Ascended To Heaven
April 12, 2016
Ascended To Heaven
“After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3)
“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “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.”” (Acts 1:9–11)
I. Ascending To Dwell In Our Hearts
“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes (Jesus was in body), and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19)
“far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,” (Ephesians 1:21–22)
“Now I am going to him who sent me (ascension) … It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:5–7)
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:38–39)
“Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father (ascension).” (John 20:17)
“You ascended from before our very eyes, and we turned back grieving, only to find you in our hearts.” (Augustine)
II. We Are His Witnesses
“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.”” (Acts 1:8)
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
“The holiest moment of the church service is the moment when God’s people – strengthened by preaching and sacrament – go out of the church door into the world to be the Church. We don’t go to church; we are the church.”
Ernest Southcott