The Man Upstairs – Unveiling the KING of Kings & LORD of Lords (Series Part 3)
His Ministry:
The ‘Man Upstairs’ came downstairs once. He had to because it was so imperative for Him to be down. Humankind had gone their ways. Satan was having a field day feasting on people’s will, emotions, and minds. Something drastic has to be done to save humankind from destruction. God the Father had promised not to wipe the whole ‘downstairs’ with water again. God had to do that some years ago and left only eight people to repopulate ‘downstairs.’ Human beings are stiff-necked; even those who have the laws are not keeping the laws the way they should be kept. For the love of His creation, there was only one way: to send God’s Son downstairs to be the sacrifice. He made the last and perfect sacrifice. He shed His precious Blood to wash away our sins.
So He came and started His earthly Ministry in Galilee (Mt. 4:1-11, Mark 1: 14-9:50, Luke 4: 14-13:9 and John 1: 35-2:11). Jesus Christ knew and understood effective leadership. Effective leadership is the ability to teach your followers and impart to them your way of life. Jesus Christ knew this early on in His earthly Ministry; He chose twelve disciples and designated them, Apostles. His disciples were well chosen; they varied in character and profession for fulfilling God the Father’s plan.
His Disciples & Power Given To Them:
Jesus’s disciples are all who obey His commandments. His chosen disciples were Simeon, also called Peter, Andrew (Peter’s brother), James and John (the sons of Zebedee), Matthew (the tax collector), Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simeon the zealot and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him.
He chose them so that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. Mark 3:13-18. As it was then, so it is today for those who believed in Him and called on His Name, He gives the power to cast out demons. Those who hold firmly to His name and teachings and obey His commandments are His disciples. Jesus knows the enemy (Satan) and his cohorts – the Demons; that is why He gave us authority over them. The authority over demons can only be exercised when you are totally in Christ’s Will. As Christians, we must not be naïve about the activities of demons.
Demons & Demonism:
Demons are real; they get into people, and it takes the authority imposed on Jesus Christ to drive them out. Demons are Spirit beings without bodies, and their nefarious and super evil plans can only be achieved by living in the bodies of men or animals. The key to the presence or entrance of a demon into a person in authority. People inadvertently, in many ways, give authority to demons to enter their bodies and exercise control over them.
To have victory over demonic power, we must recognize and take away such authority from the demon using the higher power and authority given to us by Jesus Christ as His disciples. It is clearly stated by Jesus in Luke 10: 19 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
The Ways one gives authority to demons to enter one’s body and operate are:
- Satan Worship
The worship of Satan is as old as man on earth, known as worldliness or Satanism.
Satanism is found in various ways, such as black magic, black mass, and all facets of drug culture. All forms of idol worship and blood sacrifices have their roots in Satanism.
- Evil Dedications
Baby dedications are performed when a child is born, whether to the living God or a lesser deity. Baby Jesus was dedicated to the Almighty God, as stated in Luke 2: 22 – 23. “When the time of their purification according to the law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”).
The unbelievers dedicate their children to Satan, demon gods, water spirits, or other lesser deities. When a child or baby in the womb is dedicated to the service of these gods, the demon spirits are assigned the task of ensuring the child remains in custody all of his or her life. Sometimes these children are dedicated to unique festivals, ceremonial or market days’ deities or gods. This dedication can only be broken when such a person comes to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The demon spirits then see that person as a traitor, and consequently, the demon spirits then activate a curse of destruction in their life.
- Idol Worship
Idol worship is fellowship with demons. Sacrifices made to idols are made to demons, and these demons inhabit the bodies of their followers. Most ancestral curses originate from idol worship.
- Occult Involvement
Occult involvement means obeying the teachings of demons. These include performing rituals, re-counting incantations, keeping or using charms, using demoniac powers, casting spells, reading occult literature/publications, magical arts & practices, witchcraft, divination, and sorcery. All these types of occultism invite demons into the bodies of practitioners.
Acts 19: 19 says, “A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.”
- Psychic experiences
A Psychic is susceptible to psychic influences like a medium, fortuneteller, and divination. Divination is a pagan counterpart of Christian prophecies, and divination is by demon power (it is Satanic). The Bible classifies false prophets and diviners as one.
- Habitual Sins
Behind every sin is a Spirit. If you continue in sin, then you give authority to demon operations in your life.
- Curses
Curses can result in demoniac activities and can affect generations of families.
- Uncontrolled Emotions
Anger, Jealousy, hatred, envy, and other vices can open a doorway to evil spirits, thereby possessing your body.
- Wrong Teachings
Wrong teachings come through the doctrines of the demons and those open ways to evil spirits.
Jesus Teachings & Miracles:
His Ministry involved teaching, healing, and performing miracles. To those who believed, signs, wonders, and miracles followed. He was a teacher (a Rabbi) for three years and performed many miracles before the world’s children arrested Him, prosecuted, and crucified Him on the cross. He gave His own life so that we may be reconciled to God, the Father. He died and arose on the third day and later ascended to heaven.
In the beginning, He and the Father were inseparable and still indivisible with the Holy Spirit. He has always been ‘Upstairs,’ and He is still ‘Upstairs’ advocating for those who believe and call on His Name.
Jesus Healings & Miracles:
Jesus Christ’s first miracle was performed at the wedding in Cana, Galilee. He turned water into wine—what a wonderful LORD and friend. “A true friend indeed .”He did not want the bridegroom disgraced for lack of wine, an obedient son who listened to his earthly mother to help the groom, even though He is her LORD. Jesus was an excellent example to all children.
He healed the official’s son (John 4: 43-54). He cast out the demons in the demoniac in Capernaum (Mark 1: 23-26 & Luke 4: 33-35). He cured Peter’s mother-in-law of fever and sickness (Mt. 8: 2-4; Mark 1: 40-45, Luke 5: 17-26).
Jesus made a cripple walk (John 5:1-9) and restored into whole a shriveled hand. (Mathew 12: 10-13). What manner of Man is this? He cured a leper (Mt. 8: 2-4, Mark 1: 40-45, Luke 5: 12-16). What about the Centurion’s servant? Jesus healed and also raised the widow’s son. (Luke 7: 1-17, Matthew 8: 5-13).
The demons recognized His power and bowed to Him. His miraculous deliverance of the Gadarene demoniacs is recorded in Matthew 8: 28-34 and Mark 5: 1-20. And the woman bled for several years; no one could help her until she came to Jesus. He had compassion for her and cured her of the tissue of blood. He also raised Jairus’ daughter (Matthew 9: 27-31). What kind of man is this?
The hitherto blind man can now see, and the mute man can speak. (Matthew 9: 27-33). The Canaanite woman’s daughter was demon-possessed. She heard about the Saviour, who came from ‘Upstairs .’Though she did not belong to the chosen tribe and was not one of the lost sheep of Israel, she believed in Him, and due to her great faith, her request was granted. Her daughter was released from demoniac possession, and she was healed. Such was the compassion and power of our LORD and Saviour. He looked out for lost sheep, gathering them for the Father.
The deaf spoke (Mt. 7: 31-37). The blind man saw (Mk. 8: 22-26), and the demoniac boy was set free (Mt. 17: 14-18). The ten lepers were all healed even though only one was grateful; it did not matter to Him (Luke 17: 11-19). What a wonderful and compassionate Man, Our Lord and Messiah. A man born blind had his sight restored. He raised Lazarus from the dead; yes, indeed, from death. Lazarus was buried in the grave for four days, yet He raised him from the dead. The Pharisees could not believe this miracle; they had to come and see for themselves.
Jesus wined and dined with Lazarus after he raised him from the dead (John 11). The disabled woman walked (Luke 13: 11-17). He healed the man with dropsy (Luke 14: 1-6). The two blind men had an encounter with Jesus, and they were never the same. Once, they were blind, but now they can see. (Matthew 20: 29-34, Mark 10: 46-52, Luke 18: 35-43). Are you also Spiritually blind? Come to Jesus Christ today, and you will see.
When brave Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, the Son of Man, Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ restored the ear without any trace. Doctors will patch a wound, and you will see the line of parchment unlike the miracle of my Lord; no one looking at the same ear could believe Peter cut it. (Luke 22: 50-51). Many miracles are recorded in the Bible, and many more are not recorded. The recorded miracles include the Catch of fish (Luke 5: 1-11); the Storm stilled (Matthew 8: 23-27, Mark 4: 32-41, Luke 8: 22-25); Do you have any storm in your life now? Call on Him who cares and can still the Storm. Five thousand men fed with two little fishes and five loaves of bread (Matthew 14: 15-21, Mark 6: 25-33). Other miracles include walking on water (Mat. 14: 25-33, Mk. 6: 48-52, John 6: 15-21), 4000 men, excluding women and children, were fed with seven loaves of bread (Mt. 15: 32-39, Mk. 8: 1-9).
Jesus Christ was full of surprises, and His followers were amazed at His teaching and miracles. He got money from the fish mouth (Mt. 17: 24-27). He cursed the fig tree for not producing fruits in season, and it withered immediately (Mt. 21: 18-22, Mark 11: 12-14).
The ‘Man Upstairs’ was fully human and fully God. He was a great teacher (Rabbi) and spoke many parables.
***Part 4 tomorrow.
