THE ONLY WAY UP IS DOWNThe Up & Down Principle of God's Kingdom<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
"And the remnant that is escaped of the house of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Judah shall again take root DOWNWARD, and bear fruit UPWARD." Isaiah 37:31
The Scriptures follow a pattern of death and resurrection, a downward death and upward life. See if you can observe such a truth in the following verses:
"The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth UP all those that be bowed DOWN." Psalms 145:14
In order to "bear fruit upward" one must be planted in the house (kingdom) of the LORD and "take root downward." Resurrection life and fruitfulness will be the result.
"And whosoever shall exalt himself (upward) shall be abased (humbled); and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Matthew 23:12
"He must INCREASE, but I must DECREASE." John 3:30
"And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat FALL INTO THE GROUND (downward) and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (upward). He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life (downward) in this world shall keep it unto life eternal (upward)." John 12:23-25
"Humble yourselves (downward heart posture) in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James 4:10
The life of Christ will raise a man upward and this is after that man bows down his life or humbles himself under the mighty hand of God – first at initial salvation then in the life that brings God glory. Blessed resurrection life is the upward result of the life planted downward. There can be no resurrection until there is first a death. The seed is dead or dormant then is planted then germinates and brings forth bud, then a stalk and fruit – but first it must be buried downward in order to bear life-giving fruit upward.
"But if the Spirit of him that raised UP Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised UP Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive upward) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Romans 8:11
Our LORD had to first die and be buried downward in order to be raised upward by the Father in resurrection life to raise up and justify all those who would call up to Him in repentance (Rom. 1:4; 8:11; 10:13).
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." Romans 6:3-5
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." Colossians 2:12
PRAYER: Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins to ransom my soul from certain damnation. Thank You heavenly Father for raising up Your Son to justify me. I am buried with Thee and You have raised me up to new life. Bless my life to love, serve, and become more fruitful for Your eternal glory. Amen.
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