Ascension
The Next Phase • Sermon • Submitted
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· 51 viewsChrist's work on earth completed, He now takes up position at right hand of Father. Daniel provides a picture for us.
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Introduction
Introduction
Past weeks we have looked at Crucifixion, resurrection, resurrection appearances to Cleopas and another, 7 of the disciples especially Peter and John, Peter’s restoration and we are about at the end of the 40 days between the resurrection and Jesus’ return to the Father.
Past weeks we have looked at Crucifixion, resurrection, resurrection appearances to Cleopas and another, 7 of the disciples especially Peter and John, peter’s restoration and we are about at the end of the 40 days between the resurrection and Jesus’ return to the Father.
Why look at all of these events in detail? God’s plans work in detail as well as broad strokes and I don’t want to miss the opportunity to find understanding in the details that we usually skip over. We skip over because we are in a hurry to abandon this world for the new heavens and new earth, understandable but not our main assignment. Our main assignment is to disciple nations. With that in mind we need to know what Jesus has done and is going to do. We need to also find the principles that will help us to minister more effectively than before.
Catching Up
Catching Up
Incarnation - Complete identification with humans
Incarnation - Complete identification with humans
Crucifixion - Complete payment of the price to set us free from God’s wrath
Resurrection - Demonstrated full payment of the price and God’s complete mastery over sin, death and hell.
Ascension - Visible demonstration of God’s power and plans. The fulfillment of His plans and desire for an ongoing relationship with humans and growth of His kingdom
Ascensions
Ascensions
Enoch
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Elijah
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.
Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
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Jesus
And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
Luke 24:50-53
Key Events
Incarnation - Complete identification with humans
Crucifixion - Complete payment of the price to set us free from God’s wrath
Resurrection - Demonstrated full payment of the price and God’s complete mastery over sin, death and hell.
Ascension - Visible demonstration of God’s power and plans. The fulfillment of His plans and desire for an ongoing relationship with humans and growth of His kingdom
Ascension Significance
Ascension Significance
Signifies end of His earthly ministry. God the Father had lovingly sent His Son into the world at Bethlehem, and now the Son was returning to the Father. The period of human limitation was at an end.
Demonstrates success of His earthly work. All that He had come to do, He had accomplished.
Depicted return of His heavenly glory. Jesus' glory had been veiled during His sojourn on earth, with one brief exception at the Transfiguration ().
Showed His exaltation by the Father (). The One with whom the Father is well pleased () was received up in honor and given a name above all names ().
He prepares a place for us ().
Beginning of His new work as High Priest () and Mediator of the New Covenant ().
Sets the pattern for His return. When Jesus comes to set up the Kingdom, He will return just as He left-literally, bodily, and visibly in the clouds (; ; ; ).
In Heaven
Currently, the Lord Jesus is in heaven.
Currently, the Lord Jesus is in heaven.
The Scriptures frequently picture Him at the right hand of the Father-a position of honor and authority (; ; ).
Christ is the Head of the Church (),
Sender of the Holy Spirit ()
Giver of spiritual gifts (),
The One who fills all in all ().
Looking to Jesus
Looking to Jesus
ESV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Looking to Jesus
Looking to Jesus
Christ ascended to a place
And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Christ Exalted
Resurrection body subject to time- space limitations
Christ Exalted
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:
Christ’s Place at God’s Right hand
Christ’s Place at God’s Right hand
The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Psalm 110:1
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Christ’s Authority
Hebrews 1:
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Dramatic evidence of the completion of Christ’s redemptive work
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:
Significance for Us
Significance for Us
In Father’s House
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
Father’s House
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
1 Thessalonians
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Shared Authority
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:17-23
God’s Plan
God’s Plan
Christ’s ascension enables us to share in His authority over the universe; partially now completely later
Send Holy Spirit
and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Prays for Us
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
Ephesians
For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
Power for the Present
Power in Present
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Reign
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Resurrection
Be Imitators
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Looking to Jesus
Looking to Jesus
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Hebrews12:1-3