I want to welcome all of you on a Sunday that many in the Christian Church celebrate as Ascension Sunday. The time that our Lord left this earth physically (as we understand it), to sit at the right hand of the Majesty of Heaven. There is nothing that requires us to observe the Ascension on this day or any day, because we really don’t know the specific day, but we remember the Ascension of the Lord as a promise that has been kept by our God.
Our Lord was foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament. They said He would come and die for us. Accomplished. Our Lord prophesied that he would rise in three days. Accomplished. That God would send the Holy Spirit. We will celebrate and observe that fact next Sunday on Pentecost. That he would leave and come back, and we await and long for this happening, to this very day! All the above exist to remind us of our incredible family, and help us to remember that God’s plans are in His hands.
But what is God’s timeframe for all that He has in store for people like you and me? That question and so many more go all the way back to the very time that our Lord was completing the last verbal instructions to the disciples before His ascension to be at the thrown of majesty. Reading from Acts 1:6-11:
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
*Please let me interrupt the narrative to say; There are so many people in the past, and right to this day who profess to know how, and when, and where our Lord will return. While even more are curious for an answer to when. Whether it’s a worldly question about the physical reality that the disciples are asking or the deep things of the spiritual future, there are people who want answers right now.
A whole category of theological study seeks to know the answer to those things. Pre-millennial, post-millennial, sub-millennial and more. So many arguments based on when life began and when it will end in our present reality, that many just plain forget to live their faith in the here and now. We get so caught up in petty arguments that we forget to be Christians of the working day right now!
Remember that not even Jesus knew when He would be returning. For confirmation, let me read from Mark 13:32;
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
In other words, Jesus Himself was living on faith in this reality, this dimension of existence, just as you and I are instructed to do. Maybe, we had better get to the day-to-day living of our faith instead of all of the abstractions that distract. The Lord will now instruct the disciples on how He is going to equip them and you in our way ahead. Continuing now in Acts 1, verse 8;
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
**This isn’t Harpazo –Greek, or Rapturo –latin. Raptured, snatched up from this dimension. Our Lord is in control.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
I love it! Instead of standing around pondering the imponderables of life, the Angelic Beings are in so many words saying to the disciples, get about the business of living. Living your Faith involves so much more than ruminations and thoughts of the deep things in life. It means becoming the deep things in life for other people. Living, and then living some more, and letting your light so shine as instructed by our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:14-16;
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
In fact, your good deeds are only a dim reflection of the pure light that is your Lord. And when you are in action, it’s not to earn your way into Heaven, but a little piece of Heaven bustin loose right out of you and driving you to places you would not have gone without His leading you, shepherding you, loving you into a brand new… you! Because your Lord resides within and is a part of… you!
And along the way, God gives us direction. Through the Spirit with discernment, the church, your Family in God, and of course scripture. The eternal word of God, radiating His light and wisdom in discernable increments to aids us on our path towards Him.
As so often is the case with all scripture, we have the Psalms leading us the readers (who are believers) towards a deeper understanding of our Lord. Teaching generation after generation who God is, and who we are not, and yet blessed by the same God who loves us in spite of us. Reading from Psalm 47: 5-9;
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.
*Please let me interrupt the Psalmist to say; this is why we were created in the first place. To praise, glorify, and magnify God’s Holy and precious name. It’s the driving force for having a worship service on Sunday mornings. To remind us of our occupation, and that His light is still shinning even in the darkness of our present society of pain, hurts, and woes! On to verse 8;
8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.
When we begin to understand who God is, and what humanity is really designed for (to praise God and more), we begin to take on a whole new identity of serving God by serving others. But not just serving others, it’s joined by praying for others. That’s an incredible step we make in placing others before ourselves in life. Before you know it, we are actually thinking about other people before our selves!
In fact, thanking God for the people that He places in our lives is an excellent way of basking in the light that is us when we are living in and with Him, our Lord and Savior. And then after thanking the Lord for the people in our lives, we can begin our own growth in God by asking the Lord to help the people around us.
Praying for those people in our lives, that they might have; discernment, spiritual growth, and grace. Much as an Apostle like Paul would have done for all those of the early church. The people they were leading to the Lord, back in the first century. For an example of Paul’s feeling for and his instruction to the early church family, please let me read Ephesians 1:15-22;
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
*Please let me interrupt Paul just to say; How wonderful it is to pray for other people, asking God for their best, and what is best for those we are prying for. Notice, Paul isn’t mixing up his prayers with his own selfish desires, he is asking God for the things the people he loves need. That is an example I am going to try and follow ever closer to in the days ahead. I hope all of you will join me in that goal! Paul now will move on to describe the power of our God. Continuing halfway through verse 19;
That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Yes, we are the Body of Christ. Our family is adopted into the original family of God, the descendants of Abraham. A people who are a blessing to all of the world, by our God teaching right and wrong to the world through them. We continue in that blessing by sharing the Good News of the Gospel to all the willing we meet in the course of our lives.
By studying our Bibles, and learning the lessons of life contained in the word of God, enables us to accurately share the joy that we have found in our faith walk with anyone interested. By inviting new people into our study groups, gives God’s word a chance to enter into peoples lives where they begin to see the unfolding of the Lord’s plans for humanity.
God’s plans are displayed in the whole of our Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. His desire for a real relationship with each and every one of the willing of us, is the constant theme of scripture. Coupled with our God giving us rules and laws for our benefit, and He is the completion of covenants, rules, and laws that make up the foundation beds of our salvation, and would have been the emphasis that our Lord would have instructed the disciples in today’s Message Reading from Luke 24:44-52;
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
*Please let me interrupt the Lord’s instruction to say; when we read the Old Testament in anticipation of the fact that everything, we are reading is pointing to the coming of our Lord… Showing us the way to God in a more intimate and deeper relationship in the Lord… When we read the Good Book with that idea in mind everything begins to come together. Of course, reading scripture with His Holy Spirit is key to our studies. On to verse 45;
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
**Interrupting again to say; We all must be prayerfully asking our God to open our minds so that we might be able to understand His wonderful words of life! On to verse 46;
46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
***We will celebrate that fact, next week on Pentecost
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Time and time again our Lord has shown us that: His Light Shines, And Does Not Yield! From the moments when we retreat to those dark places of brooding, and angst, and hurt. I know where you go. More importantly, your Lord knows the way back out, and will light your way step by step.
As the disciples went about the business of living for Christ, they must had viewed all scripture just a little bite deeper now that the Lord had opened their minds. Let’s put is to the test right now by revisiting briefly the Call to Worship that Elaine read this morning. With our Lord providing our discernment, see what you pick up this time around. Reading, Psalm 68:32-35;
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,
sing praise to the Lord,
33 to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
who thunders with mighty voice.
34 Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the heavens.
35 You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
Praise be to God indeed my beloved family in God! My Hope and prayer this week for each of you, is that you will get a chance to ask the Lord to open your mind to the hard things of life, to include those Bible passages that you have avoided in the past. If for nothing more than to reflect upon and to talk with your Lord with.
Amen!