are like Lucifer, their heart is filled with carnal ambition, ambition to make a name for themselves, ambition for men to worship them, ambition to make their mortal self into a god - yes we know that it is to the lowest depths that they will descend to.
If the heart is ascended because of pride and rebellion, then there is no need to ascend spiritually, if the heart is ascended because of vain glory, then you would not take off at all; many want to see God but they have not seen that which is wrong with them. Many fast with the wrong motive, they want to boast about a spiritual experience or ability - then you cannot ascend, any form of ascension one the wrong motive will make you descend into the lowest pit.
The man who humbles himself is the one who the Lord lifts up, the man who is meek and lowly has the potential to ascend the highest of height to see the Lord. If these are not in place, then such a man is sinking. We need to come to that point in our lives where we do a sincere search of all of our motives. Your service, your study, your prayer life, is it done so that you can make a name? Please check before you say you want to ascend.
HE IS THE LINK FOR OUR ASCENSION
"And He said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." - John 1:51
Anyone who decides to ascend the heaven to hear God or commune with Him must know that, He who came from heaven is the first step upward. The angels ascend and descend upon Him. Since the Son of God has descended upon mankind, no one can reach the Father who is upon the ladder without first accepting Jesus. You can't climb up until you acknowledge the lordship of Jesus, He is the link to the Father.
When we recognise the place of Jesus in our spiritual walk, we are schooled or trained to meet the conditions of ascension, He who has descended from heaven is the only One who can help us be pure, whose character is the perfect condition for ascending - anything apart from Him is effort that will end in frustration.
Do you know that those who have accepted Jesus in this world will one day ascend? When the trump is blown and all saints are gathered from all the earth to ascend, it is those who have seen Jesus as the first step that will ascend. Though, there is a spiritual walk that can be said to be an ascension, yet we must long for the ascension the rapture brings. In a twinkle of an eye, the fastest flight ever to occur, those who have seen that Jesus is the way of ascension would ascend on that day.
It also doesn't matter, how much of spiritual ascension you have attained on earth right now, if you stop seeing Jesus as the link, there may not be an ascension for you on that day.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
You cannot reach to the top without Jesus, Moses was ascending the mountain to receive a law to make people ascend a spiritual height, but Jesus is the end of the law, the law is fulfilled in Jesus - anyone who decides to reach heaven must see Jesus as the link. It is not a matter of religious belief, it is not a matter of works; it is a conforming to the character of Him who has ascended and also descended on the earth.
All methods and religious patterns that is outside Jesus is climbing a pseudo ladder; you may hear a voice quite alright, but you may just remain at ground zero. Let us all awaken to this matter of great importance, let us never remove our eyes from Jesus, He is the link and the ascension for us even unto the Holy hills. He is the assurance of our ascension also on that day when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound.
AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD DESCENDED
"Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them." - Acts 2:3
When He ascended, He told them the Spirit will descend, this is the finished work of Jesus on earth, that men may have the Spirit descend upon them. It is not enough to have Jesus as the link to heaven, it is necessary to have the Spirit descend upon us. That would mean we have an unhindered access to heaven. The Spirit indwelling a man, is actually the process of ascension.
If you exalt the person of Jesus, the Spirit will descend, the Spirit brings power for the believer to take charge on the descendants of the earth. The Spirit descending on men guarantees that we dominate the men who have descended to the lowest depth, men who are evil, the power of the Holy Spirit descending on us takes us on a flight of ascension to heaven.
Dear believer, have you experienced that descending of the Holy Spirit? It is the finished work, the Spirit dwelling inside of us. No one should leave this matter as optional, it is a necessity. The Holy Spirit reveals the person of Jesus to us in a more vivid way; there is no point being grounded.
"Therefore He says: 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.'" - Eph 4:8
After His ascension, by the descending of the Holy Spirit, upon those who are thirsty, men began to manifest gifts that help men pull through the frustration of the earth. Remember that a man's gift makes way for him. To ask that the Holy Spirit descends on you is one of the finest request anyone can make. It is also important to note that the Holy Spirit descending on you is actually God dwelling inside of you.
The Holy Spirit upon a man guarantees fruitfulness (Isaiah 32:15). The Spirit of God descending upon a man is the same Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of might, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of the fear of God, the Spirit of understanding - don't let anyone deceive you not to long for the descending of the Holy Spirit.
If only you will ask, the Father delights to give the Holy Spirit unto the children (Luke 11:13). Your salvation, accepting Jesus is the prerequisite for receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If by faith you accept Him into your heart, then by that same faith ask that the promised Comforter descends upon you.
CONCLUSION:
I've said many things all together, but to bring it home, please remember that: What descends from you is mainly as a result of where you have ascended to. There is a requirement for those who want to ascend unto the Holy Hills, Jesus is the link of ascension; He also ascended so the Holy Spirit can descend upon us.
God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
The angels were ascending and descending as a form of communication with God, God stood above the ladder and angels were running errands, the Scriptures didn't specify what exactly they were doing while ascending and descending, but the line of communication they portrayed shows that a man can ascend into the very presence of God, if the access is given, then a man can hear from God.
There is a something that conveys a man unto the heavens, there is something that aids a man's assess to seek heaven's attention; when Moses climbed the mountain in solitude to meet with the Lord, the mountain seem like the aid but the reality of it all, was that it was the need to hear from God that made the mountain an instrument for climbing.
Jacob was on the ground and indeed the lowest point of his life when the Lord showed forth at the top of the ladder; he heard God clearly but couldn't he have used the ladder also? The mountain was a kind of ladder for Moses, he climbed to a to certain point to move closer to God, He stayed on the mountain for days with the Lord and descended to bring the law to men. If we heard God at the lowest point in our first encounter, we should move up the ladder subsequently in our walk with God.
At different points in our lives we may have to ascends to a height in order to have great things descend from us, while he saw angels ascending and descending God gave him a promise for that which would descend from him, how can one who have not ascended have something descend from him? He hadn't even taken the first step toward the ladder but God told him about what would descend. Many are they who have not risen above the earth but have descendants who are below the earth, the height which you descend from tells of your impact upon the earth.
WHO SHALL ASCEND UNTO HIS HOLY HILL
"Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully." - Psalm 24:3-4
For a man who intends to ascend beyond this realm, there is a pre-condition to be met, there is something that qualifies a man to move beyond the ground level and take a step towards ascension. Consecration is first of all a key factor for anyone who desires to meet with God, a man who has not made his way straight may hear a voice and still be at ground zero; but when a man intentionally consecrates himself and longs for a communion, he begins to take the step upward.
The people who were gathered on the earth at a certain time wanted to build a tower that reached heaven, they had an idea, their language was one, but it was against God's will, it wasn't approved by God and it ended up in frustration. If a man decides to ascend upward without meeting the condition; all his effort will end in frustration.
He who has clean hands and a pure heart is the condition; it doesn't necessarily mean that one had shed blood, but if the things that your hands do are that which pertains to iniquity, corruption or other vile things, then you haven't met the condition. Whose soul has not been lifted to an idol - have you sought an alternative to God? Or have you paid allegiance to the gods of this world - then you may not be qualified to ascend into his holy hill.
"For you have said in your heart; 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'" - Isaiah 14:13-14
Many people who pretend spirituality have the wrong motive for wanting to ascend, their mouth shows a thirst, but they are like Lucifer, their heart is filled with carnal ambition, ambition to make a name for themselves, ambition for men to worship them, ambition to make their mortal self into a god - yes we know that it is to the lowest depths that they will descend to.
If the heart is ascended because of pride and rebellion, then there is no need to ascend spiritually, if the heart is ascended because of vain glory, then you would not take off at all; many want to see God but they have not seen that which is wrong with them. Many fast with the wrong motive, they want to boast about a spiritual experience or ability - then you cannot ascend, any form of ascension one the wrong motive will make you descend into the lowest pit.
The man who humbles himself is the one who the Lord lifts up, the man who is meek and lowly has the potential to ascend the highest of height to see the Lord. If these are not in place, then such a man is sinking. We need to come to that point in our lives where we do a sincere search of all of our motives. Your service, your study, your prayer life, is it done so that you can make a name? Please check before you say you want to ascend.
HE IS THE LINK FOR OUR ASCENSION
"And He said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." - John 1:51
Anyone who decides to ascend the heaven to hear God or commune with Him must know that, He who came from heaven is the first step upward. The angels ascend and descend upon Him. Since the Son of God has descended upon mankind, no one can reach the Father who is upon the ladder without first accepting Jesus. You can't climb up until you acknowledge the lordship of Jesus, He is the link to the Father.
When we recognise the place of Jesus in our spiritual walk, we are schooled or trained to meet the conditions of ascension, He who has descended from heaven is the only One who can help us be pure, whose character is the perfect condition for ascending - anything apart from Him is effort that will end in frustration.
Do you know that those who have accepted Jesus in this world will one day ascend? When the trump is blown and all saints are gathered from all the earth to ascend, it is those who have seen Jesus as the first step that will ascend. Though, there is a spiritual walk that can be said to be an ascension, yet we must long for the ascension the rapture brings. In a twinkle of an eye, the fastest flight ever to occur, those who have seen that Jesus is the way of ascension would ascend on that day.
It also doesn't matter, how much of spiritual ascension you have attained on earth right now, if you stop seeing Jesus as the link, there may not be an ascension for you on that day.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
You cannot reach to the top without Jesus, Moses was ascending the mountain to receive a law to make people ascend a spiritual height, but Jesus is the end of the law, the law is fulfilled in Jesus - anyone who decides to reach heaven must see Jesus as the link. It is not a matter of religious belief, it is not a matter of works; it is a conforming to the character of Him who has ascended and also descended on the earth.
All methods and religious patterns that is outside Jesus is climbing a pseudo ladder; you may hear a voice quite alright, but you may just remain at ground zero. Let us all awaken to this matter of great importance, let us never remove our eyes from Jesus, He is the link and the ascension for us even unto the Holy hills. He is the assurance of our ascension also on that day when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound.
AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD DESCENDED
"Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them." - Acts 2:3
When He ascended, He told them the Spirit will descend, this is the finished work of Jesus on earth, that men may have the Spirit descend upon them. It is not enough to have Jesus as the link to heaven, it is necessary to have the Spirit descend upon us. That would mean we have an unhindered access to heaven. The Spirit indwelling a man, is actually the process of ascension.
If you exalt the person of Jesus, the Spirit will descend, the Spirit brings power for the believer to take charge on the descendants of the earth. The Spirit descending on men guarantees that we dominate the men who have descended to the lowest depth, men who are evil, the power of the Holy Spirit descending on us takes us on a flight of ascension to heaven.
Dear believer, have you experienced that descending of the Holy Spirit? It is the finished work, the Spirit dwelling inside of us. No one should leave this matter as optional, it is a necessity. The Holy Spirit reveals the person of Jesus to us in a more vivid way; there is no point being grounded.
"Therefore He says: 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.'" - Eph 4:8
After His ascension, by the descending of the Holy Spirit, upon those who are thirsty, men began to manifest gifts that help men pull through the frustration of the earth. Remember that a man's gift makes way for him. To ask that the Holy Spirit descends on you is one of the finest request anyone can make. It is also important to note that the Holy Spirit descending on you is actually God dwelling inside of you.
The Holy Spirit upon a man guarantees fruitfulness (Isaiah 32:15). The Spirit of God descending upon a man is the same Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of might, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of the fear of God, the Spirit of understanding - don't let anyone deceive you not to long for the descending of the Holy Spirit.
If only you will ask, the Father delights to give the Holy Spirit unto the children (Luke 11:13). Your salvation, accepting Jesus is the prerequisite for receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If by faith you accept Him into your heart, then by that same faith ask that the promised Comforter descends upon you.
CONCLUSION:
I've said many things all together, but to bring it home, please remember that: What descends from you is mainly as a result of where you have ascended to. There is a requirement for those who want to ascend unto the Holy Hills, Jesus is the link of ascension; He also ascended so the Holy Spirit can descend upon us.
God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
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