Ascension Day is when Jesus finally left the earth to join his Father up in heaven. Because remember, Jesus was on earth for about 40 days right after resurrection. He's been around for 40 days visiting the disciples, revealing himself. Even doubting Thomas, because I mean, Jesus revealed himself to him. This was the final day that Jesus was with his disciples before he went up into heaven. Ascension.
Because of the ascension, we have power in this life. You have been given an opportunity to operate in a space, in a place, beyond your temporary limitations.
For Jesus, it was his transition from his earthly ministry into his heavenly reign. That is what happened on that day and that is why it's so significant.
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The ascension completes Christ's earthly mission. That is what the ascension symbolizes—it completes his earthly mission.
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After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching and they could no longer see him. That was Jesus like dropping the mic. Here he is and all of a sudden here comes a cloud, takes him up. I can imagine the disciples like... because I mean it's so bizarre. Jesus revealing himself and then disappearing and then revealing himself and then having dinner and here's Jesus, right? Walking through doors and now Jesus' final final act gets taken up into heaven and that concludes his earthly ministry.
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It's a complete work of Christ in my life. See, it's not just a resurrected king. It's not just a resurrected king. He's an ascended king. He's in heaven where he belongs, right? Next to the father. And so, it's a complete work of Christ. And so, the ascension of Jesus affirms my salvation. It affirms it. He's not just resurrected, puppy. He's in heaven where I'm going. Because guess what? He's preparing a place for me and for you. Didn't he say so in scripture?
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With this affirmation, we live... We live from victory. We live from victory, not for victory. We live from victory because it is done. It is completed.
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The ascension also exalts him as king and as priest. That's what the ascension does. It highlights that two facets. That is king and priest.
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Jesus is now enthroned, not just resurrected. And what I love about the fact is that he's seated on the right-hand side of the Father, right? Authority. And so he has the Father's ear for you. He intercedes for you. He's got a plan for you. And so he's constantly, constantly praying for you, interceding for you, having you in his corner, having the Father's ear saying, hey.
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What a power move. Jesus ascends into heaven, and who comes down? The Holy Spirit comes and empowers us. Jesus seated on the right-hand side of the Father. What a power move, guys. I'm telling you, you've got to get this picture, right? Yes, Jesus is in my heart, but Jesus is actually seated in heaven next to the Father. The earth is his footstool. And one day Jesus will return. The same way he's gone up is the same way he's coming down.
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I'm telling you, I know the King of kings. I know the King of kings that makes a way for me, that makes a way for you. That gives me favor, that grants me access in places where people can't. They can't. But Jesus makes a way for me and you.
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He is my king. He's my authority. But he's also my priesthood. You must get this picture, guys. You must get this picture, right? And so, man, he is constantly praying for you, interceding for you, and we can submit our fears and our decisions and our lives to our authority of our king, who rules and reigns on our behalf. We don't have to do it alone.
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What I love about him is the fact that he doesn't scold me. He doesn't stand there with a big stick going, yeah, lecker, you wanted to hear Wilmos. It's not him. His heart is continuing to encourage us, to motivate us, and to call us to higher, right? Because he's my king, and he's my high priest. That is who Jesus is for me.
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Jesus said that he's got to go, that he can send who? The comforter, the advocate for us, right? He's got to go. Let's look at this in John 16, verse 7. But in fact, it is best for you. Now, the last time I checked, Jesus knows what's best, right? He knows what's best for you. And he's saying here, it is best for you that I go away. Because if I don't, the advocate won't come. And if I do go away, then I will send him to you.
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The Holy Spirit dwells with us here in our hearts and in our lives and empowers us to do the supernatural, empowers us to set the captives free, right? Because we can't do it in our own strength. And so the Spirit works on the behalf of the Trinity to guide us here on earth, because where is Jesus? In heaven, seated next to the Father, preparing a place for me and for you.
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Jesus said to us, He said, you will be able to do what I have done and even greater. Now, the last time I checked, I've never raised somebody from the dead. So I'm like, okay, bring him. I want him. Who wants to die? I'm just joking. I want to practice. Right? Ascension, guys, is so important, man.
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The ascension also gives us a heavenly perspective. It does. Look at the scripture. It says in Colossians 3 verse 1 to 4, it says, Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven. Set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. And think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
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Jesus being in heaven changes my view of earth. It does because it says that man I don't belong to this world I've been raised to a new life with Christ this is temporary we shouldn't get distracted by the temporary stuff of life what we'll wear what we'll do what we'll drink whatever my social status we shouldn't be worrying about it because it's temporary.
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We should start each day with heaven's agenda in mind. Heaven's agenda—what matters eternally. Set your mind on heaven and what matters eternally. Be responsible with what God has given you to do on earth. I'm not saying quit your job tomorrow and go become a full time missionary unless God called you to do that. We need to be responsible with what God has given us. Because it's all part of his plan. But we shouldn't be closed-minded to what God wants to do in our lives.
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There's nothing greater than walking in purpose. There's nothing greater than walking in purpose. I'm telling you, when I saw you this morning, when I saw you this morning, I just had this massive urgency in my heart to say to you, purpose. It's all about purpose. All about purpose. Man, there's just such a purpose in your life. It's not even strange.
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The ascension promises his return. It promises his return, right? What goes up? Must come down. Yes. In Acts 1, verse 11. Let me give you the back story here. Acts 1, verse 11. Remember in the previous verses, Jesus ascended into the heavens, right? And you've got the disciples that's busy staring up, straining their eyes to see where Jesus is going. And the next moment, two guys appeared next to the disciples in white robes, all right? They just appeared right there. And so we pick up the story here in verse 11. And they say, men of Galilee, so these are the two guys, men of Galilee, they said, why are you standing here staring into heaven? Can you actually see what they're saying here? Can you actually see the undertone here? They're not asking a stupid question, all right? Now, they're saying, why are you wasting your time? Actually, that's what they're saying. Why are you standing here staring into heaven? Because look at the next verse. The next verse tells us, it says, Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way that you saw him go.
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The ascension isn't goodbye. It isn't goodbye. It's more like, see you later. That's what the ascension actually means, right? It's a promise of his return. The ascension. But here's the thing. The clock is ticking. Time is going. What are we doing? Jesus, his last command was what? Go and make disciples. It wasn't a suggestion. It wasn't a, it would be nice. It was go and make disciples. Why are we wasting time, staring into heaven and not doing because he is coming back?
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There is more than enough room in my father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I'm coming, going to prepare a place for you? And when everything is ready, I will come and get you. So that you will always be where I am. I will come and get you, Candice, so that you will always be where I am. And where is he? On the right hand side of the father, in a place of authority. And if he's in a place of authority, man, it means I'm going to be in authority with Jesus, right? And the angels are going to sing, holy, holy, holy. We're going to hear a sea of angels singing, holy, holy, holy is he.
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Are you doing what He called you to do? Are you prepared? Have you done what He's asked you to do? Because He's coming back. That is ascension. He's coming back. It's not a goodbye. It's to see you soon. And His return gives us hope. Not just hope. It gives us urgency. Not just urgency. It gives us purpose. That is why the ascension is so important. That even though Jesus has left this earth, He's coming back for a bride. He's coming back for a beautiful bride.
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Even people in this church, God has called you to something. He's called you to something. The question is, have you picked that up? Just say, here I am. Here I am. Here I am. Here I am. Here I am. Here I am. Here I am.
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