You never heard that much from the early life of Jesus until the day that he showed up at the Jordan River.

Once Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, then the spirit came upon him. From that point on everything changed. A new kind of a strange reality was introduced into this age.

Every old testament sign and shadow was fully and finally realized by this one epic moment in the history of time.

As soon as Jesus came out of the waters of the Jordan, which represents the journey into death, Jesus was taken into the wilderness, where all of a sudden the hidden world of the prince of the powers of this age was brought out of the darkness and into the light.

The light was now shining in the darkness, and the darkness could no longer hide.

Everything from that one moment on changed for Jesus. The light was now shining in the darkness, and the darkness could no longer hide in the shadows.

The powers of this age were all of a sudden driven out of the dark shadows and into the light.

The atmosphere was now no longer unseen and hidden, It now was open and revealed by the light.

The event of the coming of the Christ, was the unmasking of the darkness of this age and world.

This dark veil, which was the covering over the dark sinister powers of this evil age, was now ripped off.

The unseen world of darkness, was dragged out into the light through the event of the Jordan river experience, through the baptism of Jesus.

The coming of the Christ as the representative new man had now invaded the dominion of the rulers of this blinded age.

The hostility that was displayed became very intense against Jesus. Everywhere Jesus went, the powers and rulers of the darkness screamed and cried out, what have you to do with us Son of the most high God.

These dark sinister powers, they knew who Jesus truly was. The bible doesn’t say very much on how they knew him, but they were very aware of who this man was, and also what it meant for them.

This is the world in which Jesus found himself in after the event of the Jordan river, which is now also the event we find ourselves in through our union with him, by a true baptism into his death, which makes us partakers of the heavenly new man.

The new man Jesus the Christ, who is the new representative humanity of God, he came into this dark world, so that we could now, while still living in this world live through him.

Jesus through his death and resurrection now opened up for us, who have been baptized into his death, this new strange world of the unseen realm, which the Apostle Paul speaks so much about.

If one has truly gone into the waters of baptism, then when one comes out of this event, one should now be living in this world that Jesus lived in. One should come into similar experiences as to what was true of Jesus and Paul.

Being baptized into the reality of the Christ, is now to find oneself in a new strange world, a world which runs along side of this world, a world were the strange figures of the darkness are very real and present realities. Who are supernatural creatures, which are very hostile to any who find themselves in this place called the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.

This world is a hidden mystery to believers who have not gone down into the waters of the Jordan event.

When one truly finds himself in this event, through the revelation of the holy spirit, then one awakes in this new kind of a world. It is a world that is very hostile to any that find themselves in it. The assaults that are unleashed are staggering in nature, and overwhelming at times. At times one wonders how one can possibly endure the extreme conditions in , which one finds themselves in.

These supernatural powers seem to have so much liberty in their aggression towards us in our new position we find ourselves in. The attacks are not concealed, they are almost become visible in nature.

This is the world that T A Sparks calls the controversy of Zion. The Lord is now present in a people of this earth, who live in the new heavenly man Christ. This new man resides in the heavenlies, where the domain of the world rulers have their place of residence. The place where they exercise their authority from.

This place in Christ crucified is a rarefied environment, so otherworldly, but also at the same time so very normal to everyday life.

This is now the world that the risen church of Christ is called to come in and explore.

Yes it is a wonderfully glorious world, full of great mysteries, but also at the same time it is occupied by what Paul calls, the dark sinister powers of this age.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6, 10-17

The assaults are always directed at us, to get us to throw in the towel, leave this position of in Christ Jesus and go back and live in the world of the old man, whom Adam represents.

There has been and still is this great war taking place in the heavenly realms. We through baptism are now recruited into this epic ageless battle, with the rulers and authorities of this present evil age, who still after the victory of the cross, continue to still sit in places of power and authority over the nations, but thanks be to Christ who through his death has defeated him who had the power of death.

The victory is now ours in Christ. The battle is to hold our ground when we are attacked. If we hang on and not react to what is coming at us, we will come into the spoils of the battle.