The Power and Purpose of Christ's Ascension

Devotional

Day 1: The Ascension's Power and Completion

The ascension of Christ is a powerful demonstration of God's might, akin to the resurrection. It signifies the completion of Christ's work, affirming God's acceptance of His sacrifice for sin. This truth should deepen our understanding of the gospel and its implications for our lives. The ascension is not merely a historical event but a pivotal moment that confirms the efficacy of Christ's atonement. It assures us that Jesus' mission on earth was fulfilled and accepted by the Father, providing a foundation for our faith and hope. As believers, we are called to reflect on the significance of this event and how it shapes our understanding of salvation and God's redemptive plan. [04:54]

Ephesians 4:8-10 (ESV): "Therefore it says, 'When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.' (In saying, 'He ascended,' what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)"

Reflection: How does the completion of Christ's work through His ascension impact your understanding of salvation and your daily walk with God?

Day 2: Gifts from the Ascended Christ

The ascension enabled the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, granting spiritual gifts for ministry and edification. These gifts are essential for living the Christian life and building up the church. Recognizing and utilizing these gifts is crucial for fulfilling our calling. The ascended Christ, having returned to the Father, sent the Holy Spirit to empower believers with diverse gifts. These gifts are not for personal gain but for the edification of the church and the advancement of God's kingdom. As members of the body of Christ, we are encouraged to discover and develop our spiritual gifts, using them to serve others and glorify God. [06:09]

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

Reflection: What spiritual gifts has God given you, and how can you use them to serve your church and community this week?

Day 3: Christ's Ongoing Ministry

Jesus, in His ascended role, governs the universe, rules His church, helps its members, and pleads our case. His intercession ensures that what He secured through His death becomes ours. This ongoing ministry provides comfort and assurance in our daily lives. Christ's ascension did not mark the end of His work but the beginning of a new phase of His ministry. He is actively involved in the world, guiding His church, supporting believers, and interceding on our behalf. This truth offers profound comfort, knowing that we have an advocate in heaven who understands our struggles and works for our good. [09:07]

Hebrews 7:24-25 (ESV): "But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: In what ways can you rely on Christ's ongoing ministry and intercession to find comfort and strength in your current circumstances?

Day 4: Deep-Seated Assurance

The ascension should instill deep-seated assurance in believers, affirming Christ's presence and power in our lives. It assures us of His presence with us, His power within us, and His purpose for us. This assurance is foundational for living a life of faith. The knowledge that Christ is ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father provides believers with confidence and security. It reminds us that we are never alone and that His power is at work within us, guiding us toward His purposes. This assurance should embolden us to live out our faith with courage and conviction, trusting in His promises. [17:26]

Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: How does the assurance of Christ's presence and power influence your approach to challenges and decisions in your life today?

Day 5: A Call to Action

The ascension is not just a theological concept but a call to wholehearted action. It urges us to engage with the world, equipped with the assurance of Christ's presence and purpose. As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded of Christ's ongoing ministry, offering help and guidance. The ascension compels us to live out our faith actively, participating in God's mission in the world. It challenges us to step out in faith, knowing that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit and supported by Christ's intercession. This call to action is an invitation to be the hands and feet of Jesus, making a tangible impact in our communities. [20:03]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What specific action can you take this week to live out your faith in a way that reflects Christ's presence and purpose in your life?

Sermon Summary

In Ephesians 1:15-23, we find a profound prayer by Paul, expressing gratitude for the faith and love of the believers and asking God to grant them wisdom and revelation to know Him better. This passage serves as a foundation for understanding the significance of Christ's ascension. The ascension is often overlooked, yet it is a pivotal aspect of Christ's work. It is a display of God's mighty power, akin to the resurrection, and signifies the completion of Christ's work, affirming God's acceptance of His sacrifice for sin. The ascension marks Jesus' return to the Father, to the glory He shared with Him before the world began.

The ascension also facilitated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, enabling the distribution of spiritual gifts necessary for ministry and the edification of the church. These gifts are bestowed by the ascended Christ, who prepares a place for believers, as promised in John 14. This truth prompts us to consider what Jesus is doing now. He governs the universe, rules His church, helps its members, and pleads our case before the Father. His intercession ensures that what He secured through His death becomes ours.

The ascension should instill deep-seated assurance in believers, affirming Christ's presence and power in our lives. It is a call to wholehearted action, urging us to engage with the world, equipped with the assurance of His presence and purpose. As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded of Christ's ongoing ministry, offering help and guidance. This understanding should propel us into action, living out our faith with confidence and purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Seated Assurance:** The ascension should instill deep-seated assurance in believers, affirming Christ's presence and power in our lives. It assures us of His presence with us, His power within us, and His purpose for us. This assurance is foundational for living a life of faith. [17:26]
5. A Call to Action: The ascension is not just a theological concept but a call to wholehearted action. It urges us to engage with the world, equipped with the assurance of Christ's presence and purpose. As we navigate life's challenges, we are reminded of Christ's ongoing ministry, offering help and guidance.

** [17:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:09] - Thanksgiving and Prayer
[02:32] - The Significance of Ascension
[03:47] - Encouragement for Further Study
[04:54] - Display of God's Mighty Power
[06:09] - Gifts from the Ascended Christ
[07:16] - Preparing a Place for Us
[08:49] - Christ's Present Ministry
[09:36] - Governing the Universe
[10:21] - Helping the Church Members
[11:56] - Christ as Our Ultimate Help
[14:34] - Pleading Our Case
[17:26] - Assurance from the Ascension
[19:12] - Assurance of His Purpose
[20:03] - Call to Wholehearted Action
[21:47] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 1:15-23
- John 14:1-3
- Hebrews 10:12

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Observation Questions:

What does Paul express gratitude for in his prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23, and what does he ask God to grant the believers? [01:09]
How does the sermon describe the significance of Christ's ascension in relation to God's mighty power? [04:54]
According to the sermon, what role does the ascended Christ play in the distribution of spiritual gifts? [06:09]
What ongoing ministries of Christ are highlighted in the sermon, and how do they provide comfort to believers? [09:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the ascension of Christ deepen our understanding of the gospel and its implications for our lives? Consider the completion of Christ's work and God's acceptance of His sacrifice. [05:07]
In what ways do the spiritual gifts bestowed by the ascended Christ equip believers for ministry and edification of the church? How might recognizing these gifts impact one's personal calling? [06:24]
How does Christ's ongoing ministry as described in the sermon provide assurance and comfort in the face of life's challenges? [09:07]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between the ascension and the assurance of Christ's presence and power in our lives? [17:26]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt the assurance of Christ's presence in your life. How did that experience influence your actions or decisions? [17:26]
Identify a spiritual gift you believe you have received. How can you use this gift more effectively for the edification of the church and in your personal ministry? [06:09]
Consider the ongoing ministry of Christ as described in the sermon. How can this understanding change the way you approach challenges in your daily life? [09:07]
The sermon calls for wholehearted action in response to the ascension. What specific steps can you take this week to engage with the world, equipped with the assurance of Christ's presence and purpose? [20:03]
How can the knowledge of Christ's intercession for us influence the way you pray and seek help in times of need? [14:34]
Reflect on an area of your life where you need to experience the deep-seated assurance of Christ's power. What practical steps can you take to invite His presence into that area? [17:26]
The sermon mentions the importance of living out our faith with confidence and purpose. What is one area in your life where you can demonstrate this confidence more boldly? [20:03]

Sermon Clips

The ascension completed the work of Christ proving the full acceptance by God the Father of Christ's single sacrifice for sin. That really is the story of the book of Hebrews it is articulated succinctly in Hebrews 10 verse 12. We also noted that the ascension marked the return of the Lord Jesus to the Father. [00:05:07]

The ascension and the consequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit made possible the numerous gifts which Christ then gave to the church and all of the spiritual gifts which are necessary for the exercise of ministry for the living of the Christian life for the bearing testimony to those who do not believe for the edification of the body for the building up of one another. [00:06:06]

He is governing the universe. Well that would be enough in itself wouldn't it he is governing the universe Hebrews 1 3 and Ephesians 1 in verses 5 to 14. Not only is he governing the universe but he is ruling his church it is the Lord Jesus who is the head of the church. [00:09:25]

He is our ultimate help, he is our ultimate guide any help that we may be to one another is on how finds its only sufficiency in as much as we are able to point people to the ultimate help that is theirs in Christ and some of you feel the need of that help more than others. [00:11:59]

He is interceding for us, which simply means that he is intervening in our interest he's doing so in a way that guarantees our welfare by ensuring that what he died to secure for us actually becomes ours. That's what it means for him to intercede on our behalf. [00:15:44]

The ascension doesn't mean that Jesus is absent, it actually means that Jesus is present. He's absent physically present at the right hand of the Father on high, but he is with us he is with us and in some realistic way he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me that I am his own. [00:17:42]

The assurance of his presence with us, the assurance of his power in us, it's no longer I who lives says Paul but Christ who lives in me that his ascension ushers in the coming of the Holy Spirit so that we're not left alone and that we know his power within our lives. [00:18:48]

It is not only a cause for deep-seated assurance but it is also a call to wholehearted action a call to wholehearted action in the verses that we consider this morning it's quite striking that you do not find in response to the ascension that the disciples are rooted to the spot. [00:19:55]

They have received their standing orders from the risen Lord watch them as they go running down the road and back to Jerusalem waiting for this enduming of power and ready to fulfill God's purpose ready to plunge themselves into the stormy murky waters of a world without God. [00:20:51]

The church is not an aquarium there's a lot of fishy things go on but it's still not an aquarium well I hope you will ask as I am asking God to teach me a little more of what it means that Jesus is my ascended Lord and King and as he does that he might grant to us this deep-seated assurance. [00:21:29]

Thank you tonight for the reality of Christ's ascension and teach us what it means Lord and help us then to live in light of the truth we discover we want to bring our lives to you and we do so now in Jesus name amen. [00:22:07]

The ascension made possible the preparing of a place for Christians we are familiar with that statement by Jesus 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. [00:07:14]

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The Power and Purpose of Christ's Ascension

Devotional

Day 1: The Ascension's Power and Completion

Day 2: Gifts from the Ascended Christ

Day 3: Christ's Ongoing Ministry

Day 4: Deep-Seated Assurance

Day 5: A Call to Action

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Power and Purpose of Christ's Ascension

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