Please Take Your Seat: His Show Is About to Begin. The Flight Deck 5-14-2026

May 14, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Cloud That Carried Him

The disciples stood staring at the empty sky. Two men in white asked why they kept gazing upward. Jesus had vanished into a cloud after promising the Holy Spirit’s coming. Their mission began not with a dramatic arrival but with His physical absence. The cloud became the signpost: Jesus now ruled heaven’s throne, unlocking heaven’s power for earth. [14:03]

Ascension completed Christ’s work. Without it, the Spirit couldn’t flood the earth. Without it, we’d lack a High Priest interceding for us. Jesus’ departure wasn’t loss—it was the hinge swinging open God’s kingdom into our reach.

You’ve been handed the same mission. But do you live like a spectator staring at the sky or an ambassador carrying His authority? When did you last act from your seat in heaven’s throne room instead of earth’s chaos?

“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?’”
(Acts 1:9-11, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to show you one situation where He wants you to act from your heavenly position today.
Challenge: Physically step outside, look up, and declare aloud: “I am seated with Christ in authority over ________.”

Day 2: Chalk-Dusted and Climbing

The bride scaled Chimney Rock with ropes and chalk-bagged resolve. She didn’t spectate—she ascended. Moses climbed Sinai’s smoky peak 8 times to meet God. Each step required rejecting earth’s gravity for heaven’s invitation. Your seat beside Christ isn’t given to passive observers. [36:33]

God stamps time with ascension moments. Sinai’s covenant, Pentecost’s fire, your daily choice to rise above distractions—each connects heaven to earth. The Vav in your life isn’t a decorative letter; it’s the nail anchoring you to Christ’s throne.

What cliff-face of doubt or busyness keeps you earthbound? Name one “rope” (scripture, worship, prayer) you’ll grip today to climb higher. Will you let fear of the dark stop you from entering God’s thick presence?

“...and [God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
(Ephesians 2:6, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one earthly weight that hinders your ascent. Ask for grace to climb.
Challenge: Write “SEATED” on your wrist. Each time you see it, whisper: “I rule with Christ over ________.”

Day 3: The Friend in High Places

Jesus stands in heaven’s courtroom, showing the Father His scarred hands on your behalf. He doesn’t beg—He reigns. Your failures aren’t debated; they’re covered by His finished work. The Ascension turned a crucified man into heaven’s CEO, and you into His boardroom partner. [16:09]

Intercession isn’t wishful thinking. It’s legal advocacy by the One who conquered death. When you pray, you don’t lobby a distant monarch—you confer with a King who wears your skin.

What problem feels too heavy for earth’s solutions? How would your prayers change if you saw Jesus standing (not pleading) before the Father for you?

“For Christ has entered...into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”
(Hebrews 9:24, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for interceding for you specifically about ________.
Challenge: Write a courtroom-style “brief” listing Christ’s victories over your current struggle. Pray it aloud.

Day 4: The Throne-Room Rehearsal

Jesus left to prepare more than mansions—He readied your throne. Earth’s “kingdoms” shrink when you grasp your co-seated authority. The woman climbing in a wedding dress didn’t hike for scenery; she claimed her place beside the groom. Your seat isn’t symbolic—it’s strategic. [18:20]

Religion teaches you to endure until heaven. The Ascension says heaven invades now through you. Demons don’t fear your theology; they dread your occupied throne.

Where have you been “standing” in insecurity instead of sitting in authority? What earthly conflict needs your heavenly verdict today?

“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?”
(John 14:2, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one way He’s preparing you to rule with Him, not just wait for Him.
Challenge: Rearrange one chair in your home as a “throne reminder.” Each time you pass it, declare: “I govern here with Christ.”

Day 5: Sinai’s Smoke and Your Yes

Moses climbed into Sinai’s thundercloud eight times. Each ascent required leaving the crowd’s safety. God’s glory wasn’t in the valley’s comfort but the mountain’s terrifying fire. Your daily choice: settle for earth’s noise or ascend into heaven’s dangerous presence. [35:31]

The bride didn’t climb in flip-flops. Moses didn’t scale Sinai doubting. Ascension demands resolve—chalk on your hands, ropes of scripture tied tight. Every “yes” to worship lifts you higher into ruling with Christ.

What comfort zone do you need to quit to climb? Is your spiritual gear gathering dust or showing wear from daily ascents?

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone...’”
(Exodus 24:12, ESV)

Prayer: Ask for courage to enter God’s “thick darkness” instead of demanding easy light.
Challenge: Set a 3pm alarm labeled “ASCEND.” Stop and worship for 2 minutes, declaring Christ’s rule over your day.

Sermon Summary

We celebrate the Ascension as the decisive hinge that connects heaven and earth and completes what Christ began. Scripture uses a small Hebrew letter, vav, to describe the divine intent to join the visible and invisible, and the Ascension fulfills that joining. The Ascension opens a conduit: Jesus takes his seat in the heavenlies, intercedes for us, prepares a place, and establishes our authority so the Holy Spirit can pour out gifts and power on the church. Those events do not sit as mere history; they act as transaction points in time that call for response and alignment in our generation.

We recognize that the church too often treats birth, cross, and resurrection as the end of the story and bypasses the Ascension. Skipping that step severs position from mission and leaves power unclaimed. The Ascension secures our position with Christ, makes us co-seated with him, and relocates our identity to a heavenly vantage point. From that seat we gain perspective, boldness, and the authority to speak and wage spiritual war against dark forces.

We understand the Ascension as the trigger for Pentecost and the release of gifts, offices, and ongoing transformation. When Jesus returned to the Father he completed his work, then sent the Helper to saturate believers, release diversities of gifts, and carry the church from being merely saved to being saturated. Moses provides a pattern of risk and reward in ascending into the thick darkness where God dwells; similarly, our ascent demands persistence, faith, and an awareness that progress sometimes moves through hard and holy darkness.

We must choose to take our seats. Spiritual gravity, fleshly inertia, and religious skepticism can keep us earthbound, but God expects us to ascend in devotion, worship, and obedience so his benefits flow through us. The Ascension gives us a home, a high-priestly Advocate, seating in authority, access to the Father, and a commission supported by Spirit-empowered gifts. We will therefore pursue ascent, claim our heavenly place, and live out the mission from the power and position Christ secured for us.

Key Takeaways

1. Ascension completes Christ's connecting work The Ascension finalizes the divine conjunction of heaven and earth so that God's presence can flow into our daily reality. This completion establishes a continual channel for communion, covenant, and power between the throne and our lives. We should expect our spiritual life to move from isolated moments into steady communion because the conduit now exists. [11:30]
2. Ascension unlocks Holy Spirit's power Jesus’ departure enables the Helper to come in fullness; the Spirit could not pour forth until Christ returned to seat at the Father’s right hand. That release transforms the church from merely moral movement into a community saturated with gifts, guidance, and life. We must therefore pursue the Spirit’s fullness, not settle for a truncated experience. [25:26]
3. We are seated in heavenlies God raised and seated believers with Christ so we occupy authority and perspective beyond earthly limitations. That seating changes how we see people, how we pray, and how we wage spiritual conflict, because we act from heaven's vantage rather than earthly anxiety. We will regularly ascend in prayer and worship to operate from that place of authority. [17:27]
4. Ascension grants priestly intercession now Christ’s session in heaven means active advocacy on our behalf; he appears before the Father to intercede, providing mercy and timely grace. That high-priestly ministry assures ongoing access to God and a relational security that transforms our confidence in prayer. We should approach the throne expecting intercession, not theoretical distance. [15:17]
5. We must choose to ascend Scripture models persistent ascent into God’s presence despite fear and darkness; Moses climbed while others stood below. Spiritual ascent demands repeated, deliberate choices to leave earthbound perspectives and enter the thick, transforming presence of God. We will keep ascending until our identity and action flow from the heavenlies. [33:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Bride on the rock: a picture of seriousness
[02:01] - Anchored in Scripture and tested prophecy
[03:29] - God timestamps events and transactions
[05:21] - Ascension tied to Passover and Pentecost
[06:48] - Vav: connecting heaven and earth
[08:42] - The church often overlooks Ascension truths
[11:30] - Ascension completes Christ's work and conduit
[15:17] - Benefit: Christ intercedes as High Priest
[17:27] - Seated in the heavenlies: authority granted
[24:15] - Ascension releases fivefold gifts and offices
[33:57] - Call to ascend: Moses as our pattern
[41:15] - War and intercession from our heavenly seat
[45:34] - Final exhortation: ascend and agree with Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Ephesians 2:6 (ESV)
“And [God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

Acts 1:8-11 (ESV)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 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.’”

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Observation Questions

What does Ephesians 2:6 say about the believer’s current position in relation to Christ?
According to Acts 1:8-11, what two key promises or events follow Jesus’ ascension? [13:31]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between the Ascension and the release of the Holy Spirit’s power? [25:26]
What practical benefits of the Ascension are highlighted in Hebrews 4:14-16?

Interpretation Questions

Why might the Ascension be considered a “hinge” connecting Christ’s earthly work and the church’s mission? [11:30]
How does being “seated in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:6) change a believer’s perspective on earthly struggles or spiritual warfare? [17:27]
The sermon warns that ignoring the Ascension “severs position from mission.” What does this mean practically for how Christians live out their faith? [21:03]
Why do you think Moses’ repeated ascents into “thick darkness” (Exodus 19-34) are compared to the believer’s spiritual journey? [35:31]

Application Questions

If your daily decisions and prayers flowed from the awareness that you are “seated with Christ in the heavenlies,” what specific area of your life would look different?
The sermon states, “Spiritual gravity… can keep us earthbound.” What habits, fears, or distractions most often pull you away from living from a heavenly perspective? How could you counteract them this week? [33:11]
How might you intentionally “ascend” in worship or prayer this week to align with Christ’s intercession for you (Hebrews 4:14-16)?
The Holy Spirit’s gifts are tied to the Ascension. Are there spiritual gifts or areas of service you’ve hesitated to step into? What would it look like to pursue them with boldness? [24:15]
Moses kept ascending despite fear and darkness. Where in your life do you need to persist in seeking God’s presence, even if it feels like “hard and holy darkness”? [35:31]
The sermon says, “You are somebody’s friend in high places.” Who in your life needs you to intercede for them from your position of authority in Christ? How will you act on this? [18:20]

Sermon Clips

59s

#MissionWithoutPosition

“``You see, part of what the enemy's strategy to just skip over the ascension is to pull this awareness out of you and have everybody live with the mission of Jesus but without the position. And without the position, you can't really access the power. He did not say, all authority in heaven and earth has been given unto me. Therefore, just try to survive until I come back. Go and make disciples. It was LA Joyner, I think, I heard this phrase. Jesus never intended his church to have his work without his power. And unfortunately, church in large part goes out there to try to do his work without the power or the position.”

49s

#AscensionReleasesSpirit

“And I think that's all been part of the strategy of the enemy because if you can take out that leg of the ascension and take out it's connected to this leg of the Holy Spirit. Because if the ascension doesn't happen, the spirit isn't released, just so we're clear. So, you know, I always go, I spend a lot of time with the Lord and then I I get in Friday morning, no matter what I've sent out in the ping or anything else, sit down and go, okay, guy, what's the one thing? And he just kinda has fun messing with me. And so this is I won't give you the exact words but this is what it boiled down to. The vav of Jesus was only complete when he ascended and sat down in the heavenlies and he that created the conduit of holy spirit movement from heaven to earth.”

60s

#PositionUnlocksPower

“of taking your seat, then I want you to go after it. because that's the trigger. Right? The ascension is the trigger for the Holy Spirit to have his power. You get this? Mission, position, power. Part of the problem with the church is we jump from the mission to the power. And because we don't have this position, we'll use it for our own benefit And that's why there's been so much blowback”

67s

#AscensionOpensChannel

“I need you to get this. It's not just See, I've been showing you these spikes, what began to show me is that was a conduit of connection. There was a connection there that allowed a flow for things to go because it created the conduit of our being seated with him yet walking in the earth. Hello? The completed vav forms the conduit. It opens a channel. I got thinking about this phrase, open a channel of communications. Any of you watch Star Trek? Open a channel. What that means, a channel of communications. Right? It's it's a way of doing that. But it's really about there was opening a communion. So this opened a channel of communication, but it opened a communion, a connection, a transition point. Is this making sense? I had never thought of a valve as being a conduit like that. So we have his mission like we just talked about. His birth, resurrection crucifixion, resurrection. But then we also have to gain his position and then his power and they're both linked to the ascension.”

55s

#TakeYourSeat

“is that kinda light you up a little bit though? Come on. Yes. I mean, just would it have been helpful for somebody just very simply to say, by the way, here's the benefits when Jesus died for you. Here's the benefits when he was raised for you. And by the way, here's the benefits when he ascended. You would have gone, woah. Okay. Because frankly, John MacArthur was right. His most magnanimous gifts was when he left. Because that's when he went before us. That's when he got the seat. That's when he started your house. That's when he intercedes with the father. That's when So I wanna say, please take your seat because this show is about to begin. Because all this thing with the Ascension, we're getting ready then for Pentecost when things break open. But the issue is is that we have to choose to ascend. Okay? Hello?”

59s

#DontSkipTheAscension

“But bottom line, I think there's a demonic strategy involved with trying to unhinge all of these major connections when heaven and earth are boom like this. And so what he does, he waters down the birth of Jesus with Santa and gifts. He waters down the crucifixion resurrection with the Easter bunny. And basically, he just has us skip by the ascension. And suddenly, it's like all those important connections. And here's what's critical because and if you sit on a three legged stool? Yeah. Works works pretty good. Okay? Here's the question. The crucifixion, the resurrection, and the ascension. Which is the most important leg? Well, the reality is it's a three legged stool if you remove one of them. Mhmm. And so, many are trying to actually sit on a two legged stool.”

41s

#CompleteTheGospel

“Because if he put that, he time stamped it so we pay attention in our time. There's gotta be something he's saying. And then all of these things are not simply dates to remember historically, because that's what a lot of people do. Oh, don't you remember back the 07/04/1776. Right? It's gonna be but in there, it's a memory of things. You can remember back to specific things. Memory, you know, someone's son's birthday or something, but it's we go back and it's historical assessment, okay, and we celebrate that. And it was back there and we're we may be glad it was or wasn't back there, but it's sort of settled. God doesn't do it that way. Right? If he's put something in there, it's because he's bringing it up now because these are transaction times.”

55s

#AccessToTheKing

“we have a gospel. Right? You have a gospel, you have a mission. But what's very interesting is it's not completed yet. It's not completed yet, and yet it's so much like the story ends there. As long as you believe that he was born, he was crucified and raised again, it stops there. But what's interesting is all the historical creeds in the church, the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, make sure they have in there, and he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. But we just kinda and I gotta you know, because of that and because the significance we'll connect it to through here, I ask again, which is the most important leg? Father, Son, or Holy Spirit? And yet again, the reality is that a bulk of the church is trying to sit on a two legged stool. It's the father, son, and the silent partner.”

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Please Take Your Seat: His Show Is About to Begin. The Flight Deck 5-14-2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Cloud That Carried Him

Day 2: Chalk-Dusted and Climbing

Day 3: The Friend in High Places

Day 4: The Throne-Room Rehearsal

Day 5: Sinai’s Smoke and Your Yes

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Please Take Your Seat: His Show Is About to Begin. The Flight Deck 5-14-2026

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