Making Room: Ascension, the Holy Spirit, New Possibilities

May 17, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Clouds and Promises

Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives, flesh-scarred feet pressing earth one last time. He spoke of power coming not through swords or kingdoms, but through the Spirit’s breath. As disciples strained upward, two men in white declared: “This Jesus will return as you saw Him go.” The sky held no chariots or trumpets—only the weight of absence and the ache of waiting. [01:17:31]

The Ascension wasn’t abandonment but an exchange. Jesus’ physical presence limited Him to one hillside, one moment. The Spirit would rush into every corner of creation. God swapped nail-pierced hands for wind-fire tongues, a localized body for omnipresent breath.

You clutch familiar comforts—rituals, routines, certainties—while God says “Make room.” What if your white-knuckled grip on how God “should” move stifles how He actually moves? Where is Christ asking you to release old expectations to embrace Spirit-led newness?

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.”
(Acts 1:9-11, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Christ to reveal one tradition, habit, or assumption you must release to receive fresh wind from the Spirit.
Challenge: Write down one “cloud” moment where God felt absent—then burn the paper as a surrender to His hidden work.

Day 2: From Hands to Breath

Thomas touched resurrection wounds. Peter ate broiled fish by Galilee’s shore. For 40 days, Jesus moved among them—solid, audible, knowable. Then He ascended. No more breakfasts with the Risen One. No more probing scars. Only the promise of breath—ruach—that would dwell not beside them, but within. [01:18:40]

Jesus traded tangible companionship for intimate indwelling. The Spirit isn’t a consolation prize but an upgrade: God no longer with us, but in us. The disciples had to lose the Man of Galilee to gain the Comforter who’d catapult them to Rome, Ethiopia, and beyond.

You crave visible signs—answered prayers with time stamps, miracles you can film. But the Spirit works in whispers, nudges, and slow transformations. When did you last sit in silent expectation, trusting the Wind’s work beyond your senses?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(John 1:1, ESV)

Prayer: Confess your addiction to visible “proof” of God’s presence. Invite the Spirit to speak through scripture, creation, or a stranger today.
Challenge: Spend 5 minutes in silence before checking your phone this morning. Note any promptings to act or pray.

Day 3: Road to Reversals

Saul gripped execution orders, breathing murder. Light blinded him; a voice shattered his certainty: “Why persecute me?” Scales fell. The persecutor became the preached. God didn’t reform Saul—He resurrected Paul. Grace turned a killer into history’s greatest missionary. [01:19:49]

God specializes in identity earthquakes. He didn’t tweak Paul’s theology but rewired his heart. The Spirit melts pride, repurposes pain, and writes new names over old wounds. Your past isn’t a life sentence—it’s raw material for redemption.

What label or failure have you let define you? What if God wants to repurpose your deepest shame into your greatest testimony?

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”
(Acts 9:15, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for one painful memory He’s repurposed for good. If none come to mind, ask Him to reveal a current struggle He wants to redeem.
Challenge: Text or call someone who embodies “grace reversal” in your life. Name how their story strengthens your faith.

Day 4: Visions and Voicemails

Peter saw a sheet descending, crammed with “unclean” animals. A voice commanded: “Kill and eat.” Tradition screamed “No!”—but the Spirit whispered “New!” Cornelius, a Gentile soldier, awaited Peter’s visit. The Church’s walls crumbled as Peter crossed thresholds he’d sworn to avoid. [01:20:49]

God often offends our sensibilities to expand our ministries. Peter clung to kosher rules; the Spirit craved a global feast. Your preferences—how worship “should” sound, who “belongs”—might be roadblocks to revival.

What lines have you drawn that the Spirit now compels you to cross? Who makes you uncomfortable because they don’t fit your mold of “proper” faith?

And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
(Acts 10:15, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to highlight one person or group you’ve unconsciously labeled “unclean” or “too broken.”
Challenge: Initiate a conversation with someone outside your usual circle—different age, ethnicity, or beliefs. Listen more than speak.

Day 5: For the Ones Not Here

Shelly gripped John’s hand, urging him: “Finish for your boys.” A dying man saw beyond his own grave—to sons needing a father’s faithful example. The cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12:1) isn’t just ancient saints; it’s mentors who planted seeds they’d never sit under. [01:24:29]

Every choice ripples into eternity. Moses never entered Canaan. David didn’t build the Temple. You may not see your prayers answered or projects completed. But your obedience stocks the pantry for future famines.

What legacy project have you neglected because results seem distant? Who’s watching your faithfulness today, storing up courage for their tomorrow?

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.
(Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV)

Prayer: Name one boy or girl (by name) who needs your spiritual investment. Commit to praying for them daily this month.
Challenge: Write a letter or record a video for someone 20 years younger, sharing how Christ sustained you in a trial. Seal it for future delivery.

Sermon Summary

We gather to celebrate Ascension Sunday and to learn how God widens our life for new possibility. We recall that God speaks into the world by word and by breath, that the Word became flesh, and that resurrection rewrites the finality of death. We hold that Jesus rose and then ascended, not to abandon us, but to make space for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit arrives like wind and breath, an unseen advocate who continues Jesus work by dwelling within us and guiding us into truth. To receive that Spirit we must let go of a fixation on visible presence and accept a different mode of God at work among us.

Scripture shows a long pattern of surprising reversals. People deemed too young, too old, or too unlikely became instruments of God. The earliest followers moved from fear to mission as the risen Christ met them, and the apostles learned to expand their vision beyond narrow boundaries. The call to make room often demands painful change: we let go of familiar forms to welcome a new, Spirit-driven future.

Personal commitment and communal faithfulness matter across generations. Perseverance shapes children and those who follow us. Finishing difficult tasks, cultivating congregational practices, and stewarding places and people form a legacy that embodies the gospel. Building for tomorrow requires practical decisions now, shaped by hope and the expectation that God will continue to speak.

We live as witnesses between resurrection and return. We keep alert, stand firm, and act with love. The ascended Christ promises both presence and commission. The Spirit equips us to be hands of mercy, voices of grace, and agents of reconciliation. We answer by making room within our lives and our community for the Spirit to renew the church and the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Ascension calls us to release Letting Jesus ascend invites a new form of divine presence. Holding only to visible signs blocks the inward work of the Spirit. Releasing familiar images opens space for the Spirit to form conviction, courage, and compassionate action in real time. We practice trust by allowing change that bears lasting spiritual fruit. [78:40]
2. Holy Spirit enables ongoing presence The Spirit functions as an advocate who continues Jesus ministry within us. Where bodily presence ceased, the Spirit empowers understanding, witness, and transformation from within community. This presence does not overwhelm autonomy but companions our listening and obedience. We learn to rely on inward guidance that births outward love. [77:31]
3. God works through unexpected reversals God routinely upends human expectations to accomplish new beginnings. Figures like Paul and Peter moved from limitation to mission when God reshaped their vision and purpose. These reversals expose dependence on divine initiative rather than human plans. We remain attuned to surprising calls that reorder priorities for the spread of grace. [79:34]
4. We build for future generations Our faithful choices today create spiritual soil for those who follow. Acts of perseverance, teaching, and community formation teach children and neighbors how to live into faith. Decisions about campus, staffing, and worship bear witness beyond our lifetimes. We act with stewardship that trusts God to finish what we begin. [84:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[69:02] - Awaiting God s word
[71:26] - The Word became flesh
[73:08] - Resurrection changes everything
[75:38] - Ascension and timeline explained
[77:31] - Promise of the Holy Spirit
[79:34] - Examples of reversal and call
[84:59] - Building for future generations
[90:38] - Charge and benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 1:9-11 (ESV)
"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.'"

John 1:1, 14 (ESV)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [...] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Observation Questions

What does Jesus’ ascension into heaven signify about the nature of God’s presence with believers after this event? [Acts 1:9-11]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between Jesus’ physical absence and the Holy Spirit’s arrival? [01:17:31]
What examples of "unexpected reversals" in Scripture were mentioned to illustrate God’s pattern of working through unlikely people? [01:19:34]
According to the sermon, why is releasing familiar forms of faith necessary to embrace the Spirit’s work? [01:18:40]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus’ ascension be described as creating "space" for the Holy Spirit rather than abandoning believers? How does this redefine divine presence?
The sermon states, "God works through unexpected reversals." How do figures like Paul or Peter exemplify this, and what does it reveal about God’s priorities versus human expectations?
Acts 1:11 emphasizes Jesus’ return. How does living "between resurrection and return" shape a believer’s daily priorities and mission?
The sermon connects perseverance in difficult tasks (e.g., finishing a doctorate) to building a legacy. How does this align with biblical teachings about stewardship across generations? [01:24:59]

Application Questions

What is one "familiar form" of faith (e.g., a routine, tradition, or expectation) you might need to release to make room for the Holy Spirit’s unexpected work? How could this change your daily walk with God?
The Holy Spirit is described as an "unseen advocate." What practical step could you take this week to rely more on inward spiritual guidance rather than visible signs of God’s presence?
The sermon highlights building a legacy for future generations. What is one tangible decision—related to time, resources, or relationships—you can make now to foster spiritual growth in others who will come after you? [01:24:59]
Reflect on a time when God used an "unlikely reversal" in your life (e.g., a setback, surprise, or shift in perspective) to redirect you toward His purposes. How might this encourage you to trust His unexpected methods today?
The apostles shifted from fear to mission after encountering the risen Christ. What fear or limitation currently holds you back from living boldly as a "voice of grace" or "agent of reconciliation" in your community?

Sermon Clips

38s

#MakeRoomForTheSpirit

“This is the Holy Spirit that is coming into the world. So, in other words, if we are to make room for the Holy Spirit, then we're going to have to be able to let Jesus go. It's an interesting thought, isn't it? We who do not wish to let Jesus go have to be able to let him go, to ascend, to be with his father, to make room for something else that is happening because God is operating in a different way, in a different time.”

43s

#JesusIsTheWord

“And the common theme there throughout it all is that God is speaking. That God is gathering God's people around that word. In the very first book of the Bible, it says, in the beginning. And then when we go to the New Testament in John's gospel, the very first verses in John's gospel say, in the beginning was the word. The word was with God and the word was God. And in this sense, the word, well friends, that's Jesus Christ.”

40s

#UnexpectedBecomesGlory

“The one who was foretold in the very first verses of scripture, we find the fulfillment of God's coming word into the world to be with us in the form of a human. His birth story was unexpected, wasn't it? How is it that a young unwed mother could be with child, but it fulfills the same kind of scriptural emphasis that we find time and time again about unexpected and the least and the lost coming into the light of God's glory.”

42s

#AwaitingGodsWord

“Throughout the Judeo Christian traditions, congregations have been formed in the very same way. A group of people gather who are awaiting a word from the Lord. That's the way it always happens. We are people who are anticipating that God, the one who is almighty, who is unknowable, the one that we know only in part is somehow going to send a message to us from heaven to earth so that we can receive it, that we can invite that message into our lives, and that we might be changed by it.”

40s

#GrandReversalsOfScripture

“And it's fascinating that as we pause for a moment and think about the in breaking of God's word, we see all of the grand reversals throughout the whole scope of scripture. You're aware of all those different figures that I'm referencing in the Old Testament, people who didn't expect that they would have a child because they were too old, people who believed that there was no way that they would be a king or called by God because well, were just a boy. People who became queens when they were in an exiled land.”

41s

#StoriesOfCalledAndChosen

“People who were called to stand up and rise up and challenge the great Caesar, those who were called to rise up and challenge the pharaoh, people in every walk of life who knew that they were called and claimed and chosen by God, but who were kind of confused about how that call and claim would play itself out in their lives. We have the opportunity to watch their stories and their journeys unfold in scripture from Old Testament Hebrew Bible times all the way through the New Testament.”

28s

#SpiritBuiltCommunities

“And at last, those who were running and fleeing for their lives, surely to meet the same face as g fate as Jesus, are now turning around and following and believing once again, and they are gathering communities once again. Communities of people who will be established by the same way that God has always spoken, by the word, by the breath, by the wind of the spirit.”

30s

#GentleEncouragementMatters

“And, Shelley shook my hand, and he looked me in the eye, and he said something that a personnel committee member might say, or someone who was gently trying to prod their son or their grandson along. It was all said in love, and I heard it and it impacted me deeply. He said, John, you know, I think it would really be a good thing if you would go ahead and finish that doctorate.”

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Making Room: Ascension, the Holy Spirit, New Possibilities

Devotional

Day 1: Clouds and Promises

Day 2: From Hands to Breath

Day 3: Road to Reversals

Day 4: Visions and Voicemails

Day 5: For the Ones Not Here

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Making Room: Ascension, the Holy Spirit, New Possibilities

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