Lodge Service May 26/22

This same Jesus...

It was probably 25 years ago when I was working at a store called Emo Feed Service. One Thursday afternoon, there was a group of people that came into the store. They were very conservative Mennonites. Some of them spoke Pennsylvania Dutch.

What struck me odd, was that it was in the middle of the week and they were dressed up in the Sunday best. I guess that it wasn’t that hard, but I mustered up the courage to ask them what was the occasion. To my amazement, or maybe a little embarrassment, they said, “It’s Ascension Day!”

The reason for the embarrassment was that I was a Pastor, yes, a youth pastor, but a pastor nonetheless. I should have known that Ascension Day was 40 days after Easter and 10 days before Pentecost.

Well, today May 26th is Ascension Day!

Someone might dare to ask, what is Ascension Day?

That is the day that we remember that Jesus was taken up into Heaven.

Let’s read Acts 1:3-11

Acts 1:3–11 NIV

After his suffering, he presented himself to them 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. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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.” 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.”

What difference does the ascension make in our lives?

I want to share quickly 3 differences the ascension makes in our lives.

1. Promise of the Holy Spirit

Jesus promised that when He went into Heaven that He would send the Holy Spirit. Some names given for the Holy Spirit are Comforter, Advocate, and Helper.

When Jesus was on earth, He was like you and me, He could only be at one place at a time, but the Holy Spirit is omnipresent which means that He can bring comfort and work on a person’s behalf in every part of our world at the same time. We can pray here in Lanigan, and the Holy Spirit ministers to us. At the same time, He is with people in Australia, Europe, and Africa.

John 16:7 ESV

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

John 16:13 ESV

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

What we call our conscience is the Holy Spirit helping us determine the difference between right and wrong. He will guide us into all truth.

We also receive power to witness what Jesus has done in our lives.

Acts 1:8 NIV

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.”

2. Jesus makes intercession for us

Romans 8:33–34 NIV

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

When we come to God the Father and pray in Jesus’ name, Jesus pleads our case to the Father. The One who died for us, the One who justified us, goes to the Father as our advocate. He is for you. He is not against you.

3. He will come again...

Jesus said that He would come again

John 14:1–3 NKJV

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

The angels said that He would come again

Acts 1:11 NIV

“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.”

Paul said that Jesus would come again...

2 Timothy 4:1 NLT

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom:

To close:

I want to encourage you in the Lord, that just as Jesus ascended into Heaven, He will come again. This is the blessed hope of the church. Jesus is alive and one day everyone who believes that Jesus died for our sins, according to

Romans 10:9–10 NIV

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Will spend eternity with Him.

Let’s pray!