“The time is right, the place is right, the price is right. Jesus come on down!”
When the people of God faced opposition from their enemies, they either conformed, becoming like them, or they called on God to come down and deliver them. (Ps.144:4-6)
Adam and Eve looked at the forbidden fruit and wanted to be like God. Despite God’s command not to eat, they still came down to the level of the snake and gave into the temptation of Satan. (Gen 3)
When Samuel was Prophet to the nation of Israel, the people of God looked at other nations and said, “we want to be like them.”
Despite God’s warnings, they came down to the level of other nations and called out to God, “give us a King to rule over us and fight our battles.” (1Sam 8)
King David looked from his rooftop at Bathsheba, bathing. Despite knowing the Ten Commandments, he came down to commit adultery.
(2 Sam 11)
Despite coming down to the ways of the ungodly, when the people call to God for deliverance, God, who never lets go of his people, in His amazing grace comes down to lift his people. “…. out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” (Ps.40:2; 30:1; 9:13; 75:10;107:41)
To the right place Jesus came down. "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. " (Mic.5:2)
At the right time Jesus came down. “So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Gal 4:3)
Jesus paid the right price, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
(Mk.10:45; 1Tim 2:6; Heb 9:15)
Jesus lifted us out of the slavery to sin and Satan, and he set our feet on higher ground. No longer do we need to conform to the patterns of this world, no longer do we need to be like the ungodly, no longer do we need to come down to ways of this world.
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” (Eph.2:5-7) “having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col.2:12)
God lifts his people to a strong and firm place upon the Rock, so we can build our life upon a firm foundation. God has positioned us to stand firm. “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Pete.5:10)
God lifts his people to an advantageous position, so we can reign and rule by the power of God, over the stuff that comes from the mud and mire of slime ball, who is Satan.
Having been lifted up from the slimy pit, Satan’s desire is to bring us back down again. (Eph. 4:27; 6:11; Jam. 4:7; 1Pet.5:8)
Jesus said, “if I be lifted up, I will draw all men on to me…..” This was God’s redemptive plan for our salvation. (Jn. 12:31-33)
People gathered around the cross saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"……… "He saved others," they said, "but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. (Matt.27:39-41)
Nehemiah, called and commissioned by God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, faced opposition and obstruction from Sanballat and Geshem, who sent a message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono." But Nehemiah said “OH NO!” because they were scheming to harm him and halt the rebuilding work. (Neh.6:1-3)
Satan will invite you to come down to filthy talking, gossip, innuendos and slander. (Col.3:8; 1 Tim.5:13) Stay in the strong place. Stay in the advantageous position and say, “OH NO!”
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
(Ps.19:13-14)
Satan will invite you to come down to stinking thinking about yourself, others and God. Stay in the strong place; stay in the advantageous position and say, “OH NO!”
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil.4:7-9)
Satan will invite you to come down to sinful living. Stay in the strong place; stay in the advantageous position and say, “OH NO.”
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” (Ps.1:1-3)
Asaph looked with envy at how the ungodly prospered and he wanted to be like them. Until he entered the presence of the Lord and said, “OH NO! My eternal destiny is of more value than all the entire world has to offer.” (Ps.73)
Jesus said to Peter, “Satan has sought to sift you as wheat.” But Jesus said, “OH NO. I have prayed for you.” (Lk.22:30-32)
In any sport, staying in position is essential to victory. Stay close to the Lord; submit to the word, will and ways of God; resist the devil and he will flee from you.
