I’ve been meditating on chapter 4 of Ephesians for some time now and have been really strengthened through these
words. Jesus, having taken the punishment for and broken the power of sin, ascended to sit at the right hand of God
and led captive all that holds us captive. He led captivity captive. The imagery used would have been familiar to the
Ephesians that Paul was writing to. Roman conquerors returning from battle would normally return with the enemy
words. Jesus, having taken the punishment for and broken the power of sin, ascended to sit at the right hand of God
and led captive all that holds us captive. He led captivity captive. The imagery used would have been familiar to the
Ephesians that Paul was writing to. Roman conquerors returning from battle would normally return with the enemy
that had been conquered chained and led in a ‘triumphal procession’.
No matter what is binding you, Jesus HAS bound it. Whatever is holding you captive, Jesus HAS conquered it. See
whatever is binding you being led in that procession, chained, conquered and overcome. Bringing liberty into our
experience can be a challenge but we have to approach the problem knowing our position. Christ is the Conqueror,
the Overcomer and we are IN Him, so that is our position. Seated at God’s right hand, the head and not the tail,
whatever is binding you being led in that procession, chained, conquered and overcome. Bringing liberty into our
experience can be a challenge but we have to approach the problem knowing our position. Christ is the Conqueror,
the Overcomer and we are IN Him, so that is our position. Seated at God’s right hand, the head and not the tail,
above and not beneath.
The reference ‘gave gifts to men’ is clarified later when Paul refers to what we term the ‘fivefold ministry’, the gift of
apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. I like the way that the two events I.e. Christ’s triumphal
ascension, leading captivity captive and the giving of ministry gifts are intertwined. We have a responsibility as
Christ’s ambassadors to let the world know that He has overcome - sickness, sin, emotional grief, mental
breakdown, demonic oppression and even death itself. When we minister, we minister from a position. A position of
apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. I like the way that the two events I.e. Christ’s triumphal
ascension, leading captivity captive and the giving of ministry gifts are intertwined. We have a responsibility as
Christ’s ambassadors to let the world know that He has overcome -
victory, of captivity having been led captive.
I remember preaching in Kathmandu once and seeing a woman beaming in the congregation, her face absolutely
shone with the presence of God. After the meeting I asked the Pastor who she was. The Pastor explained that the
woman had been mad for many years, totally demon possessed, and had been literally chained hand and foot as
she was uncontrollable and a danger to herself and others. One day a Christian woman came and spoke to her,
telling her the Gospel. The woman gave her life to Christ and was marvellously delivered. That which held her
captive was led captive, what bound her had been bound. Isn’t God wonderful! The woman who had been in
bondage for so many years was now living a happy, blessed life and was baptised in the icy waters of the Himalayas,
shone with the presence of God. After the meeting I asked the Pastor who she was. The Pastor explained that the
woman had been mad for many years, totally demon possessed, and had been literally chained hand and foot as
she was uncontrollable and a danger to herself and others. One day a Christian woman came and spoke to her,
telling her the Gospel. The woman gave her life to Christ and was marvellously delivered. That which held her
captive was led captive, what bound her had been bound. Isn’t God wonderful! The woman who had been in
bondage for so many years was now living a happy, blessed life and was baptised in the icy waters of the Himalayas,
risking a lengthy prison sentence in doing so.
As we speak to friends, family, colleagues let’s remember Christ’s position and our position in Him, so that we can
impart faith and a sense of hope into others that God can make a difference, however impossible the situation
impart faith and a sense of hope into others that God can make a difference, however impossible the situation
appears.